登陆注册
5419200000190

第190章

No doubt there are some among you, who either do know, or (at the least) have heard, that it is no long time since, when there dwelt a Gentlewoman in our Citie, of excellent grace and good discourse, with all other rich endowments of Nature remaining in her, as pitty it were to conceale her name: and therefore let me tell ye, that shee was called Madame Oretta, the Wife to Signior Geri Spina.She being upon some occasion (as now we are) in the Countrey, and passing from place to place (by way of neighbourly invitations) to visite her loving Friends and Acquaintance, accompanied with divers Knights and Gentlewomen, who on the day before had dined and supt at her house, as now (belike) the selfe-same courtesie was intended to her: walking along with her company upon the way; and the place for her welcome beeing further off then she expected; a Knight chanced to overtake this faire troop, who well knowing Madam Oretta, using a kinde and courteous salutation, spake thus.

Madam, this foot travell may bee offensive to you, and were you so well pleased as my selfe, I would ease your journey behinde mee on my Gelding, even so as you shall command me: and beside, wil shorten your wearinesse with a Tale worth the hearing.Courteous Sir (replyed the Lady) I embrace your kinde offer with such acceptation, that I pray you to performe it; for therein you shall doe me an especiall favour.The Knight, whose Sword (perhappes) was as unsuteable to his side, as his wit out of fashion for any readie discourse, having the Lady mounted behinde him rode on with a gentle pace, and (according to his promise) began to tell a Tale, which indeede (of it selfe) deserved attention, because it was a knowne and commendable History, but yet delivered so abruptly, with idle repetitions of some particulars three or foure severall times, mistaking one thing for another, and wandering erroneously from the essentiall subject, seeming neere an end, and then beginning againe:

that a poore Tale could not possibly be more mangled, or worse tortured in telling, then this was; for the persons therein concerned, were so abusively nicke-named, their actions and speeches so monstrously mishapen, that nothing could appeare to be more ugly.

Madame Oretta, being a Lady of unequalled ingenuitie, admirable in judgement, and most delicate in her speech, was afflicted in soule, beyond all measure; overcome with many colde sweates, and passionate heart-aking qualmes, to see a Foole thus in a Pinne-fold, and unable to get out, albeit the doore stood wide open to him, whereby shee became so sicke; that, converting her distaste to a kinde of pleasing acceptation, merrily thus she spake.Beleeve me Sir, your horse trots so hard, and travels so uneasily; that I entreate you to let me walke on foot againe.

The Knight, being (perchance) a better understander, then a Discourser; perceived by this witty taunt, that his Bowle had run a contrarie bias, and he as farre out of Tune, as he was from the Towne.

So, lingering the time, untill her company was neerer arrived: hee lefte her with them, and rode on as his Wisedome could best direct him.

THE SIXT DAY, THE SECOND NOVELL

APPROVING, THAT A REQUEST OUGHT TO BE CIVILL, BEFORE ITSHOULD BE GRANTED TO ANY ONE WHATSOEVER

Cistio a Baker, by a wittie answer which he gave unto Messer Geri Spina, caused him to acknowledge a very indiscreete motion, which he had made to the said Cistio.

The words of Madame Oretta, were much commended by the men and women; and the discourse being ended, the Queene gave command to Madam Pampinea, that shee should follow next in order, which made her to begin in this manner.

Worthy Ladies, it exceedeth the power of my capacitie, to censure in the case whereof I am to speake, by saying, who sinned most, either Nature, in seating a Noble soule in a vile body, or Fortune, in bestowing on a body (beautified with a noble soule) a base or wretched condition of life.As we may observe by Cistio, a Citizen of our owne, and many more beside; for, this Cistio beeing endued with a singular good spirit, Fortune hath made him no better then a Baker.And beleeve me Ladies, I could (in this case) lay as much blame on Nature, as on Fortune; if I did not know Nature to be most absolutely wise, and that Fortune hath a thousand eyes, albeit fooles have figured her to bee blinde.But, upon more mature and deliberate consideration, I finde, that they both (being truly wise and judicious) have dealt justly, in imitation of our best advised mortals, who being uncertaine of such inconveniences, as may happen unto them, do bury (for their own benefit) the very best and choicest things of esteeme, in the most vile and abject places of their houses, as being subject to least suspition, and where they may be sure to have them at all times, for supply of any necessitie whatsoever, because so base a conveyance hath better kept them, then the very best chamber in the house could have done.Even so these two great commanders of the world, do many times hide their most precious Jewels of worth, under the clouds of Arts or professions of worst estimation, to the end, that fetching them thence when neede requires, their splendor may appeare to be the more glorious.Nor was any such matter noted in our homely Baker Cistio, by the best observation of Messer Geri Spina, who was spoken of in the late repeated Novell, as being the husband to Madame Oretta;whereby this accident came to my remembrance, and which (in a short Tale) I will relate unto you.

Let me then tell ye, that Pope Boniface (with whom the fore-named Messer Geri Spina was in great regard) having sent divers Gentlemen of his Court to Florence as Ambassadors, about very serious and important businesse: they were lodged in the house of Messer Geri Spina, and he employed (with them) in the saide Popes negotiation.It chanced, that as being the most convenient way for passage, every morning they walked on foot by the Church of Saint Marie d'Ughi, where Cistio the Baker dwelt, and exercised the trade belonging to him.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 文化哲学方法与闽南文化思想政治教育研究

    文化哲学方法与闽南文化思想政治教育研究

    本书针对文化研究、教育和建构中存在的生活世界总体和工作世界本质意义的缺失问题,用文化哲学方法探究闽南文化思想政治教育的意义结构,阐明开漳圣王文化、海洋文化、妈祖文化、土楼文化、红色文化、闽南—台湾文化和诗文化等闽南文化思想政治教育的标志形态,尝试性开创闽南文化思想政治教育学理论体系。
  • 上清后圣道君列记

    上清后圣道君列记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚经受持感应录

    金刚经受持感应录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 万古帝尊

    万古帝尊

    亿载苦修凌绝顶,一朝不慎落九幽;待吾重拾绝神体,不破苍天誓不休。平定黑暗动乱,镇压诸天万族的巅峰强者龙帝神秘陨落,重生于天幻王朝战王一脉。查陨落之谜,铸无敌神体,誓要冲破天地束缚,且看陆尘如何逆天而行。
  • 小学韵语

    小学韵语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 匆匆那年

    匆匆那年

    他为了金钱背叛了未婚妻,出卖了自己的灵魂,迷恋上一个有钱有势的白富美,可在慢慢的交往中,他却发现了她不为人知的秘密。匆匆那年,我们一起走过。
  • 无尽世界我为王

    无尽世界我为王

    一个从天而降的手机,一段段瑰丽神奇的历程,从武侠到仙侠,从魔法到科技,从水蓝星到宇宙······无尽世界任我行,宇宙洪荒我为王。穿越不是目的,咱们滴目标,是星辰大海。
  • 死亡简历

    死亡简历

    简介:一张凭空出现的死亡简历,却拥有着决定人生死的力量,那些名字出现在简历上的人,都会因为各种原因而离奇死亡。而我,便是这张死亡简历的拥有者,也是简历上唯一的——死亡经手人。
  • 麦子长出来了

    麦子长出来了

    本书为“中国当代故事文学读本”言情伦理系列之一。本书囊括了当今故事界优秀作者的言情伦理精品力作,还首次整合了《故事会》杂志创刊以来尚未开发的言情伦理类中篇故事资源,这些故事经历了岁月的考验,已成经典之作。故事表现了人性的复杂、理智与情感的碰撞,让热爱言情伦理故事的读者尽享故事的乐趣。
  • 怪盗格里芬

    怪盗格里芬

    日本讲谈社镇社之宝,名列日本纪伊国屋书店top50;亚马逊五星图书。纽约的神秘大盗格里芬接到了一桩盗取珍藏在大都市美术馆里的梵高自画像的生意。委托人告诉格里芬,美术馆里的那幅画是赝品。怀着“把所有的东西放到应该放的地方”这样的信条,格里芬所接手了这项铤而走险的任务。然而这竟然是美国中央情报局设下的一个圈套,目的是胁迫大盗格里芬参与命名为“不死鸟作战计划”的机密任务——夺取波克诺共和国军队最高指挥官恩里克·帕斯特拉米将军保管的藏着国家机密的玩偶……