按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
Is; by continuall sight to comfort me:
So rare a presence never to refuse;
Which mortall tongue or thought; what ere it be
Must still conceale;
not able to reveale;
Such a sacred sweete;
for none other meete;
But hearts enflamed with the same desire。
So much delight; etc。
The Song being ended; the Chorus whereof was answered by them all;
it passed with generall applause: and after a few other daunces; the
night being well run on; the Queene gave ending to this first dayes
Recreation。 So; lights being brought; they departed to their
severall Lodgings; to take their rest till the next morning。
THE INDUCTION TO THE SECOND DAY
WHEREIN; ALL THE DISCOURSES ARE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF
MADAM PHILOMENA: CONCERNING SUCH MEN OR WOMEN; AS (IN DIVERS
ACCIDENTS) HAVE BEEN MUCH MOLLESTED BY FORTUNE; AND YET AFTERWARD
(CONTRARY TO THEIR HOPE AND EXPECTATION) HAVE HAD
A HAPPY AND SUCCESSEFULL DELIVERANCE
Already had the bright Sunne renewed the day every where with his
splendant beames; and the Birds sate merrily singing on the blooming
branches; yeelding testimony thereof to the eares of all hearers; when
the seven Ladies; and the three Gentlemen (after they were risen)
entered the Gardens; and there spent some time in walking; as also
making of Nose…gayes and Chaplets of Flowers。 And even as they had
done the day before; so did they now follow the same course; for;
after they had dined; in a coole and pleasing aire they fell to
dancing; and then went to sleepe a while; from which being awaked;
they tooke their places (according as it pleased the Queene to
appoint) in the same faire Meadow about her。 And she; being a goodly
creature; and highly pleasing to behold; having put on her Crowne of
Lawrell; and giving a gracious countenance to the whole company;
commanded Madam Neiphila that her Tale should begin this daies
delight。 Whereupon she; without returning any excuse or deniall; began
in this manner。
THE SECOND DAY; THE FIRST NOVELL
WHEREIN IS SIGNIFIED; HOW EASIE A THING IT IS; FOR WICKED MEN
TO DECEIVE THE WORLD; UNDER THE SHADOW AND COLOUR OF MIRACLES:
AND THAT SUCH TREACHERY (OFTENTIMES) REDOUNDETH TO
THE HARME OF THE DEVISER
Martellino counterfeitting to be lame of his members; caused
himselfe to be set on the body of Saint Arriguo; where he made shew of
his sudden recovery; but when his dissimulation was discovered; he was
well beaten; being afterward taken prisoner; and in great danger of
being hanged and strangled by the necke; and yet he escaped in the
end。
Faire Ladies; it hath happened many times; that he who striveth to
scorne and floute other men; and especially in occasions deserving
to be respected; proveth to mocke himselfe with the selfe same matter;
yea; and to his no meane danger beside。 As you shall perceive by a
Tale; which I intend to tell you; obeying therein the command of our
Queene; and according to the subject by her enjoyned。 In which
discourse; you may first observe; what great mischance happened to one
our Citizens; and yet afterward; how (beyond all hope) he happily
escaped。
Not long since; there lived in the City of Trevers; an Almaine or
Germaine; named Arriguo; who being a poore man; served as a Porter; or
burden…bearer for money; when any man pleased to employ him。 And
yet; notwithstanding his poore and meane condition; he was generally
reputed; to be of good and sanctified life。 In which regard (whether
it were true or no; I know not) it happened; that when he died (at
least as the men of Trevers themselves affirmed) in the very instant
houre of his departing; all the Belles in the great Church of Trevers;
(not being pulled by the helpe of any hand) beganne to ring: which
being accounted for a miracle; every one saide; that this Arriguo
had bene; and was a Saint。 And presently all the people of the City
ran to the house where the dead body lay; and carried it (as a
sanctified body) into the great Church; where people; halt; lame;
and blind; or troubled with any other diseases; were brought about it;
even as if every one should forth…with be holpen; onely by their
touching the body。
It came to passe; that in so great a concourse of people; as
resorted thither from all parts; three of our Citizens went to
Trevers; one of them being named Stechio; the second Martellino; and
the third Marquiso; all being men of such condition; as frequented
Princes Courts; to give them delight by pleasant and counterfetted
qualities。 None of these men having ever beene at Trevers before;
seeing how the people crowded thorow the streetes; wondered greatly
thereat: but when they knew the reason why the throngs ranne on heapes
in such sort together; they grew as desirous to see the Shrine; as any
of the rest。 Having ordered all affaires at their lodging; Marquiso
saide; It is fit for us to see this Saint; but I know not how we shall
attaine thereto; because (as I have heard) the place is guarded by
Germaine Souldiers; and other warlike men; commanded thither by the
Governour of this City; least any outrage should be there committed:
And beside; the Church is so full of people; as we shall never
compasse to get neere。 Martellino being also as forward in desire to
see it; presently replied。 All this difficulty cannot dismay me; but I
will go to the very body of the Saint it selfe。 But how? quoth
Marquiso。 I will tell thee; answered Martellino。 I purpose to go in
the disguise of an impotent lame person; supported on the one side
by thy selfe; and on the other by Stechio; as if I were not able to
walke of my selfe: And you two thus sustaining me; desiring to come
neere the Saint to cure me; every one will make way; and freely give
you leave to go on。
This devise was very pleasing to Marquiso and Stechio; so that
(without any further delaying) they all three left their lodging;
and resorting into a secret corner aside; Martellino so writhed and
mishaped his hands; fingers; and armes; his legges; mouth; eyes; and
whole countenance; that it was a dreadfull sight to looke upon him;
and whosoever beheld him; would verily have imagined; that hee was
utterly lame of his limbes; and greatly deformed in his body。 Marquiso
and Stechio; seeing all sorted so well as they could wish; tooke and
led him towards the Church; making very pitious moane; and humbly
desiring (for Gods sake) of every one that they met; to grant them
free passage: whereto they charitably condiscended。
Thus leading him on; crying; Beware there before; and give way for
Gods sake; they arrived at the body of Saint Arriguo; that (by his
helpe) he might be healed。 And while all eyes were diligently
observing; what miracle would be wrought on Martellino; he having
sitten a small space upon the Saints body; and being sufficiently
skilfull in counterfeiting; began first to extend forth the one of his
fingers; next his hand; then his arme; and so (by degrees) the rest of
his body。 Which when the people saw; they made such a wonderfull noyse
in praise of Saint Arriguo; even as if it had thundered in the Church。
Now it chanced by ill fortune; that there stood a Florentine neere
to the body; who knew Martellino very perfectly; but appearing so
monstrously mishapen; when he was brought into the Church; hee could
take no knowledge of him。 But when he saw him stand up and walke;
hee knew him then to be the man indeede; whereupon he saide。 How
commeth it to passe; that this fellow should be so miraculously cured;
that never truly was any way impotent? Certaine men of the City
hearing these words; entred into further questioning with him;
demanding; how he knew that the man had no such imperfection? Well
enough (answered the Florentine) I know him to be as direct in his
limbes and body; as you; I; or any of us all are: but indeede; he
knowes better how to dissemble counterfet trickes; then any man else
that ever I saw。
When they heard this; they discoursed no further with the
Florentine; but pressed on mainely to the place where Martellino
stood; crying out aloude。 Lay hold on this Traytor; a mocker of God;
and his holy Saints; that had no lamenesse in his limbes; but to
make a mocke of our Saint and us; came hither in false and counterfeit
manner。 So laying hands uppon him; they threw him against the
ground; having him by the haire on his head; and tearing the
garments from his backe; spurning him with their feete; and beating
him with their fists; that many were much ashamed to see it。
Poore Martellino was in a pittifull case; crying out for mercy;
but no man would heare him; for; the more he cryed; the more still
they did beat him; as meaning to leave no life in him: which Stechio
and Marquiso seeing; considered with themselves; that they were
likewise in a desperate case; and therefore; fearing to be as much
misused; they cryed out among the rest; Kill the counterfet knave; lay
on loade; and spare him not; neverthelesse; they tooke care how to get
him out of the peoples handes; as doubting; least they would kill
him inde