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！
because it drew neere supper time； which by no meanes shee would
permit； but seeming more then halfe displeased； shee saide。 Now I
plainely perceive brother； how little account you make of me；
considering； you are with your owne Sister； who （you say） you never
saw before； and in her owne House； whether you should alwayes resort
when you come to this City； and would you now refuse her； to goe and
sup at a common Inne？ Beleeve me Brother； you shall sup with me； for
although my Husband is now from home； to my no little
discontentment： yet you shall find Brother； that his wife； can bid you
welcome； and make you good cheere beside。
Now was Andrea so confounded this extremity of courtesie； that he
knew not what to say； but onely thus replied。 I love you as a Sister
ought to be loved； and accept of your exceeding kindnesse： but if I
returne not to my lodging； I shall wrong mine Host and his guests
too much； because they will not sup untill I come。 For that （quoth
shee） we have a present remedy； one of my servants shall goe and
give warning； whereby they shall not tarry your comming。 Albeit； you
might doe me a great kindnesse； to send for your friends to sup with
us here； where I assure ye； they shall finde that your Sister （for
your sake） will bid them welcome； and after supper； you may all
walke together to your Inne。 Andrea answered； that he had no such
friends there； as should be so burthenous to her： but seeing she urged
him so farre； he would stay to sup with her； and referred himselfe
solely to her disposition。
Ceremonious shew was made； of sending a servant to the Inne； for not
expecting Andreas presence at Supper； though no such matter was
performed； but； after divers other discoursings； the table being
covered； and variety of costly viands placed thereon； downe they
sate to feeding； with plenty of curious Wines liberally walking about；
so that it was darke night before they arose from the table。 Andrea
then offring to take his leave； she would （by no meanes） suffer it；
but tolde him； that Naples was a Citie of such strict Lawes and
Ordinances； as admitted no night…walkers； although they were
Natives； much lesse strangers； but punnished them with great severity。
And therefore； as she had formerly sent word to his Inne； that they
should not expect his comming to supper； the like had she done
concerning his bed； intending to give her Brother Andrea one nights
lodging； which as easily she could affoord him； as shee had done a
Supper。 All which this new…caught Woodcocke verily crediting； and that
he was in company of his owne Sister Fiordeliza （for so did she
cunningly stile her selfe； and in which beleefe he was meerely
deluded） he accepted the more gladly her gentle offer； and concluded
to stay there all that night。
After supper； their conference lasted very long； purposely dilated
out in length； that a great part of the night might therein be wasted：
when； leaving Andrea to his Chamber； and a Lad to attend； that he
should lacke nothing； she with her women went to their lodgings； and
thus our Brother and supposed Sister were parted。 The season then
being somewhat hot and soultry； Andrea put off his hose and doublet；
and being in his shirt alone； layed them underneath the beds boulster；
as seeming carefull of his money。 But finding a provocation to the
house of Office； he demanded of the Lad； where hee might find it；
who shewed him a little doore in a corner of the Chamber； appointing
him to enter there。 Safely enough he went in； but chanced to tread
upon a board； which was fastened at neither； ende to the joynts
whereon it lay； being a pit…fall made of purpose； to entrap any such
coxcombe； as would be trained to so base a place of lodging； so that
both he and the board fell downe together into the draught； yet such
being his good fortune； to receive no harme in the fall （although it
was of extraordinary height） onely the filth of the place； （it being
over full） had fowly myred him。
Now for your better understanding the quality of the place； and what
ensued thereupon； it is not unnecessary to describe it； according to a
common use； observed in those parts。 There was a narrow passage or
entrie； as often we see reserved betweene two houses； for eithers
benefit to such a needfull place； and boards loosely lay upon the
joynts； which such as were acquainted withall； could easily avoide any
perille in passing to or from the stoole。 But our so newly created
Brother； not dreaming to find a Queane to his Sister； receiving so
foule a fall into the vault； and knowing not how to helpe himselfe；
being sorrowfull beyond measure； cryed out to the boy for light and
aide； who intended not to give him any。 For the crafty wag； （a meete
attendant for so honest a Mistresse） no sooner heard him to be fallen；
but presently he ran to enforme her thereof； and shee as speedily
returned to the Chamber； where finding his cloathes under the beds
head； shee needed no instruction for search of his pockets。 But having
found the gold； which Andrea indiscreetely carried alwayes about
him； as thinking it could no where else be so safe： This was all
shee aymed at； and for which shee had ensnared him； faigning her selfe
to be of Palermo； and Daughter to Piero of Perouse； so that not
regarding him any longer； but making fast the house of Office doore；
there she left him in that miserable taking。
Poore Andrea perceiving； that his calles could get no answere from
the Lad； cryed out louder； but all to no purpose： when seeing into his
owne simplicity； and understanding his error； though somewhat too
late； hee made such meanes constrainedly； that he got over a wall；
which severed that foule sinke from the Worlds eye； and being in the
open streete； went to the doore of the House； which then he knew too
well to his cost； making loud exclaimes with rapping and knocking； but
all as fruitelesse as before。 Sorrowing exceedingly； and manifestly
beholding his misfortune； Alas （quoth he） how soone have I lost a
Sister； and five hundred Crownes besides？ With many other words；
loud calles； and beatings uppon the doore without intermission； the
neighbours finding themselves disturbed； and unable to endure any such
ceaselesse vexation； rose from their beddes； and called to him；
desiring him to be gone； and let them rest。 A Maide also of the same
house； looking forth at the window； and seeming as newly raised from
sleepe； called to him； saying； What noyse is that beneath？ Why
Virgin （answered Andrea） know you not me？ I am Andrea de Piero；
Brother to your Mistresse Fiordeliza。 Thou art a drunken knave replyed
the Maide； more full of drinke then wit： goe sleepe； goe sleepe； and
come againe to morrow： for I know no Andrea de Piero； neither hath
my Mistresse any such Brother。 Get thee gone go ie good man； and
suffer us to sleepe I prythee。 How now （quoth Andrea） doest thou not
understand what I say？ Thou knowest that I supt with thy Mistresse
this night； but if our Sicilian kindred be so soone forgot； I
prythee give mee my Cloathes which I left in my Chamber； and then
verie gladly will I get mee gone。 Hereat the Maide laughing out
aloude； saide； Surely the man is mad； or walketh the streetes in a
dreame： and so clasping fast the Window； away she went and left him。
Now could Andrea assure himselfe； that his Golde and cloathes were
past recovery； which mooving him to the mor impatience； his former
intercessions became converted into furie； and what hee could not
compasse by faire intreats； he intended to winne by outrage and
violence： so that taking up a great stone in his hand； hee layed
upon the doore verie powerfull strokes。 The neighbors hearing this
mollestation still； admitting them not the least respite of rest；
reputed him for a troublesome fellow； and that he used those
counterfet words； onely to disturbe the Mistresse of the house； and
all that dwelled neere about her； looking againe out at their
windowes； they altogether beganne to rate and reprove him； even like
so many bawling Curres； barking at a strange dog passing through the
street。 This is shamefull villany （quoth one） and not to be
suffered； that honest women should thus be molested in their houses；