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the decameron(十日谈)-第32章

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her selfe。 Neverthelesse; necessity now being her best counsellor;
seeing her selfe thus all alone; and not knowing in what place shee
was; shee used such meanes to them that were living; that (at the
last) they came to better knowledge of themselves。 And being unable to
guesse; what was become of the men and Marriners; seeing the Ship also
driven on the sands; and filled with water; she began with them to
lament most greevously: and now it was about the houre of mid day;
before they could descry any person on the shore; or any els to pity
them in so urgent a necessity。
  At length; noone being past; a Gentleman named Bajazeth; attended by
divers of his followers on horsebacke; and returning from a Countrie
house belonging to him; chanced to ride by on the sands。 Uppon sight
of the Ship lying in that case; he imagined truely what had hapned;
and commanded one of his men to enter aboord it; which (with some
difficultie) hee did; to resolve his Lord what remained therein。 There
hee found the faire yong Lady; with such small store of company as was
left her; fearefully hidden under the prow of the Ship。 So soone as
they saw him; they held up their hands; wofully desiring mercy of him:
but he perceiving their lamentable condition; and that hee understoode
not what they saide to him; their affliction grew the greater;
labouring by signes and gestures; to give him knowledge of their
misfortune。
  The servant gathering what he could by their outward behaviour;
declared to his Lord what hee had seene in the Ship; who caused the
Women to be brought on shore; and all the precious things remaining
with them; conducting them with him to a place not far off; where with
food and warmth he gave them comfort。 By the rich garments which the
Lady was cloathed withall; he reputed her to be a Gentlewoman well
derived; as the great reverence done to her by the rest; gave him good
reason to conceive。 And although her lookes were pale and wan; as also
her person mightily altered; by the tempestuous violence of the Sea:
yet notwithstanding; she appeared faire and lovely in the eye of
Bajazeth; whereupon forthwith he determined; that if she were not
married; hee would enjoy her as his owne in marriage: or if he could
not winne her to bee his wife; yet (at the least) shee should be his
friend; because she remained now in his power。
  Bajazeth was a man of stearne lookes; rough and harsh both in speech
and behaviour; yet causing the Lady to be honourably used divers dayes
together; shee became thereby well comforted and recovered。 And seeing
her beautie to exceede all comparison; he was afflicted beyond
measure; that he could not understand her; nor she him; whereby hee
could not know of whence or what she was。 His amorous flames
encreasing more and more; by kinde; courteous; and affable actions; he
laboured to compasse what he aymed at。 But all his endeavour proved to
no purpose; for she refused all familiar privacie with him; which so
much the more kindled the fury of his fire。 This being well observed
by the Lady; having now remained there a moneth and more; and
collecting by the customes of the Countrey; that she was among Turkes;
and in such a place; where although she were knowne; yet it would
little advantage her; beside; that long protraction of time would
provoke Bajazeth by faire meanes or force to obtaine his will: she
propounded to her selfe (with magnanimity of spirit) to tread all
misfortunes under her feete; commanding her Women (whereof shee had
but three now remaining alive) that they should not disclose what
she was; except it were in some such place; where manifest signes
might yeeld hope of regaining their liberty。 Moreover; she
admonished them stoutly to defend their honour and chastity;
affirming; that she had absolutely resolved with her selfe; that never
any other shou enjoy her; but her intended husband: wherein her
women did much commend her; promising to preserve their reputation;
according as shee had commanded。
  Day by day; were the torments of Bajazeth wonderfully augmented; yet
still his kinde offers scornefully refused; and he as farre off from
compassing his desires; as when he first beganne to moove the
matter: wherefore; perceiving that all faire courses served to no
effect; hee resolved to compasse his purpose by craft and subtilty;
reserving rigorous extremitie for his finall conclusion。 And having
once observed; that wine was verie pleasing to the Lady; she being
never used to drinke any at all; because (by her Countries Law) it was
forbidden her: and no meane store having beene lately brought to
Bajazeth in a Barke of Geneway: hee resolved to surprize her by meanes
thereof; as a cheefe minister of Venus; to heate the coolest blood。
And seeming now in his outward behaviour; as if hee had given over his
amorous pursuite; and which she strove by all her best endeavours to
withstand: one night; after a very majesticke and solemne manner;
hee prepared a delicate and sumptuous supper; whereto the Lady was
invited: and hee had given order; that hee who attended on her Cup;
should serve her with many Wines compounded and mingled together;
which hee accordingly performed; as being cunning enough in such
occasions。
  Alathiella mistrusting no such trechery intended against her; and
liking the Wines pleasing taste extraordinarily; dranke more then
stoode with her precedent modest resolution; and forgetting all her
passed adversities; became very frolicke and merry: so that seeing
some women dance after the manner observed there in Majorica; she also
fell to dauncing according to the Alexandrian custome。 Which when
Bajazeth beheld; he imagined the victory to be more then halfe
wonne; and his hearts desire verie neere the obtaining: plying her
still with wine upon wine; and continuing this revelling the most part
of the night。
  At the length; the invited guests being all gone; the Lady retyred
then to her chamber; attended on by none but Bajazeth himselfe; and as
familiarly as if he had bene one of her women; shee no way
contradicting his bold intrusion; so farre had wine over…gone her
sences; and prevailed against all modest bashfulnesse。 These wanton
embracings; strange to her that had never tasted them before; yet
pleasing beyond measure; by reason of his treacherous advantage;
afterward drew on many more of the ike carowsing meetings; without
so much as thought of her passed miseries; or those more honourable
and chaste respects; that ever ought to attend on Ladies。
  Now; Fortune envying thus their stollen pleasures; and that shee;
being the purposed wife of a potent King; should thus become the
wanton friend of a much mean man; whose onely glory was her shame;
altered the course of their too common pastimes; by preparing a
farre greater infelicity for them。 This Bajazeth had a Brother; aged
about five and twenty yeeres; of most compleate person; in the very
beauty of his time; and fresh as the sweetest smelling Rose; he
being named Amurath。 After he had once seene this Ladie (whose faire
feature pleased him beyond all womens else) shee seemed in his sodaine
apprehension; both by her outward behaviour and civill apparancie;
highly to deserve his verie best opinion; for she was not meanely
entred into his favour。 Now hee found nothing to his hinderance; in
obtaining the heighth of his hearts desire; but onely the strict
custodie and guard; wherein his brother Bajazeth kept her: which
raised a cruell conceite in his minde; wherein followed (not long
after) as cruell an effect。
  It came to passe; that at the same time; in the Port of the
Cittie; called Caffa; there lay then a Ship laden with Merchandize;
being bound thence for Smyrna; of which Ship two Geneway Merchants
(being brethren) were the Patrons and Owners; who had given
direction for hoysing the sailes to depart thence when the winde
should serve。 With these two Genewayes Amurath had covenanted; for
himselfe to goe aboord the ship the night ensuing; and the Lady in his
company。 When night was come; having resolved with himselfe what was
to be done: in a disguised habite hee went to the house of Bajazeth;
who stood not any way doubtfull of him; and w
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