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！
much the more willingly。 And the Countesse knowing her husbands
departure from Florence； as also his safe arrivall at his owne
dwelling； remained still in Florence； untill the time of her
deliverance； which was of two goodly Sonnes； lively resembling the
lookes of their Father； and all the perfect lineaments of his body。
Perswade your selves； she was not a little carefull of their
nursing； and when she saw the time answerable to her determination；
she tooke her journey （unknowne to any） and arrived with them at
Montpellier； where she rested her selfe for divers dayes； after so
long and wearisome a journey。
Upon the day of all Saints； the Count kept a solemne Feastivall； for
the assembly of his Lords； Knights； Ladies； and Gentlewomen： upon
which Joviall day of generall rejoycing； the Countesse attired in
her wonted Pilgrimes weed； repaired thither； entring into the great
Hall where the Tables were readily covered for dinner。 Preassing
through the throng of people； with her two children in her armes； s
presumed unto the place where the Count sate； and falling on her knees
before him； the teares trickling abundantly downe her cheekes； thus
she spake。 Worthy Lord； I am thy poore； despised； and unfortunate
wife； who； that thou mightst returne home； and not be an exile from
thine owne abiding； have thus long gone begging through the world。 Yet
now at length； I hope thou wilt be so honourably…minded； as to
performe thine owne too strict imposed conditions； made to the two
Knights which I sent unto thee； and which （by thy command） I was
enjoyned to do。 Behold here in mine armes； not onely one Sonne by thee
begotten； but two Twins； and thy Ring beside。 High time is it now；
if men of honour respect their promises； and after so long and tedious
travell； I should at last be welcommed as thy true wife。
The Count hearing this； stoode as confounded with admiration； for
full well he knew the Ring： and both the children were so perfectly
like him； as he was confirmed to be their Father by generall
judgement。 Upon his urging by what possible meanes this could be
brought to passe： the Countesse in presence of the whole assembly； and
unto her eternall commendation； related the whole history； even in
such manner as you have formerly heard it。 Moreover； she reported
the private speeches in bed； uttered betweene himselfe and her；
being witnessed more apparantly； by the costly jewels there openly
shewne。 All which infallible proofes； proclaiming his shame； and her
most noble carriage to her husband； he confessed； that she had told
nothing but the truth in every point which she had reported。
Commending her admirable constancy； exceliency of wit； and sprightly
courage； in making such a bold adventure； he kissed the two sweete
boyes； and to keepe his promise； whereto he was earnestly
importuned； by all his best esteemed friends there present； especially
the honourable Ladies； who would have no deniall； but by forgetting
his former harsh and uncivill carriage towards her； to accept her
for ever as his lawfull wife； folding her in his armes； and sweetly
kissing her divers times together； he bad her welcome to him； as his
vertuous； loyall； and most loving wife； and so （for ever after） he
would acknowledge her。 Well knew hee that she had store of better
beseeming garments in the house； and therefore requested the Ladies to
walke with her to her Chamber； to uncase her of those Pilgrimes weeds；
and cloath her in her owne more sumptuous garments； even those which
shee wore on her wedding day； because that was not the day of his
contentment； but onely this； for now he confessed her to be his wife
indeede； and now he would give the king thanks for her； and now was
Count Bertrand truly married to the faire Juliet of Narbona。
THE THIRD DAY； THE TENTH NOVELL
Alibech turns hermit； and a monk； Rustico； teaches her to put the
Devil in Hell。 Afterwards she is brought home； and married to
Neerbale。
Dioneus listened attentively to the Queen's discourse； and when
she had done and he knew that only he remained to complete the day's
entertainment； without trifling away the time or awaiting a command
from the Queen； thus he began。
Gracious ladies； it may be you have not heard how the Devil is put
in Hell。 Therefore； and since it will not be far off the subject of
this day's discourse； I will tell it you。 Perhaps； hearing it； you may
the better understand that albeit Love more affects gay palaces and
luxurious bowers than the cabins of the poor； yet he by no means
disdains to manifest his power even in the depths of the forest； on
stark mountains and in the caves of the desert； and thus we must
acknowledge that all things wheresoever they be are subject to him。
Coming； then； to my story； I must tell you that in Capsa； a city
of Barbary； there dwelt aforetime a very rich man； who had among
several children a little daughter； fair and of a docile temper； whose
name was Alibech。
This girl； a heathen in a place where many were Christian； used
often to hear her neighbours extol the Christian faith and devotion to
the service of God； wherefore she asked one of them how God could best
be served and with the least hindrance。 She was told that they best
served Him who removed themselves farthest from the things of the
world； as in particular the hermits who had withdrawn from the city to
the wilds of Thebais。
The simple maiden； aged perhaps some fourteen years； moved rather by
a childish whim than any real vocation； set out on the morrow alone
and telling nobody to walk into the desert。 So firmly was she resolved
that after several days of hardship she reached the wilderness of
Thebais。 From afar she descried a little hut； and coming up to it；
found there a holy man。 Amazed to see such a one there； he asked
what she came to seek。 Her answer was that； aspiring towards God；
she came thither to serve Him； and in the hope of finding a teacher to
that end。
The pious hermit； seeing her so young and fair； was afraid lest
the Devil might ensnare him； so he praised her intent； and giving
her roots； wild apples and dates to eat and a draught of water；
said： 〃Daughter； not far from here there dwells a holy man such as
thou seekest： a fitter man than I。 Go thou to him。〃 And he put her
on the way。
The second hermit advised her as the first； and faring farther she
came to the cell of a young hermit； a very pious and righteous man；
whose name was Rustico。 To him she repeated her mission。 Willing to
put his resolution to so great a test； he forebore to send her away；
and took her into his cell。 At nightfall he made her a bed of
palm…leaves； and bade her lie down to rest。
Temptations did not long delay an assault on his constancy； and
finding it much beyond his strength to withstand them； he soon gave up
the battle； and confessed himself worsted。 So putting away all saintly
thoughts； prayers and mortifications； he let his mind dwell on the
freshness and beauty of his companion。 From this he passed to thinking
of the best means of bringing her to his desires without giving her
cause to suspect him of lewdness。
Therefore； satisfying himself by a few questions that she had never
had carnal knowledge of a man； and was indeed as innocent as she
seemed； he thought of a plan to enjoy her under colour of serving God。
He began expounding to her the Devil's enmity to the Almighty； and
went on to impress upon her that the most acceptable service she could
render to God would be to put the Devil in Hell； whereto the Lord
had condemned him。
The little maid asked him how this might be done。 〃Thou shalt soon
learn；〃 replied Rustico； 〃only do as thou seest me do。〃 Thereupon he
took off what few clothes he wore； and stood stark naked； and as
soon as the girl had done likewise he fell on his knees as though to
pray； and made her kneel face to face with him。
This done； Rustico's desire was more than ever inflamed at the sight
of her beauty； and the resurrection of the flesh came to pass。
Seeing this； and not knowing what it meant； Alibech asked： 〃Rustico；
what is it thou hast that thrusts itself out in front； and that I have
not？〃 〃My daughte