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！
divers flying reports concerning her life； yet hee would not credite
any thing amisse of her； for albeit she might （perhappes） beguile some
other； yet shee affected him （he thought） in better manner； and no
such misfortune could happen to him。
Having spent all the night with her in wanton dalliances； and
being risen in the morning； to enflame his affection more and more
towards her； and to prevent any ill opinion he might conceyve of
her； she bestowed a rich and costly Girdle on him； as also a pursse
most curiously wrought； saying to him。 My sweet Salabetto； with
these testimonies of my true affection to thee； I give thee faithfully
to understand； that as my person is onely subjected thine； so this
house and all the riches in it； remaineth absolutely at thy
disposition； or whatsoever hereafter shal happen within the compasse
of my power。
He being not a little proud of this her bountifull offer （having
never bestowed any gift on her； because by no meanes shee would
admit it） after many sweet kisses and embraces； departed thence； to
the place where the Merchants usually frequented： resorting to her
（from time to time） as occasion served； and paying not one single peny
for all his wanton pleasure； by which cunning baytes （at length） she
caught him。
It came to passe； that having made sale of all his Clothes；
whereby hee had great gaines； and the moneyes justly payed him at
the times appointed： Biancafiore got intelligence thereof； yet not
by him； but from one of the Brokers。 Salabetto comming one night to
sup with her； she embraced and kissed him as she was wont to doe；
and seemed so wonderfully addicted in love to him； even as if shee
would have dyed with delight in his armes。 Instantly； shee would needs
bestow two goodly gilt standing Cuppes on him； which Salabetto by no
meanes would receive； because she had formerly bin very bountifull
to him； to above the value of an hundred Crowns； and yet she would not
take of him so much as a mite。 At length； pressing still more tokens
of her love and bounty on him； which he as courteously denied； as
she kindly offered： one of her Women…slaves （as shee had before
cunningly appointed） sodainely calling her； forthwith she departed out
of her Chamber。 And when she had continued a pretty while absent；
she returned againe weeping； and throwing her selfe downe upon her
Pallet； breathed forth such sighes and wofull lamentations； as no
Woman could possibly doe the like。
Salabetto amazedly wondering thereat； tooke her in his Armes； and
weeping also with her； said。 Alas my deare Love； what sodain
accident hath befalne you； to urge this lamentable alteration？ If
you love me； hide it not from me。 After he had of entreated her in
this manner； casting her armes about his necke； and sighing as if
her heart would breake； thus she replyed。 Ah Salabetto； the onely
jewell of my joy on earth； I knowe not what to do； or say； for （even
now） I received Letters from Messina； wherein my Brother writes to me；
that although it cost the sale of all my goods； or whatsoever else I
have beside； I must （within eight dayes space） not faile to send him a
thousand Florins of gold； or else he must have his head smitten off；
and I know not by what meanes to procure them so soone。 For； if the
limitation of fifteene dayes might serve the turne； I could borrow
them in a place； where I can command a farre greater summe； or else
I would sell some part of our Lands。 But beeing no way able to
furnish him so soone； I would I had died before I heard these
dismall tydings。 And in the uttering of these words； she graced them
with such cunning dissembled sorrow； as if she had meant truly indeed。
Salabetto； in whom the fury of his amorous flames； had consumed a
great part of his necessary understanding； beleeving these
counterfetted tears and complaints of hers； to proceed from an
honest meaning soule； rashly and foolishly thus replied。 Deare
Biancafiore； I cannot furnish you with a thousand golden Florines； but
am able to lend you five hundred if I were sure of their repayment
at fifteene dayes； wherein you are highly beholding to Fortune； that I
have made sale of all my Cloathes； which if they had lyen still on
my hand； my power could not stretch to lend you five Florines。 Alas
deare heart （quoth she） would you be in such want of money； and hide
it from her that loves you so loyally？ Why did you not make your
need knowne to me？ Although I am not furnished of a thousand Florines；
yet I have alwaies ready three or foure hundred by me； to do any kinde
office for my friend。 In thus wronging me； you have robd me of all
boldnes； to presume upon your offer made me。 Salabetto； far faster
inveigled by these words then before； said。 Let not my folly （bright
Biancafiore） cause you to refuse my friendly offer； in such a case
of extreme necessity： I have them ready pre。 pared for you； and am
heartily sory； that my power cannot furnish you with the whole summe。
Then catching him fast in her armes； thus she answered。 Now I
plainly perceive； my dearest Salabetto； that the love thou bearest
me is true and perfect； when； without expectation of being
requested； thou art readie to succour me in such an urgent neede；
and with so faire a summe of Florines。 Sufficiently was I thine owne
before； but now am much more ingaged by so high deserving； with this
particular acknowledgement for ever； that my Brothers head was
redeemed by thy goodnesse onely。 Heaven beareth me record； how
unwilling I am to be beholding in this kind； considring that you are a
Merchant； and Merchants furnish al their affairs with ready monis： but
seeing necessity constraineth me； and I make no doubt of repaiment
at the time appointed： I 。 p shall the more boldly accept your
kindnes； with this absolute promise beside； that I wil rather sell all
the houses I have； then breake my honest word with you。
Counterfeit teares still drayning downe her cheeks； and Salabetto
kindly comforting her； he continued there with hir all that night；
to expresse him selfe her most liberall servant。 And； without
expecting any more requesting； the next morning he brought her the
five hundred Florines； which she received with a laughing heart； but
outward dissembled weeping eies； Salabetto never demanding any other
security； but onely her single promise。
Biancafiore； having thus received the five hundred Florines； the
indiction of the Almanacke began to alter： and whereas （before）
Salabetto could come see her whensoever he pleased； many occasions now
happened； whereby he came seven times for once； and yet his entrance
was scarsely admitted； neither was his entertainment so affable； or
his cheare so bountifull； as in his former accesses thither。 Moreover；
when the time for repaiment was come； yea a moneth or two over…past；
and he demanded to have his money； hee could have nothing but words
for paiment。 Now he began to consider on the craft and cunning of this
wicked Woman； as also his owne shallow understanding； knowing he could
make no proofe of his debt； but what her selfe listed to say； having
neither witnes； specialty； bill or bond to shew： which made his
folly so shamefull to him； that he durst not complaine to any
person； because he had received some advertisements before； whereto he
wold by no means listen； and now should have no other amends； but
publike infamie； scorne and disgrace； which made him almost weary of
his life； and much to bemoane his owne unhappinesse。 He received
also divers Letters from his Master； to make returne of the 500
Florines over by way of banke； according as he had used to do： but
nowe could performe no such matter。
Hereupon； because his error should not be discovered； he departed in
a small vessell thence； not making for Pisa； as he should have done；
but directly for Naples hee shaped his course。 At that instant
lodged there； Don Pietro della Canigiano； Treasurer of the Empresse of
Constantinople； a man of great wisedome and understanding； as also
very ingenious and politike； he being an especiall Favourer of
Salabetto and all his friendes； which made him presume the more boldly
（being urged thereto by meere necessity； the best corrector of
wandering wits） to acquaint him with his lamentable misfortune； in
every particular as it had hapned； requesting his aid and advice；
how he might best weare out the rest of his dayes； because hee never
meant to visit Florence any more。
Canigiano being much displeased at the repetition of his Follie；
sharply reproved him； saying。 Thou hast done leudly； in carying thy
selfe so loosely； and spending thy Masters goods so carelesly； which
though I cannot truly tearme spent； but rather art meerely cousened
and cheated of them； yet thou seest at what a deere rate thou hast
purchased pleasure； which yet is not utterly helplesse； but may by one
meanes or other be recovered。 And being a man of woonderfull
apprehension； advised him instantly what was to bee done； furnishing
him also with a summe of money； wherewith to adventure a second losse；
in hope of recovering the first againe： he caused divers Packes to
be well bound up； with the Merchants markes orderly made on them；
and bought about twenty Buttes or Barr