[025]
Now Catella, still giving more credence to Ricciardo's story than
it merited, had gone home in the evening in a most resentful mood,
and Filippello, returning home the same evening with a mind greatly
preoccupied, was scarce as familiar with her as he was wont to be.
[026]
Which she marking, grew yet more suspicious than before, and said
to herself: "Doubtless he is thinking of the lady of whom he expects
to take his pleasure to-morrow, as most assuredly he shall not;" and
so, musing and meditating what she should say to him after their
rencounter at the bagnio, she spent the best part of the night.
[027]
But--to
shorten my story--upon the stroke of none Catella, taking with
her a single attendant, but otherwise adhering to her original intention,
hied her to the bagnio which Ricciardo had indicated; and finding
the good woman there, asked her whether Filippello had been there
that day.
[028]
Primed by Ricciardo, the good woman asked her, whether
she were the lady that was to come to speak with him;
[029]
to which she
answered in the affirmative.
[030]
"Go to him, then," said the good
woman.
[031]
And so Catella, in quest of that which she would gladly
not have found, was shewn to the chamber where Ricciardo was,
and having entered without uncovering her head, closed the door
behind her. Overjoyed to see her, Ricciardo sprang out of bed, took
her in his arms, and said caressingly: "Welcome, my soul."
[032]
Catella, dissembling, for she was minded at first to counterfeit another
woman, returned his embrace, kissed him, and lavished endearments
upon him; saying, the while, not a word, lest her speech should
betray her. The darkness of the room, which was profound, was
equally welcome to both; nor were they there long enough for their
eyes to recover power. Ricciardo helped Catella on to the bed,
where, with no word said on either side in a voice that might be
recognized, they lay a long while, much more to the solace and
satisfaction of the one than of the other party.
[033]
Then, Catella,
deeming it high time to vent her harboured resentment, burst forth
in a blaze of wrath on this wise: "Alas! how wretched is the lot
of women, how misplaced of not a few the love they bear their
husbands! Ah, woe is me! for eight years have I loved thee more
dearly than my life; and now I find that thou, base miscreant that
thou art, dost nought but burn and languish for love of another
woman!
[034]
Here thou hast been--with whom, thinkest thou? Even
with her whom thou hast too long deluded with thy false blandishments,
making pretence to love her while thou art enamoured of
another. 'Tis I, Catella, not the wife of Ricciardo, false traitor
that thou art; list if thou knowest my voice; 'tis I indeed! Ah!
would we were but in the light!--it seems to me a thousand years
till then--that I might shame thee as thou deservest, vile, pestilent
dog that thou art!
[035]
Alas! woe is me! such love as I have borne so
many years--to whom? To this faithless dog, that, thinking to have a
strange woman in his embrace, has in the brief while that I have
been with him here lavished upon me more caresses and endearments
than during all the forepast time that I have been his! [036]A lively
spark indeed art thou to-day, renegade dog, that shewest thyself
so limp and enervate and impotent at home! But, God be praised,
thou hast tilled thine own plot, and not another's, as thou didst believe.
[037]
No wonder that last night thou heldest aloof from me; thou wast
thinking of scattering thy seed elsewhere, and wast minded to shew
thyself a lusty knight when thou shouldst join battle. But praise be
to God and my sagacity, the water has nevertheless taken its proper
course.
[038]
Where is thy answer, culprit? Hast thou nought to say?
Have my words struck thee dumb? God's faith! I know not why I
forbear to pluck thine eyes out with my fingers! Thou thoughtest
to perpetrate this treason with no small secrecy; but, by God, one is
as knowing as another; thy plot has failed; I had better hounds on
thy trail than thou didst think for."
[039]
Ricciardo, inly delighted by her
words, made no answer, but embraced and kissed her more than
ever, and overwhelmed her with his endearments. So she continued
her reproaches, saying: "Ay, thou thinkest to cajole me with thy
feigned caresses, wearisome dog that thou art, and so to pacify and
mollify me; but thou art mistaken. I shall never be mollified, until
I have covered thee with infamy in the presence of all our kinsfolk
and friends and neighbours.
[040]
Am I not, miscreant, as fair as the wife
of Ricciardo Minutolo? Am I not as good a lady as she? Why
dost not answer, vile dog? Wherein has she the advantage of me?
Away with thee! touch me not; thou hast done feats of arms more
than enough for to-day.
[041]
Well I know that, now that thou knowest
who I am, thou wilt wreak thy will on me by force: but by God's
grace I will yet disappoint thee. I know not why I forbear to send
for Ricciardo, who loved me more than himself and yet was never
able to boast that he had a single glance from me; nor know I why
'twere wrong to do so. Thou thoughtest to have his wife here, and
'tis no fault of thine that thou hadst her not: so, if I had him, thou
couldst not justly blame me."
