XII

ILOOKEDattheseeventsasImighthavelookedatacomedyofPlautusitwasveryamusing,butperhapsalittlevulgar.Iwaswrappedupinmyownhappiness,andIhadforgottenNemesis. Oneday,perhapstwomonthsfrommyarrivalinForli,IheardCheccotellhiscousinthatacertainGiorgiodall'Astehadreturned.Ipaidnoparticularattentiontotheremarkbutlater,whenIwasalonewithMatteo,itoccurredtomethatIhadnotheardbeforeofthisperson.IdidnotknowthatGiuliahadrelationsonherhusband'sside.Iasked,— 'Bytheway,whoisthatGiorgiodall'Aste,ofwhomCheccowasspeaking?' 'AcousinofDonnaGiulia'slatehusband.' 'Ihaveneverheardhimspokenofbefore.' 'Haven'tyou?Heenjoysquiteapeculiarreputation,asbeingtheonlyloverthatthevirtuousGiuliahaskeptformorethantendays.' 'Anotherofyouroldwives'tales,Matteo!Natureintendedyouforabeggingfriar.' 'IhaveoftenthoughtIhavemissedmyvocation.Withmybrilliantgiftfortellingliesinatruthfulmanner,IshouldhavemademywayintheChurchtothehighestdignities.Whereas,certainantiquatednotionsofhonourhavingbeeninstilledintomeduringmytrainingasasoldier,mygiftsarelostwiththeresult,thatwhenItellthetruthpeoplethinkIamlying.Butthisissolemntruth!' 'Allyourstoriesare!'Ijeered. 'Askanyone.Thishasbeengoingonforyears.WhenGiuliawasmarriedbyoldTommaso,whomshehadneverseeninherlifebeforethebetrothal,thefirstthingshedidwastofallinlovewithGiorgio.Hefellinlovewithher,butbeingafairlyhonestsortofman,hehadsomescruplesaboutcommittingadulterywithhiscousin'swife,especiallyashelivedonhiscousin'smoney.However,whenawomanisvicious,aman'sscruplessoongotothedevil.IfAdamcouldn'trefusetheapple,youcan'texpectuspoorfallencreaturestodosoeither.TheresultwasthatJosephdidnotrunawayfromPotiphar'swifesofastastopreventherfromcatchinghim.' 'Howbiblicalyouare.' 'Yes,'answeredMatteo'I'mmakinglovetoaparson'smistress,andIamcultivatingthestylewhichIfindsheisus