Long ago there lived in a distant kingdom an influential1 noble named Ludovico, who vastly increased his wealth by his marriage to a rich heiress called Clotilde. During the first ten years of their union she had never peeped out of her window or stirred out of her room: she only walked to the door of her chamber2 to bid farewell to her husband or to receive his parting kiss when he was off to attend to his official business, and to meet him with a [249]tender embrace when he returned. Nobody else but Ludovico and her chaperon could see or talk with her: to these two persons only did Clotilde reveal her secrets and convey the thoughts of her spotless soul. She spent her time in voluntary seclusion3, not in the luxuries of the court or the gaieties of society, but in embroidery4, knitting, and in the unnecessary embellishment of her extremely lovely person.
But an incident now happened that seriously threatened to destroy the foundations of their blissful union, for there may be eddies5 and counter-currents in the steady and swift flow of a stream. The king invited all the nobles in the land to a sumptuous6 banquet to be given in one of the principal frontier cities. Ludovico was among the first persons to accept the king’s invitation. When the luxurious7 repast was over, the guests gathered in groups around small tables in the adjoining grounds to while away the sultry hours and to discuss the questions of the day. One of these groups was composed of Ludovico and six other nobles, among whom was a bold, sharp-tongued rich youth named Pio. The conversation touched on topics concerning the fair sex, especially of women historically famous for their personal charms, virtues8, and vices9. The garrulous10 Pio ridiculed11 the noble constancy and other excellent traits of the fair Clotilde.
“I will bet you anything you want to bet, that you cannot learn the secrets of my wife in fifteen days,” said Ludovico, his face flushed with wrath12.
“All right,” said Pio, exasperated13 by Ludovico’s boast. “The loser shall be hanged. I will bet my life that I’ll know the secrets of your wife within fifteen days.”
The terms of the contract were carefully written down, solemnly ratified14 by the king, and signed by the two contestants15 and by the other high-born gentlemen.
Pio set out the next day for Ludovico’s home town. The inexperienced youth looked in vain for Ludovico’s residence. Finally he asked a jolly fellow, who showed him the house after a long roundabout conversation. Pio went upstairs, where he saw the gray-haired chaperon sitting alone in the spacious16 hall, which was decorated to vie in magnificence with the most gorgeously furnished apartment of the king. The accomplished17 Pio doffed18 his bonnet19 to the old woman, and politely asked for her mistress.
[250]“Nobody but her husband and me is allowed to see her,” said the ugly old hag.
Pio then sat down and began to talk to her. By his persuasive20 language and the magnetic touch of his hands he easily insinuated21 himself into her confidence. Then, dropping a piece of gold on her palm, he said, “Will you tell me the secrets of your mistress?”
The old woman looked at him suspiciously, but the brilliant coin proved too great a temptation for her. “Clotilde,” she said, “has three golden1 locks of hair under her left armpit. I know this fact, because I bathe her every day.”
Pio heaved a deep groan22 and turned his face aside. After recovering himself, he dropped another gold-piece into the hand of the chaperon, and said, “Will you get one of those locks for me?”
She hesitated, but his eloquence23 was irresistible24. “I’ll give you the lock to-morrow,” she said. Pio then departed, and she returned to her mistress.
Early the next morning, while the old woman was bathing Clotilde as usual, she pulled out one of Clotilde’s golden locks. “Aray!” exclaimed Clotilde, “what’s the matter with you?”
“Never mind, never mind!” said the old woman with many caresses25. “This is the only reward I want for my many faithful services to you.”
Ignorant of the treasonable intrigues26 of her chaperon, Clotilde said nothing more. Before noon Pio arrived. With trembling hands and pale cheeks, the old woman gave him the golden lock. She was amply rewarded with a purse of gold. Ignorant of the fatal consequences of her treacherous27 act, she gayly went back to Clotilde’s private chamber.
Pio left the town late in the afternoon, and soon arrived at the capital. Ludovico was struck aghast at the sight of the golden lock. He at once wrote a letter to his wife which ran in part as follows:—
“I have spent ten years of my life in perfect happiness with you. I expected to enjoy such blissful days for a much longer period. But now everything is hopeless. My life shall be ended by violence, because of your faithlessness. We shall see each other no more. Receive the sad farewell of your Ludovico.”
[251]When Clotilde read this letter, she swooned. When she came to her senses, she awoke as from a trance. But when she beheld28 the letter again, she read again the opprobrious29 word “faithlessness” in her husband’s handwriting. She did not know what act of disloyalty she had committed. She moved about in her room by fits and starts. At last a thought came to her mind: she sent for the best goldsmith in town, and told him to make her a gold slipper30 adorned31 with precious stones. Under her strict supervision32 the work was completed in a marvellously short time. Then she put on her best clothes and the precious slipper, and with all possible expedition set out for Ludovico.
Clotilde arrived in the city just a few minutes before the execution. She drove directly to the king’s pavilion. Her only companion was the same old woman who had caused all this trouble. The turbulent persons who had gathered in the public square to witness the horrible spectacle were awed33 by the loveliness and magnificent attire34 of Clotilde. When she reached the king, and asked him for all the details concerning Ludovico’s case, and when the king had given her all the information he could, she turned and pointed35 toward Pio, and said, “That man has stolen my other slipper which looks like this one I am wearing.”
The king called Pio from the place where he was standing36, and told him all about the fair lady’s accusation37. “I have not committed any crime against her,” said Pio angrily. “I don’t even know her. This is the first time I have ever seen her.”
“Sir,” said Clotilde sneeringly38, “why, then, did you tell his Majesty39 and other persons that you have discovered my secrets? I am the wife of Ludovico, whose life you have threatened to end by your deceit. I know now by what means you got possession of my golden lock.”
Clotilde’s statement sealed Pio’s fate. He was hanged in place of Ludovico, who deeply regretted having doubted his faithful wife. And what happened to the old woman, who preferred the gold of an impostor to the kindness of a virtuous40 woman? The hag was sentenced to spend the remainder of her life in a damp, dreary41 dungeon42.
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1
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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embroidery
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| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
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eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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7
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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8
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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ridiculed
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| v.嘲笑，嘲弄，奚落( ridicule的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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13
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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ratified
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| v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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contestants
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| n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 ) | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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doffed
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| v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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20
persuasive
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| adj.有说服力的，能说得使人相信的 | |
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insinuated
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| v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 )；巧妙或迂回地潜入；（使）缓慢进入；慢慢伸入 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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24
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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caresses
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| 爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 ) | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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27
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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28
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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opprobrious
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| adj.可耻的，辱骂的 | |
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slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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31
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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38
sneeringly
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| 嘲笑地，轻蔑地 | |
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39
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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40
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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41
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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42
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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