Читать книгу Gian Vittorio Rossi's Eudemiae libri decem - Группа авторов - Страница 19

Eudemia is set around 31 CE in the immediate aftermath of the arrest and execution of Lucius Aelius SejanusSejanus, Lucius Aelius, commander of the Praetorian Guard, who was accused of trying to usurp power from TiberiusTiberius while the emperor ruled in absentia from Capri (an event known as the Conspiracy of Sejanus). The protagonists, Flavius VopiscusFlavius Vopiscus Niger (Gian Vittorio Rossi?) Niger and Paulus AemiliusPaulus Aemilius Verus Verus, flee Rome by sea but become shipwrecked on an island named Eudemia located off the coast of Mauritania. The story represents Flavius Vopiscus Niger’s first-person account of what the two Romans see and hear on the island.

As GiachinoGiachino, Luisella observes, the first seven books of Eudemia reflect a week on the island, with each book describing a single day.1 The action in the eighth book (the conclusion of the 1637 editio princeps) describes the two protagonists’ voyage to a neighboring island and takes place over an unspecified period of time. The ninth book (of the two added to the 1645 edition) takes up the action after the protagonists have lived on the neighboring island for an indeterminate period.

Book One: Two Romans, Flavius VopiscusFlavius Vopiscus Niger (Gian Vittorio Rossi?) Niger and Paulus AemiliusPaulus Aemilius Verus Verus, fleeing the aftermath of the conspiracy of SejanusSejanus, Lucius Aelius, become shipwrecked on the island of Eudemia. They are befriended by GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?), steward to PlusiusPlusius (Alessandro Damasceni Peretti di Montalto), the wealthiest man on the island, who becomes their guide. They learn from Gallonius that the island had been colonized two centuries earlier by the survivors of a trireme from the fleet of ScipioScipio Africanus Africanus, which had been blown off course as it was returning from the Second Punic War. After generations of intermarriage, everyone on Eudemia now speaks Latin. The two Romans learn that the island is governed by ruling men called dynasts (dynastae), whom they witness being ferried about the city in opulent carriages. Gallonius brings them to the home of Dynast BibulusBibulus (Francesco Barberini?), who keeps a menagerie of animals. On their way back to Gallonius’s house, the three men narrowly avoid being struck by a carriage carrying a noblewoman named PasicompsaPasicompsa, widow of a dynast, prompting a digression on the insatiable libido of women who prey upon naive young men.

Book Two: GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?) takes the two Romans to visit the splendid gardens of one of the dynasts. Next they visit a friend of Gallonius, who has been taken ill and is being cared for by a woman, named NannaNanna, whom the Romans learn is a cunning and deceitful prostitute after the man’s money. They hear the story of how this woman had, with the help of a quack doctor, cleverly tricked a merchant into thinking he had injured her, for which harm she attempted to obtain monetary recompense. When the story concludes, the three men make their way to the home of Dynast PlusiusPlusius (Alessandro Damasceni Peretti di Montalto). While lunch is being served to Plusius’s guests, the two Romans have the opportunity to observe the dynasts’ dress and to eavesdrop on their conversations. The Romans are then invited to take lunch in the beautiful gardens where they are joined by a raucous group of guests. After the feast has concluded, Gallonius is summoned to a magistrate’s chambers to aid a man named ToxillusToxillus, who has been dragged off to court. There they hear the story of a prostitute, allegedly a witch, who stands accused of using magic to attack the magistrate’s lictors. After the woman is cleared of wrongdoing, Gallonius persuades the magistrate to drop the charges against Toxillus. On their way home, the three men hear the story of AsteriusAsterius (Giovanni Battista Stella?), who, by a clever play on words, gets revenge on the magistrate for an injustice.

Book Three: GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?) takes the two Romans to visit a friend of his, who is anguished about being old and close to death. After an unsuccessful attempt to comfort his friend, Gallonius continues to lead his two guests on a tour of the city. In one of the forums, they hear the story of a rag seller who has left his wife under the protection of men who he thinks are bodyguards, but who are actually vying for her amorous attention. Gallonius promises his guests that, after lunch, he will take them to visit a literary academy. They spend the afternoon in the company of the elite and learned members of the academy listening to speeches and poems. That night they are awoken out of their sleep by cries coming from the hospital, where the staff is spending a miserable night on account of the explosive effects of bad wine.

Book Four: The three men receive news that the eminent Dynast AlexanderAlexander (Alessandro Damasceni Peretti di Montalto) has died. Alexander’s greatness is contrasted with the story of another man, despised by all, who died and was buried in a tomb—but the man turned out not to be dead. At the conclusion of the story, the three men return to GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?)’s house, where they overhear the household servants engaged in gossip. During lunch, the Romans engage with a philosopher in a debate about the chastity of LucretiaLucretia. That afternoon, they head out from Gallonius’s house and encounter a funeral for a certain young man named PhilotasPhilotas. The Romans hear the sad tale of two star-crossed lovers, Philotas and OlindaOlinda. The two Romans then witness the funeral of Dynast Alexander. Before dinner they are introduced to a ship’s captain, who will take them the following day to a neighboring island. As they head back to Gallonius’s house, they encounter a man who claims to be a poet superior to VirgilVirgil. They next encounter a tedious philosopher, who instructs them in his abbreviated method of learning rhetoric.

Book Five: The two Romans visit the senate house to see the poliarchs (senators) in action hearing complaints from fishmongers, poultry sellers, and other merchants, and administering justice. On their way they learn about the common practice of husbands turning a blind eye to their wives’ lovers if some benefit accrues to them in the form of lavish gifts. The Romans are invited by the poliarchs to join them for lunch. At the conclusion of the banquet, the men admire the art in the senate house. On their way home, they meet AridusAridus (Gian Vittorio Rossi?), who recounts stories about various people in Eudemia: a man whose son and daughter are, respectively, a handsome and accomplished troublemaker and a famous courtesan; a thieving banker named LycoLyco; and a miserly cloth merchant, named HarpaxHarpax, and a dishonest banker, named Septimus PleusippusSeptimus Pleusippus, both of whom defraud their clients and creditors. Next, they hear from IberusIberus about a clever plan to ensure his immortality. When they return to GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?)’s house, the two Romans chastise him for being angry at his ungrateful master, because he should know better than to expect anything but ingratitude from noblemen. Gallonius then recounts the woeful tale of Nicius RufusNicius Rufus (Gian Vittorio Rossi), a long-suffering secretary to a miserly dynast.

Book Six: Because the two Romans are in need of money, GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?) accompanies them to the forum to meet with ZanchaZancha the broker in order to sell some of their valuables before setting sail to the neighboring island. Zancha recounts the story of the drunkard carpenter BaldocciusBaldoccius, whose daughter, TensaTensa, fools both him and her mother, AntinaAntina, into leaving her at home alone, so she can meet freely with her lover, PamphilusPamphilus. On their way home, the two Romans encounter a solemn religious procession and learn that the members of the ruling class of Eudemia hold their horses and other pets in higher esteem than they do their fellow man. After breakfast they rush to board the ship. Aboard the ship they meet a painter named BallioBallio who, with his wife, wants to set sail with them, and a moneylender who rails against the wife because she was once a whore. Ballio then recounts the story of a Cynic philosopher named LyusLyus, whose sister, a chaste maiden, has been on pious pilgrimages all over the world. Her reputation precedes her, and noblewomen throughout the land compete to host her in their homes and in their beds, until a rich widow unmasks her true identity.

Book Seven: A violent wind blows the ship back to Eudemia whence it departed. The two Romans disembark and seek out their friend GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?). They all commiserate about a certain disagreeable old man named LigurinusLigurinus. The two Romans learn about the archaeologist OffuscatusOffuscatus (Antonio Bosio), who devotes his life to exploring Eudemia’s catacombs. Offuscatus incurs the jealousy of PlusiusPlusius (Alessandro Damasceni Peretti di Montalto) AccipiterPlusius Accipiter (Arrigo Falconio), who thinks Offuscatus is treasure hunting and enriching himself with his finds; this prompts Offuscatus to conspire with a certain StyliusStylius (Pompeo Colonna) to play a trick on Plusius. On their way to a bookshop, the two Romans and Gallonius hear about a pair of swindlers who use a beautiful young man as a honeypot to trick rich men into paying them a ransom. At the bookshop they hear about various men gifted in letters, art, and science. They also hear the story of a wicked, filthy old man named MerlinusMerlinus, who aids a penniless youth in engaging the services of a prostitute. Next, they hear the story of RufusNicius Rufus (Gian Vittorio Rossi) the clerk, whose servant spends the household money entrusted to him and disguises himself as a wealthy man in order to play a trick on his master. Next they listen to the story of a widow, who goes before a judge to recoup money she has loaned to a dishonest neighbor. While waiting at the port to set sail, they hear various tales of fraudsters feigning religious frenzy in order to trick people into thinking they are possessed by demons. They also meet a young surgeon, who has been thrown out of his house for inadvertently causing his father to eat a human liver. They then hear the story of a philosopher and adherent of the cult of MinervaMinerva, who seduces the maidservant of a nobleman’s wife. They also come across the old man Merlinus again attempting to recoup his money from a prostitute.

Book Eight: On board the ship, they hear the story of a dishonest soldier of a religious military order who tricks people into believing he is an alchemist and then uses that supposed power as collateral for obtaining loans and stealing other people’s riches—until his ruse is exposed. Next, they hear the story of GetaGeta, who finds a clever way to recoup the money he has spent buying gifts for his beloved. They then hear the story of a sexton of the Temple of ApolloApollo who is being transported in chains to his punishment for stealing a young man’s beloved falcon and attempting to hold it hostage in exchange for sexual favors. At the conclusion of this story, they hear a poem against wanton love affairs. The next person they meet offers his expertise in where and how to indulge in all of the illicit pleasures Eudemia has to offer. Next Paulus AemiliusPaulus Aemilius Verus is able to find a clever solution to the plights of two men who have each been wronged by their wives. When they arrive at their destination, they hear the story of Dynast ViusVius, who is so taken by his fondness for a dishonest young man that not even his brother-in-law MegalobulusMegalobulus is able to persuade him that the young man deserves punishment. Finally, the two Romans arrive at the neighboring island and discover a land that is fertile, abundant, and inhabited by law-abiding and welcoming citizens who are all equal under the law. They decide to settle there and procure a villa on a high hill with a farm to sustain them.

Book Nine: The two Romans are enjoying their life on the neighboring island, relishing their villa on a high hill and its surrounding gardens. They partake in many intellectual pursuits in the company of the island’s accomplished scholarly community, and they derive particular pleasure from getting to know a scholar named AristidesAristides (Ugone Ubaldini). They are pleasantly surprised by the arrival of GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?), who has come to the island to run errands for his dynast. Gallonius tells them the good news that the citizens of Eudemia are rejoicing because a certain King NicephorusNicephorus, King (Gustav II Adolf) was thwarted in his attempt to conquer the island and was killed. Various stories follow about a number of tricksters, scofflaws, and thieves, and the judges who hear their cases. Next they meet a man named SuffenusSuffenus who is quite taken with his own talents. They then hear a few more stories about the adjudication of cases by judges who either do not follow the law, or who find clever ways to make someone whole. They hear examples about how stingily wealthy men show their appreciation for services rendered. While they are waiting in the theater to hear the speech of a scholar named IcosippusIcosippus (Gian Vittorio Rossi), Gallonius recites a long poem about the rex sacrorum HumanusHumanus (Urban VIII) and his brother MellitusMellitus (Francesco Barberini). Icosippus then gives a long speech about the virtue of useful laughter. Saddened that Gallonius must return to Eudemia, the two Romans accept his invitation to go with him to experience the celebrated annual games the poliarchs organize at certain times of the year. They are sad to leave their friend Aristides and promise to write to him.

Book Ten: The two Romans set sail with GalloniusGallonius (Gabriel Naudé?) back to Eudemia, where they head to Gallonius’s house, where Gallonius leaves them while he goes to tend to his dynast. While waiting for Gallonius to return, they are visited by AridusAridus (Gian Vittorio Rossi?), whom they had met at the academy meeting. A discussion among the three men ensues, in which they proffer examples, primarily from antiquity, regarding the dangers of conferring excessive and unwarranted praise, and the absurdity of those who seek undeserved, and often extravagant, honors. Aridus then informs the two Romans that the celebrations and games will soon commence. Toward evening they get their first taste of the celebrations when they see throngs of masked revelers filling the streets below their window, along with a spectacular dance performance. Aridus then describes to them the races, which are the central event of the celebrations, explaining that they are run by both people and animals who contend for specific prizes. Gallonius soon returns home, and they all go to bed. They are awakened and entertained by various theatrical spectacles in the form of beautiful stagecraft, music, and dancing. The following night they enjoy the sights and sounds of a city in the throes of joyful celebration. They receive a dinner invitation from a friend of Gallonius and spend a delightful evening eating, listening to a concert, playing games, and hearing amusing stories. A few days later they venture into the streets again to experience continuing celebrations. They enjoy an entertaining parade, after which they watch their first race. At the suggestion of Gallonius, the two Romans don masks so they can more fully participate in the revels. Next the two Romans attend a horse race, and they learn what it takes to be a champion horse. They return home to rest, and Flavius VopiscusFlavius Vopiscus Niger (Gian Vittorio Rossi?) Niger pens a letter to AristidesAristides (Ugone Ubaldini). That night they are invited to dinner at the home of a friend of Gallonius, where they hear about poliarchs behaving badly. The next day they experience a holiday, when working people have the day off and are invited to indulge in food and drink, which is provided by one of the city’s wealthy residents. They learn that the following day is sacred to a god named IndexIndex, when spies and informants are tricked and shamed. They watch another horse race. On the last day of the races, they enjoy local delicacies at the finish line and discover that the conclusion of the races offers an amusing surprise. There are other spectacles and celebratory games for the two Romans to witness, as well as an oration to enjoy and distinguished people to see. Flavius Vopiscus Niger writes to Aristides again. The next day they are invited by a friend of Gallonius to see festivities and games that take place on the river. By the by, they hear a morality tale about a man who accumulated too many riches and suffered the consequences. The very last celebrations the two Romans see are those of the common people, who feast and play games on the grounds of a country estate. At the conclusion of these festivities, the two Romans finally decide to leave Gallonius and return home to the neighboring island,2 where they find their community shaken by the malicious actions of a con man. In the end, they settle back into their literary life, albeit in the company of a nobleman who is wealthy but not particularly educated.