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such a friend to be found as Lothario would have； so judicious； so
loyal； and so true？
Of a truth I know not； Lothario alone was such a one； for with the
utmost care and vigilance he watched over the honour of his friend；
and strove to diminish； cut down； and reduce the number of days for
going to his house according to their agreement； lest the visits of
a young man； wealthy； high…born； and with the attractions he was
conscious of possessing； at the house of a woman so beautiful as
Camilla； should be regarded with suspicion by the inquisitive and
malicious eyes of the idle public。 For though his integrity and
reputation might bridle slanderous tongues； still he was unwilling
to hazard either his own good name or that of his friend； and for this
reason most of the days agreed upon he devoted to some other
business which he pretended was unavoidable； so that a great portion
of the day was taken up with complaints on one side and excuses on the
other。 It happened； however； that on one occasion when the two were
strolling together outside the city； Anselmo addressed the following
words to Lothario。
〃Thou mayest suppose； Lothario my friend； that I am unable to give
sufficient thanks for the favours God has rendered me in making me the
son of such parents as mine were； and bestowing upon me with no
niggard hand what are called the gifts of nature as well as those of
fortune； and above all for what he has done in giving me thee for a
friend and Camilla for a wife… two treasures that I value； if not as
highly as I ought； at least as highly as I am able。 And yet； with
all these good things； which are commonly all that men need to
enable them to live happily； I am the most discontented and
dissatisfied man in the whole world； for； I know not how long since； I
have been harassed and oppressed by a desire so strange and so
unusual； that I wonder at myself and blame and chide myself when I
am alone； and strive to stifle it and hide it from my own thoughts；
and with no better success than if I were endeavouring deliberately to
publish it to all the world； and as； in short； it must come out； I
would confide it to thy safe keeping； feeling sure that by this means；
and by thy readiness as a true friend to afford me relief； I shall
soon find myself freed from the distress it causes me； and that thy
care will give me happiness in the same degree as my own folly has
caused me misery。〃
The words of Anselmo struck Lothario with astonishment； unable as he
was to conjecture the purport of such a lengthy preamble； and though
be strove to imagine what desire it could be that so troubled his
friend； his conjectures were all far from the truth； and to relieve
the anxiety which this perplexity was causing him； he told him he
was doing a flagrant injustice to their great friendship in seeking
circuitous methods of confiding to him his most hidden thoughts； for
be well knew he might reckon upon his counsel in diverting them； or
his help in carrying them into effect。
〃That is the truth；〃 replied Anselmo； 〃and relying upon that I
will tell thee； friend Lothario； that the desire which harasses me
is that of knowing whether my wife Camilla is as good and as perfect
as I think her to be； and I cannot satisfy myself of the truth on this
point except by testing her in such a way that the trial may prove the
purity of her virtue as the fire proves that of gold； because I am
persuaded； my friend； that a woman is virtuous only in proportion as
she is or is not tempted； and that she alone is strong who does not
yield to the promises； gifts； tears； and importunities of earnest
lovers； for what thanks does a woman deserve for being good if no
one urges her to be bad； and what wonder is it that she is reserved
and circumspect to whom no opportunity is given of going wrong and who
knows she has a husband that will take her life the first time he
detects her in an impropriety？ I do not therefore hold her who is
virtuous through fear or want of opportunity in the same estimation as
her who comes out of temptation and trial with a crown of victory； and
so； for these reasons and many others that I could give thee to
justify and support the opinion I hold； I am desirous that my wife
Camilla should pass this crisis； and be refined and tested by the fire
of finding herself wooed and by one worthy to set his affections
upon her； and if she comes out； as I know she will； victorious from
this struggle； I shall look upon my good fortune as unequalled； I
shall be able to say that the cup of my desire is full； and that the
virtuous woman of whom the sage says 'Who shall find her？' has
fallen to my lot。 And if the result be the contrary of what I
expect； in the satisfaction of knowing that I have been right in my
opinion； I shall bear without complaint the pain which my so dearly
bought experience will naturally cause me。 And； as nothing of all thou
wilt urge in opposition to my wish will avail to keep me from carrying
it into effect； it is my desire； friend Lothario； that thou shouldst
consent to become the instrument for effecting this purpose that I
am bent upon； for I will afford thee opportunities to that end； and
nothing shall be wanting that I may think necessary for the pursuit of
a virtuous； honourable； modest and high…minded woman。 And among
other reasons； I am induced to entrust this arduous task to thee by
the consideration that if Camilla be conquered by thee the conquest
will not be pushed to extremes； but only far enough to account that
accomplished which from a sense of honour will be left undone； thus
I shall not be wronged in anything more than intention； and my wrong
will remain buried in the integrity of thy silence； which I know
well will be as lasting as that of death in what concerns me。 If；
therefore； thou wouldst have me enjoy what can be called life； thou
wilt at once engage in this love struggle； not lukewarmly nor
slothfully； but with the energy and zeal that my desire demands； and
with the loyalty our friendship assures me of。〃
Such were the words Anselmo addressed to Lothario； who listened to
them with such attention that； except to say what has been already
mentioned； he did not open his lips until the other had finished。 Then
perceiving that he had no more to say； after regarding him for awhile；
as one would regard something never before seen that excited wonder
and amazement； he said to him； 〃I cannot persuade myself； Anselmo my
friend； that what thou hast said to me is not in jest； if I thought
that thou wert speaking seriously I would not have allowed thee to
go so far； so as to put a stop to thy long harangue by not listening
to thee I verily suspect that either thou dost not know me； or I do
not know thee； but no； I know well thou art Anselmo； and thou
knowest that I am Lothario； the misfortune is； it seems to me； that
thou art not the Anselmo thou wert； and must have thought that I am
not the Lothario I should be； for the things that thou hast said to me
are not those of that Anselmo who was my friend； nor are those that
thou demandest of me what should be asked of the Lothario thou
knowest。 True friends will prove their friends and make use of them；
as a poet has said； usque ad aras； whereby he meant that they will not
make use of their friendship in things that are contrary to God's
will。 If this； then； was a heathen's feeling about friendship； how
much more should it be a Christian's； who knows that the divine must
not be forfeited for the sake of any human friendship？ And if a friend
should go so far as to put aside his duty to Heaven to fulfil his duty
to his friend； it should not be in matters that are trifling or of
little moment； but in such as affect the friend's life and honour。 Now
tell me； Anselmo； in which of these two art thou imperilled； that I
should hazard myself to gratify thee； and do a thing so detestable
as that thou seekest of me？ Neither forsooth； on the contrary； thou
dost ask of me； so far as I understand； to strive and labour to rob
thee of honour and life； and to rob myself of them at the same time；
for if I take away thy honour it is plain I take away thy life； as a
man without honour is worse than dead； and being the instrument； as
thou wilt have it so； of so much wrong to thee； shall not I； too； be
left without honour； and consequently without life？ Listen to me；
Anselmo my friend； and be not impatient to answer me until I have said
what occurs to me touching the object of thy desire； for there will be
time enough left for thee to reply and for me to hear。〃
〃Be it so；〃 said Anselmo； 〃say what thou wilt。〃
Lothario then went on to say； 〃It seems to me； Anselmo； that thine
is just now the temper of mind which is always that of the Moors；
who can never be brought to see the error of their creed by quotations
from the Holy Scriptures； or by reasons which depend upon the
examination of the understanding or are founded upon the articles of
faith； but must have examples that are palpable； easy； intelligible；
capable of proof； not admitting of doubt； with mathematical
demonstrations that cannot be denied； like； 'If equals be taken from
equals； the remainders are equal：' and if they do not