按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
And it's folly to expose
What you cannot mend to blows；
What you can't make whole to shatter。
This； then； all may hold as true；
And the reason's plain to see；
For if Danaes there be；
There are golden showers too。
〃All that I have said to thee so far； Anselmo； has had reference
to what concerns thee； now it is right that I should say something
of what regards myself； and if I be prolix； pardon me； for the
labyrinth into which thou hast entered and from which thou wouldst
have me extricate thee makes it necessary。
〃Thou dost reckon me thy friend； and thou wouldst rob me of
honour； a thing wholly inconsistent with friendship； and not only dost
thou aim at this； but thou wouldst have me rob thee of it also。 That
thou wouldst rob me of it is clear； for when Camilla sees that I pay
court to her as thou requirest； she will certainly regard me as a
man without honour or right feeling； since I attempt and do a thing so
much opposed to what I owe to my own position and thy friendship。 That
thou wouldst have me rob thee of it is beyond a doubt； for Camilla；
seeing that I press my suit upon her； will suppose that I have
perceived in her something light that has encouraged me to make
known to her my base desire； and if she holds herself dishonoured； her
dishonour touches thee as belonging to her； and hence arises what so
commonly takes place； that the husband of the adulterous woman； though
he may not be aware of or have given any cause for his wife's
failure in her duty； or （being careless or negligent） have had it in
his power to prevent his dishonour； nevertheless is stigmatised by a
vile and reproachful name； and in a manner regarded with eyes of
contempt instead of pity by all who know of his wife's guilt； though
they see that he is unfortunate not by his own fault； but by the
lust of a vicious consort。 But I will tell thee why with good reason
dishonour attaches to the husband of the unchaste wife； though he know
not that she is so； nor be to blame； nor have done anything； or
given any provocation to make her so； and be not weary with
listening to me； for it will be for thy good。
〃When God created our first parent in the earthly paradise； the Holy
Scripture says that he infused sleep into Adam and while he slept took
a rib from his left side of which he formed our mother Eve； and when
Adam awoke and beheld her he said； 'This is flesh of my flesh； and
bone of my bone。' And God said 'For this shall a man leave his
father and his mother； and they shall be two in one flesh； and then
was instituted the divine sacrament of marriage； with such ties that
death alone can loose them。 And such is the force and virtue of this
miraculous sacrament that it makes two different persons one and the
same flesh； and even more than this when the virtuous are married； for
though they have two souls they have but one will。 And hence it
follows that as the flesh of the wife is one and the same with that of
her husband the stains that may come upon it； or the injuries it
incurs fall upon the husband's flesh； though he； as has been said； may
have given no cause for them； for as the pain of the foot or any
member of the body is felt by the whole body； because all is one
flesh； as the head feels the hurt to the ankle without having caused
it； so the husband； being one with her； shares the dishonour of the
wife； and as all worldly honour or dishonour comes of flesh and blood；
and the erring wife's is of that kind； the husband must needs bear his
part of it and be held dishonoured without knowing it。 See； then；
Anselmo； the peril thou art encountering in seeking to disturb the
peace of thy virtuous consort； see for what an empty and ill…advised
curiosity thou wouldst rouse up passions that now repose in quiet in
the breast of thy chaste wife； reflect that what thou art staking
all to win is little； and what thou wilt lose so much that I leave
it undescribed； not having the words to express it。 But if all I
have said be not enough to turn thee from thy vile purpose； thou
must seek some other instrument for thy dishonour and misfortune；
for such I will not consent to be； though I lose thy friendship； the
greatest loss that I can conceive。〃
Having said this； the wise and virtuous Lothario was silent； and
Anselmo； troubled in mind and deep in thought； was unable for a
while to utter a word in reply； but at length he said； 〃I have
listened； Lothario my friend； attentively； as thou hast seen； to
what thou hast chosen to say to me； and in thy arguments； examples；
and comparisons I have seen that high intelligence thou dost
possess； and the perfection of true friendship thou hast reached；
and likewise I see and confess that if I am not guided by thy opinion；
but follow my own； I am flying from the good and pursuing the evil。
This being so； thou must remember that I am now labouring under that
infirmity which women sometimes suffer from； when the craving seizes
them to eat clay； plaster； charcoal； and things even worse； disgusting
to look at； much more to eat； so that it will be necessary to have
recourse to some artifice to cure me； and this can be easily
effected if only thou wilt make a beginning； even though it be in a
lukewarm and make…believe fashion； to pay court to Camilla； who will
not be so yielding that her virtue will give way at the first
attack： with this mere attempt I shall rest satisfied； and thou wilt
have done what our friendship binds thee to do； not only in giving
me life； but in persuading me not to discard my honour。 And this
thou art bound to do for one reason alone； that； being； as I am；
resolved to apply this test； it is not for thee to permit me to reveal
my weakness to another； and so imperil that honour thou art striving
to keep me from losing； and if thine may not stand as high as it ought
in the estimation of Camilla while thou art paying court to her；
that is of little or no importance； because ere long； on finding in
her that constancy which we expect； thou canst tell her the plain
truth as regards our stratagem； and so regain thy place in her esteem；
and as thou art venturing so little； and by the venture canst afford
me so much satisfaction； refuse not to undertake it； even if further
difficulties present themselves to thee； for； as I have said； if
thou wilt only make a beginning I will acknowledge the issue decided。〃
Lothario seeing the fixed determination of Anselmo； and not
knowing what further examples to offer or arguments to urge in order
to dissuade him from it； and perceiving that he threatened to
confide his pernicious scheme to some one else； to avoid a greater
evil resolved to gratify him and do what he asked； intending to manage
the business so as to satisfy Anselmo without corrupting the mind of
Camilla； so in reply he told him not to communicate his purpose to any
other； for he would undertake the task himself； and would begin it
as soon as he pleased。 Anselmo embraced him warmly and affectionately；
and thanked him for his offer as if he had bestowed some great
favour upon him； and it was agreed between them to set about it the
next day； Anselmo affording opportunity and time to Lothario to
converse alone with Camilla； and furnishing him with money and
jewels to offer and present to her。 He suggested； too； that he
should treat her to music； and write verses in her praise； and if he
was unwilling to take the trouble of composing them； he offered to
do it himself。 Lothario agreed to all with an intention very different
from what Anselmo supposed； and with this understanding they
returned to Anselmo's house； where they found Camilla awaiting her
husband anxiously and uneasily； for he was later than usual in
returning that day。 Lothario repaired to his own house； and Anselmo
remained in his； as well satisfied as Lothario was troubled in mind；
for he could see no satisfactory way out of this ill…advised business。
That night； however； he thought of a plan by which he might deceive
Anselmo without any injury to Camilla。 The next day he went to dine
with his friend； and was welcomed by Camilla； who received and treated
him with great cordiality； knowing the affection her husband felt
for him。 When dinner was over and the cloth removed； Anselmo told
Lothario to stay there with Camilla while he attended to some pressing
business； as he would return in an hour and a half。 Camilla begged him
not to go； and Lothario offered to accompany him； but nothing could
persuade Anselmo； who on the contrary pressed Lothario to remain
waiting for him as he had a matter of great importance to discuss with
him。 At the same time he bade Camilla not to leave Lothario alone
until he came back。 In short he contrived to put so good a face on the
reason； or the folly； of his absence that no one could have
suspected it was a pretence。
Anselmo took his departure； and Camilla and Lothario were left alone
at the table； for the rest of the household had gone to dinner。
Lothario saw himself in the lists according to his friend's wish；
and facing an enemy that could by her beauty alone vanquish a squadron
of armed knights； judge whether he had good reason to fear