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being loved she was； and thus reflection began little by little to
assail his allegiance to Anselmo； and a thousand times he thought of
withdrawing from the city and going where Anselmo should never see him
nor he see Camilla。 But already the delight he found in gazing on
her interposed and held him fast。 He put a constraint upon himself；
and struggled to repel and repress the pleasure he found in
contemplating Camilla； when alone he blamed himself for his
weakness； called himself a bad friend； nay a bad Christian； then he
argued the matter and compared himself with Anselmo； always coming
to the conclusion that the folly and rashness of Anselmo had been
worse than his faithlessness； and that if he could excuse his
intentions as easily before God as with man； he had no reason to
fear any punishment for his offence。
In short the beauty and goodness of Camilla； joined with the
opportunity which the blind husband had placed in his hands； overthrew
the loyalty of Lothario； and giving heed to nothing save the object
towards which his inclinations led him； after Anselmo had been three
days absent； during which he had been carrying on a continual struggle
with his passion； he began to make love to Camilla with so much
vehemence and warmth of language that she was overwhelmed with
amazement； and could only rise from her place and retire to her room
without answering him a word。 But the hope which always springs up
with love was not weakened in Lothario by this repelling demeanour； on
the contrary his passion for Camilla increased； and she discovering in
him what she had never expected； knew not what to do； and
considering it neither safe nor right to give him the chance or
opportunity of speaking to her again； she resolved to send； as she did
that very night； one of her servants with a letter to Anselmo； in
which she addressed the following words to him。
CHAPTER XXXIV
IN WHICH IS CONTINUED THE NOVEL OF 〃THE ILL…ADVISED CURIOSITY〃
〃IT is commonly said that an army looks ill without its general
and a castle without its castellan； and I say that a young married
woman looks still worse without her husband unless there are very good
reasons for it。 I find myself so ill at ease without you； and so
incapable of enduring this separation； that unless you return
quickly I shall have to go for relief to my parents' house； even if
I leave yours without a protector； for the one you left me； if
indeed he deserved that title； has； I think； more regard to his own
pleasure than to what concerns you： as you are possessed of
discernment I need say no more to you； nor indeed is it fitting I
should say more。〃
Anselmo received this letter； and from it he gathered that
Lothario had already begun his task and that Camilla must have replied
to him as he would have wished； and delighted beyond measure at such
intelligence he sent word to her not to leave his house on any
account； as he would very shortly return。 Camilla was astonished at
Anselmo's reply； which placed her in greater perplexity than before；
for she neither dared to remain in her own house； nor yet to go to her
parents'； for in remaining her virtue was imperilled； and in going she
was opposing her husband's commands。 Finally she decided upon what was
the worse course for her； to remain； resolving not to fly from the
presence of Lothario； that she might not give food for gossip to her
servants； and she now began to regret having written as she had to her
husband； fearing he might imagine that Lothario had perceived in her
some lightness which had impelled him to lay aside the respect he owed
her； but confident of her rectitude she put her trust in God and in
her own virtuous intentions； with which she hoped to resist in silence
all the solicitations of Lothario； without saying anything to her
husband so as not to involve him in any quarrel or trouble； and she
even began to consider how to excuse Lothario to Anselmo when he
should ask her what it was that induced her to write that letter。 With
these resolutions； more honourable than judicious or effectual； she
remained the next day listening to Lothario； who pressed his suit so
strenuously that Camilla's firmness began to waver； and her virtue had
enough to do to come to the rescue of her eyes and keep them from
showing signs of a certain tender compassion which the tears and
appeals of Lothario had awakened in her bosom。 Lothario observed all
this； and it inflamed him all the more。 In short he felt that while
Anselmo's absence afforded time and opportunity he must press the
siege of the fortress； and so he assailed her self…esteem with praises
of her beauty； for there is nothing that more quickly reduces and
levels the castle towers of fair women's vanity than vanity itself
upon the tongue of flattery。 In fact with the utmost assiduity he
undermined the rock of her purity with such engines that had Camilla
been of brass she must have fallen。 He wept； he entreated； he
promised； he flattered； he importuned； he pretended with so much
feeling and apparent sincerity； that he overthrew the virtuous
resolves of Camilla and won the triumph he least expected and most
longed for。 Camilla yielded； Camilla fell； but what wonder if the
friendship of Lothario could not stand firm？ A clear proof to us
that the passion of love is to be conquered only by flying from it；
and that no one should engage in a struggle with an enemy so mighty；
for divine strength is needed to overcome his human power。 Leonela
alone knew of her mistress's weakness； for the two false friends and
new lovers were unable to conceal it。 Lothario did not care to tell
Camilla the object Anselmo had in view； nor that he had afforded him
the opportunity of attaining such a result； lest she should undervalue
his love and think that it was by chance and without intending it
and not of his own accord that he had made love to her。
A few days later Anselmo returned to his house and did not
perceive what it had lost； that which he so lightly treated and so
highly prized。 He went at once to see Lothario； and found him at home；
they embraced each other； and Anselmo asked for the tidings of his
life or his death。
〃The tidings I have to give thee； Anselmo my friend；〃 said Lothario；
〃are that thou dost possess a wife that is worthy to be the pattern
and crown of all good wives。 The words that I have addressed to her
were borne away on the wind； my promises have been despised； my
presents have been refused； such feigned tears as I shed have been
turned into open ridicule。 In short； as Camilla is the essence of
all beauty； so is she the treasure…house where purity dwells； and
gentleness and modesty abide with all the virtues that can confer
praise； honour； and happiness upon a woman。 Take back thy money； my
friend； here it is； and I have had no need to touch it； for the
chastity of Camilla yields not to things so base as gifts or promises。
Be content； Anselmo； and refrain from making further proof； and as
thou hast passed dryshod through the sea of those doubts and
suspicions that are and may be entertained of women； seek not to
plunge again into the deep ocean of new embarrassments； or with
another pilot make trial of the goodness and strength of the bark that
Heaven has granted thee for thy passage across the sea of this
world； but reckon thyself now safe in port； moor thyself with the
anchor of sound reflection； and rest in peace until thou art called
upon to pay that debt which no nobility on earth can escape paying。〃
Anselmo was completely satisfied by the words of Lothario； and
believed them as fully as if they had been spoken by an oracle；
nevertheless he begged of him not to relinquish the undertaking；
were it but for the sake of curiosity and amusement； though
thenceforward he need not make use of the same earnest endeavours as
before； all he wished him to do was to write some verses to her；
praising her under the name of Chloris； for he himself would give
her to understand that he was in love with a lady to whom he had given
that name to enable him to sing her praises with the decorum due to
her modesty； and if Lothario were unwilling to take the trouble of
writing the verses he would compose them himself。
〃That will not be necessary；〃 said Lothario； 〃for the muses are
not such enemies of mine but that they visit me now and then in the
course of the year。 Do thou tell Camilla what thou hast proposed about
a pretended amour of mine； as for the verses will make them； and if
not as good as the subject deserves； they shall be at least the best I
can produce。〃 An agreement to this effect was made between the
friends； the ill…advised one and the treacherous； and Anselmo
returning to his house asked Camilla the question she already wondered
he had not asked before… what it was that had caused her to write
the letter she had sent him。 Camilla replied that it had seemed to her
that Lothario looked at her somewhat more freely than when he had been
at home； but that now she was undeceived and believed it to have
been only her own imagination； for Lothario now avoided seeing her； or
being alone with her。 Anselmo told her she might be quite easy on
the score of that