THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 IN MEMORY OF 
 EDWIN CORLE 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 JEAN CORLE
 
 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES 
 
 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE
 
 MENDOZA MATEO ALEMAN 
 
 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH OF 
 DON DIEGO HURTADO DE MENDOZA 
 
 BY THOMAS ROSCOE 
 
 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE 
 
 OR 
 
 THE SPANISH ROGUE 
 
 BY MATEO ALEMAN 
 
 FROM THE FRENCH EDITION OF LE SAGE 
 
 BY JOHN HENRY BRADY 
 
 TOife <g{ S 0f drt'smaf &tV>in& fig (R. be fio* (${OA 
 IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. I 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 WORTHINGTON CO., 747 BROADWAY 
 1890
 
 PQ. 
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
 
 FAQl 
 
 THE LIFE OF MENDOZA i 
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 I. Introduction . 9 
 
 II. How Lazaro entered into the service of a Priest, and 
 
 what ensued 25 
 
 III. How Lazaro became the Servant of an Esquire, and 
 
 what happened to him in that Service ... 41 
 
 IV. How Lazaro Served a Friar of La Merced, and what 
 
 happened to him 65 
 
 V. How Lazaro Served a Bulero, and what took place . 66 
 VI. How Lazaro agreed to Serve a Chaplain, and how 
 
 he Fared 73 
 
 VII. How Lazaro agreed to Serve an Alguazil, and of what 
 
 ensued 74 
 
 VIII. Lazaro's Account of the Friendship he formed in 
 Toledo with some Germans, and of what passed 
 between them 78 
 
 GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 
 
 MATEOALEMAN 83 
 
 L Introduction 85 
 
 II. Of the Parents of Guzman, but more particularly of 
 
 his Father 89 
 
 III. G-annan relates how his Father makes an acquaint- 
 
 ance with a Lady, with the consequences thereof . 96 
 
 IV. Guzman's Father gets Married, and Dies : what fol- 
 
 lowed his Death . 107
 
 vi CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTEB PAO * 
 
 V. Guzman sets out from Seville. His first Adventure 
 
 at an Inn IJ 3 
 
 VI. Guzman meets with a Muleteer and two Friars ; of 
 their Conversation ; and in what manner the Mule- 
 teer and he were Regaled at an Inn at Cantillana Il8 
 VII. The Landlord steals Guzman's Cloak. A Great 
 
 Uproar at the Inn 133 
 
 VIII. Guzman and the Muleteer meet with another Misfor- 
 tune 139 
 
 IX. The Amour of Ozmin and the beautiful Daraxa . 150 
 X. Guzman becomes an Innkeeper's Boy . . . 259 
 XL Guzman becomes disgusted with his Situation, leaves 
 the Inn, and repairs to Madrid, where he asso- 
 ciates with some Beggars ..... 269 
 
 XII. Guzman is engaged by a Cook .... 273 
 
 XIII. From the Service of the Cook, Guzman returns to 
 
 the Begging Trade, and Robs an Apothecary . 288 
 XIV. Guzman on his way to Toledo meets with a Young 
 
 Man : what passed between them . . . 296 
 XV. Guzman arrives at Toledo, and acts the Man of 
 
 Fortune there. Some Account of his Gallantries 302 
 XVI. Guzman's Amours continued, and in what Manner 
 
 they ended ........ 318 
 
 XVII. Guzman takes a False Alarm and leaves Toledo pre- 
 cipitately. Another Gallantry. Origin of the 
 Proverb, "At Malagon, a Thief in every House, 
 but in that of the Alcaid Two, the Father and the 
 
 Son" 326 
 
 XVIII. Guzman offers himself to serve in the Company newly 
 raised. His Reception by the Captain, and how 
 they afterwards lived together .... 333 
 XIX. Guzman proceeds with the Company to Barcelona, 
 where he plays a Trick upon a Jeweller, and 
 
 embarks for Italy 342 
 
 XX. Guzman, having arrived at Genoa, resolves to present 
 himself before his Kindred there. How he was 
 received by them. 3So
 
 THE LIFE OF MENDOZA. 
 
 DON DIEGO HURTADO DE MENDOZA was born at 
 the commencement of the sixteenth century, in the 
 city of Granada, and not, as erroneously asserted by 
 some writers, at Toledo. His father, Don Lopez de 
 Mendoza, was Count of Montillas, and subsequently 
 Marquis de Mondessar, the same who so highly dis- 
 tinguished himself in the service of Ferdinand and 
 Isabella at the surrender of Granada, of which place 
 he was made governor, being the first on whom that 
 dignity had been conferred since the downfall of the 
 Moorish empire in Spain. His son, Don Diego, 
 received his education at the university of Salamanca, 
 where, besides civil and canon law, he studied the 
 sciences and the learned languages. 
 
 Having finished his education, he passed into Italy, 
 and joined the army of the Emperor Charles the 
 Fifth. There, as it is observed by Nicolas Antonio, 
 he, like Scipio, devoted himself at once to literature 
 and to war; "inter arma atque studia versatus, aut 
 corpus periculis, aut animum disciplinis exercebat." 
 During the cessation of hostilities, he retired in the 
 
 VOL. I. A
 
 LIFE OF MEND02A. 
 
 ensuing winter to Rome or Padua, where he resumed 
 the cultivation of letters, and at once elevated his 
 imagination and improved" his taste, by examining 
 the wonderful productions of Italian art. 
 
 The superiority of Mendoza's genius, combined 
 with the solidity of his judgment, and his prompti- 
 tude of action, soon attracted towards him the atten- 
 tion of his royal master, who confided to him an 
 important embassy to the city of Venice. In the 
 same capacity he subsequently went, on several occa- 
 sions, to Rome, where he acquitted himself in some 
 delicate and arduous affairs with so much skill and 
 firmness as to merit the additional confidence of his 
 own court. 
 
 At the famous Council of Trent, which was not,, 
 as some writers have supposed, composed merely of 
 bishops and ecclesiastics, met to discuss the doctrine 
 and discipline of the Church, but with the views of a 
 political congress engaged in carrying the respective 
 interests and objects of different states in competition 
 with rival diplomatists, requiring the utmost capacity 
 and penetration in their several representatives, Don 
 Diego equally distinguished himself among the best 
 of his age an age when monarchs like Charles V., 
 Henry VIII., and Francis I. swayed the sceptres of 
 European power. On one occasion, it has been, 
 erroneously we believe, asserted of Don Diego, that, 
 being earnestly engaged in disputing some point with 
 the Cardinal de Santa Cruz, he threatened, on the 
 provocation of the moment, to throw that prelate 
 into the Adige, if he longer persisted in requiring the
 
 THE LIFE OF MENDOZA. 3 
 
 dissolution of the congress. In the year 1547, after 
 the dissolution of the Council, he returned to Rome 
 from his governorship of Senar, which had been con- 
 ferred upon him by Charles the Fifth, as upon one 
 whose judgment a^nd firmness best enabled him to 
 restrain the turbulent disposition of its inhabitants. 
 
 At Rome, Mendoza appeared in the conclave of 
 cardinals, where he made a vigorous appeal in support 
 of the Emperor's views in presence of the whole con- 
 sistorial court and the foreign ambassadors. In reply, 
 the Pope informed him that he should have an answer 
 in the same session of the court; and this was in 
 fact given by Cardinal Pole, who rebuked him for 
 the vehemence of his protest, imputing it wholly to 
 the violent temper of the Emperor's plenipotentiary. 
 The last, however, as vehemently denied that he 
 had exceeded his powers, and required instant recog- 
 nition of his deputed authority, and the claims he 
 had already advanced. The Pope, incensed at the 
 Spaniard's temerity, and confiding in his league with 
 the French court, threatened Don Diego with his 
 high displeasure, observing, " See to it, sir, that 
 while you remain in my house, you do not too far 
 presume." To this the ambassador replied with noble 
 spirit, " I am a cavalier, my father was one before 
 me, and as such it is my duty to fulfil the commands 
 of my royal master, without any fear of your Holi- 
 ness, so long as I observe due reverence to the vice- 
 gerent of Christ. I am minister to the King of 
 Spain, and my residence is wheresoever it may please 
 him to order my route; and here as there, I am, as
 
 4 THE LIFE OF MEND02A. 
 
 his representative, safe even from your Holiness's dis- 
 pleasure." After the death of Paul III., Don Diego 
 continued to act in the same capacity for his master 
 under his successor, Julius III., who, in a bull dated 
 I 55 re-established the Council of Trent. 
 
 The year following, Don Diego was recalled 'from 
 his embassy at Rome, and in 1553 was commissioned 
 by Charles to prevent the departure of Cardinal Pole 
 from Rome into England, which he succeeded in doing. 
 
 Under Philip II., Don Diego's services were not so 
 highly estimated, and he lived in comparative retire- 
 ment, till finally, in the year 1565, he was banished 
 from the court on account of having drawn his sword 
 in the king's palace in order to defend himself against 
 the attack of another knight who sought his life. 
 He then withdrew to Granada, where he employed 
 himself in his celebrated history of the " War against 
 the Moors," which was continued from the year 1568 
 down to 1570 a period when his brother, Don Inigo 
 de Mendoza, was captain-general of that province. 
 Finally, in 1574, he obtained permission to return to 
 Madrid, where he died soon after his arrival. Litera- 
 ture owes no few obligations to this distinguished 
 writer; he spared no pains to transport learned 
 works and manuscripts from the East, availing him- 
 self of his influence with the Sultan Solyman, and 
 of his knowledge acquired from two excellent Greek 
 scholars, named Arnoldo Artemio and Nicholas 
 Soriano. In the literature of his own country, he 
 stands conspicuous among the few extraordinary men 
 who reflected lustre upon the age in which they lived.
 
 THE LIFE OF MENDOZA. 5 
 
 A patron of science, indefatigable in his pursuit of 
 liberal studies distinguished alike in the cabinet 
 and in the field profoundly versed in the philosophy, 
 as in the languages of the ancients in geography, 
 history, and the belles lettres, he signalised himself 
 equally as a poet, an historian, and a moralist; he 
 was at once the first statesman and most liberal patron 
 of his age. His historical compositions are remark- 
 able for their impartiality and correctness, for the 
 solidity of their views, and vigorous style and spirit ; 
 while his poetry is throughout imbued with a fine 
 lyric tone and flow of expression. 
 
 His " Oration at the Council of Trent," his " Poli- 
 tical Commentaries," his " Paraphrase of Aristotle," 
 and translation of his "Treatise on Mechanics," 
 with " An Account of the Great Naval Conquest of 
 Funez," and battle, and the merit of having first in- 
 troduced the muses of Italy to the admiration of his 
 own countrymen are among his other claims to our 
 favourable regard. As a novelist, he ranks among 
 the best of his class, having produced his celebrated 
 " Lazarillo de Tormes " at a very early age, while his 
 "History of the Moorish Wars" stamps his name 
 with equal reputation as an historian. 
 
 These two works exhibit admirable pictures of 
 the times in which they were composed. That of 
 " Tormes " is full of truth and vivacity of colouring, 
 with a certain freedom and grace of composition, 
 through all which there runs a vein of delicate satire, 
 and sometimes broader humour, combined with a 
 picturesque power and effect, which display the hand
 
 6 THE LIFE OP MENDOZA. 
 
 of a master. Of his " History " posterity has already 
 pronounced its opinion ; rapid, concise, vigorous, and 
 severe : Tacitus and Sallust were doubtless his models, 
 and emulated in a manner to acquire for him the 
 appellation of the Spanish Sallust. Far from being, 
 like most works of the same age, a bare recital of 
 facts, it exhibits a lively representation of the minds 
 and characters of those he commemorates, and the 
 views by which they were actuated. We behold the 
 motives of the different actors as they step upon the 
 stage, and the conflicting interests with which they 
 come in contact, so as to excite our powerful sym- 
 pathy in the tragic events which ensue. He describes 
 the enemies of his country in their true colours, not 
 with the prejudice and injustice indulged in by other 
 writers. If he exposes the errors and defects of the 
 Moors, he does not attempt to gloss over the excesses 
 of the Christians : he bestows commendation where 
 he feels it to be due; and in the same spirit of impar- 
 tiality and integrity he denounces the arbitrary mea- 
 sures pursued under the governorship of his brother. 
 By his clever and ingenious work of " Lazarillo de 
 Tormes," Mendoza raised a lasting monument to the 
 genius of the Castilian language ; and long before the 
 appearance of the great Cervantes he had the merit 
 of producing the first model of the novela picoresca, 
 peculiar to the literature of Spain. In this he laid 
 the groundwork of others in the same class those of 
 Guzman d'Alfarache, " El Diablo Cojuelo," and the 
 still more famous " Gil Bias." In the French rifaccia- 
 mento of Le Sage, that writer can merely lay claim
 
 THE LIFE OF MENDOZA. ^ 
 
 to the praise of having skilfully availed himself of 
 the best traits and incidents in the " Lazarillo," and 
 having further developed and arranged them in such 
 a manner as to prove most agreeable to the genius of 
 his own age and country. 
 
 Numerous editions of this popular work have 
 appeared both in and beyond Spain ; and among the 
 latter are a few printed from the original text, before 
 it had been expurgated by the pen of the Inquisition. 
 For the present purpose, in the account of the Bull, 
 a copy never yet revised has been purposely obtained ; 
 for such a chapter would in vain be sought for in the 
 castigated editions, for reasons which, on its perusal, 
 may be safely left to the English reader's penetration. 
 The frequent and serious engagements which occupied 
 go much of Mendoza's time and exertions, both as a 
 statesman and a soldier, were most probably the cause 
 of his never having produced any other work resem- 
 bling the early one of " Lazarillo de Tormes," and 
 which displayed the same admirable burlesque, acute 
 wit, and satire which distinguish this lively and enter- 
 taining novel ; while the same may be observed *f his 
 poems, which are chiefly devoted to the gentler senti- 
 ment of love or friendship. Doubtless, however, satino 
 humour was his peculiar forte; for when treating 
 even on the grave subject of his embassy, he adopts a 
 tone of delicate satire in one of his epistles addressed 
 to Don Luis Zunissa, as the following shows : 
 
 " Oh ! Embaxadores, puros majaderos 
 Que si los Reyes quieren enganar 
 Empieazan por nosotros los primieros."
 
 8 THE LIFE OF MENDOZA. 
 
 The splendid reputation acquired by this great 
 character, as a soldier, a diplomatist, and a man of 
 letters, call for a far wider sphere of observation than 
 we can here attempt to embrace ; but what has been 
 done may be sufficient to furnish the English reader 
 with a pretty accurate idea of the high and versatile 
 qualities of this ingenious master and inventor of the 
 novela picoresca of Spain.
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE OF LAZARILLO DE TORMES, 
 
 HIS FORTUNES AND HIS MISHAPS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 You must know then, in the first place, that my 
 name is Lazaro de Tormes, and that I am the son of 
 Thomas Gonzalez and Antonia Perez, natives of 
 Tejares, a village of Salamanca. My surname was 
 acquired by the singular circumstance of my birth, 
 which happened in the river Tormes, and in the fol- 
 lowing manner. My father (to whom God be mer- 
 ciful) was employed to superintend the operations of 
 a water-mill, which was worked by the course of the 
 above river (a situation that he held above fifteen 
 years), and my mother at that time being enclente with 
 me, while staying one night at the mill was suddenly 
 seized with the pains of labour, which terminating 
 happily, it may with truth be said, that my surname, 
 borrowed from the river, was not inaptly bestowed. 
 
 I had only reached my ninth year, when my unfor- 
 tunate father was charged with administering certain 
 copious but injudicious bleedings to the sacks of cufr-
 
 lo MENDOZA. 
 
 tomers to the mill a lowering system which was 
 voted by them to be neither salutary nor profitable. 
 He was forthwith taken into custody; when, not 
 being able to deny the indiscreet application of his 
 professional ability, he experienced the usual penalty 
 of the law. It is, however, to be hoped that he is 
 now reaping the reward which has been faithfully 
 promised by the Evangelist to all those who have 
 suffered persecution for justice' sake; for they are 
 declared to be in the highest degree fortunate in such 
 their tribulations. By this disaster, my poor father 
 being thrown out of employment, joined an arma- 
 ment then preparing against the Moors, in the quality 
 of mule-driver to a gentleman ; and in that expedi- 
 tion, like a loyal servant, he, along with his master, 
 finished his life and services together. 
 
 My widowed mother, thus bereft of husband and 
 of home, determined, in order to acquire a reputa- 
 tion, to associate herself with people of character; 
 she therefore hired a small place in the city, and 
 opened an eating-house for the accommodation of 
 the students, adding likewise to her gains by wash- 
 ing linen for the servants of his Excellency the 
 Comendador of the order of Magdalena. It was 
 in the exercise of the duties of this latter branch of 
 industry that she became acquainted with a groom of 
 the stables, a man of colour rather than of character 
 or fortune. Under the pretence of buying eorgs he 
 would continually come to our house, and at last 
 obtained an intimate footing therein. At first, in 
 consequence of his colour and the roughness of his
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. II 
 
 manners, I was frightened at him ; but when I found 
 that our scanty fare was changed by his visits into 
 abundance, for he always brought bread and meat, 
 and in winter wood for our fire, I not only conquered 
 my repugnance, but even hailed his approach with 
 pleasure. One unpleasantness attended this intimacy, 
 which was that my mother presented me with a little 
 brother, very pretty, though of a darkish complexion, 
 and whom I was obliged to assist in nursing and 
 bringing up. 
 
 Matters were not carried on so secretly, however, 
 but that some intelligence of Zayde's gallantry reached 
 the ears of the Comendador's majordomo, who, on 
 inquiry, found a terrible deficiency in the barley, to 
 say nothing of currycombs, brushes, and such like 
 movables, which had been unaccountably lost; and 
 it was found also, that when nothing better offered 
 itself, even the horses were unshod for the sake of the 
 iron, and all was unluckily traced to my mother for 
 the support of my little brother. 
 
 One can hardly wonder at a priest or a friar, the 
 one robbing the poor, the other his convent, for the 
 fake of their fair and devout believers, when love can 
 stimulate a poor slave to do the like. All this was 
 fully proved ; for when they came to me, like a child 
 as I was, and fearful of the threats of punishment, I 
 discovered to them all I knew of the matter, even to 
 the very horse-shoes which my mother had directed 
 me to sell to the farrier. My poor father-in-law was 
 soundly flogged, and his flesh tickled with drops of 
 scalding fatj while my mother was forbidden the
 
 12 MENDOZA. 
 
 house of the Comendador, and was commanded, 
 under the severest penalties, never to receive Zayde 
 into her presence again. Not to make matters worse, 
 my mother fulfilled the obligation of the sentence,. and 
 to avoid danger, as well as to escape further scandal, 
 she engaged herself to serve the guests at the inn of 
 the Solana, where, notwithstanding she suffered a 
 thousand inconveniences, she managed to rear my 
 little brother. As to myself, I went on errands, and 
 endeavoured to make myself as useful as possible. 
 
 About this time a blind man came to lodge at the 
 house, and thinking that I should do very well to 
 lead him about, asked my mother to part with me 
 for that purpose. My mother recommended me 
 strongly, stating that I was the son of an excellent 
 man who died in battle against the enemies of our 
 faith, and " I trust in God," added she, " that he will 
 never make a worse man than was his father." She 
 confided me to his care as an orphan boy, and en- 
 treated him to use me with kindness. The old man 
 promised to receive me, not as a servant, but as a 
 son; and thus I commenced service with my new 
 though blind and aged master. We remained in 
 Salamanca some few days, but my master finding his 
 gains in that city to be very inconsiderable, deter- 
 mined to seek greater profits elsewhere. When we 
 were ready to depart, I went to take leave of my 
 mother, who, with an abundance of tears, from which 
 I, too, could not refrain, gave me her blessing, and 
 said, " My son, this may probably be the last time I 
 shall ever see you j endeavour then for my sake to
 
 LAZAR1LLO DE TORMES. 13 
 
 be good, and may the Almighty assist you. I have 
 reared you from childhood, and now provide you with 
 a kind master; look to yourself for the future, and 
 farewell." I then went to rejoin my master, who 
 was waiting for me at a short distance. 
 
 We left Salamanca, and having arrived at the 
 bridge, my master directed my attention to an 
 animal carved in stone in the form of a bull, and 
 desired me to take him near it. When I had placed 
 him close to it, he said, " Lazaro, if you put your ear 
 close to this bull, you will hear an extraordinary 
 noise within." In the simplicity of my heart, be- 
 lieving it to be as he said, I put my ear to the stone, 
 when the old man gave my head such a violent thump 
 against it, that I was alndost bereft of sense, and for 
 three days after I did not lo'Se the pain I suffered 
 from the blow. My old master laughed heartily at 
 the joke : " You rogue," said he, " you ought to know 
 that a blind man's boy should have more cunning 
 than the very devil himself." 
 
 It seemed to me as though that moment had 
 awakened me from the simplicity of childhood, and I 
 said to myself, " The old man says truly. I am now 
 alone, and if I do not keep a sharp look-out for my- 
 self, I shall find none to assist me." We commenced 
 our journey, and in a very few days I began to reap 
 the benefit of my master's instruction. As he found 
 me an apt scholar, he was much pleased, and would 
 say, " I have no silver or gold to give you ; but, what 
 is far better, I can impart to you the result of my 
 experience, which will always enable you to live;
 
 I 4 MEND02A. 
 
 for though God has created me blind, yet He has 
 endowed me with faculties which have served me well 
 in the course of my life." And I verily believe that, 
 since God created the world, He never formed a 
 human being with intellects more acute than those 
 of my blind old master. He was as keen as an eagle 
 in his own calling. He knew upwards of a hundred 
 prayers by heart. " His tone of voice was pleasing, 
 and, though low, was distinct enough to be heard all 
 over the church where he usually recited them. His 
 countenance was humble and devout ; and his deport- 
 ment, when he recited his prayers, was free from 
 affectation and distortion of visage, which so many 
 are apt to practise. 
 
 Besides this, he had a thousand other ways of 
 making money. He could repeat prayers which were 
 available for all occasions; for women who had no 
 children ; for those who had expectancy ; for those 
 likewise who were unhappily married, and sought to 
 increase the affection of their husbands. He could 
 also prognosticate truly to ladies whether the result 
 of their travail would be a boy or a crirl ; and with 
 respect to the medicinal art, he would tell you that 
 Galen himself was an ignoramus compared with him- 
 self. Indeed, he acted as though he really thought 
 so; for no one ever came to consult him, that he did 
 not say without the slightest hesitation, " Take this, 
 do that ; " and in such a manner, that he had all the 
 world after him, especially the women, who had the 
 utmost confidence in everything he told them. By 
 these means his prpfits were very considerable. He
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 15 
 
 gained more in one month than a hundred other 
 blind men would in a year. 
 
 With all this, however, I am sorry to say that I 
 never met with so avaricious and so wicked an old 
 curmudgeon; he allowed me almost to die daily of 
 hunger, without troubling himself about my neces- 
 sities ; and, to say the truth, if I had not helped my- 
 self by means of a ready wit and nimble fingers, I 
 should have closed my account from sheer starvation. 
 
 Notwithstanding all my master's astuteness and 
 cunning, I contrived so to outwit him that generally 
 the best half came to my share. But to accomplish 
 this, I was obliged to tax my powers of invention to 
 the uttermost. Of this I will recount a few specimens, 
 although perhaps they may not tell much to my 
 credit. The old man was accustomed to carry his 
 bread, meat, and other things in a sort of linen knap- 
 sack, which was closed at the mouth with an iron 
 ring, and secured also by a padlock ; but in adding to 
 his store, or taking from it, he used such vigilance 
 that it was almost an impossibility to cheat him of a 
 single morsel. However, when he had given me my 
 pittance, which I found no difficulty in despatching at 
 about two mouthfuls, and closed his budget, thinking 
 himself perfectly secure from depredation, I began 
 my tactics, and by means of a small rent, which I 
 slyly effected in one of the seams of the bag, I used 
 to help myself to the choicest pieces of meat, bacon, 
 and sausage, taking care to close the seam according 
 as opportunity occurred. But in addition to this, all 
 that I could collect together, either by fraud or other-
 
 16 MENDOZA. 
 
 wise, I carried about me in half-farthings; so that 
 when the old man was sent for to pray, and they 
 gave him farthings (all which passed through my 
 hands, he being blind),'! contrived to slip them into 
 my mouth, by which process so quick an alteration 
 wag effected, that when they reached his hand they 
 were invariably reduced to half the original value. 
 
 The cunning old fellow, however, suspected me, 
 for he used to say, " How the deuce is this ? ever 
 since you have been with me they give me nothing 
 but half-farthings ; whereas before, it was not an un- 
 usual thing to be paid with halfpence, but never less 
 than farthings. I must be sharp with you, I find." 
 Whenever we ate, the old man took care to keep a 
 small jar of wine near him, which was reserved for 
 his own special service ; but I very soon adopted the 
 practice of bestowing on this favourite jar sundry 
 loving though stolen embraces. Such pleasures were 
 but short-lived, for the fervency of mv attachment 
 was soon discovered in the deficiency of the wine ; and 
 the old man afterwards, to secure his draught, never 
 let the jar -go without tying it to him by the handle. 
 But I was a match for him even there; for I pro- 
 cured a large straw, and dipping it into the mouth of 
 the jar, renewed my intimacy with such effect, that 
 but a small share was his who came after me. The 
 old traitor was not long in finding me out ; I think 
 he must have heard me drink, for he quickly changed 
 his plan, and placed the iar between his knees, keep- 
 ing the mouth closed with his hand, and in this man- 
 ner considered himself secure from my depredations.
 
 LA2AR1LLO t>E TOttMES. 17 
 
 Being thus deprived of my customary allowance 
 from the jar, I was ready to die with longing; and 
 finding my plan of the straw no longer available, I 
 took an opportunity of boring a very small hole in 
 the bottom of the jar, which I closed very delicately 
 with wax. At dinner-time, when the poor old man 
 sat over the fire, with the jar between his knees, the 
 heat, slight as it was, melted the little piece of wax 
 with which I closed the hole, and I, feigning to be 
 cold, drew close to the fire, and placed my mouth 
 under the little fountain in such a manner that the 
 whole contents of the jar came to my share. When 
 the old boy had finished his meal, and thought to 
 regale himself with his draught of wine, the deuce 
 a drop did he find, which so enraged and surprised 
 him, that he thought the devil himself had been at 
 work ; nor could he conceive how it could be. " Now, 
 uncle," said I, " don't say that I drank your wine, 
 seeing that you have had your hand on it the whole 
 time." But he was not satisfied with my declaration 
 of innocence, so turning and twisting the jar about 
 in every direction, he at last discovered the hole, 
 which at once let him into the secret of my ingenious 
 contrivance. He concealed his discovery so well, that 
 I had not the slightest suspicion that my ruse was 
 detected; so the next day, having prepared my jar as 
 before, little foreseeing the consequences, nor dream- 
 ing of the wicked thoughts which were passing in the 
 old man's mind, I placed myself under the jar, which 
 presently began to distil its delicious contents, my 
 face turned towards heaven, and my eyes partly 
 VOL. I. B
 
 18 MEtiDOZA . 
 
 closed, the better to enjoy the delightful draught. 
 The evil-minded old man, judging this to be the 
 time to take his vengeance, raised with both hands 
 the sweet, though alas, to me, bitter jar, and let it 
 fall directly on my mouth, adding to its weight by 
 giving all the impetus in his power. The poor un- 
 happy Lazaro, who little reckoned on such a disaster, 
 but had quietly resigned himself to the delicious 
 enjoyment of the moment, verily believed in the 
 crash which succeeded, that the heavens, with all 
 they contained, had fallen upon him. The blow was 
 so tremendous that my senses fairly left me, and the 
 jar breaking, cut my face in many places, several 
 pieces remaining in the wounds, besides breaking 
 nearly all my teeth, the loss of which I feel to this 
 very day. 
 
 From that hour I bore an inveterate grudge against 
 my old rogue of a master, for though he attended to 
 me, and cured me of my wounds, I could plainly see 
 that he enjoyed my cruel chastisement. He washed 
 the wounds with wine which the broken jar had 
 made in my face ; and would say smiling, " Lazaro, 
 my boy, what is that which makes you ill, cures you, 
 and gives you strength ? " with other little witticisms, 
 which he would repeat, not by any means to my 
 taste. 
 
 When I was nearly cured of my wounds and bruises, 
 considering that by a few more such pleasantries the 
 old man would effectually get rid of me, I began to 
 think how I might in the best manner get rid of him ; 
 however,! resolved to wait until an opportunity should
 
 LAZAR1LLO DE TORMES. 19 
 
 offer of effecting my purpose with safety to myself, 
 and more to my satisfaction with regard to the past 
 proceedings of my master. 
 
 Although I might in time have pardoned the jar 
 adventure, yet the continual ill-treatment to which 
 I was henceforward subjected, kept alive the vindic- 
 tive feeling which it originally occasioned ; for now, 
 upon the slightest occasion, and even without cause, 
 he would beat and flog me without any mercy. If 
 any humane person interfered, he immediately re- 
 counted the history of the jar, prefacing it with some 
 such expression as, "Don't believe the young rogue 
 is quite so innocent as he looks; just listen, and then 
 say whether the devil himself would ever have had 
 the cunning to do the like." Those who listened 
 would reply, "Who could have thought that so much 
 wickedness could be packed in such a small compass? " 
 and they would laugh heartily at my exploit, and say, 
 " Thrash him well, good man ; thrash him well ; he 
 deserves it richly ! " With such encouraging advice 
 he persevered to the very letter, and I can say to my 
 cost, that in his leisure hours he did little else; in 
 return, I took him over the worst roads I could find, 
 aud led him wherever there was the slightest chance 
 of his hurting himself. If stones were near, over the 
 very sharpest; if mud, through the deepest; and 
 although this mode of travelling was not the plea- 
 santest, yet if I inconvenienced myself, I annoyed 
 the old man still more, which was all I desired to do. 
 It is true that my head and shoulders were subjected 
 in consequence to the angry visitations of his staff;
 
 26 MEND02A. 
 
 and though T continually assured him that his uneasy 
 travelling was not the result of my ill-will, but for 
 want of better roads, yet the old traitor had too 
 much cunning to believe a word I said. 
 
 That I may not be tiresome, I shall omit many 
 curious anecdotes of this my first service, and will 
 only relate the following, and then say how I at last 
 took my leave of my blind master. We were in 
 Espalona, a place belonging to the Duke of that 
 name, when one day he gave me a piece of a large 
 sausage to cook. While the sausage was in the 
 roaster before the fire, he regaled himself with the 
 dripping; and then taking out his purse, gave me a 
 halfpenny to fetch him some wine. I don't know 
 how it was, unless the devil placed the means before 
 my eyes, but I was tempted to play the thief; for on 
 looking round I saw a turnip, not unlike the shape 
 of the sausage, which had been thrown away as unfit 
 for use. There was nobody near us, and I, with a 
 raging appetite, still further stimulated by the savoury 
 smell of the sausage, which I knew full well was all 
 the old man intended for my share, without a thought 
 for the consequences, snatched the sausage from the 
 roaster while the old man was fumbling for his 
 money, and in a twinkling supplied its place with 
 the turnip. 
 
 As I started for the wine, my master began to blow 
 up the fire, thinking the more speedily to cook what 
 his miserable parsimony and my urgent appetite had 
 caused to vanish. On my road for the wine, I was 
 not long in despatching the sausage; and when I
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 11 
 
 returned, I found the miserable old sinner with the 
 turnip stuck between two slices of bread, preparing, 
 as he thought, to make a most delicious repast. As 
 he bit through the bread, however, thinking to take 
 part of the sausage, his teeth encountered the cold 
 hard turnip, when the truth flashing on his mind, he 
 exclaimed in an altered tone, " Lazarillo, how is this?" 
 " Mercy on me," said I, " do you suspect me ? Have 
 I not this instant returned with your wine ? Some- 
 body has been here and played this trick upon you." 
 " No, no," said he, " my hand has been on the roaster 
 all the time, that is impossible." I turned to swear 
 and forswear myself as being innocent of this fraud, 
 but little did the old man credit me. He arose, and 
 seizing me by the head, as he possessed as keen a 
 scent as a spaniel, determined to satisfy himself of the 
 truth ; so opening my mouth by main force, he thrust 
 therein his ugly nose, which was long and pointed, 
 and at that time had increased considerably in length 
 from spite and anger. With this, and the excessive 
 fear which came over me, added to the shortness of 
 time allowed for my stomach to settle, and more than 
 all, the tickling of that immense proboscis, so un- 
 pleasant a feeling began to manifest itself, that hardly 
 had the old man withdrawn his trunk, than the whole 
 contents of my stomach followed, and with such force 
 as entirely to cover his face. Had he not been blind 
 before, his eyesight could hardly have escaped such 
 an explosion. O heavens! what were my feelings 
 at that unhappy moment! never shall I forget it! 
 5uch was the rage of that diabolical old man, that
 
 22 MENDOZA. 
 
 had not my screams attracted some people, I verily 
 believe I should never have escaped with life. 
 
 I escaped from his hands in the best way I could, 
 leaving the few hairs that remained to me in his 
 grasp, my face, neck, and throat bearing the marks 
 of his vindictive talons. Lest the bystanders should 
 compassionate me, the old man recounted my exploits 
 to them, which set them into such a roar of laughter, 
 that the place soon became thronged like a fair. And 
 with such humour did the old rogue varnish my mis- 
 deeds, that, weeping and wounded as I was, I could 
 easily forgive their mirth. 
 
 While this was going on, the remembrance of a 
 singular want of wit and keenness occurred to me, 
 which not only betrayed my incapacity, but a cow- 
 ardly and grovelling fear, for which I could not easily 
 forgive myself. It was that, when- 1 had the oppor- 
 tunity, I did not bite off the old fellow's nose, seeing 
 that at one time it was so completely in my power, 
 and by that means save myself all the unpleasantness 
 I now endured by not being able to turn the laugh 
 against my tormentor. 
 
 The innkeeper's wife, and some others who were 
 there, now washed my face and neck with the wine 
 I had brought, and this afforded the old man another 
 opportunity for a joke, saying, "Of a truth, this boy 
 costs me more wine for one washing of his wounds 
 than I drink in two days." And then he told how 
 many times he had scarified me and cured me with 
 wine ; " If ever man in the world/' he said, " is for- 
 tunate by wine, it will be you." Those who were
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 23 
 
 bathing my face could not help laughing at the old 
 fellow's humour, though I was wincing with the 
 smart, not only of his jibes but of his blows. This 
 prophecy of the old man did not turn out false ; and 
 oftentimes have I since thought of him, and what he 
 made me suffer, though in the end I paid him well 
 for it, little dreaming that what he then rapped out 
 in jest would so turn out. 
 
 Considering the injuries I had sustained, in addition 
 to the ridicule to which I was continually exposed, I 
 determined at all hazards to leave the old tyrant to 
 his fate, and chose the following opportunity of doing 
 so. The next day we went about the town to ask 
 alms; but as the weather turned out very wet, we 
 did not stir from beneath the arcades, with which 
 this place is provided. As the night approached, and 
 the rain had not ceased, the old man said, " Lazaro, 
 this wet weather is very unwholesome, and as night 
 comes on it will be still more so, let us therefore get 
 home in good time." 
 
 On our return we had to pass a small stream of 
 water, which with the day's rain had considerably 
 increased. I therefore said, " Uncle, the brook is 
 very much swollen ; but I see a place a little higher, 
 where, by giving a little jump, we may pass almost 
 dry shod." " Thou art a good lad," said the old 
 man; " I like you for your carefulness. Take me to 
 the narrowest part, for at this time of the year to get 
 one's feet wet would be dangerous." Delighted that 
 my plot seemed to succeed so well, I led him from 
 beneath the arcades, and took him directly opposite
 
 24 AfENDOZA. 
 
 to a pillar, or rather a large stone post, which T 
 observed in the square. "Now, uncle," said I, 
 "this is the place where the brook is the narrow- 
 est." The rain was pouring down, and the old man 
 was getting very wet; and whether it was by haste 
 he made to avoid it, or, what was more probable, 
 Providence had at that moment beguiled him of his 
 usual cunning, that he might the more readily fall 
 into the snare, and give me my revenge; so it was, 
 that for once he believed me, and said, " Now place 
 me directly opposite the spot, and then jump your- 
 self." I "placed him exactly opposite the pillar, so 
 that he could not miss it, and leaping myself, I took 
 my position immediately behind it, crying out, 
 " Now, master, jump with all your force, and you 
 will clear the water." I had hardly said the words, 
 when the poor old rogue jumped up as nimbly as a 
 goat, giving all his strength to the leap, and taking a 
 step or two backwards by way of impetus, which 
 lent him such force, that instead of alighting on soft 
 ground as he supposed, he gave his poor bald pate 
 such a smash against the pillar, that he fell on the 
 pavement without sense or motion. 
 
 " Take that, you unhappy old thief," said I, " and 
 remember the sausage ; " then leaving him to the care 
 of the people who began to gather around, I took to 
 my heels as swiftly as possible through the town 
 gates, and before night reached Torrijos. What 
 became of the old man afterwards I don't know, and 
 neither did I ever give myself any pains to inquire.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 ROW LAZARO ENTERED INTO THE SERVICE OF A 
 PRIEST, AND WHAT ENSUED. 
 
 THE next day, not considering myself quite safe 
 where I was, I went to a place called Maqueda, 
 where, as it were in punishment of my evil deeds, 
 T fell in with a certain priest. I accosted him for 
 alms, when he inquired whether I knew how to assist 
 at mass. I answered that I did, which was true, 
 for the old man, notwithstanding his ill treatment, 
 taught me many useful things, and this was one 
 of them. The priest, therefore, engaged me on 
 the spot. 
 
 There is an old proverb which speaks of getting 
 out of the frying-pan into the fire, which was indeed 
 my unhappy case in this change of masters. The old 
 blind man, selfish as he was, seemed an Alexander 
 the Great, in point of munificence, on comparison 
 with this priest, who was, without exception, the 
 most niggardly of all miserable devils I have ever 
 met with. It seemed as though the meanness of 
 the whole world was gathered together in his 
 wretched person. It would be hard to say whether 
 he inherited this disposition, or whether he had 
 adopted it with his cassock and gown. He had a
 
 2 6 MEN DO Z A. 
 
 large old chest, well secured by a lock, the key of 
 which he always carried about him, tied to a part of 
 his clothing. When the charity bread came from 
 the church, he would with his own hands deposit it 
 in the chest, and then carefully turn the key. 
 
 Throughout the whole house there was nothing 
 to eat. Even the sight of such things as we see 
 in other houses, such as smoked bacon, cheese, or 
 bread, would have done my heart good, although I 
 might have been forbidden to taste them. The only 
 eatable we had was a string of onions, and these were 
 locked up in a garret. Every fourth day I was 
 allowed one ; and when I asked for the key to take 
 it, if any one chanced to be present, he would make 
 a serious matter of it, saying, as he gave me the key, 
 " Take it, and return quickly ; for when you go to 
 that tempting room, you never know when to come 
 out of it ; " speaking as though all the sweets of 
 Valencia were there, when I declare to you, as I said 
 before, the devil a bit of anything was there but this 
 string of onions hung on a nail, and of these he kept 
 such an account, that if my unlucky stars had tempted 
 me to take more than my allowance, it would have 
 cost me very dear. 
 
 In the end I should in fact have died of hunger, 
 with so little feeling did this reverend gentleman 
 treat me, although with himself he was rather more 
 liberal. Five farthings' worth of meat was his allow- 
 ance for dinner and supper. It is true that he divided 
 the broth with me; but my share of the meat I might 
 have put in my eye instead of my mouth, and have
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. rr 
 
 been none the worse for it : but sometimes, by good 
 luck, I got a little morsel of bread. In this part of 
 the country it is the custom on Sundays to eat sheep's 
 heads, and he sent me for one that was not to come 
 to more than three farthings. When it was cooked, 
 he ate all the tit bits, and never left it while a morsel 
 of the meat remained ; but the dry bones he turned 
 over to me, saying, " There, you rogue, eat that ; you 
 are in rare luck ; the Pope himself has not such fare 
 as you. " God give him as good ! " said I to myself. 
 
 At the end of the three weeks that I remained with 
 him, I arrived at such an extreme degree of exhaus- 
 tion, from sheer hunger, that it was with difficulty I 
 stood on my legs. I saw clearly that I was in the 
 direct road to the grave, unless God and my own 
 wit should help me out of it. For the dextrous 
 application of my fingers there was no opportunity 
 afforded me, seeing there was nothing to practise 
 on ; and if there were, I should never have been able 
 to have cheated the priest as I did the old man, 
 whom God absolve, if by my means it went ill with 
 him after his leap. The old man, though cunning, yet 
 wanting sight, gave me now and then a chance ; but 
 as to the priest, never had any so keen a sight as he. 
 
 When we were at mass, no money came to the 
 plate at the offering that he did not observe : he had 
 one eye on the people and the other on my fingers. 
 His eyes danced about the money-box as though 
 they were quicksilver. When offerings were given, 
 he kept an account, and when it was finished, that 
 instant he would take the plate from my hands, and
 
 28 MENDOZA. 
 
 put it on the altar. I was not able to rob him of a 
 single maravedi in all the time I lived with him, 
 or rather all the time I starved with him. I never 
 fetched him any wine from the tavern, but the little 
 that was left at church he locked up in his chest, 
 and he would make that serve all the week. In 
 order to excuse all this covetousness, he said to 
 me, " You see, my boy, that priests ought to be very 
 abstemious in their food. For my part, I think it a 
 great scandal to indulge in viands and wine as many 
 do." But the curmudgeon lied most grossly, for at 
 convents or at funerals, when we went to pray, he 
 would eat like a wolf, and drink like a mountebank ; 
 and now I speak of funerals God forgive me, I was 
 never an enemy to the human race but at that 
 unhappy period of my life, and the reason was solely 
 that on those occasions I obtained a meal of victuals. 
 
 Every day did I hope, and even pray, that God 
 would be pleased to take His own. Whenever we 
 were sent for to administer the sacrament to the sick, 
 the priest would of course desire all present to join 
 in prayer. You may be certain I was not the last 
 in these devout exercises, and I prayed with all my 
 heart that the Lord would compassionate the afflicted, 
 not by restoring him to the vanities of life, but by 
 relieving him from the sins of this world ; and when 
 any of these unfortunates recovered the Lord for- 
 give me in the anguish of my heart I wished him 
 a thousand times in perdition ; but if he died, no one 
 was more sincere in his blessings than myself. 
 
 During all the time I was in this service, which
 
 LA2ARILLO DE TORMES. 29 
 
 was nearly six months, only twenty persons paid the 
 debt of nature, and these I verily believe that I 
 killed, or rather that they died, by the incessant 
 importunity of my particular prayers. Such was my 
 extreme suffering, as to make me think that the 
 Lord, compassionating my unhappy and languishing 
 condition, visited some with death to give me life. 
 But for my present necessity there was no remedy ; 
 if on the days of funerals I lived well, the return to 
 my old allowance of an onion every fourth day 
 seemed doubly hard; so that I may truly say, I took 
 delight in nothing but death, and oftentimes I have 
 invoked it for myself as well as for others. To me, 
 however, it did not arrive, although continually 
 hovering about me in the ugly shape of famine and 
 short commons. I thought many times of leaving 
 my brute of a master, but two reflections disconcerted 
 me; the first was, the doubt whether I could make 
 my way by reason of the extreme weakness to which 
 hunger had reduced me; and the second suggested, 
 that my first master, having done his best to starve 
 me, and my next having succeeded so far in the 
 same humane object as to bring me to the brink of 
 the grave, whether the third might not, by pursuing 
 the same course, actually thrust me into it. 
 
 These considerations made me now pause, lest, by 
 venturing a step farther, it would be my certain fate 
 to be a point lower in fortune, and then the world 
 might truly say, " Farewell Lazaro." 
 
 It was during this trying and afflicting time, 
 when, seeing things going from bad to worse, with-
 
 jo MENDOZA. 
 
 out any one to advise with, I was praying with all 
 Christian humility that I might be released from 
 such misery, that one day, when my wretched, 
 miserable, covetous thief of a master had gone out, 
 an angel, in the likeness of a tinker, knocked at the 
 door for I verily believe he was directed by Provid- 
 ence to assume that habit and employment and 
 inquired whether I had anything to mend ? Sud- 
 denly a light flashed upon me, as though imparted 
 by an invisible and unknown power : " Uncle," 
 said I, " I have unfortunately lost the key of this 
 great chest, and I'm sadly afraid my master will beat 
 me; for God's sake try if you can fit it, and I will 
 reward you." The angelic tinker drew forth a lanre 
 bunch of keys, and began to try them, while I 
 assisted his endeavours with my feeble prayers; 
 when lo ! and behold ! when least I thought it, the 
 lid of the chest arose, and I almost fancied I beheld 
 the divine essence therein in the shape of loaves of 
 bread. " I have no money," said I to my preserver, 
 " but give me the key and help yourself." He took 
 some of the whitest and best bread he could find, 
 and went away well pleased, though not half so well 
 as myself. I refrained from taking any for the 
 present, lest the deficiency might be noticed; and 
 contented myself with the hope that, on seeing so 
 much in my power, hunger would hardly dare to 
 approach me. 
 
 My wretched master returned, and it pleased God 
 that the offering my angel had been pleased to accept, 
 remained undiscovered by him. The next day, when
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 31 
 
 he went out, I went to my farinaceous paradise, and 
 taking a loaf between my hands and teeth, in a 
 twinkling it became invisible ; then, not forgetting to 
 lock the treasure, I capered about the house for joy 
 to think that my miserable life was about to change, 
 and for some days following I was as happy as a 
 king. But it was not predestined for me that such 
 good luck should continue long; on the third day 
 symptoms of my old complaint began to show them- 
 selves, for I beheld my murderer in the act of ex- 
 amiiiuig our chest, turning and counting the loaves 
 over and over again. Of course I dissimulated my 
 terror, but it was not for want of my prayers and 
 invocations that he was not struck stone-blind like 
 my old master but he retained his eyesight. 
 
 After he had been some time considering and 
 counting, he said, " If I were not well assured of the 
 security of this chest, I should say that somebody 
 had stolen my bread ; but, however, to remove all 
 suspicion, from this day I shall count the loaves; 
 there remain now exactly nine and a piece." 
 
 " May nine curses light upon you, you miserable 
 beggar," said I to myself for his words went like 
 an arrow to my heart, and hunger already began to 
 attack me, seeing a return to my former scanty fare 
 now inevitable. 
 
 No sooner did the priest go out, than I opened the 
 chest to console myself even with the sight of food, 
 and as I gazed on the nice white loaves, a sort of 
 adoration rose within me, which the sight of such 
 tempting morsels could alone inspire. I counted
 
 32 MENDOZA. 
 
 them carefully to see, if perchance, the curmudgeon 
 had mistaken the number ; but, alas ! I found he was 
 a much better reckoner than I could have desired. 
 The utmost I dared do, was to bestow on these 
 objects of my affection a thousand kisses, and, in the 
 most delicate manner possible, to nibble here and 
 there a morsel of the crust. With this I passed the 
 day, and not quite so jovially as the former, you may 
 suppose. 
 
 But as hunger increased, and more so in proportion 
 as I had fared better the few days previously, I was 
 reduced to the last ex'tremity. Yet all I could do 
 was to open and shut the chest, and contemplate the 
 divine image within. Providence, however, who does 
 not neglect mortals in such an extreme crisis, sug- 
 gested to me a slight palliation of my present distress. 
 After some consideration, I said within myself, "This 
 chest is very large and old, and in some parts, though 
 very slightly, is broken. It is not impossible to sup- 
 pose that rats may have made an entrance, and 
 gnawed the bread. To take a whole loaf would not 
 be wise, seeing that it would be missed by my most 
 liberal master; but the other plan he shall certainly 
 have the benefit of." Then I began to pick the 
 loaves on some table-cloths which were there, not of 
 the most costly sort, taking one loaf and leaving 
 another, so that in the end, I made up a tolerable 
 supply of crumbs, which I ate like so many sugar- 
 plums; and with that I in some measure consoled 
 myself and contrived to live. 
 
 The priest, when he came home to dinner and
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 33 
 
 opened the chest, beheld with dismay the havoc 
 made in his store; but he immediately supposed it to 
 have been occasioned by rats, so well had I imitated 
 the style of those depredators. He examined the 
 chest narrowly, and discovered the little holes through 
 which the rats might have entered ; and calling me, 
 he said, " Lazaro, look what havoc has been made in 
 our bread during the night." I seemed very much 
 astonished, and asked what it could possibly be? 
 "What has done it?" quoth he, "why, rats; con- 
 found 'em, there is no keeping anything from them." 
 I fared well at dinner, and had no reason to repent 
 of the trick I played, for he pared off all the places 
 which he supposed the rats had nibbled at, and, giving 
 them to me, he said, " There, eat that, rats are very 
 clean animals." In this manner, adding what I thus 
 gained to that acquired by the labour of my hands, 
 or rather my nails, I managed tolerably well, though 
 I little expected it. I was destined to receive another 
 shock, when I beheld my miserable tormentor care- 
 fully stopping up all the holes in the chest with small 
 pieces of wood, which he nailed over them, and which 
 bade defiance to further depredations. " O Lord ! " I 
 cried involuntarily, " to what distress and misfortunes 
 are we unhappy mortals reduced ; and how short- 
 lived are the pleasures of this our transitory existence ! 
 No sooner did I draw some little relief from the mea- 
 sure which kind fortune suggested, than it is snatched 
 away ; and this last act is like closing the door of 
 consolation against me, and opening that of my 
 misfortunes." 
 
 VOL. I. C
 
 34 MEND02A. 
 
 It was thus T gave vent to my distress, while the 
 careful workman, with abundance of wood and nails, 
 was finishing his cruel job, saying with great glee, 
 " Now, you rascals of rats, we will change sides, if 
 you please, for your future reception in this house 
 will be right little welcome." 
 
 The moment he left the house, I went to examine 
 his work, and found he had not left a single hole 
 unstopped by which even a mosquito could enter. 
 I opened the chest, though without deriving the 
 smallest benefit from its contents; my key was now 
 utterly useless ; but as I gazed with longing eyes on 
 the two or three loaves which my master believed to 
 be bitten by the rats, I could not resist the temptation 
 of nibbling a morsel more, though touching them in 
 the lightest possible manner, like an experienced 
 swordsman in a friendly assault. 
 
 Necessity is a great master, and being in this 
 strait, I passed night and day in devising means 
 to get out of it. All the rascally plans that could 
 enter the mind of man, did hunger suggest to me; 
 for it is a saying, and a true one, as I can testify, 
 that hunger makes rogues, and abundance fools. 
 One night, when my master slept, of which disposi- 
 tion he always gave sonorous testimony, as I was 
 revolving in my mind the best mode of renewing 
 my intimacy with the contents of the chest, a 
 thought struck me, which I forthwith put in execu- 
 tion. I arose very quietly, and taking an old knife, 
 which, having some little glimmering of the same 
 idea the day previous, I had left for an occasion of
 
 LAZAR1LLO >E TORMES. 35 
 
 this nature, I repaired to the chest, and at the part 
 which I considered least guarded, I began to bore a 
 hole. The antiquity of the chest seconded my 
 endeavours, for the wood had become rotten from 
 age, and easily yielded to the knife, so that in a short 
 time I managed to display a hole of very respectable 
 dimensions. I then opened the chest very gently, 
 and taking out the bread, I treated it much in the 
 same manner as heretofore, and then returned safe to 
 my mattress. 
 
 The next day my worthy master soon spied my 
 handiwork, as well as the deficiency in his bread, and 
 besran by wishing the rats at the devil. " What can 
 it mean ? " said he ; " during all the time I have been 
 here, there have never been rats in the house before." 
 And he might say so with truth ; if ever a house in 
 the kingdom deserved to be free from rats, it was his, 
 as they are seldom known to visit where there is 
 nothing to eat. He began again with nails and 
 wood; but when night came, and he slept, I re- 
 sumed my operations, and rendered nugatory all 
 his ingenuity. 
 
 In this manner we went on ; the moment he shut 
 one door, I opened another: like the web of Pene- 
 lope, what he spun by day, I unravelled by night; 
 and in the course of a few nights the old chest was 
 so maltreated, that little remained of the original 
 that was not covered with pieces and nailing. When 
 the unhappy priest found his mechanical ability of no 
 avail, he said, " Really this chest is in such a state, 
 and the wood is so old and rotten, that the rats make
 
 3 6 MEND02A. 
 
 nothing of it. The best plan T can think of, since 
 what we have done is of no use, is to arm ourselves 
 within, against these cursed rats." He then bor- 
 rowed a rat-trap, and baiting it with bits of cheese 
 which he begged from the neighbours, set it under 
 the chest. This was a piece of singular good for- 
 tune for me, for although my hunger needed no 
 sauce, yet I did not nibble the bread at night with 
 less relish because I added thereto the bait from the 
 rat-trap. When in the morning he found not 
 only the bread gone as usual, but the bait likewise 
 vanished, and the trap without a tenant, he grew 
 almost beside himself. He ran to the neighbours, 
 and asked of them what animal it could possibly be 
 that could positively eat the very cheese out of the 
 trap, and yet escape untouched. The neighbours 
 agreed that it could be no rat that could thus eat the 
 bait, and not remain within the trap, and one more 
 cunning than the rest observed, " I remember once 
 seeing a snake about your premises, and depend on it 
 that is the animal which has done you this mischief, 
 for it could easily pick the bait from the trap with- 
 out entering entirely, and thus too it might easily 
 escape." The rest all agreed that such must be the 
 fact, which alarmed my master a good deal. 
 
 He now slept not near so soundly as before, and 
 at every little noise, thinking it was the snake bit- 
 ing the chest, he would get up, and taking a cudgel 
 which he kept at his bed's head for the purpose, 
 began to belabour the poor chest with all his might, 
 so that the noise might frighten the reptile from his
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 37 
 
 unthrifty proceedings. He even awoke the neigh- 
 bours with such prodigious clamour, and I could not 
 get a single minute's rest. He turned me out of bed, 
 and looked amongst the straw, and about the blanket, 
 to see if the creature was concealed anywhere ; for, 
 as he observed, at night they seek warm places, and 
 not unfrequently injure people by biting them in bed. 
 When he came, I always pretended to be very heavy 
 with sleep, and he would say to me in the morning, 
 " Did you hear nothing last night, boy ? The snake 
 was about, and I think I heard him at your bed, for 
 they are very cold creatures, and love warmth." " I 
 hope to God he will not bite me/' returned I, " for I 
 am very much afraid." He was so watchful at night 
 that, by my faith, the snake could not continue his 
 operations as usual, but in the morning when the 
 priest was at church, he resumed them pretty steadily 
 as usual. 
 
 Looking with dismay at the damage done to his 
 store, and the little redress he was likely to have for 
 it, the poor priest became quite uneasy from fretting, 
 and wandered about all night like a hobgoblin. I 
 began very much to fear that, during one of these 
 fits of watchfulness, he might discover my key, which 
 I placed for security under the straw of my bed. I 
 therefore, with a caution peculiar to my nature, 
 determined in future to keep this treasure by night 
 safe in my mouth ; and this was an ancient custom 
 of mine, for during the time I lived with the blind 
 man, my mouth was my purse, in which I could 
 retain ten or twelve maravedis in farthings, with-
 
 3 8 MEN DO 7 A. 
 
 out the slightest inconvenience in any way. Indeed, 
 had I not possessed this faculty, I should never have 
 had a single farthing of my own, for I had neither 
 pocket nor bag that the old man did not continually 
 search. Every night I slept with the key in my 
 mouth without fear of discovery; but, alas! when 
 misfortune is our lot, ingenuity can be of little avail. 
 It was decreed, by my evil destiny, or rather, I 
 ought to say, as a punishment for my evil doings, 
 that one night when I was fast asleep, my mouth 
 being somewhat open, the key became placed in such 
 a position therein, that my breath came in contact 
 with the hollow of the key, and caused the worse 
 luck for me a loud whistling noise. On this my 
 watchful master pricked up his ears, and thought it 
 must be the hissing of the snake which had done him 
 all the damage, and certainly he was not altogether 
 wrong in his conjectures. He arose very quietly, 
 with his club in his hand, and stealing towards the 
 place whence the hissing sound proceeded, thinking 
 at once to put an end to his enemy, he lifted his club, 
 and with all his force discharged such a blow on my 
 unfortunate head, that it needed not another to de- 
 prive me of all sense and motion. The moment the 
 blow was delivered, he felt it was no snake that had 
 received it ; and guessing what he had done, called 
 out to me in a loud voice, endeavouring to recall me 
 to my senses. Then touching me with his hands, he 
 felt the blood, which was by this time in great pro- 
 fusion about my face, and ran quickly to procure a 
 light. On his return he found me moaning, yet still
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 
 
 holding the key in my mouth, and partly visible, 
 in the same situation which caused the whistling noi'e 
 he had mistaken for the snake. Without thinking 
 much of me, the attention of the slayer of snakes 
 was attracted by the appearance of the key, and 
 drawing it from my mouth, he soon discovered what 
 it was, for, of course, the wards were precisely simiiuf 
 to his own. He ran to prove it, and with that At 
 once found out the extent of my ingenuity. 
 
 "Thank God," exclaimed this cruel snake-hum T, 
 " that the rats and the snakes which have so 1- ng 
 made war upon me, and devoured my substance, Are 
 both at last discovered." 
 
 Of what passed for three days afterwards, I :an 
 give no account; but that which I have related, I 
 heard my master recount to those who came there to 
 see me. At the end, however, of the third day, I 
 began to have some consciousness of what was pass- 
 ing around me, and found myself extended on my 
 straw, my head bound up, and covered with oint- 
 ment and plaisters. 
 
 "What is the meaning of all this?" I cried, in 
 extreme alarm. The heartless priest replied, " I have 
 only been hunting the rats and the snakes, which 
 have almost ruined me." Seeing the condition in 
 which I was, I then guessed what had happened to 
 me. At this time an old nurse entered, with some 
 of the neighbours, who dressed the wounds on my 
 head, which had assumed a favourable appearance; 
 and as they found my senses were restored to me, 
 they anticipated but little danger, and began to
 
 40 MENDOZA. 
 
 amuse themselves with my exploits, while I, unhappy 
 sinner, could only deplore their effects. 
 
 With all this, however, they gave me something to 
 eat, for I was almost dying with hunger; and at the 
 end of fourteen or fifteen days I was able to rise from 
 my bed without danger, though not even then with- 
 out hunger, and only half cured. The day after I 
 got up, my worthy and truly respectable master took 
 my hand, and opening the door, put me into the 
 street, saying, " Lazaro, from this day look out for 
 yourself, seek another master, and fare you well. No 
 one will ever doubt that you have served a blind 
 man ; but for me, I do not require so diligent nor so 
 clever a servant." Then shaking me off, as though I 
 was in league with the evil one, he went back into 
 his house and shut the door.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 HOW LAZARO BECAME THE SERVANT OF AJf ESQUIRED 
 AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM IN THAT SERVICE. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the weak state to which I was 
 reduced, I was obliged to take heart, and with the 
 assistance of some kind people, I gradually made 
 my way to the famous city of Toledo, where, by the 
 mercy of God, I was shortly cured of my wounds. 
 
 While I laboured under sickness there were always 
 some well-disposed persons who were willing to give 
 me alms ; but no sooner was I recovered, than they 
 said, "Why do you stay idling here? why don't you 
 seek a master ? " On which the reply would rise to 
 my lips, " It is very easy to talk, but it is hard to 
 find one." 
 
 In this manner I went on seeking my living from 
 door to door, and a mighty poor living it was, for 
 Charity has left us mortals here to take a flight to 
 heaven long since. But one day I accidentally en- 
 countered a certain esquire in the street ; he was of 
 a good appearance, well dressed, and walked with an 
 air of ease and consequence. As I cast my eyes upon 
 him, he fortunately took notice of me, and said, " Are 
 you seeking a master, my boy ?" I replied that I 
 was. " Then follow me," said he ; " you have reason
 
 42 MENDOZA. 
 
 to thank your stars for this meeting : doubtless you 
 have said your prayers with a better grace than usual 
 this morning." I followed him, returning thanks to 
 Providence for this singular good turn of fortune, for, 
 if one might judge from appearances, here was exactly 
 the situation which I had so long desired. It was 
 early in the morning when I was engaged by this 
 kind master, and I continued to follow him, as he 
 desired, till we made the. tour of a great part of the 
 city. As we passed the market, I hoped that he 
 would give me a load to carry home, as it was then 
 about the hour that people usually made their pur- 
 chases of that nature ; but he passed by without 
 taking the slightest notice. " Peradventure," quoth 
 I to myself, " these commodities are not exactly to 
 his taste; we shall be more fortunate in some other 
 quarter." 
 
 It was now eleven o'clock, and my master went 
 into the cathedral to hear prayers, where I likewise 
 followed him. Here we stayed until the whole 
 service was finished and the congregation were 
 departed; and then my master left, and proceeded 
 towards one of the back streets of the city. Never 
 was anybody more delighted than I, to find my 
 master had not condescended to trouble himself 
 about supplying his table, concluding, of course, that 
 he was a gentleman whose means enabled him to 
 consign to others such inferior domestic cares, and 
 that on our arrival at home we should find every- 
 thing in order an anticipation of great delight to 
 me, and, in fact, by this time almost a matter of
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 43 
 
 necessity. The clock had struck one, when we 
 arrived at a house before which my master stopped, 
 and throwing his cloak open, he drew from his sleeve 
 a key with which he opened the door. 
 
 I followed my master into the house, the entrance 
 of which was extremely dark and dismal, so much 
 so as to create a sensation of fear in the mind of a 
 stranger; and when within found it contained a 
 small court-yard and tolerably sized chambers. The 
 moment he entered, he took off his cloak, and 
 inquiring whether I had clean hands, assisted me to 
 fold it, and then, carefully wiping the dust from a 
 seat, laid it thereon. He next very composedly 
 seated himself, and began to ask me a variety of 
 questions, as to who I was, where I came from, and 
 how I came to that city ; to all which I gave a more 
 particular account than exactly suited me at that 
 time, for I thought it would have been much more 
 to the purpose had he desired me to place the table 
 and serve up the soup, than ask me the questions he 
 then did. 
 
 With all this, however, I contrived to give him a 
 very satisfactory account of myself, dwelling on my 
 good qualities, and concealing those which were not 
 suitable to my present auditory. But I began now 
 to grow very uneasy, for two o'clock arrived, and 
 still no signs of dinner appeared, and I began to 
 recollect that ever since we had been in the house I 
 had not heard the foot of a human being, either 
 above or below. All I had seen were bare walls, 
 without even a chair or a table not so much as an
 
 44 MENDOZA . 
 
 old chest like that I had such good occasion to 
 remember. In fact, it seemed to me like a house 
 labouring under the influence of enchantment. 
 
 " Boy, hast thou eaten anything to-day ? " asked 
 my master at last. " No, sir," I replied, " seeing 
 that it was scarcely eight o'clock when I had the 
 good fortune to meet your honour." 
 
 " Early as it was," returned my master, " I had 
 already breakfasted, and it is never my custom to 
 eat again till the evening; manage as you can till 
 then; you will have the better appetite for supper." 
 
 It may be easily supposed that, on hearing this, 
 my newly raised hopes vanished as rapidly as they 
 had risen ; it was not hunger alone that caused me 
 to despond, but the certainty that fortune had not 
 yet exhausted her full store of malice against me. 
 Already I saw in perspective my troubles renewed, 
 and I turned to weep over my unhappy anticipation. 
 The consideration which prevented my taking an 
 abrupt departure from the priest arose to my 
 remembrance that of falling from bad to worse 
 and I beheld it, as I feared, realised. I could not 
 but weep over the incidents of my past unfortunate 
 career, and anticipate its rapidly approaching close ; 
 yet withal, concealing my emotion as well as possible, 
 I said, " Thank God ! sir, I am not a boy that 
 troubles himself much about eating and drinking; 
 and for this quality I have been praised even to this 
 very day by all the masters whom I have ever 
 served." " Abstinence is a great virtue," returned 
 my master, "and for this I shall esteem thee still
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 45 
 
 more; gormandising is only for swine, men of under- 
 standing require little to allay their appe.ite." "I 
 can understand that sentiment right well," quoth I 
 to myself; " my masters have all advised the same 
 course; though the devil a bit do they find the 
 virtues of starvation so very pleasant, by all that I 
 have seen." 
 
 Seating myself near the door, I now began to eat 
 some crusts of bread which I had about me; they 
 were part of some scraps I had collected in my career 
 of charity. "Come here, boy," said my master; 
 " what are you eating? " I went to him and showed 
 him the bread. He selected from the three pieces 
 which I had, the best and largest, and said, " Upon 
 my life, but this seems exceedingly nice bread." 
 " Yes, sir," I replied, " it is very good." " It really 
 is," he continued; "where did you get it? was it 
 made with clean hands, I wonder?" "That I can't 
 answer for," I replied, " but the flavour of it does 
 not come amiss to me." 
 
 " Nor to me either, please God ! " said my poor 
 devil of a master; and, having finished his scrutiny, 
 he raised the bread to his mouth, and commenced as 
 fierce an attack on it as I quickly did on the other. 
 
 " By heavens ! but this bread is beautiful ! " ex- 
 claimed he; and I, beginning to see how matters 
 stood with him, redoubled my haste with the 
 remainder, being well assured that if he finished first, 
 he would have little hesitation in assisting me : but 
 luckily we finished together. He then carefully 
 picked up the crumbs which had fallen, and entering
 
 46 MENDOZA. 
 
 a small chamber adjoining, brought out an old jar 
 with a broken mouth. Having drank therefrom he 
 handed it to me, but to support my character of 
 abstemiousness, I excused myself, saying, " No, sir, 
 I thank you ; I never drink wine." 
 
 " The contents of the jar will not hurt you," he 
 said ; " it is only water ! " I took the jar, but a very 
 small draught satisfied me, for thirst was one of the 
 few things from which I suffered no inconvenience. 
 
 Thus we remained till night, I anticipating my 
 supper, and my master asking me many questions, 
 to all of which I answered in the best manner I was 
 able. Then he took me into the chamber whence 
 he had brought the jar of water, and said, " Stay 
 here, my boy, and see how to make this bed, as 
 from henceforth you will have this duty." We 
 then placed ourselves on each side of this bed, if such 
 it can be called, to make it; though little enough 
 there was to make. On some benches was extended 
 a sort of platform of reeds, on which were placed 
 the clothes, which, from want of washing, were not 
 the whitest in the world. The deuce of anything 
 was there in the shape of feather-bed or mattress, 
 but the canes showed like the ribs of a lean hog 
 through an old covering which served to lie upon, 
 and the colour of which one could not exactly 
 praise. 
 
 It was night when the bed was made, and my 
 master said, " Lazaro, it is rather late now, and the 
 market is distant; likewise the city abounds with 
 rogues; we had better therefore pass the night as we
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMBS. 47 
 
 can, and to-morrow morninsr we will fare better. 
 Being a single man, you see, I don't care much for 
 these things, but we will arrange better in future." 
 
 " Sir, as to myself," I replied, " I beg you will 
 on no account distress yourself. I can pass a night 
 without food with no inconvenience, or even more 
 indeed, if it were necessary." " Your health will be 
 all the better for it," he said, " for take my word for 
 it, as I said to-day, nothing in the world will ensure 
 length of life so much as eating little." 
 
 " If life is to be purchased on such terms," said I 
 to myself, " I shall never die, for hitherto I have 
 been obliged to keep this rule, whether I will or no; 
 and, God help me, I fear I shall keep it all my long 
 life." 
 
 My master then went to bed, putting his clothes 
 under his head instead of a pillow, and ordered me 
 to seek my rest at his feet ; which I accordingly did, 
 though the situation precluded all hope of sleep. 
 The canes of which the bedstead was composed, 
 and my bones, which were equally prominent, were, 
 throughout the night, engaged in a continual and 
 most unpleasant intimacy; for considering my ill- 
 ness and the privations which I had endured, to 
 say nothing of my present starving condition, I do 
 not believe I had a single pound of flesh on my 
 whole body. Throughout that day I had eaten 
 nothing but a crust of bread, and was actually mad 
 with hunger, which is in itself a bitter enemy to 
 repose. A thousand times did I curse myself and 
 my unhappy fortunes the Lord forgive my iin-
 
 48 
 
 piety ; and what was a sore addition to my misery, 
 I dared not to move, nor vent my grief in audible 
 expressions, for fear of waking my master. Many 
 times during this night did I pray to God to finish 
 my existence ! 
 
 As the morning appeared, we arose, and I set about 
 cleaning my master's clothes, and putting them in 
 order; and helped him to dress, very much to his 
 satisfaction. As he placed his sword in his belt, he 
 said, " Do you know the value of this weapon, my 
 boy? The gold was never coined that should buy 
 this treasure of me. Of all the blades Antonio ever 
 forged, he never yet made its fellow." And then 
 drawing it from the scabbard and trying the edge 
 with his fingers, he added, " With this blade I would 
 engage to sever a bale of wool." " And I would do 
 more than that with my teeth," said I to myself; " for 
 though they are not made of steel, I would engage 
 to sever a four-pound loaf, and devour it afterwards." 
 
 He then sheathed his sword and girded it round 
 him, and with an easy, gentlemanlike carriage, bear- 
 ing himself erect, and throwing the corner of his 
 cloak over his shoulder, or over his arm, placing his 
 right hand on his side, he sallied forth, saying, 
 " Lazaro, see to the house while I go to hear mass, 
 and make the bed during my absence ; the vessel for 
 water wants filling, which you can do at the river 
 which runs close by ; though take care to lock the 
 door when you go, lest we should be robbed, and 
 put the key on this hinge, in case I return before 
 you, that I may let myself in."
 
 LAZARILLO t>E TORMES. 49 
 
 He then walked up the street with such an air of 
 gentility, that a stranger would have taken him for a 
 near relation of the Count of Arcos, or at least for 
 his valet de chambre. 
 
 " Blessed be the Lord ! " said I, " who, if He inflicts 
 misfortunes, gives us the means of bearing them. 
 Now who, on meeting my master, would dream but 
 that he had supped well and slept well ; and, although 
 early in the morning, but that he had also break- 
 fasted well ? There are many secrets, my good 
 master, that you know, and that all the world is 
 ignorant of. Who would not be deceived by that 
 smiling face and that fine cloak ? and who would 
 believe that such a fine gentleman had passed the 
 whole of yesterday without any other food than a 
 morsel of bread, that his boy had carried in his 
 breast for a day and a night ? To-day washing his 
 hands and face, and, for want of a towel, obliged to 
 dry them with the lining of his garments no one 
 would ever suspect such things from the appearance 
 before them. Alas! how many are there in this 
 world who voluntarily suffer more for their false idea 
 of honour, than they would undergo for their hopes 
 of an hereafter ! " 
 
 Thus I moralised at the door of our house, while 
 my master paced slowly up the street; and then, 
 returning within, I lost no time in making the tour 
 of the house, which I did, though without making 
 any fresh discovery whatever, or finding anything of 
 a more consolatory nature than my own gloomy 
 thoughts. 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 MEN 'DO 2 'A. 
 
 I quickly made our bed, such as it was, and taking 
 the water-jar, went with it to the river. There I saw 
 my gay master in one of the gardens by the river 
 side, in close conversation with two ladies, closely 
 veiled, for there were many who were in the habit 
 of resorting thus early in the morning to enjoy the 
 fresh air, and to take breakfast with some of the 
 gentlemen of the city, who likewise frequented the 
 spot. There he stood between them, saying softer 
 things than Ovid ever did ; while they, seeing him 
 apparently so enamoured, made no scruple of hinting 
 their wish to breakfast. Unfortunately his purse was 
 as empty as his heart was full, therefore this attack 
 on his weaker position threw him somewhat suddenly 
 into disorder, which became evident from his con- 
 fusion of language and the lame excuses of which he 
 was obliged to avail himself. The ladies were too 
 well experienced not to perceive, and that quickly, 
 how matters stood ; it was not long, therefore, before 
 they exchanged him for a more entertaining gallant. 
 
 I was all this time slily munching some cabbage- 
 stalks, for want of a better breakfast, which I de- 
 spatched with considerable alacrity, and then returned 
 home, without being seen by my master, to await his 
 orders respecting breakfast on his return. 
 
 I began to think seriously what I should do, still 
 hoping, however, that as the day advanced my master 
 might return with the means to provide at least for 
 our dinner, but in vain. Two o'clock came, but no 
 master; and, as my hunger now became insupport- 
 able, without further consideration I locked the door,
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 51 
 
 and, placing the key where I was told, sallied out in 
 search of food. With a humble subdued voice, my 
 hands crossed upon my breast, and the name of the 
 Lord upon my tongue, I went from house to house 
 begging bread. The practice of this art, I may say, 
 I imbibed with my mother's milk ; or rather that, 
 having studied it under the greatest master in all 
 Spain, it is no wonder that I was so great an adept 
 in all its various branches. 
 
 Suffice it to say, that although in this city there is 
 no more charity than would save a saint from star- 
 vation, yet such was my superiority in talent, that 
 before four o'clock I had stowed away nearly four 
 pounds of bread in my empty stomach, and two 
 pounds more in my sleeves and in the inside of my 
 jacket. Passing then by the tripe market, I begged 
 of one of the women that keep the stalls, who o;ave 
 me a good-sized piece of cow-heel, with some other 
 pieces of boiled tripe. When I got home, I found my 
 good gentleman already arrived, and having folded 
 and brushed his cloak, he was walking about the 
 courtyard. As I entered he came up to me, as I 
 thought, to chide me for my absence, but, thank God, 
 it was far otherwise. He inquired where I had been, 
 to which I replied, " Sir, I remained at home till two 
 o'clock ; but when I found that your honour did not 
 return, I went out, and recommended myself so well 
 to the notice of the good people of this city, that they 
 have given me what you see." I then showed him the 
 bread and the tripe which I had collected. At the 
 sight of these delicacies his countenance brightened
 
 52 MENDOZA. 
 
 up. "Ah ! " said he, " I waited dinner for you some 
 time; but as it grew late I finished. You 'have 
 nevertheless acted very properly in this matter; for 
 it is much better to ask, for the love of God, than to 
 steal. I only charge you on no account to say you 
 live with me, as such proceedings would not exactly 
 redound to my honour, although I hardly think there 
 is any danger, seeing that I am known so little in 
 this city." " Do not alarm yourselfj sir, on that head," 
 said I, " for people thought as little of asking who was 
 my master as I of telling them." " Eat away, then, 
 you young rogue," said he, " and with the blessing of 
 God we shall not long have need of ?nch assistance, 
 though T must say since I have been in this house 
 good fortune has never visited me. There are houses, 
 from some reason or other, so unlucky that every 
 one who occupies them becomes infected with their 
 ill-fortune, and this is without doubt one of them ; 
 but I promise you that directly the month is up I 
 will leave, even if they should offer it to me for 
 nothing." I seated myself on the end of the bench, 
 and commenced my supper with the tripe and bread. 
 My poor unhappy master all the time eyed me 
 askance, and never once took his eyes from my skirts, 
 which at that time served me instead of a dinner- 
 service. Providence had that day so favoured me, 
 that I resolved my master should partake of my 
 abundance, for I could well understand his feelings, 
 having experienced them of old, and to that very day, 
 indeed, I was no stranger to them. I began to think 
 whether it would exactly become me to invite him to
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 
 
 53 
 
 my repast, but as he had unfortunately said he had 
 dined, I feared lest he might take it amiss. How- 
 ever, I very much wished that the poor sinner might 
 have the benefit of my labour, and break his fast 
 as he had done the day before, particularly as the 
 food was better and my hunger less. My good 
 wishes towards him were speedily gratified, as they 
 happened to jump with his own humour, for 
 directly I commenced my meal he began walking 
 up and down the room, and approaching me rather 
 closely 
 
 " Lazaro," said he, " I really cannot help remark- 
 ing the extreme grace with which you make your 
 meal. I don't think I ever saw any one eat with 
 more natural elegance ; certain it is, that an observer 
 might benefit by your example/' 
 
 "Doubtless, my good sir," thought I, "it can 
 only be to your extreme amiability that I am in- 
 debted for this compliment." Then, in order to 
 give him the opportunity which I knew he longed 
 for, I said, " Good materials, sir, require good work- 
 men. This bread is most delicious, and this cow- 
 heel is so well cooked and seasoned that the smell 
 alone is sufficient to tempt any one." 
 
 " Cow-heel, is it? " said he. 
 
 " It is, sir," I replied. 
 
 " Ah ! " said he, " cow's heel is one of the most 
 delicate morsels in the world, there is nothing I am 
 so fond of." 
 
 " Then taste it, sir," said I, " and try whether this 
 is as good as you have eaten." He seated himself
 
 54 MENDOZA. 
 
 on the bench beside me, and laying hands on the 
 cow-heel, with three or four pieces of the whitest 
 bread, commenced in such good earnest that one 
 might easily see his rations were not disagreeable to 
 him grinding every bone as ravenously as a grey- 
 hound. "With a nice sauce of garlic," said he, 
 " this would be capital eating." 
 
 " You eat it with a better sauce than that, my 
 good sir," thought I. 
 
 " By heavens," said he, " anybody would think, 
 to see me eat, that I had not touched a morsel 
 to-day." 
 
 " I wish I was as sure of good luck as I'm sure of 
 that," said I to myself. He asked me for the water- 
 jug, and I gave it to him, which, by the way, was a 
 sure proof he had eaten nothing, for it was as full as 
 when I brought it from the river. After drinking 
 we went to bed in the same manner as on the night 
 before, though it must be confessed in a much more 
 contented mood. 
 
 Not to dwell too much on this part of my story, 
 I shall only say that in this manner we passed eight 
 or ten days, my worthy master taking the air every 
 day, in the most frequented parts, with the most 
 perfect ease of a man of fashion, and returning home 
 to feast on the contributions of the charitable, levied 
 by poor Lazaro. 
 
 Many times did the reflection suggest itself, that, 
 when with former masters I prayed so heartily to be 
 released from such miserable service, my desire was 
 certainly gratified, though with this difference, that
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 55 
 
 not only did my present one decline feeding me, but 
 expected that I should maintain him. 
 
 With all this, however, I liked him very much, 
 seeing he had not the ability to do more in fact, I 
 was much more sorry for his unfortunate condition 
 than angry at the situation in which his deficiencies 
 placed me ; and many times I have been reduced to 
 short commons myself, that I might bring home a 
 certain share for my unlucky master. But he was 
 poor, and nobody can ffive what he has not got an 
 excuse which I cannot make for the old scoundrels I 
 served before though, as God is my witness, to this 
 very day I never see a gentleman, like my master, 
 strutting along as though the street was hardly wide 
 enough for him, without marking the singular way 
 in which Fortune apportions her favours. I pitied 
 him from my heart, to think, that with all his 
 apparent greatness he might at that moment suffer 
 privations equally hard to endure. But with all his 
 poverty I found greater satisfaction in serving him 
 than either of the others, for the reasons I have 
 stated. All that I blamed him for was the extrava- 
 gance of his pride, which, I thought, mi<rht have 
 been somewhat abated towards one who, like myself, 
 knew his circumstances so intimately. It seems to 
 me, however, that the poorest gentlefolk are always 
 the most proud ; but there is consolation in the 
 thought that death knows no distinction, but at 
 length most generally places the commoner in higher 
 ground than it does the peer. I lived for some time 
 in the manner I have related, when it pleased my
 
 5 6 MENDOZA. 
 
 miserable fortune, which seemed never tired with 
 persecuting me, to envy me even my present pre- 
 carious and unhappy condition. 
 
 It appeared that the season in that country had 
 been unfavourable to corn, therefore it was ordained 
 by the magistracy that all strangers who subsisted 
 by alms should quit the city, or risk the punishment 
 of the whip. This law was. enforced so rigidly that, 
 only four days after its promulgation, I beheld a 
 procession of miserable wretches who were suffering 
 the penalty through the streets of the city ; a sight 
 which so alarmed me that I did not dare for the 
 future to avail myself of my accustomed means of 
 subsistence. It can hardly be possible to imagine 
 the extreme necessity to which our house was 
 reduced, or the mournful silence of those who were 
 expiring within; for two or three days we neither 
 spoke a word nor had we a mouthful to eat. With 
 regard to myself, there were some young women, 
 who earned their living by cotton-spinning and 
 making caps, and with whom, being near neighbours 
 of ours, I had made some slight acquaintanceship 
 out of their pittance these poor girls gave me a 
 morsel, which just served to keep life within me. 
 
 I did not, however, feel my own situation so 
 keenly as I did that of my poor master, who, dur- 
 ing the space of eight days, to the best of my know- 
 ledge, never touched a mouthful ; at least, I can say, 
 the deuce a morsel ever entered our door. Whether 
 he ever got anything to eat when he went out I can- 
 not determine j but I know well that he sallied out
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 
 
 57 
 
 every day with a waist as fine as a greyhound of the 
 best breed ; and the better, as he thought, to evade 
 suspicion, he would take a straw from the mattress, 
 which could even ill spare the loss, and go swagger- 
 ing out of the house, sticking it in his mouth for a 
 toothpick 1 He continued to attribute all his ill-for- 
 tune to the unlucky house in which we were lodged. 
 " The evils we have to bear," he would say, " are all 
 owing to this unfortunate dwelling as you see, it is 
 indeed sad, dark, and dismal : nevertheless, here we 
 are, and, I fear, must continue awhile to suffer; I 
 only wish the month was past, that we might well 
 be quit of it." 
 
 It happened one day, suffering, as I have described, 
 this afflicting persecution of hunger, that, by some 
 extraordinary chance, I know not what, nor did I 
 think it dutiful to inquire, there fell into my poor 
 master's poverty-stricken possession the large sum of 
 one rial, with which he came home as consequentially 
 as though he had brought the treasure of Venice, 
 saying to me, with an air of extreme satisfaction and 
 contentment, " Here, Lazaro, my boy, take this 
 Providence is at last beginning to smile on us go 
 to the market and purchase bread, meat, and wine; 
 we will no longer take things as we have done. I 
 have other good news likewise. I have taken an- 
 other lodging, so that there will be no occasion to 
 remain in this wretched place longer than the end of 
 the month. Curse the place and he who laid the 
 first brick ; by the Lord, since I've been here not a 
 drop of wine have I drunk, nor have I tasted a morsel
 
 5 8 MENDOZA. 
 
 of meat, neither have I enjoyed the smallest comfort 
 whatsoever; but everything has been, as you see, 
 miserable and dismal to the last degree. However, 
 go, and quickly, for to-day we will feast like lords." 
 
 I took my rial and jar, and without another word 
 set out on my errand with the utmost speed, making 
 towards the market-place in the most joyous and 
 light-hearted mood imaginable. But alas ! what 
 enjoyment could I expect, when my adverse fortune 
 so preponderated that the slightest gleam of sun- 
 shine in my career was sure to be overtaken by a 
 storm? I was making my way, as I said, in ex- 
 tremely good spirits, revolving in my mind in what 
 manner I should lay out my money to the best 
 advantage, and returning heartfelt thanks to Provi- 
 dence for favouring my master with this unexpected 
 stroke of fortune, when I saw a great crowd at the 
 other end of the street, among whom were many 
 priests; and I soon found to my horror that they 
 were accompanying a corpse. I stood up against 
 the wall to give them room, and as the body passed 
 I beheld one, who, as I supposed, from the mourning 
 she wore, was the widow of the deceased, surrounded 
 by friends. She was weeping bitterly, and uttering 
 in a loud voice the most piteous exclamations. 
 " Alas ! " she cried, " my dear husband and lord ! 
 whither are they taking you ? To that miserable and 
 unhappy dwelling; to that dark and dismal habita- 
 tion ; to the house where there is neither eating nor 
 drinking!" Good heavens! never shall I forget the 
 moment when I heard those words ; it seemed in mv
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 59 
 
 fright as though heaven and earth were coming to- 
 gether. " Miserable and unhappy wretch that I am," 
 I exclaimed in an agony of mind, " it is to our house 
 then that they are bearing this body ! " 
 
 I rushed from the place where I stood, through 
 the crowd, forgetting in my fright the object of my 
 errand, and made with all speed towards home. The 
 instant I arrived, I closed the door, barred and bolted 
 it, and cried out to my master with the utmost 
 earnestness of manner to help me to defend the 
 entrance. He, greatly alarmed, and with the im- 
 pression that it was something else, called to me, 
 "What is the matter, boy? why do you slam the 
 door with such fury ? " 
 
 "O master," said I, "come here and assist me, 
 for they are bringing a dead body here ! I met them 
 in the street above, and I heard the widow of the 
 dead man crying out, 'Alas! husband and master, 
 whither do they take you ? To the dark and dismal 
 house; to the house of misery and misfortune; to 
 the house where they neither eat nor drink.' To 
 what other house, then, can they be bringing him 
 than this ? " Directly my master heard these words, 
 albeit in no merry humour, he burst out into such a 
 fit of laughing that it was some time before he could 
 utter a word. 
 
 During this time I was holding fast the door, 
 placing my shoulder against it for better security. 
 The crowd passed with the body, though still I 
 could not persuade myself but that they intended 
 to bring it in. When my master was more satiated
 
 6o MENDOZA. 
 
 with mirth than with food, he said to me, in a good- 
 tempered manner, "It is very just, Lazaro; accord- 
 ing to what the widow said, you were right in think- 
 ing as you did ; but as they have thought better of it 
 and passed on, open the door and go on your errand." 
 " Stop a little longer, sir," said I, " let them pass the 
 end of the street, that we may be sure ; " but he would 
 not wait, and coming to the street door, he opened 
 it and forced me away, for I hardly knew what I did 
 with fright, and so he despatched me again to the 
 market. 
 
 We dined well that day, though my appetite was 
 but indifferent ; and it was some time before I re- 
 covered from the effect of that misadventure, though 
 it was an excellent source of mirth to my master 
 whenever it was brought to his recollection. 
 
 In this manner I lived some little time with my 
 third and poorest master the esquire, having great 
 curiosity to know what could possibly have induced 
 him to come to that part of the world, for I knew 
 he was a stranger on the first day I lived with him, 
 from the fact of his not knowing a single soul in the 
 city. At last my wish was gratified ; for one day, 
 when we had feasted pretty well, and were conse- 
 quently in good humour, he told me a little of his 
 history. He was a native of Old Castile, and had 
 quitted his country because he had refused to salute 
 a neighbouring gentleman of consequence by taking 
 off his hat first, which, according; to punctilio, was 
 construed into an insulting mark of disrespect. My 
 honourable master wished to convince me that,
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 61 
 
 being a gentleman, the other, though superior, had 
 an equal right to doff his bonnet to him; "for," 
 said he, " though I am, as you see, but an esquire, 
 I vow to God, if the count himself were to meet me 
 in the street, and did not take off his hat to me, ay, 
 and entirely off, the next time we met I would turn 
 into some shop, pretending business, rather than pay 
 him the least mark of respect. And though you see 
 me here but poorly off, yet in my own country I 
 have an estate in houses in good condition and well 
 rented, only sixteen leagues from the place where I 
 was born, worth at least two hundred thousand 
 maravedis; so you see that they must be of good 
 size and in good repair. I have likewise a dovecot, 
 which if it were taken care of, which it is not, would 
 furnish upwards of two hundred young birds annu- 
 ally ; and many other things I possess, which I have 
 relinquished solely because I would not have the 
 slightest imputation cast upon my honour, by yield- 
 ing precedence to one who was in fact no better than 
 myself; and I came to this city hoping to obtain 
 some honourable employment, though I have not 
 succeeded so well as I could have wished." 
 
 In this manner my master was going on with his 
 narrative, giving me an account of the honourable 
 proceedings by which he had suffered, when he was 
 interrupted by the appearance of an old man and 
 woman ; the former came to demand the rent of the 
 house, and the latter that of the bed. They brought 
 the account, and claimed for two months more than 
 he could raise in a year; I think it was about twelve
 
 62 MENDOZA. 
 
 or thirteen rials. He answered them very cour- 
 teously, that he was then going out to change a piece 
 of gold and should return in the evening. But he 
 made his exit this time for good ; and when the 
 good people came for their money, I was obliged to 
 tell them that he had not yet returned. The night 
 came, but without my master, and, being fearful of 
 remaining in the house by myself, I went to our 
 neighbours, to whom I related the circumstance, and 
 they allowed me to remain with them. 
 
 Early in the morning the creditors returned and 
 inquired of the neighbours. The woman replied 
 that his boy was there, and the key of the door ready 
 for them. They then asked me about my master, 
 and I told them that I knew not where he was, and 
 that I had not seen him since he went out to change 
 the piece of gold ; but that I thought it was most 
 likely he was gone off with the change. 
 
 On hearing this news they sent for a lawyer and 
 a constable, and called on me and others to witness 
 their taking possession of my master's effects in pay- 
 ment of their demands. They went all over the 
 house, and found just as much furniture as I have 
 recounted before, when they demanded of me, 
 "What has become of your master's property? 
 where are his trunks? and where is his household 
 furniture ? " "I am sure I don't know," I replied. 
 " Doubtless," said they, " the property has been 
 removed during the night. Senor Alguazil, take 
 that boy into custody ; he knows whither it has been 
 taken." On this up came the Alguazil, and, seizing
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 63 
 
 me by the collar, said, " Boy, thou art my prisoner, 
 if thou reveal not where thy master hath hid his 
 effects." I, as if quite new to this sort of thing, 
 expressed the utmost surprise and terror, and pro- 
 mised to state everything I knew, which seemed a 
 little to disarm his anger. " That is right," exclaimed 
 all, " tell all you know, and fear nothing." The 
 man of law seated himself at a desk, and desired me 
 to begin. " Gentlemen," I continued, " my master 
 is in possession of a good stock of houses and an old 
 dovecot." " So far well," was the reply ; " however 
 little worth, it will meet the debt he owes us. In 
 what part of the city do they lie ? " " On his own 
 estate, to be sure," was my answer. " That is all 
 the better," they exclaimed ; " and where is his 
 estate ? " " In Old Castile," I replied, " as he told 
 me." Both Alguazil and notary laughed out at hear- 
 ing this, exclaiming, " Quite enough quite enough 
 to cover your claim, though it were even greater." 
 The neighbours who had gathered round us now 
 said, " Gentlemen, this here is a very honest boy ; 
 he has not been long in the 'squire's service, and 
 knows no more of him than does your worship ; the 
 poor little sinner came knocking at our doors, and 
 for charity's sake we gave him something to eat, 
 after which he has gone to sleep at his master's." 
 
 Seeing that I was innocent they let me go free ; 
 but the notary and the Alguazil now came on the 
 owners for the taxes, which gave rise to no very 
 friendly discussion and a most hideous din ; the man 
 and woman maintained very stoutly that they had
 
 64 MENDOZA. 
 
 neither the will nor the means to pay them. The 
 others declared they had other business in view of 
 more importance ; but I left them without stopping 
 to see the issue of the affair, though I believe the 
 unfortunate owner had to pay all ; and he well de- 
 served to do it, for when he ought to have taken his 
 ease and pleasure, after a life of labour, he still went 
 on hiring out houses to increase his gains. 
 
 It was in this way that my third and poorest 
 master took leave of me, by which it seems I put the 
 seal to my bad fortune, which, while exercising its 
 utmost rigour against me, had this singularity in it 
 that, though most domestics are known to run away 
 from their masters, it was not thus in my case, inas- 
 much as my master had fairly run away from me.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HOW LAZARO SERVED A FRIAR OP LA MERCED % AND 
 WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM. 
 
 I HAD now to seek a fourth master ; and this turned 
 out to be a holy friar, to whom I was conducted by 
 the ladies before alluded to, and who were related to 
 him. He was a great enemy to psalm-singing, and 
 of the usual convent fare; fond of roaming out, and 
 eager indeed in the pursuit of every kind of secular 
 business and amusement. In fact, he wore out more 
 shoes than all the rest of the convent put together. 
 It was he who gave me the first pair of shoes I ever 
 had given me in my life; and they did not last me 
 much above a week, so constantly did he keep me on 
 the trot. In short, I could not endure it; and for 
 this and other reasons, not worth stating, I took my 
 leave of him without asking leave. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HOW LAZARO SERVED A BULERO, AND WHAT s. 
 TOOK PLACE. 
 
 THE fifth master that fortune threw in my way was 
 a Bulero, or a dealer in papal indulgences one of the 
 most impudent and barefaced, yet cleverest rogues, 
 that I have ever seen or ever shall see. He practised 
 all manner of deceit, and resorted to the most subtle 
 inventions to gain his end. On his arrival at any 
 place to present his credentials and open his traffic, 
 the first thing he did was to send small presents of 
 no great value to the clergy, by which means he 
 would gain a civil reception, and perhaps assistance 
 in his negotiations. He made himself acquainted 
 with the character of these persons; when to some 
 he would say that he never spoke in Latin, but 
 always preferred a chaste and elegant diction in his 
 native tongue. To others again he would talk Latin 
 for two hours; at least so it would seem to those who 
 heard him, although perhaps it was not half that time. 
 When he found that no great success attended his 
 usual endeavours, he would have recourse to artifice ; 
 but as a regular account of them would fill a volume, 
 I will only recount one little manoeuvre, which will 
 ive you some idea of his genius and invention.
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 67 
 
 He had preached two or three days at a place near 
 Toledo, and had not neglected his usual offerings ; but 
 he found his indulgences go off but slowly, with very 
 Uttle appearance of improvement, for which he very 
 heartily wished the good people at the devil. Being 
 at his wit's end what to do, he invited all the people 
 to the church the next morning, to take his farewell. 
 After supper that evening he and the Alguazil sat 
 down to enjoy themselves, and in the course of their 
 entertainment some dispute arose, which increased 
 to very high words. He called the Alguazil thief, 
 which the other retorted by calling him impostor. 
 On this, the Bulero caught up a weapon lying near, 
 ind the Alguazil drew his sword to defend himself. 
 The noise was so great that the neighbours ran in 
 to inquire into the cause, and with some difficulty 
 separated the enraged combatants. They continued, 
 however, to revile each other with words, although, 
 by reason of the house being filled with people, they 
 could not vent their rage with blows; the Alguazil 
 continually calling out that my master was an im- 
 postor, and that his indulgences were forged. The 
 neighbours seeing that peace could not be restored, 
 took away the Alguazil to another inn, to prevent 
 mischief; and after some time, the uproar subsiding, 
 we went to bed. 
 
 In the morning my master went to the church 
 to preach his farewell sermon. The people were all 
 there, murmuring about the authenticity of the bull, 
 saying that the Alguazil had discovered it to them ; 
 and if they were indisposed towards the indulgences
 
 68 MEtiDOZA. 
 
 before, they were now little likely to purchase them. 
 The. reverend commissary ascended the pulpit and 
 commenced his sermon. He expatiated on the merits 
 of the Pope's holy commission, and of the infallible 
 virtues of the indulgences which the bull guaranteed. 
 The sermon was proceeding in this manner when the 
 Alguazil entered the church, and taking advantage 
 of an opportunity, rose, and with a loud voice, but 
 discreet manner, he addressed the congregation : 
 " JVIy good people, hear me but one word, and listen 
 to whomsoever you please afterwards. I came here 
 with yonder cheat who is now preaching to you, and, 
 seduced by him, I promised to favour his deception 
 and divide the gains. But as my conscience is uneasy 
 at thus assisting to rob you of your money, I take 
 this opportunity of declaring before you all that the 
 bull is forged, and that the indulgences are false. 
 And after this confession I beg you to bear witness, 
 if at any future time this rogue meet with punish- 
 ment as an impostor, that I am not implicated 
 therein, but have done all in my power to expose 
 him and warn you." 
 
 Many respectable people, to prevent the scandal 
 of the thing proceeding further, wished to turn the 
 Alguazil out of the church, but the reverend preacher 
 would by no means permit such violence; and thus 
 the Alguazil had the liberty of saying all he wished. 
 When he was silent, my master rose and asked him 
 if he wished to say more, on which he replied, " I 
 could say plenty more concerning your rogueries, but 
 for the present what I have said is sufficient."
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 69 
 
 The devout commissary of his holiness then threw 
 himself on his knees in the pulpit, and, casting his 
 arms and eyes towards heaven, he exclaimed, "O 
 Lord ! to whom nothing is hidden, Thou knowest the 
 truth, and how cruelly I am calumniated. I forgive 
 all that personally concerns me, but to that which 
 relates to my holy calling I cannot be indifferent, 
 inasmuch as many here may be induced to give credit 
 to what has been falsely spoken, to the injury of their 
 own souls and of my holy mission. I therefore pray 
 Thee, O Lord, to vouchsafe by a miracle to show the 
 whole truth as to this matter. If I deal in falsehood 
 and iniquity, may the pulpit on which I now kneel 
 sink with me seven fathoms below the earth, so that 
 I may never be heard of again ; and if what is said 
 be false, and prompted by the devil to deprive these 
 good people here of the comforts of which I am the 
 bearer, let the author of the calumny be punished, so 
 that all present may be convinced of his malice." 
 
 Hardly had my pious master finished his prayer, 
 when the Alguazil fell from the place where he was 
 standing, and with such a noise that the whole church 
 resounded with the fall. His countenance became 
 distorted, and he began to foam at the mouth, utter- 
 ing frightful curses, and rolling about in the utmost 
 apparent agony. At this wonderful interposition of 
 Providence, the clamour became so great that no one 
 could hear himself speak. Some were frightened, 
 and cried, " Lord, Lord, have mercy on the sinner;" 
 while others said, " It served him right for his false 
 testimony ; let him kick and go to the devil ! "
 
 70 MENDOZA. 
 
 Finally, however, some individuals went to his 
 assistance, though not without evident fear, and tried 
 to hold his arms and legs; but he gave them such 
 fierce salutes, dealing his favours so vigorously and 
 dexterously, that many were much hurt, and it re- 
 quired at least seventeen men to hold him down. 
 
 While this was proceeding my sainted master was 
 on his knees in the pulpit, his hands and eyes turned 
 towards heaven, apparently filled with the Divine 
 essence, and utterly unconscious of the noises and 
 disturbance around him, so completely was he wrapt 
 in his heavenly meditations. Some approached him 
 and begged him, "for the love of God, to succour 
 the poor wretch who was dying ; and that, doubtless, 
 at his intercession the Lord would not prolong his 
 sufferings." 
 
 The devout commissary, as though disturbed from 
 a sweet vision, looked around him, first at the sup- 
 pliants and then at the delinquent. " My good 
 friends," said he slowly, " you ought not to ask a 
 favour for him whom God has so signally chastised. 
 But as He has commanded that we should return 
 good for evil, we may with more confidence implore 
 His pardon for the poor wretch who had dared to 
 place an obstacle in the way of His holy commission." 
 Then, descending from the pulpit, he desired them 
 all to pray for the sinner, and that the devil with 
 which he was possessed might be cast out. The 
 congregation with one accord threw themselves on 
 their knees, and commenced in a low voice to repeat 
 the litany j while my master, before he approached
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 71 
 
 the possessed sinner with the cross and holy water, 
 turning his eyes to heaven till the whites could only 
 be seen, delivered a pious oration, which drew tears 
 from the eyes of the hearers. This being finished, he 
 commanded the holy bull to be brought and placed 
 on the head of the possessed, and immediately the 
 sinner of an Alguazil began by degrees to recover 
 himself. Directly he was restored to consciousness, 
 he threw himself at the feet of the holy commissary 
 and implored his pardon. He confessed that what 
 he did was by the commandment of the devil, who 
 was excessively annoyed at the appearance of the holy 
 man, and was fearful that he should lose his dominion 
 over the people if they were to purchase his indul- 
 gences. My master, in the most benevolent manner, 
 pardoned him, and interchanged kindnesses with him, 
 giving him advice very much' to his comfort and 
 advantage. Great now w r as the demand for indul- 
 gences amongst the bystanders, and not an individual 
 would go from church without one, neither man, 
 woman, nor child. 
 
 The news soon spread, and people came flocking 
 from all parts, so that no sermons were necessary in 
 the church to convince them of the benefits likely to 
 result to the purchasers. The inn where we resided 
 was crowded with applicants, and wherever we went 
 in that district thousands of indulgences were sold 
 without a single sermon being preached. I must 
 confess that I, amongst many others, was deceived 
 at the time, and thought my master a miracle of 
 sanctity ; but hearing the merriment which it afforded
 
 72 MENDOZA. 
 
 to the holy commissary and the Alguazil, I began 
 to suspect that it originated in the peculiarly fertile 
 invention of my master, and although young, from 
 that moment I ceased to be a child of grace; for I 
 argued within myself, " If I, being an eyewitness 
 to such an imposition, could almost believe it, how 
 many more, amongst this poor innocent people, must 
 be imposed on by these robbers? " 
 
 I quitted my fifth master at the end of four 
 months, during which I experienced some very 
 fatiguing and unpleasant adventures.
 
 ( 73 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HOW LAZARO AGREED TO SERVE A CHAPLAIN, AND HOW 
 HE FARED. 
 
 I NEXT entered into arrangements with a certain 
 chaplain whom I met in the great church, and who 
 seeing in me a well-grown and conditioned youth, 
 took me forthwith into his service, and put under 
 my care a fine ass, and four narrow-necked pitchers, 
 along with a whip, with all which I commenced to 
 cry one of the four elements, namely, pure water, 
 through the city. 
 
 This was the first step which I had yet made 
 towards attaining an easy life, for I had here a 
 mouthful at will. Every day I delivered to my 
 master thirty maravedis, and on the Sabbaths I 
 gained what I could for myself, amounting, with 
 what I made in the week, to at least thirty more. 
 Such was my success in this new office that at the 
 end of four years, by the use of some caution and 
 address, I began to cut a very gentlemanlike ap- 
 pearance out of my master's wardrobe, by the sale 
 of which I was enabled to buy a doublet of old 
 fustian, a large coat with trimmed sleeves, and a 
 cloak lined with silk, besides one of the old famous 
 swords of Cuellar. I had no sooner beheld myself 
 thus arrayed like a man of some note, than I re- 
 quested of my master to take care of the ass him- 
 self, for that I had done with that particular office.
 
 ( 74 ) 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 HOW LAZARO ARGEED TO SERVE AN ALGUAZ1L, AND Of 
 WHA T ENSUED. 
 
 HAVING bidden the chaplain farewell, I joined 
 the train of justice, and entered the service of an 
 Alguazil. I did not, however, remain in it long, 
 inasmuch as I found it a dangerous employment, 
 and particularly on one night, when a party we 
 were conducting set on and stoned us, treating my 
 master, whom they killed, exceedingly ill, but for- 
 tunately stopping short of that with myself. 
 
 With this I threw up the trade, and considering 
 in what mode I should next live with a little more 
 safety and ease, as well as profit, to supply my old 
 age, it pleased Heaven to enlighten and put me into 
 a much better way, insomuch that I forgot all my 
 past anxieties and pains in the favour of those friends 
 and gentlemen who procured me an office under 
 the royal government; for I saw that no one so well 
 thrived as he who held such a situation. This also I 
 yet keep, and flourish in it, with the permission 
 of God and of every good customer. In fact, my 
 charge is that of making public proclamation of the 
 wine which is sold in these places, and at auctions, 
 &c. j of bearing those company who suffer persecu-
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 75 
 
 tion for justice' sake, and publishing to the world, 
 with a loud voice, their faults. 
 
 I have succeeded in the office so well, and with so 
 much ease, that almost all matters relating to it are 
 known to go through my hands, insomuch that the 
 man who has got wine or other thing to sell, begins 
 to think it a losing concern if Lazaro de Tormes has 
 not something to do with it. 
 
 About this time, perceiving my ability and my 
 style of life, the arch-priest of Salvador, to whom I 
 was introduced, and who was under obligation to me 
 for crying his wine, showed his sense of it by uniting 
 me with one of his own domestics. 
 
 I conceived that nothing but a favourable influence 
 and patronage would accrue from this step, and from 
 that hour I have never repented it ; for besides being 
 a good creature, diligent and useful, my wife has pre- 
 served the countenance of my lord arch-priest, and 
 on holidays and festivals he is sure to make her some 
 solid present, either from his larder or his wardrobe, 
 which really serves to keep us in good plight; and as 
 to house rent, he engaged for us, and we live within 
 a short distance of him. Many a good day in fact 
 we celebrate at his own table ; but evil tongues will 
 be busy and give out all kinds of reports, as to all 
 this being done more out of compliment to my wife 
 than to myself. God give the world more grace to 
 tell the truth ; not that my wife disturbs herself for 
 the wagging of a few tongues, and a little barking 
 where they cannot bite. Our good priest, moreover, 
 came one day and thus addressed me, " Lazaro, my
 
 76 MENDOZA. 
 
 friend, whoever pays attention to the envious remarks 
 of others will never thrive. I say it, lest you should 
 heed what they say respecting your wife's visits to 
 see her old master: it is all kindly meant; and your 
 honour is safe, that I can promise you. Dream not 
 of honour then, but stick to profit, and conduct 
 thyself like a wise man." 
 
 " My lord," I replied, " it is true that some of my 
 friends have touched upon this subject, and even 
 dared to assert that, before my marriage with your 
 maid, she had already been brought to bed three 
 times, speaking with all reverence, by means of your 
 lordship ; such is the power of calumny in ill-dis- 
 posed minds." 
 
 Upon hearing this my wife, who was present, be- 
 gan to cross herself and appeal to all the saints, so 
 that I feared the house would open under our feet; 
 after this she burst into a loud weeping, and rapped 
 out a thousand maledictions upon the head of him 
 who had first joined her in wedlock with Lazaro de 
 Tormes my humble self. " Would," she said, " I 
 had died ere that fatal word had issued from these 
 lips." But I on one side, and my lord on the other, 
 soon succeeded in drying her tears, vowing, as I did, 
 never to allude in the slightest manner to that deli- 
 cate subject more, assuring her that such was my 
 confidence that I would be glad to see her going at 
 all hours, either by night or day, into my good 
 patron's house. In this way we all three soon be- 
 came reconciled to ourselves and to each other. 
 Never to this day has a hint escaped me relative to
 
 LAZARILLO DE TORMES. 77 
 
 the matter; and if I hear any one so much as 
 approach the most distant confines of it, I seize him 
 by the button, and exclaim, " If you be a friend of 
 mine, do not utter what you know will give me 
 pain ; for I do not hold him a true one who wishes 
 to excite mischief, and more especially between me 
 and my wife the object to whom I am most 
 attached in life, and who, by the grace of God, con- 
 fers on me greater benefits than I can ever deserve. 
 I would swear to you by the Holy Host she is as 
 good a wife as lives within the walls of Toledo; and 
 let my worst enemy say no, and I will fight him on 
 that theme to the death." 
 
 All this happened the same year that our victorious 
 Emperor Charles made his entry into this celebrated 
 city of Toledo, and there held his court, bringing 
 with him a season of feast and jubilee, of which all 
 must have heard.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 \.AZARO'S AMOUNT OF THE FRIENDSHIP HE FORMED 
 IN TOLEDO WITH SOME GERMANS, AND OF WHAT 
 PASSED BETWEEN THEM. 
 
 A.T this time I had reached my most prosperous 
 " and palmy state." I was at the top of the ladder, 
 ind enjoyed all kind of good fortune. Wherever I 
 went I was accompanied by a good assortment of 
 fruits and other rarities, such as are produced and 
 cried in this our favoured land, samples of all which 
 I displayed to view ; and thus obtained such a con- 
 nection, both among natives and foreigners, that T 
 found open house wheresoever I chose to direct my 
 steps. I was, in short, such a favourite that, I 
 believe, had I wished to kill a man out of mere 
 whim, or chanced to fall into any horrible scrape, I 
 should have found everybody upon my side, and got 
 clear off by means of noble friends and connections 
 in high life. I never left them empty-handed ; they 
 always took from me some of the most choice articles 
 in the city a city in which we spent so glorious a 
 life. When in their company they never permitted 
 us to put our hands into our pockets or expend the 
 least item, declaring that, both on my wife's account 
 and my own, they should take it as an affront. I
 
 LAZAR1LLO DE TORMES. 79 
 
 could not find words to express the pleasure I felt in 
 their society; and not only this, but they crowded 
 our table with every delicacy of the season, so that 
 every day we had a store by us enough to last a 
 whole family for a week. In this land of plenty I 
 often recalled to mind my days of fast and penance, 
 and gave thanks to the Lord that things, both in 
 general and in particular, went so well. 
 But as the old proverb has it 
 
 " Quien bien te hara, 
 O se te ira 6 se morira." 
 
 So indeed it happened to me, for the grand court 
 changed its residence; and though my great friends 
 wished me to go along with them, and promised me 
 fine things, I bethought me again of the old saying, 
 that a " bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," 
 and so we took leave of them with many expressions 
 of sorrow and regret. 
 
 Of a truth, had I not been married I could have 
 gone along with them, so much was their society 
 agreeable to my taste, and their life, moreover, being 
 one every way worthy of imitation ; abounding in 
 all that is good and pleasing, and suffering none 
 within its happy sphere to feel any wish unsatisfied. 
 
 But the love of my wife and of my country pre- 
 vailed ; and I remained in this city, although well 
 known to its inhabitants, apart from the pleasures of 
 a court and the society of such friends. My satis- 
 faction was shortly afterwards increased by the birth 
 of a daughter; a little beauty, which my wife de-
 
 8o 
 
 clared by all the saints she believed to be my own. 
 This happy state J now conceived would continue; 
 but fortune soon began to show another aspect, and 
 a fresh series of miseries and difficulties of every kind 
 followed her altered looks, which ended in death, and 
 which it would be too cruel and severe a task for me 
 to pretend to recount.
 
 GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 MATED ALEMAN, 
 
 BY THOMAS ROSCOE. 
 
 MATEO ALEMAN was a writer of considerable emi- 
 nence in the reign of Philip II., although the parti- 
 culars of his life are few. We learn from Nicholas 
 Antonio, that he was a native of Seville, and was 
 employed under the Government; but having a dis- 
 taste for such occupation, he threw up his situation, 
 and crossed the sea to Mexico, in which city he was 
 some time a resident, and published there, in the year 
 1609, his " Ortografia Castellana; " likewise a life of 
 San Antonio de Padua, with a eulogium on the life 
 of that saint, written in very good Latin. He was 
 also the author of a Latin dialogue called " Pro- 
 metheus," in imitation of Lucian. 
 
 But the work which has gained for him the title 
 of novelist, and classed him amongst that school, so 
 humorously and happily conceived and brought into 
 popular regard by Mendoza, is his " Vita del Picaro 
 Guzman d'Alfarache ; " of which that honoured pla- 
 giarist, Le Sage, knew so well how to avail himself 
 in after times, accommodating his literary larceny to 
 <;he habits and taste of his own countrymen.
 
 84 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 The work has been translated into every European 
 language ; and a book well deserves the honour which 
 has, since the year 1599, six years before Cervantes 
 gained immortal renown by his " Don Quixote," pre- 
 served its national popularity unimpaired, and which 
 portrays with the most vivid exactitude, the most 
 pure morality, chastened and correct language, and 
 an easy and natural style, the manners of the Spanish 
 serviles, the wretched and destitute, an important 
 class in a nation so subjected to the privileged orders. 
 He has, moreover, mixed and contrasted the picture 
 with that of the more exclusive orders which influ- 
 enced European society at that period. 
 
 That corruption of literary taste which originated 
 in excessive refinement had not then shown itself; 
 but the work is not free from other defects, which 
 may be attributed to the nature of the composition 
 and the age in which it was written. 
 
 Desirous of portraying the actual state of things, 
 the author sometimes represents them worse than 
 they were; and aiming at the familiar and colloquial, 
 he sometimes quits a graceful irony for low satire and 
 buffoonery. 
 
 But, with all these defects, it ranks higher than any 
 works of the class which had been previously written ; 
 and infinitely superior to that which appeared from 
 the pen of his imitator, Lopez de Ubeda, called " La 
 Picara Justina," a book richly deserving the contempt 
 with which it is treated by the critical curate who 
 passes judgment on Don Quixote's library.
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I WAS so desirous, curious reader, to relate to you 
 my own adventures, that I had almost commenced 
 speaking of myself without making any mention of 
 my family, with which some sophist or other would 
 not have failed to accuse me : " Be not so hasty, friend 
 Guzman," would he have said ; " let us begin, if you 
 please, from the definition, before we proceed to 
 speak of the thing defined. Inform us, in the first 
 place, who were your parents; you can then relate 
 to us at your pleasure those exploits which you have 
 so immoderate a desire to entertain us with." 
 
 To proceed, therefore, in due course, I will intro- 
 duce my parents to your notice. Were I to relate 
 their history, I doubt not that you would find it 
 more entertaining than my own ; but think not that 
 I am going so far to enlarge at their expense as to 
 reveal all that I know of them : let any other that 
 pleases rake up the ashes of the dead, and regale
 
 86 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 himself on their bodies, like the hyena; for my part, 
 I shall so far respect the memory of my parents, as 
 to pass over in silence such things as it would not 
 become me to speak of; and it is even my wish so 
 to set off such as I shall recount to you, that it may 
 be said of me, " Blessed be the man who thus glosses 
 over the crimes of his ancestors." 
 
 Their conduct, however, has certainly not always 
 been blameless, and some of their actions have made 
 so much noise in the world, that it were in vain for 
 me to attempt to make them appear spotless. I 
 shall only give the lie to the numerous comments 
 that have been made upon the truth ; for, God be 
 praised ! it is the fashion nowadays to disguise truth 
 by such comments. Every man who relates a story, 
 whether from malice or ostentation, is sure to inter- 
 lard with it some portion of slander, more or less; 
 such is the good disposition of our nature, that some- 
 thing of our own invention must be added to that 
 which is expected of us. I will relate to you an 
 example of this. 
 
 I knew a gentleman at Madrid, a stranger, who 
 was a great lover of Spanish horses. He possessed 
 two of a remarkably fine shape, a sorrel and a dapple- 
 grey, which he would willingly have transported to 
 his own country; but it not being lawful, and, be- 
 sides, scarcely possible, on account of the very great 
 distance, he resolved to have them painted, that he 
 might at least have the pleasure of showing their 
 pictures to his friends. With this view he employed 
 two celebrated painters, to each of whom he gave a
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 87 
 
 horse to paint; promising, over and above the price 
 agreed on, to recompense handsomely the one whose 
 performance should excel the other's. 
 
 The first painted the sorrel almost to the life, and 
 filled up the rest of his canvas with light strokes and 
 shades. The other painter was not so perfect in the 
 dapple-grey ; but, to make amends, he adorned the 
 upper part of his picture with trees, clouds, a beauti- 
 ful perspective and venerable ruins, and he repre- 
 sented, at the lower part, an open country abounding 
 with shrubs, meadows, and waterfalls. In the cor- 
 ner of his piece he had suspended all manner of 
 horse-furniture on the trunk of a tree, wi^h a hunt- 
 ing-saddle, which for workmanship could not be 
 excelled. 
 
 When the gentleman saw the two paintings, he 
 with reason very much preferred the sorrel to the 
 other, paid without hesitation what the artist de- 
 manded, and presented him besides with a fine ring. 
 The other painter seeing the stranger so liberal, and 
 conceiving that he deserved a much greater recom- 
 pence than his rival, set his performance at an 
 excessive rate; at which the gentleman, been sur- 
 prised, asked *him, " How he could for a moment 
 imagine that he would purchase his painting at a 
 higher rate than the other, to which it was un- 
 doubtedly much inferior?" "Inferior!" answered 
 the painter, " I grant that my brother may have 
 excelled me in the horse, but my shrubs and ruins 
 alone are worth much more than the whole of his 
 painting." " I had no occasion," answered the
 
 88 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 gentleman, tf for your shrubs and ruins, we have 
 enough of those in our own country. In one word, 
 all that I desired of you was a true painting of my 
 horse." 
 
 The painter replied, that " A horse alone would 
 have had but a very poor effect in so large a piece, 
 whereas the ornaments he had introduced had given 
 great relief to its appearance. Besides," added he, 
 " I could not think of leaving a horse without saddle 
 and bridle, and those that I have made I would not 
 change for others, though made of gold." " Once 
 more," said the stranger, " all I asked of you was a 
 horse, for which I am ready to pay you a reasonable 
 price. In regard to the saddle and bridle, you have 
 only to dispose of them as you please." Thus, for 
 having done more than was desired of him, the artist 
 was not paid for his trouble. 
 
 How many people are there in the world like this 
 painter! A plain horse only is required of them, 
 and they will, peremptorily, give you him saddled 
 and bridled. Once more, slanderous commentaries 
 are the fashion, and nobody escapes them. Judge 
 then, reader, if my parents have been spared.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OP THE PARENTS OF GUZMAN, BUT MORE PARTICULARLY 
 OF HIS FA THER. 
 
 MY ancestors, as well as my father, were originally 
 from the Levant ; but having settled in Genoa, and 
 been ingrafted with the noblesse there, I shall call 
 them Genoese. 
 
 They employed themselves in the traffic of ex- 
 changes, which was much practised among the gentry 
 of that city. It is true that they acted in such a 
 manner in their commerce, that their credit was soon 
 publicly cried down, and they were accused of usury ; 
 it was moreover said of them that they lent money 
 at an exorbitant interest, upon plate and other good 
 security, for a limited time, at the expiration of 
 which the pledges, if not redeemed, remained at 
 their disposal ; sometimes they even denied them- 
 selves, and evaded persons who came for the purpose 
 of reclaiming their property at the stipulated time, 
 and very frequently restitution could only be ob- 
 tained by an appeal to justice. 
 
 My parents well knew that they were reproached 
 with these and the like villanies, but as they were 
 prudent, peaceful people, they always went on their 
 own way, and cared not what detractors said of
 
 90 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 them. In fact, when one behaves with decorum, 
 why pay any regard to such slander? My father 
 was a constant attendant at church, and always 
 carried about with him a rosary of fifteen complete 
 sections, each bead of which was larger than a hazel- 
 nut. He never failed at mass; humbly kneeling 
 before the altar, with his hands folded together and 
 his eyes turned up towards heaven, he uttered such 
 ejaculations, and sighed with so much fervency, that 
 he inspired all around him with devotion. Can it 
 be believed, then, without injustice, that with so 
 truly religious an outward appearance, he was cap- 
 able of the infamous transactions of which he was 
 accused ? God only is able to form a correct judg- 
 ment of the heart of man. T confess, that if T saw 
 a religious man enter a house in the night-time, 
 armed with a sword, I might suspect his intentions ; 
 but that such a man as my father, who was con- 
 stantly seen to act in this Christian-like manner, 
 should be taxed with hypocrisy, is a piece of malig- 
 nity which I cannot pass over. 
 
 Thus, though he had determined to treat all these 
 unpleasant reports respecting him with contempt, he 
 found that he had not always resolution sufficient to 
 bear them with patience. That he might hear no 
 more of them, therefore, he determined upon leaving 
 the city. Another reason for his taking this reso- 
 lution was, that he had received information that his 
 correspondent at Seville, with whom he was engaged 
 for a considerable sum, had become a bankrupt. At 
 this distressing intelligence he embarked immediately
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 91 
 
 for Spain, in the hope of meeting with that person. 
 But the vessel in which he sailed being taken by the 
 corsairs, he was made a slave and carried to Algiers. 
 
 My father was now not only afflicted at the loss 
 of his liberty, but was obliged to give up all hope of 
 regaining his money. In his despair he took the 
 turban ; and having, by his insinuating manner, 
 been happy enough to be well received by a rich 
 widow' at Algiers, he shortly afterwards married her. 
 
 In the meantime it was known at Genoa that he 
 had been taken prisoner by the pirates, and this news 
 soon came to the ears of his correspondent at Seville, 
 who was the more rejoiced at it, as he fancied he had 
 got rid of his principal creditor, whom he considered 
 a slave for life. Finding, therefore, that one way or 
 other he had sufficient remaining to satisfy the others, 
 he arranged his affairs with them immediately. So 
 that, having discharged all his debts, according to the 
 mode prescribed for bankrupts, he found himself 
 able to commence business again in a better con- 
 dition than ever. 
 
 On the other hand, my father's thoughts were still 
 completely occupied with the remembrance of his 
 correspondent's bankruptcy, and lie never failed to 
 make inquiries respecting him in all his letters to 
 Spain. He learned by this means that his debtor had 
 adjusted his affairs, and was in a better condition 
 than ever. This afforded some consolation to our cap- 
 tive, who began to hope from that moment that he 
 should recover some part of his debt. As to his 
 having taken upon him the Turkish habit, and mar-
 
 92 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 ried in Algiers, nothing appeared easier to him than 
 to clear himself from any difficulty on that score. 
 The first thing he did was to persuade his wife to 
 turn all her property into ready money, telling her 
 that he was desirous to trade again. In respect to 
 what jewels she had, he made not the slightest 
 scruple to possess himself of them before she had 
 the least suspicion of his intention. 
 
 When he had thus got everything in readiness, 
 his next business was to find out some Christian 
 captain who, out of compassion for him and for a 
 reasonable remuneration, would undertake to trans- 
 port him to the Spanish coast, and he was fortunate 
 enough to meet with one who was an Englishman, 
 with a feeling heart and a proper sense of religion, 
 which the majority of his nation generally possess. 
 Everything was so well ordered that they had got a 
 considerable way out to sea with my father and his 
 treasure before his wife had any knowledge of his 
 departure. To add to his good luck, the vessel was 
 bound for Malaga, whence it is but three short days' 
 journey to Seville. No sooner had my father landed, 
 than the idea of soon securing his rascally debtor 
 seemed to complete his joy. The first thing he did 
 was to get reconciled to the Church ; more, perhaps, 
 from the fear of penance in this world, than from 
 dread of punishment in the world to come'. 
 
 Having got rid of an affair of so great impor- 
 tance, he thought of nothing but Seville, whither he 
 hastened immediately. The news of my father's 
 having embraced Mahometanism had got to Seville
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 93 
 
 iong before him, and his correspondent felt so well 
 assured of it, that he was enjoying his money with- 
 out entertaining the slightest apprehension of ever 
 being compelled to make any account of it; judge, 
 therefore, of his surprise upon seeing the Genoese 
 strut into his house one fine morning, with an 
 imperious air, and dressed in a manner bearing but 
 little resemblance to a slave. He could not but believe 
 him for some moments to be some spirit in the form 
 of his principal creditor; but recollecting, in spite of 
 himself, that it was my father, in his own flesh and 
 blood, he was obliged at length to come to some 
 explanation. With the utmost effrontery, therefore, 
 he agreed that it was but right to settle accounts ; but 
 that they had so many and long dealings together, 
 that their business required a long discussion. It 
 may be boldly asserted, that during their commerce 
 there had been a thousand rogueries on both sides, 
 known to themselves only; and as thee slights 
 of hand, or mutual juggles, are never entered on 
 tradesmen's books, this roguish correspondent had 
 the audacity to deny three-fourths of them, unmind- 
 ful of the good faith and honour which thieves are 
 said so religiously to observe towards each other. 
 
 What more have I to tell you? After the perusal 
 and reperusal of many papers pro and con; after an 
 infinity of demands and replies, accompanied by re- 
 proaches and reciprocal hard words, an accommoda- 
 tion was made, by which my father was content to 
 lose the greater part of his demand. Of water spilt 
 we must recover what we can, and certainly my
 
 94 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 father acted wisely in ridding himself at Malaga 
 of the itch of Algiers. 1 If he had not taken this 
 precaution, he would have obtained no redress, nor 
 would he have touched a farthing of his debt. A 
 man of his correspondent's character might easily 
 have taken advantage of the circumstance at 
 Seville, perhaps by giving the half of his debt to 
 the Brothers of the Holy Inquisition to undertake 
 the cause for him. You may judge of the feeling 
 he entertained towards him by the reports that 
 he spread to his disadvantage throughout Seville. 
 What absurdities did he not relate to all the 
 merchants upon 'Change, of two former petty bank- 
 ruptcies of the Genoese, which, in fact, were not 
 without fraud ; but do other merchants act differ- 
 ently ? Is it not hard, then, thus to cry down one 
 unfortunate speculator who, to repair and patch up 
 his deranged affairs, has recourse to a little bank- 
 ruptcy ? This is nothing among merchants ; they 
 easily make amends to each other by a compliment 
 of the like nature. If it were so very great a crime, 
 would not justice take care to remedy it? Undoubt- 
 edly; for so severe is she, that we see many a poor 
 devil well whipped and sent to the galleys for less 
 than five or six reals. 
 
 This rascal of a correspondent was not content 
 with having destroyed my father's reputation by 
 divulging his two bankruptcies; his malignity went 
 so far that he endeavoured to make him appear ridi- 
 culous in the world, by giving out that he took more 
 1 Alluding to his having taken the turban.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 95 
 
 pains with his person than an antiquated coquette, 
 and that his face was always covered with red and 
 white paint. I grant you that my father curled his 
 hair and perfumed himself, and took a vast deal of 
 pains with his teeth and hands. But what of this? 
 he loved himself, and not hating women, he neglected 
 nothing that he thought would make his person agree- 
 able to them. This afforded find sport for our cor- 
 respondent, who at first did some harm ; but as 
 soon as my father became somewhat better known 
 at Seville, he contrived to efface all the bad impres- 
 sions that slander had made, for he conducted him- 
 self in so plausible a manner, and made a show of so 
 much uprightness and sincerity in all his actions, 
 that he gained the esteem and friendship of the first 
 merchants in that city. 
 
 With the sum of money that he had brought with 
 him from Algiers, added to what he had recovered 
 from his correspondent, my father now found him- 
 self worth about 40,000 livres, which was not an 
 inconsiderable sum for him, who knew well how to 
 conduct his business as a wholesale trader. Nobody 
 made greater noise than he on the Exchange : so well 
 did he get on, that after some years he purchased a 
 house in town and another in the country ; he fur- 
 nished them both in a magnificent manner, especially 
 his house of pleasure at St. Juan d'Alfarache, whence 
 I derive my title. "But as he loved pleasure, this 
 house was the cause of his ruin, by the very frequent 
 expenses he was led into; so that he insensibly 
 neglected his affairs and trusted to his clerks ; and to
 
 9 6 MATEO ALBMAN. 
 
 keep up appearances he was obliged to have recourse 
 to play with rich merchants whom he invited and 
 entertained for that purpose, and of whom he gener- 
 ally won. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 GUZMAN RELATES HOW HIS FATHER MAKES AN AC- 
 QUAINTANCE WITH A LADY, WITH THE CONSE- 
 QUENCES THEREOF. 
 
 SUCH was the life my father led, when being one 
 day on 'Change among other merchants, he dis- 
 covered afar off a christening which seemed to belong 
 to persons of distinction ; everybody hastened to see 
 it pass, especially as it was whispered that it was the 
 child of some person of quality, whose baptism was 
 wished to be as private as possible. 
 
 My father followed with the rest to the church, 
 and stationed himself at the font ; not so much out 
 of a desire to see the ceremony, as the face of a lady 
 whom an old knight led, and who, as it appeared, 
 was to stand for the infant, with this superannuated 
 cavalier. Both the face and figure of this lady were 
 so admirable, that my father was much struck with 
 her appearance. Although in an undress, he could 
 not but admire her graceful deportment, and, as she 
 chanced to raise her veil for an instant, he beheld a 
 face which completely charmed him : there certainly 
 was not a more lovely woman in Seville. He kept 
 his eye immovably fixed upon this charmer, who was
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN UALFARACHE. 9; 
 
 far from being displeased at observing it ; for beautiful 
 women are never vexed at a man's looking at them 
 with admiration, although he be of the very dregs of 
 the people. She, in her turn, took a very minute 
 survey of the merchant, and not considering him 
 unworthy of a tender look, she bestowed one on him, 
 which had the desired effect so completely that he 
 scarcely recollected where he was. He was not, how- 
 ever, so entirely lost as to forget to follow his mistress, 
 after the ceremony, to ascertain where she resided 
 and who she was. He found that she lived with this 
 old knight, and was kept by him in a very expensive 
 style, out of an income that he derived from two or 
 three rich benefices in his possession. 
 
 My father was not displeased at this discovery, for 
 he felt sure that such a woman could not live very 
 contentedly with her old companion. With this 
 thought, he contrived all the ways he could to see her 
 again and to speak to her, but in vain ; he never met 
 her without her old gallant, who never lost sight 
 of her. But these difficulties only added fuel to his 
 flame, and served but to make him sharper and more 
 eager. At length he was fortunate enough, by dint 
 of presents and promises, to gain over to him a duenna, 
 without whose aid he could never have succeeded; 
 this was apparently a good, religious old woman, who 
 (dissembler as she was) had free admittance into the 
 knight's house, and was not in the least mistrusted. 
 This hypocrite, a true agent of Satan, excited the 
 lady's passions by continually speaking of the love 
 and constancy of the Genoese, whose good qualities 
 
 VOL. i. G
 
 98 MATEO ALBMAN. 
 
 she did not fail to exaggerate. The lady, who did 
 not possess the disposition of a tigress, listened so far 
 to the old woman's persuasions that she commissioned 
 her to desire my father not to despair. It is certain, 
 and not to be wondered at, that she was more favour- 
 ably disposed towards him than towards her old knight, 
 who was very disgusting, much incommoded with the 
 gravel and ofttimes with the gout; while, on the con- 
 trary, the merchant promised to realise her hopes of 
 an active and vigorous young gallant. A woman of 
 experience could not hesitate an instant in her choice. 
 But as she was a prudent woman, who had more 
 regard to her interest than to anything else, she was 
 rather perplexed how to act; for though she was 
 night and day completely beset by her keeper's jealous 
 fears, so that it was scarcely possible for her to carry 
 on a secret correspondence with the Genoese, yet she 
 was feathering her nest too snugly all this while, 
 through her old man's kindnesses to her, to think of 
 giving him up so suddenly for a stranger. 
 
 Nevertheless, the lovers came to a proper under- 
 standing through the old woman's mediation ; the 
 only difficulty after which was to get an opportunity 
 and place of interview. But nothing is impossible to 
 love. When the parties are agreed, mountains even 
 shall be divided to give them way. The lady, who 
 was a woman of some experience in these matters, 
 arranged the following plan. She proposed to the 
 old gentleman to accompany her to pass the day at 
 a house of his at Gelvas. It was the most pleasant 
 time of the year, and he consented, therefore, to the
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHB. 99 
 
 proposal, which was perfectly agreeable to him. It 
 was not the first time that they had made this same 
 trip together, the old gentleman being much attached 
 to that part of the country. Of all parts of Spain, 
 Andalusia is, undoubtedly, the most pleasant, and no 
 part of Andalusia is so attractive as Gelvas and St. 
 Juan d'Alfarache, two adjoining villages, which the 
 famous river Guadal quiver fertilises with its waters, 
 winding about them in such various meanders that 
 it appears to quit them with regret. The spot 
 abounds with beautiful gardens, the most delicious 
 fruits and flowers, fountains, grottoes, and cascades. 
 In a word, everything that can flatter the sight, taste, 
 and smell is here to be met with to admiration. 
 
 When the day for setting out on this trip arrived, 
 servants were sent oft" early in the morning to get 
 everything ready at Gelvas. Some hours after, the 
 knight and his darling started, with the duenna (who 
 was always of their company, and never at all in the 
 way), all three on quiet mules, and followed by two 
 footmen. When they had got just within sight of 
 my father's house, by which they must of necessity 
 pass, the young lady was suddenly taken with so 
 violent a fit of the cholic, that she beseeched the old 
 gentleman, if he did not wish to see her die on the 
 spot, to stop immediately ; then slipping gently from 
 the saddle to the ground, as if she was half dead, she 
 requested some rest and refreshment, in a weak voice, 
 saying that she could go no farther. The old man, 
 who from his heart sincerely pitied her, knew not 
 what to say or do; but the duenna, whose cue it was
 
 166 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 now to speak, represented in a very prudent manner 
 to the lady, that it was by no means proper that she 
 should remain in such a situation on the highway; 
 that if she could not manage to walk, she had better 
 allow herself to be carried to the house which was not 
 far off, and which appeared to belong to some person 
 of distinction, who could not refuse to afford every 
 accommodation to a lady who so much required it. 
 The old gentleman highly approved of the duenna's 
 advice; and the pretended sick lady said, thereupon, 
 that they should do what they pleased with her, but 
 that as to walking so far, the cruel pains she was 
 suffering rendered it impossible. The two footmen, 
 therefore, carried her, whilst the afflicted old knight 
 walked on before to speak to the people of the house, 
 to entreat them to afford accommodation to his 
 mistress for a few hours. 
 
 I have already told you that this house was my 
 father's. It was left in the care of an old house- 
 keeper, who had ample instructions how to behave 
 to serve him in this instance. As soon as she heard a 
 knocking at the door, she ran to open it, and pre- 
 tending to be astonished at seeing a stranger, she 
 inquired his business in a trembling voice. " I only 
 desire," answered the cavalier, " that you will be so 
 kind as to allow a lady, whom I am conducting to 
 Gelvas, and who has been suddenly taken ill at a 
 short distance from hence, to rest herself for a short 
 time in your house, and that you will be kind enough 
 to assist us in the application of something which 
 may relieve her." " If that be all," replied the house-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 101 
 
 keeper, "you shall have every reason to be satisfied, 
 for you could not have pitched upon a more charit- 
 able house." In the meantime, the sick lady came 
 up to them, carried by her two footmen. "Behold 
 where she approaches," cried the knight, " suffering 
 grievously with the cholic." " Walk in, Sir Knight, 
 with your lady," said the housekeeper, " you are both 
 most welcome. I only regret that my master is not 
 at home to receive you. He would spare nothing to 
 entertain you, as you appear to deserve ; but in his 
 absence I will take upon me to perform his part in 
 the best manner I am able." 
 
 She then conducted the lady into a fine chamber, 
 with a noble bed in it, the furniture of which was 
 but half finished, that the old man might have no 
 cause of suspicion. Everything being in readiness, 
 such as perfumed sheets, soft pillows, and a satin- 
 pinked quilt, the lady was soon put to bed, still com- 
 plaining of the obstinacy of her disorder. The house- 
 keeper and the duenna, equally disposed to good 
 works, heated some flannels, which, as fast as they 
 were brought to the invalid, she slid down with her 
 foot to the bottom of the bed. Had she not done 
 this, she would undoubtedly have been so incom- 
 moded that the heat would have given her the 
 vapours. She was obliged also to take a good 
 draught of mulled wine, which she could well have 
 dispensed with ; so that to prevent the possibility of 
 any other remedy still more disagreeable, she declared 
 that she felt relieved, and that if she were left alone 
 for a quarter of an hour, she doubted not that she
 
 102 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 should be by tbat time perfectly well again. The 
 good old man was very glad to find that she felt an 
 inclination to take some rest, which he considered as 
 a certain indication that she was getting better. He 
 left the room therefore immediately, not forgetting 
 to lock the door after him, and to desire the servants 
 to make no noise, leaving the duenna only with the 
 sick lady. He went himself to take a turn in the 
 garden, waiting impatiently for the happy moment 
 when he should be summoned to attend his dear 
 mistress again, quite recovered of her cholic. 
 
 I fancy I need not inform you that my father was 
 all this time in the house; and, indeed, if my infor- 
 mation has been correct, it was to the interview which 
 on this occasion took place between the lovers that I 
 am indebted for my being. 
 
 The sun by this time became rather too powerful 
 in the garden, in spite of the shade of the groves and 
 the coolness of the fountain. The old knight being 
 now tired, and besides quite uneasy to know how his 
 nymph did, resolved to leave the garden, and returned 
 with a slow pace towards the house. The lady, whom 
 I shall in future call my mother, pretended to be still 
 fast asleep when the old man entered her chamber, 
 and as if the noise that he made in coming in awoke 
 her, she complained that he had not the complaisance 
 even to allow her to rest herself for a quarter of an 
 hour. " A quarter of an hour," cried he. " I swear 
 by your lovely eyes, my darling, that you have been 
 asleep here for at least two hours." "No, no," 
 replied she, " I am convinced it cannot be half an
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 103 
 
 hour, for it seemed to me that I was just dozing off". 
 However it may be," added she, " I feel that I never 
 had more need of rest than at this moment." She 
 put on a cheerful countenance, however, and assured 
 the old knight that she felt herself much better, which 
 he was exceedingly glad to hear; and finding that the 
 heat had become so excessive that they could not 
 venture out on their journey again, he proposed to 
 his faithful mistress to pass the remainder of the day 
 where she was, and where they had met with so much 
 more attention than they could have anticipated. She 
 consented, provided that the people of the house 
 would but allow of it; and so the old cavalier asked 
 the housekeeper's permission, who told him that he 
 was perfectly at liberty to make himself quite at 
 home in that house, and that so far from being dis- 
 pleased, her master would be proud of such a favour. 
 Having then resolved to stay, they despatched one of 
 their servants, to the house at Gelvas, to desire the 
 other servants, who were already there, to repair to 
 them with a stock of provisions. 
 
 Whilst the knight was issuing these orders, my 
 father stole out of the house, got on horseback, and 
 returned to Seville, merely to show himself upon 
 'Change, and to come back to sleep as usual at St. 
 Juan d'Alfarache. The time appeared to pass but 
 slowly to him ; but as he had no reason to complain 
 of his day's work, he made more than usual haste to 
 set out on his return home again, where he arrived 
 about six o'clock. His old rival hastened out to 
 meet him, apologising and requesting to be excused
 
 104 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 for the liberty he had taken. Compliments passed 
 on both sides, but more particularly on that of my 
 father, whose fine speeches and polished manners, 
 though they cost him nothing, entirely won the old 
 man's heart, insomuch that he himself conducted him 
 to his lady, who had just entered the garden to enjoy 
 the air, the excessive heat having considerably gone 
 off. The merchant saluted her as if she was entirely 
 unknown to him, and she received him with as much 
 dissimulation as if she had never in her life seen him 
 before. 
 
 It not being yet the proper time to walk, the party 
 entered a small arbour, which was the more refresh- 
 ing as it was situated on the bank of the river. They 
 began to play at primero and the lady won, my father 
 being too gallant a man not to allow himself to lose 
 in such a case. After the game they took a turn 
 round the walks, which was followed by a good 
 supper, which lasted so long that they no sooner rose 
 from table than they were obliged to return to Seville 
 by water, in a small barge which my father had 
 caused to be set off with green boughs and flowers 
 for that purpose. To complete their entertainment, 
 they heard concerts of music performed by some 
 persons that sung and played on several instruments 
 in a small boat, which immediately followed theirs 
 down the river Guadalquiver. At last, the lady and 
 her old gallant, after having been most agreeably 
 entertained, returned hearty thanks to my father for 
 his handsome reception of them, which had such an 
 effect on the old knight that he thought he nevef
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 105 
 
 could make sufficient acknowledgments for it; and 
 so great was the friendship he conceived for my 
 father, that I do not think he could have made up 
 his mind to leave him so soon without the promise 
 of seeing him again the next day. 
 
 This friendship was so well managed by the lady 
 and my father that it lasted during the life of the old 
 knight, who in truth did not live much longer. He 
 was a worn-out rake, an old sinner, who had given 
 himself up entirely to pleasure, without the least fear 
 of the other world, or regard to what might be said 
 of him in this. I was already four years old when 
 he died, but was not his only heir. The good man 
 had several other children by other mistresses, and 
 we lived in his house like tithe-loaves, every one of a 
 different oven. Perhaps, if the truth was known, he 
 was no more their father than he was mine; but 
 however that might be, as I was the youngest, and 
 from the tenderness of my age not so well able to 
 help myself as my brothers, I should have come but 
 badly off among them had I not in my mother a 
 person well able take my part. In short, she was a 
 woman of Andalusia. She did not wait till the old 
 man was dead to feather her nest; for no sooner was 
 he given over by his physicians than, having all the 
 keys, and being mistress of the house, she took pos- 
 session of everything worth carrying away, leaving 
 nothing but rags for his next of kin. Even the very 
 day that he died his house was laid waste in a deplor- 
 able manner; while he was gasping for life he lost 
 even the sheets from his bed j and everything of value
 
 106 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 was spirited away before the breath was out of his 
 body. Nothing but the four walls were left standing 
 when his kindred came about him, big with expecta- 
 tion. In vain they examined everything; it was very 
 evident that some one had been there before them, 
 and they found themselves obliged to be at the 
 expense of his funeral for the honour of the family. 
 They behaved, however, as well as they could with- 
 out shedding many tears on the occasion ; but who 
 ever mourns much for a person that leaves nothing ? 
 It is for heirs only who are well paid for it to appear 
 to be afflicted. 
 
 The kindred of the deceased had made sure of 
 succeeding to a considerable property. They could 
 not possibly conceive how a man who enjoyed 
 fifteen thousand livres a-year in church revenues 
 could die so miserably poor. They knew that his 
 house had been nobly furnished, and could not 
 doubt that he had been robbed of his effects. In 
 vain did they make every possible inquiry; in vain 
 did they cause monitory letters to be affixed to dif- 
 ferent church doors. Thieves never refund what 
 they have made off with, though under the dread of 
 being excommunicated. After all, my mother had 
 good reasons for quietly taking possession of the old 
 gentleman's property ; for, a short time prior to his 
 death, when he had occasion to go tc his strong box, 
 or to inspect his jewels, or had by chance bought 
 some curious piece of furniture, he would say to my 
 mother, " Have but patience, my dearest, this is all 
 for thee."" Besides, if she had any scruple on her
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 107 
 
 conscience after this, which she considered as no less 
 than a gift in form, you must needs acknowledge 
 that she well deserved her inheritance, for having 
 contented herself for several years with so disagree- 
 able an old bedfellow; added to which, the divines 
 whom she consulted on the occasion completely ac- 
 quitted her, with an assurance that she had taken 
 nothing but what was undoubtedly her due. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 GUZMAN'S FATHER GETS MARRIED, AND DIES: WHAI 
 FOLLOWED HIS DEATH. 
 
 AFTER the old knight's death, to whom God bt 
 merciful, his chaste widow quickly found another 
 gallant, and I another father, in the person of the 
 Genoese. My mother was cunning enough to per- 
 suade them both that I was their son, telling the 
 one that I was his living picture, and at another 
 time assuring the other that two eggs could not 
 be more alike. Happily for me, whether I owe my 
 existence to the old knight or to the young Genoese, 
 I certainly was born a gentleman. On my mother's 
 side my nobility cannot be disputed. I have a hundred 
 times heard her say that my grandmother, who 
 prided herself as much as my mother upon her 
 chastity, reckoned, in the number of her relations, 
 so many illustrious persons that you might make a
 
 io8 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 tree of their genealogies as large as that of the house 
 of Toledo. 
 
 It is, nevertheless, possible that my discreet mother 
 might have had a third gallant in some commoner, 
 for she that deceives one man is very capable of 
 deceiving two; but whether it was instinct, or that 
 I confided in my mother's assurance, I always looked 
 upon the noble Genoese as my father, and I can 
 assure you that, whether he actually was my father 
 or not, he loved both my mother and me most 
 tenderly ; which he made sufficiently appear after- 
 wards, as regarded her, by the bold step he ventured 
 to take in marrying her. He knew very well 
 what reputation she had, and that he should be 
 pointed at in the city, where my mother was well 
 known by the name of the knight's lady. But what 
 did he care for that ? he knew very well what he did ; 
 for at the commencement of their acquaintance his 
 affairs were on the decline, and the continuation of it 
 did not, by any means, tend to ameliorate them ; 
 while the lady, who had at least as much knavery 
 about her as good management, had dispensed her 
 favours to so good an account, that she was now 
 mistress of at least ten thousand ducats, which sum 
 was the means of saving my father from another 
 stoppage he was on the point of making, and enabled 
 him to make as good a figure as ever among the mer- 
 chants. He was, unfortunately, passionately fond of 
 company, splendour, and show ; but as he could not 
 long satisfy this ruling passion without plunging 
 himself into the same difficulties again, from which
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 109 
 
 my mother's money had but just extricated him, he 
 found himself, a few years after his marriage, obliged 
 to become bankrupt again for the last time; I say 
 the last time, because, finding himself without re- 
 source, and utterly unable to keep up his former 
 equipage and appearance, he chose rather to die with 
 chagrin than to survive the date of his prosperity. 
 
 Life had more charms for my mother, who bore 
 my father's loss with considerable fortitude, though 
 she was much afflicted at his death. Our houses 
 were obliged to be given up to his creditors. We 
 had now only a few jewels left, besides the furniture, 
 which my mother turned into money, and retired to 
 a small house where she determined to live in a 
 private manner as well as she could. She did not 
 take this step on account of her inability to main- 
 tain us by fresh intrigues; for, although she was 
 already in her fortieth year, she had always taken 
 such good care of herself, that even at this time of 
 life she was not a conquest to be despised; but as 
 she could not make up her mind to make the first 
 advances to men who had formerly sought her 
 favours with ardour, this noble feeling of pride so 
 ill accorded with the situation of our domestic affairs, 
 that they daily grew worse and worse. 
 
 I doubt not that my mother has a thousand times 
 wished she had had a girl instead of me, which would, 
 undoubtedly, have been much more to her advan- 
 tage, and who might have been a support to her, as 
 she herself was to my grandmother, of whom I feel 
 it incumbent on me to afford you a more detailed
 
 I lo MATEO ALE MAX. 
 
 account. She was one of the finest women of her 
 time in the kingdom, was extremely witty and well- 
 bred. None but young noblemen were admitted 
 into her house, such as wished to improve them- 
 selves in politeness and gallantry, and they certainly 
 might be said to be fine gentlemen after having gone 
 through her course of lessons for a few years. But 
 what is most to be wondered at, is the perfect har- 
 mony that reigned among her scholars. While she 
 had given her mind up to perfect these young folks, 
 she lay in with my mother somehow or other ; and, as 
 she herself scarcely knew how this happened, she gave 
 every one of these gentlemen the honour of it sepa- 
 rately, satisfying each of them that her daughter 
 resembled him in some particular. " Do but look at 
 her mouth," would she say to one ; " observe but her 
 eyes," would she say to another; " you cannot pre- 
 tend to disown this child;" and the more to induce 
 them to believe her, she took great pains always to 
 call her by the name of the cavalier who was pre- 
 sent; and if there happened to be more than one, 
 which was not uncommonly the case, she was called 
 Donna Marcella, which was her Christian name; as 
 for the Donna, it would be unjust, indeed, to dispute 
 her right to that title, since she, without doubt, was 
 the daughter of a person of quality. But to let you 
 a little more into the secret of her birth, you must 
 know that among my grandmother's gallants there 
 was one whom she loved best of any; and as this 
 gentleman was a Guzman, she considered that she 
 might conscientiously make her daughter descend
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. in 
 
 from so illustrious a house. At least this is what she 
 afterwards told my mother in confidence, though she 
 confessed at the same time that, for ought she knew, 
 she might have been begot by a certain lord, who was 
 a near relation to the dukes of Medina Sidonia. 
 
 From what I have now told you respecting my 
 grandmother, you will perceive that she was scarcely 
 to be matched in love intrigues j nevertheless, as she 
 was a very extravagant woman and never so much 
 as thought of laying by the profit of her favours, she 
 must inevitably have been reduced to indigence in her 
 old age, had not her daughter's beauty began to shine 
 forth in proportion as her own faded and declined. 
 The good old lady was very impatient until the little 
 Marcella was sufficiently grown and well-shaped to 
 think of settling her; and finding that at twelve years 
 old she was very forward for her age, she no longer 
 delayed endeavouring to provide for her. A mer- 
 chant newly arrived from Peru, and richer than a 
 Jew, enjoyed her first favours, through the assist- 
 ance of four thousand ducats, which he presented to 
 my grandmother ; and finding a successor as generous 
 as the merchant, for every day in the week, she lived 
 in plenty, by that means, for the remaining part of 
 her life. ' 
 
 A daughter in my stead would certainly then 
 have been better for my mother, or even had she had 
 us both my sister would have been a harbour for us in 
 our present wreck, and we should soon have made a 
 good fortune at Seville, where purchasers are always 
 sure to be found for every sort of commodity. It is
 
 112 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 the common retreat of persons who have only their 
 wits to live on; it serves as the mother to orphans 
 and a cloak to sinners. At all events, if that city 
 were not sufficient, we could have proceeded to 
 Madrid, where such a jewel is always saleable. If, 
 at first, we were not able to dispose of it for a per- 
 manency, there we could, at least, put it in pledge to 
 so good an account as always to live in plenty. If 
 I am not more awkward than another man, I think 
 that having a pretty sister I could have managed to 
 obtain some good preferment; but Heaven ordained 
 it otherwise, and made me an only son for my sins. 
 
 I had just entered my fourteenth year, and as I 
 could not look without pain on the misery with 
 which we were threatened, I resolved to leave my 
 mother and my country and to seek my fortune 
 elsewhere. My wish to travel was for the purpose 
 of seeing and knowing a little of the world, and I 
 always had a particular desire to visit my father'* 
 relations at Genoa. So that, not being able any 
 longer to defer the execution of my design, I left 
 Seville on a beautiful day, with my purse almost as 
 destitute of money as my head wa* crammed with 
 idle fancies and chimeras.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 GUZMAN SETS OUT FROM SEVILLE. HIS FIRST 
 ADVENTURE AT AN INN. 
 
 As I remembered to have heard said that it was 
 usual with such as have to seek their fortunes to 
 give themselves names of consequence, without 
 which they would pass for nobody in strange coun- 
 tries, I took my mother's name, which was Guzman, 
 and added to it d'Alfarache. This appeared to me 
 so well imagined, that I felt fully persuaded in my 
 own imagination that I was already nothing less than 
 the illustrious Don Guzman d'Alfarache. 
 
 This newly-created signor, not having set out until 
 late in the afternoon, went but a short distance the 
 first day, though he made what haste he could for 
 fear of being pursued. In fact I went no farther 
 than the chapel of St. Lazarus, which is but a short 
 way from the city. Being already fatigued I sat 
 down on the steps rather sorrowfully, beginning to 
 feel some anxiety as to what would become of me. 
 After having sat there thinking for some time, a 
 religious idea came across my mind, which I imme- 
 diately gratified by entering the chapel, where I 
 addressed myself to God, beseeching Him to inspire 
 me with His counsels. My prayer was fervent, but 
 
 VOL. i. H
 
 H 4 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 short, the time not allowing me to make it longer, 
 for it was just the hour for closing the chapel, which 
 I was therefore obliged to quit, and I was left on the 
 steps again, where I remained not without fear of 
 what might happen to me. 
 
 Represent to yourself at the door of this chapel a 
 child who had been accustomed to every indulgence 
 and maintained in plenty. Consider that I knew 
 not where to go, nor what to decide on. There wai 
 no inn near to the place, though my appetite in- 
 formed me that it was quite supper-time. There 
 was certainly plenty of clear water running within 
 a few paces of me, but this was a cheerless prospect. 
 I began now to find the difference between a hungry 
 man and one who has his belly full ; between a man 
 who is accustomed to a table covered with good 
 victuals, and one who has not a morsel of bread to 
 eat. Not knowing what to do with myself, nor at 
 what door to venture to rap, I made up my mind to 
 pass the night where I was. I laid myself down 
 therefore at full length, covering my face with my 
 cloak as well as I was able, not without fear of being 
 devoured by wolves, which I sometimes fancied I 
 heard not far from me. Sleep, however, at last sus- 
 pended my uneasiness, and took so fast possession of 
 my senses that the sun had been up two hours be- 
 fore I awoke, and which perhaps I had not done then 
 but for the noise of tambours, made by a number of 
 country wenches who passed me singing and dancing 
 along the road on their way to some festival. I rose 
 quickly, and perceiving several ways equally unknown
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 115 
 
 to me, I chose the pleasantest, saying, " May this 
 road, which I take by chance, conduct me in a 
 straight line to the temple of fortune." I was like 
 that ignorant quack of la Mancha, who generally 
 carried about with him a bag full of prescriptions, and 
 when he visited any sick person put his hand in at 
 random, giving the first that came uppermost, say- 
 ing, " God grant it may do thee good ! " My feet per- 
 formed the office of my head, and I followed them 
 without knowing whither they led me. 
 
 I walked two leagues that morning, which was 
 not a short distance for a lad to do who had never 
 travelled so far in his life before. I believed myself 
 already arrived at the Antipodes, and that I had dis- 
 covered another world, like the famous Christopher 
 Columbus. This new world, however, was nothing 
 but a miserable tavern, which I entered all in a 
 perspiration, covered with dust, and dying with 
 fatigue and hunger. I asked for dinner, and was 
 informed that there was nothing but fresh eggs in the 
 house. "Fresh eggs!" cried I; "well, I must be 
 content; make haste, then, and prepare me an omelet 
 of about half a dozen." The hostess, who was a 
 frightful old woman, began to examine me with 
 attention, and seeing that I was a raw, herring- 
 gutted looking lad, and very hungry, she thought 
 she might safely venture to pass upon me for fresh 
 some eggs which were about half hatched. With 
 this opinion she came up to me, and laughing in my 
 face with as pleasant an air as she could affect, she 
 asked me whence I came. I told her from Seville,
 
 Ii6 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 and entreated her afresh to let me have the eggs ; but 
 before she did what I desired she thrust her nasty 
 hand under my chin, saying, "And where is my 
 little wag of Seville going ? " At the same time she 
 wished to kiss me; but I turned quickly round to 
 avoid this felicity. I was not, however, so quick as 
 entirely to escape her stinking breath, the fumes of 
 which made me fear it would have communicated 
 her age and distempers to me ; fortunately, I had 
 nothing but wind on my stomach, or I should cer- 
 tainly have vomited over her, as the only return I 
 could make her for such a compliment. 
 
 I told her I was going to Court, and entreated her 
 again to bt me have something to eat. She then 
 made me sit down on a broken stool, before a stone 
 table, on which she laid a napkin, which looked as if 
 it had but newly cleaned the oven. On this she 
 placed fora salt-cellar the bottom of a broken earthen 
 pot, and some water in a vessel of the same ware, 
 out of which her fowls generally drank, together 
 with a coarse piece of cake, as black as the before- 
 mentioned table-cloth. After making me wait 
 about a quarter of an hour longer, she served up, on 
 a filthy platter, an omelet, or what might more pro- 
 perly have been termed an egg poultice. The ome- 
 let, plate, bread, drinking-pot, salt-cellar, salt, nap- 
 kin, and hostess appeared to be precisely of the same 
 colour. My stomach ought to have revolted against 
 such disgusting appearances; but, independent of 
 my being a young traveller, I had fasted so long 
 that my bowels reproached me most violently with
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 117 
 
 their unkind usage; so that, notwithstanding the 
 uncleanly arrangements on the table and the bad 
 seasoning of the eggs, I attacked the omelet as hogs 
 do acorns. I felt indeed something grate between 
 my teeth, which ought to have made me suspect 
 that all was not right, but I took no notice of it; 
 but when I had got to the few last mouthfuls, I 
 could not help thinking that this omelet had not 
 exactly the same taste as those I had eaten at my 
 mother's house ; but this I good-naturedly attributed 
 to the difference of the country, imagining that eggs 
 were not in all places equally good, as if I had been 
 five hundred leagues from home. After I had de- 
 molished this excellent dish, I felt myself so much 
 better than I was before, that I was more than 
 usually happy in having got so good a meal, so true 
 is it that " hunger is the best sauce." 
 
 I did not so soon get through the bread, it being 
 so bad that I was obliged to eat slowly, or I should 
 certainly have choked myself with it. I began with 
 the crust and ended with the crumb, which indeed 
 was so little baked that it was little better than 
 dough ; notwithstanding which, however, I played 
 my part very creditably, but not without the assist- 
 ance of the wine, which was delicious. I rose from 
 table as soon as I had finished my dinner, paid my 
 hostess, and set forward on my journey again in 
 good spirits. My feet, which before were scarce able 
 to bear me, seemed now to have completely regained 
 their former activity. 
 
 I had already got about a league from the inn,
 
 n8 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 when what I had eaten beginning to digest, seemed 
 to create such a combustion in my belly, accompanied 
 oy such a rising in my stomach, that I began to 
 suspect something. I had not forgotten the resist- 
 ance that my teeth had met with in getting through 
 the eggs, and after reflecting what it could lie for 
 some time, I doubted no longer that my omelet had 
 been amphibious, and must have had something in it 
 that should not have been there. So that, not being 
 able to carry such a burden about with me any 
 onger, I was obliged to stop to relieve myself. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 GUZMAN MEETS WITH A MULETEER AND TWO FRIARS ; 
 OF THEIR CONVERSATION; AND IN WHAT MANNER 
 THE MULETEER AND HE WERE REGALED AT AH 
 INN AT CANTILLANA. 
 
 I REMAINED for some time leaning against the wall 
 of a vineyard, very pale and much weakened by the 
 retchings that I was making. A muleteer passed by 
 with some unladen mules ; he stopped to look at me, 
 and seeing me in such a condition, asked what ailed 
 me. I told him what had happened to me, but no 
 sooner had I said that I imputed my illness to the 
 omelet that I had eaten at the inn, than he began to 
 laugh so violently that, if he had not held himself 
 fast on his mule with both hands, he must infallibly 
 have fallen to the ground.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 119 
 
 When one is afflicted it is by no means agreeable 
 to be laughed at. My face, which just before was as 
 pale as death, became as red as fire in an instant, and 
 I looked with so ill an eye upon this rascal as 
 sufficiently gave him to understand that I was far 
 from being pleased at his behaviour; but this only 
 made him laugh the more, so that, perceiving that 
 the more I vexed myself the more he laughed, I 
 allowed him to go on until he was completely- 
 exhausted ; besides, I had neither sword nor stick, 
 and at fisticuffs I should have fared but badly; I 
 was, therefore, prudent enough to speak him fair. 
 A wise man, however much he may be offended, 
 never sets up for a bravo when the party is too strong 
 against him ; besides, I did not think fit to disoblige 
 my man for the sake of his mules. I could not, 
 however, entirely refrain from mentioning it to him. 
 " Well, my friend," said I, " and why all this violent 
 mirth? does my nose stand awry?" But the only 
 answer I could obtain to these questions was a 
 renewal of his immoderate laughter. 
 
 It pleased God, however, that he at length gave 
 over; and recovering himself by degrees, he said 
 to me, gasping for breath all the while, ** It is 
 not at your adventure, my little gentleman, that I 
 laugh, for it is certainly very unfortunate for you ; 
 but your relating it reminded me of another which 
 has just happened to that same old hag that treated 
 you so ill. Two soldL-rs whom she regaled in the 
 game manner have sufficiently revenged you all 
 three. As we are going the same way," added he,
 
 120 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 "jump up on one of my mules, and I will tell you 
 the story as we ride along." Without waiting to be 
 twice asked I mounted one of his beasts, and was 
 ready to hear what he had to tell me respecting these 
 two soldiers, whom 1 recollected to have met enter- 
 ing the inn just as I left it. 
 
 " These two wags," said he, " asked the hostess 
 what she had to give them. She told them in the 
 same manner as she did you that she had nothing 
 but eggs ; they bade her make ready an omelet, which 
 the old woman soon brought them, but in cutting it 
 their knives found resistance from something which 
 they proceeded to examine with attention, and dis- 
 covered three small lumps, much resembling the heads 
 of unformed chickens, whose beaks were already so 
 hard as plainly to show what they were. The soldiers, 
 after having made so rare a discovery, without taking 
 any notice of it, covered the omelet with a plate and 
 asked the hostess if she had nothing else she could 
 give them ; she proposed to broil them two or three 
 slices of shadfish, which they accepted and soon de- 
 spatched with the assistance of white sauce; after 
 which one of these rogues going up to the old woman, 
 as if for the purpose of paying the reckoning, with 
 the omelet concealed in his hand, clapped it full in 
 her face, and so completely rubbed it all over her 
 eyes and nose that she bawled out for help most 
 lustily, whereupon the other soldier, seeming to blame 
 his comrade and pity the poor old woman, ran up to 
 her under the pretence of consoling her, and stroked 
 her over the face with his hards all bedaubed with
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 121 
 
 soot. This done they both left the house, still con- 
 tinuing to abuse your old acquaintance, who got no 
 other payment for her entertainment. I assure you," 
 said the muleteer, " it was a high treat to see mine 
 hostess in this delicate condition, with the agreeable 
 distortions of countenance that she made, crying and 
 laughing at the same moment." 
 
 The recital of this ridiculous story somewhat con- 
 soled me for my own adventure, and inclined me to 
 forgive the laughter of the muleteer, who did not fail 
 to set to again as soon as he had ended his narration. 
 All this while we were trotting onwards; we over- 
 took two friars who, having seen us from afar off, 
 had waited till we came up, that they might have the 
 benefit of the mules. They quickly agreed with the 
 muleteer to carry them to Cazalla, whither he also 
 was going, and having mounted their mules we con- 
 tinued our journey. 
 
 The muleteer was still too much taken up with the 
 recollection of his pleasure at the inn to give up speak- 
 ing of it so soon. He could not resist telling us that 
 there was sufficient in that adventure to serve him for 
 laughter for the remainder of his days; "and I," 
 cried I, interrupting him abruptly, "shall have cause 
 to repent all my life that I did not serve that poisonous 
 old hag even worse than the soldiers did ; but she is 
 not yet dead," added I, " and I may have my revenge 
 still." The friars, remarking with what eagerness I 
 uttered these words, were curious to know what had 
 been the occasion of it. The muleteer, who desired 
 no better sport, that he might have another excuse
 
 122 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 for a good hearty laugh, related the story anew to 
 these gentlemen, and in the course of .it introduced 
 my misfortune also, which was no small mortification 
 to me. 
 
 The friars condemned exceedingly the conduct of 
 the old hostess, and blamed my resentment no less. 
 " My son," said the elder of the two to me, " you are 
 but young; hot blood carries you away and deprives 
 you of the use of your reason ; know that you have 
 sinned as much in having regretted that you have 
 lost the opportunity of committing a crime as if you 
 had really committed one." The holy man did not 
 finish his remonstrance here, but held a long discourse 
 upon anger and the desire of revenge. It appeared 
 to me so like a sermon that I was persviaded he had 
 preached it more than once, and that he was glad to 
 have the opportunity of refreshing his memory by 
 repeating it. Certain it is that the most part of 
 what he addressed to me was far above my compre- 
 hension, as well as that of our muleteer, who, think- 
 ing of nothing but the old woman, was laughing in 
 his sleeve all the time that the preacher was throwing 
 away his time upon us. At length we arrived at 
 Cantillana, where the two friars took leave of us until 
 the next morning, and went to take up their night's 
 lodging at a friend's house. 
 
 For my part I did not leave the muleteer, who told 
 me that he would undertake to carry me to one of 
 the best inns in the town, where the host was an 
 excellent cook, and where I need not be afraid of 
 having hatched eggs passed upon me. This assur
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 123 
 
 ance pleased me exceedingly, for I required a good 
 meal to set me to rights; and we proceeded to the 
 door of a house of tolerable good appearance, the 
 master of which received us with great civility. This 
 was perhaps the completes! knave in that part of the 
 country, and I only got out of the frying-pan into 
 the fire, as the saying is. The muleteer led his beasts 
 to the stable, where he remained for some time to 
 provide for their wants, and as I was much fatigued, 
 the soles of my feet being much swollen, and my 
 thighs feeling as if they were broken from riding three 
 or four hours without stirrups, I laid myself down 
 and rested until the muleteer returned, who asked me 
 whether I was not ready for my supper, for that he 
 had resolved to set out next morning at break of day 
 that he might reach Cazalla before night, and should 
 therefore be glad to get to bed early. I answered 
 that there was nothing would give me greater satis- 
 faction than to sit down to table, provided he would 
 assist me to rise, and even to walk, as I could scarcely 
 support my own weight. He did me this service so 
 readily that I felt much obliged to him, 
 
 We then called the landlord and told him that we 
 wished for a good supper. " Gentlemen," answered 
 he, " I have such excellent provisions in the house 
 that you will have yourselves only to blame if you do 
 not fare well, for you have only to say what you 
 would like." This answer pleased me exceedingly, 
 but I was afraid that he exaggerated, for I fancied 
 that he had the looks of a rogue ; no matter, said I 
 to myself, let him be as much a rogue as he pleases
 
 124 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 90 he use us but well ; he was a pleasant sort of fellow, 
 and a man of some humour. " Will you allow me," 
 said he, " to dress you a part of the pluck of a calf 
 that I killed yesterday ? I will make you a ragout ot 
 it fit for the gods; it was the prettiest little calf," 
 added he, taking me kindly by the hand, " that you 
 perhaps ever saw. I was extremely mortified that I 
 was obliged to kill it, but the drought of the season 
 would not allow me to keep it." We begged that if 
 our supper was ready he would let us have it quickly. 
 " It is not only ready dressed," said he, " but well 
 seasoned also;" upon which he skipped into the 
 kitchen, and returned in a few minutes with two 
 plates, in one of which was a salad, and in the other 
 a part of the pluck of this much-lamented calf. 
 
 My companion seemed to fancy the salad, fof 
 which I cared but little, but fell on the pluck, which 
 looked tolerably good. All that I complained of was, 
 that there was but very little of it for two such 
 hungry fellows; for no sooner had I touched a bit 
 than I bolted it down, and I was so hungry that I 
 had no time to judge of what I was eating. The 
 muleteer, observing from the manner in which I set 
 to that I should soon empty the plate, quitted his 
 salad that he might at all events dispute the last 
 mouthfuls with me, which were demolished in a 
 moment. We called for another plate, but our pro- 
 voking host brought us less than before to sharpen 
 our appetites, so that we might still wish for more ; 
 this second plate therefore amused us but a very 
 short time, and was followed by a third.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 125 
 
 Being by this time, however, about half satisfied, I 
 found myself obliged to slacken my pace ; neither did 
 I think it so good as before. I desired our host 
 therefore to let me have anything else that he might 
 have in the house ; he answered that if we pleased he 
 would make an exquisite ragout of the calf s brains 
 in an instant; in the meantime he sent us up an 
 andouille made of the tripe and caul of the same 
 beast, which he told us we should find most delicious 
 eating; but I could not entertain so favourable an 
 opinion of it when I had tasted it, for it savoured so 
 strongly of rotten straw that I was fain to leave it 
 to my companion, who still went on at the same 
 rate, and demolished the whole of the andouille in the 
 twinkling of an eye. 
 
 At length the ragout of brains was served up, 
 which I hoped would have revived my appetite ; it 
 was dressed with eggs, so that it was a kind of ome- 
 let, which the impudent muleteer had no sooner 
 noticed than he set up another of his hearty laughs ; 
 this offended me, for I thought that he wished to dis- 
 gust me with this omelet by putting me in mind of the 
 one I had dined off. I gave him to understand as 
 much, at which he only laughed the more, which 
 produced a pleasant scene enough ; for our host, who 
 neither knew why he laughed nor why I was so angry, 
 listened to us attentively, thinking himself concerned 
 in the affair. Not feeling his conscience quite at rest 
 respecting either the brains, the andouille, or the other 
 dish with which he had regaled us, he was under as 
 much apprehension as a criminal who is afraid of
 
 126 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 everything he hears; and his fears redoubled when 
 he heard me threaten the muleteer if he continued 
 laughing at me to throw the brains against the wall. 
 Our host turned pale at these words, thinking that we 
 meant to accuse him ; but wishing to appear firm and 
 resolute, he came up to us, cocking his bonnet with 
 a most furious look, and said, " Before God, gentle- 
 men, I will not submit to so much laughing; I do 
 maintain, and ever will maintain, it to be good calf's 
 brains. If you will not believe me I can produce 
 evidence to prove the fact of more than a hundred 
 persons who saw me kill the calf." 
 
 My companion and I were not a little surprised at 
 the passion of a man whom we had not so much as 
 thought of. The muleteer redoubled his laughter; 
 and I could not refrain from following his example 
 on the occasion though from another cause I felt no 
 great inclination for it at that time. This put our 
 host completely out of countenance, who doubting 
 no longer that we had detected his villany became 
 more furious, and snatching the plate rudely from 
 the table, " You may go laugh and eat elsewhere," 
 said he, " for I will no longer entertain people who 
 make a jest of me to my face; you have only to pay 
 me therefore and leave my house ; after which you 
 have my permission to laugh as long as you please." 
 
 My comrade, who was still hungry, and did not see 
 the plate handed off without regret, finding it no joke, 
 said to the host in a voice not the most agreeable, 
 " What ails you, friend ? has any one been asking your 
 age? has any one been calling you chucklehead ? "
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 127 
 
 " Chucklehead or not," replied our host, " I affirm it is 
 a most excellent calf's head." He pronounced these 
 words as if he intended to thrash usboth; but the mule- 
 teer, who knew him better than I, and who was a good 
 match for him, rose from the table, and taking upon 
 himself the braggadocio in his turn, " S'death ! " cried 
 he, " is there any law that prescribes how much a man 
 may laugh in this inn ? or is there any tax laid upon 
 laughing?" "I never said that there was," replied 
 the host, apparently somewhat more mild. " I only 
 say that I will not be turned into ridicule in my own 
 house, nor be made to pass for one who treats his 
 guests ill." " Who says anything of ill-treatment? " 
 replied the muleteer ; " who thinks of turning you 
 into ridicule? Be quick and replace the ragout of 
 brains on the table, and you shall soon see that it was 
 not that we laughed at. I cannot see, however, what 
 objection you can have to allow persons to laugh or 
 cry as much as they please in your house as well as 
 elsewhere." 
 
 The muleteer's speech had its effect ; the delicious 
 ragout which had been thus torn from us was re- 
 turned, and we were all very friendly again. My 
 companion resumed his seat, and continuing to 
 address himself to the host, " Be assured," said he, 
 " that had I been laughing at you, my character is 
 such that I should not have concealed the cause from 
 you : we were not laughing at you ; but the sort of 
 omelet you have dressed us reminded me of an adven- 
 ture my little comrade here had to-day in an inn 
 where he dined." If the muleteer had been content
 
 128 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 to stop there, I should have got well off"; but I was 
 obliged to listen patiently for the third time to his 
 relation of the history of the two soldiers, together 
 with my adventure, which he recited to our host 
 with such glee that he seemed never to be in his 
 element but when telling that story. 
 
 Our host had time enough to recover his temper 
 before this long story was finished ; and judging that 
 he had been alarmed without cause, he thought proper 
 to commence playing another character, and inter- 
 rupted the muleteer every moment while his story 
 was tellinor, by "Holy Virgin! Great God of 
 Heaven ! " and other such exclamations, which made 
 the house to ring again, and which were accom- 
 panied by the most hypocritical grimaces. " May 
 God punish," said he, when the muleteer had done 
 speaking, " all who do not perform their duty ! " As 
 his duty was to thieve, and he could not be accused 
 of neglecting it, he did not appear to consider himself 
 at all concerned in this imprecation. After this he 
 continued silent for some time, walking up and down 
 the room; but suddenly breaking forth with a 
 thundering voice, " How is it possible," cried he, 
 " that the earth hath not yet opened itself to swallow 
 up that house and the wretched woman that keeps 
 it? I have never met with any traveller yet but 
 complained both of her and her provisions : not a 
 passenger goes out of her doors but curses her, and 
 makes oath never to stop at her inn again. If the 
 officers of justice, whose duty it is to put a stop to 
 her practices, suffer her to go on without notice,
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 129 
 
 thrv know very well what they are about. Good 
 God ! in what times do we live ! " 
 
 Here this honest man sighed deeply and kept 
 silent, to give us to understand that he thought 
 more than he chose to say, and I was in hopes that 
 he would not have annoyed us any longer in this 
 manner; but I was much mistaken. He went on 
 again more violently than before upon the old 
 woman's knavery, in a harangue which occupied a 
 long half hour; after which he finished by saying, 
 " I return a thousand thanks to Heaven, that I bear 
 no resemblance to that cursed old hag, and that I am 
 a man of probity and honour, that I may hold up my 
 head in any part of the world without fearing the 
 least reproach from any man. Poor as I am, nothing 
 of that sort goes on in my house; everything, thank 
 God, is here sold for .what it really is, and not a cat 
 for a hare, nor a sheep for a lamb. Let no one give 
 up his mind to cheating others, for he only cheats 
 himself in the end. He who deals ill must expect 
 ill treatment in return." 
 
 Happily for the muleteer and myself our host was 
 obliged to stop here from want of breath. I took 
 advantage of this opportunity to ask if he had any 
 fruit? He answered that he had got some very fine 
 olives. During the time that he was gone to fetch 
 them my comrade made an end of the dish of calf's 
 brains, which I could not much relish, thinking it too 
 much like the andouille ; but this did not prevent its 
 being entirely demolishe.d. No hungry wolf ever fed 
 more greedily than the muleteer, whose appetite 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 (30 MATED ALEMAN. 
 
 seemed never to be appeased : we had been at least 
 an hour at table, and his appetite seemed to continue 
 as sharp as when we first sat down. For my part I 
 relished the olives extremely, which, as well as the 
 wine, were excellent; as to the bread, though bad 
 enough, it was much better than what I had met 
 with at dinner. 
 
 Such was our supper, and as we intended to set 
 out early the next morning we desired our host to 
 get our breakfast ready in time ; we then laid our- 
 selves down on some straw, after having spread 
 thereon some of our mule furniture to serve to cover 
 us and keep us warm. The fatigue of our journey and 
 the quantity of wine I had drank made me sleep so 
 soundly that, though I was bit by the fleas that fed 
 on me all night, they were not able to rouse me, and 
 I verily believe I should have slept till the next 
 evening if the muleteer had not awaked me at break 
 of day, giving me notice that it was time to think of 
 our departure. I was soon ready, having only to 
 shake off the bits of straw that were sticking about 
 my hair ; but the fleas had left me in such a condition 
 that I looked like a young monster, having so dis- 
 figured my face that I might well have been taken for 
 one who had just recovered from the small-pox. 
 If I had been transported to the market-place of 
 Seville, I doubt whether any of my friends would 
 have recognised me. 
 
 It being Sunday we began the day by going to 
 mass, after which we returned to the inn, where my 
 hungry companion had not forgotten to order break-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 131 
 
 fast ; it was the first thing he thought of after he was 
 up. " Gentlemen," said our landlord, " I have stewed 
 you a piece of the same veal that you supped off last 
 night, and I have taken great pains to cook it to your 
 satisfaction." The muleteer, whose mouth watered 
 at this speech, placed himself at table in a trice 
 and commenced an attack upon the ragout, which 
 appeared to him as delicate as peacock's flesh. For 
 my part, either because I had no appetite so early in 
 the morning, or that I had eaten too much supper 
 the preceding niecht, I did nothing for some time but 
 look at him, without feeling the least inclination to 
 follow his example; but finding that he enjoyed it as 
 if it were the finest dish in the world, and fearing 
 that I might possibly have reason to repent at dinner 
 of not having partaken of so good a breakfast, I made 
 an effort to swallow a few mouthfuls; but instead of 
 finding them so savoury as my companion seemed to 
 fancy them, there was something in them extremely 
 disagreeable to my palate ; as for the seasoning, as our 
 host had good reasons for being prodigal of his pepper 
 and salt, it seized hold of the throat, so that I was 
 obliged to give over as soon as I had tasted it; in 
 addition to which the flesh was so hard that I could 
 not help remarking that I thought the meat as tough 
 as leather, adding that I did not consider that it had 
 altogether the taste of veal. : ' Don't you see," said 
 our host, who heard what I said, and who, in spite 
 of his impudence, could not refrain from blushing a 
 little " don't you see," said he, " that it has not been 
 kept long enough to be tender ? " The muleteer, who
 
 132 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 believed what the landlord advanced, or at least 
 thought that I was too delicate, answered in a jeer- 
 ing tone of voice, " That is not the reason ; but our 
 young gentleman of Seville has always been accus- 
 tomed to be fed with new-laid eggs and cracknels, so 
 that he finds fault with everything else." 
 
 I contented myself by shrugging up my shoulders 
 at this bantering of my comrade's, and said not a 
 word, not knowing whether I was not actually too 
 dainty, or, what is more probable, beginning to feel 
 so queer that I almost fancied myself in the other 
 world. I could not make up my mind to touch this 
 meat again, but was occupied with numerous thoughts 
 far above my acre. I recollected the passionate be- 
 haviour of our host at our laughter at supper the 
 evening before, the unnecessary oaths that he made 
 on the occasion ; and as a man undoubtedly renders 
 himself suspected who is anxious to justify himself 
 before he is accused, I considered that there must be 
 some knavery in the business. When my imagina- 
 tion was once thus prepossessed against him, the very 
 sight and smell of his veal ragout quite turned my 
 stomach, so that, not being able to remain much 
 longer, I rose from table and waited patiently until 
 the muleteer did the same, which was very shortly 
 afterwards. Although the piece of veal was such as 
 required a most determined assailant to get through 
 it, my companion appeared to have made but a slight 
 repast of it, after which I requested him to get the 
 reckoning of our host to ascertain what each had to 
 pay, but he answered me in an obliging manner that
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHB. 133 
 
 it was such a trifle that I was not to think of it, for 
 that he would take care to see it settled. 
 
 This generous behaviour from a man of his rank 
 in life surprised me extremely, or rather charmed me. 
 Had I been in different circumstances I could not in 
 honour have allowed this man to pay for me, but my 
 purse was so low that it did not either become or suit 
 me to refuse his generosity. I allowed him therefore, 
 without ceremony, to discharge the reckoning, and 
 by way of return I assisted him in every way in my 
 power in getting his mules ready for our journey. 
 I would have done almost anything for him, so much 
 was I affected by his noble behaviour towards me. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE LANDLORD STEALS GUZMAN'S CLOAK. A GREAT 
 UPROAR AT THE INN. 
 
 To enable myself the better to assist my friend the 
 muleteer in getting his mules ready for our journey, 
 I threw my cloak off, which I folded up, and placed 
 on a bench ; but, about a quarter of an hour after- 
 wards, happening to look that way, I perceived that 
 my cloak was no longer there. This alarmed me at 
 first ; but I did not vex myself extremely about it, 
 thinking that either our host or the muleteer had 
 concealed it from me for the purpose of amusing 
 themselves by observing the anxiety it would occa-
 
 } 3 4 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 I could not suspect any one else of having played 
 me this trick, for no other person had entered the 
 stable whence my cloak had been taken. I inquired 
 first of the muleteer, who told me that he never 
 amused himself in that way. I then addressed 
 myself to our host, who instantly had recourse to 
 oaths to persuade me that he had no hand in the 
 theft I complained of. Upon that I determined to 
 search the house for it, and went over it from top to 
 bottom, without forgetting the least comer in which 
 it might be secreted, feeling firmly convinced in my 
 own mind that our host was the one guilty of the 
 theft, whose physiognomy alone sufficiently justified 
 my presumption. 
 
 I came at last by chance to a back yard, the door 
 of which I found some difficulty in opening, and the 
 objects that I perceived there were sufficient to turn 
 my mind for some minutes from thinking of my 
 cloak. I observed upon the pavement a large pool 
 of blood that had been but newly spilt, at the side of 
 which lay the skin of a young mule, spread out, with 
 the four feet still hanging to it, as well as the ears and 
 head, which had been opened to take out the brains 
 and the tongue. I beheld this sight not without 
 horror, and said to myself, "There, there lie the 
 remains of our excellent veal ; it is but proper that 
 my companion should witness this sight with his 
 own eyes, being at least as much interested in it as 
 myself." T ran to the stables where he was, and 
 whispered to him that if he would accompany me I 
 would show him something that would be well worth
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 135 
 
 his trouble. He followed me to the back court, 
 where I pointed out to him the remains of the two 
 fine repasts that we had made. " Well, my friend," 
 said I, " and what do you say to all this ? Do you 
 still think that I feed upon nothing but fresh eggs 
 and cracknels? Contemplate with voluptuousness 
 this delicate calf, of which our host made for us 
 those ragouts which you found so savoury. You now 
 see how that skilful cook of yours has regaled us." 
 
 The good muleteer was so ashamed that he had 
 not a word to answer. " This is, then," continued I, 
 " the man of probity, who never sells cats for hares, 
 sheep for lambs; but who at the same time makes no 
 scruple of giving us a mule instead of a calf." My 
 companion, sad and pensive, returned to the stable, 
 and I went to look for our host, to speak to him 
 more, stoutly, thinking that, to oblige him to restore 
 my cloak, I had only to apprise him that I had dis- 
 covered all his villany, and to threaten to give notice 
 to the magistrates; for it was prohibited by an express 
 law, and under heavy penalties, for any person to 
 have a mule in his possession, the breeding of that 
 animal being unlawful in Andalusia. Our host had 
 cared but little about observing this law; for having 
 about eight days before had a young mule out of an 
 ass and a little Gallatian mare, whom he had trusted 
 in the same stable together, he thought he might 
 safely venture to pass it off upon travellers, who are 
 generally very hungry, for veal. 
 
 I met him at the well in the yard, washing another 
 piece of this supposed veal, which he endeavoured to
 
 1 36 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 hide as soon as he perceived me. I came up to him 
 with a resolute air, and desired him in a determined 
 tone to return me my cloak, or that I should imme- 
 diately make ray complaint elsewhere ; but at these 
 words, which did not frighten him in the least, he 
 looked at me disdainfully, called me a little jacka- 
 napes, and threatened to whip me. 
 
 The loss of my cloak had not provoked me so much 
 as this behaviour of his; so that, giving myself up to 
 my resentment, without considering the inequality 
 of our strength, I answered that he was nothing but 
 a thief and a knave, and that I dared him to touch 
 me. He appeared stung by my answer, and made 
 up to me as if to put his threat in execution; but 
 without waiting for this giant (for he was one in 
 comparison with myself), I took up a large stone 
 and threw it at his head, but fortunately for him it 
 only just grazed one of his ears. Instead, however, 
 of closing with me and crushing me with the weight 
 of his body, he ran to his chamber, whence he re- 
 turned in an instant with a long naked sword in his 
 hand. Far from flying before this bravo I began to 
 reproach him in the most abusive terms, upbraiding 
 him as a coward and poltroon, for not b.-ing ashamed 
 to make use of a sword against a young boy who 
 had no other weapon than a stone to defend him- 
 self with. 
 
 All the servants ran out to see what was the matter, 
 and were not a little frightened to see their master 
 with a drawn sword in his hand. My comrade, who 
 bore a spite against the scoundrel for the abominable
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 137 
 
 ragout that he had been made to eat, came up to my 
 assistance with a pitchfork, so that (the muleteer and 
 I of the one part, the host, his wife, children, and 
 servants of the other), we made such an uproar be- 
 tween us that any one passing must have thought 
 there was some desperate work going forward in the 
 inn. All the neighbours were alarmed and came to 
 the house, where they knocked at the door, but not 
 waiting for its being opened from within they broke 
 it open, that they might the sooner ascertain the 
 cause of the horrid tumult they heard, then entered 
 a troop of the police with numerous armed attend- 
 ants and the alcaids, for on account of the wicked- 
 ness of the inhabitants there were two alcaids in this 
 town of Cantillana. 
 
 These two alcaids had no sooner got into the house 
 with their followers than each of them pretended that 
 the cognisance of this affair belonged to him alone, 
 which formed two parties. The armed attendants 
 were also divided according to their different interests, 
 and their division excited a furious dispute amongst 
 them. As the quarrel grew worse the noise grew 
 louder, till at last no one could hear himself speak ; 
 the two parties grew so warm that they no longer 
 scrupled to betray each other's feelings, but allowed 
 the most unpleasing truths to escape them. From 
 these revilings they would probably have proceeded 
 to blows if some honest inhabitants of the town, who 
 had entered the inn at the same time with them, had 
 not interfered and reconciled them ; which being 
 accomplished, God knows how, nothing remained
 
 I 3 8 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 but to ascertain the cause of our quarrel, and as a 
 cord always breaks first where it is weakest they 
 began by seizing hold of me. I was a stranger, with- 
 out favour and without acquaintance Justice there- 
 fore could not fail to begin with me. 
 
 Let me, however, give these alcaids their due, for 
 they certainly did not send me to prison without a 
 hearing. I related to them in a simple manner the 
 subject of my dispute with our host respecting my 
 cloak ; then, taking them apart, I added the story of 
 the mule, informing them that they would still find 
 that animal's skin in the back court, and some pieces 
 stewing in the kitchen. Upon this last article of my 
 deposition, my judges forgot all about my cloak, and 
 repaired to the back court, after having, by way of 
 precaution, seized our host, who did nothing but 
 laugh, thinking that it was all about the cloak, which 
 no one had seen him take; but when the mule's hide 
 and other appurtenances were brought forward in 
 judgment against him, he became in an instant as 
 pale as a condemned criminal, and during his exami- 
 nation confessed even more than he was accused of; 
 unluckily for me, however, my cloak was the only 
 subject on which he remained firm : the rascal, from 
 a spirit of revenge, would not confess he had stolen it. 
 
 The alcaids sent this rogue to prison, which gave 
 me some pleasure in the midst of my troubles ; I say 
 in the midst, for I had not yet got over them. The 
 alcaids' clerks, a sort of people quite as humane as 
 they are disinterested, thinking that I was of a good 
 family and might have a rich father, recommended
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 139 
 
 the alcaids in the most Christian manner to detain 
 me also at all chances. This advice, which was much 
 approved of by my judges, would certainly have been 
 followed, had not the citizens who were present 
 opposed so great an injustice by saying aloud that, if 
 that were done, I should be punished merely for having 
 done my duty. The murmurs of these honest men 
 prevailed for this once over the good will of the 
 officers of justice, who pardoned me through policy. 
 The muleteer, who had been witness to all that had 
 passed, and was not a little apprehensive that they 
 would seize his mules and him, whispered me to leave 
 as quickly as I was able this blessed part of the 
 country, where a man need not think himself badly 
 off if he escaped with the loss of his cloak only. I 
 approved of his advice; we mounted our beasts in 
 haste and rode out of the inn-yard. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 GUZMAN AND THE MULETEER MEET WITH 
 ANOTHER MISFORTUNE. 
 
 WE were so anxious to get clear of the city that at 
 our setting out we spurred on our mules, which was 
 almost unnecessary, for they seemed as impatient as 
 ourselves, and to have taken an equal aversion to the 
 inn, fearing perhaps lest they should leave their skins 
 there behind them ; but when we had got a little way
 
 1 40 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 into the country we slackened our pace again, both 
 keeping a profound silence, and each occupied by his 
 own thoughts. It was a fine treat to observe the 
 countenance of my friend the muleteer ; all desire for 
 laughing had entirely forsaken him since I had pointed 
 out to him the remains of the mule, and he dared not 
 venture to jeer me on our admirable repast, fearing 
 the repartees that I might have made, as he had eaten 
 at least six times the quantity that I had, both of the 
 andouille and the brains, and the whole of the morn- 
 ing's ragout was still on his stomach, so that had he 
 thought proper to rally me again, which by the by 
 was very far from his thoughts, I could have easily 
 silenced him. 
 
 If my companion had cause for disagreeable re- 
 flections, I was not more satisfied with the images 
 that presented themselves to my imagination. " O 
 Heavens!" said I, " what unlucky star prevailed on 
 me to quit my mother's house ; no sooner had I left 
 it than everything became contrary with me; one 
 misfortune has only been the presage of another : 
 the first night I was forced to lie down to sleep at a 
 chapel door, and that without supper ; the next day 
 I had nothing but a chick omelet for dinner, and in 
 the evening was regaled with several ragouts made of 
 a mule travestied into veal ; at night I was devoured 
 by fleas, which happily I was not aware of; and to- 
 day I had like to have fared equally well, and, what 
 is worse, have lost my cloak j nothing was wanting 
 to complete my misfortune but that I should have 
 been sent to prison in company with the man who
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 141 
 
 stole it, and it was not the fault of my judges that 
 was not the case." 
 
 Whenever I thought of this theft I sighed bit- 
 terly, for this loss afflicted me more than all the 
 other unfortunate occurrences; in fact, I had more 
 reason to regret it; the stomach may recover itself 
 from the effects of a bad meal, and an uneasy night 
 may be made amends for by the following one ; bu\ 
 how was the loss of a cloak to be repaired with st 
 little money as I had in my pocket? Nevrithelesa 
 the evil being without remedy, I resolved to Uur ii 
 patiently. I had heard it said that the life oi nun i* 
 a compound of happiness and misery, of pleasure ant 
 pain ; " if so," said I, " be comforted, friend Guz- 
 man, for you are assuredly on the brink of SOUK 
 good fortune, since you have as yet met with nothii ..?. 
 but mischances since your departure from Seville." 
 
 Buoyed up by this flattering hope, I was jiwrt 
 beginning to recover myself when I perceived tvro 
 men upon mules, who had very much the appear- 
 ance of what they really were, riding up at a quicU 
 trot behind us, who having come up to us examined 
 us attentively, as if they were looking for some on>. 
 who very much resembled me. Their very look' 
 were enough to make me uneasy ; the holy Brother- 
 hood of which they had the honour to be members 
 probably had not any among them of a more terrific 
 appearance. They looked earnestly at me, and as I 
 appeared rather surprised and even a little alarmed, 
 they leapt from their mules without wanting any 
 further proof, and falling upon me both together
 
 U2 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 they threw me from my mule to the ground, then 
 seizing me by the arm one of them said, " Ah ! Mr. 
 Rogue, have we caught you at last? come, little 
 wretch, give up the money ; give up the jewels that 
 you have stolen, or we will immediately hang you 
 up on the tree that you see a few paces off." At 
 these words they set to and pulled and cuffed me 
 about so unmercifully that it was in vain for me to 
 attempt to defend myself. 
 
 The good-natured muleteer, touched with com- 
 passion to see me so cruelly treated, represented to 
 them that they were certainly mistaken in me; but 
 he was but ill-paid for his remonstrance, for they 
 turned upon him, and when they were tired of 
 thumping him, accused him of being the receiver of 
 the goods Ihad stolen, and seized both him and his 
 mules, asking him how he had disposed of the 
 money and jewels ; and as he could answer them in 
 no other manner than that he was entirely ignorant 
 of what money and jewels they alluded to, a fresh 
 shower of blows fell upon him without mercy. I 
 must confess here my bad disposition ; I could not 
 help feeling a malignant satisfaction in seeing this 
 poor devil, upon whom I had brought this ill-luck, so 
 unmercifully banged ; for it was to him that I attri- 
 buted the loss of my cloak and our infernal repast at 
 supper. After having well pummelled us both they 
 rummaged out our pockets and searched us care- 
 fully ; and not finding what they were in search of, 
 they bound our hands with cords, designing to con- 
 duct us in this state to Seville. We were already
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 143 
 
 leashed together like greyhounds, when one of the 
 constables who had bound my hands said with sur- 
 prise to his companion, " God forgive me, comrade, 
 but I think that we have been too precipitate and 
 are deceived ; the fellow that we are in pursuit of has 
 no thumb on his left hand, and this chap has all his 
 fingers perfect." The constable hearing this, drew 
 forth his instructions and read them aloud. The 
 thief was there described in a manner very different 
 from my appearance; for besides that he wanted a 
 thumb, it was there stated that he was nineteen or 
 twenty years of age, and had long black hair falling 
 over his back like a horse's tail ; instead of which no 
 one could take me to be more than fourteen, and my 
 hair was very short, of a reddish colour, and much 
 curled. Finding therefore, that they had made a 
 mistake, they unbound us, and taking possession of 
 a few reals by way of fee, which the muleteer had in 
 his pocket, they apologised to us by laughing in our 
 faces, and remounted their mules, leaving us all 
 covered with bruises, particularly my friend the 
 muleteer, whose thick built robust shoulders had 
 been less spared than mine. To make amends my 
 mouth was full of blood, and almost all my teeth 
 loosened by the several fisticuffs I had received. 
 
 This did not prevent us, however, from getting 
 upon our mules again and continuing our route; 
 but in as sorrowful a plight as any one would have 
 done on such an occasion. When we had got within 
 a quarter of a league from the village del Pedoro, we
 
 144 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 perceived and soon joined the two friars, who were 
 walking on slowly, waiting till we came up. 
 
 I related to them the cause of our delay j for the 
 muleteer was in such a condition that he had not 
 courage to speak a word. These good men much 
 pitied us : the last adventure appeared to them the 
 most distressing, and one of these gentlemen took 
 occasion to say, " God keep every honest man from 
 three Holies that are at this time in Spain, viz., 
 the holy Inquisition, the holy Brotherhood ; and the 
 holy Crusado. Especially, if he be innocent, God 
 keep him from the holy Brotherhood ; there may be 
 some hope of justice with the two others, but all that 
 can be said in favour of this latter is, happy are they 
 who do not fall into its hands." 
 
 The friar who had treated me with a sermon the 
 day before, and who was quite upon the itch to be 
 preaching again, managed to turn the conversation 
 upon the vanities of the world, that he might take 
 the opportunity of informing us we could look for 
 none but false pleasures in this world, and that true 
 pleasure is in heaven, where only it is to be found ; 
 that even such diversions as promise the greatest 
 possible pleasure are sire to be either accompanied 
 or followed by some m< rtification or other. " Have 
 you any objection," added he, addressing himself to 
 his comrade, " that I should relate to you a fable on 
 this subject, which I think we j l worthy to be listened 
 to ? you will not be sorry to hear it." At the same 
 time, without waiting for his companion's answer, hf 
 began in these words :
 
 THE LIFE OP GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 145 
 
 " Jupiter, not content with having created all things 
 on earth for man, through an excess of love for them, 
 sent the god of pleasure in early times to reside here 
 below, solely to make them joyful. But man, and 
 more especially woman, attaching themselves to this 
 new deity, whose attractions completely charmed 
 them, resolved to look up to him only as their 
 divinity; they believed that he was able to gratify 
 all their wishes. Thus thinking that they could dis- 
 pense with all the other gods in heaven, they began 
 to forget them ; no prayers, sacrifices, or victims 
 were offered up to any but the god of pleasure. 
 Jupiter, being the one most offended, felt this in- 
 gratitude of his creatures so sensibly that he con- 
 sidered he ought to avenge himself on them, and 
 called a council of the immortals to consult with 
 him, fearing that he might be accused of having 
 listened to nothing but his anger. 
 
 "All the gods condemned this behaviour of man 
 more or less, according to the sentiments that each 
 entertained for them ; the most good-natured amongst 
 them represented to Jupiter that men were but men, 
 that is to say, weak and faulty creatures, from whom 
 he could expect nothing but imprudence and indis- 
 cretion ; that in their opinion the Father of Heaven, 
 instead of viewing their weakness with severity, ought 
 rather to have pity on them than think of punishing 
 them. Were we men, as they are, added they, we 
 might conduct ourselves in the same manner, perhaps 
 even worse; besides, consider what god it is that you 
 have given them ? see in what manner he uses them ; 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 146 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 he never L-aves them, he flatters their desires, and 
 enchants them with his seducing manners. You, on 
 the contrary, are seen by them but seldom, and almost 
 always with thunder in your hand, which frightens 
 them ; you ought not therefore to be surprised if they 
 fear you more than they love you. They may here- 
 after perhaps reflect seriously upon their fault and 
 make atonement, as soon as they are informed how 
 much their blind attachment to this divinity has 
 caused them to wrong the immortals, and particularly 
 yourself. 
 
 " When the gods, thus peaceably inclined, had thus 
 remonstrated with Jupiter, Momus, who hated man, 
 wished to give advice directly opposite; but he began 
 in such free terms that he was silenced and told that 
 he should be heard in his turn. The other gods who 
 were not better inclined towards the human race than 
 Momus did all they could to persuade the son of 
 Saturn to extirpate mankind, alleging that they were 
 useless beings, for whom the gods had no manner of 
 occasion. Others not so violent, thinking they gave 
 admirable advice, recommended Jupiter to reduce 
 such as had been culpable into dust again and create 
 others more perfect in their place, which would be an 
 easy matter for him to do, upon which Apollo re- 
 quested permission to speak, and with that air of 
 sweetness which has ever been attributed to him 
 addressed himself to the Father of the gods in these 
 words : 
 
 " * Supreme Jupiter, full of love and goodness, thou 
 art so justly irritated against man that whatever cruel
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 147 
 
 revenge you may be disposed to take on him no in- 
 habitant of Olympus will pretend to oppose thy will, 
 it being not less the interest of all the gods in general 
 than thine in particular, that mortals should not prove 
 ungrateful for the favours and benefits they daily 
 receive at our hands. Suffer me, however, to make 
 it appear to you that if thou destroyest man thou 
 destroyest thine own work. This world, which thou 
 hast created and embellished with a thousand wonder- 
 ful things which thou hast bestowed upon it, will be 
 no longer of any use, for we shall not any of us leave 
 heaven to reside there. If thou destroyest man to 
 make a new race, that will do thee no honour, for it 
 will rather be said that thou couldst not make thy 
 work perfect in less than two trials ; suffer, therefore, 
 the human race to remain as it is, for it greatly con- 
 cerns thy glory to maintain what thou hast created. 
 Perhaps I may go so far as to say that I do not think 
 it would be to the honour of the gods if men were 
 without imperfection; if they were not weak and 
 full of wants, what occasion would they have for our 
 assistance ? 
 
 " 'Nevertheless,' continued he/ these ingrates ought 
 to be punished. Thou hast given them the god Plea- 
 sure, to whom they are too much attached ; thou hast 
 only therefore to oblige them to give up the idol and 
 send them down his brother in his room, thus thou 
 wilt chastise them by the same means as they have 
 offended thee. They will, I am convinced, soon ac- 
 knowledge their fault, and have recourse to thy mercy 
 to pardon their blindness; thou wilt then be fully
 
 148 MATEO ALEMAX. 
 
 avenged, and thou canst either forgive them of 
 abandon them to the tyranny of their new divinity. 
 This, great Jupiter! is what seems to me most be- 
 coming thy glory on this occasion ; but the lord of 
 heaven and earth knows best what is fit to be done.' 
 
 "Apollo ceased to speak, and Momus, who was 
 prepared with a discourse which his hatred for man 
 had suggested, began to aggravate their offence ; but 
 he was but the dupe of his ill-will; all the other 
 immortals, who well knew his prejudice, rejected his 
 advice and agreed in opinion with Apollo. Agree- 
 ably to the decision of the celestial assembly, Mercury 
 cut through the air in a moment and descended upon 
 earth, where he found man completely busied and 
 charmed with the god Pleasure. No sooner did he 
 begin to put in execution his orders to deprive them 
 of him than a general insurrection took place among 
 the w'omen as well as the men. Such fury was never 
 known before; they ranged themselves round about 
 their cherished deity, protesting they would rather die 
 than be deprived of him. 
 
 " Mercury returned quickly up to heaven, to in- 
 form Jupiter of this disorder, whose wrath towards 
 man was increased by this intelligence ; but Apollo, 
 who always favoured them, interceded once more in 
 their behalf so effectually that he prevented the 
 thunder from being hurled upon them. * Lord of 
 Olympus,' said he, ' have pity on these poor weak 
 creatures, and, instead of suffering your thunder to 
 fall upon them, allow me to propose a milder method 
 of bringing them to their senses. Let us deceive them
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHB. 149 
 
 by a skilful trick, by withdrawing from them the god 
 of pleasure without their perceiving it, and placing 
 under the same shape the god Dissatisfaction in his 
 stead.' 
 
 " This stratagem was approved of, and Apollo 
 himself undertook the execution of it. He descended 
 upon earth with the god Dissatisfaction disguised, 
 and found men and women all up in arms to protect 
 their idol, whom they had placed in the midst of 
 them ; he dazzled their eyes and easily made the 
 intended exchange; after which he returned to the 
 immortals again, to enjoy with them the trick that 
 he had just played upon mankind, who from that 
 time, believing themselves still to have Pleasure 
 among them, have sacrificed to his brother, without 
 knowing it, in his place." 
 
 This fable was much applauded by the bachelor, 
 who agreed with his friend who had related it that 
 assuredly the pleasures of life seduce us by fine 
 appearances without there being any reality to be 
 found in them. " Alas! " thought I to myself while 
 the gentlemen were thus reasoning, " that is but too 
 true. When I first took it into my head to travel, 
 I formed a most delightful idea of my journey, and 
 flattered my imagination with a thousand agreeable 
 fancies, the fallacy of which I am already but too 
 well acquainted with." After the friars had moralised 
 for a considerable time upon this subject, the bachelor 
 said to his companion, " To enliven the conversation 
 a little, and to amuse us on the road, I purpose, with 
 your permission, to relate you a story which is to
 
 ISO 
 
 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 be found in the history of our wars with the Moors." 
 The other friar appeared curious to hear it, and, aa 
 well as I can remember, the bachelor recited it nearly 
 in the following words. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE AMOUR OF OZMIN AND THE BEAUTIFUL 
 DARAXA. 
 
 WHILST their Catholic majesties Ferdinand and 
 Isabella were at the siege of Baza, the Moors kept 
 the Christians in full employment, and prodigies of 
 valour were performed on both sides. The place 
 was well situated and in good condition, and was 
 defended by a garrison composed of the choicest 
 troops of the king of Granada. Mahomet, surnamed 
 El Chiquito the diminutive the governor, was a 
 man skilful and experienced in war. Isabella was at 
 Jaen, where she took care to supply the Christian 
 troops, which Ferdinand commanded in person, with 
 provisions. The army was divided into two bodies, 
 one of which besieged the town, while the other 
 covered the siege. 
 
 As the Moors had spared nothing to prevent the 
 possibility of communication between the two camps, 
 scarcely a day passed without some furious skirmish. 
 On one of these occasions the besieged fought so 
 desperately that they would have decisively defeated 
 their besiegers if any valour could have made it pos-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 151 
 
 sible; but the latter, animated by the presence and 
 example of their king, and reinforced by frequent 
 succours, obliged the Infidels at length to take flight, 
 and pursued them so closely that they entered with 
 them pell-mell into the suburbs of Baza. 
 
 The governor would not have failed to take advan- 
 tage of this indiscreet ardour of the Christians had 
 his troops been sufficient to support him in a vigorous 
 sally; but finding his garrison too much weakened 
 to undertake such an enterprise, he prudently con- 
 tented himself with firing on the enemy from the 
 walls, that they might not effect a lodgment in the 
 suburbs ; he then caused the gates of the town to be 
 closed, fearing lest it should be carried by assault. 
 In vain was he informed that his only daughter had 
 unfortunately left the town to take the air in a gar- 
 den in the suburbs, and that it was much feared she 
 had fallen into the hands of the Christians; he 
 answered like the Roman consul, that he had rather 
 lose his daughter than a fortress which the king had 
 confided to his defence. 
 
 Among the noblemen in the Christian army who 
 entered the suburbs with the Moors, Don Alonso de 
 Zuniga was one who had particularly signalised 
 himself. This cavalier, who was about eighteen 
 years of age, was now making his first campaign; 
 his aim was glory, and his only object in coming 
 to the siege of Baza was to deserve the esteem of 
 Ferdinand by the performance of some remarkable 
 feat. Fortune favoured his wishes, for while in pur- 
 suit of the enemy, putting all who offered resistance
 
 152 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 to the sword, he approached a magnificent looking 
 house, which appeared to belong to some person of 
 quality. Resolved to ascertain whether there was 
 any one within, he caused the door to be forced open 
 with his soldiers' axes. About a dozen men, armed 
 with sabres only, presented themselves to dispute 
 their entrance; but four or five of these being over- 
 thrown damped the courage of the rest, who saved 
 themselves by flight over the walls of the garden. 
 
 Don Alonso's soldiers, delighted to find a house 
 elegantly furnished, thought of nothing but plunder- 
 ing it; for himself, who wished for nothing but an 
 opportunity of signalising himself, he examined the 
 house from top to bottom, sword in hand, with five 
 or six of his followers, breaking open every door, to 
 see if there were any other Moors prepared to oppose 
 him. Passing thus from room to room he at length 
 came to the last, at the door of which he heard a 
 loud shriek from within, and at the same time per- 
 ceived five women, four of whom, all in tears and 
 almost senseless with fear, threw themselves at his 
 feet, imploring him to save their honour and their 
 lives; but the fifth, who by her air and majestic 
 appearance was evidently the mistress of the rest, 
 instead of kneeling with the others, held a poniard in 
 her hand with a determined countenance. " Stop ! " 
 said she, in the Castilian language, upon Don Alonso'a 
 approaching her, " this dagger shall protect me from 
 any one who presumes to touch me." 
 
 No sooner did Don Alonso behold the face of the 
 lady who addressed him in these courageous terms,
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 153 
 
 than he was quite captivated by her beauty, and felt 
 the emotions that love creates in a heart for the first 
 time subjected to its dominion. Already enraptured 
 by his rising passion, he raised the visor of his hel- 
 met, sheathed his sword, and told the lady, in the 
 most mild and respectful manner, that she need not 
 be apprehensive of any violence from one who felt 
 extremely concerned at the alarm he had caused her, 
 but at the same time he felt most truly happy that 
 fate had conducted him into her presence to save 
 her from the misfortunes that threatened her; he 
 entreated her therefore to confide herself to his 
 protection, and to accompany him at once, for fear 
 of the fury of the soldiers, who, not being accustomed 
 on such occasions as these to acknowledge any con- 
 trol, might put it out of his power to preserve her 
 from their outrages. 
 
 At these words, the truth of which she but too 
 well felt, she accepted his proffered assistance ; upon 
 which he desired his followers to take care of the 
 other women, and let them carry away with them 
 whatever they wished ; after which he offered his 
 hand to his captive, who, in spite of her uneasiness, 
 was somewhat divested of her fears by the attention 
 and appearance of the young cavalier; armed as he 
 was, to behold his beautiful face, and his long hair 
 which flowed in curls over his cuirass, he had more 
 the appearance of a beautiful girl than of a soldier. 
 
 This charming Moor, who, without exception, 
 was the most engaging beauty in the kingdom of 
 Granada, was named Daraxa. She was the daughter
 
 '54 
 
 MATED ALE MAN. 
 
 of the governor ; and having learned that the Moors 
 had been driven back into the suburbs, she had 
 endeavoured to regain the town, but finding the 
 gates closed had been obliged to return to this 
 garden. 
 
 Though she was very fortunate in having fallen 
 into the hands of Don Alonso, yet the thoughts of 
 becoming a captive to the Christians sadly afflicted 
 her. In spite of her courage she could not refrain 
 from tears ; she was not able to make any other 
 reply to the obliging offers of her generous enemy 
 than by giving him her hand, to show the confi- 
 dence she reposed in him. The young warrior, moved 
 by the tears of his fair prisoner, tried all he could to 
 console her; and as he spoke from the abundance of 
 his heart, what he said was so tenderly expressive 
 that in any other situation it might have had more 
 effect on the beautiful Moor; but, although she felt 
 most sensibly his endeavours to soothe her under her 
 misfortune, the acknowledgments that she made 
 were but very inadequate as a return for the lively 
 interest he took on her behalf. 
 
 As soon as he was informed that a retreat was 
 sounded by order of the king, and that the Christians 
 were already filing off to regain the camp, he yielded 
 his own horse to the lady, who vaulted into the 
 saddle entirely unassisted, and knew well how to 
 manage her steed. He then assembled his soldiers 
 in haste, in the midst of whom he placed the beauti- 
 ful Moor and her women; and putting himself at 
 the head of this little corps, which looked more like;
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 155 
 
 a cavalcade than an escort, he followed the other 
 troops in the retreat. 
 
 The king was already acquainted with his adven- 
 ture before he arrived at the camp, and was the more 
 rejoiced at it as he entertained a particular regard for 
 this cavalier, whom he considered to be a young man 
 of great promise. Impatient to see so illustrious a 
 prisoner, he did her the honour to advance to receive 
 her as soon as he perceived Don Alonso approaching 
 his tent to conduct her into his presence. She ad- 
 vanced towards his Majesty with so majestic a mien 
 and so gracefully as to charm all who beheld her; 
 and would have fallen on her knees before him, but 
 he prevented her so politely and received her in such 
 a manner that she uttered, in a sort of ecstasy, " Ah ! 
 my lord, what charms would the honour of saluting 
 the great Ferdinand have had, had it not been 
 annexed by fate to one of the most cruel misfortunes 
 that could have happened to me ! " " Madam," 
 answered the king in a most gracious manner, 
 "you have no reason to consider it a misfortune to 
 have become the prisoner of Don Alonso de Zuniga, 
 who is an amiable young man, and who will pay 
 you every attention, and spare nothing which may 
 alleviate your misfortune; and, for my own part, I 
 will take care you shall be so well entertained that 
 you shall soon cease to have occasion to repine at 
 fortune." 
 
 His Majesty added that she might write to her 
 father the governor, assuring him she should meet 
 with the treatment due to her birth. He then de-
 
 156 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 sired Don Alonso, with a smile, to continue to take 
 good care of Daraxa. " Conduct her," said he, " to 
 my own tent, where she can rest this night with her 
 women, and to-morrow you shall yourself escort her 
 to Jaen, where she will be better received and enter- 
 tained by the queen than she can be in a camp." 
 
 Those officers in the army who had seen the 
 beautiful Moor spoke of her to the others in such 
 high terms that they were all curious to see her, and 
 applied to Zunijra, to whom she was confided, to 
 gratify their curiosity ; but Don Alonso, jealous of 
 his happiness, would not grant their requests, but 
 managed to keep them from the royal tent by all 
 sorts of excuses ; for they persecuted him in such a 
 manner, to afford them this satisfaction, that he was 
 much troubled to resist their importunities. The next 
 morning, according to the king's orders, he set out 
 for Jaen, where he arrived in the evening with his 
 charming captive, whom he presented to the queen. 
 Her Majesty, to whom the king had despatched a 
 courier the preceding evening, was already informed 
 of everything. She received Daraxa most graciously, 
 and was extremely pleased to see her. She was par- 
 ticularly struck with the elegance of her appearance ; 
 and when she had conversed with her for some time, 
 was convinced that her good sense and wit were at 
 least equal to her beauty. 
 
 In the meantime Don Alonso, having performed 
 his commission and being obliged to return to the 
 army, found now for the first time that if love has its 
 sweets it is not unaccompanied by chagrin, and that
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 157 
 
 that deity makes us pay dearly for the least favour. 
 He could not reflect without extreme pain that he 
 was on the point of leaving his beautiful Moor; but 
 what most afflicted him was that he had not yet 
 disclosed his sentiments to her, though he had had 
 more than one favourable opportunity ; either from a 
 timidity which the bravest lovers sometimes feel, or 
 from want of experience, he had resolved to take no 
 other mode of declaring his passion than by his 
 actions; nevertheless, as he knew that men ought to 
 speak first on such occasions, he made up his mind 
 at length to declare himself. He had only now to 
 think of the manner in which he should make this 
 avowal ; and having reflected for a long time on the 
 subject, but not being content with anything he could 
 think of, he resolved to leave it entirely to his passion 
 to inspire him with w r ords. 
 
 With this intention he repaired to the queen to 
 receive her commands, and asked permission to take 
 leave of Daraxa. The queen, who well knew that 
 this young lord could not have passed two days with 
 so lovely a person as the beautiful Moor with im- 
 punity, wished to have the pleasure of witnessing 
 their separation. " What you desire is reasonable," 
 said she to Don Alonso, " since Daraxa is your 
 prisoner; but as she is under my protection I must 
 watch over all her actions, you can only converse 
 with her therefore in my presence." This embar- 
 rassed him, and he now almost despaired of being 
 able to acquaint his captive that in leaving her he 
 quitted what was dearest in the world to him.
 
 I 5 8 MATEO 
 
 What he viewed as so great an obstacle to the 
 accomplishment of his desires served, however, to pro- 
 mote them. The queen, having sent for the beau- 
 tiful Moor, said to her, "My daughter " (for so she 
 already called her from friendship), " behold a young 
 warrior, who I fear is more to be pitied and more a 
 prisoner than you are. He has considered it a duty to 
 take leave of his captive previous to his departure for 
 the army ; I am his friend, and I permit him to dis- 
 close in my presence the tender sentiments that he 
 cannot but have conceived for you." Daraxa blushed; 
 she had been till now so much taken up with her 
 own misfortunes that she had not once thought of 
 endeavouring to distinguish the motives of Don 
 Alonso's actions, or if she had observed any atten- 
 tion more than ordinary in his behaviour she had 
 attributed it solely to pity, which is never without 
 a degree of tenderness ; besides which, her heart was 
 already prepossessed in favour of another, so that she 
 could but look upon Zuniga with an indifferent eye. 
 
 She replied to the queen that she should never 
 forget her obligations to that cavalier, and that not 
 having it in her power to acknowledge them, other- 
 wise than by her wishes, she hoped that it would not 
 be his fate to be taken prisoner; or should he be so 
 unfortunate, she trusted that he would meet with as 
 kind treatment as she had experienced. The queen, 
 curious to hear what answer Don Alonso would make 
 to this compliment, made no reply, to afford him an 
 opportunity of speaking. But this young nobleman, 
 whose quick repartees on other occasions had been
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 159 
 
 much admired at Court, now stood confused, either 
 because he felt too violently the emotions of love, or 
 under restraint in the presence of the queen. He 
 replied only to Daraxa, that whatever misfortunes 
 might befall him he should consider himself but too 
 happy under them if he might presume to call himself 
 her champion, and that the object of his visit was to 
 solicit this honour. " This is a favour never refused 
 in this country," said the queen, desirous of keeping 
 up the conversation to gratify Zuniga, " and Daraxa 
 will surely find more reasons than one for granting 
 this request." " Madam," answered the beautiful 
 Moor, " I should be well content to have for my 
 champion a man of Don Alonso's high birth and 
 accomplishments; but if the laws of chivalry are the 
 same among the Christians as with us Moors, how 
 can I thus strongly interest myself in favour of a 
 warrior who bears arms against my country? " 
 
 Although the queen felt the force of this reply 
 she did not therefore conclude here, but represented 
 to her fair prisoner that this was a particular case ; 
 that she need have no scruple in feeling an interest 
 and participating in the glory and fortune of a cavalier 
 to whom she was under such obligations as would be 
 more than a sufficient excuse for her; and that she 
 would thereby engage Don Alonso to treat the Moors 
 that might fall into his power more kindly. Zuniga 
 was overjoyed to find the queen espouse his cause 
 with so much earnestness ; and Daraxa, fearing that 
 she might betray herself if she persisted in refusing 
 the queen's request, thought it more advisable to
 
 160 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 make no further answer, since silence must imply 
 that she did not object to what was desired of her. 
 
 " This will not suffice," continued the queen, who 
 was determined to finish the matter, " for when any 
 lady amongst us makes choice of a particular champion 
 it is usual to bestow on him some token of her pre- 
 ference, such as a scarf, her portrait, a handkerchief, 
 a ribbon, or the like." This was likewise a custom 
 among the Moors, but Daraxa did not wish to engage 
 herself so far; as, however, the desires of the queen 
 were laws to her, she presented Don Alonso with a 
 knot of ribbon which she wore on her head inter- 
 woven in the Moorish fashion. Zuniga received this 
 gift with bended knees, and kissing the hand that 
 bestowed it, as lovers were wont to do in those days, 
 he swore never to do anything to render himself un- 
 worthy his mistress' favour. After this ceremony 
 the queen, who was exceedingly pleased at the sight, 
 told Don Alonso that she doubted not he would soon 
 signalise himself by such feats of arms as would evince 
 that he was well deserving of the honour that had 
 just been conferred on him. He answered that he 
 must be dependent on fortune to furnish him with 
 opportunities, and that it should not be the fault of 
 his heart if he neglected them or if they terminated 
 unfortunately for him. 
 
 After having thus spoken he returned her Majesty 
 thanks for all her kindness; then, addressing himself to 
 the beautiful Moor, he implored her to deign some- 
 times to bestow a thought on a cavalier whose only- 
 glory was to serve his Catholic Majesty and to render
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 161 
 
 himself worthy of her esteem. After this he departed 
 for the army. 
 
 Upon his arrival at the camp, he learned that King 
 Ferdinand and King Mahomet had had an interview, 
 that Baza had capitulated, and that it was stipulated 
 in the articles that all prisoners made during the siege 
 should be restored on both sides. This news afflicted 
 the amorous Don Alonso, who from that moment 
 believed himself debarred from the sight of the object 
 of his affection ; but the queen, who appeared to have 
 undertaken to complete the happiness of this cavalier, 
 could not make up her mind to think of ever parting 
 with Daraxa, for whom she had conceived so sincere 
 a friendship that she coulcl scarcely have lived with- 
 out her company. The Moorish governor, her father, 
 applied for her return in the most urgent manner, but 
 the queen wrote to him in such kind and pressing 
 terms, requesting him to allow his daughter to remain 
 with her, that, notwithstanding the excess ofchis love 
 for her, he could not refuse to grant such a request, 
 well persuaded that he should not have reason to 
 repent of his complaisance. 
 
 The campaign being thus ended, the king resolved 
 to pass the winter at Seville. He wrote to the 
 queen to this effect, who accordingly repaired there 
 two or three days before he arrived. Never had the 
 court of that monarch been more magnificent, the 
 lords endeavoured to eclipse each other in splendour, 
 and no expense was spared to make a brilliant figure. 
 Don Alonso, who was one of the richest amongst 
 them, and whose absence had only served to increase 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 1 62 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 his love, spared nothing to make his equipage and 
 train worthy of the Champion of the beautiful Moor, 
 which title he had given himself, and upon which he 
 much prided himself at Court, and the knot of rib- 
 bon he had received from that lady was elegantly 
 attached to his breast. 
 
 All this, however, signified little with Daraxa, who 
 treated him with the same indifference as the other 
 lords who had professed themselves her lovers, among 
 whom were Don Roderigo de Padilla, Don Juan 
 d'Alsenna, and Don Diego de Castro. The only 
 advantage that Don Alonso had over his rivals was 
 that he was permitted to visit and converse with his 
 mistress more frequently than the others ; for which 
 he was indebted to the queen's kindness, who, 
 ardently wishing to make the fair Moor a Christian, 
 that she might marry and retain her at Court, had 
 fixed upon him as the most advantageous match for 
 her. 
 
 The queen tried every means to prevail upon her 
 to change her religion. One day she said to her, 
 " My dear Daraxa, I have a great curiosity and 
 wish to see you dressed in a Spanish habit; as I 
 think that dress will become your beauty better than 
 your own, and as I will make you a present of one I 
 have myself worn I am sure you will try it on to 
 oblige me." The queen hoped by this means to 
 influence her mind by degrees. Daraxa, who was 
 well pleased with the dress of the Spanish women, 
 and rejoiced at being able to please her Majesty, 
 willingly consented to afford her that satisfaction.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHB. 163 
 
 Whjn she first made her appearance in her new 
 dress, the king and the whole Court were delighted, 
 and she completely eclipsed the numerous beauties 
 that had hitherto charmed them. What jealousies 
 and infidelities did she not cause ! for, in proportion 
 as she pleased the men, she became the envy of the 
 women, who of course discovered more imperfections 
 than charms in her. 
 
 Although she was not unconscious of the envy 
 that she occasioned, she was rather vexed at it than 
 conceited, and even became careless in her dress. 
 The queen sometimes quarrelled with her on this 
 subject, and sent her daily new ornaments to prevail 
 upon her to take more pains with her person ; but 
 she dressed herself once or twice with these and 
 thought of them no more. Every one was surprised 
 to observe that she was plunged in a profound 
 melancholy, which nothing could dispel. She sought 
 to be alone, and was often surprised in tears, the 
 report of which much affected the queen, who, how- 
 ever, considered that she was only unhappy at being 
 so far from her relations, and that her sadness would 
 soon be at an end. 
 
 The king, wishing to contribute towards diverting 
 his illustrious prisoner, as well as the numerous 
 officers who had served under him so ably in the late 
 campaign, proposed a solemn bull-fight, and the 
 sports of canes, in some places called carousals. The 
 day fixed on for these amusements was proclaimed, 
 that such cavaliers as chose might prepare for 
 them.
 
 164 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 It is now time that I should inform you of the 
 cause of the melancholy of the beautiful Moor. She 
 was enamoured of a young nobleman of Granada, 
 who was descended, as she herself was, from Moorish 
 kings, and whose valour had been proved on several 
 occasions. He was possessed of the most amiable 
 personal qualities; in short, he was one of the most 
 accomplished cavaliers at the Court of Granada. 
 His name was Ozmin. They had been attached to 
 each other from their infancy, and their fathers, who 
 were most intimate friends, had resolved to preserve 
 their amity indissoluble by marriage. On the eve of 
 these nuptials, when Ozmin, who was at Granada, 
 was expected at Baza to celebrate them, Ferdinand 
 suddenly besieged this place with so much secrecy 
 and precaution, that there was not the slightest 
 suspicion of it at the Court of King Mahomet. 
 
 Upon hearing this news, so important to the 
 Moors, Ozmin, incited by love and glory, undertook 
 to enter Baza, where he was expected, at the head of 
 two hundred men, who for the most part consisted of 
 such of his friends and dependants as were willing to 
 follow his fortune and serve their king. They met 
 with two parties in less than three hours and defeated 
 them; but a third party, consisting of six hundred 
 men, fell upon them within half a league of the town, 
 calling to them to surrender if they expected quarter. 
 Ozmin, not alarmed at the inequality of numbers, 
 formed his men into a squadron, placing his wounded 
 in the centre; then rushing on the enemy in as 
 vigorous a manner as if he had not met with the
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 16$ 
 
 two former detachments, he kept the victory doubt- 
 ful during two hours. Already more than half on the 
 side of the Christians were disabled, and the rest so 
 disordered as to be almost ready for flight, when a 
 reinforcement of two hundred men came in very 
 apropos to their relief. This completely turned the 
 scale, and Ozmin, wounded in three several parts, 
 thought now of nothing but to save the rest of his 
 men by retreating, which he did in so good order 
 and with such fortunate stands that the Christians 
 soon thought fit to give over their pursuit of them. 
 He got back to Granada with a hundred and ten 
 men, of whom twelve only were not wounded. 
 
 This skirmish was accounted one of the most 
 valiant exploits that had been ever known, and the 
 name of Ozmin became famous among the Christian 
 troops. Having got home he was obliged to confine 
 himself to his bed. King Mahomet, his kinsman, 
 delighted by the glory that he had acquired by so 
 brilliant an action, was not content with bestowing 
 his praise upon him, but did him the honour of a 
 visit, as a proof of the high sense he entertained of 
 his valour; but what completed his joy was a letter 
 he received from his dear Daraxa, wherein she 
 desired him to pay more regard to his wounds than 
 to the honour they obtained him, that she valued 
 the lover in him more than the hero, and concluded 
 by exhorting him to take more care of himself for 
 the future. With this letter she sent him a large 
 handkerchief, embroidered after the Moorish manner, 
 of her own work, which was the more gratifying to
 
 166 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 her lover, as it was the first present she had hitherto 
 made him. 
 
 The brave Ozmin was extremely impatient to be 
 cured of his wounds, in order to make a second 
 attempt to get into Baza, for he could no longer 
 exist without the company of his future wife. The 
 governor of the place having notice of his design, 
 found means to caution him against making a second 
 attempt by force of arms, the passes being too well 
 guarded to afford any hopes of success. He advised 
 him to dress himself in a Spanish habit, and set out 
 on a particular night, which they would agree on 
 between them, so as to arrive the next morning at 
 break of day near to Baza, which he might thence 
 enter under shelter of a sally that should be made 
 expressly for that purpose. The governor sent him 
 these letters and received his answers to them by a 
 faithful servant of Ozmin's, whose name was Orviedo, 
 who, having been fourteen years a prisoner among 
 the Christians, knew their manners and spoke their 
 language so well that he might well have passed for 
 a Spaniard ; in addition to this, he was a sharp and 
 cunning fellow, and was well acquainted with the 
 roads. 
 
 As soon as Ozmin was sufficiently recovered to put 
 this project in execution he set out for Granada on 
 the night appointed, followed by Orviedo only, both 
 disguised in Spanish dresses. Though they were well 
 mounted, they were obliged to take so many out-of- 
 the-way roads to avoid the Christian parties and 
 guarded passes, that day had already appeared before
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 167 
 
 they arrived within a league of Baza. As they 
 advanced they observed clouds of dust, and soon per- 
 ceived the Christian troops so much in motion on all 
 sides that they felt well assured there would be a very 
 decisive action that day ; it was, in fact, the very day 
 on which Don Alonso carried off the beautiful Moor. 
 Our two travellers entered into a wood, where they 
 came to a stand, fearing lest they should precipitate 
 themselves into some inextricable difficulty; and 
 Orviedo, as a warrior used to find expedients suitable 
 to such conjunctures, said to his master, " My lord, if 
 you will take my advice you will remain here in con- 
 cealment while I go forward alone and on foot to 
 reconnoitre the motions of the Christians, and use 
 every art to get into the town and acquaint the 
 governor where you are staying. If I do not rejoin 
 you in two hours, you may take it for granted I have 
 got into the town, and that everything shall be pre- 
 pared to receive you." 
 
 Ozmin approved of this advice, and Orviedo, having 
 tied his horse to a tree, walked on towards Baza. His 
 master, in spite of the violent feelings which agitated 
 him, waited patiently for above two hours; after 
 which, considering that it was time to advance to- 
 wards the town, and that according to what Orviedo 
 had said he should meet with people ready to second 
 his intentions, he pushed on by the shortest road 
 until he arrived within a quarter of a league of the 
 town, when on a sudden he discovered a troop of 
 Moors riding up to him at full speed. He thought 
 that this was the sally made in his favour, but he was
 
 
 168 MATO ALEMAN. 
 
 quickly and not very agreeably undeceived. As they 
 took him fora/Christian from his Andalusian habit, 
 they fired upon him, and would undoubtedly have 
 killed him if by good luck the officer at their head, 
 t> whom he called, had not recognised his voice. If 
 this troop was surprised at the sight of him, he was 
 not less astonished when he understood that the whole 
 Christian army, commanded by Ferdinand in person, 
 had fallen upon two or three thousand men who had 
 sallied from the town ; that after a violent action, in 
 which most of the Moors had perished, the enemy, 
 pursuing the rest to the suburbs, had entered it pell- 
 mell with them, and had taken possession of it; in 
 short, that he must not flatter himself with the idea 
 of entering the town, to attempt it being certain 
 death or captivity. Ozmin, afflicted beyond measure 
 at this intelligence, and still more so at the necessity 
 of thinking of saving himself with the rest, formed a 
 body of these fugitives of about three hundred men, 
 and returned with them to Granada, more mortified 
 than the first time at the ill success of his enterprise. 
 This sad news much alarmed King Mahomet, who 
 thinking justly that the garrison of Baza must be 
 much weakened after such an action, despaired of 
 being able to relieve the place, which appeared to 
 him on the point of being taken ; and what made 
 him more uneasy was that, after losing this town, 
 there would be no other able to endure a siege but 
 Granada, the capital of his kingdom and his last 
 refuge. All the Moorish Court, after its king's 
 example, was filled with grief.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 169 
 
 As for Ozmin, his grief is not to be described ; but 
 soon after his return to Granada, having learned that 
 the Christians who had entered the suburbs of Baza with 
 the Moors had been obliged to abandon the town, he 
 felt somewhat reanimated and resolved to try his fate a 
 third time. But just as he was ready to set out, Orviedo, 
 his faithful squire, arrived from that city charged with 
 a packet from the governor for the king and a letter 
 for Ozmin, in which he was made acquainted with 
 the misfortune which had befallen his Daraxa. 
 
 The perusal of this sad intelligence acted like a 
 thunderbolt on the amorous Ozmin; at first he stood 
 for some time motionless, and when he had at length 
 recovered his senses it was only to abandon himself 
 to the most violent agonies of mind, accompanied by 
 sobbings and convulsions. When this paroxysm had 
 subsided, he was in such a condition that he had not 
 even power left for lamentation ; a fever seized him, 
 his strength failed him, and his death was hourly 
 expected ; but Love, that great and learned doctor, 
 especially in disorders occasioned by himself, suddenly 
 called him to life by inspiring a project calculated to 
 console him and easy to be put in execution. From 
 that moment he began visibly to recover; he regained 
 his strength and was soon restored to perfect health. 
 
 Baza had been surrendered. It was well known 
 that the Catholic king held his Court at Seville, and 
 that it was his intention to pass the winter there with 
 the queen. Ozmin, not doubting that Daraxa was 
 highly in favour with that princess, resolved to repair 
 to that city with Orviedo, both disguised as Anda-
 
 170 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 lusian gentlemen ; for, besides that they both spoke 
 the Castilian language so well that it would be 
 difficult to discover that they were Moors, he felt 
 persuaded that they should not attract the least 
 notice in a town which must needs be in the greatest 
 confusion. He communicated his new project to 
 Orviedo, whose natural disposition was enterprising, 
 and who never threw difficulties in the way ; and the 
 master and squire accordingly set out one night from 
 Granada in the most private manner, mounted upon 
 horses not inferior in their paces and speed to the 
 most famous coursers of the Paladins, with a consider- 
 able quantity of jewels and several purses of gold, 
 which they did not forget to providje themselves with. 
 They expected to meet with some awkward ren- 
 contre in passing through the places where the 
 Christian troops were posted, and they were not 
 deceived in their expectation. The next day, within 
 a league of Loxa, they unluckily fell in with the 
 grand provost of the army with his horsemen, who 
 were in pursuit of deserters. He examined our two 
 travellers, who though they had not indeed much 
 appearance of such as he was in search of, yet, as they 
 seemed too well mounted for persons who were plainly 
 dressed, he stopped them and inquired whence they 
 came and whither they were going. Orviedo replied 
 that they were of the Marquis of Astorgas' division, 
 and that important business called them to Seville. 
 Upon this the provost required to see their furlough, 
 and as they were not able to produce this, he deter- 
 mined to conduct them back to the post from whence
 
 THE LIFE OF G UZMA N D'A LFA RA CHE. i ^ \ 
 
 they said they came. By way of substitute for this 
 furlough, however, Ozmin drew from one of his 
 fingers a very fine diamond ring, which he presented 
 to the provost, who was so charmed with the present 
 that he not only made a thousand apologies for having 
 stopped them on their journey, but insisted upon 
 accompanying them to Loxa, to show that he under- 
 stood good manners and had a grateful heart. 
 
 They arrived at Seville without meeting with any 
 other adventure, and took up their lodgings in the 
 suburbs beyond the river Guadalquiver, which, 
 although the most remote and obscure part of the 
 town, was at that time so thronged with persons of 
 all qualities and their equipages that tliey were 
 fortunate in obtaining any accommodation at all, 
 which was not to be wondered at, it being only a 
 few days before the combat of bulls, when every one 
 was busied in the magnificent preparations that were 
 making for these diversions. Our Moors had only 
 to listen to the conversation of the servants of the 
 numerous noblemen, with whom their inn was filled, 
 as well as all the rest in the town, to be perfectly well 
 informed of whatever was going on at the Court. 
 
 By these means Ozmin learned more than he 
 wished to know. They informed him, among other 
 things, that Don Alonso styled himself the knight 
 of the beautiful Moor; that Daraxa had several other 
 lovers, but that Don Alonso had the advantage over 
 all his rivals ; and that if that lady embraced Chris- 
 tianity, as was expected, it was confidently reported 
 that he would marry her. To complete his torments,
 
 1 7 2 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 the lively description they gave of this cavalier wa 
 sufficient to agonise so nice and passionate a lover as 
 the wretched Ozmin; and had it not been for Orviedo 
 he must certainly have relapsed into those ravings 
 which had before brought him so near the grave. 
 This faithful squire recovered him by degrees by 
 representing to him that he wronged Daraxa by such 
 alarms, who loved him too well to be faithless to- 
 wards him ; that as for the rest, it was not surprising 
 that so lovely a person should have inspired many 
 with love in a Court celebrated for gallantry. Orviedo 
 completely succeeded in calming the agitation of his 
 master's mind by reminding him that the approach- 
 ing diversions would furnish a good opportunity for 
 himself to judge of the merit of his rivals, as well as 
 how Daraxa conducted herself towards them, and 
 that he could take his future measures accordingly. 
 Ozmin yielded to his reasonings, and determined to 
 observe Daraxa attentively; at the same time, to 
 show her the difference between his rivals and him- 
 self, and to signalise himself by his strength and 
 dexterity in the presence of the whole of the Catholic 
 Court, he resolved to enter the lists at the combat of 
 bulls. He enjoined Orviedo to prepare everything 
 that would be necessary for that exercise, invented 
 by the Moors, and at which Ozmin was universally 
 acknowledged to be the most expert in their nation. 
 The day of the solemnity at last arrived. Never 
 had so much magnificence been seen; everything 
 was in order early in the morning ; rich ornaments 
 and fine tapestries lined the streets through which
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 173 
 
 Ferdinand and Isabella were to pass with their Court 
 on their way to the great square appropriated to the 
 diversions. Here was assembled a complete crowd 
 of people of every description seated on benches fixed 
 round about as in an amphitheatre; and on all sides 
 were to be seen an infinite number of ladies and 
 gentlemen most superbly dressed, crowding the win- 
 dows and balconies, so that even the spectators 
 formed a gratifying sight. 
 
 About three o'clock in the afternoon the king 
 and queen took their places in their balcony; in 
 another, at the side of this, sat the beautiful Moor, 
 accompanied by many ladies and several old lords, 
 who, being no longer vigorous in these sports, found 
 themselves obliged to resign the honour of the com- 
 bats to the younger noblemen. The sports began, 
 as usual, by the combat of bulls. They turned loose 
 one at first, who, not being one of the most savage, 
 was quickly brought to the ground. 
 
 Our two Moors were already at the place; they 
 kept on the outside of the square, among many other 
 persons on horseback, to see how the Christians 
 managed these diversions. It need not be asked 
 whether Ozmin looked about impatiently for his 
 mistress, whom he soon distinguished ; but how 
 great his surprise, and what fatal presages did he 
 form, when he perceived that she was dressed in a 
 Spanish habit. Nevertheless, though he could but 
 see her from afar off, he could not avoid remarking a 
 certain sadness in her countenance; in fact, she felt 
 so little interest in these diversions, that an express
 
 174 
 
 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 desire of the queen had been necessary to oblige her 
 to dress herself suitably to the occasion, and notwith- 
 standing which she had taken but little pains to 
 adorn herself. With her elbow leaning on the balcony, 
 and her head reclining on her hand, her eye wandered 
 on all sides with indifference, or rather her mind was 
 so abstracted from the sights before her, that she saw 
 nothing at all. 
 
 Although this melancholy appearance admitted of 
 different interpretations, Ozmin, through some re- 
 mains of hope, explained it in his own favour, and 
 felt a secret pleasure on that account, of which 
 refined lovers only are susceptible. While he was 
 thus occupied in observing Daraxa with attention, 
 the shouts of the spectators at seeing the second 
 bull turned out, much stronger and more vicious 
 than the first, obliged him, at length, to withdraw 
 his attention, which had been so long fixed on her 
 balcony. He looked round the square and observed 
 that the bull gave full employment to the cavaliers 
 that opposed him ; but as he did not wish to show 
 what he could perform until after the death of this 
 second bull, it much surprised the spectators that 
 were round about them that, though Orviedo and he 
 were superbly equipped, they appeared to have no 
 intention of venturing within the square. " For what 
 possible reason," said they aloud one to another, 
 "are these two champions standing here without the 
 lists? Are they only come here to see the sports? 
 Dare they not enter ? Are they afraid of the bull's 
 horns? Do they carry a lance only to lend it to
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 175 
 
 some cavalier more worthy to do honour to himself 
 with it?" 
 
 These railleries, so usual among the common 
 people, who spare nobody on such occasions, were 
 heard by Ozmin and Orviedo with contempt; all 
 they attended to was the issue of the combat of the 
 bull which was then in the square. This high-spirited 
 animal had already disabled two of the combatants, 
 and having become more enraged by two slight 
 wounds from Don Alonso, he avenged himself on 
 his horse, which he laid dead on the spot; but just 
 at that moment, Don Rodrigo de Padilla, one of the 
 strongest of all the combatants, struck the bull with 
 such force that another blow was not necessary to 
 despatch him. 
 
 A third bull was on the point of being loosed, 
 when Ozmin, who perceived it, made sign to Orviedo 
 to walk up to the bars of the lists and desire admis- 
 sion ; and their appearance was of too much con- 
 sequence for this to be refused them. No sooner 
 had they got within the lists than every eye was 
 turned upon them; a silent admiration prevailed 
 throughout the place for a considerable time ; every 
 one seemed to take great pleasure in considering the 
 splendour of their arms, the tastefulness of their 
 equipage, and, above all, their noble appearance on 
 horseback. Ozmin, especially, attracted the observa- 
 tion of the assembly by his graceful and fashionable 
 deportment. Both their faces were covered with 
 blue crape, to show that they did not wish to be 
 known. The squire carried his master's lance in a
 
 176 MATEO ALEMAtt. 
 
 different manner from the Spaniards; and Ozmin 
 wore round his left arm the embroidered handker- 
 chief that Daraxa had given him, which was a gal- 
 lantry quite different from the custom in Spain; 
 from which it was concluded that if they were not 
 foreigners they at least wished to be thought so, 
 but that they were Moors was not even suspected. 
 Ferdinand was one of the first who had his eyes upon 
 them, and he pointed them out to the queen, who 
 was not less pleased with their appearance. All the 
 cavaliers within the barrier made way for them to 
 pass, and conceived, of the master in particular, the 
 most advantageous opinion. 
 
 Daraxa was the only one present who had taken 
 no notice of these new champions, and, most pro- 
 bably, would not have seen them at all if the old 
 Don Lewis, Marquis de Padilla, father of Don Rod- 
 rigo, after having rallied her upon her pensive and 
 melancholy humour, had not obliged her at last to 
 turn her head that way. At first sight of these two 
 cavaliers she felt a slight emotion, which she could 
 not account for; their foreign air excited her 
 curiosity so as to induce her to ask Don Lewis who 
 they were. " I know not, madam," replied he, 
 " nor is the king himself able to learn." In the 
 meantime Ozmin approached the balcony where she 
 was; she fixed her eyes upon the handkerchief that 
 he wore upon his arm, and the palpitation of her 
 heart at the moment inspired her with a thousand 
 thoughts. She could not, however, yet believe that 
 vt could be the same handkerchief she had sent her
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 17? 
 
 lover when he was wounded, nor that it was that 
 dear lover himself who now stood before her eyes ; 
 but as he stopped opposite to her balcony, and she 
 had full leisure to observe him with attention, her 
 heart at length assured her that it could be no 
 other. 
 
 She was on the point of abandoning herself to the 
 most excessive joy, when the third bull, who since he 
 had been loose had completely disordered the whole 
 square, came up and interrupted these delightful 
 moments by advancing towards Ozmin. This for- 
 midable animal was one of the Tarita breed, and a 
 more enormous beast had never been seen. His 
 frightful bellowings spread terror throughout the 
 place. Though he had no need to be irritated, they 
 did not therefore omit to throw stakes at him, accord- 
 ing to custom, which so excited his rage that Don 
 Rodrigo, Don Alonso, and the other combatants dared 
 not face him with the intrepidity that they had shown 
 towards the two others. 
 
 This terrible beast then rushed towards Ozmin, who 
 at that moment was thinking of nothing less than 
 preparing to defend himself; but being warned of his 
 danger by Orviedo, who quickly handed him his lance, 
 and animated by the sight of his mistress, he boldly 
 presented himself before the bull, and thrust his lance 
 between the neck and shoulder with so much vigour 
 that he left him nailed to the earth as it he had been 
 btruck down by a thunderbolt, with more than half 
 of the lance through his body, after which our 
 champion threw the broken remainder, which was 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 I 7 8 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 still in his hand, into the middle of the square and 
 withdrew. 
 
 So bold and surprising an action excited the admira- 
 tion of the whole Court and of all the people, the 
 place re-echoed with shouts of applause and acclama- 
 tions ; nothing was to be heard for a full quarter of 
 an hour but "Long live the Knight of the Blue Scarf, 
 the strongest and bravest man of the age." While 
 the valour of Ozmin was being thus proclaimed and 
 celebrated, the timid Daraxa, whom the first sight of 
 the bull had filled with the most dreadful apprehen- 
 sions for her lover, was still so confounded that she 
 thought she saw the animal all in fury before her, 
 but the acclamations of the spectators at length by 
 degrees brought her to her senses. She looked in- 
 stantly all over the square for her dear Moor, and 
 not perceiving him she inquired with anxiety what 
 was become of him, and he was pointed out to her 
 at a considerable distance from the lists, and followed 
 by a crowd of people, who appeared as if they would 
 never be tired of gazing upon a man who had so 
 eminently distinguished himself. 
 
 It was now night, and the square in an instant 
 shone with an infinite number of flambeaux, which 
 created a very fine illumination. The diversion of 
 the sporting spears was soon to begin. Twelve 
 squadrons were seen advancing with their trumpets, 
 fifes, and kettledrums, followed by their livery ser- 
 vants, and twelve valets laden with bundles of reeds 
 made into sporting spears. The led horses of the 
 knights had velvet caparisons, of the colour of the
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHB. 179 
 
 squadron to which they belonged, embroidered with 
 gold and silver and the arms of each chief; not only 
 gold and silver glistened in their equipages, but even 
 jewels were not spared. They entered the square in 
 the following order : 
 
 The equerries of every chief of a squadron marched 
 first, conducting the equipages; twelve horses, carry- 
 ing at their foremost saddlebows the arms of each 
 knight, and at their hinder their devices, came next, 
 followed by others whose caparisons were hung with 
 silver bells, which made a loud jingling. The foot- 
 men in livery followed the horses; they marched 
 completely round the square, and went out by a 
 different gate from that at which they entered, to 
 avoid confusion. The quadrillos, each conducted by 
 their chief, then entered in two files with so much 
 grace and skill that they charmed all the spectators ; 
 which is not surprising, since the most accomplished 
 cavaliers for these sports are undoubtedly those of 
 Seville, Cordara, and Xeres de la Frontera, where 
 even children of eight or ten years of age are seen to 
 manage horses and manoeuvre them in most excel- 
 lent style. 
 
 When the quadrillos had exhibited themselves four 
 times round the square they retreated by the same 
 gate as their equipages, but soon returned again with 
 their shields on their arms and their sporting spears 
 in their hands. They began their combats twelve 
 against twelve, that is to say, one quadrillo against 
 another. Having thus fought for about a quarter 
 of an hour, two other squadrons came upon different
 
 ifc> MATEO ALtitiAti. 
 
 sides, who, under pretence of parting them, began a 
 new combat. 
 
 In the meantime Ozmin and On iedo, having at 
 length escaped from the crowd of people that had 
 followed them, regained their inn, and having dis- 
 armed themselves they returned to the place of sports, 
 where the amorous Ozmin, pressing through the 
 throng, placed himself under the balcony of the 
 beautiful Moor. As he was now but plainly dressed 
 nobody took him for a man of any consequence, 
 notwithstanding his noble mien. Daraxa, who felt 
 assured that he would not fail to appear again before 
 her, was looking all around for him ; but though he 
 was so d:isc to her, and was gazing at her with 
 admiration, she did not perceive him. She wn* play- 
 ins; with a very fine nosegay, adorned with ribbons, 
 which Don Alonso had sent her in the morning ; and 
 this nosegay chanced to slip out of her hand and fell 
 just at Ozmin's feet, who hastened to take it up. This 
 accident caused the lady to look down, and she re- 
 cognised her dear Moor, from whom she did not 
 afterwards turn her eyes ; but, perceiving that some 
 of the people that stood around him were preparing 
 to oblige him to restore the nosegay, she called aloud 
 to them to let him keep it, adding that it was in good 
 hands. This having put an end to the dispute, the 
 happy Ozmin, having become peaceable possessor of 
 a favour for which he considered he was indebted 
 rather to chance than love, fastened it by way of 
 gallantry to his hat. 
 
 After this our two lovers began to make r/^ns
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 181 
 
 other, a silent but very common language amoncj the 
 Moors, which the Spaniards have since learned of them, 
 as well as very many other fashions, which have con- 
 tributed to establish that nation as the most gallant 
 in Europe. Ozmin and his mistress discoursed in 
 this manner unnoticed by any one, all the spectators 
 being too attentive to the sports to observe them. 
 Besides, who could imagine that the beautiful Moor, 
 who was so regardless of the addresses of the most 
 accomplished cavaliers at the Court, could have 
 found among the populace an object worthy of her 
 attention ? 
 
 These happy moments lasted only to the end of 
 the sports of the quadrillos, which were no sooner 
 ended than the last bull, which was not less ferocious 
 than that which had been killed by Ozmin, was let 
 loose, as is customary, to conclude the diversions. 
 The animal's motions when he was first loosed suffi- 
 ciently evinced that he was determined to sell his life 
 dearly. Don Rodrigo de Padilla, Don Juan de Castro, 
 Don Alonso, and many other cavaliers alighted from 
 their horses, anxious to excel each other in engaging 
 this beast on foot, who soon made two or three among 
 them well acquainted with the hardness of his horns. 
 One of them was carried off half dead, which rather 
 moderated the ardour of the rest. 
 
 In fact, none but a true knight-errant could pos- 
 sibly have been delighted in engaging with a bull 
 whose very appearance was terrific ; he foamed with 
 rage, tore up the earth with his feet, and looked at 
 each champion as if undecided on whom to vent his
 
 1 82 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 fury. Don Alonso, nevertheless, excited by his love, 
 was desirous of signalising himself under the eyes 
 of the beautiful Moor at the risk of his life. With 
 this view he advanced towards her balcony, to be 
 the more observed by her, and while he stood thus 
 in expectation of the animal's approach he perceived 
 Ozmin, who now remained alone on that spot, fear 
 having dispersed the crowd which had before sur- 
 rounded him. Daraxa had in vain endeavoured by 
 signs to prevail on him to follow them, or at least 
 to get upon a scaffolding hard by ; her tears had not 
 been able to overcome his resolution, the conqueror 
 of the bull of Tarita would have considered it dis- 
 honourable to have shown himself afraid of any 
 other. 
 
 Zuniga took particular notice of this cavalier, or 
 rather of the nosegay which he perceived in his hat, 
 and which he easily recognised by the lieht of the 
 flambeaux with which the whole square was illumi- 
 nated. He was not a little surprised at what he 
 saw ; but to be more certain that he was not mis- 
 taken he addressed himself to Ozmin, who appeared 
 to him no more than a man of the vulgar order. 
 " Friend," said he to him, " who gave you that 
 nosegay ? " 
 
 Although the Moor rightly guessed what interest 
 the cavalier who spoke to him might feel in it, he 
 answered, without the least concern, that " it came 
 to him very fairly, but that he owed it to Fortune 
 only." 
 
 " I know but too well whence you got it," replied
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 183 
 
 Don Alonso, raising his voice, " deliver it up to me 
 immediately ; it was not made for you." 
 
 " I grant nothing by compulsion," rejoined Ozmin, 
 as coolly as before. 
 
 " Once more," said Zuniga, " give me that nose- 
 gay, or I shall let you know, my fine fellow, whom 
 you have to deal with." 
 
 " I regret much," said Ozmin, somewhat agitated, 
 " that we are in the king's presence ; were we any- 
 where else, I should not content myself with refusing 
 you my nosegay, but should force from you that 
 knot of ribbon which I perceive at your bosom." 
 
 This was the very same knot which the beautiful 
 Moor had bestowed on Don Alonso when she 
 accepted him as her champion, and which Ozmin, 
 who had formerly given it to Daraxa, knew but too 
 well ; perceiving therefore that the cavalier who 
 spoke to him was the most formidable of his rivals, 
 he could scarcely restrain his rage at this discovery. 
 
 Don Alonso, still more violent than he, lost all 
 patience at seeing himself threatened by a man 
 whom he considered so much beneath him ; calling 
 him therefore an insolent fellow, and thrusting 
 among the ribbons of his nosegay a sharp-pointed 
 stick, such as the champions make use of to irritate 
 the bulls, he intended to have carried off the nosegay 
 and hat together, but the active and vigorous Ozmin 
 forced the stick from his hand as from a child's. 
 
 Who can express the rage of the proud Zuniga 
 at having received such an affront under the eyes of 
 his mistress and in the king's presence! He was
 
 184 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 no longer master of himself; without any regard to 
 the presence of their Majesties, he drew his sword; 
 but at the very instant that he was on the point of 
 rushing like a lion on his enemy, who on his side 
 was prepared to receive him without fear, the bull 
 came suddenly upon them and obliged them to 
 separate. This animal attacked Don Alonso and 
 threw him by one toss four or five paces off, terribly 
 wounded in the thigh, which excited the greatest 
 alarm on all sides. To complete the misfortune the 
 beast, more enraged than ever, would not quit his 
 victim, but was preparing to return to the charge; 
 but Ozmin, from a generous feeling worthy of the 
 warriors of those times, did not hesitate to fly to the 
 assistance of his rival, notwithstanding what had just 
 passed between them. With the very stick that he 
 had wrenched from Don Alonso he goaded the bull 
 so severely that he turned all his fury against him, 
 and bent his head with the intention of goring him 
 with his horns. The Moor took advantage of the 
 moment, and hitting him a back stroke on the neck 
 with his sword, the temper of which he could rely 
 on, such was the amazing force of the blow that the 
 animal fell down dead upon the spot, to the great 
 astonishment of all the spectators. 
 
 What had been performed by the Knight of the 
 Blue Scarf passed for a trifling exploit compared 
 with this, which the disadvantage of fighting on foot 
 rendered the more glorious, and the acclamations 
 lasted longer than before. Ozmin evaded by a quick 
 retreat the curiosity of such as wished to know who
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN UALFARACHE. 183 
 
 he was. The king in vain desired to see him ; he 
 was told that he had just disappeared, and that 
 nobody knew anything respecting him. 
 
 Let us now return to Daraxa.* She had observed 
 the quarrel of the two rivals, and had been on the 
 point of preventing any fatal consequences by 
 explaining the whole affair to their Majesties, though 
 at the risk of the loss of her lover's liberty, but the 
 terror with which she was seized on seeing the furious 
 bull come upon them so suddenly had completely 
 deprived her of her senses. The acclamations, how- 
 ever, which were renewed around her restored her by 
 degrees. Thus this tender lover passed successively 
 from joy to grief, and from grief to joy; and thus it 
 is that love ever inflicts some troubles even amid the 
 transports that it bestows. 
 
 As the adventure respecting the nosegay had com- 
 menced just under the place where the queen was 
 seated, it had not escaped her notice, and, curious to 
 know all the circumstances of it, she took an oppor- 
 tunity the very same evening to request a detail of 
 them from the beautiful Moor and Donna Elvira de 
 Padilla, who had been together during the solemnity. 
 Daraxa, thinking it more prudent to allow Elvira to 
 speak, however much better she herself might have 
 afforded the explanation, said that she had paid but 
 little attention to what had passed. Donna Elvira 
 then was obliged to relate what she had heard and 
 seen, but her recital rather heightened than satisfied 
 the queen's curiosity; no sooner, therefore, was 
 Don Alonso sufficiently recovered of his wound to
 
 1 86 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 receive visitors, than she requested the old Marqmi 
 d'Astorgas to call upon him, in the hope of obtain- 
 ing from him the information she desired. The 
 marquis, who was a pleasant humorous man, was 
 ushered into Don Alonso's chamber, and thus ac- 
 quitted himself of his commission. 
 
 " Well, Signor Knight without fear," said he to 
 Zuniga, " what think you now of these vile horned 
 animals, who have so little respect for such fine 
 sparks as you ? You will allow that it is better to 
 have nothing to do with them." 
 
 " You could have informed me this from experi- 
 ence long since," replied Don Alonso, smiling. 
 
 " But," continued the marquis with a serious air, 
 " will you not inform me who was the valiant man 
 that advanced so apropos to your rescue ? It is most 
 surprising that amongst all the heroes of our Court 
 there was not one sufficiently your friend to venture 
 to dispute that honour with him, and yet it is 
 asserted that you were on the point of fighting with 
 this noble cavalier." 
 
 " I know better than anybody my obligations to 
 him," answered Zuniga, " and the little cause I had 
 given him to deliver me from so great a danger. 
 All that I regret," added he, " is that I do not know 
 him ; I am so charmed with his bravery, and his 
 noble behaviour towards me, that I shall never be 
 satisfied until I have found some means of ascertain- 
 ing who he is, and of convincing him of my 
 gratitude." 
 
 " If this be all that you have to tell me," said the
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 187 
 
 marquis, " the queen will not gain much information 
 by having sent me hither. She is not ignorant of the 
 quarrel that you had with the stranger, the beautiful 
 Moor and Donna Elvira having explained it to her; 
 she thought that you would be able to satisfy her 
 more fully on the subject; and the whole Court, as 
 well as the queen, are astonished that two cavaliers, 
 after having performed two such glorious actions, 
 should take as much pains to conceal themselves as 
 others generally take to make themselves known. 
 Ferdinand himself is anxious that they should come 
 forward and receive the prizes that are destined for 
 them, and especially for the last, who, according to all 
 appearance, was not a man of any distinguished rank." 
 
 " Judging from his dress," cried Don Alonso, " I 
 was at first of the same opinion, but I feel convinced 
 of my mistake. Whoever he be, I will venture to 
 say that he is a great man, and I can say no more 
 on the subject." 
 
 The Marquis d'Astorgas, finding that he could gain 
 no further information from Zuniga, returned to the 
 queen. 
 
 It was believed at Court that all this was not with- 
 out mystery, and that Don Alonso, in return for the 
 generosity that he had experienced, wou 1 ^ not betray 
 a cavalier who wished to be incognito. As for 
 Daraxa, nobody suspected that she was at all privy to 
 the matter; and the concern that she had evinced 
 during the sports was attributed solely to the mis- 
 fortune of Don Alonso. It was very reasonably 
 thought that she was kind enough to feel interested
 
 188 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 for a young nobleman, who was her champion as 
 well as her adorer. She enjoyed in private the un- 
 divided pleasure of knowing what had happened, but 
 this happiness was accompanied by the intrusion of 
 many anxious thoughts. She had distinctly heard 
 what Ozmin had said to his rival about the knot of 
 ribbon, and she so well knew the delicate feelings of 
 the Moors on such occasions that she reproached her- 
 self with imprudence for having given to Zuniga any- 
 thing that had been presented to her by so dear a 
 hand. She could find no excuse for having com- 
 mitted this fault, although her heart had no partici- 
 pation in it. She could not write to Ozmin, for she 
 knew not where he was to be found ; she could only 
 hope that her lover would find some means or other 
 of communicating with her. Several days passed in 
 this sweet yet painful expectation ; sometimes she 
 reflected with pleasure that her future husband was 
 in the same city as herself, and at other times was 
 distractedly impatient to see him. Time, however, 
 brings everything about. 
 
 You have in all probability walked in the gardens 
 of the palace of Seville, and know which is called the 
 upper and which the lower garden; they are literally 
 two gardens, one above the other. The upper one, 
 which is supported upon arches, is upon a level with 
 the first floor of the palace, and is a complete flower 
 garden ; the lower garden, which is the larger of the 
 two, was only open to the men belonging to the 
 Court, who were permitted to walk there at certain 
 hours. The upper garden was entirely reserved for
 
 THE LIFE OF GVZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 189 
 
 the ladies, who frequently walked there to show them- 
 selves to the gentlemen, with whom they occasionally 
 conversed over the balustrade which runs about elbow 
 high quite round the garden ; but these conversations 
 were only permitted when the king and queen were 
 absent, in their presence they were obliged to content 
 themselves with signs. Any gentleman was per- 
 mitted, however, to sing, even in the presence of their 
 Majesties, provided he possessed a fine voice. There 
 were also occasionally instrumental concerts, the 
 execution of which was enchanting. 
 
 One evening the beautiful Moor was walking in 
 this garden with her friend Donna Elvira. They 
 had scarcely taken two turns before they heard a 
 man singing in so agreeable a strain that they deter- 
 mined to listen. They concealed themselves behind 
 some orange-trees that grew along the balustrade, 
 directly opposite to the singer, whom they could 
 observe without being seen by him. Elvira was much 
 struck by his handsome appearance, and Daraxa re- 
 cognised her Ozmin. Seated on a bank of turf, with 
 his head reclining negligently against a tree, he sang 
 the following verses in the Castilian language : 
 
 " Wilt thou, stern Jealousy ! at once destroy 
 My life and love with unrelenting doom ? 
 Why, cruel Fate, this last sad blow employ 
 To sink me sorrowing to an early tomb ? 
 Absence from her I love hath been the source 
 Of daily anxious thought, severe to bear ; 
 But now Inconstancy, the Lover's curse, 
 Clouds all my hope and drives me to despair. *' 
 
 Among other excellences our illustrious Moor was
 
 190 MATED ALEMAN. 
 
 a most accomplished singer; instead of priding him- 
 self, however, upon this quality, he rather strove to 
 conceal it. Many of the cavaliers at the Court of 
 Granada speak good Spanish, and even sing in 
 that language; there were even many Moors who 
 composed verses in Castilian, which were much 
 admired by the Spanish poets. Those which Ozmin 
 had just been singing were composed by a Moorish 
 author, and set to music by one of the same nation. 
 Daraxa doubted not that it alluded to herself, and, 
 being unwilling to lose the opportunity of making a 
 reply, she tore a leaf out of her pocket-book, upon 
 which she wrote the following words : 
 
 " No more uneasiness about the knot of ribbon, the 
 gift was made without the participation of the heart. 
 Reassured when Daraxa loves, she loves but once in her 
 lifetime; if you wish to know more, you will find 
 Laida at the palace gate at nine to-morrow morning." 
 
 Having folded this leaf up carefully she threw it 
 into the lower garden, through the boughs of the 
 orange-trees, which did not conceal her so perfectly 
 as to prevent Ozmin from perceiving her. He ob- 
 served that she had let something fall, which she had 
 done so cautiously that her friend had not in the least 
 remarked it, who was, in fact, so much taken up with 
 admiring and listening to the singer that she thought 
 of nothing else. No sooner had he finished his song 
 than she called to him to begin again for ladies' sakes. 
 This request he would willingly have complied with, 
 but the king had just returned from hunting, which 
 obliged Daraxa and her friend to return to the palace,
 
 THE LIFE OP GU2M-AN D'ALFARACHE. 191 
 
 to the great regret of the latter, who did not feel the 
 least desire to quit the spot. 
 
 No sooner had the ladies retired than Ozmin, 
 curious to know what his dear Daraxa had thrown 
 towards him, soon found the folded leaf under the 
 spot where stiL' had stood to listen to his singing, 
 which he took up and quitted the garden hastily, 
 congratulating himself on his good fortune and con- 
 sidering how often he should be there in future. 
 
 Daraxa's billet completely restored him to life, and 
 he did not fail to despatch Orviedo the next morning 
 to the palace gate, where he met Laida, who was 
 covered with a thick black veil to prevent her being 
 known. As soon as she perceived Orviedo, she 
 addressed him, gave him a letter from her mistress, 
 and received one from Ozmin in return. Before 
 they separated they had together a conversation long 
 enough to enable them to give a most satisfactory 
 account to both the lovers. Ozmin's letter was full 
 of complaints, and Daraxa's of protestations of fidelity 
 and love. They were, however, soon appeased. There 
 is certainly a voluptuous pleasure in the quarrels of 
 lovers j but they ought not to last long, neither should 
 they too frequently occur, lest they produce ill effects. 
 
 What consolation for our lovers to have found 
 means to establish an intercourse by letter, and even 
 to see each other occasionally ! Daraxa would gladly 
 have walked alone in the palace gardens, that she 
 might have conversed more freely with Ozmin, but 
 it was too great a risk. They must both have been 
 inevitably lost if any person had discovered them.
 
 I 9 j MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 Besides which, the sight of Ozmin had made so much 
 impression nn Elvira that she never left her friend, 
 and talked 01" nothing but the cavalier who had sung 
 so finely. She herself proposed to her fri.nd the very 
 next day to walk in the garden, in the hope of meeting 
 him there, and the complaisant Daraxa, who equally 
 desired it, willingly consented to accompany her. 
 
 They left the palace together, and upon looking 
 into the lower garden they perceived that the cavalier 
 had just arrived there, and was seated in the same 
 place as the day preceding. Donna Elvira, who was 
 one of the most lovely women at Court, was not 
 content with showing herself, but obliged her friend 
 to do the same. Ozmin pretended to be surprised to 
 see them and was about to retire, but Elvira com- 
 menced a conversation with him to detain him ; he 
 answered, and they all three at length insensibly 
 engaged in a sprightly discourse, but still only such 
 as a stranger could hold with two unknown ladies. 
 
 Ozmin summoned up all his wit on the occasion, 
 and Elvira's shone no less. Animated by the emotions 
 of a rising passion she said a thousand smart things 
 which she could not otherwise have thought of, 
 although naturally full of wit. Daraxa was content 
 to listen and say nothing. In short, each of them 
 was well pleased, and time glided away with the 
 rapidity usual on such agreeable occasions. If Ozmin 
 did not find it tedious, the ladies on their side made 
 it sufficiently evident that they were not tired of his 
 company, for the king had already returned to the 
 palace, and they had not once thought of retiring.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 193 
 
 The gardener put Ozmin in mind that it was time to 
 leave the garden ; but Elvira, before they separated, 
 fixed, for another interview, the first day that the king 
 went bunting acjain. 
 
 After this conversation Elvira was so charmed with 
 Ozmin that, when they had parted, she could not re- 
 frain from telling Daraxa that she had never seen so 
 accomplished a cavalier. Any other but the beau- 
 tiful Moor would have been alarmed by so frank a 
 confession, but she relied so firmly on her lover's 
 fidelity that she only smiled at it, while her friend 
 thought her the most insensible of her sex, and made 
 .10 mystery of the passion she entertained for the 
 unknown gentleman, of whom she was constantly 
 speaking in the most lively terms. " Yes," she would 
 say to Daraxa, " I am touched by the merits of this 
 cavalier ; but I should be glad to know who be is, and 
 why such a man should never show himself at Court. 
 I conjure you, my dear Daraxa, to ask him this when 
 we next see him." Ozmin was soon informed of all 
 this by his mistress, who warned him of the delicate 
 situation in which he stood ; that he ought not to 
 abuse the credulous passion of Elvira, nor could he, she 
 trusted, be capable of betraying his faithful Daraxa ; 
 that in love the slightest appearances cause anxiety, 
 and that when one person is in possession of the heart 
 she ought to be the sole object of all its desires. 
 
 Ozmin really thought that his mistress wrote thus 
 to amuse herself, and therefore answered her in a jest- 
 ing manner. He even went further, for at the next 
 interview he paid particular court to Elvira, who
 
 194 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 received his attentions in the most sensible manner, 
 and returned them with usury. Daraxa, agreeably 
 to her friend's request, then interrogated him about 
 his country and birth and the present condition of 
 his fortune. He replied without hesitation that he 
 was a gentleman of Arragon, and that his name was 
 Don Jayme Vivez ; that, having been taken by the 
 Moors and set at liberty by the capitulation of Baza, 
 he was waiting in expectation of remittances from 
 his family to enable him to put himself into a con- 
 dition to appear at Court. The story was simple and 
 plausible, and sufficiently satisfactory to Donna Elvira, 
 who, having inquired if there was a family in Arragon 
 of the name of Vivez, learned with extreme satisfaction 
 that it was one of the most illustrious in the kingdom. 
 
 This intrigue became by degrees very distressing to 
 our two lovers. Elvira was really in love, and became 
 more troublesome to them in proportion as her love 
 increased. Ozmin no sooner perceived that she was 
 in earnest than he completely altered his behaviour 
 towards her, and only addressed her in a civil and 
 polite manner; but Elvira's passion increased without 
 his assistance. Daraxa, well satisfied with Ozmin's 
 conduct, pitied her friend sincerely and would gladly 
 have undeceived her; but she feared that such be- 
 haviour on her part would have excited Elvira's 
 jealousy, the effects of which were too much to be 
 feared in the present condition of her fortune. 
 
 In the meantime spring came on and gave quite 
 another face to the afikirs at Court. Ferdinand re- 
 solved to open the campaign by the siege of Granada j
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 195 
 
 and the Moors, who had foreseen that this would be 
 the case, were preparing to do their best in defence of 
 so important a place. They had in the city a garrison 
 of fifteen thousand men, of the best troops of King 
 Mahomet. The Catholic king was well aware of this, 
 and therefore had taken the precaution to solicit, by his 
 ministers, as well as through the interposition of the 
 Pope, the assistance of the other Christian princes to 
 execute his design of chasing all the Infidels out of Spain. 
 Many of these princes had promised succours, and as 
 soon as he was well assured that their troops were ad- 
 vancing to join him, he set forward himself at the head 
 of his army, with the intention of surprising the Moors 
 and to give them no further time to fortify themselves. 
 As the queen foresaw that so precarious a siege 
 would last for a considerable time, she resolved to 
 accompany the king and pass the campaign with 
 him. This report being spread, our two lovers were 
 much rejoiced at it, hoping that in the confusion of 
 the army they might find an opportunity, with the 
 assistance of Orviedo, to get into Granada. But 
 their ill luck ordained it otherwise, for the queen, the 
 evening prior to her departure, told Daraxa that she 
 was not to accompany her in this journey. "To 
 have less trouble," added that princess, " I shall only 
 take with me those women whose services I shall 
 absolutely require. It is my intention to leave my 
 maids of honour at Seville, with their relations, or 
 under the care of persons of distinction, to whom I 
 shall recommend them. As for you, my dear Daraxa, 
 you will be entrusted to Don Lewis de Padilla. I
 
 196 MATEO ALBMAN. 
 
 have made choice of this nobleman because he is tht 
 father of your friend Elvira; besides which, I think 
 you will find yourself more agreeably situated in his 
 family than elsewhere." 
 
 The despair of Ozmin knew no bounds when his 
 mistress sent him word of this order of the queen. 
 He saw that all his plans were frustrated, and his 
 mind, fluctuating amidst a variety of thoughts and 
 undetermined suggestions, inspired alternately by 
 love and glory, was in an inconceivable perplexity. 
 But he received so many tender and moving letters 
 from Daraxa that she at length succeeded in fixing 
 his irresolute thoughts upon herself alone. The fol- 
 lowing is one of these letters, which I have selected 
 from among them : 
 
 " Orviedo has informed me how excessively you 
 lament your absence from Granada. Depart, Ozmin, 
 depart ; your heart is more devoted to glory than to 
 love. Let me not detain you here any longer. I 
 well know that your departure will cost me my life ; 
 but the severest pangs that I shall suffer will be in 
 dying for an ungrateful man, who abandons me at 
 the very time that I stand most in need of his assist- 
 ance. I thought myself dearer to you than all the 
 world. How greatly was I mistaken! Of whom 
 am I to complain? Of myself, for having believed 
 you, or of you for having thus beguiled me ? If my 
 love for you does not make me blind, your life is 
 mine. You have told me so a hundred times, nay, 
 you have sworn it. Why then, without my consent, 
 do you dispose of what is mine? How can you
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 197 
 
 think of applying it to any other use than that of 
 serving me? Ah ! Ozmin, you know but little how 
 to love ! Hew far are you behind me in love's race ! 
 Glory may be everywhere acquired, and many might 
 be found, if sought for, who would willingly resign 
 all pretensions to glory, and share the distresses of an 
 unfortunate woman, in preference to serving all the 
 monarchs upon earth." 
 
 Anxious as Ozmin was to render himself service- 
 able to his country, he was unable to resist Daraxa's 
 persuasive remonstrances, and the lover on this 
 occasion gained the victory over the hero in him. 
 The Court set forward for the army, and the beau- 
 tiful Moor was received by the Marquis de Padilla 
 with as much honour as if she had been the qt'een 
 herself. Elvira, who loved her tenderly, and whom 
 an interest still stronger than friendship assisted to 
 rejoice that they should henceforth be inseparable 
 companions, was delighted with this change. Daraxa 
 would also have been tolerably satisfied with her 
 situation if she had had a little more liberty in the 
 family, but, on the contrary, she was more confined 
 than she had been at Court. She was completely a 
 prisoner. In the first place, neither she nor Elvira 
 dared venture to leave the house under any pretence 
 whatever. The only indulgence that was extended 
 to them was to walk of an evening in the garden at 
 a regulated hour; and, as if this walk was not a 
 recreation sufficiently restricted for them, the old 
 marquis generally took the trouble of accompanying 
 them; or, if he sometimes had not sufficient time to
 
 198 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 allow of his harassing them with his vexatious com- 
 pany, Don Rodrigo, his son, took charge of them, 
 and they gained nothing by the change. In addition 
 to all this the ladies' apartments had no look-out but 
 towards the garden, without any window towards 
 the street. They saw nobody from without doors, 
 neither men nor women ; and of the people in the 
 house very few were permitted to speak to them. 
 
 All these unpleasantries united to embitter the 
 extreme civilities paid her by Don Lewis. This old 
 courtier professed that he only treated her in this 
 manner from the very great consideration and respect 
 he entertained for her. Daraxa was not, however, 
 the dupe of these fine protestations; but, losing all 
 hope of receiving any communication from her lover, 
 she would have completely given herself up to 
 chagrin, had not Donna Elvira also been concerned 
 in it, who, being scarcely able to live any longer 
 without her dear Don Jayme, told Daraxa that she 
 much wished to write to that cavalier. 
 
 " Ah ! " answered Daraxa, " and how do you 
 think of conveying the letter to him ? " 
 
 " One of my women," replied Elvira, " has pre- 
 vailed on a man, who does not belong to the family, 
 and who is well acquainted with Vivez, to undertake 
 to deliver the letter into his own hands." 
 
 Daraxa approved of her resolution, and they sat 
 down to compose a letter together. The daughter 
 of Don Lewis wrote it, and Daraxa added these 
 words in her own language : " The chief happiness 
 of lovers consists in seeing each other, their chief
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 199 
 
 misery in being separated. I languish in expectation 
 of hearing from you. I die if I do not receive 
 some news from you shortly." 
 
 Elvira asked the meaning of these words, and 
 Daraxa answered, " I have sent word to Don Jayme 
 that his mistress can no longer endure his absence, 
 and must fall a prey to ennui if she do not find 
 relief where she expects it." The most attached 
 friends generally behave in this manner towards each 
 other when they are rivals in love. 
 
 The letter was faithfully delivered to Ozmin, who 
 was the more rejoiced at its receipt, as he had up to 
 that moment employed in vain all Orviedo's ingenuity 
 to discover what was going on at Don Lewis's ; and 
 as one happy event never occurs, according to the 
 proverb, without another treading on its heels, it 
 happened two days after this that Orviedo appeared 
 before him dressed like a labourer. Ozmin did not 
 recognise him at first, but shortly afterwards asked 
 him the reason for this disguise. 
 
 " I will tell you," replied Orviedo. " I equipped 
 myself in this manner for the purpose of perambu- 
 lating the Marquis de Padilla's house in the hope 
 of meeting one of Daraxa's Moorish women, or 
 of scraping acquaintance with some one of Don 
 Lewis's servants. I chanced to stop before a par- 
 ticular part of the garden, where several workmen 
 were engaged in repairing the wall. The master- 
 mason, seeing me very attentive to their work, took 
 me for one of his own trade. * My good friend,' 
 said he to me, 4 1 am in want of labourers to
 
 200 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 finish this j i>, are you inclined to lend a hand?' 
 I replL-d tha^ I was employed elsewhere, but that I 
 had a comrade who was out of work, and would be 
 glad to make himself useful to him. ( Send him to 
 me,' said the master-mason, ' if he only knows how 
 to wheel a barrow he will be of service, and I will pay 
 him well.' Upon this I left him,' added Orviedo, 
 smiling, ' to propose this fine job to you, which love 
 presents to make you pass your time more agreeably." 
 
 Ridiculous as such an undertaking appeared to 
 Ozmin, he was too much enamoured of Daraxa to 
 reject this opportunity of seeing her. He accepted 
 the employment, dressed himself like a workman, 
 and followed Orviedo, who said to the master-mason, 
 " Sefior Maestro de obra, this is my comrade Am- 
 brosio, an unfortunate soldier, who, after having been 
 four years a prisoner among the Moors, is reduced to 
 labour for his subsistence." The bargain was soon 
 struck, and Ambrosio hired to begin his work the 
 next morning. Our new workman, to show that he 
 had his work at heart, was up betimes to attend his 
 new master, who led him into the garden, and putting 
 the wheelbarrow into his hands, told him what he 
 was to do. Ambrosio took to his work as readily as 
 if he had been all his lifetime in the trade, at which 
 his master was so much satisfied that he praised him 
 exceedingly, assuring him that he would in time 
 make an excellent workman. 
 
 Nobody yet appeared stirring in the house, but 
 about ten o'clock our workman observed some of the 
 Moorish women at the windows of Daraxa's apart-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 201 
 
 ment, and shortly after Daraxa herself with Donna 
 Elvira. He now began to felicitate himself upon his 
 contrivance, and felt delighted with the anticipation 
 of the surprise the ladies would be in when they 
 should be walking in the garden and recognise him 
 in this laughable disguise. He even flattered himself 
 that in this habit he might occasionally speak to them 
 without danger. He knew not what sort of man 
 Don Lewis was. 
 
 Independent of Daraxa's having been recommended 
 to his care by the queen in so particular a manner, that 
 he would have considered himself unworthy of such 
 confidence did he not watch night and day over her 
 actions, he well knew that she had many lovers, and 
 did not believe Daraxa to be more insensible than 
 others, the Moorish women of those days not being 
 considered enemies to love, but was more afraid of 
 enterprises from without than of inward insensibility, 
 of amorous cavaliers than of the object beloved. 
 He feared Don Alonso more than any, whom he 
 regarded as a favoured lover. And his fear had by 
 no means subsided, although well informed that this 
 young lord was not yet sufficiently recovered to leave 
 his house, and, consequently, unable to contrive any 
 means of intercourse with the beautiful Moor. A 
 commerce by billet-doux seemed to him to be no less 
 dangerous* than the nearest conversation. To relieve 
 his mind entirely from such apprehensions he pressed 
 the master-mason incessantly to make an end of his 
 work, fearing that some one of the workmen might 
 be bold enough to undertake some amorous commis-
 
 2 <M MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 sion. This idea kept him constantly uneasy and 
 obliged him to observe all the labourers. 
 
 Seeing them at work at the close of this day he 
 took particular notice of Ambrosio, whom he had not 
 before observed, and who appeared to him a very 
 steady-looking young fellow. This examination did 
 not much please the young Moor, who turned pale 
 from fear of being discovered. He had, however, 
 nothing to apprehend, for, suspicious and mistrustful 
 as the old man was, he could distinguish nothing but 
 the labourer in Ambrosio; and this false mason left 
 his work at the regular time with the others, having 
 had no other gratification during the whole of the 
 day than that of seeing his mistress pass him with 
 Don Rodrigo, who was his rival. How much patience 
 is necessary in love, although the most violent of all 
 passions! Ozmin knew this already but too well. 
 He was not therefore dispirited, but thought himself 
 amply rewarded for his trouble in having seen his 
 beloved. If this can satisfy a Spaniard, why should 
 it not suffice to make a Moor feel happy ? 
 
 Fortune was much more favourable towards him 
 the following day. He returned to his labour with 
 fresh courage. The wheelbarrow was in perpetual 
 motion, and as in carrying the stones along he was 
 obliged to pass frequently under the windows of 
 Daraxa's apartment, he began to sing a pastoral song 
 in the Moorish language. The masons, consider- 
 ing him a lively fellow, who had been a long time 
 a prisoner among the Infidels, were not surprised at 
 hearing him sing one of their songs. But Laida
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 203 
 
 heard him from her chamber, and, curious to know 
 what man it could be who was singing one of the 
 songs of her country so well, went down into the 
 garden and recognised Ozmin. 
 
 She pretended to be gathering flowers for her 
 mistress, which she did almost every day, and the 
 Moor, perceiving that she leered upon him, as he 
 passed by her next time with his wheelbarrow, let 
 fall a letter just before her eyes, which he had brought 
 with him concealed in his bosom, without stopping 
 or even looking at Laida, who instantly snatched it 
 up and carried it to her mistress. 
 
 You will easily conceive the joy and surprise of 
 Daraxa. She was still in bed. She rose imme- 
 diately and dressed herself quickly to enjoy from her 
 window the pleasure of again beholding a lover so 
 dear to her. She was much affected to see that he 
 felt no shame in subjecting himself to so wretched a 
 condition to show his extreme love for her, and yet 
 there was something in this fantastical equipage which 
 delighted her extremely. She wrote an answer to his 
 letter, which she entrusted to Laida, who took the 
 first opportunity to deliver it, unperceived by any 
 one. From so propitious a commencement to his 
 adventure, Signer Ambrosio began to relish his trade 
 of a mason. Daraxa was almost all day at the window 
 to see him pass and repass, so that they had full 
 opportunity to converse by signs, which had a thou- 
 sand charms for two lovers of so refined a character. 
 
 Thus they went on for several days. Don Lewis 
 never failed to be among the workmen every evening,
 
 204 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 that his presence might excite them to despatch their 
 work, and he always remarked that Ambrosio was 
 the most indefatigable among them. He took a par- 
 ticular fancy for him on this account, and, thinking 
 that he would make a good servant, he inquired of 
 *he master-mason where he had procured so good a 
 labourer. " One of the artisans of the city brought 
 him to me," answered he, " and I have every reason 
 to be well satisfied with him." With so good a re- 
 commendation the marquis took Ambrosio aside, to 
 whom he had never yet spoken, and asked him of 
 what country he was. Our labourer made answer, in 
 the most clownish manner he could possibly affect, that 
 he was born at Arragon, and went on fully confirming 
 what Orviedo had before related to the master-mason. 
 Don Lewis found his story very plausible, and it even 
 seemed to him that he had the accent of that country. 
 " Who was your master at Granada," continued he, 
 "and in what were you particularly employed?" 
 
 " My lord," said Ambrosio, " I was servant to a 
 great merchant who had a very fine garden, and I had 
 the care of his flowers." 
 
 "You know, then, how to cultivate a flower garden!" 
 cried the marquis. " I am delighted, for I am just in 
 want of a man to pay attention to mine, which I take 
 great pride in. I have been wishing for one for these 
 three months past, as my present gardener will not 
 undertake the entire care of it ; if therefore you are 
 willing to serve me I will pay you good wages,and shall 
 not be disregardful of your future fortune, provided you 
 continue faithful and perform your duty punctually."
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 205 
 
 At these words our pretended labourer expressed 
 more by his outward behaviour than by words that 
 he was most grateful for Don Lewis's kindness, which 
 he would endeavour to deserve by his future exertions. 
 The agreement was soon made ; Don Lewis desired 
 him to lay by his apron, take leave of his present 
 master, and to wait upon him the next day, when 
 he should be provided with everything necessary for 
 the cultivation of his flower garden. 
 
 Ozmin was now no longer therefore a mason, but 
 a gardener to the Marquis de Padilla, who, on his 
 arrival next day, began by- prescribing to him the line 
 of conduct which he was to observe if he hoped to 
 be retained for any length of time in his family. He 
 desired him to entertain the greatest respect for the 
 ladies, a-id to avoid any sort of intercourse with the 
 female servants. He dwelt particularly on this point 
 because, in spite of his affected clownish looks, he 
 thought him of a handsome person. 
 
 After this lecture his patron, who had sufficiently 
 discovered to Ambrosio that he was a true Spaniard 
 in his opinion of the fair sex, set his new gardener to 
 work in his own presence, to judge of his ability, for 
 he knew enough of the art to judge of his perform- 
 ance. Fortunately for Ozmin he had a taste for 
 flowers, and was as skilful in their culture as many a 
 florist by profession. Don Lewis was soon convinced 
 that he had gained an acquisition, upon which he 
 prided himself, and he was so full of it that he could 
 not refrain from mentioning it at dinner. He said 
 that he had been lucky enough to meet with a gar
 
 2o6 MATEO ALEM.'.N. 
 
 dener to cultivate his flowers, and he hoped that for 
 the future his flower garden would be well attended 
 to. " Among my workmen," added he, " I remarked 
 a young fellow who was employed at the wheel- 
 barrow, whom I asked a few questions, and have 
 discovered that he is a complete adept in the culture 
 of flowers." 
 
 This discourse did not escape Daraxa, who doubted 
 not that the new gardener was Ozmin, and hoped that 
 she should by this means have more frequent oppor- 
 tunities of speaking and writing to him. After dinner 
 she led Elvira into her apartment, where they both 
 stood at the window that looked towards the garden. 
 Ambrosio was at this time in the middle of the par- 
 terre opposite to them. The beautiful Moor, having 
 recognised him, and wishing to amuse herself, pointed 
 him out to her friend. " Look at the gardener of 
 whose skill your father has been boasting to us just 
 now, observe him attentively; does not your heart 
 whisper something in his favour? do you not feel 
 some unusual emotions ? " 
 
 Elvira laughed aloud at these words, which she 
 thought were meant only in joke ; but after having 
 looked for sometime she began to suspect the truth. 
 But the fear of being mistaken, and then laughed at, 
 prevented' her from saying what she thought, till 
 Daraxa, pressing her to answer and calling her 
 insensible, confirmed her suspicions. She then broke 
 forth into an excess of joy and passionate expressions 
 which but too well betrayed her excessive love foi 
 Don Jayme'. The prudent Moor rejoiced exceed-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 20? 
 
 ingly that she had no longer concealed the metamor- 
 phosis of that cavalier. " My dear Elvira," said she, 
 it is well that I have been the first to make this 
 discovery. Alas! if Don Jay me' had presented him- 
 self before you in the presence of Don Lewis or Don 
 Rodrigo, your surprise would have ruined us; but as 
 you are now prepared to see him, I trust you will so 
 restrain your feelings as not to create any suspicions." 
 Elvira promised that she would do her best, after 
 which the two ladies amused themselves by discours- 
 ing of the pretended Ambrosio. 
 
 Don Lewis's daughter could not conceive how he 
 had managed to deceive her father, the most mis- 
 trustful of men, and felt well pleased that Don Jayme 
 had subjected himself to so mean an employment for 
 her sake. Had she known as much as her friend 
 upon that score her grateful sentiments would 
 doubtless have abated. 
 
 From this time there was nothing but pleasures 
 and intrigues from morning till night between the 
 two ladies and the happy gardener. Claricia and 
 Laida, their confidants, were expert girls, who served 
 them with as much address as zeal. Ambrosio, on 
 his side, acquitted himself so skilfully towards both his 
 mistresses that they were both well satisfied. Never 
 was any affair better conducted. Elvira disclosed all 
 the feelings of her heart to her friend, and Daraxa 
 was prudent enough not to communicate what she 
 felt in return. These rivals had each their particular 
 hiding-place in the garden; love letters flew to and 
 fro ; there was a perfect post of gallantry established j
 
 ao8 MATEO ALEM&N. 
 
 and if their communication had gone no further, 
 ought they not to have been well satisfied with so 
 agreeable a life ? But if love be sufficiently gratified 
 when it is only in fair way of succeeding, it imme- 
 diately ceases to be love. That passion soon grows 
 tired of the same pleasures too often repeated; it 
 looks for variety. The impatient Elvira longed for 
 an interview, and in her next letter desired Don 
 Jay me* to meet them that night at the window of 
 the lower gallery, of which Claricia would get the 
 key. Although Daraxa did not altogether approve 
 of this nocturnal meeting, she had not sufficient 
 resolution to object to it. 
 
 Ambrosio lodged in the gardener's house at the 
 bottom of the garden, the door of which was always 
 closed at midnight by order of Don Lewis, and 
 remained shut until the hour for returning to work 
 the next morning. This, however, was but a trifling 
 impediment to our lover, who soon made a ladder of 
 small cords, by means of which he could descend 
 from his chamber into the garden and reascend at 
 his pleasure. In his answer therefore he assured 
 the ladies that he would not fail to be at the 
 appointed spot the next night. With what impa- 
 tience did they await that moment, and when it 
 arrived how delighted were they to be able to con- 
 verse with their dear Ambrosio ! Elvira gave way 
 to the impetuosity of her feelings without restraint; 
 and Daraxa's, though more restrained, were not in 
 reality less violent. The windows of the gallery were 
 very low, . and the iron bars were at a sufficient
 
 THE LIFE OF^UZMAti D'ALFJRACHE. 209 
 
 _ 
 distance apart to admit an arm between them. The 
 
 amorous Elvira, emboldened by the darkness of the 
 night, put her hands through the bars for Ozmin to 
 kiss, to the hearths regret of Daraxa. Ozmin, who 
 well knew the delicate feelings of his countrywoman 
 on this point, took every opportunity of mitigating 
 the pain that he knew she must feel on the occasion, 
 by every endearment he could bestow on her unper- 
 ceived by her friend. This interview therefore was the 
 cause of more anxiety than gratification to Daraxa, 
 who, though she possessed her lover's heart, thought 
 herself much to be pitied ; when, on the contrary, her 
 friend, though not loved by Ozmin as she imagined, 
 felt herself truly happy. The one, ignorant of her hap- 
 piness, was unhappy ; while the other, who knew not 
 how unfortunate she really was, felt elated with joy. 
 After two hours' conversation they at last parted. 
 Ambrosio regained his chamber, and the ladies with- 
 drew, very differently affected by this interview. If 
 Don Lewis's daughter felt desirous for a second 
 meeting, Daraxa's wishes were much the reverse. 
 Elvira had shown so little modesty in this first 
 interview that Daraxa had good reason to fear she 
 would become still less reserved and more violent in 
 her love, and could not therefore any longer refrain 
 from writing a letter to Ozmin on the subject, 
 wherein she told him that she never wished to 
 converse with him again in this clandestine manner 
 by night, the pleasure of which cost her too dear. 
 The faithful Moor, who would rather have died than 
 have given any real cause for his mistress's suspicions, 
 
 VOL. I. ' O
 
 210 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 carefully avoided, tinder various pretences, every pro- 
 position that was made to him by Elvira for another 
 interview, whose personal attractions were in reality 
 too alluring to be long trifled with-with impunity. 
 
 In the meantime the masons had made an end 
 of their work, and there being now no longer any- 
 thing to apprehend from that quarter, Don Lewis 
 allowed the ladies the full liberty of walking in the 
 garden when they pleased. One day as they were 
 sitting with Don Kodrigo in an arbour, his sister, who 
 did not much mind him and wished to accustom him 
 to her talking with Ambrosio, called that gardener 
 as he was passing by and desired him to gather them 
 some flowers. Donna Elvira, wishing to detain him, 
 began to question him about his sufferings while a 
 prisoner at Granada; upon which Don Rodrigo re- 
 quested Daraxa to converse for a short time with him 
 in the Moorish language, to see if he was well 
 acquainted with it. The beautiful Moor willingly 
 consented to oblige Don Rodrigo in this respect, and 
 told him that for a Spaniard he spoke it tolerably 
 well. 
 
 Don Rodrigo, who frequently amused himself by 
 conversing with Ambrosio, was so much pleased 
 with his good sense and wit, which Ozmin could not 
 entirely conceal, that he thought he might make use 
 of him to assist his pretensions to Daraxa, and for 
 this purpose admitted him more into his confidence. 
 He was now therefore the first to call him, without 
 even asking the ladies' permission, allowed him to 
 take a part in the conversation, and was pleased to
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 211 
 
 hear hi.n talk in the Moorish language with Daraxa. 
 The happy Ambrosio, having become thus familiar 
 with his young master, never saw him enter the 
 garden with the ladies but he ran and joined them 
 without ceremony ; or if by chance he failed of 
 doing it, Donna Elvira went herself to look for him 
 and never returned without him. Don Rodrigo, who 
 was fully occupied with his own affairs, never took 
 any notice of these little inconsistencies, not in the 
 least imagining that his sister could fall in love with 
 a servant. If, however, Elvira only beheld Don 
 Jayme' in Ambrosio, Daraxa beheld Ozmin in Don 
 Jayme* ; every fresh proof therefore of her friend's 
 violent passion for him increased the uneasiness of 
 this jealous Moor. 
 
 While all these things were going on at Don 
 Lewis's, the young Don Alonso de Zuniga, more 
 enamoured than ever, and being recovered of his 
 wound, began to get abroad again. He had heard 
 that his mistress had been entrusted by the queen to 
 Don Lewis's care with the greatest regret, as well 
 from his natural aversion for Don Rodrigo as from 
 a jealousy of long standing between their families. 
 Notwithstanding all this, he felt that it was neces- 
 sary for his peace of mind to obtain some tidings 
 and even see her if it were any way possible. For 
 this purpose lie employed some very able assistants, 
 who won over one of Donna Elvira's women by 
 means of a certain sum of money paid in advance 
 This obliging damsel was no other than Claricia, 
 whom I have before mentioned to vou, who was
 
 2!2 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 born for the sole purpose of conducting love intrigues, 
 and was as likely as any one to succeed in cases that 
 she undertook. Don Alonso asked but one piece of 
 service of her for his money, which was to procure 
 him the pleasure of speaking to Daraxa. Claricia 
 promised wonders ; and in the course of conversation 
 she related to him the full particulars of Elvira's 
 amour with Don Jay me, who from a nobleman of 
 the city of Arragon had transformed himself into a 
 gardener to show his excessive love for her. 
 
 This story, to which Don Alonso listened with the 
 greatest attention, much surprised him, and he was 
 curious to know the most minute circumstances of 
 it. Of these Claricia was well able to inform him, 
 and she told him everything that she herself knew 
 on the subject; but she was not able to tell him 
 of the share that the beautiful Daraxa had in this 
 adventure. Alonso could not possibly conceive who 
 this Don Jayine* Vivez could be, of whom he had 
 never heard either at Court or in the army. He 
 would willingly have made acquaintance and acted 
 in conjunction with him, to make a party of four, 
 the mistresses of both, as he conceived, being in. the 
 same house. This thought gave rise to many others. 
 He reproached himself that he had not been as cou- 
 rageous as Don Jaym6, and also gained admission at 
 Don Lewis's under some disguise or other, which 
 would have procured him the opportunity of speak- 
 ing with Daraxa. His imagination grew upon this 
 point, and he amused his mind by forming a thousand 
 designs on the subject.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 213 
 
 Let us return to the ladies. Elvira, persuaded 
 that it was not usual to love merely for the sake of 
 sighing, and that there must be an end to everything, 
 resolved to be united to her dear Don Jay me, who ap- 
 peared so worthy to possess her. But she felt con- 
 siderable hesitation and trouble in being the first 
 to make such a proposal. It was a step that revolted 
 against propriety too much for her to think of. 
 She reflected that it would be much preferable to 
 avail herself of the assistance and mediation of her 
 friend, by whom she considered herself sufficiently 
 beloved to expect her service on such an occasion. 
 She addressed herself therefore to Daraxa, and be- 
 sought her in the strongest terms to undertake her 
 cause for her. 
 
 Daraxa was now truly grieved, for she found 
 that Elvira would willingly consent to elope, and 
 actually meditated a clandestine marriage. Having, 
 however, somewhat recovered herself, she said to her 
 friend, " I am disposed to do what you desire ; but 
 before I speak to Don Jayine", my real friendship 
 will not permit me to dispense with this question : 
 Whether you have well reflected on what you are 
 daring to venture upon? No, no," added she, "you 
 cannot have considered into how many troubles 
 you must infallibly plunge yourself. Suffer me to 
 point out to you what you owe to your family as 
 well as to yourself. You are willing to put yourself 
 in the power of a man of whom you know neither 
 the birth nor fortune. Can you, with any sort of 
 prudence, rely on him so entirely as to make such
 
 ai 4 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 advances to him as are by no means suitable under 
 any circumstances to one of your noble birth? and 
 if, unfortunately, as is not impossible, these advances 
 be not received agreeably to your wishes, what 
 shame and regret must follow so indiscreet a line of 
 conduct! " 
 
 Judicious as these remonstrances were, Elvira only 
 heard them with impatience; and not being able to 
 answer them with any good reasons, she replied as 
 one resolved, that her excessive love would permit 
 her to follow no other counsels than those of her 
 own heart. When Daraxa saw that there was no 
 hope of diverting her from her design, she no longer 
 opposed her, but promised that she would make pro- 
 posals to Don Jayme' that very night. But she was 
 somewhat discomposed when Elvira, either from mis- 
 trust or wishing to have so good an opportunity of 
 forming her own opinion of the sentiments of the 
 beloved object, said that she wished to be present her- 
 self, unknown to that cavalier, during the conversa- 
 tion, and that she would conceal herself behind the 
 curtains. Nothing was now wanting but to desire 
 Ambrosio to repair to the window of the lower 
 gallery at midnight, which the ladies requested by a 
 letter which they wrote to him in common, in which 
 they sent him word that they had something of the 
 utmost importance to communicate. 
 
 He failed not to be there at the hour appointed, 
 and was much surprised to find Daraxa there alone. 
 " Signor Don Jayme," said Daraxa, " I have, in the 
 first place, some ill news to tell you, which is that I
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 215 
 
 am here alone. Your mistress wished me to have a 
 private conversation with you, on which depend her 
 happiness and your own." After this preface, the 
 cunning Moor glided her hand through the iron bars 
 and pressed that of Ozmin, who understood immedi- 
 ately that this interview was not without mystery. 
 Such was his quickness of penetration that he made 
 a very shrewd guess of what was the subject, and no 
 sooner had Daraxa entered upon the delicate pro- 
 posals she had to make to him than he knew well 
 what would follow ; but, so far from being discom- 
 posed by it, he turned everything into raillery that 
 was said or proposed to him. In vain did Daraxa 
 protest that she was speaking seriously, requesting 
 him to answer in the same serious manner. He still 
 continued his tone of raillery throughout. 
 
 Thus terminated this interview, to the satisfaction 
 of Daraxa, who rejoiced sincerely that it had ended 
 in this manner, and who, thinking that she had done 
 her part, expected some acknowledgments from her 
 friend. But Elvira was more inclined to reproach 
 than to compliment her. In her ill-humour she im- 
 puted to Daraxa all Don Jayme's ridicule, whence 
 she inferred that it was most imprudent to act by 
 proxy in love when able to conduct one's own cause, 
 and made a vow that in future she would trust her 
 affairs to nobody, but use every means in her power 
 to induce Don Jayme' to elope with her. 
 
 She behaved to Daraxa the next morning in the 
 same manner as usual. They met without even 
 mentioning what had passed the preceding evening,
 
 2iS MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 and took their usual walk together in the evening, 
 concealing from each other their true sentiments, 
 each occupied by her own meditations. 
 
 I have alreadv told you that Don Rodrigo had 
 discovered in Ambrosio a man whom he thought 
 likely to promote his interest with Daraxa, who had 
 hitherto only treated his professions of love with in- 
 difference. The coldness of his constitution, however, 
 was such that this did not by any means discourage 
 him. Not susceptible of violent love, the little pro- 
 gress that he made in Daraxa's favour caused him no 
 trouble. The advantage he possessed over his rivals 
 in seeing and conversing with the beautiful Moor 
 was a pleasure that consoled him, though he knew 
 he was not the favoured lover. As he had not as yet 
 acknowledged his sentiments to Daraxa, otherwise 
 than by any little attentions he had paid her, and 
 perceiving that she took pleasure in speaking the 
 Moorish language with Ambrosio, he determined to 
 prevail upon this gardener to declare his passion for 
 her in that language; and Ambrosio accepted the 
 commission, promising his young master to perform 
 it with all imaginable zeal the first opportunity that 
 should present itself, which occurred the very same 
 day. 
 
 "The ladies, after having taken several turns about 
 the garden, entered the arbour in which they usually 
 rested themselves. Ambrosio came up to them with 
 a basket of flowers, and Don Rodrigo desired him to 
 make up some nosegays, and at the same time made 
 sign to Elvira to follow him, as though he had some-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 217 
 
 thing particular to communicate to her. The brother 
 and sister having left the arbour, Ozmin, finding him- 
 self alone with his mistress, was beginning to speak 
 to her in a tone of pleasantry in favour of Don 
 Rod ri go's passion, but he perceived her melancholy 
 appearance and desisted. "Whence this sorrow, 
 madam ? " said he, with a countenance that betrayed 
 his concern. " How happens it that when I am about 
 to divert you by the performance of a part but little 
 dissimilar to that which you enacted towards me last 
 night, I find you thus evidently affected with grief? " 
 A sigh from Daraxa was the only answer. This re- 
 doubled Ozmin's surprise and anxiety. "Speak," 
 cried he, " speak to me, Daraxa, if you wish not to 
 drive me to despair. What can your silence and that 
 sigh portend ? They seem to announce more mis- 
 fortunes than I have as yet had any reason to fear." 
 The beautiful Moor at length replied that the peculi- 
 arity of their fortunes, and the daily crosses they both 
 met with, occasioned a sadness which she could not 
 shake off. 
 
 Ozmin endeavoured to soothe her by representing 
 that her courage ought not to forsake her now, after 
 having hitherto borne their misfortunes with firmness; 
 and assured her that he was much mortified in having 
 been obliged to show some sort of complacency for 
 Elvira's blind passion for him. He had no sooner 
 uttered these words than Daraxa burst into tears, 
 and said in a voice frequently interrupted by violent 
 sobbings, "That alone, alas! overcomes my firmness, 
 which is proof against all other persecutions. What
 
 2i8 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 torment for a tender and delicate heart to be inces- 
 santly exposed to what is most likely to rend it in 
 twain ! Perhaps I may, ere long, reproach myself for 
 having had too great a confidence in your fidelity." 
 
 " Can I understand you rightly ? " replied Ozmin, 
 much affected. " You think me capable of loving 
 another. Ah ! Daraxa, can you, who know my heart, 
 do me such an injustice ; you who so well know my 
 virtuous sentiments as well as my abhorrence of 
 infidelity? " 
 
 " I would willingly believe," answered Daraxa, 
 wiping away her tears, " that I am to blame for 
 being thus mistrustful ; but I love you, Ozmin, 
 and I cannot reflect without pain on your attentions 
 to Elvira; you would not have gone so far had they 
 been equally painful to you. When I consider their 
 effects, I am still more alarmed. Elvira is more 
 positive than ever that she shall overcome your 
 resistance by Her perseverance. How, then, can I 
 feel convinced that you will not at last be wrought 
 upon by her excessive passion ? " 
 
 "II" cried Ozmin, with transport ; " be assured 
 that " 
 
 Here he was interrupted by Elvira, who at that 
 instant ran hastily into the arbour, and her brother 
 joined them the next moment. 
 
 Ozmin did not expect them so soon, considering 
 that Don Rodrigo would have amused his sister 
 much longer, under pretence of his wishing to speak 
 to her on some important business. Don Rodrigo 
 had fully intended this, but was unable to detain
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 219 
 
 Elvira, who suddenly started from him for the purpose 
 of interrupting Daraxa' s conversation with Don Jaymd. 
 The dumb scene that passed between these four per- 
 sons gave rise to many thoughts. Don Rodrigo and 
 his sister observed that Daraxa appeared much de- 
 jected, they even thought that she must have been 
 crying, upon which they each formed different 
 opinions. As for Ozmin, as he had nothing more 
 to do in the arbour, and as he only personated Am- 
 brosio, it was easy for him to escape from this 
 awkward situation by retiring. 
 
 Don Rodrigo quickly followed him, and full of 
 impatience to learn what had passed between him and 
 Daraxa, whom he began to suspect strongly of some 
 extraordinary understanding together, he asked him 
 whether he had acquitted himself of his commission, 
 and whether he had any good things to communicate. 
 
 " My lord," answered Ambrosio, " you allowed 
 me so short a time to converse with the beautiful 
 Moor that it has not been possible for me to render 
 you any important service." 
 
 " I grant," replied Don Rodrigo, " that you can- 
 not have had a very long discourse with her, but 
 you must needs have made good use of that time, 
 since Daraxa appears to be so much moved by what 
 you have imparted to her that I am well convinced 
 she must even have been shedding tears." 
 
 " Those tears," replied the false gardener, " may 
 possibly have been the bitter fruits of the liberty I 
 took in speaking to her of your passion, with which 
 she was perhaps not well pleased."
 
 220 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 " Have you no better reasons than these to tell 
 me?" cried Don Rodrigo. 
 
 " No, my lord," said Ambrosio. " I shall merely 
 add that this lady's heart may probably be already 
 engaged. A young lady who has been educated in 
 so gallant a Court as that of Granada, may very 
 likely have become sensible to the sighs of some 
 nobleman of that country." 
 
 " I agree with you," replied the jealous Don Rodrigo 
 sharply; "and, moreover, I think your object in 
 being here is less to serve me than that happy rival." 
 
 "You do me an injustice," replied the gardener; 
 " you wrong me much by suspecting that I would 
 betray you for an Infidel." 
 
 " Infidel or Christian," cried Don Rodrigo impera- 
 tively, " I begin to suspect you you are rather 
 too wise for a gardener; and when I call to mind 
 all your interesting little Moorish discourses together, 
 I am the more confirmed in my suspicions. But look 
 to it," added he in a menacing tone; "you are in 
 a family where knaveries are not long concealed." 
 Having thus said he returned to the arbour to the 
 ladies, who still preserved the most profound silence. 
 No sooner had he arrived than they rose and retired 
 to their own apartments. 
 
 Don Rodrigo, who at that time felt no desire to 
 enter into conversation with them, allowed them to 
 depart without any observation and walked round 
 the garden alone. Soon after this he met his father, 
 who was diverting himself with looking over his 
 flowers, and he stopped to bear him company. Don
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN VALFARACHE. 221 
 
 Lewis was speaking to Ambrosio, professing himself 
 well satisfied with his attention and skill in the 
 culture of his flowers. 
 
 " He is possibly more skilful than is to be wished," 
 said Don Rodrigo, with an affected grin; "and, 
 if I am not deceived, understands more than one 
 employment." 
 
 The old marquis, whose attention was entirely 
 engrossed in looking over his parterre, did not at first 
 comprehend the meaning of his son's remark, and 
 answered without reflection, " It is true that Am- 
 brosio is not deficient in sense, and I am convinced 
 that I shall find him a very useful servant." 
 
 "I very much doubt that he is here with that 
 intention," replied Don Rodrigo; "at least I am 
 persuaded that others will have better reason than 
 you to be satisfied with his services. Shall I tell you 
 my sentiments ? I am of opinion that he is more 
 devoted to Daraxa's interests than to yours, or at least 
 that he is the agent of some one of that lady's lovers." 
 
 " Ah . my son," interrupted Don Lewis, laughing 
 heartily. " I am now convinced that you are really 
 in love." 
 
 " If I am," said Don Rodrigo, " I can assure you 
 that my love assists me to see instead of blinding me. 
 I can believe my own eyesight." 
 
 " What have you seen, then ? " cried the old man ; 
 " tell me distinctly, for you shall find that I am 
 Don Lewis de Padilla, son of Don Caspar, who was 
 reckoned the most difficult to be deceived among 
 men in the age in which he lived; and I also have
 
 222 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 had the honour to be told a hundred times that I am 
 even more prudent and circumspect than my father. 
 If the choice that the queen made of me to take 
 charge of the beautiful Moor is not sufficient to 
 make you easy upon this subject, inquire of the 
 wisest persons at Court whether I am a man to be 
 imposed on. In a word, son, I am turned of fifty; 
 and if, when I was only half that age, they had 
 brought me not merely an Arragonian, but even the 
 most cunning fellow among the Greeks, it would 
 only have been necessary for me to look at him 
 attentively for one moment to have penetrated the 
 inmost recesses of his soul." 
 
 " My lord," replied Don Rodrigo, " no one on 
 earth is more persuaded than I am of the truth of 
 what you say; but yet I cannot but think that this 
 Ambrosio only serves you to have the means of 
 making himself useful to another. He makes him- 
 self too familiar with Daraxa; as soon as he sees her 
 he addresses her in the Moorish language, which she 
 always answers in so complaisant a manner that I 
 am convinced they have been long acquainted. In 
 short, I would not swear but that Ambrosio is any- 
 thing rather than a gardener." 
 
 Don Lewis, instead of allowing that he could 
 possibly have been deceived on this occasion, became 
 enraged with spite at seeing himself suspected of 
 having been made a dupe of. 
 
 "You are a strange man!'* said he to his son. 
 "Why did you allow these liberties of which you 
 complain? Do you not know that it is a capital
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 223 
 
 V 
 
 crime among us for a servant to lift his eyes towards 
 his mistress? Do you but treat this servant like the 
 rest, and I will be answerable for his fidelity. In 
 regard to Daraxa, trust me to take proper care' of her. 
 Rest in peace; I am on the watch night and day, 
 and am well informed of everything that passes in 
 the family." 
 
 Respect kept Don Rodrigo silent, who quitted his 
 father shortly after this to wait on some one who 
 desired to speak to him. 
 
 After he had left him the old marquis, in spite of 
 what he had been just saying, fell into a deep musing, 
 and a thousand vexatious reflections occurred to him, 
 which filled his mind with suspicions. To complete 
 his present troubles his chief gardener came up to 
 him and said, " My lord, I have something of im- 
 portance to communicate to you. I heard such a 
 noise in the garden last night that I am convinced 
 there were several people round your house. Had I 
 dared to have quitted my own, contrary to your 
 orders, I should be better able to tell you more on 
 the subject." 
 
 "People in my garden at night!" cried Don 
 Lewis astonished ; " they must have come from your 
 lodge then." 
 
 " No, my lord," answered the master gardener ; 
 " Ambrosio and my servant have not the power 
 of leaving the house, the door of which I am most 
 particular in shutting every night, and never trust 
 the key out of my own hands." 
 
 The old marquis knew not what to think. " Who
 
 224 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 can have entered my garden?" said he to himself; 
 " and what motives can they have had ? I am in no 
 fear of thieves; the height of the wall is sufficient 
 to deter them. I cannot imagine it to be one of 
 Daraxa's lovers, who surely could not be so fool- 
 hardy as to expose himself to so great danger for 
 the sake of merely seeing her from a window. My 
 gardener must certainly have fancied all this, or the 
 noise must have proceeded from some of my own 
 servants. If I have reason to suspect any one, it is 
 that knave Ambrosio, in respect of whom my son 
 may be more in the right than I choose to allow." 
 
 Don Lewis, who was very uneasy under these 
 thoughts, ordered his gardener not to mention a 
 syllable of the matter either to Ambrosio or his other 
 servant, but to keep a strict watch that very night, 
 and if he chanced to hear any more noise to dis- 
 charge a musket, and sally out at the same time well 
 armed. " For my own part," added the marquis, " I 
 shall myself, with the rest of my servants, be also pre- 
 pared, and the wretches who wish either to rob or 
 dishonour me will be cunning indeed if they escape 
 us all." After having thus issued his orders he 
 withdrew to prepare for the mighty feat that he 
 contemplated. 
 
 If the two ladies, Don Lewis, and Don Rodrigo 
 were thus uneasy, Ozmin was not without his share. 
 He was not one who was easily alarmed, but his 
 rival's last words to him seemed to deserve some 
 attention in order to prevent, if possible, any ill that 
 might accrue to him. He had no weapon but a
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 225 
 
 poniard, with which it was not possible to defend him- 
 self against the thirty servants that were employed in 
 the family should they attempt to attack him. From 
 what he observed he felt convinced that some mis- 
 fortune was at hand. He had seen the two PadiJlas 
 speaking together with earnestness, and had after- 
 wards remarked the serious conversation between Don 
 Lewis and the chief gardener. From all these circum- 
 stances he did not doubt that he was the subject of 
 their discourse, so that, foreseeing that some cowardly 
 and wicked attempt upon his life was to be dreaded, 
 he resolved to leave the place as soon as he had com- 
 municated his intention to Daraxa, and concerted 
 measures with her to see each other again at the 
 queen's return. 
 
 Having formed this resolution, he walked towards 
 the place where the letters from the ladies were 
 usually brought, and found 9116 lying there from 
 Elvira, who sent him word that she should expect to 
 see him that night, as she had something very parti- 
 cular to impart to him. He little thought that 
 Elvira appointed this interview with him unknown 
 to the beautiful Moor, to have the opportunity of 
 conversing with him in private. He conceived that 
 Daraxa would also be there as usual, and that he 
 might communicate to her in their own language, 
 even in the presence of her friend, what he wished 
 her to know previous to their separation. But let us 
 leave Ozmin until the time appointed for this inter- 
 view, and return to notice the alarming preparations 
 that were making by Don Lewis to interrupt it. 
 
 VOL. i. P
 
 226 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 He caused all the arms, offensive and defensive, 
 that could be found in the house to be carried by two 
 faithful domestics into his own apartment, such as 
 muskets, musketoons, pistols, halberts, pikes, parti- 
 zans., helmets, and targets, the whole of them covered 
 with rust ; but the danger was too near at hand to 
 think of having them cleaned. One would have 
 thought, from the active and terrible preparations 
 that were going forward, that it was at least appre- 
 hended that the enemy was advancing to take the 
 house by assault j for though Don Lewis had never 
 been himself in the wars, yet, being son and grandson 
 to general officers, he would not have it said that he 
 knew nothing of the matter. He despatched one of 
 his most trusty servants to purchase powder and ball 
 sufficient to load about seventeen or eighteen fire- 
 arms, which he designed to entrust to some of the 
 bravest of his domestics. All these preparations 
 were made without any noise, being aware that great 
 undertakings required secrecy. Everything was so 
 well conducted, that he even managed to conceal his 
 designs from his son and daughter, on account of 
 their affection for Daraxa, who had not the least 
 suspicion of what was going forward. 
 
 When he had thus arranged everything agreeably 
 to his desire, and the clock had struck eleven, his 
 two confidential servants brought up all the other 
 domestics, whom he posted in different places, distri- 
 buting the arms among them according as he judged 
 each able to make use of them. He disposed of the 
 greater part of them in the highest rooms in the
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN DALFARACHE. 227 
 
 house, whence they commanded a view of the garden, 
 and were themselves out of sight; and he forbade 
 them from firing without first apprising him of what- 
 ever they might see. He placed himself in a closet 
 directly opposite Daraxa's chamber, choosing this 
 post for himself as one that particularly required his 
 immediate vigilance and attention. He was accom- 
 panied by his equerry, an old servant, whose bravery 
 was equal to his master's, and who, from the bottom 
 of his heart, wished all the disturbers of his sleep at 
 the devil. But the die was cast; and, since posted on 
 bivouac duty, they could not now in honour retreat 
 until they had fully ascertained that there was nothing 
 to be feared from the enemy. 
 
 The old marquis, in his nightgown, nightcap, and 
 slippers, with a dark lantern in his hand, was most 
 attentively on the watch at the window. It was one 
 of those clear, starlight nights so common in hot 
 countries, from which circumstance they soon dis- 
 covered the shadow of a man at the distance of about 
 two hundred paces. No sooner did Don Lewis hear 
 the clock strike twelve, than recollecting that it was 
 about that hour his gardener had heard the noise 
 the preceding night, his heart began to beat most 
 violently, and he was seized with a cold shivering in 
 all his limbs. This agitation, which sufficiently be- 
 trayed the feelings of his soul in time of danger, was 
 by no means diminished when he thought that he 
 could perceive somebody walking along the wall on 
 the side next the gallery. To be more convinced that 
 he was not mistaken, he pointed to the place that his
 
 228 MATBO ALEMAN. 
 
 equerry might also look, and asked him if he saw 
 anything ; but he, either that his sight was really not 
 so good as his master's, or through fear, persisted in 
 asserting that he saw nothing. 
 
 They were both, however, soon released from doubt 
 by two of their sentinels coining up to apprise them 
 that there was a man conversing at the gallery win- 
 dow with some person within the house. Don Lewis 
 was the more astonished at this information, having 
 all the keys of the house in his own possession. These 
 were brought to him every night at nine o'clock, so 
 that he could not possibly conceive who it could be 
 that was supporting the conversation, either from 
 within or without, but could think of no other but 
 Daraxa, whom one of her lovers must have come to 
 visit at midnight through the assistance of one of the 
 servants that he had bribed to introduce him into the 
 garden, and that she must have procured another key 
 for the gallery door by means of the same agent. 
 This conjecture appeared the most probable. He 
 desired all his followers to be in readiness, and formed 
 the bold design of beginning the expedition himself 
 by surprising the beautiful Moor, so that she could 
 not deny her crime. It is true that not daring to 
 venture alone upon so over-bold a project he took 
 with him two of the most resolute of his musketeers, 
 and his intrepid equerry before mentioned. 
 
 To make as little noise as possible our commander 
 threw off his slippers, and the others their shoes, in 
 which state they arrived at the gallery, the door of 
 which they found open. Don Lewis advanced until
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 229 
 
 he heard the voices; he then made. a stand to listen 
 to what was said, and overheard the following words : 
 " I have too much esteem for you to resolve to make 
 you unhappy. It behoves me to consider your high 
 birth, and you should reflect on the present condition 
 of my fortune. I am a cavalier who must seek to 
 make my fortune at Court, where I have need of 
 support. Who then would befriend me after having 
 drawn upon myself the hatred of so powerful a lord 
 as your father? let us not, therefore, do anything of 
 which we may repent as loner as we live." 
 
 The marquis immediately knew the voice of the 
 pretended Ambrosio; and notwithstanding the spite 
 which he felt towards him for having thus duped him, 
 he could not but admire his virtue and prudence on 
 this occasion. Thinking that this discourse was 
 addressed to Daraxa, he was not a little curious to 
 hear her answer. But how was he shocked when he 
 heard his own daughter, whose voice he could not mis- 
 take, reply to the cavalier in these words, " Can love 
 reason thus? have you scrupled to deceive my father 
 by a stratagem which subjects you to many dangers? 
 have you then come hither at the risk of your life, 
 merely to lose such precious time in teaching me my 
 duty ? Instead of abandoning yourself to the joy 
 with which my favourable sentiments ought to have 
 inspired you, you are the one to throw difficulties in 
 their way ; I did not expect so cold an acknowledg- 
 ment of your gratitude. Can the consideration of 
 fortune withhold you when I declare that the summit 
 of all my desires is to be yours ? Why need you fear
 
 2 3 o MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 my father? the Court of Ferdinand is not the only 
 Court in which a man of your merit may expect 
 advancement. But may you ever seek in vain to 
 establish yourself advantageously in any Court! 
 Elvira would ever prefer living with you in the most 
 obscure retreat to the greatest pomp and splendour 
 that can be conferred on her by her union with 
 another." 
 
 She was going on thus when a musket was dis- 
 charged, followed in a moment by ten or twelve 
 others, with the reports of which the gallery re- 
 sounded. This dreadful noise so frightened the 
 daughter of Don Lewis, that, thinking of nothing 
 but her fears, she immediately betook herself to flight. 
 But her father, who had waylaid her in the passage, 
 seizing her suddenly by the arm, " Is it thus," said 
 he, " wretched girl, that you dishonour the illustrious 
 blood of Padilla ? " At the voice and action of the 
 marquis, Donna Elvira, whose spirits were but too 
 much troubled by the first shock, uttered a piercing 
 shriek, and fell into her father's arms, who, finding 
 that she remained quite senseless, opened his dark 
 lantern to look at her, and she seemed to him in so 
 deplorable a condition that in spite of his anger he 
 was much affected. He really loved her; but not 
 being able to bear the sight any longer without re- 
 lenting he left her in the care of his equerry. 
 
 But the more he was touched with compassion at 
 the sight of his daughter in such a state, the more 
 eager did he feel to take revenge on the insolent 
 author of all this disorder. He now longed onlv for
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 231 
 
 Ambrosio's death, whose prudence he had but a 
 moment before been applauding. He assembled all 
 his men of arms, tucked up his nightgown, over 
 which he put on his armour, a helmet over his night- 
 cap, with a target on his left arm, and a long pike 
 in his right hand ; and this brave captain in his 
 slippers and gauntlets caused the garden gate to be 
 thrown open, through which his troop defiled three 
 abreast; the musketeers marched first, and the hal- 
 berdiers brought up the rear, followed by the marquis 
 himself. This little army, composed of soldiers worthy 
 of their captain, went in search of the enemy; during 
 their march they were reinforced by the gardener, 
 who joined them with a small sword at his side, an 
 arquebuse on his shoulder, and two pistols in his belt. 
 He assured them that he had seen the enemy, and 
 that there were two of them, and that if he had dared 
 to have disobeyed his master's orders he should have 
 fired upon them. Don Lewis was astonished at this 
 information, and having learnt which way they went 
 ordered his troop to take that direction. 
 
 What had become of Ozmin all this while? As 
 soon as he perceived that Elvira had taken flight at 
 the report of the firearms which had interrupted 
 their conversation, and which he found had not been 
 levelled at him, he retreated precipitately from the 
 gallery with the intention of taking shelter in an 
 arbour, where he determined to sell his life dearly if 
 attacked. But a man who followed close behind 
 him obliged him to stop, saying : " Signer Don 
 Jayme, you have need of assistance ; accept therefore
 
 J32 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 of mine: it is you for whom they are searching; 
 accept my services without delay, if you do not wish 
 to be assassinated by a troop of rascally servants, 
 who will shortly rush upon you." 
 
 Ozmin, as much surprised at hearing himself 
 styled Don Jayme', as at meeting with so obliging a 
 stranger, answered : " I know not who you are, nor 
 why you interest yourself in my behalf; but who- 
 ever you be, you cannot but be a cavalier of great 
 worth : I will request the loan of some of your arms, 
 having but a poniard to defend myself with ; but can 
 accept of no other assistance from you, without 
 abusing your extreme kindness. I can by no means 
 suffer so brave a man to expose his life for my sake." 
 
 " No, no," replied the unknown, " do not imagine 
 that I will leave you to perish, when I may render 
 you assistance. I have two good pistols, one of 
 which is at your service, and I will fight at your 
 side ; or, if you wish me to retire, you must accom- 
 pany me." 
 
 " I believe," said Ozmin, " that it will be the wiser 
 way. We shall get no great honour in employing 
 our valour against such rascals. But how can we 
 quit the garden ? " 
 
 " That you shall see," replied the stranger, " you 
 have only to follow me." 
 
 These two cavaliers then ran together to that part 
 of the garden where the wall had been repaired, 
 against which was erected a long ladder. They had 
 here some slight difference as to who should first 
 ascend, each yielding the precedence to the other.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 233 
 
 After many compliments which two such courageous 
 men could not fail to make on such an occasion, 
 Ozmin- was prevailed on to ascend first, to complete 
 the noble behaviour of his companion. The gendar- 
 merie of Don Lewis had taken quite an opposite 
 direction, so that they had abundance of time to get 
 over the wall by means of this ladder, which they 
 drew up after them to prevent the marquis from 
 ascertaining in what manner the pretended Ambrosio 
 had escaped his fury. On the other side of the wall 
 was another ladder by which they descended into the 
 street, and which was guarded by five or six stout 
 footmen well armed, who had been kept in readiness 
 to throw themselves into the garden on the first 
 signal. 
 
 Ozmin, judging from this that his generous friend 
 was not a man of common rank, requested to be 
 informed to whom he was so much obliged. 
 
 But the unknown gentleman answered that he 
 would explain this to him at his house. " As you 
 are a stranger," added he, " you cannot be aware 
 what sort of a man Don Lewis is, of whom, I assure 
 you, you cannot be too cautious. I make you an 
 offer, therefore, of my house, where you will be 
 secure from his resentment by remaining with me, 
 until we see in what manner the Padillas resolve to 
 prosecute this affair." 
 
 Ozmin was charmed with the generous and noble 
 manner in which this offer was made, and not being 
 able to resist the earnest entreaties of the cavalier to 
 accept of his house, accompanied him thither. When
 
 234 
 
 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 they beheld each other by the light of the flambeaux, 
 they each looked at the other with an attention 
 mingled with surprise, as if they thought they had 
 met somewhere before. The master of the house 
 was the first to distinguish Ozmin by an imperfect 
 recollection that he had of his features; and being; 
 convinced that he was not mistaken, he cried with 
 transport, embracing him : " What happiness do I 
 experience in thus meeting a man to whom I owe 
 my life! I cannot be mistaken: you must be he 
 who preserved me from the fury of the bull on the 
 last day of the sports." 
 
 " My lord," answered the Moor, smiling with a 
 modest air, " you have now well repaid me for that 
 service in retrieving me from a danger, in which 
 without your assistance I must inevitably have 
 perished." 
 
 " No, no," replied Don Alonso de Zuniga, " I am 
 still in arrears with you. At the very time that you 
 rescued me from certain death, I had given you but 
 little cause to expose your own life for the preserva- 
 tion of mine." 
 
 They passed the remainder of the night in con- 
 versing together. Don Alonso, who had no doubt 
 that Ozmin was really Don Jay me* Vivez, and that 
 he was enamoured of Donna Elvira, related to him 
 in what manner he had heard of his intrigue. " This 
 made me desire," added he, " to form an acquaint- 
 ance with you, to commence which was the object 
 of my entering Don Lewis's garden to-night. Be- 
 sides which, as I love Daraxa, the intimate friend of
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 235 
 
 your mistress, I considered that our friendship might 
 become useful to both our loves." 
 
 Although Ozmin felt great repugnance in conceal- 
 ing his real sentiments, he .did not wish to undeceive 
 Don Alonso, thinking it more prudent to pass for 
 Don Jayine*. After a long conversation, Zuniga 
 conducted his guest to the apartment that was pre- 
 pared for him, and leaving him to his rest, retired 
 also to his own. But Ozmin not being able to sleep, 
 sent for Orviedo as soon as it was day, to impart to 
 this faithful servant his last night's adventure, as well 
 as to desire him to bring him some apparel more 
 suitable than Ambrosio's to support the character 
 of Don Jayme'. 
 
 It is a misfortune to which all great houses that 
 fceep a number of servants are liable, that whatever 
 nappens cannot long remain a secret. The story of 
 the pretended Ambrosio was known all over the town 
 the very next day, where it was related in various 
 ways, but all at the expense of Donna Elvira, at 
 which Ozmin was extremely mortified. 
 
 Don Alonso and Ozmin became in a few days the 
 best friends in the world; sympathy seemed to attach 
 them to each other, or rather, they each made daily 
 discoveries of the other's amiable qualities. They 
 were both most anxious to know how things went 
 on at the ATarquis de Padilla's. This they could only 
 karn from Claricia, from whom they received no 
 tidings, for this servant, who was known to be most 
 in Elvira's confidence, was more strictly watched than 
 the others. She managed, however, at length to elude
 
 236 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 their vigilance, and brought Don Jayine* a letter at 
 Don Alonso's, containing the detail they so ardently 
 longed for. Claricia informed Vivez that his old 
 patron, enraged that the pretended Ambrosio had 
 escaped his fury, had employed ten or a dozen men 
 to go through Seville in search of him, who till then 
 had sought him in vain ; that Elvira was very ill, and 
 that Daraxa had also been much indisposed from the 
 share she took in her friend's affliction ; that, lastly, 
 Don Lewis was so much ashamed and vexed at the 
 whole affair that he would see nobody, but had made 
 up his mind to retire into the country until all these 
 unpleasant rumours had blown over. 
 
 Claricia's letter was a fresh topic of conversation 
 for the two cavaliers, and amused Don Alonso ex- 
 ceedingly, who, having no regard for the house of 
 Padilla, was delighted at the recital of this adventure. 
 Ozmin having so good an opportunity of giving some 
 account of himself to Daraxa, wrote her a very long 
 letter in the Moorish language, which he sent by 
 Claricia. Daraxa, who was most anxious on his 
 account, fearing that he had been wounded by the 
 many musket shots which, as she thought, had been 
 fired at him, was overjoyed to hear of his good luck, 
 and that she might now have the means of returning 
 him an answer by the same messenger. 
 
 A few days after this, the old marquis set out with 
 his family and all his servants for a country house of 
 his own, at about a league beyond Seville. This 
 would have proved very vexatious to Ozmin, who 
 feared that by this absence he should be deprived of
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 237 
 
 Claricia, whose mediation was so great an advantage 
 to him, had not Don Alonso consoled him by saying, 
 " We ought to rejoice at Don Lewis's being in the 
 country. Within about two miles from his house, 
 I have a pretty little seat which I visit occasionally. 
 We have nothing to do but to get there as privately 
 as possible. We shall find it more easy to obtain 
 accounts of our mistresses there than in this city, and 
 may even find occasional opportunities of seeing and 
 conversing with them." 
 
 Vivez was much pleased with this design, and the 
 two friends left Seville the next morning before day- 
 light, accompanied by Orviedo and two footmen only. 
 As soon as they arrived at Don Alonso's country 
 house, the young lord employed a sharp peasant lad 
 to deliver a letter into Claricia's own hands, by which 
 she was apprised that the following day she would 
 meet in the wood, which is about two hundred paces 
 from the marquis's house, two young shepherds who 
 were dying with desire to have a little chat with her. 
 
 Claricia, who was not now so strictly watched as 
 she had been in the city, soon found an opportunity 
 of stealing out of the house, and ran to the place 
 appointed, where she found Don Alonso and Don 
 Jayme dressed as peasants. She informed them that 
 the ladies were both well, but so completely prisoners 
 that they were scarcely permitted to walk in the 
 garden. " However," continued she, " if Don Lewis 
 go to-morrow to a farm of his about three leagues off, 
 on an affair of consequence which requires his pre- 
 sence, I think I may be able to obtain you an inter
 
 238 MATEO A L EM AN. 
 
 view with them. Don Rodrigo," added she, "has 
 just set out for Seville, and is not expected back for 
 two days." 
 
 If the cavaliers were charmed at the flattering pro- 
 spect that Claricia held out to them, she was equally 
 well pleased with the presents that she received as a 
 recompense for her attention. After having taken 
 leave of them, she returned to the house and com- 
 municated to the ladies the particulars of the conver- 
 sation she had just had with the young noblemen. 
 
 The next morning everything seemed propitious to 
 the lovers' wishes; the marquis set out for his farm, 
 and the ladies prepared to profit by so favourable an 
 opportunity. They dressed themselves as peasant 
 girls, in conformity with the disguises of their lovers, 
 and left the house attended by Claricia and Laida. 
 They soon reached the wood, where their shepherds 
 were already waiting for them, and met with joyful 
 congratulations at seeing each other again, after which 
 they laughed and amused themselves exceedingly by 
 looking at each other in their several fantastical dis- 
 guises. Parties of this sort generally create a vast 
 deal of pleasure, but do not always end so pleasantly 
 as they begin. 
 
 They were conversing on general subjects, which 
 was rendered more agreeable to each by being with 
 those whom they loved, and were proceeding to 
 penetrate into the more private walks of the grove, 
 when they perceived through the trees two real 
 peasants coming towards them. They conceived 
 them to be inhabitants of a neighbouring town which
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN VALFAkACHE. 239 
 
 formed part of the marquis's manor, and they were 
 right in their conjecture. As these countrymen 
 passed by, the ladies turned their backs upon them, 
 that they might not see their faces, and Vivez and 
 Zuniga followed their example for the same reason; 
 but the fellows instead of passing on, made a full 
 stand, and one of them gave Don Alonso so furious 
 a blow with a cudgel upon his back and head, as 
 almost stunned him. Ozmin having heard the blow, 
 turned about instantly upon the other fellow, who 
 was preparing to serve him in the same manner ; but 
 the Moor from his excessive quickness, warded off 
 the blow that was intended for his head) so that it 
 slid down his back; after which he struck his adver- 
 sary so tremendous a blow with a large stick that he 
 carried directly on his face that he broke half his jaw 
 and laid him senseless on the ground ; then flew to 
 the assistance of his friend, who stood much in need 
 of it, for he was hard put to it by his antagonist. 
 But this rascal knew better than to await the coming 
 up of a man who had just made his comrade bite the 
 dust; he ran off towards the town, where he put 
 them all in alarm by giving out that his companion 
 was killed, who, in fact, was only wounded. 
 
 During this skirmish the ladies very prudently tool? 
 flight, and returned to Don Lewis's house in the 
 greatest alarm, and most anxious to know how this 
 affair would end. Their uneasiness was not ill- 
 founded; for the cavaliers, who would have acted 
 wisely in decamping as quickly as possible, remained 
 so long on the scene of action consulting upon what
 
 246 MATEO ALEMAti. 
 
 was best to be done, that they afforded sufficient time 
 for three ruffians from the town to rush upon them 
 with drawn swords. One of these fellows, who was 
 superior to the others both in point of appearance 
 and courage, came up before the rest, and advancing 
 towards Ozmin in a most determined manner, 
 endeavoured to run him through the body, but the 
 Moor received the thrust in the most skilful manner 
 with his stick, and returned him so terrible a blow 
 on the head that it laid him lifeless at his feet; then 
 seizing the sword which his enemy had made so bad 
 a use of, he was prepared to receive the two others, 
 who presently attacked him. This combat lasted 
 longer than either that had preceded it. Ozmin 
 being; assailed by two men at once, was fully emjajred 
 in parrying their several thrusts, one of which 
 wounded him slightly in the hand. Don Alonso 
 did not stand idle all this time, but laid about him so 
 furiously with his stick, that he at length decided the 
 victory, by a chance blow which fell with such force 
 on the right arm of one of their antagonists that he 
 dropped his sword, and immediately fled wit'u his 
 companion towards the town as precipitately a? their 
 wounds would admit of. 
 
 Our conquerors, not content with the punkfimrnt 
 they had already inflicted, were so imprudent as to 
 pursue them to the very entrance of tta town, 
 where they met with a storm which was just ready 
 to burst upon them. All the inhabitants having 
 heard that a peasant had been killed in the wood, 
 were up in arms, some with cudgels and ch*b*
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN PALFARACttE. 241 
 
 pointed with iron, and others with old swords, fully 
 determined to avenge his death. Their rage increased 
 when the two fugitives came up and informed them 
 that the bailiff's son had just shared the same fate as 
 the countryman. They advanced in a body, and 
 surrounded the supposed murderers, falling upon 
 them without mercy. Ozmin, whose courage was 
 rather increased than damped by the appearance of 
 so many enemies, opposed their rage most resolutely, 
 dealing his blows on all sides, and overthrowing all 
 that resisted him. This somewhat moderated the 
 fury of the rest. Don Alonso, although wounded, 
 followed his example with equal valour. It was, 
 however, impossible to resist so unequal a force, and 
 he was taken prisoner; soon after which, his friend, 
 whom the mob endeavoured to throw down by 
 hurling their staves between his legs, was unfortunate 
 enough to stumble, and was also secured. 
 
 I leave you to judge whether the enraged multitude 
 would have spared these two unfortunate cavaliers 
 who were now completely at their mercy. But as 
 chance would have it, two gentlemen came up just 
 at that moment on horseback, accompanied by three or 
 four servants, who, wishing to know the cause of this 
 tumult, broke through the crowd sword in hand, 
 until they reached the two prisoners, in one of whom 
 they recognised Don Alonso, notwithstanding his 
 disguise, and though his face was covered with blood, 
 and rescued him with great difficulty from the hands 
 of the mob, who in consequence became more careful 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 2 4 3 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 to secure their other prisoner, against whom they bore 
 the greater malice. 
 
 Zuniga, observing this, refused to accompany his 
 deliverers, declaring that he had rather share his 
 friend's fate than abandon him in this manner. But 
 the two gentlemen represented to him that it were a 
 fruitless attempt to endeavour to release that cavalier, 
 who was now actually shut up in the bailiff's house, 
 who kept all the inhabitants still up in arms, exciting 
 them to avenge his son's death ; that it were wiser, 
 in their opinion, to assemble all the friends that they 
 could get together, and return in the night to release 
 him from prison. Don Alonso yielded to this advice, 
 and was soon assured of the assistance of above forty 
 persons, masters as well as servants, and this bold 
 design would undoubtedly have been executed, had 
 not the bailiff suspected something of the kind ; but 
 this magistrate, who was an experienced, cunning old 
 rascal, expected some such violence, and therefore 
 applied to the chief justice of Seville, who sent him 
 so numerous a company of guards, that he no longer 
 feared any attempt to release his prisoner. 
 
 The ladies were not at so great a distance from this 
 scene of confusion as to be long ignorant of the par- 
 ticulars of the battle, and the sad result of it. They 
 obtained their information from some of the mar- 
 quis's servants, many of whom had been to the town 
 out of curiosity, where they learnt all that had passed. 
 Donna Elvira despatched one of them to the bailiff, 
 desiring him to take care how he treated the cavalier 
 whom he had in custody, lest he should repent of it.
 
 THE LIFE OP GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 243 
 
 This recommendation was not entirely thrown away, 
 for Don Jayme was treated better than he would 
 otherwise have been, and furnished with everything 
 that was necessary to cure two or three slight wounds 
 which he had received. 
 
 If the bailiff was mortified at seeing his intentions 
 to avenge his son's death likely to be frustrated by 
 Elvira, how was he rejoiced when the very same 
 evening he had the consolation to learn that the 
 marquis participated in his resentment. Don Lewis, 
 in his way home from his farm, passed through the 
 town towards the evening, and observing that a 
 majority of the inhabitants were in arms, he inquired 
 for what purpose they were thus assembled. The 
 late adventure was consequently related to him, and 
 as he wished to know the full particulars, the most 
 considerable person amone; the mob addressed himself 
 to him : " All this misfortune," said he, " has arisen 
 merely from a mistake of our bailiff's son, who was 
 in love with a young girl belonging to your family, 
 and had a rival who was the son of a rich farmer in 
 the environs. The bailiffs son was naturally of a 
 debauched character, and of a very violent disposition, 
 and finding that his rival, who was of a more sober 
 character, and richer than himself^ was always more 
 welcome, he sent him word that he would have him 
 well cudgelled if he were ever again found in the 
 neighbourhood of your house with the view of speak- 
 ing with his mistress. He caused him to be observed, 
 and having been informed this morning that two men 
 who had not the appearance of common peasants,
 
 244 MATEO ALEMAtt. 
 
 though dressed as such, had slipped into the wood as 
 if by stealth, he doubted not that it was the farmer's 
 son, with a young fellow of his acquaintance who 
 generally accompanied him in these visits, and that 
 they were thus disguised to avoid the drubbing they 
 had been threatened with ; with this impression, he 
 employed two of the strongest fellows in the town to 
 conceal themselves in the wood to put his threat in 
 execution ; and he himself followed with two of his 
 friends, in order to assist them if necessary." 
 
 The marquis saw plainly by this recital that the 
 bailiff's son only was to blame, and that those whom 
 they called his murderers had killed him in their own 
 defence ; but when he was informed that these two 
 cavaliers were no other than Don Alonso do Zuniera 
 and the pretended Ambrosio, and that the bailiff held 
 the latter in his custody, he began to consider that 
 this adventure was ordained by heaven to afford him 
 an opportunity of being avenged on his daughter's 
 seducer. He called the bailiff before him, and excited 
 him to pursue this affair with warmth, assuring him 
 of the protection of his influence and purse, and 
 advising him to repair to Seville the next morning, 
 accompanied by all the relatives of the deceased, as 
 well as those of the wounded, and there throw them- 
 selves at the feet of the magistrates, crying aloud for 
 justice. The bailiff resolved to follow this advice, and 
 accordingly conducted his prisoner to that city the 
 following day, escorted by the guards and some of the 
 most resolute peasants belonging to the town. When 
 the people of Seville saw him thus brought up, and
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 245 
 
 knew the cause, they were so enraged that it was 
 with great difficulty that the unfortunate Moor was 
 preserved from their fury. In addition to this, Don 
 Lewis arrived the same day in the city, thinking his 
 presence necessary to engage the judges to condemn 
 a man whose destruction he had sworn. 
 
 On the other hand, Don Alonso was unfortunately 
 so ill of his wounds that he could scarcely sit on 
 horseback, nor, indeed, had he yet been able to 
 assemble a sufficient number of his friends to under- 
 take to deliver Ozmin by force. Thus, reduced to 
 solicit on his behalf, he implored each of the judges 
 separately to consider that they could not injustice 
 condemn a man to death, whose only crime was that 
 of having defended himself against assassins. In 
 answer to this, he was told that he ought to be well 
 contented that he himself vvas not secured and prose- 
 cuted ; that the blood which had been spilt demanded 
 justice, and that if he were in the prisoner's place, 
 they could not possibly be able to save him. The 
 death of Ozmin appeared inevitable, and near at 
 hand ; but in spite of all the endeavours of Don 
 Lewis to hasten it, it was deferred by an incident 
 which that nobleman little expected. He received a 
 courier express from the queen, who informed him of 
 the capture of the city of Granada, and ordered him to 
 repair to her instantly with Daraxa, whose father was 
 most anxious to see her. who, having himself deter- 
 mined to become a Christian, hoped that his daughter 
 would not refuse to follow so good an example. 
 
 There was also a packet of letters for Daraxa, but
 
 246 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 the marquis judged it most proper to withhold them 
 from her; and did not even communicate the news 
 contained in his own, lest in her impatience of return- 
 ing to her parents she should oblige him to set off 
 with her the very next day for Granada. He wished 
 to see the prosecution of Don Jayme closed by a 
 sentence of death, and even to be present at his 
 execution before his departure. For this purpose he 
 redoubled his efforts and solicitations, in which he 
 succeeded so effectually with the judges that they 
 condemned Ozmin to be beheaded two days after- 
 wards, under the name of Don Jayme', gentleman of 
 Arragon. 
 
 Zuniga was among the first that were informed of 
 this severe sentence, of which he apprised the ladies 
 by letter, assuring them at the same time that he had 
 assembled above three hundred men, and that he and 
 his friends would all perish rather than suffer such an 
 injustice. What words can express the affliction of 
 the beautiful Moor? The idea of the ignominious 
 treatment that was preparing for her dear Ozmin 
 almost drove her mad. In the midst of her despair 
 she met Don Lewis, at his return from the palace, 
 where he had spent the whole of the morning. She 
 cast upon him a furious and piercing look, and said, 
 with such transport as sufficiently evinced the dis- 
 order of her mind: " Barbarian ! are you now satisfied ? 
 Unjust and cowardly judges have consented without 
 shame to gratify your resentment at the expense of 
 innocence. But think not that the blood of this 
 cavalier, who is thus injured and oppressed by your
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 247 
 
 influence and suggestions, shall be shed with im- 
 punity. He is my lover and my husband, a relation 
 of the King of Granada, and not the gallant of your 
 daughter, for whom such a man was never destined. 
 Your head shall answer to me for his; for there are 
 those among his relations, or my own, who will have 
 vengeance ; or if you escape their resentment I my- 
 self will strike the poniard to your heart." 
 
 Don Lewis was thunderstruck at these impassioned 
 exclamations, which showed but too clearly Daraxa's 
 interest in the life of the prisoner. He knew not 
 what to reply, so overwhelmed was he with trouble 
 and confusion. He at length, however, told her that 
 she was much to blame for not having sooner 
 informed him of the quality of the pretended Am- 
 brosio, against whom he did not deny that he had 
 solicited, conceiving that he had disgraced his house. 
 Daraxa was proceeding to assure him that it was 
 not the fault of Ozmin if Elvira had conceived a 
 foolish love for him, but at that moment a servant 
 entered the room and whispered to the marquis that 
 there were several equipages at the gate and a great 
 number of Moors, who asked to speak with Daraxa. 
 Don Lewis was somewhat troubled at this news, and 
 apologised for being obliged to leave her for an instant. 
 As Daraxa had not heard what the servant had 
 whispered, and wished to know everything that 
 happened in her present anxious state, she followed 
 the marquis and entered a parlour, where, from the 
 window, she perceived some Moors whom she knew 
 at the gate, for the most part servants of her father.
 
 248 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 This sight beguiled her of her troubles for awhile, 
 and joy took possession of her heart, when Don 
 Lewis entered the room conducting one of her 
 father's officers into her presence, who, having paid 
 his respects to her, announced the capture of the city 
 of Granada, and that the war was at an end. He 
 informed her at the same time that her father having 
 obtained permission of their Catholic Majesties to 
 recall her home, had sent her an equipage and fol- 
 lowers suitable to a person of her high birth ; that 
 she must doubtless be already informed of all these 
 particulars by the courier the queen had despatched 
 to the Marquis de Padilla, and by the letters she 
 must have received. This was a fresh cause of con- 
 fusion to the marquis, who was obliged to frame all 
 sorts of excuses to Daraxa for not having before put 
 her in possession of them. 
 
 The joy of the beautiful Moor lasted no longer 
 than the time that was occupied in communicating 
 to her the wishes of her father. The thoughts 
 respecting Ozmin and the extreme danger he was in, 
 soon renewed her grief. This afflicted lover de- 
 spatched the officer, and Orviedo, by whom he was 
 accompanied, to demand a public audience for her of 
 the judges, who were at that moment deliberating 
 upon advices they had just received that Don Alonso's 
 house was filled with cavaliers who were arrived from 
 the country to second him in his design to rescue his 
 friend. To prevent this enterprise, the judges had 
 just resolved to have the culprit put to death that 
 night in prison,
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 249 
 
 They were much surprised at Daraxa's request, 
 never having known an instance of a woman coming 
 in ceremony before them to address the judges, and 
 they knew not what answer to return. The oldest 
 among them were of opinion that she ought not to 
 be allowed an audience, but the younger ones were 
 of a different way of thinking. The curiosity to 
 know what . she could have to say to them the 
 rtspect they were bound to entertain for a lady who 
 was so great a favourite with the queen, and, above 
 all, the pleasure of seeing her, at last prevailed ; and 
 they decided that an audience should be granted to 
 her at six in the evening. Daraxa, who was appre- 
 hensive that this would have been refused her, was 
 well pleased at this message. She sent Orviedo to 
 Don Alonso, apprising him of her intentions, and 
 requesting him to accompany her to the palace, if 
 his health would allow him to do her this favour. 
 Zuniga was extremely charmed with the honour 
 conferred upon him by the beautiful Moor in select- 
 ing him as her squire upon this occasion, and pre- 
 pared for the cavalcade. He had no need to seek 
 very far for the cavaliers he wished to join him in it ; 
 since they were for the most part already in his own 
 house, ready to follow him wherever he chose to lead 
 them. He conducted them at five o'clock to Don 
 Lewis's house, who, seeing more than two hundred 
 cavaliers who came for Daraxa, whose intentions he 
 was not unacquainted with, went in search of her, 
 and offered himself to bear her company ; but she 
 returned him thanks, telling him that she was very
 
 250 
 
 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 glad she was able to spare him the mortification of 
 seeing her solicit for the life of a man whose enemy 
 he had so openly professed himself, and, in fact, 
 against whose life he was the principal prosecutor. 
 
 The marquis, stung to the quick by this refusal, 
 would willingly have frustrated the lady's design, or 
 at least have rendered it useless, if it had been in his 
 power; but it was now too late to frame any 
 obstacle. He was, therefore, obliged to conceal his 
 mortification, which was, however, visibly depicted 
 on his face, in spite of all his efforts to smother it. 
 Daraxa at length left the house without taking any 
 notice of his displeasure. She found Don Alonso 
 waiting for her on foot at the gate, with all the 
 principal persons of the troop, who had also alighted 
 to compliment her. She made an effort to express 
 some joy, notwithstanding the profound sorrow that 
 she felt on the occasion, and assured Don Alonso she 
 should ever entertain the most lively sense of her 
 obligation to him. Zuniga forgot nothing that a 
 man in love and full of noble thoughts could say on 
 such an occasion, and answered that " he could not 
 express how sensible he was of her kindness, in 
 having selected himself and his friends to conduct her 
 to the palace, where she could not fail to immortalise 
 herself by so heroic an action." Don Alonso, as 
 well as the other gentlemen, could not sufficiently 
 applaud so generous an undertaking, most firmly 
 believing that the beautiful Moor interested herself 
 for the prisoner merely out of friendship for her 
 friend, Donna Elvira.
 
 ThE LIFE OF GUZMAN VALFARACHE. 251 
 
 After these compliments, Daraxa mounted her 
 horse with her usual grace. Don Alonso and the 
 rest followed her example, and the cavalcade began 
 to defile by the Moors, who were about forty in 
 number, all well equipped, and admirably mounted, 
 having Orviedo and the newly-arrived officer at their 
 head. After these came Daraxa herself, between Don 
 Alonso and Don Diego de Castro ; the remainder of 
 the company followed in very good order, six in each 
 rank. Though the preparations for this cavalcade 
 had occupied but little time, yet the rumour of its 
 approach had already spread through the city, and 
 the people, who were as curious to behold the beau- 
 tiful Moor as to know what could be her business at 
 the palace, were collected in crowds in the streets 
 through which she must of necessity pass. She was 
 dressed in a most magnificent Moorish habit, and 
 had neglected nothing that could add to her beauty 
 on so important an occasion. All the spectators 
 were struck with her becoming appearance; but 
 what astonished them more than anything was the 
 graceful ease and dexterity with which she managed 
 her horse; an art in which Spanish women rarely 
 excel. 
 
 The cavalcade having arrived at the square before 
 the palace, Don Alonso formed his cavaliers into a 
 squadron round about her, and the judges sent out 
 two ushers of the Court, who conducted her to the 
 door of the first hall, where she was received by two 
 of the judges, who did her all the honour that could 
 have been conferred on a princess, and led her to the
 
 252 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 audience. Don Alonso and other young nobles, who 
 had alighted from their horses at the same time as 
 Daraxa, followed her, and entered also into the hall 
 where the judges were assembled, who appeared much 
 surprised and uneasy on this account. Putting, how- 
 ever, a good face on the matter, they attended only 
 to the Moorish lady, who charmed them all by the 
 elegant and majestic air with which she presented 
 herself before the tribunal of justice. She took her 
 seat in an arm-chair with a cushion and foot-carpet, 
 which had been prepared for her, and after having 
 beheld all the judges for some moments with fixed 
 attention, she raised her voice, and thus addressed 
 them : 
 
 " There is but one reason, my lords, sufficiently 
 imperative to justify the step that I have taken, in 
 thus presenting myself before you. I know the rules 
 that modesty prescribes for persons of my sex; but 
 there are occasions when these rules may be dispensed 
 with. On such an occasion am I come hither to 
 implore justice against yourselves. A sentence is 
 to be put in execution to-morrow that you have pro- 
 nounced upon a man whose only crime is that of 
 having defended his life against assassins. This is 
 an incontrovertible fact, of which I was myself an 
 eye-witness, as well as Donna Elvira, and two waiting- 
 women who were also with us in the wood. Shall 
 two peasants be allowed to come up behind two 
 cavaliers and beat them with clubs most unmerci- 
 fully, and shall not these cavaliers be justified in 
 defending themselves against so unwarranted an
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN VALFARACHE. 253 
 
 assault? If the bailiff's son came with two of his 
 friends, all three armed with swords, and rushed upon 
 two mei. who had nothing but sticks to protect them- 
 selves with, what crime have these latter committed 
 in acting on the defensive against such dastardly 
 villains ? Who among you, gentlemen, finding him- 
 self in the same situation, but would do his utmost 
 to kill his opponent, if no other means remained of 
 saving his own life? But why should I enlarge upon 
 that point ? you need not be told that it is the law 
 of nature. It is now said that it was a mistake of 
 the bailiff's son ; but what of that ? his mistake can- 
 not justify his actions, neither can it criminate the 
 persons whom he wished to assassinate. 
 
 " I shall not trouble you, my lords, with any 
 further remarks, except to inform you what has in- 
 duced me to interest myself so strongly for your 
 prisoner. He is not a gentleman of Arragon, nor 
 is he Don Jay me Vivez, lut the brave Ozmin, whose 
 name is well known among your troops as having 
 distinguished himself in many glorious actions. He 
 it was, who, the last day of the sports, killed the two 
 bulls, and saved the life of Don Alonso de Zuniga. 
 But what has impelled me more than all his noble 
 qualities to make this appeal to your justice is, that 
 he is my husband, if I may be permitted to give that 
 name to a man who, with the mutual consent of our 
 parents, has plighted his faith to me, and received 
 mine in return. Reflect on what I have laid before 
 you, my lords, before you cause a sentence to be 
 carried into execution against a kinsman of King
 
 254 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 Mahomet, whom you ought not to have condemned 
 on such slight grounds." 
 
 The beautiful Moor had no sooner finished her 
 speech than a noise arose throughout the hall that 
 very much startled and frightened the judges; every- 
 body crying out that the prisoner was innocent and 
 ought to be released. The chief justice commanded 
 silence, which being obtained, he replied to the lady 
 in the name of himself and brothers, " That they 
 might possibly have been misinformed in this affair: 
 that they would review the whole matter, and give 
 her their answer that very same day." But the whole 
 assembly cried out again that the prisoner ought in- 
 stantly to be set at liberty, threatening- to force the 
 prison doors if this were refused. The same judge 
 answered, "That after a judgment was once pro- 
 nounced it was no longer in their power to liberate 
 the prisoner ; that all they could do on their parts was 
 to suspend the execution of the sentence until they 
 received orders from their majesties, who alone were 
 now able to annul it." Daraxa then requested per- 
 mission to visit Ozmin, and it was granted her with- 
 out hesitation, on condition that no more than four 
 persons should enter the prison with her, and that 
 she would engage that no violence should ensue. 
 
 The cavalcade proceeded to the prison in the same 
 order as it had arrived at the palace, and the beau- 
 tiful Moor chose Don Alonso, Don Diego de Castro, 
 Orviedo, and the Moorish officer, to go in with her. 
 Conceive, if possible, the agreeable surprise of Ozmin 
 when he saw Daraxa enter his chamber with Don
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 255 
 
 Alonso, and learned what she had just achieved for 
 him. His joy could only be equalled by that of his 
 mistress, whose heart overflowed with rapturous 
 emotion which she could not otherwise express than 
 by the tears that flowed in torrents from her eyes. 
 Zuniga partook of the pleasure of the lovers, and 
 embraced his friend as sincerely as though he had 
 not been his rival. His friendship mingled with his 
 love. He could not, however, refrain from reproach- 
 ing him for his want of confidence, threatening, with 
 a smile, that he would b~- avenged for his dissimula- 
 tion by continuing in love with the beautiful Moor 
 for the remainder of his life. This reproach drew 
 compliments upon him from both of them. Daraxa 
 declared that next to Ozmin he would ever possi'ss 
 her esteem ; and Ozmin assured him that, with the 
 exception of Daraxa, there was no one whose love he 
 should so highly prize. Zuniga did not fail to make 
 obliging returns to these kind professions of friend- 
 ship ; after which he introduced his friend Don Diego 
 to Ozmin, as a cavalier of distinguished birth and 
 merit. This gave rise to further compliments, till 
 at length they began to think of the more important 
 consideration that brought them hither, and resolved 
 to send off a messenger instantly to their majesties to 
 obtain the prisoner's pardon. Orviedo was fixed on, 
 and immediately set off" for Granada, with letters both 
 to Ozmin's and Daraxa's relations. 
 
 Orviedo made such despatch, that after three days 
 he returned to Seville with his master's pardon, and 
 an order to the magistrates to treat him with all the
 
 256 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 honours due to his noble birth, and becoming the 
 future husband of the beautiful Moor. As soon as 
 Daraxa was informed that Ozmin was at liberty to 
 leave the prison, she repaired thither with a more 
 numerous and more magnificent equipage than 
 before. Every cavalier of any distinction in the city 
 was amonir the cavalcade. Don Hodrigo de Padilla 
 made himself particularly remarkable for his mag- 
 nificence. He insisted on making one amongst 
 them, and expressed to Daraxa his sincere joy at the 
 good success of her undertaking, in spite of all the 
 old marquis's ra^e and vexation, whose conduct he 
 by no means approved of; and when he saw Ozmin, 
 he behaved towards him in a most handsome manner. 
 Thus our hero left prison with as much honour 
 and joy as he was thrust into it with shame and 
 sorrow. The same people who had but a few days 
 before desired his death, now followed the cavalcade 
 with acclamations of delight, so extremely anxious 
 were they to see the famous conqueror of the bulls. 
 Don Lewis, whose resentment and haughtiness were 
 by no means abated, was the only person who did not 
 visit Ozmin, whom he could not regard in any other 
 light than a man who had brought dishonour upon 
 his family, by the great talk and noise that his 
 daughter's love for Don Jayme had made in the city. 
 He fully expected that he should be rallied at Court 
 on this account. For this reason he pretended illness, 
 as an excuse for not being able to accompany Daraxa 
 to Granada, and appeared no more in Seville until 
 after her departure.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 257 
 
 As for Elvira, besides that she had 'all the ill- 
 humour of her father to contend with, she could not 
 console herself under the reflection that she had been 
 deceived by the two persons whom she most loved, 
 though in truth, she had more cause to blame her 
 own conduct than theirs. She did not long survive 
 her mortification and disappointment. The ill-hum- 
 ours and vexations of Don Lewis and his daughter 
 did not prevent the making extraordinary rejoicings 
 at Don Alonso's, where Ozmin and Daraxa lodged 
 until the next day, when they set out for Granada, 
 accompanied by Don Alonso and Don Diego de 
 Castro, who insisted on being present at their 
 nuptials, which were celebrated with the greatest 
 magnificence, and honoured by the presence of their 
 Catholic majesties. There were tournaments and 
 bull feasts, where Moors competed with the Chris- 
 tians in courage and address. In addition to all 
 this, the two lovers, to render themselves more worthy 
 that Heaven should shower its blessings on their 
 nuptials, embraced the Christian religion, and became 
 the noble origin of one of the most illustrious houses 
 in Spain." 
 
 The friar who had entertained us with this story 
 finished here. After which his friend and himself 
 commenced a conversation respecting the wars of 
 Granada. During all this time, the muleteer, per- 
 ceiving that we were almost at the gates of Cazalla, 
 seemed particularly anxious to say a few words to 
 me in private. Since our last adventure he had not 
 uttered a word, but as we were now about to part, 
 
 VOL. i. R
 
 258 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 perhaps never to meet again, he at length broke 
 silence by demanding of me three crowns for the 
 charges of my journey, as well as for my share of 
 what we had expended at the inn where we had 
 supped so well the preceding evening, and breakfasted 
 so delicately that very morning. This was anything 
 but a joke to me, who little expected such a demand, 
 and might have defied him or any other person to 
 have made me pay it, not having half that sum in 
 my purse ; and we soon grew so warm in our argu- 
 ments against each other on this subject, that I had 
 armed myself with two flints, which I should certainly 
 have levelled at his head, had not the friars taken 
 compassion on me, and prevented me from getting 
 myself well thrashed. These gentlemen set them- 
 selves up for umpires in the case, and after having 
 heard both parties, condemned me to pay the mule- 
 teer a fourth part of what he demanded. I was 
 obliged to obey this decree, which, favourable as it 
 was towards me, reduced my finances so low that I 
 had scarcely sufficient remaining in my purse to 
 defray the expenses of a supper and night's lodging 
 at another inn, whither I repaired after having taken 
 leave of the two friars, and the unlucky muleteer, 
 who had no great reason in my opinion to thank his 
 stars that he ever met with me.
 
 ( 259 ) 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 GUZMAN BECOMES AN INNKEEPERS BOY. 
 
 BEHOLD me now, friendly reader, in the best inn at 
 Cazalla, twelve leagues from Seville, where the 
 money I had left was sufficient to pay for a good 
 supper and a good bed to lie down on. Instead, 
 however, of enjoying a profound sleep, which such 
 excellent fare was calculated to procure me, the state 
 of my affairs presented itself to my imagination in a 
 thousand distressing forms, and prevented me from 
 sleeping a wink the whole of the night. " Hitherto," 
 said I to myself, " [ have always had plenty to eat 
 and drink. But this will now soon be over. When 
 a man has bread to eat he may support himself under 
 any affliction. 'Tis well to have a father; 'tis well 
 to have a mother; but nothing is to be compared to 
 a good bellyful." 
 
 Necessity with her heretic visage now stared me 
 full in the face, and occasioned the most terrible 
 apprehensions in my mind ; and I would gladly have 
 returned to Seville, had I not considered that money 
 was quite as necessary to repair my folly as to pursue 
 my fortune. I could compare myself to nothing but 
 some half-starved cur, who, having lost his way, 
 finds himself surrounded by a number of larger dogs
 
 260 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 barking and growling at him on all sides. In addi- 
 tion to this, how could T without shame return to my 
 mother's house after having left it with so much 
 resolution. The loss- of my cloak also recurred to 
 my remembrance, which I imagined would be a fine 
 subject for ridicule on my return. This last con- 
 sideration was sufficient to determine me not to 
 return to Seville ; in addition to which I was not 
 less concerned that I must stop when I was in so 
 fair a way. A point of honour then seized me, and 
 I resolved to continue my journey, abandoning my- 
 self to Providence. I took the direct road to Madrid, 
 the ordinary residence of our kings, hoping to see 
 something of the Court, which I had been told was 
 most brilliant from the great number of noblemen 
 that composed it, and above all from the presence of 
 a young king newly married. All this excited my 
 curiosity, and I encouraged the most flattering 
 ideas, building castles in the air without number. 
 I fancied that a lad of my air and figure would soon 
 be noticed in such a country, where I should soon 
 make friends, and could not fail of making my 
 fortune. Full of these deceitful visions I had little 
 inclination to sleep, and lay expecting the day with 
 impatience. But no sooner had it arrived, and I 
 had set out for Madrid, than all these chimeras 
 vanished, leaving nothing before my eyes but a long 
 and tedious journey. 
 
 "Courage, Signor Guzman," said I to myself; 
 " consider that you cannot now retreat. Keep up 
 your spirits, therefore, my friend, and do your best
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 261 
 
 whatever may happen. Instead of having a cloak 
 upon your shoulders, which would only incommode 
 you at this time of the year, be content that you 
 have a good stick which will assist you in walking." 
 I passed the whole day without eating, and at night 
 laid myself down on the grass at the foot of a large 
 tree, where I fell asleep from fatigue, and did not 
 wake until the sun had risen the next morning, 
 when I began to feel that I could have made a very 
 hearty breakfast if I had had any provisions; but 
 not having even a morsel of the coarsest bread, I 
 found myself obliged to set forward again upon an 
 empty stomach, and with an appetite increasing 
 every moment. Towards night, my hunger became 
 such, that I could scarcely walk from weakness. In 
 vain did my stomach plead its emptiness; my legs 
 seemed unwilling to support my weight any farther. 
 Just at this moment two gentlemen, who by their 
 looks seemed to be rich merchants, trotted briskly 
 past me upon mules. " Thank God ! " thought I, 
 " here are two gentlemen who will in all probability 
 defray my charges to-day." The hope of obtaining 
 a good meal at their expense inspired me with fresh 
 strength, and I resolved not to lose sight of them. 
 A meal was now of the most serious consideration 
 for me. With this impression I followed them so 
 closely that we arrived together at the inn where 
 they stopped. I looked more dead than alive when 
 I. came up with them; yet, tired as I was, I showed 
 myself disposed to make myself useful by holding 
 the bridles of their mules while they alighted, and
 
 262 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 offering my services to carry their portmanteau with 
 a bag containing their provisions into their apart- 
 ments. But, whether my officiousness rendered me 
 suspected by them, or that they were naturally rough 
 and distrustful, no sooner had I laid my hands on 
 the bag than one of them called out to me in a voice 
 which made me tremble from head to foot, " Out of 
 the way, boy! stand off!" I obeved without mak- 
 ing any answer to this disagreeable reception, and 
 formed but a bad presage in favour of the gratifica- 
 tion of my appetite; but determined not to be so 
 easily got rid of. I therefore walked behind them to 
 their room in a very humble manner, with my hat 
 in my hand. They had brought good provisions 
 with them, as is customary in Spain. I saw a roast 
 shoulder of mutton drawn from their bags, with part 
 of a ham, some bread and wine. This only increased 
 my extreme desire to serve them. To obtain their 
 favour, therefore, I advanced towards the table and 
 took up a glass, intending to rinse it for their use, 
 but the other merchant, who had not yet spoken, 
 snatched it from me, saying in a rougher manner 
 than his friend, " No, no, leave that glass alone. 
 We have no occasion for your services." 
 
 "O traitors!" thought I, "enemies to God and 
 man ! hearts of flint ! I find that T have exhausted 
 my breath and strengthto little purpose in following 
 you hither." I resolved, however, not to leave them, 
 in the hope that they might feel more charitably dis- 
 posed when their bellies were full, and throw me a 
 bone to pick, or even a bit of bread, out of com pas-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 26$ 
 
 sion. T was again mistaken; they continued eating 
 without deigning to cast a look towards me. I de- 
 voured their provisions with my eyes all this time; 
 but this would not satisfy my craving appetite. To 
 complete my mortification, I saw these monsters put 
 up the remains of their dinner in their wallet, even 
 to the smallest bit of bread, with which they left the 
 inn. What barbarity! whatasi<rht for a lad starving 
 with hunger ! I was ready to run distracted with 
 grief and inanition when a friar of the order of St. 
 Francis entered the room in which f stood. 
 
 I conceived but little hope of relief from this 
 quarter. What assistance could I expect from a 
 poor monk who travelled on foot, from a begging 
 friar, who seemed himself to stand in need of assist- 
 ance? He perspired freely, and appeared much 
 fatigued. He brought a wallet with him, which he 
 placed on the table, and upon which I fixed the most 
 attentive and eager looks. T could have stolen it 
 even from the altar; it made my mouth water before 
 I knew its contents. When his reverence took out 
 his provisions, which consisted of a large loaf of white 
 bread, and a piece of salt beef, which I should have 
 longed for even at my mother's table, I fixed my eyes 
 upon them, and stood in an ecstacy with my mouth 
 wide open. How did I wish that I had been his little 
 brother ! I fancied that I felt in my own throat every 
 morsel that he swallowed. 
 
 He happened to look at me by chance in the course 
 of his meal, and perceiving what I wanted, for my 
 looks spoke, " Good God ! " cried he, animated by a
 
 264 MATED ALE MAN. 
 
 holy zeal, "approach, my child ; T will not allow thee 
 to languish from want ; though I had but this hit of 
 bread, it should be thine. Here, my son," added he, 
 giving me half his bread and meat, " take a little 
 nourishment. I were unworthy to exist did I not 
 share with thee." 
 
 Providence ! who makest many of Thy creatures 
 to subsist even in stone, Thy Divine goodness never 
 forsakes us! I implored blessings on the head of the 
 reverend father for this act of charity towards me, 
 and began to show him that he was not deceived in 
 my half-starved appearance; and being now pretty 
 well replenished, I returned thanks to Heaven for 
 this fortunate rencounter. How pleased should I 
 have been had I been doomed to travel any distance 
 with this friar! My fate would have been enviable; 
 but, as chance would have it, he was going to Seville, 
 so that we parted immediately after dinner. Before 
 we separated, he put his hand into his wallet and gave 
 me half of another small loaf, saying, that I should 
 have my full share of all he had. I put up this last 
 half-loaf in my pocket, and after having eaten the 
 first with the beef, and drank some good, fresh water, 
 for the good friar had nothing better to offer me, I 
 set out again in good spirits towards Madrid. 
 
 1 travelled about three leagues farther during the 
 day, and in the evening reached Campanis, a large 
 village in New Castile, where I entered an inn, and 
 supped upon the half-loaf I brought with me, having 
 nothing better to eat. This inn was where the mule- 
 teers of Tuxillo lodged, for whom all the beds were
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 265 
 
 engaged, and who came in towards night. The land- 
 lord allotted me a lodging in the hay-loft, whither 1 
 mounted very contentedly, not being in a situation to 
 make any difficulties. I stretched myself on the straw, 
 and slept soundly until daybreak, when I rose with a 
 light stomach, which, as you will recollect, was by 
 no means overloaded the preceding night, and had 
 already got out of the inn, when the rascally land- 
 lord was uncivil enough to stop me, demanding pay- 
 ment for my night's lodging, for which he charged 
 four maravedis. As I had not even one in the world, 
 I struggled to escape from his grasp, but he held me 
 fast, and perceiving that my coat was made of good 
 cloth, he was on the point of taking it off, by way 
 of settling the dispute, had not a muleteer who was 
 standing by taken pity on me. 
 
 " Leave the lad alone," said he to the host, " I will 
 pay for him. I see how the matter stands; this 
 young man has run away either from his father's or 
 his master's house." 
 
 At these words the landlord looked at me, and 
 asked me if I was disposed to serve him, having occa- 
 sion for the assistance of a boy like me in his inn. 
 
 At any other time such a proposal would have 
 appeared ridiculous to me, and I should even have 
 been offended at it; but misery relieves one from 
 such scruples, and reconciles the greatest hardships. 
 After having considered for a few moments, the 
 prospect of starvation made me accept his offer. 
 "Enter my house, then," said he; "there are but 
 two things I shall require of you : to give out the
 
 266 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 oats and straw to the passengers, and to be sure tc 
 render me a good and faithful account." I promised 
 to acquit myself in this noble post to the utmost of 
 my abilities, after which I was engaged beyond the 
 power of retracting. 
 
 However hard service was to me, who had hitherto 
 been accustomed to be waited upon myself, I was at 
 first tolerably well contented with my situation. 
 Very few gentlemen passed that way in the course 
 of the day, so that, generally, I had nothing to do 
 but to eat and drink until night, when the muleteers 
 arrived. I soon learnt all the manoeuvres of inns; 
 how to swell the corn to three times its quantity with 
 boiling water, and how to measure it out afterwards 
 to the best advantage. There was no occasion to 
 point out to me more than once the peculiar con- 
 struction of the mangers, for after one attempt I 
 well knew how to watch my opportunity to deprive 
 the passengers of at least a third part of the corn they 
 paid for, and even the muleteers did not always 
 escape; but when by chance any young cavaliers, 
 distinguished by their insignia and the nice cut of 
 their whiskers, happened to stop at our house with- 
 out servants, we were particularly assiduous in our 
 attentions. No sooner did we perceive them than 
 we ran out to assist them to alight. These young 
 gentlemen, for the most part, affecting to be persons 
 of great importance, would not condescend to enter 
 the stable, but were content to recommend their 
 horses or mules to our care, which recommendation 
 had so powerful an effect that we never failed to lead
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 267 
 
 the poor beasts where there was neither hay nor a 
 single grain of com. We tied them to the rack and 
 left them to their meditations. Occasionally, how- 
 ever, out of pity, we gave them a handful of corn, 
 just by way of a lon-louclie, before their departure, 
 though of this scanty pittance the poultry in the yard 
 caught up half, and sometimes even the jackass got 
 his share of it. 
 
 In this manner were all those cavaliers served who 
 relied upon our honesty ; and if we made them pay 
 well for what their beasts had never eaten, judge in 
 what manner we charged them for their own expenses. 
 I was overjoyed when it fell to my lot to reckon with 
 them. "Your bill amounts to so many reals," said 
 I, "and so many maravedis," adding in a graceful 
 manner : " Y haga les luen provecho " " Much good 
 may it do you " a compliment which always pro- 
 cured me something for myself. You will very easily 
 believe that we always charged this sort of customers 
 twice as much as they owed, in spite of all the regu- 
 lations of the police, to which my master paid little 
 attention, though they were fixed up all over his 
 house. He was satisfied with having them in his 
 possession, and so long as he was able to pay the 
 officers their dues, he cared but little about observing 
 their ordinances. 
 
 The more experienced travellers always paid with- 
 out hesitation whatever was demanded, knowing that 
 it was useless to contend; but others who thought 
 themselves more cunning would frequently have the 
 landlord called that they might reckon with him. On
 
 268 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 these occasions, our master, for fear of doing himself 
 wrong, always increased the price of every article; 
 and when he had once taxed the bill at a certain 
 amount his sentence was without appeal, and they 
 were obliged to draw their purse-strings. Woe to 
 that traveller who presumes to complain of his treat- 
 ment, and to threaten an innkeeper in Spain for 
 having cheated him. As they are almost all of them 
 members of the holy brotherhood, he will be sure to 
 cause him to be arrested at the first village through 
 which he passes, accusing him either of a design to 
 burn his house to the ground, of having assaulted 
 him, or of having violated his wife or his daughter, so 
 that the poor traveller may esteem himself more than 
 ordinarily happy if he got off by paying double what 
 was before demanded of him, after having begged 
 pardon of his landlord into the bargain. 
 
 There were several pretty servant-maids in our inn, 
 but it was dangerous to have anything to say to them. 
 It was well for those who had their wits about them 
 when they left the house ; for whatever happened by 
 chance to be forgotten and left behind was sure never 
 to be heard of again. What roguery ! what infamous 
 tricks! what wickedness is constantly going on at these 
 inns! God is not feared, and justice is compounded 
 with. One would think that when a man becomes 
 an innkeeper he is at liberty to do what he pleases, 
 and has an absolute power over the property as well 
 as the persons of such as are obliged to stop at his 
 house.
 
 269 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 GUZMAN BECOMES DISGUSTED WITH HIS SITUATION^ 
 LEAVES THE INN, AND REPAIRS TO MADRID, 
 WHERE HE ASSOCIATES WITH SOME BEGGARS. 
 
 BESIDES that I was of too flighty a disposition to be 
 long contented in the same way of life, I could not con- 
 sider the one that I now led by any means suitable to 
 a spirited lad who had left his mother's house for the 
 sole purpose of seeing the world. In addition to this, 
 the servant of an innkeeper ranked lower in my 
 opinion than that of a blind beggar. I saw every 
 day boys of about my own age and size pass our door, 
 who, a/ter having asked alms, went gaily along the 
 road a^ain. This sight roused my feelings. " What," 
 said I to myself, " does the dread of hunger hold me 
 here, while these young fellows, who have no more 
 resolution than I ought to be master of, expose them- 
 selves courageously to hunger and thirst! I am in all 
 probability as* well deserving as they, and ought not, 
 therefore, to be less courageous." These reflections 
 inspired me with resolution, and, defying fortune, I 
 again set out for Madrid, after having demanded my 
 dismissal of my master, who gave me three reals ior 
 my services during the time I had been with him. 
 
 With this money, and the little I had saved from 
 the liberality of our customers, I was able to advance
 
 270 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 as far as the celebrated bridge of Arcolis upon Zagus, 
 whence I pursued my route as the others had done, 
 by holding out my hand in every village through 
 which I passed, and to every gentleman I met; but 
 the harvest had been so extremely bad that year that 
 people in general were but little disposed to be chari- 
 table. I was therefore soon obliged to sell my clothes., 
 so that I cut a most elegant figure when I reached 
 that celebrated capital of Spain. I was reduced to a 
 tattered pair of breeches, with a shirt black and torn, 
 a pair of stockings with a thousand holes in them, 
 and shoes which had no other soles than those of my 
 feet. I looked more like a fellow just escaped from 
 the galleys, than a gentleman's son of good family, 
 and could not possibly hope to be employed in any 
 gentleman's service, which was now the height of my 
 ambition. My miserable appearance was not calcu- 
 lated to prepossess any one in my favour, and he must 
 have been a bold man indeed who could have made 
 up his mind to admit me into his house. No one 
 could look at me attentively without saying in his 
 own mind, There is a young chap who only wants the 
 opportunity to perform some desperate trick. At 
 length, finding that my appearance was such that no 
 one would receive me either as page, footman, or even 
 as a turnspit, I turned my eyes towards a company 
 of beggars whom I perceived at a church door. I 
 considered them with attention, and they seemed so 
 healthy and void of care that I thought I could not 
 do better than enrol myself in their company. I 
 joined them accordingly, and was received by them
 
 THE LIFE OF GU2MAX D'ALFARACHE. 271 
 
 as a member whose mien and equipage were not un- 
 worthy of their fraternity. 
 
 Before I reached Madrid I had taken good care to 
 leave all my modesty on the road, as a load too heavy 
 for a foot-passenger to carry about with him. If I 
 had not ere this got rid of this cruel enemy to hunger, 
 1 should soon have lost every spark of it in the com- 
 pany of these good folks, who were severally and col- 
 lectively the most complete birds of prey. I followed 
 them everywhere, acting as a sort of assistant to them, 
 until I should become sufficiently experienced to con- 
 tribute my share towards making the pot boil, in 
 which there never failed to be plenty. Twice a day 
 we had a fine dish of soup, of which I was sure to 
 partake, provided I attended punctually to the hours 
 of dinner and supper, otherwise, being only an under- 
 ling, I should have found nothing but the empty 
 tureen for my share. 
 
 After supper we generally sat down to play; I soon 
 learned the games of quince, one and thirty, quinola 
 and primera, with a thousand tricks on the cards. I 
 had so happy a knack, and my disposition was so well 
 suited to this science, that I made visible progress 
 under these excellent masters. Little as I was, I felt 
 desirous to imitate some of my companions, who, lest 
 they should be punishecWs vagrants, posted them- 
 selves with baskets in the different markets, offering 
 the citizens to carry home for them the provisions 
 they might purchase. This employment appeared 
 rather laborious to me at first, but I soon got so well 
 accustomed to it that I thought no man's lot prefer-
 
 272 MATEO ALEMAtf. 
 
 able to my owr.. " How charming," thought I, "to 
 live thus in plenty, without being obliged to use 
 either needle or thread, the hammer or the thimble; 
 nothing but a basket and a little industry being neces- 
 sary for subsistence ! The life of a beggar is a delicacy 
 without bone, an uninterrupted stream of pleasure, 
 an employment exempt from trouble and vexation. 
 How void of sense must my ancestors have been to 
 have taken so much pains to live in wretchedness! 
 In how many perplexities have they been involved 
 for the sake of supporting their commerce and repu- 
 tation ! O absurd honour of this world, thou art 
 but a millstone to sink such fools as consent to be 
 burdened with thee ! " 
 
 One day as I was carrying home a quarter of 
 mutton in my basket for an honest shoemaker who 
 walked before me, I picked up a paper which I per- 
 ceived lying in the street, containing some verses of 
 an old ballad, which I began to read and sing to 
 myself. The shoemaker, surprised to hear me, said 
 with a smile : " What, you ill-looking little dog, can 
 you read ? " 
 
 " And write too," answered I. 
 
 " Is it possible ? " cried he, much astonished. " If 
 you will teach me merelv to sign my name, I will 
 pay you well for your trouble." 
 
 I asked of what possible use the knowing how to 
 sign his name only could be to him, and he told me 
 that having obtained a good situation through the 
 influence of a certain person, whom he named, whose 
 family he had supplied with shoes gratis, he should
 
 THE LIFE OF 9UZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 27 j 
 
 be glad to be able to sign his name when necessary, 
 that he might not be obliged to confess that he could 
 not write. 
 
 As soon as we entered his house he caused pen, 
 ink, and paper to be brought, and I commenced my 
 occupation of writing-master, showing my scholar 
 how to hold his pen, and guiding his hand. I then 
 made him form the letters that composed his name 
 go many times over, that he fancied he had already 
 acquired the elements of the art of writing. After 
 having scribbled over and blotted five or six sheets of 
 paper, he was so well satisfied, that he made me try 
 on a pair of new shoes, which fitted as if they had 
 been made for me, and which he presented me with. 
 I then took leave of him, assuring him that whenever 
 I wanted a new pair of shoes, I would call and give 
 some further lessons to make him quite perfect in 
 his writing. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 GUZMAN IS ENGAGED BY A COOK. 
 
 I WAS well content in this new way of life, in which 
 I enjoyed that liberty so eagerly desired by all the 
 world, so boasted of by philosophers, and so often 
 sung of by poets ; I possessed that precious treasure 
 which is preferable to gold or silver; but unfortu- 
 nately I did not long retain it, for a cursed cook soon 
 deprived me of it. This cook was one of my most
 
 274 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 constant employers : "My friend," said he one day, 
 " I am well pleased with you, and am willing to put 
 you in the way of making your fortune ; quit your idle 
 companions, and come and fill the place of scullion 
 at my master's, which is now vacant; I will myself 
 teach you the duties of the kitchen out of friendship, 
 and qualify you to become cook to the king himself. 
 Happen what may, the very least advantage you can 
 derive from a knowledge of this fine art is to enable 
 you to return to your own country a rich man." In 
 short, he so completely cajoled me, that I willingly 
 accepted his proposal. 
 
 He then conducted me to the hotel of the noble- 
 man whom he served, where I took my post and my 
 scullion's cap, that is, a nightcap, with a white apron. 
 The first thing that was given me was some parsley 
 to shred, which is always considered like the alphabet 
 to those who aspire to the higher degrees in the 
 kitchen. The cook, my master, was a married man ; 
 he had a house in the neighbourhood where his wife 
 lived, and where we both went home to sleep every 
 night ; but I passed the principal part of the day at 
 the hotel, where I was always ready to oblige every- 
 body. My activity and good-nature soon gained me 
 the esteem of my fellow-servants of both sexes. 
 I performed their commissions with punctuality, 
 secrecy, and fidelity, and was rewarded by many 
 small gratifications in return. In the kitchen I per- 
 formed my duty to admiration, and my master was 
 go well satisfied with me, that he often said I was 
 born to tread in his footsteps.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 275 
 
 I grant that all this cost me no small trouble, but 
 then I was amply recompensed by the many advan- 
 tages that my exertions procured me. Next to the 
 profession of begging, which is undoubtedly the most 
 charming condition of civilised society, I could not 
 possibly fare better than I did in this kitchen ; having 
 been bred to good cheer, I felt myself completely in 
 my element. No plate came in or went out of the 
 kitchen but I had a lick at it, no sauce but what I 
 tasted, and I can assure you my master made most 
 exquisite ragouts. The cooks of St. Giles's, of St. 
 Dominick, of the Gate of the Sun, the great Market 
 Place and Toledo Street, must excuse me if I rank 
 him far above them in this art, notwithstanding the 
 high reputation they have established. 
 
 I might have been perfectly happy had I resisted 
 the opportunity of gaming; but I could not long 
 withstand the temptation of joining the lackeys and 
 pages, who were at cards almost the whole of the day. 
 At first I spent only now and then a quarter of an 
 hour with them, or half an hour at the utmost; but 
 when I found that my natural inclination for this 
 cursed habit was not sufficiently satisfied by day, I 
 was induced to steal from my master's house in the 
 night-time, as soon as I believed him to be asleep, for 
 the purpose of joining my companions at the hotel, 
 with whom I generally remained until sunrise the 
 next morning. If my master had been informed 
 of my conduct he would undoubtedly have horse- 
 whipped me handsomely; but no one apprised him 
 of it, for fear of getting me into trouble. Meantime
 
 #6 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 I lost all the money that I had earned in the execu- 
 tion of commissions, without losing my taste fof 
 gaming on the contrary, my desire for play in- 
 creased daily, and I was induced to steal to supply 
 me with means; this I had never yet been guilty of, 
 although I well knew that, from my master down- 
 wards, all the servants in the hotel were in the habit 
 of appropriating to their own use everything they 
 could lay their hands on. Every one took good care 
 of himself, and what is more surprising, though they 
 were all well aware of each other's practices, no one 
 ever impeached the rest, but kept the secret which 
 equally affected them all. 
 
 Though T had not been a gamester from inclina- 
 tion, and though I had not been from nature eagerly 
 disposed to possess myself of the property of another, 
 these examples alone would have been more than 
 sufficient to corrupt me. I soon began, therefore, to 
 follow the fashion. I cast my eyes with eagerness 
 all over the house, and whatever I could pilfer with- 
 out being observed was soon converted into money ; 
 but, unfortunately for me, I had no sooner acquired 
 it than I lost it again at play. 
 
 In addition to the opportunities which presented 
 themselves to me to exercise my sleight-of-hand at the 
 hotel, which rmVht be compared to a sea open to all 
 sorts of fishermen, I had my master's private house, 
 which, though indeed but a small river, in which it 
 was not likely to take fish of any considerable size, 
 yet afforded me one day tolerable good sport. My 
 master regaled some of his friends, all good bottle-
 
 LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 277 
 
 companions and 'fond of good cheer like himself, 
 with a collation one afternoon, treating them with 
 andouilles and hams, which caused them to drink 
 three times as much as usual. During this entertain- 
 ment I was at the hotel, and when I had finished my 
 work, returned home to see if I was wanted. The 
 visitors were already gone, and I found the parlour 
 intolerably hot and full of dust, the cloth still on the 
 table, and the floor strewed with empty bottles, most 
 of them broken. My master, whom I did not see, 
 but whom I heard plain enough, was snoring on his 
 bed so loud as to make the whole house ring with 
 the noise ; and my mistress, who was about as sober 
 as her husband, lay by him sleeping as sound as a 
 top. 
 
 I contemplated for some moments the remains of 
 this debauch, when I happened to cast my eyes on a 
 silver goblet which stood on the table, and resolved 
 to steal it. I was certain that nobody had seen me 
 come in, and I could leave the house again equally 
 unobserved. This reflection was sufficient to deter- 
 mine me : " With your leave, Mr. Goblet," whispered 
 I, putting it into my pocket, " you shall pay me for 
 these broken bottles ; " then closing the door softly 
 after me, I placed my booty in a safe place, and re- 
 turned to the hotel as though nothing had happened. 
 Towards evening my master came into the kitchen, 
 somewhat recovered of his debauch, but in so peevish 
 a humour that he complained of the merest trifles, 
 and immediately began to quarrel with me for having 
 a fasgot too much on the fire. I made no answer,
 
 278 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 but accompanied him home after supper, where he 
 immediately went to bed. As to his wife, she had 
 so comfortable a nap that she was now as composed 
 as usual, except that she appeared dull and vexed 
 about something. I inquired the cause with as much 
 effrontery as if I had been entirely ignorant of it. She 
 informed me that she could not find the goblet, tell- 
 ing me at the same time that it was not the value of 
 the thing that she regretted, but the passion that her 
 husband would be in when he missed it, from whom 
 she should never hear the last of it. 
 
 I endeavoured to console her not to the utmost 
 of my power, for nobody was so well able as myself 
 had I been disposed but by representing to her that 
 this troblet was not of so singular a manufacture but 
 that a fellow to it might be found in Madrid; that 
 she had nothing therefore to do but to purchase 
 another of the same make and fashion, telling her 
 husband that it was the same which she had had fresh- 
 washed, or that it was a new one she had bought by 
 giving the other and a few reals in exchange. She 
 approved of my advice, and requested me to endeavour 
 to procure one for her; and so next day I carried the 
 stolen goblet itself to a goldsmith's a good way off 
 from our house, desiring him to have it washed, 
 which he promised to get done in such a manner for 
 me that it should appear as good as new. 
 
 I communicated this good news to my mistress. 
 v Madam," said I, " I have been fortunate enough 
 to find a goblet at a jeweller's shop exactly resembling 
 the one you have lost, but the quality and fashion of,
 
 THE LIFE Of GUZMAN D'ALFARACPIE. 279 
 
 it are so excellent that the very lowest price at which 
 it can be procured is fifty-six reals." Anxious to avert 
 the storm that threatened her, she counted me out 
 that sum without hesitation, and gave me half a real 
 for my trouble. I accordingly carried the aforesaid 
 goblet to her in the evening, which she thought so 
 exactly like the other that she said she was convinced 
 her husband would never know to the contrary. 
 
 The fruits of this worthy exploit enabled me to 
 game afresh. It was, indeed, a considerable sum for 
 a scullion to apply to such a purpose ; but, alas ! all 
 these reals soon fell into the gulf which had already 
 swallowed up the produce of my former knaveries. 
 Those with whom I played were more experienced in 
 the art than I was, although I had learnt among the 
 beggars how to shift the cards, to make false cuts, 
 and many other villanous tricks of the like nature. 
 
 About this time my master was desired to prepare 
 an elegant dinner for a foreign prince who had newly 
 arrived at Madrid. Early in the morning of the day 
 preceding that on which this entertainment was to 
 be given, the cook took me with him into the kitchen, 
 where the purveyor had just sent provisions of every 
 description necessary for the fete. We immediately 
 began, before the others joined us, to set apart what- 
 ever we considered our dues of office, and soon filled 
 a large sack with loins of veal, hams, tongues, and 
 all kinds of fowls, which we concealed until night, 
 when I was desired to convey it home as privately as 
 possible. This I could not do without great fatigue, 
 so heavily was I laden. I afterwards returned to the
 
 2 8o MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 kitchen, where I found employment until midnight 
 in preparing fowls for dressing on the next day, and 
 after T had finished my work, my master charged me 
 with the care of a second sack, containing hares, 
 pheasants, and partridges, saying: " Here, Guzman, 
 carry this home safely, and go to rest, my little friend ; 
 you will tell my wife that I know not how long it 
 may he before I come home." The liar! he knew 
 well enough he should be obliged to remain all night 
 at the hotel, where his presence was absolutely neces- 
 sary to superintend the other cooks, who were actively 
 engaged under his directions. But "he was rather in- 
 clined to be jealous, although his wife was no beauty ; 
 and he only sent her this message to deceive her, that 
 she might regulate her conduct accordingly, evidently 
 fearin<r that she miirht think fit to call in a neighbour 
 to fill his place during his absence ; this being a kind 
 office which people are as ready to perform towards 
 cooks as towards other absent husbands. 
 
 Having reached home, the first thing I did was to 
 hanir the contents of my sack in rows along the wall, 
 which formed a very pleasant-looking tapestry, after 
 which I began to think of going to bed, for I stood 
 much in need of rest after so hard a day's work. My 
 mistress, who slept in the lower parlour, was already 
 in bed. I ascended to my apartment, which was a 
 garret into which the sun darted its rays from morn- 
 ing till night, making it as hot by night as by day. 
 I threw off my shirt to be more cool, and stretched 
 myself as naked as I was born on the sorry bed in 
 which I usually lay; but my slumbers, sound as they
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 281 
 
 were, were disturbed about an hour afterwards by a 
 most frightful noise, occasioned by cats, who were 
 fighting desperately, and the gallery appeared to me 
 to be the field of battle. This made me uneasy. 
 " There will be the devil to pay," said I to myself, 
 " if these malicious animals should fall upon our 
 provender! it were best for me to go and see what is 
 the matter that creates so terrible a din." Hereupon 
 I jumped out of bed ; and not staying to put on my 
 shirt that I might not lose so much time, I hastened 
 to descend into the gallery ; but scarcely had I set 
 foot on my ladder, for I had no other staircase, than 
 I perceived a light before me, which stopped me 
 short. I looked round to discover whence it pro- 
 ceeded, and observed a figure all naked like myself, 
 and so black that I took it to be no other than 
 the devil himself. This phantom, which made me 
 tremble like an aspen leaf, was my mistress, who, 
 having been also waked by the cats, had come to the 
 assistance of our pheasants and partridges with a 
 lamp in her hand, and clothed like myself in parts 
 naturalibus, having neglected to put her shift on 
 again on so pressing an occasion. As we thought 
 each other sound asleep, this precaution had been 
 considered superfluous by us both. We perceived 
 each other at the same moment, and if I took her 
 for a devil she took me for a sprite. I shrieked out 
 most horribly, and she echoed me with equal strength 
 of lungs, and ran into her chamber almost frightened to 
 death, whilst I endeavoured to regain my garret ; but 
 as my ill luck would have it, I slipped from the ladder.
 
 282 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 and fell with such violence into the gallery that I wai 
 bruised from head to foot. 
 
 I got up again with considerable difficulty, and 
 groped my way along in the dark until I came to a 
 place where I knew there was a tinder-box, as well as 
 some matches and ends of candles. I obtained a 
 light, with which I returned to the gallery, to see 
 whether the combatants were still there, but our 
 cries had frightened them away. Finding that the 
 enemy was fled, I examined the articles with which 
 1 had lined the walls, one after another, and found 
 that the bloody battle, the noise of which had dis- 
 turbed my mistress and myself, had been occasioned 
 by the contention for a larded hare, for a share of 
 which the cats had disputed with so much rage that 
 there was nothing remaining of it but the bones. 
 
 I put all our provisions as much out of their reach 
 as I could, and went to bed again ; but to sleep was 
 impossible, for in addition to the pain caused by my 
 bruises, I could not get my mistress's figure out of 
 my mind, whose swarthy skin I fancied still before 
 my eyes. The sight of a woman like this naked, is 
 frightful indeed ! 
 
 Day having at length come to dispel the visions of 
 so disagreeable a night, I rose and dressed myself to 
 attend my master, who had given me strict orders to 
 be with him very early in the morning. As soon as 
 I saw him, he inquired after his wife and family, and 
 I told him that my mistress was well, and that I had 
 left everything in the house in good order; not 
 thinking it prudent to inform him of the adventure
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 283 
 
 of the cats, for fear he should think fit to impute to 
 me the sad fate that the hare had met with, and 
 punish me for my negligence accordingly. 
 
 The bustle and confusion in which our kitchen 
 now was, in preparing to entertain the prince who 
 was expected, would have formed a fine subject for a 
 painter. Every one was in action, not only those 
 employed in the kitchen, but also those who were 
 constantly passing to and fro. We needed only to 
 ask to have anything, which every one took care to 
 do pretty freely. The provisions seemed to vanish 
 as quickly as they appeared ; one said, " Bring me 
 sugar for the tarts," and another cried, " Bring me 
 more tarts to be sugared." Thus it was with all the 
 rest ; nothing was necessary but to vary the manner 
 of asking a little, to obtain anything twice or thrice 
 over. We call these grand entertainments, jubilees, 
 as though we thought to obtain indulgences by 
 robbing the master whose bread we were eating. It 
 is certain that the river overflowed on these occasions 
 on all sides, and the fish swam in deep water. For 
 my own part, being but a small sparrow-hawk, I 
 waited patiently until the kites and other larger 
 birds of prey had their talons full; in the meantime, 
 however, my hands itched so immoderately, that I 
 could not refrain from clipping into a basket of eggs, 
 and slipped half a dozen of them into my pocket. 
 
 Ill luck still pursued me; my master saw me, and 
 wishing to establish the reputation of an honest man 
 and zealous servant at my expense, in the presence 
 of so many of the house servants, he came up to me
 
 284 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 with a savage countenance, and gave me such a 
 kick that he laid me sprawling on the ground, and 
 as I happened to fall on that side where I had the 
 pocketful of eggs, they all broke, and made an omelet 
 which ran down my thighs, to the great amusement 
 of the company present, with the exception of my 
 master, who still looked very serious, and adding 
 menaces and reproaches to insult, told me, that " he 
 would teach me to steal in so great a lord's house." 
 I was so enraged at the behaviour of this rascally 
 cook towards me, that it was with great difficulty I 
 refrained from answering, that nobody, inde d, could 
 teach me better than himself; and that th< se eggg 
 for which he had chastised me were laid by the 
 fowls he had ordered me to carry home to his house 
 the night before ; but I held my tongue, and thereby 
 escaped any further kicking, with which so laconic 
 an answer would certainly have been rewarded. 
 Take lesson from my behaviour on this occasion, 
 reader, if you happen to be so fortunate as to recol- 
 lect it, when you feel desirous to show your wit by 
 some satirical speech which may be of ill consequence 
 to you in your future welfare. 
 
 Notwithstanding this unlucky accident, I managed 
 afterwards to pocket unobserved two partridges, four 
 quails, and half of a roast pheasant, with some sweet- 
 breads of veal, which I secured less from interest 
 than to try my dexterity ; not being willing to have 
 it said of me, that I had been at Court without seeing 
 the king, or at a wedding without kissing the bride. 
 The banquet being over, as my master and I were
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 285 
 
 returning home together in the evening, he said to 
 me; "Guzman, niy friend, think no more of what 
 passed between us in the kitchen this morning ; for- 
 get the kick I was obliged to give you; it behoved 
 me more than you can imagine to treat you in this 
 manner; it was a piece -of policy for which I was 
 sorry in the main. But think of it no longer, my 
 lad, and to make you amends for this little accident 
 I will make you a present of a new pair of shoes 
 to-morrow." This was an article I was so much in 
 need of, that I was delighted with the promise, and 
 my resentment against him instantly subsided. He 
 did not, however, keep his word, being prevented by 
 what happened the next day. 
 
 My mistress gave me a very sour look when we 
 got home; whence I conceived that she had taken 
 an aversion to me on account of the last night's 
 adventure, and I was not deceived in my opinion, 
 for she seemed evidently ashamed to look me in the 
 face. But I am convinced that she was less mortified 
 at my having seen her naked, than afraid of the fine 
 report I might make of the adventure. I went to 
 bed, however, without feeling much anxiety as to 
 what she thought, and resolved to sell the game and 
 veal sweetbreads I had stolen the next day. I rose 
 so early in the morning, that I left my master in 
 bed, and ran to the market, quite sure that I should 
 have abundance of time to dispose of my merchan- 
 dise, and still to get to the hotel before him. I soon 
 found a purchaser in an old cook, whom I never fail 
 to curse whenever I happen to think of him, who
 
 286 MATED ALE MAN. 
 
 professed himself ready to buy whatever I had. 1 
 was so pressed for time that the bargain was soon 
 struck ; and I agreed to let him have my provisions 
 tor six reals, and was only waiting for my money to 
 start off as swift as a roebuck ; but this old dotard 
 was as punctilious and slow as I was hasty and 
 impatient. He must first put a register which he 
 held in his hand under his arm, then take off" his 
 ragged gloves, and hang them to his girdle ; after 
 which he pulled out his spectacles and spent about 
 half an hour in cleaning them to examine the money 
 he was going to pay me. 
 
 In vain did I entreat him to make more haste, 
 telling him I had an affair of consequence which 
 called me elsewhere; he was deaf to my prayer. 
 How long a time did he consume in untying his 
 purse, and how many pieces of money did he amuse 
 himself with looking at, one after another, before he 
 began counting the money into my hands, by quar- 
 ters and half quarters of reals, and even maravedis : 
 all this almost drove me mad. " What, old fumbler," 
 muttered I between my teeth; "can such a trifling 
 old cur wish to enrage me, or to amuse me here, until 
 my master, who is already suspicious of me, and who, 
 perhaps, is at this moment looking everywhere for 
 me, come up and surprise me ? " This, it appears, 1 
 had more reason to apprehend than I imagined ; the 
 cook had heard me leave the house, and was much 
 surprised at such extraordinary diligence; and sus- 
 pecting that I had some new scheme in my head, he 
 got up and dressed himself hastily that he might be at
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHB. 287 
 
 my heels; so that he stood immediately behind me at 
 the very moment the old man had at last got over the 
 ceremony of paying me. " Ho ! ho ! my boy, " cried 
 my master, seizing me by the hand and taking the 
 money, " what fine bargain is this you are making? " 
 At these words I stood more confounded than a smuggler 
 who is caught in the fact. I made no reply, and was 
 even patient enough to submit to another good kick, 
 accompanied by a thousand reproaches. He did not 
 leave me until he had forbidden me ever to enter his 
 house again, and threatened to thrash me soundly if 
 I was ever insolent enough to pass the door of the 
 hotel. My friend the merchant, unluckily for him, 
 remained on the spot until the close of this scene, 
 which was in consequence little better for him than 
 for me; for, attributing my present misfortune to this 
 old sorcerer, I fell on him in my passion, and snatched 
 my partridges and pheasants, telling him I was deter- 
 mined to have my own goods, and that he might get 
 his money if he could from the knave who had run 
 off with it. Thus saying I disappeared like a flash 
 of lightning, to sell my game in some other market, 
 leaving this phlegmatic old gentleman to his own 
 thoughts upon the adventure, which he most pro- 
 bably considered a plan concerted between the cook 
 and me to cheat him out of his money.
 
 ( 288 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 fROM THE SERVICE OF THE COOK, GUZMAN RETURNS TO 
 THE BEGGING TRADE, AND ROBS AN APOTHECARY. 
 
 WISDOM is better than riches, since Fortune is but a 
 fickle goddess, who bereaves us one day, of what she 
 has bestowed on us the preceding. During the course 
 of our lives she makes us resemble comedians, who 
 have every day new parts to study, and must appear 
 in different characters. Who could have thought 
 that after having served the cook so faithfully he 
 would have turned me out of doors for so trifling an 
 offence? It is true that thus the world wags, and 
 that persons of much greater consequence than my- 
 self are constantly treated in the same manner by the 
 great upon the most trivial occasion, after having 
 rendered them a thousand services. 
 
 Stop, Guzman, cry you, or you will lose yourself 
 in moral reflections. Whither will this learned dis- 
 course lead you? To my basket again, reply I; yes, 
 my friend, to my basket, which, having now become 
 to me as useful as eloquence was to Demosthenes, or 
 stratagems to Ulysses, consoled me under my present 
 misfortune. Long may the basket trade flourish, 
 which a man having once tried will never fail to 
 resume. I must candidly confess that when I re- 
 turned to it I was much in the same condition as
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 289 
 
 when I was fool enough to leave it; for all the pro- 
 duce of my former knaveries during the time I had 
 been scullion had gone as lightly as it came, and, with 
 the exception of a finer suit of clothes, I was no better 
 off than before. 
 
 That my returning to my old employment, how- 
 ever, might not be attributed to my indolent and dis- 
 contented disposition, I determined, before I purchased 
 a new basket, to offer my services to some cooks of 
 my master's acquaintance who knew me. If they 
 had received me, it was my intention to have rendered 
 myself thoroughly knowing in kitchen affairs, in which 
 I had already made so good a beginning, and for which 
 I might boast a most happy disposition; but they 
 had heard of my inclination for gaming, and that 
 nothing was safe within my reach when I wanted 
 money, and thus, finding there was no chance of 
 obtaining another situation of this description, I was 
 compelled to resume my former occupation. I there- 
 fore took up my basket again; and though I did not 
 fare so well among my comrades as at the hotel from 
 which I had been dismissed, yet I was once more 
 independent and completely master of my own 
 actions. Being naturally sober, this sort of life was 
 more adapted to my inclinations than the other, so 
 that I had but little reason to regret leaving a house 
 in which I was led into a thousand intemperances. 
 
 We basket-bearers had a small row of houses, or 
 rather hovels, near the market, which we had bought 
 at our own expense. Here it was that we usually 
 regaled ourselves and held our merry meetings. I
 
 290 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 always got up with the sun, and was ready at every- 
 body's call, by which means I never failed to secure 
 a profitable day's work from such of the citizens as 
 kept no servants, who employed me to carry home 
 the provisions they purchased ; and the faithful man- 
 ner in which I performed their commissions soon 
 established my credit in the several markets. 
 
 About this time commissions were issued to the 
 different regiments to raise new levies. When any- 
 thing of this nature happens the report soon gets 
 abroad, the people assemble in every direction to 
 discuss the subject, and a council of state is held in 
 almost every house. In ours, as you may imagine, 
 we canvassed the designs of the Court as freely as the 
 best of them, and had some politicians among us 
 whose conjectures were not very far from the truth. 
 Good sense is to be found in every condition. When 
 we were all assembled at night each reported what he 
 had heard or seen during the day in the principal 
 families in the city, and we formed our opinions 
 accordingly ; and I can assure you that, though some 
 among us reasoned absurdly, yet there were others, 
 the solidity and good sense of whose arguments were 
 fully justified by the occurrence of events which they 
 predicted. I well remember that, among others, our 
 fraternity could boast of a certain beggar with wooden 
 legs, who never left his post on a bridge, where he 
 begged the whole of the day, whose acquaintance 
 with state affairs would have astonished a prime 
 minister. 
 
 We concluded then that these new levies that were
 
 THE LIFE OP GUZMAN VALFARACHE. 291 
 
 making, the destination of which was concealed, must 
 be intended for Italy; and this, you will see, proved 
 to be true. The first time I heard these troops men- 
 tioned they brought into my mind my intended 
 journey to Genx>a, and made such an impression on 
 my spirits that I did not sleep a wink the whole 
 night. I felt more anxious than ever to see my rela- 
 tions, from whom I did not doubt I should obtain 
 a brilliant fortune, everybody telling me that they 
 were exceedingly rich, and many of them with- 
 out children, which latter I considered would be 
 charmed to have an heir of so great merit as myself. 
 To these flattering expectations, however, unpleasant 
 id?as soon succeeded. " How," thought I, " can I 
 have the insolence to appear before these noble 
 Genoese in this miserable dress? and though I tell 
 them I am their kinsman, are they likely to credit 
 my assertions? I hope they may be simple enough 
 to believe me ; but I fear they cannot fail to treat me 
 like a rogue and an impostor, if only to support the 
 honour of the family. Perhaps I may not escape even 
 so well as this, for my father, who was thoroughly 
 acquainted with the dispositions of his countrymen, 
 has often said that a Genoese is not to be trusted in 
 any case where his interest or reputation is concerned. 
 Still," thought I, " they may be honest like my father; 
 and I am persuaded that they will entertain too great 
 a respect for the memory of their deceased relative to 
 refuse to assist me in my present distressing situation. 
 They are too prudent to venture to treat me. as an 
 impostor before they have interrogated me as to our
 
 291 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 family affairs; and in this respect I shall be well able 
 to answer, for I can tell them such particulars as none 
 but my father's son could possibly be acquainted with, 
 and which, being not proper to be made public, they 
 will undoubtedly be obliged to do something for me 
 that I may not divulge them." 
 
 Thus I wavered betwixt hope and fear. Sometimes 
 I thought that I flattered myself too much, and at 
 other times that I desponded without reason. I 
 paused at the latter reflection, which was the more 
 consolatory of the two, and, hoping to fulfil the pro- 
 verb which says, " He that wishes to be Pope, need 
 only fancy himself one," I resolved to avail myself of 
 the favourable opportunity which now presented itself 
 of getting into Italy, by joining the levies that were 
 raising. One day as I was sitting at my usual post 
 reflecting on the pleasures I should enjoy at Genoa, 
 my agreeable reverie was disturbed by some one who 
 called me two or three times. I turned round to see 
 who it could be that was so well acquainted with my 
 name, and perceived that it was an old apothecary 
 who had often employed me before. He beckoned 
 me to come to him, and I ran immediately ; but two 
 of my companions, who were nearer to him, got before 
 me and proffered their services before I came up. 
 He, however, repulsed them sharply, saying, " No, no; 
 get you gone, birds of prey ; this is not a morsel for 
 you, but for my faithful Guzman." He little thought 
 he spoke so truly. Then addressing himself to me, 
 who had just come up, " Open thy basket," added 
 he, and he threw into it three bags of money, which
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN UALFARACHE. 293 
 
 he had with him wrapped in the corner of his 
 cloak. 
 
 "To what brazier must I carry all this copper?" 
 quoth I with a smile. 
 
 " This copper ! " answered the apothecary, laughing 
 outright ; " here's a pretty rogue of a beggar that 
 takes silver for copper. Come, march on," continued 
 he, "for I am in haste; I have engaged to pay a 
 foreign merchant this money to-day, who has sold me 
 some drugs." 
 
 This might have been his intention, but I had 
 formed another to defeat it the instant I heard those 
 charming words, "open thy basket." The news of 
 the birth of an only son causes less joy to a tender 
 parent than I felt at those sweet words, which en- 
 graved themselves on my heart, if I may so express 
 it, in letters of gold. I looked on these three bags 
 as a present sent me from Heaven, to enable me to 
 support the part I had to perform at Genoa, and 
 concluded them already my own. As my man had 
 not the slightest suspicion of me, being already well 
 convinced, as he conceived, of my honesty, he walked 
 before, and I followed him, pretending now and then 
 that I was obliged to rest myself a little, as if my 
 burden were too great, although, in truth, I could 
 have wished it much heavier. I never was so anxious 
 to meet a crowd of people as on this occasion, or even 
 a sly turning by which I could suddenly disappear 
 from my unsuspecting friend, the apothecary. We 
 chanced, however, shortly to pass a house with which 
 I was well acquainted, the front and back doors of
 
 294 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 which stood most invitingly open. I could not allow 
 this opportunity to escape me, but entered instantly, 
 and passed through the house without meeting with 
 any interruption, and in less than two minutes had 
 got through two or three streets as though I had 
 wings to my feet. I then resumed my usual pace 
 to avoid suspicion, being far enough from my apothe- 
 cary, and walked on as demurely as though nothing 
 had happened. 
 
 In this manner I soon arrived at the gate De la 
 Vega, that is to say, the open country, whence with 
 the same grave countenance I gained the bank of the 
 Manganares; then, crossing over to Casa del Campo, 
 I travelled a good league through woods and thickets, 
 and, as night approached, stopped among some pop- 
 lars very near to the river, where I began to consider 
 how I should proceed. " It is not enough," said I, 
 " to have begun so well, I must continue in the same 
 manner. Of what use will this prize be to me if I 
 cannot take care of it now that I have got it? If 
 I should happen to be nabbed, I -shall not only be 
 obliged to refund, but may lose both my ears to wit; 
 let me therefore look out for some place where I may 
 deposit my money in safety." 
 
 After having looked about for some time I made a 
 hole about two feet deep at the bottom of the river, 
 and let down my basket and bags of money into it. 
 Then covering them with large stones to prevent 
 them from floating, I set up a stake in the sand near 
 the spot, that I might be sure of recollecting where 
 my darling treasure lay concealed. After this grand
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN VALFARACHE. 295 
 
 operation I went to sleep at the foot of a tree hard 
 by, where I passed the night, not altogether free 
 from anxiety, though perfectly well satisfied with 
 the reflection that I was now so well off. When 
 daylight appeared I hid myself in a thicket until it 
 was dark again, when hunger, which drives the wolf 
 from the wood, obliged me to leave my haimts to go 
 and purchase some provisions, not at either of the 
 villages in the environs, where in all probability the 
 apothecary would have sent the alguazils after me, 
 but at Madrid itself, where I could best be concealed. 
 Having a little money in my pocket, independent 
 of my hoard, I ventured into the town, whence I 
 returned in about three hours with a hamper con- 
 taining provisions sufficient for eight days, and spent 
 the greater part of the night in cramming myself 
 with this good cheer. 
 
 When I awoke the next morning, I felt most 
 curious to examine the contents of the three bags. 
 In vain did I reflect that it must be the devil that 
 tempted me, and that I could not satisfy my curio- 
 sity without running the risk of being observed. I 
 could not help yielding to this gratification, which 
 was certainly the sincerest T had ever felt in my life. 
 I advanced to the side of the river, and after having 
 looked on all sides to see if anybody was near, I drew 
 my basket out of the water and carried it, dripping 
 with wet as it was, into my place of retreat. Here I 
 opened my bags, and found about two thousand five 
 hundred reals in them, all in silver, with the excep- 
 tion of thirty pistoles in gold, which I discovered
 
 296 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 carefully wrapped up in one of the bags. I spent 
 the whole of this day with the sincerest pleasure in 
 counting my pieces over and over again; and when 
 night came on, I put the whole into the basket again, 
 and secured them in their former hiding-place. 
 
 As it is not my intention, however, to pretend to 
 entertain my reader with a journal, I need only add 
 that, after having concealed myself in this manner in 
 the wood for a full fortnight, I considered that I had 
 no longer anything to fear, and that all the hounds 
 of justice had by this time so completely lost scent 
 of me as to have given over their pursuit. I fished 
 up my treasure again, which I deposited at the bottom 
 of my hamper, under some fresh provisions which I 
 had been again to Madrid to procure. As to my 
 basket, I left that in the water with the stones upon 
 it. I then cut me two good sticks, one to carry my 
 burthen on my back, and the other I made into a 
 sort of pilgrim's staff; after which, like a new pilgrim, 
 I took my route towards Toledo across the fields, 
 thinking it more prudent to avoid the highroads. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV- 
 
 GUZMAN ON HIS WAY TO TOLEDO MEETS WITH A 
 YOUNG MAN : WHAT PASSED BETWEEN THEM. 
 
 I TRIPPED along so briskly that after two nights' 
 trudge I found myself in the midst of the Sagra, 
 near a wpoc} called Aguqueyca, within about two
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 297 
 
 leagues of Toledo. I entered this wood, intending 
 to rest there the whole of the day, that I might rot 
 enter the city till night. I sat down under a shady 
 tree, and began to think in what manner I should 
 spend my money. I soon determined on so many 
 fine purchases that four times what I possessed 
 would have been insufficient to have procured them. 
 It were impossible to enumerate the variety of 
 visions and fancies that possessed my mind. I was 
 no longer afraid of appearing before my relations 
 like a besfsfar, but now looked forward with pleasure 
 to my arrival at Genoa, and all the purchases that I 
 made in my mind were with a view to cut a most 
 brilliant figure among them. 
 
 A stream of clear spring water ran at my feet, 
 with which I found myself much refreshed, and, 
 beginning to feel hungry, I spread my provisions on 
 the grass for breakfast. Scarcely had I eaten a 
 mouthful when I heard a noise, and, turning round 
 hastily, I was much alarmed at perceiving a man 
 close behind me, seated also on the grass, with his 
 head reclining against a tree. But when I considered 
 him with attention I soon found that I had nothing 
 to fear. He appeared to be about my own age, but 
 seemed as raw and inexperienced as if he had not 
 been long weaned from his mother's breast. Although 
 he was well dressed and had a large bundle lying at 
 his side, through which I could discern some clothes 
 and linen, he looked so unhappy that I judged his 
 purse could not be very full, and set him down for 
 some knight-errant like myself, who had been fool
 
 298 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 enough to forsake his family to wander about the 
 world. We stared at each other for some moments 
 withou.. saying a word ; but when I observed that he 
 looked with a longing eye on my provisions, I could 
 not help pitying him. His eager looks reminded me 
 of my own feelings when I stood before the kind- 
 hearted monk at the inn, and I determined not to 
 be less generous than his reverence. I therefore 
 immediately invited this young man in the most 
 polite manner to breakfast with me. Shame pre- 
 vented him at first from accepting my offer ; but 
 when I repeated it he laid aside his modesty, and 
 confessed to me that he had not tasted anything for 
 the last four and twenty hours. This I found no 
 difficulty in believing when I saw in what style he 
 demolished the meat and the bread and cheese I 
 gave him. 
 
 During the repast we inquired of each other con- 
 cerning our travels. He told me that he had come 
 from Toledo and was going to Madrid ; and I ac- 
 quainted him that I had just come from Burgos 
 and was on my way to Cordova. He then related 
 a most romantic story about the occasion of his 
 pilgrimage, and I was not more sincere with him ; 
 considering that he was but a novice, he lied with a 
 very good grace, and by no means disgraced his 
 countrymen, who have the reputation for wit and 
 smart answers on every occasion. I asked him how 
 he came to set out on his journey without providing 
 himself with victuals. He replied that he had not 
 had time to procure any, having been forced to leave
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 299 
 
 the place with precipitation, and that he was more 
 laden with clothes than money 
 
 "So much the worse," said I, "so much the 
 worse ; money is the most necessary commodity for 
 a traveller nowadays; for even though you were 
 going on a pilgrimage to St. Jago in Galicia, I would 
 not advise you to reckon much upon charity, which 
 has grown very cold of late ; you will find something 
 more than your staff necessary to support you by 
 the way." 
 
 " I perfectly agree with you," replied the Toledan, 
 '* and am well aware of my imprudence in setting 
 out without provisions; but as it cannot now be 
 remedied, it is useless to regret it." 
 
 " It is in your own power," answered I, " to repair 
 your neglect by disposing of a part of the clothes 
 contained in that large bundle, which you must find 
 extremely burdensome. Money is more portable." 
 
 " Granted," said he, " and I need not inform you 
 that it is my intention to sell at least half of them 
 as soon as I can find a purchaser." 
 
 " Perhaps," replied I, " without going any farther, 
 you have a man before you who is willing to relieve 
 you of the greater part of your load, and give you as 
 much for them as they are worth. Show me the 
 contents of your bundle, and I will select such as I 
 am inclined to purchase." 
 
 My little gentleman turned pale at these words; 
 he considered me a knave who intended to repay 
 myself for the breakfast by .robbing him of a part of 
 his property, or at least that I was willing to amuse
 
 5 oo MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 myself at his expense; for when he surveyed my 
 elegant attire, which was not worth four maravedis, 
 he could not for a moment think that I was in 
 earnest. Every one is apt to judge in this manner, 
 forming opinions of strangers from the difference of 
 dress and outward appearances. " Such as I see you, 
 such I take you to be." 
 
 I observed his confusion, or, rather, saw plainly 
 that he suspected my intentions ; and as he made no 
 answer, I drew out one of my bags, very deliberately 
 untied it, and exhibited a handful of reals to his 
 astonished eyes. " I believe, my little hero," said I, 
 " that here is enough to pay for what I wish to buy 
 of you." The colour was soon restored to his cheeks 
 at this sight ; he immediately left off eating, and ran 
 to fetch his bundle, saying that all he had was at my 
 service. At the same time he was proceeding to 
 show me his best suits, but this I would not permit 
 until we had finished our meal. His hopes seemed 
 to serve as a fresh sauce to his appetite, and he fell 
 to again as though he could not do sufficient honour 
 to my breakfast; he could scarcely contain the joy 
 that he felt. 
 
 That he might not form an ill opinion of me on 
 account of my appearance, and to prevent his suspect- 
 ing that the money which he had just seen was ill 
 got, I addressed him to this effect : " Whatever you 
 may take me for," said I, " be assured that I am in 
 reality as well born as yourself. This I have thought 
 fit to inform you, that you mav learn not always to 
 judge of people by their looks. When I left Burgos
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN b'ALFARACHE. 301 
 
 I had as good clothes as you, but I sold them in the 
 first village I passed through, to relieve myself of so 
 inconvenient a burden, and contented myself with 
 these tattered garments, which would excite the pity, 
 or at the worst the compassion, of thieves, whom a 
 better dress would probably have tempted. If I had 
 not taken this precaution I should have been robbed 
 a hundred times ere this, and be at this moment 
 without a single maravedi in my pocket. As, how- 
 ever, it is my intention to stop at Toledo for some 
 time on my way to Cordova, I have now immediate 
 occasion for a good suit of clothes ; and if you have 
 any that will fit me, I am ready to be a purchaser." 
 
 The Toledan, burning with impatience to com- 
 mence business, with his mouth still full, began to 
 spread out on the grass a complete suit, the cloak of 
 which was of most excellent cloth of a light grey 
 colour, together with two fine shirts, and a pair of 
 silk stockings. I tried them all on, and they fitted 
 me exactly. This the young man did not fail to tell 
 me, to make me have the better opinion of them. 
 He seemed apprehensive that my money would slip 
 through his fingers, or that I should change my mind. 
 He need have been under no such fear, for I was as 
 anxious to buy as he was to sell, so that our bargain 
 was soon struck. He asked me a hundred reals, and 
 I agreed to give him this price upon condition that 
 he would truck his clothes-bag with me for my 
 hamper. This he consented to, and I put my 
 money into it, with the two shirts and silk stockings. 
 My new clothes I still wore ; and I hung up the old
 
 302 MATEO ALEMAX. 
 
 suit and the rest of my rags on a tree, as a trophy of 
 my success in beggary. The Toledan, on his side, 
 filled the hamper with his goods and the victuals 
 that were left. During all this time the sun was 
 insensibly going down, and the hour of parting hav- 
 ing arrived, we embraced each other with a thousand 
 professions of friendship ; after which we each pur- 
 sued our particular route, both well satisfied with 
 our bargain. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 GUZMAN ARRIVES AT TOLEDO, AND ACTS THE MAN 
 OF FORTUNE THERE. SOME ACCOUNT OF HIS GAL- 
 LANTRIES. 
 
 IT was past nine o'clock when I entered the famous 
 city of Toledo. I combed my hair and put myself in 
 order, taking particular pains to rub the dust off my 
 shoes that I might with the greater assurance be able 
 to assert that I came in a coach. I requested to be 
 directed to the best inn, whither I repaired, requiring 
 my supper and lodging like a young man of fortune, 
 who troubled himself but little about expense. As 
 these are the sort of customers who are sure to be 
 well treated at inns, I was immediately shown into 
 an excellent chamber with a good bed in it, and 
 waited upon like any prince. I supped perfectly to 
 my satisfaction, and slept better than I supped. 
 The next morning, after having taken my choco-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 303 
 
 late, which I called for in order to impress them 
 with an opinion of my quality, I desired them to 
 send for a hatter, a shoemaker, and a swordmaker, 
 for it was indispensable for me to have a new hat, 
 sword, and shoes, to correspond with the rest of my 
 equipage. But the most essential thing of all was to 
 procure a tailor to disguise the suit I had bought as 
 much as possible, lest when I went abroad I might 
 happen to meet some of the relations of the young 
 man of whom I had purchased it, which might have 
 raised suspicions dangerous to me in my present 
 situation. I might very reasonably have supposed 
 that they would know it again, and perhaps accuse 
 me of having stolen it and assassinated the young 
 man. Justice would then have interfered, and this I 
 had more reasons than one to dread. I sent there- 
 fore for a tailor, who in a few hours so completely 
 disguised the suit, by covering the sleeves with taffeta, 
 changing the buttons, and putting a velvet collar on 
 the cloak, that the devil himself could scarcely have 
 known it again. 
 
 I paid my tailor handsomely ; and well pleased that 
 I could now venture out without the dread of getting 
 into difficulty on account of my dress, I took a 
 walk towards the evening in the Zocodover, where the 
 fashionables usually promenade. Metamorphosed as 
 I was, I was not altogether free from apprehension of 
 meeting some one who might recognise me. This 
 fear, however, did not prevent my feeling gratified in 
 observing that I was pa. ticularly noticed by the pret- 
 tiest women of slender virtue, who, looking upon me
 
 304 MATED ALEMAN. 
 
 as a handsome well-shaped young fellow who had 
 never yet been to Cythera, appeared most anxious to 
 have the honour of setting me in the right road ; but 
 I had resolution enough to resist all their seducing 
 glances. 
 
 What most surprised me was the extreme neat- 
 ness of all the gentlemen. My dress, notwithstanding 
 all the tailor's endeavours to adjust and beautify it, 
 appeared so shabby in comparison with those around 
 me that I resolved on having another. Just at this 
 moment a gentleman mounted on a beautiful mule 
 crossed the Zocodover in so handsome and stylish a 
 dress that I determined to get one exactly similar 
 made for myself. I could scarcely refrain from send- 
 ing for my tailor that very night. I managed how- 
 ever to wait till morning, though I never closed 
 my eyes the whole of the night, so completely was I 
 amused and delighted in considering how handsome 
 I should look in these new trappings. But when I 
 reflected on the probable expense of them, I began 
 to hesitate, notwithstanding the eager desire I felt to 
 appear in them. 
 
 " Well, Signor Guzman," said I to myself, " you 
 presume then to dress magnificently, and to supplant 
 all the gallants at Toledo! well done, courage, my 
 friend. Spend your reals without reflecting on the 
 deep game you have played to possess yourself of 
 them. That is not worthy of your consideration ; 
 all you seem to wish is to get rid of your money, 
 and you will find it go quick enough. Let a suit be 
 made agreeable to your fancy, and begin courting the
 
 THE LJ%E OP GUZMAN tfALFARACHE. 305 
 
 ladies, and you will soon come to your basket again. 
 Rely upon this; but do not think that you can every 
 day meet with apothecaries who will allow themselves 
 to be purged like your friend at Madrid." 
 
 All these wise reflections presented themselves, but 
 without effect; for no sooner was it daylight than I 
 sent for my tailor, to whom I gave the order, after 
 having given him an exact description of the dress 
 I had seen. He promised to make me one exactly 
 similar, undertaking to go himself and purchase the 
 materials, and assuring me that I should have it as 
 soon as possible; for I required him to be as expe- 
 ditious and punctual as though I were going to bt 
 married and only waited for my wedding clothes. 
 He accordingly sent it home two days after, and 1 
 had never seen anything more stylish and elegant, 
 the gold glittered all over it. When I put it on I 
 was in raptures at my handsome appearance and the 
 beauty of my figure, which was already perfectly 
 well formed, though scarcely fifteen years of age. I 
 thought that I was the very image of my father 
 when he was young, having a delicate white and 
 red complexion like him, with light-brown hair. I 
 should never have been tired of looking in the glass, 
 though I felt most anxious to go abroad again to 
 be admired in the city. No one who was not so 
 eminently pleased with his own figure as I was 
 could have been fool enough to have satisfied my 
 tailor without disputing his bill, which I might most 
 conscientiously have reduced two-thirds; but I did 
 not then think that I could possibly pay too much 
 
 VOL. I. U
 
 30t MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 for so tasteful an equipage. Mine hostess, seeing me 
 superbly dressed, told me I ought at least to have a 
 lackey. I immediately engaged one therefore that 
 looked like a page, for whom I was obliged to find 
 new clothes, to be worthy of a master of my 
 importance. 
 
 The first Sunday I failed not to attend the great 
 church, followed by my lackey, to whom I had given 
 proper instructions that he might do me honour. 
 The congregation was of the first quality in the 
 city ; I thrust myself in the midst of them with a 
 vast deal of assurance, and visited all the chapels one 
 after another, which caused many to think that I had 
 some design in my head ; it was, however, only to 
 show myself off. 
 
 I placed myself between the two choirs, having 
 observed that the principal ladies were always in this 
 part of the church. It was here that I displayed all 
 the fine airs I had seen practised by other young fools 
 at Madrid, and which I had performed at least twenty 
 times over in the morning at my glass. The first 
 thing I did was to choose a spot where I could be 
 seen from head to foot. Then I thrust out my 
 breast, and stood firm upon one leg, while I extended 
 the other in so stiff a position that it scarcely touched 
 the ground, showing by this means my fine stock- 
 ings, and that I wore garters of the German fashion 
 which were then in vogue. As this posture cramped 
 me extremely I was obliged to vary it every minute, 
 making divers grimaces at the ladies who looked at 
 me. I smiled upon one, looked coldly upon another,
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 307 
 
 with languishing eyes upon a third, and with spark- 
 ling eyes upon a fourth. In short, I so far over- 
 acted my part that all the ladies and gentlemen 
 who observed my manoeuvres began to titter at my 
 expense. This I took no kind of notice of, for I 
 had too good an opinion of myself to imagine they 
 could find anything ridiculous in my behaviour. 
 
 All the ladies, however, were not disposed to lau^'h 
 at my extravagant airs, there were even some among 
 them completely charmed by my manners; for, with- 
 out any offence to women in general, it may un- 
 doubtedly be asserted that there are always many of 
 that sex for whom the most impertinent coxcomb is 
 as exactly a match as if he had been made on purpose. 
 Amongst others, T had the happiness to please two 
 beautiful women, who could not refrain from letting 
 me know it. The passion of the one was created by 
 my looks and 'grimaces; but as to the favourable 
 sentiments of the other I could attribute them only 
 to my stars. The first of my two conquests was a 
 lively-looking woman, who had something roguish 
 in her eye, and a pleasing face. I ogled her like a 
 novice, and she seemed by no means displeased, for 
 women always prefer apprentices in this art to their 
 masters. She returned my tender glances, which 
 encouraged me to follow her after Mass, that I might 
 know where she lived. She walked very slowly, to 
 show me that it would not be her fault if I let her 
 escape, and I soon came up with her, and now and 
 then, as I walked behind her, whispered some soft 
 things to her as well as I was able at my age. She
 
 5o8 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 made no reply, yet now and then turned her head 
 round, looking at me in such a manner as persuaded 
 me that she dared not speak for fear of the duenna 
 by whom she was accompanied. 
 
 We at length came to a narrow street, near St. 
 Cyprian's Church, where she lived. In entering her 
 house she bowed her head to me to let me see that 
 she was not displeased at my having followed her, and 
 did not forget to dart an amorous look at me which 
 filled me with love and hope. I took particular 
 notice of her house, intending to return without fail 
 that very day to show myself before her windows. 
 T then took the way towards my inn again with hasty 
 steps. 
 
 I no sooner got into another street than a sort of 
 waiting-woman with a long thicl^ veil thrown over 
 her, accosted me as I passed along. " Signor Cavalier," 
 said she, " I beseech t you to follow me; I wish to 
 communicate something of consequence to you." 
 I did not hesitate a moment, but followed her until 
 we both stopped under a large open gateway, when, 
 seeing that nobody could hear us, she addressed me 
 thus : " Charming stranger, your appearance is so 
 handsome and prepossessing that you will not be 
 surprised when I tell you that a lady of quality, who 
 has seen you at church, is quite enchanted and capti- 
 vated by your elegant person, and wishes to have a 
 private conversation with you. This lady is newly 
 married, and so beautiful that . . . but," added she, 
 breaking off suddenly, "I will say no more; I must 
 let you form your own opinion when you see her."
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 309 
 
 T swallowed this bait most greedily, and could 
 scarcely restrain the pleasure that I felt. Affecting, 
 however, to appear modest, I answered that I knew 
 not in what terms to acknowledge the honour that 
 her mistress had conferred on me; that I did not 
 doubt she was a person of the first quality, and that, 
 therefore, I was most anxious to wait upon her and 
 throw myself at her feet to thank her for her good 
 opinion of me. 
 
 " Signer," said the confidante, "it will be dangerous 
 to think of seeing her at her own house, for she has 
 a jealous husband ; but tell me where you lodge, and 
 I will engage that to-morrow morning at farthest 
 you shall have an interview with her in your own 
 apartments." 
 
 I gave her my address, and she immediately de- 
 parted to rejoin her mistress, who, she said, was 
 waiting impatiently to know whether she had reason 
 to thank Dame Fortune or to reproach her. 
 
 I now found myself engaged in two love intrigues; 
 but I felt most inclined towards the first, not that I 
 was displeased with the second, for it was most flatter- 
 ing to my vanity. " What an advantage it is," 
 thought I, " to be handsome ! No sooner have I made 
 my appearance at Toledo than two ladies, apparently 
 of the first quality, are already in love with me. 
 What must be the consequence, then, if I stay here 
 long? I shall undoubtedly captivate all the women 
 in the city." I returned to my inn full of these 
 pleasing thoughts, which, however, did not prevent 
 my eating a very hearty dinner, after which I sallied
 
 3 io MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 out again, as soon as T was able without being incom- 
 moded by the heat of the sun, and flew towards St. 
 Cyprian, where I paced up and down before the 
 windows of the house into which my first mistress 
 had entered. Not so much as the shadov; of a 
 woman, however, was to be seen ; notwithstanding 
 which I loitered about until it was quite evening, and 
 my perseverance was at length regarded. I saw one 
 of the lower windows half opened, which I approached, 
 and in a nymph, who presented herself to my eyes in 
 an undress, I recognised my princess, who told me, 
 with considerable agitation, that her neighbours, who 
 were a tattling set, would suspect something, and 
 besought me to remain no longer in the street, but 
 to retire for some time, and return in about two 
 hours; that there would be nobody in the house but 
 herself and servants, and that if I pleased we might 
 then sup together. I was overjoyed at this invitation, 
 which I accepted by kissing one of her hands with an 
 air of tenderness, and at the same requested that I 
 might be permitted to contribute my dish towards the 
 supper. " That is by no means necessary," answered 
 the lady ; " but as what I have in the house may 
 possibly not be to your liking, you can do as you 
 please in that respect." 
 
 As soon as we had settled these preliminaries I 
 departed, for fear of attracting the attention of the 
 neighbours, and thereby destroying the happiness in 
 store for me, and rejoined my page, whom I had 
 ordered to wait for me at the top of the street, and 
 gave him some money, desiring him to procure me
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 311 
 
 a fine pullet nicely dressed, two partridges, a rabbit 
 pie, four bottles of excellent wine, and some of the 
 choicest fruits. All this was ready and sent at nine 
 o'clock precisely, and I soon followed, was received 
 by my nymph in the kindest manner, and conducted 
 by her into a neat chamber, where she usually slept, 
 with a handsome bed in it, and I could not help 
 observing, under a sort of pavilion made with rose- 
 coloured taffeta, a large tub. in which I supposed the 
 signora occasionally bathed herself. The table was 
 spread here, and the sideboard decorated with my 
 bottles and fruits. I was well pleased at the sight of 
 these preparations, which seemed to promise me an 
 agreeable evening, and could only have wished that 
 my lovely hostess had been in better spirits, for, in 
 spite of her endeavours to affect gaiety, I plainly per- 
 ceived that she was uneasy from some cause unknown 
 to me. 
 
 " My charmer," said I, " allow me to ask the cause 
 of that sadness which is so evidently depicted on your 
 countenance, and which it is in vain for you to 
 endeavour to conceal." 
 
 " Fair stranger," answered she, sighing, " since I 
 have not been able to conceal my mortification from 
 you, I confess that I am much vexed at some unseason- 
 able news I have just received. My brother, on whom 
 I am entirely dependent, who has been to Court to 
 solicit preferment, has just returned to Toledo; I 
 would have given you notice of this before had I 
 known where to send to you ; nevertheless," added 
 she, " as he is now gone to sup with a lady of
 
 312 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 whom he is enamoured, I do not expect him home 
 before midnight. We may, at least, have the satis- 
 faction of supping and conversing together; and I 
 have the consolation to add that he will return to 
 Madrid in a day or two, to stay there three months. 
 I should otherwise be inconsolable at his arrival, for 
 he is a man of the most violent temper, and most 
 punctilious in aflairs of honour. You cannot con- 
 ceive what a prisoner I am when he is at home, but, 
 thank God, we shall soon be free from him for some 
 time to come." 
 
 This discourse of hers somewhat moderated my 
 joy ; the unforeseen return of a brother, and one of 
 his disposition, appeared no laughing matter to me. 
 I felt very far from comfortable, and, to speak truth, 
 was sorry that I had not had notice of it before ; for 
 although I was not one of the greatest cowards, yet I 
 had much rather have been obliged to fight in a street 
 than in a house, where I must of necessity defend my- 
 self or lose my ears. As, however, the evil was now 
 without remedy, I considered myself called upon to 
 show my courage and resolution. I entreated the lady, 
 therefore, to have the supper served up at all events, 
 adding, with an air of intrepidity, that if her brother 
 came in and interrupted us he might choose what pro- 
 ceeding he pleased, but whichever he adopted towards 
 me he should find that he had to do with one who 
 would be at least his match. The supper was then 
 brought in and we sat down together, but at that 
 instant we heard a loud knock at the door. 
 
 " Heavens ! " cried she, rising from her seat as
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 313 
 
 though she was ruined ; " that must be my brother 
 what w'!l become of me ? " 
 
 You will perhaps imagine that, to support the 
 bravery of which I had just boasted, I prepared 
 courageously to receive the disturber of our pleasures 
 as I had resolved; but, on the contrary, I was so 
 surprised and terrified at his return that I thought of 
 nothing but preserving myself from his fury, and was 
 going to creep under the bed; but the sister, con- 
 sidering that I should be safer in the tub, thrust me 
 into it and covered me with a carpet. Unfortunately 
 for my laced coat this tub was wet and dirty, inde- 
 pendently of which I was much cramped and very 
 far from being at my ease in it. 
 
 In the meantime the door was opened to this 
 cursed brother, who had no sooner entered the 
 chamber than, astonished or pretending to be so at 
 finding the table and sideboard so well set out, he 
 remained for some moments without speaking a 
 word, but at length, breaking silence : 
 
 " What means all this preparation, sister ? " said 
 he in an imperative tone; "have either of us been 
 married to-day, or for whom is this entertainment 
 meant ? " 
 
 " For you only, whom I have been anxiously ex- 
 pecting," replied the trembling nymph. 
 
 " It is something new," continued he, " to treat 
 me with this ceremony. You cannot pretend that 
 it was to celebrate my return from Madrid, for I sent 
 you word that I should sup in the city." 
 
 " True," replied the lady, " but you well know that
 
 3*4 
 
 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 you have often come and surprised me after having 
 told me the same thing ; and, if you recollect, you 
 have sometimes been angry that I have not prepared 
 a supper for you." 
 
 " I am by no means satisfied," replied the brother, 
 "and I fear much that our neighbours' slanders are 
 but too well founded. For a lady of quality you are 
 not sufficiently circumspect in your behaviour. You 
 are well aware of my delicacy on that point, therefore 
 be cautious of taking any steps which may wound my 
 feelings; but," added he, "let us sit down to supper. 
 I am willing for this evening to put the best inter- 
 pretation on your intentions." 
 
 At these words he seated himself at the table, and 
 they both fell to upon my unfortunate supper. As 
 for him he kept grumbling all the while he was 
 stuffing at my expense, and his sister could not utter 
 a single word but what put him into a passion. He 
 cursed and swore, and whenever she ventured to 
 contradict him in anything, he seemed almost mad 
 with rage, called her every vile name he could think 
 of, and seemed ready to knock her down. Two or 
 three times in the course of their repast I ventured 
 to lift up a corner of the carpet with which I was 
 covered, to take a peep at this terrible fellow, but I 
 was so afraid that he would see me that I dared not 
 take a full view of him. 
 
 Time appeared less tedious to him at table than to 
 me in the tub, and I could not possibly conceive how 
 so passionate a fellow could remain so long patient 
 even in eating. He amused himself in this manner,
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 315 
 
 however, for about an hour, and that hour appeared 
 an age to me. He drank at least as heartily as he 
 ate, and emptied three of my bottles in the course of 
 his meal ; and when the table was cleared he called 
 for pipes and tobacco, to make an end, as he said, of 
 the fourth. Upon this the lady, wishing to make 
 me believe that she desired to get rid of this intruder, 
 entreated him to go and smoke in his own chamber, 
 and to leave her at liberty to undress herself and go 
 to bed, but he answered rudely that she might retire 
 whither she pleased, but that for his own part he felt 
 very comfortable where he was, and intended to pass 
 the night there. 
 
 Hearing this last resolution I now completely 
 gave myself up for lost; for I had flattered myself 
 that the least this abominable intruder could do, after 
 having stuffed himself in this style, was to leave the 
 chamber as he was requested ; and that I should 
 remain alone with his sister, to pick the bones he 
 was kind enough to leave. I even hoped that the 
 latter part of the night might prove more agreeable 
 to me than the commencement, but I did not long 
 remain under this nattering delusion. The lady, as 
 though she partook of my uneasiness, endeavoured to 
 prevail on her brother to change his mind, but not 
 being able to succeed either by tears or entreaties, 
 she left the room with all the appearance of being 
 much distressed on my account. No sooner had she 
 gone than her brother began to behave himself as if 
 he were drunk or mad ; sometimes he would sit very 
 quietly for a few minutes, then jump up and walk
 
 316 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 and dance about the room with his pipe in his 
 mouth ; sometimes he would snatch up his sword 
 and fence against the hangings, whistling, singing, 
 and talking to himself all the while, and swearing 
 like a Jew, threatening to exterminate any man who 
 should dare even so much as look at him. 
 
 After having passed above half the night in these 
 extravagances, he at last threw himself at full length 
 on the bed without undressing, placing his sword and 
 pistols within his reach by way of precaution. 
 
 " God be praised," said I to myself, " it will not 
 be necessary, now that he is on the bed, to rock him 
 to sleep; he will soon begin snoring to his heart's 
 content." I was, however, once more out in my 
 reckoning, the wine had not the same effect upon 
 him that it has upon others ; for, instead of falling 
 asleep, he did nothing but dose at intervals for the 
 space of about two hours, starting up every moment 
 and crying out, " Who's there ? " as if he heard some 
 noise in the chamber. The only noise that I made, 
 however, in my tub was in lifting up a corner of the 
 tapestry to hear whether he slept or not, which, in 
 my impatience to quit this cursed house, I certainly 
 did pretty frequently. Heaven at last took pity on 
 me. This boisterous hero at about daybreak fell a- 
 snoring most lustily, and I then slipped from under 
 my tub as quietly as possible, determined to run all 
 risks rather than remain any longer, and reached the 
 chamber door on tiptoe, with my shoes in my hand. 
 I raised the latch very gently, and made haste to- 
 wards the street-door, and being so fortunate as to
 
 TUB LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 317 
 
 find the key hanging up by it, I opened the door, 
 and ran all the way home to our inn. 
 
 Here 1 found that nobody was yet stirring, not 
 even my page, who, thinking that I should of course 
 pass the night in the arms of love, had gone to bed 
 very coolly, without giving himself any concern 
 about me. As I was not willing to disturb anybody, 
 I walked into a pastry-cook's shop in the neighbour- 
 hood, that was just opening, and, telling the master 
 that I was dying with hunger, requested he would 
 provide me with something to eat. He answered 
 that he had now in his oven some little pastries fit 
 to be presented to the Archbishop of Toledo, which 
 would soon be sufficiently baked. I determined not 
 to lose this treat, and while I waited until the 
 pastries were drawn from the oven I had an oppor- 
 tunity of reflecting on my late cruel adventure, and 
 the more I considered it the more lucky did T esteem 
 myself in having got off so cheaply. 
 
 The pastry-cook had not, in my opinion, boasted 
 of his pastries without reason, for I either found them 
 excellent, or else my appetite gave them an exquisite 
 taste, which they probably had not. When I left 
 this shop it was quite day ; I entered our inn and 
 hastened to my chamber, where I lay down on my 
 bed, and at last fell into a sound sleep, after having 
 tumbled abouf. for two hours without being able to 
 get my late adventure with the brother and sister, 
 and the characters which they had so well supported, 
 out of my head.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 GUZMAN S AMOURS CONTINUED, AND IN WHAT 
 MANNER THEY ENDED. 
 
 I COULD well have slept until very late in the morn- 
 ine, but as two ladies had inquired for me below, 
 one of whom was so richly dressed that my lackey 
 was quite dazzled by her magnificent appearance, he 
 came up to my chamber and awoke me to announce 
 this visit. I presently guessed this must be the 
 waiting-woman whom I had conversed with the day 
 before, who had kept her promise by prevailing on 
 her mistress to accompany her to call upon me. I 
 had no sooner desired my lackey to show them in, 
 than a lady of handsome mien and figure entered the 
 room, who by her elegant deportment and easy 
 manners could not, in my judgment, be less than a 
 marchioness or countess. She seated herself in a 
 chair at my bedside. I sat up in my bed and bowed 
 to her as respectfully as my situation would admit of, 
 begging her to excuse me for receiving her in this 
 manner, and adding that I had much rather offend 
 in that respect than allow a lady of her quality and 
 merit to wait a moment at the door. 
 
 " No more apologies," said she, " but let us come 
 to the point and content my curiosity. How long- 
 have you been in Toledo ? What has brought you
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHE. 319 
 
 hither? Shall you make a long stay in this 
 place ? " 
 
 These questions, unexpected as they were, were by 
 no means embarrassing to me, for I had a most 
 fruitful invention on such occasions. I therefore 
 made up so fine a story of my birth and prospects in 
 life, that I completely succeeded in convincing her of 
 my high quality. One truth, however, escaped me 
 in the course of conversation which spoiled all the 
 effect of my lies; instead of saying that I intended to 
 stay at least three or four months at Toledo, I told 
 her that I merely visited it for a few days' diversion. 
 I instantly perceived that this was not exactly agree- 
 able to her hopes. She had evidently formed some 
 design upon me which these words disconcerted, 
 and, looking upon me in consequence as a mere bird 
 of passage, whom she should soon lose sight of for 
 ever, she resolved to pluck me as well as she was able 
 before we parted. 
 
 To accomplish her object, therefore, the first thing 
 she did was to throw off her veil in an easy and grace- 
 ful manner, discovering a face of perfect beauty, and 
 taking great pains to display her delicate white hands 
 and a part of her neck. She then, with a negligent air, 
 drew from her pocket a fine coral rosary, to which 
 were attached several relics, gold crosses, and precious 
 stones, and, without appearing to have any design in 
 it, kept playing with this rosary all the while she was 
 talking, as though she were not aware of what she was 
 doing, but all of a sudden she left off speaking in the 
 middle of a sentence, looked at me with surprise, and
 
 320 MATED ALE MAN. 
 
 began feeling her pockets with anxiety, which seemed 
 to increase every moment. I inquired the cause of 
 her uneasiness, but instead of answering me she began 
 to look on the floor and everywhere that she could 
 think of; then calling her servant who was in wait- 
 ing at the chamber door: " Marr.ia," said she, "I 
 have lost the great cross belonging to the chaplet 
 which my husband gave me; how unfortunate I 
 am ; he will certainly think I have made a present of 
 it to some one." 
 
 " Madam," replied the waiting-woman, " you are 
 perhaps premature in your sorrow. You may pos- 
 sibly have left it at home, and I even fancy that I 
 recollect to have seen it in one of your drawers." 
 
 " I can never rest until I be convinced of this," 
 replied the lady ; " let us therefore return home 
 immediately, for T cannot bear to remain in doubt 
 on such a subject." 
 
 All my efforts to detain her were unavailing, 
 represented to her that there might be found many 
 similar rosaries at a goldsmith's, and that if she 
 would allow me I would presume to send her one as 
 soon as possible; but she would not accept of my 
 offer, requesting me in an engaging manner to allow 
 her to depart, assuring me that, whether she found 
 her cross at home or not, she would not fail to pay 
 me a visit the next day at the same hour. Upon 
 this she quitted my chamber, leaving me well pleased 
 with her figure and much grieved at her precipitate 
 departure. 
 
 It was no longer possible to think of sleeping after
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN V ALP AR ACHE. 321 
 
 such an interview, so that I lay and reflected on my 
 good fortune, and the pleasures that I anticipated, 
 until it was time for dinner. I then rose and dressed 
 myself, after which I sat down to a small table and 
 partook of a variety of dishes sufficient for six per- 
 sons. In the middle of my repast Marcia returned, 
 and informed me with a mournful countenance that 
 the golden cross could not be found ; " and what is 
 still more vexatious," added she, " my mistress accuses 
 me of beinff the cause of this misfortune, and I must 
 allow that I was rather too pressing this morning to 
 make her dress herself quickly to come and see you. I 
 have been to a goldsmith's out of curiosity to see if I 
 could not find a cross of the same description, and 
 have been fortunate enough to meet with one that 
 resembles it as nearly as possible." I soon under- 
 stood her meaning, and, wishing to be thought gener- 
 ous, I answered that if she would wait until I had 
 dined I would accompany her to the goldsmith's 
 and purchase the cross which she had seen. As this 
 was in fact the sole object of her coming, she replied 
 that she would do just as I pleased, then, beginning 
 to praise her mistress, she told me all that was charm- 
 ing of her. 
 
 After dinner we repaired to the goldsmith's to- 
 gether and purchased the aforesaid cross, which I 
 gave to Marcia, requesting her to tell her mistress 
 that, as I considered myself in some degree the cause 
 of her loss, it was my duty to repair it. This faithful 
 servant, overjoyed at her good success, immediately 
 departed, after having assured me that she would
 
 322 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 make her lady acquainted with my generous way of 
 proceeding, and that she was sure her mistress would 
 not fail to see me next day, personally, to return thanks 
 for my kindness. 
 
 As soon as Marcia had left me I determined to 
 avail myself of this opportunity to see my lady in St. 
 Cyprian Street again, for although I had such good 
 reason to believe that she was a cheat and her brother 
 a bully, yet I should have been glad to have found 
 myself mistaken ; forgetting, therefore, the scurvy 
 trick they had played me I hastened towards their 
 house, and perceived my charmer at a window, 
 whence I was soon remarked. She made signs to 
 me that she had company, but that I was not to go 
 away; I stopped, and about a quarter of an hour 
 after saw her go out alone. I followed her at a 
 distance, and observed her to enter the great church 
 to shorten her way to Patten Street, whence she went 
 into Mercer's Street and entered a shop, making 
 signs to me to follow her, which I obeyed. How 
 admirably did she then play her part ! She burst 
 into tears, which, I suppose, she had always ready at 
 command, and, complaining to Heaven that she had 
 so troublesome a brother, she assured me of the ex- 
 treme pain she had suffered on my account, swearing 
 over and over again that it had not been her fault 
 that so untoward an adventure had occurred to me; 
 she then told me that she hoped to recompense me 
 for my late unpleasant night by assuring me of a 
 pleasant one ; that her brother was to set out imme- 
 diately for the country, where he would remain for
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE, 323 
 
 at least two days, and she trusted therefore that I 
 would not refuse her invitation to spend that evening 
 '.vith her. She then spoke to me with so much ten- 
 derness that I was completely convinced of her sin- 
 cerity, and was weak enough to promise to see her at 
 her own house again as soon as it was dusk. 
 
 As she had entered this shop she could not make 
 " up her mind to leave it without asking the prices and 
 cheapening some trifles, as is customary with women, 
 and she agreed to purchase some of them for a hun- 
 dred and fifty reals; but, instead of paying for them, 
 she said to the shopkeeper, " You will be kind enough 
 to allow me to take these articles with me now, and 
 give me credit until to-morrow, when I will send my 
 waiting-woman to pay you." The shopkeeper, who 
 either did not know her at all, or possibly was but 
 too well acquainted with her, refused to trust her, 
 upon which Signor Guzman, always ready to please 
 the ladies, stepped forward and said to him, " My 
 srood friend, do you not perceive that the lady is only 
 in jest ; she has not this sum at hand, but I carry her 
 purse, and have the honour to be her steward," thus 
 saying I drew it from my pocket in the most grace- 
 ful manner and paid the shopkeeper his demand. 
 After this we parted. "Adieu, my chicken," said she, 
 in a languishing and tender manner; " remember that 
 I shall expect to see you at nine in the evening, but 
 I absolutely forbid you to provide any supper, for I 
 must insist on being allowed to treat you this time." 
 The hour of rendezvous, which I expected with 
 the greatest impatience, having at length arrived, I
 
 324 
 
 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 set out towards my charmer's house, at the risk of 
 passing another night there in the tub. I now 
 approached her door again with as much eagerness 
 as I had ran from it in the morning. I made the 
 signal we had agreed upon, but no answer. I re- 
 peated it, but neither saw nor heard any one. I then 
 began to fancy that the brother had been informed 
 of his sister's design, and had not set off for the 
 country. Thinking it possible, however, that I had 
 not given the signal loud enough, which was to knock 
 with a stone at the bottom of the lower window, I 
 redoubled my strokes, but I might as well have 
 attempted to make the bridge of Alcantara hear me. 
 I then knocked several times at the door, and put my 
 ear to the keyhole to listen, but finding that there 
 was not the least noise to be heard in the house, I 
 remained in the street until midnight, quite at a loss 
 to account for so extraordinary a silence. 
 
 My patience, however, began at length to fail me, 
 and I was just on the point of returning when I 
 observed a company of armed men coming towards 
 me, and took the precaution to retire to the end 
 of the street that I might notice them unobserved. 
 They stopped at the door of my nymph's house and 
 rapped loudly, and as the people in the house per- 
 sisted in not answering them they began to thunder 
 at the door with their staves, and would soon have 
 shivered it to atoms if a servant had not appeared at 
 one of the windows and asked what was their business. 
 " Open," cried an alguazil ; " open at the summons 
 of justice." At these terrible words I felt so alarmed
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 325 
 
 that I was tempted to scamper off as fast as my legs 
 would carry me, not knowing but it was for me they 
 looked : a culprit cannot behold these sort of people 
 without emotion. My courage returned, however, 
 when I reflected that I could only be considered the 
 dupe of my princess and her pretended brother, whose 
 laudable conduct had, according to all appearance, 
 attracted the attention of justice. 
 
 I even ventured to approach the house as soon as 
 the alguazil and his myrmidons had entered it, and 
 joining the crowd of neighbours who had collected in 
 the street to see what was going on, I heard one 
 among them say to the rest, " They call themselves 
 brother and sister, but they must trace their pedigree 
 from Adam, for they are no otherwise related. The 
 man is an adventurer of Cordova, who for some 
 months past has lived here at Toledo with this 
 woman, who was formerly an actress at Seville, at 
 the expense of such young fools as fell into their 
 hands ; but, unfortunately for these two honest folks, 
 they have been practising their knaveries upon a 
 scrivener, who has played them this trick to be 
 avenged on them." 
 
 At this relation all the neighbours laughed heartily 
 at the expense of the scrivener, whom they knew to 
 be but newly married; but although they were so 
 glad to find that this limb of the law had been duped, 
 they did not the less applaud -his vengeance on that 
 account, so true is it that nobody ever pities persons 
 who are detected in dishonesty. It seemed even a. 
 most agreeable comedy for the witnesses of this
 
 325 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 adventure when they saw the alguazil and his officers 
 leading to prison the lady all in disorder, accompanied 
 by her gallant well bound with cords. For my own 
 part, though I could not well forget her scurvy treat- 
 ment of me in the tub, yet I could not feel any plea- 
 sure in seeing this miserable woman in her present 
 deplorable situation ; I was the only one of all the 
 spectators who felt any pity for her, though I had 
 most reason to feel none. Rejoiced, however, that I 
 could no longer be her dupe I returned to my inn, 
 fool enough still to flatter myself that the other lady 
 would not deceive me, but I waited in vain the 
 whole of the next day at home for her; I did not 
 even S'--e her servant again, so that, being no longer 
 able to doubt that I was also gulled in that quarter, 
 I resolved that in future I would be more upon my 
 guard against the fair sex. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 GUZMAN TAKES A FALSE ALARM AND LEAVES TOLEDO 
 PRECIPITATELY. ANOTHER GALLANTRY. ORIGIN 
 OF THE PROVERB, "AT MALAGON, A THIEF Iff 
 EVERY HOUSE, BUT IN THAT OF THE ALCAID TIVO, 
 THE FATHER AND THE SON." 
 
 THUS ended my gallantries at Toledo, and, to com- 
 plete my misfortunes, when I arrived at my inn I met 
 an alguazil there, who, I was informed, had just Arrived 
 from Madrid and had been making very particular in- 
 quiries of the landlord for a certain quidam of whom
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 327 
 
 he was in search. I did not hear this without uneasi- 
 ness ; nevertheless, alarmed as I was, I managed to put 
 a bold face on the matter, but I was so agitated the 
 whole of the night that I could not get a wink of 
 sleep. I rose early the next morning, still thinking 
 of this cursed alguazil, and went out to walk in the 
 Zocodover. I had not gone once round the square 
 before I heard a man crying, " Two mules returning 
 to Almagro." 
 
 I determined to avail myself of this opportunity, 
 and resolved in a moment to hire these two mules, as 
 though I had foreseen that I should find a company 
 of soldiers at Almagro on the point of departure for 
 Italy. I spoke to the crier and we soon agreed, 
 after which I sent my lackey to pay my landlord 
 and to fetch my baggage, which consisted of a 
 portmanteau in which was my fashionable dress, 
 some fine linen, and what remained of my money. 
 As soon as he rejoined me I gave him one of the 
 mules, mounted myself on the other, and, rejoiced at 
 having found so favourable an opportunity of leaving 
 Toledo, where I could no longer remain in peace, I 
 took the route towards Orgas, where I slept that 
 night. 
 
 At the inn where we stopped there chanced to be 
 a very pretty servant-maid, who, from her wit and 
 obliging manners, seemed so superior to her condition 
 that I commenced a conversation with her, in the 
 course of which I could not refrain from plainly 
 expressing the amorous desires I felt towards her. 
 So far from being startled at this declaration, she
 
 328 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 anticipated my wishes, and went so far as to promise 
 that she would steal into my chamber in the night. 
 " But, my darling," said I, " can I be sure that 
 you will not deceive me? Can I rely upon this 
 promise ? " 
 
 " Certainly," answered she ; " you are too hand- 
 some a young gentleman for me to wish to impose 
 on ; rely on it I will keep my word." 
 
 I slept that night in a chamber in which there 
 were some oats kept, the door of which I took care 
 to leave open, that my damsel might come in at 
 what hour she pleased. I fell asleep while I lay 
 waiting for her, though it is not very usual to think 
 of sleeping on such occasions ; but the uneasiness 
 caused by the alguazil the preceding night not hav- 
 insr permitted me to take any repose, I felt more 
 inclined to rest than to make love. I was soon 
 awoke, however, by hearing a slight noise in the 
 room, which I did not doubt was my fair one, and, 
 anxious to receive her with the attention that her 
 punctual observance of her promise seemed to deserve, 
 "Approach, my charmer," said I. in a low voice, 
 " I have been waiting impatiently for you." No 
 one answered. I thought the jade behaved thus to 
 provoke my desires the more, and with this con- 
 viction I leant half my body out of bed, and 
 stretched out my arms to seize her, and my hands 
 lighted on something exceedingly soft, but of such 
 a softness as revolted against my ideas. In fact it 
 was the ear of an ass, who had left his stable and 
 entered my chamber, attracted by the smell of the
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 329 
 
 oats that were kept there. This animal, whose head 
 was almost as low as the floor when I touched him, 
 raised it on a sudden, as a punishment for my sins, 
 and gave me so violent a blow 011 the chin that it 
 loosened all my teeth and filled my mouth with 
 blood. I rose from my bed swearing, and with the 
 intention of running my sword through this accursed 
 beast, who, fortunately however for him, was 
 frightened at the noise I made and took to his heels. 
 I was content therefore to lie down again, with 
 curses against love, and renewing the oath I had 
 already made to be more cautious of its snares. 
 
 A few moments before daylight I was just begin- 
 ning to dose again, when the muleteer entered my 
 chamber to give me notice that breakfast was ready, 
 and that if I wished to reach Malagon at any reason- 
 able hour that day I had no time to lose. I was 
 soon up and dressed, and after having eaten a good 
 breakfast of what the host chose to provide for me, 
 I was just going to mount my mule when she 
 directed a violent kick at me, which would certainly 
 have crippled me for the remainder of my days had I 
 been at a greater distance, but I was luckily so close 
 to the plaguy beast that she could not do me much 
 harm. "The devil take all females!" cried I; "I 
 was born to be ill-treated by them." To divert the 
 companions of my journey, and to amuse myself, I 
 related to them on the road the particulars of my 
 late adventure with the ass. This recital seemed 
 particularly diverting and interesting to the mule- 
 teer, who told us, after having laughed his bellyful,
 
 330 . MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 that Luzia, which was the servant's name, had been 
 more faithful to him, that she had passed the greater 
 part of the night with him ; and he gave me this piece 
 of information for my guidance in future, that the 
 servants in inns were always considered the right of 
 the muleteers, as a recompense for the service they 
 do the landlord in bringing travellers to his house. 
 
 We arrived at Malagon at night, whence I set out 
 again the next day, without any other scurvy trick 
 of fortune except having lost one bottle of wine, 
 which I missed when we had got about three or four 
 leagues from the town. " As I live," quoth I, " this 
 theft brings to my recollection and verifies the old 
 proverb which declares, that in Malagon there is a 
 thief in every house, but in that of the alcaid two, 
 the father and the son. Upon this the muleteer 
 asked me if I knew the origin of this proverb. I 
 answered that I did not, and that I should be glad to 
 hear it. " If I may believe an old man from whom 
 I had it," replied he, " this is the story : 
 
 "In the year 1236, when Don Fernando, sur- 
 named the Holy, King of Castile and Leon, was one 
 day at Beneventum, news was brought him that the 
 Christian troops had entered Cordova, having already 
 possessed themselves of the suburbs called Axarquia; 
 but that the Moors, to whom the place belonged, 
 and who were very superior in numbers, were pre- 
 paring to repulse them. This monarch, animated by 
 his zeal for his religion, resolved to fly to the relief 
 of the Christians, and sent notice of his design to 
 Don Alvaro Perez de Castro and Don Ordonis
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 331 
 
 Alvaroz, who were both at Marts. These two lords, 
 who were at that time the most illustrious cavaliers 
 in Castile, instantly repaired to the king, who im- 
 mediately set out as he had determined. As he was 
 only accompanied by about a hundred men he 
 issued orders to all his warriors and vassals, who 
 might be dispersed in the different towns and villages 
 under his dominion, to follow him to Cordova. 
 These orders would have been executed willingly 
 and without delay had it been practicable, but it 
 was then just in the middle of the month of January, 
 and the heavy snow and rains had fallen in such 
 abundance as to cause all the rivers and springs to 
 overflow, so that the troops were not able to 
 advance, but were obliged to halt at every place they 
 came to. 
 
 " So great a number of them were under the 
 necessity of stopping at Malagon, that one soldier 
 was obliged to be quartered in every house, and two 
 in those of the more opulent citizens. The com- 
 mander of these troops, and his son, who was also 
 an officer, chanced to fall to the lot of the alcaid. 
 Though this was a very considerable town, yet there 
 were now so many people in it, and the times were 
 so hard, that provisions became extremely scarce and 
 dear, and as the soldiers were not able to procure 
 them at such excessive rates, they began to steal, to 
 prevent their dying with hunger. While these 
 things were going on, a merry conceited peasant* 
 who had just passed through the town on his way to 
 Toledo, met a troop of cavaliers on the road near
 
 332 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 Orgas, who asked him whence he came. * From 
 Malagon,' replied he ; ' And what news from 
 thence ? ' inquired one of the cavaliers. The peasant 
 made this answer, which has since become a proverb, 
 * At Malagon there is a thief in every house, and in 
 that of the alcaid two, the father and the son.' 
 
 " It is most unfair," continued the muleteer, 
 " that this proverb should be applied to the inhabi- 
 tants of Malagon, since they were the persons robbed, 
 and not those that robbed others. On the contrary, 
 I will maintain to their credit that from Madrid to 
 Seville there is no inn where travellers are better 
 treated and less imposed on than at Malagon. I do 
 not pretend to say that there are not knaves in that 
 place as well as elsewhere, but I assure you there are 
 many worse in this country." 
 
 Just as the muleteer ended his discourse another 
 muleteer of his acquaintance came up to us, of whom 
 I asked what was going on at Almagro, whence he 
 had just come, and he informed me that there was a 
 company of soldiers there newly raised, and destined, 
 he believed, for Italy. I was enraptured at this news, 
 and felt disposed to forgive Fortune, now that she 
 presented me with so favourable an opportunity of 
 gratifying my violent desire to go to Genoa, for all 
 the hardships that she had hitherto made me endure.
 
 ( 333 ) 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 GUZMAN OFFERS HIMSELF TO SERVE IN THE COMPANY 
 NEWLY RAISED. HIS RECEPTION BY THE CAP- 
 TAIN, AND HOW THEY AFTERWARDS LIVED 
 TOGETHER. 
 
 ALL my fear was that the muleteer had been mis- 
 informed, but on entering Almagro I was soon 
 convinced that he had told the truth. I perceived a 
 flag suspended from a window of one of the houses, 
 where I supposed the captain had taken up his 
 residence. 
 
 I proceeded therefore to an inn in the neigh- 
 bourhood, where I took up my lodging for that 
 night, and in the morning I dressed myself in my 
 best suit of clothes and finest linen and went to 
 church, where I heard mass, and from thence to wait 
 upon the captain, whom I saluted with an air calcu- 
 lated to make him believe me a young man of quality, 
 telling him that I had come express to Almagro to 
 have the honour of serving the king by joining his 
 company. My behaviour and appearance had the 
 desired effect of casting a mist before the eyes of 
 this officer, who was an extremely well-bred man. 
 He received me therefore in the most polite manner, 
 testifying his joy at finding me disposed to enter so 
 early in the career of glory. He then thanked me
 
 334 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 for the preference I gave his company, which would 
 be proud to receive among them a cavalier of noble 
 race, which he could easily perceive I was. " All I 
 regret," added he, " is that all the posts are filled up; 
 rut though I cannot therefore offer you a commis- 
 'ion, you shall at least share mine with me, and we 
 will live together as though you were captain as well 
 is myself." 
 
 To convince me that these excessive civilities were 
 f ..iot mere compliments, he insisted on my staying to 
 dinner, and regaled me in jjood style. He did not 
 nowever forget to charge one of his servants in 
 private to inquire of mil)-- who I was. My pasje, 
 ivho had frequently hea:J f.>e style myself Don Juan 
 .4e Guzman of the hra?^ of Toral, answered this 
 question by saving th^tf this was the name I bore, 
 and that v/a', ?\i he l ':xew of me. This was reported 
 to the canton, wlio most firmly believed that I was 
 certainly one of the younger branches of that illus- 
 irious house. The next day I invited him in my 
 furn to dine with me at my inn, and spared no 
 expense to render the entertainment as complete as 
 if I had been in reality the cavalier my valet had 
 represented me to be. I did not stop here, but gave 
 so many other dinners to the captain and the prin- 
 cipal officers of the company, that it is no wonder 
 they all esteemed me and considered me an honour 
 to their corps. The captain in particular was so 
 extremely attentive to me that I was frequently 
 quite confused at his kind professions of regard. It 
 is true that, to secure a continuance of his friendship,
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 335 
 
 I sent him almost every day some little present by 
 my page, which he was so kind as to accept of as a 
 mark of my affection. 
 
 In the meantime my purse, having no flux and 
 reflux like the sea, began to empty itself visibly, 
 without any prospect of being rilled again. What 
 with my clothes, my gallantries, and my travelling 
 expenses, in addition to these entertainments and 
 presents, I had already squandered away more than 
 half of my reals, without reckoning what I had lost 
 at play with the officers, the majority of whom knew 
 better than myself how to take advantage in gaming 
 of every turn of fortune in their favour. I had still, 
 however, a sufficient sum remaining to support my 
 assumed character for some time longer, when orders 
 were given for marching, and I followed the com- 
 pany, in quality of a volunteer, to the coast, where we 
 had orders to wait until the galleys which were to 
 transport us into Italy with other troops arrived at 
 Barcelona, where we were to embark. But it was 
 God's pleasure that this embarkment should not take 
 place till three months afterwards. This completed 
 my ruin; for being willing to continue to live with 
 the captain and other officers as I had begun, I was 
 soon compelled to make use of my corps de reserve, 
 I mean my thirty pistoles, which were yet untouched, 
 and which I soon ran through with as little frugality 
 as my reals. When I found my resources thus at an 
 end I was obliged to sell my fine clothes and linen, 
 and to get rid of my valet, who went to seek his for- 
 tune elsewhere, and, having no money to game with,
 
 336 MATED ALE MAN. 
 
 I ceased to associate with the officers, who guessed 
 but too rightly the reasons that obliged me thus to 
 alter my conduct towards them. 
 
 Reflections now came thick upon the prodigal 
 child; and though I had not given way to them 
 while my money lasted, now that it was gone at 
 least a million presented themselves to my imagina- 
 tion. I recalled to mind all my past follies, and 
 reproached myself as severely as a professed peda- 
 gogue could have done, resolving to manage better 
 for the future, as though I had still several bags of 
 reals in my portmanteau. I chiefly repented of 
 having given such fine entertainments to the captain, 
 who no longer invited me to dinner as usual, now 
 that my money was gone. The other officers, think- 
 ing that I had nothing more to lose, turned their 
 backs upon me. The sergeants, who had before been 
 in the habit of visiting me as a second captain, and 
 who had considered themselves honoured by my con- 
 descending to converse with them, no longer came 
 near me. There was not a single soldier but avoided 
 me, and I question if even the blackguards th^t 
 followed them would have deigned to associate with 
 me had I been inclined to have been their comrade. 
 But it was but just, after such useless extravagance, 
 that I was punished as I deserved. If there was 
 anything that could console me in my unfortunate 
 situation, it was that during the whole course of my 
 prosperity I had not committed the least knavery. 
 This gave my captain a good opinion of me, who, 
 believing as firmly as ever that I was a young man
 
 TtiE LIFE OF GUZMAN DALFARACtiE. 337 
 
 of high birth, still retained some esteem for me in my 
 misery. He had himself too well profited by my 
 foolish conduct not to forgive me from the bottom 
 of his soul ; and when I called upon him one evening 
 he received me much as usual, without taking any 
 notice of the situation of my affairs, though he was 
 in reality much affected, and he could not avoid 
 saying to me one day that I was more melancholy 
 than usual. " My dear Guzman, I should indeed be 
 hard-hearted and ungrateful were I insensible to your 
 troubles, after the many proofs you have given me of 
 your friendship. But you have yet to learn that my 
 fortune is but little better than your own, and I am 
 sincerely afflicted that I am utterly incapable of con- 
 vincing you of my good wishes by my actions. All 
 I can pretend to offer you in your present distress is 
 a lodging in my house and the table of my servants; 
 for myself, I am obliged to dine out, from my utter 
 incapacity to receive my friends at home." 
 
 This proposal, which he did not make without a 
 blush, was tendered in so obliging a manner that I 
 accepted it. Pride becomes nobody, but still less a 
 man who has no money and knows not where to 
 lay his head ; it is a chameleon, which lives only on the 
 wind. From his companion I was now become his 
 servant. But I owe him this piece of justice : instead 
 of treating me like a common servant, he behaved in 
 the most considerate manner towards me. When 
 he wished me to do anything for him he requested 
 instead of commanding it, and, on my side, I was 
 always more anxious than the other domestics to 
 
 VOL. i. y
 
 338 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 make myself useful to him, that I might preserve his 
 friendship, and not eat the bread of idleness; and I 
 so completely succeeded in my desire to please him, 
 by anticipating his every wish, that, believing me to 
 be faithful, and even prudent, though I had suffi- 
 ciently proved myself the reverse by my former dis- 
 sipations, he resolved to make me acquainted with 
 the present state of his affairs, to convince me that 
 he placed entire confidence in me. 
 
 He confessed to me then that he was so much re- 
 duced that a few jewels which he possessed were his 
 only resource. " Can you guess," added he, " what 
 has reduced me to this extremity? the time that 
 was consumed in soliciting my employment and the 
 great presents I was obliged to make to obtain it. 
 Yes, were I to begin life afresh, I would renounce 
 such a profession, notwithstanding the desire that 
 every Spanish gentleman naturally has to acquire 
 glory in the army. I cannot reflect on what I have 
 submitted to without blushing, for besides the money 
 that I have expended, how many whole days have I 
 passed with my hat in my hand, soliciting, flattering, 
 bowing to the ground, kicking my heels at levees, 
 sometimes to speak to one person, sometimes to meet 
 with another, cringing, acting a servant's part, and a 
 thousand other meannesses of which I am ashamed ! 
 But the most provoking treatment that I met with, 
 and which I felt most sensibly, was on the day pre- 
 ceding that on which I had been promised my com- 
 mission. After having consumed more than eight 
 months in solicitations in the manner I have just
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN &ALFARACHB. 339 
 
 described to you, I accompanied my patron as he 
 came out of the palace, and conducted him, with the 
 most profound respect, to the steps of his carriage, 
 which was in waiting for him, but unfortunately put 
 my hat on a moment before the carriage drove off. 
 The minister noticed this, darted a haughty look at 
 me, and soon convinced me that this accident had 
 offended him, for my commission was not delivered 
 to me for above four months after. I even ran the 
 risk of losing both my trouble and my money by 
 not obtaining it at all. God deliver every honest 
 man," continued he, raising his eyes towards heaven, 
 " from persons who possess power and bad disposi- 
 tions united ! How blind are these idols of the 
 Court, who expect to be adored like deities ! They 
 must surely have forgotten that they are but miser- 
 able comedians, appointed to play principal characters, 
 and that at the end of the piece, that is to say, of 
 their lives, they must leave the stage like ourselves, 
 and be thought of.no more." 
 
 I was so affected by this relation that I felt more 
 interested in my captain's misfortunes than my own, 
 and assured him, in the most impressive terms, rny 
 heart could dictate that there was nothing I would 
 not undertake for him, and that I would willingly 
 expose my life to be of service to him. He thanked 
 me for my good wishes. 
 
 " But what assistance," added he, smiling, " can I 
 expect from you in your present condition ? " 
 
 " That we shall see," answered I ; " for though I 
 am young, necessity inspires wit, and may supply my
 
 346 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 deficiency of experience. Leave it to me to find you 
 the means of living at ease until we embark.'* 
 
 The captain smiled again at these words, and, 
 without making any reply, shook his head, to show 
 me that he placed but little reliance on professions 
 dictated by my inconsiderate zeal to serve him. 
 Had he known my talents he would have formed a 
 different opinion, but I soon obliged him to do me 
 justice. 
 
 As the galleys were a long while ere they arrived, 
 we were obliged to be billeted, upon short allowance, 
 in the different villages, and frequently moved our 
 quarters. At every house I left a dozen billets, 
 which brought us in at least twelve reals each, and 
 from some of the more opulent inhabitants fifty. 
 For my own part, I gained admittance into every 
 house at free cost, without quartering myself on any 
 one in particular ; and I never failed to leave proofs at 
 each that I had the perfect use of my hands. I really 
 think that I would even have carried off water from 
 their wells rather than have gone away empty-handed. 
 By these means I so completely re-established my 
 captain's finances, that he was enabled to keep open 
 table again as before, and the dexterity of my hands 
 supplied him abundantly with good cheer at a cheap 
 rate : fowls, capons, geese, pullets, and pigeons fell as 
 thick as hail into the kitchen, and hams were not 
 wanting to complete the larder. 
 
 If by chance the master of a house happened to 
 catch me in the fact, in case it were but a small theft 
 I made a jest of it, and though a greater, the worst
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 341 
 
 that could happen to me was to be carried before my 
 captain, who reprimanded me in a severe manner, 
 and sometimes caused me to be imprisoned in a 
 chamber, where I received by his orders a hundred 
 lashes which I never felt at all ; but I always made 
 the room ring with cries as if I were being torn in 
 pieces, though I was never so much as touched all 
 the while. This satisfied the injured parties and 
 saved the honour of the officer. Sometimes the 
 complainants themselves would intercede with the 
 captain on my behalf, conjuring him out of pity to 
 forgive me. 
 
 Jests like these, however, generally grow serious. 
 After these petty thefts, I was not content until I 
 ventured upon greater. For this purpose I selected 
 five or six of the most resolute fellows in our com- 
 pany ; we all disguised ourselves and went on the 
 highway, where we stopped several travellers, who, 
 by immediately surrendering their money, prevented 
 the crimes which their resistance might have caused 
 us to commit. 
 
 Our captain was no sooner informed of these 
 dangerous proceedings, than, dreading the conse- 
 quences both to himself and me, he positively for- 
 bade my carrying on this game any longer, desiring 
 me to confine myself to more innocent amusement 
 for the future, such as finding false musters, in which 
 science I was a perfect adept. By a false beard, or a 
 patch on the eye, I could easily make the same soldier 
 receive pay three times over, without detection. In 
 short, I became so useful to the captain that he con-
 
 342 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 fessed to me that my industry alone was worth much 
 more to him than the whole income that he derived 
 from his company. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 GUZMAN PROCEEDS WITH THE COMPANY TO BARCELONA, 
 WHERE HE PLAYS A TRICK UPON A JEWELLER, AND 
 EMBARKS FOR ITALY. 
 
 THE galleys at length arrived at Barcelona. As soon 
 as we received this intelligence, we marched thither 
 to embark, but as the wind was not favourable we 
 were obliged to remain a considerable time in that 
 city % where something more than my usual address 
 was necessary to enable us to live in plenty at so 
 cheap a rate as before. I soon remarked that my 
 captain was relapsing into his former despondency, 
 and I easily guessed the cause. Well might I know 
 the nature of his complaint, since I was the physician 
 who had already cured him of it. 
 
 For this once, however, I felt at a loss how to 
 prescribe, being entirely unacquainted with the map 
 of Barcelona and the disposition of its inhabitants. 
 I did not, however, forget to tender my exertions as 
 a specific to my patient, who replied, in a serious 
 manner, that we had no longer peasants to deal with, 
 and that I must be very cautious what I did. Diffi- 
 culties tended only to quicken my apprehension, and 
 an idea occurred to me which I resolved to follow.
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 343 
 
 I have already told you that the captain had some 
 jewels which he reserved for a rainy day. Amongst 
 these jewels was a gold reliquary, set round with 
 diamonds, which he intended to dispose of for sub- 
 sistence until we embarked. I requested him to 
 show it me, and asked if he could place so much 
 confidence in me as to entrust it to me for a day or 
 two, adding that I would return it to him with 
 usury. 
 
 " Oh ! oh ! my little Guzman," answered he with 
 a smile, " what piece of roguery have you now in 
 contemplation ? " 
 
 " You have only," replied I, " to let me have the 
 reliquary, and keep up your spirits. If, notwith- 
 standing all the precautions that I can take to per- 
 form safely the trick that I have in my head, I 
 should be so unfortunate as to meet with any check 
 from justice, I can at least pledge myself to save 
 your honour, and to bear all the ill consequences of 
 it myself." 
 
 My captain could hold out no longer, but gave 
 me the reliquary, saying that he wished me success 
 in my enterprise whatever it might be. Nobody, 
 indeed, had more interest in it than himself, to whom 
 all the profit would accrue. I put the jewel into a 
 purse which I hid in my bosom, the string of which 
 I tied to the buttons of my doublet; after which I 
 went to the first jeweller's I could meet, who, fortu- 
 nately for me, was well known in the city as a noted 
 usurer. I asked him if he was inclined to purchase 
 a fine reliquary. I showed it him, and could easily
 
 344 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 perceive that he liked it very well, although he pre- 
 tended not to think much of it. I did not wait 
 until he asked me the usual questions, but told him 
 that I was a soldier in a company newly raised, and 
 that was destined for Italy j that I had spent all my 
 money, and having no other resource, found myself 
 reduced to dispose of this jewel, that I might not be 
 entirely destitute. " You are at liberty," added I, 
 " to go and ascertain from my captain, from the other 
 officers, and even soldiers, who I am ; they will 
 inform you that I am styled Don Juan de Guzman ; 
 upon their report of me you can make up your 
 mind whether you will buy the reliquary or not. 
 While you are making these inquiries I will go and 
 wait for you on the quay, where I have a little 
 business to settle." 
 
 The jeweller, who was not willing to allow this 
 jewel to escape him, took his cloak immediately, and 
 hastened to the place where I told him we lodged, 
 and did not fail to question several of the officers and 
 soldiers as to the character of a certain Don Juan de 
 Guzman, who described himself as belonging to their 
 company. Every man of them (for I was generally 
 beloved) assured him I was a young man of quality, 
 who intended to pass over to Italy with them, and 
 that they had known me make a most brilliant 
 figure. In short, they spoke so well of me that he 
 soon returned to look for me on the quay, where he 
 had no great difficulty in finding me, for I had no other 
 business there but to wait for and entrap him. He 
 requested me, as soon as he came up, to allow him
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 345 
 
 to gee the reliquary again, which he was come to 
 treat for. 
 
 " Willingly," replied I ; " but let us retire a little, 
 as I have no wish to have a crowd assembled about 
 us." 
 
 I then drew the jewel out of my purse and handed 
 it to him ; he looked at it on all sides, and, after hav- 
 ing examined it minutely, asked me what I would 
 have for it. I told him two hundred crowns; and 
 though that was not half its value, the old usurer 
 pretended to be quite astonished at such a price, and 
 began to tell me that the gold was by no means of 
 the finest quality, besides which he found great 
 fault with the workmanship, as well as with the 
 diamonds; nevertheless, he offered me one half, and 
 I was surprised in my turn. 
 
 " That will not do," cried I ; " you take advantage 
 of my situation ; but, distressed as I am for money, I 
 declare that you shall not have it for less than a 
 hundred and fifty crowns." 
 
 He still continued to make so many objections 
 that I was at last contented to conclude the bargain 
 at a hundred and twenty, and he requested me to 
 accompany him to his shop to receive the money. 
 This I refused, telling him that I expected a person 
 to meet me on the quay, and, therefore, could not 
 leave it; that if he would return home and procure 
 the sum agreed on, he would find me again in the 
 same place. The jeweller, finding that I could not 
 be prevailed on to accompany him, and being appre- 
 hensive that the person whom I expected might be
 
 346 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 another jeweller, whom I had appointed to meet 
 on the same subject, ran home with great haste, 
 lest he should be deprived of his bargain before his 
 return. 
 
 The old rogue soon returned to me again, quite 
 out of breath, bringing with him in a small bag the 
 hundred and twenty crowns, which he counted into 
 my hand. I requested the bag of him in which 
 I put the money, and offered him in exchange the 
 purse that the reliquary was kept in ; but affecting 
 to find great difficulty in untying the strings, which 
 I had purposely well fastened, I snatched, as though 
 from impatience, a knife which I observed in a sheath 
 at his girdle and cut them asunder. Although this 
 action seemed to surprise him a little, he was so far 
 from guessing the cause that he departed and walked 
 towards home, well satisfied with his purchase, and 
 very far from suspecting the snare that I had laid 
 for him. 
 
 After having allowed him to proceed a few steps, I 
 beckoned to one of my comrades, as great a rogue as 
 myself, whom I had stationed near at hand so as to 
 be ready when called for, and desired him to carry the 
 crowns to our captain. Then I ran as fast as I could 
 after my jeweller, for I had not lost sight of him, and 
 overtook him at a part where the roads met, where 
 there happened to be some soldiers assembled, to whom 
 I pointed him out, crying aloud, " Stop thief, fellow 
 soldiers, stop thief! for God's sake, stop that old rascal 
 there, who has just robbed me; let him not escape!" 
 The soldiers, some of whom belonged to our own
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 347 
 
 company, stopped the poor jeweller immediately, 
 asking him how he had given me cause to complain 
 thus of him. He was at first so bewildered with fear 
 and astonishment, that he had not the power of 
 uttering a word. Had he spoken, however, it would 
 not have availed him, for his voice would have been 
 drowned by that of his accuser ; nobody was to be 
 heard but myself, who kept up a continued roar; 
 and, to make more impression on the soldiers, I fell 
 down on my knees before them and, forcing some 
 tears into my eyes, implored their assistance. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said I, " you see before you in that 
 old rogue one of the greatest hypocrites in Spain. I 
 chanced just now to be standing by him on the quay, 
 where he remarked that I had a purse in my bosom, 
 and asked me what was in it? ' A reliquary,' answered 
 I, ' which my master the captain accidentally left at 
 the bed's-head this morning, and that I have taken 
 care of to give it to him again ; ' upon this the old 
 rascal whom you have secured requested me in a civil 
 manner to show it him, telling me that he was a 
 goldsmith and was curious in jewels. I satisfied his 
 curiosity, and he asked me if I would dispose of this 
 reliquary. ' That cannot be,' said I, * for it is my mas- 
 ter's ; ' at the same time I replaced it in my purse which 
 was tied to my button; whereupon my thief, while 
 he amused me with words, drew forth a knife which 
 he had in a sheath at his girdle, and suddenly cut the 
 strings, the ends of which are still to be seen. Take 
 the trouble, gentlemen, of searching him, I beg of 
 you," added I, " and you will find the purse contain-
 
 348 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 ing thejewel'somewhere about his person, for I have 
 followed him so closely that he has not had an oppor- 
 tunity of otherwise disposing of it." 
 
 The soldiers instantly began to search him, they 
 drew forth the purse containing the reliquary from 
 his bosom where he had placed it, and, perceiving 
 that the strings had really been cut, they no longer 
 doubted the goldsmith's guilt ; in vain did he protest 
 and swear that I had sold it him, they would not 
 believe him, it being so extremely improbable that 
 an old and experienced jeweller could consent to 
 purchase so rich a reliquary of a young soldier, with- 
 out suspecting that it must have been stolen. " Once 
 more," cried the accused, " I assure you that I paid 
 this young man for the reliquary a hundred and 
 twenty crowns in gold, which I reckoned into his 
 hand, and which he must now have about him ; you 
 have only to search him also to find these gold coins, 
 which I paid him only a few minutes since." The 
 soldiers, to satisfy him, rummaged my pockets out ; 
 and, finding no money about me, they began to re- 
 vile him most unmercifully and even to beat him. 
 Nevertheless, as he insisted on being conducted to a 
 judge, they carried us both before one. 
 
 Here I related my case in the same manner as I 
 had reported it to the soldiers, who, upon being in- 
 terrogated by the judge, said more than was sufficient 
 to convince him that the jeweller had really seized 
 this reliquary from me by force, in addition to which, 
 this citizen being so well known as a covetous man, 
 who would not scruple at a trifle, they were the more
 
 THE LIFE OP GVZMAti &ALFARACHB. 349 
 
 disposed to think him guilty. The magistrate, how- 
 ever, out of consideration for his family, which con- 
 sisted of some of the first persons in the city, was 
 content to reprimand him severely, and delivered the 
 jewel into my hands again, desiring me to carry it to 
 my master, which I did immediately. 
 
 When I related this adventure to the captain he 
 returned thanks to Heaven that it had ended so well ; 
 he had feared, and with some reason, that I should 
 have come but scurvily off in so slippery an affair, 
 and my boldness made him tremble. Although he 
 was the only person that profited by my rogueries, 
 yet he resolved to get rid of the rogue, fearing that I 
 should at last ruin him as well as myself by some un- 
 lucky adventure. He was impatient for the day when 
 we should embark, which at length arrived. The 
 galleys left the harbour of Barcelona, and transported 
 us in safety to Genoa, where we were no sooner 
 landed than my captain said to me in private, " My 
 dear Guzman, we are now in the country whither 
 you have been so extremely anxious to come " (for I 
 had communicated to him my intentions of visiting 
 my kindred) ; " we must now, with your leave, begin 
 to think of parting, for I am not more afraid of all 
 the devils together than of the consequences of these 
 legerdemain tricks of yours; farewell, my friend," 
 added he, putting a pistole into my hand, " I much 
 regret that I am not in a situation to make you a 
 better acknowledgment for your services." Thus 
 saying, he departed, leaving me so thunderstruck 
 with his compliment that I could not utter a word.
 
 350 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 But what could I have said to him ? was it necessary 
 to represent to him all the dangers I had faced on his 
 account? he was well aware of them, for what else 
 was it that caused my dismissal. I could not be sur- 
 prised at his behaviour. I had only the common 
 fate of rogues, who, like vipers and scorpions, are 
 made use of while anything useful can be extracted 
 from them, and afterwards thrown to the dogs. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 GUZMAN, HAVING ARRIVED AT GENOA, RESOLVES TO 
 PRESENT HIMSELF BEFORE HIS KINDRED THERE. 
 HOW HE WAS RECEIVED BY THEM. 
 
 As soon as I had quitted the captain, or rather when 
 I found myself abandoned by him, my only thought 
 was how to console myself under this misfortune, and 
 I soon forgot it when I reflected that I was now at 
 Genoa, where I had so long desired to be. I inquired 
 in the city about my relations, and was informed that 
 they were the most rich and powerful persons in that 
 republic. I was overjoyed at this news, for I did not 
 doubt that I should receive the greatest assistance 
 from them when they knew that I was a branch of 
 their noble family. 
 
 I looked about for another inn where I could live 
 thriftily, until I should be rather a more decent figure 
 to visit my relations. My pistole could not do much 
 for me, part of which I was obliged to expend in pro-
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 351 
 
 curing a pair of shoes, which I was sadly in want of; 
 my clothes were also much worn, as well as my 
 stockings and hat, so that my whole dress was in a 
 ruinous condition. " So much the better," said I ; 
 " my relations can never suffer me to remain long in 
 such a state to be a disgrace to them. Let me quickly, 
 therefore, make myself known to them, that I may 
 the sooner be relieved from my misery." 
 
 I then immediately set forward with this intention, 
 and asked the way to their house, boasting to every 
 one I spoke to that I had the honour to be of their 
 family, which was soon reported to them by some of 
 their enemies, who, thinking that the sight of a lad 
 so wretchedly equipped would afford them no great 
 pleasure, were the more anxious to communicate to 
 them the agreeable news. My generous relations 
 were almost desperate. They looked upon my 
 poverty as an infamous disgrace to them; and I 
 verily believe that could they, without danger to them- 
 selves, have caused me to be poniarded they would 
 not have hesitated a moment, for such practices were 
 but too common in that country. But as I was 
 already talked of all over the city, where my father 
 had been so well known, if I had disappeared all of 
 a sudden the cause would have been easily guessed. 
 
 Do not be surprised, reader, at my ill opinion of 
 my relations; had you been in their place I do not 
 think that you would have behaved much better 
 towards me. Suppose yourself for a moment as rich 
 as they were, and tell me candidly how you would 
 have received a beggar, who comes up to you aa
 
 352 MATED ALEMAN. 
 
 suddenly as if he had just fallen from the clouds, 
 and salutes you in the middle of the street, saying, 
 " Good morrow, uncle, or brother, I am a son of your 
 brother, or of your mother ; " would you not be 
 extremely mortified? and yet I was so imprudent as 
 to address them in this public manner ; thus I never 
 saluted one. of them that did not treat me with the 
 titles of rascal and impostor, accompanying these 
 epithets with threats : " Take our advice," said they, 
 " and do not remain much longer at Genoa, lest you 
 pass but an unpleasant time here." In vain did I 
 name my father, protesting that he ranked among 
 the noble Genoese ; they seemed all to have forgotten 
 that there had ever been such a person in existence. 
 
 One evening I met a venerable looking old man, 
 who accosted me in a polite and insinuating manner. 
 " My son," said he, " is it not you who have reason 
 to complain of certain titled personages who have 
 not chosen to acknowledge you for one of their 
 noble blood?" I answered in the affirmative, and 
 told him who was my father. " I recollect him 
 well," replied the old man, " and there are certainly 
 in this city several of the principal nobles who are 
 his relations. T can even introduce you to a banker 
 who must have been a most intimate friend of your 
 father's, and who to-morrow, for it is too late to-day, 
 will, I doubt not, be happy to satisfy you in every 
 particular concerning your family. In the meantime," 
 continued he, " come and take up your lodging at 
 my house ; I feel quite indignant at the behaviour 
 of your cousins towards you, who ought rather to
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 353 
 
 have received you with the greatest affection ; but 
 follow me, and be assured that the banker will put it 
 in your power to be fully avenged of them for their 
 hard-heartedness." 
 
 I accepted the old man's offer of a lodging in his 
 house by returning thanks to Heaven for so fortunate 
 a rencounter. His appearance was such that I did 
 not in the least mistrust him. He had a good- 
 natured, serious air, his bald head and white beard 
 rendering his appearance truly venerable ; he walked 
 with a staff, and wore a long robe ; in fact, I looked 
 upon him as another St. Paul. When we arrived at 
 his house, which appeared to me like a magnificent 
 hotel, a servant came to meet him to take off his 
 long robe ; but the old gentleman, from an excess of 
 politeness, would not part with it, but sent the ser- 
 vant away, after having communicated something to 
 him in Italian, which was so much Hebrew to me. 
 He then conducted me into a large parlour, where 
 we conversed concerning the affairs of Spain for 
 above an hour, and from them proceeded insensibly 
 to those of our own family, respecting which he 
 seemed extremely curious, questioning me more 
 particularly concerning my mother, and I answered 
 him in the most cautious manner. This discourse 
 was beginning to grow tedious, when the servant 
 returned ; they had another short conversation to- 
 gether in Italian, which I understood no better than 
 the former. But immediately afterwards the good 
 old man addressed himself to me in Spanish. " I 
 suppose," said he, " you have of course supped, you 
 
 VOL. I. Z
 
 354 MATED ALE MAN. 
 
 must be weary, and it is time to be a-bed. We shall 
 meet again in the morning." Then, turning to his 
 servant, " Antonio," continued he, " show this gen- 
 tleman to the finest chamber in the house." 
 
 I had much more inclination to eat than to sleep, 
 for I was literally half dying with hunger, having 
 unfortunately dined very sparingly at my inn that 
 day, for my pistole was just at an end. That I 
 might not, however, presume upon the goodness of 
 an host who seemed so disposed to be of service to me, 
 I followed his servant as if I had had a good bellyful, 
 and was carried through an enfilade of seven or eight 
 rooms paved with alabaster, each vying with the 
 others in magnificence. From thence we entered a 
 gallery which led into a fine chamber, in which there 
 was a very rich bed with superb tapestry. " You see 
 your chamber," said Antonio, " and the bed that is 
 destined for you ; none are allowed to sleep here but 
 princes and some few of my master's nearest rela- 
 tives." 
 
 After having allowed me to admire the richness 
 of the furniture for a while, this servant offered to 
 undress me, but I declined his assistance for very 
 good reasons; my ragged shirt was by no means in 
 a state to be exhibited, and, in addition to this, the 
 rest of my clothes were now of so very fine a texture 
 that they required a hand more interested in their wel- 
 fare than his was to take them off delicately. Either 
 through malice, however, or that he thought I de- 
 clined his good-natured offer merely from politeness, 
 he returned to the charge, and, seeming determined
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 355 
 
 to assist me in spite of my teeth, he caught hold of 
 me and drew off one of my sleeves so suddenly that, 
 had I not prevented him with my other hand, he 
 would undoubtedly have torn it to pieces. I then 
 entreated him in a peevish tone to leave me to my 
 rest, and he prevented my further anger by desisting 
 as I desired. I retired to the side of the bed, threw 
 oft" my rags, which were held together only by a few 
 laces, and jumped into bed, the sheets of which were 
 clean and completely perfumed. This done, I told 
 the servant he might take away the candle. 
 
 " I am not so inconsiderate," replied he, " it would 
 be the means of causing you to pass a very uneasy 
 night; for it is very common for large bats, which 
 are very numerous in this country, to conceal them- 
 selves in chambers with so lofty a ceiling, and you 
 will be much disturbed by them if you remain with- 
 out light. Added to this," continued he, " there are 
 certain evil spirits that frequent the principal houses 
 in this city, by whom you will infallibly be tormented 
 if you neglect to keep lighted candles in the room, 
 the brightness of which, it is said, they are afraid off." 
 
 He told me all this tale with an ingenuous air, and 
 I listened to him with all the credulity of an infant, 
 instead of mistrusting this Antonio, whose knavish 
 countenance ought to have been sufficient to have 
 excited my suspicions. 
 
 No sooner had he left the chamber than I got out 
 of bed and bolted the door, less from fear of being 
 robbed than in the hope of thus securing myself 
 from the persecution of the aforesaid spirits. Con-
 
 3$6 MATEO ALE MAN. 
 
 sidering myself then in perfect safety, I lay down 
 again, and reflected on the benevolence of my vener- 
 able landlord. So far from suspecting him of any 
 bad design, which, had I possessed a little more 
 experience, I should not have failed to have done, I 
 represented to myself that he could be no other than 
 one of my nearest relatives, who had not chosen to 
 make himself known to me overnight that he might 
 surprise me the more agreeably in the morning. 
 
 " I would lay a good wager," said I to myself, 
 " that when I wake to-morrow morning, I shall find 
 a tailor in waiting to take measure of me for a fine 
 suit of clothes. I may rest assured that in future I 
 shall never want for anything, and that I have not 
 lost my labour in coming to Italy." Flattered by 
 these agreeable thoughts, my senses were beguiled by 
 degrees into a most profound sleep. 
 
 Although Antonio had told me that the evil spirits 
 were so averse to light, my candles did not secure 
 me from the persecution of four figures in the shape 
 of so many devils who entered my chamber. It was 
 some time before I heard the noise created by these 
 demons ; but as it was very far from their intention 
 to respect my repose, they advanced towards the bed, 
 drew the curtains, two of them seized me by the 
 arms, and the other two by the legs, and dragged 
 me out of bed. At length I awoke; and finding 
 myself thus dangling in the air in the clutches of 
 four devils, I was so terribly frightened that I was 
 more dead than alive. They were each habited 
 exactly as the devil is represented ; with huge long
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 357 
 
 tails, frightful vizards, and horns on their heads. I 
 had just sufficient sense remaining in me to invoke 
 the assistance of some saint whose name occurred to 
 me at that moment. But had I offered up prayers 
 they would have been equally unavailing. These 
 apparitions were not to be driven from their purpose; 
 exorcisms even would have been useless, for the 
 devils that I had to deal with had been baptized. 
 They placed me in one of my blankets, and, each 
 taking a corner, began to toss me in the air with 
 such violence that they threw me to the ceiling at 
 every toss, against which I expected every moment 
 that either my head or one of my arms would have 
 been broken. But they contented themselves with 
 only bruising me, though they did not cease to make 
 me vault in this manner until they were completely 
 fatigued, or, rather, until their noses informed them 
 that my fear grew laxative. They then placed me 
 in bed again, covered me over as they found me, 
 extinguished the light, and vanished the same way 
 as they had entered. 
 
 In this pitiable condition I remained until day- 
 break ; and with the most dreadful sensation of fear 
 still on my mind, I made an effort to get up, with 
 the intention of hastening as quickly as possible out 
 of a house where the duties of hospitality had been 
 so scurvily fulfilled. But I could not rise or dress 
 myself without the greatest difficulty and pain, the 
 cause of which I could not remember without be- 
 stowing a thousand curses on the old rascal who had 
 caused me to be thus cruelly treated. He no longer
 
 358 MATEO ALEMAN. 
 
 seemed to me that personage so worthy of veneration, 
 no longer that benevolent character the meeting 
 with whom had so much delighted me, but an old 
 sorcerer, destined to be damned from the creation o/ 
 the world. 
 
 Before I quitted the chamber I was curious tf 
 know how these malignant spirits could have entered 
 it. I first examined the door, and, finding it stil 
 bolted as I had left it before I fell asleep, I could no* 
 reasonably imagine that they had found their way to 
 me by that means. But having lifted up the hang 
 ings, I perceived a large window covered by them, 
 which opened into the gallery. This was still open, 
 the apparitions not having taken the trouble to close 
 it after them. I made not the least noise, lest there 
 should be something still in reserve for me, and 
 thought of nothing but how to extricate myself from 
 this cursed place. I had already left the room with 
 this view, when I met Antonio in the gallery, who 
 informed me that his master was waiting for me at 
 the nearest church. All the answer I made was to 
 request him to show me to the street-door, which he 
 did with as much sang-froid as if he had not been 
 one of the goblins who had amused themselves so 
 much at my expense. I no sooner got out of doors 
 than I scampered off as if I had not a bruise about 
 me. What wonderful strength is imparted by fear! 
 I ran as fast as my legs would carry me. 
 
 As soon as I considered myself in perfect safety, 
 my hunger, which had been suspended for a while by 
 fear, became such that I was obliged to satisfy it by
 
 THE LIFE OF GUZMAN D'ALFARACHE. 359 
 
 buying some baked meat and a slice of bread, which 
 I amused myself with eating as I walked along. I 
 did not stop till I had got quite out of the city, and 
 then, seeing a tavern before me, I went in and drank 
 a glass of good wine. This so completely reanimated 
 my courage that, after a slight repast, I was able to 
 set out again, taking the road towards Rome, reflect- 
 ing on the affectionate reception I had met with 
 from my relations, and especially from my old friend. 
 I made a solemn oath never to forget the detestable 
 night that this grey-bearded old wolf had allured me 
 under his roof, for which I resolved to be fully 
 avenged on him the very first opportunity. 
 
 END OF VOL. I.
 
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