and that he was angred with an uncivil word that they had spoken to him in alighting and that he would have his horse put in the stable in the placâ— where one of theirs stood saying so the three Merchants came to demand his pardon for their insolence excusing themselves in not knowing his qualitie and so the peace was made and every one passed the night in repose the next day they continued their voyage Being out of the towne Fenise prayed Marcell to tell him for what cause he went to Toledoâ— who desiring to satifie his curiosity said thus Your absence is the cause that you are ignorant that I am married in that towne to a cosen of Seigâ—eâ—◠〈◊〉 Antonios This alliance was treated of betwixt 〈◊〉 kindred and mine at my returne from Italy whither I went incontinently after you and I tooke leave one of the other I esteeme my selfe so happy in this condition that one may say that God had reserved us to unite us together our affections and wills are so conformable It may be you desire to know wherfore I have made this voyage to Cartagene from whence I come as well as you the subject thereof is prodigious I will tell it you by the way and assure my selfe that you heard the like never spoken of for it is rare We will put you in minde of it said Charles when my brother hath finished the history which he hath begun then Antonio seeing that they all concurred in the same desire begun againe his discourse in this manner Since that Seigneur Marcel hath so often heard it recounted it is not necessary to say againe what I have already told you I will begin againe onely where I left As I entered then into this hall Don Fernand heard me better than he saw me he retired aside for feare of being met and put himself in a corner near the door of the stairs which went to the chamber of Charitie I who thought to goe in security and who knew well the lodging went right to the staires Fernand who perceived me to approach drew a Ponyard which he wore at his girdle thinking I was some of the houshold servants or some neighbour that had seen him enter who counterfeiting the ignorant would surprise him and chastise him for his rashnesse so that as I came to passe by him he fell upon me and gave me two stabs with the poyniard the one upon the other which if I had not had on a Buffe-coat which hindered the iron from entring farre had killed me upon the instant I fell neverthelesse at his feet all bloudy and in a swound and at the same instant he got the doore and fled In the interim Charitie attended and seeing so much delay she believed that I could not finde the staires of her chamber In this opinion she took a little Wax candle and came down softly where I was at the first she saw me along upon the ground but not knowing what this should signifie she came nearer and found the dear object of her passions almost in the like condition as heretofore Venus her lover hurt by a wild Boare I cannot represent unto you what griefe surprised at that time poor Charitie it is easier for you to imagine it than me to expresse it She presently judged that her mother having discovered our secreet intelligences had begunne her vengeance upon me which she would finish upon her This false opinion made so strong an impression upon her spirits and feare possessed her so powerfully that she thought she saw nothing about her but the images of death In fine she suffered her selfe to be so extreamly troubled with these panique feares that it was impossible for her to take any good resolution Without regarding her condition without respect of her honour or consideration of the danger whereunto she exposed her selfe she at that instant left the house accompanied onely with misfortunes and adorned with the jewels which she ordinarily wore which were a cross of Diamonds which she wore upon her breast two Pearles like Peares which hung in her eares and a Garland of gold Emerauds and Rubies which she had about her haire Thus desolate she crossed the whole Town of Madrid and went to the last houses which are towards the Meadowes of St. Ieronime where the walkes and projects of Lovers and Courtezans are made Having put up her stones into her pocket she entered without choice or consideration into the house of a poor woman not being able to go further because the day which begun to break might have discovered her All this while I remained in the estate and place where Charitie had found me untill the rising of a servant who coming to make clean the hall as she did every day perceived at the entry thereof a body which she believed to be dead affrighted with this spectacle she went to the chamber of her Mistresse the mother of Charitie telling her more with astonishment then words what she had seen This Lady allarmed with this accident rose and made all her servants to be called who ranne all to me at the same time they tooke me from the ground and layed me upon a bed and in the doubt wherein they were whether I was dead or alive sent presently for a Chirurgeon in expecting him none of them knowing what to doe to me they heated linnen cloathes towarme me and cast water in my face to waken my spirits if I were swounded in fine amongst all these accurable diligences they were put out of the paine wherein they were seeing me make a great sigh which testified unto them that I was yet living Thereupon the Chirurgeon arrived he looked upon my wounds and putting the first plaister thereupon stayed the little blood that refted in my veines When my strength was a little come unto me I prayed Eugenie that I might be carryed into my lodging conjuring her not to afflict her selfe nor to be troubled for my disgrace for although I was ignorant of whom I had received it I did not forbeare to assure her that all her domestiques were innocent She enquired of me how this misfortune had arrived me in her house but not knowing what to answer her I faigned that my paine hindered me from speaking as in truth it was very sensible the Chirurgeon accomodated himselfe to my necessity told her that I ought not to speak by this means I avoyded my troublesome examination and was carryed home This good Lady extreamly troubled with this scandall went up to Charities chamber doubting that she knew something of this misfortune but the first displeasure was followed with an affliction much more cruell she saw the doore open and the chamber voyd of that she thought to finde therein They called Charitie they sought her thorough all the house but they knew not what was become of her and when they had told Eugenie that those who went to fetch the Chirurgeon had found the street door open this poor Lady fell
most perfidious and infamous person he had no other exercise then to ruin the honours of those he could meet with for whether their simplicities suffered him to surprize them or that they resisted his dishonest desires he did not forbear to slander them his tongue was so dangerous that he spake ill indifferently of all women publishing as soon lies as truths and vaunting of that which he did not as well as of that which he did The disorders of his life mounted to such an excesse that he had a design to enterprise upon the honour of his owne Sister the sacred limits of bloud her proper vertue nor my vigilant care could not retain him I was advertised of his pernicious project by a servant whom he thought to have rendred adherent to his abominable intentions because she had suffered him to communicate them unto her but this was a discreet Maid who had given him this audience but only that he might confide in her and hinder him from seeking to another who it might be would not have carried her self so discreetly therein She did but hear him to learn his resolutions and give me notice thereof that I might prudently prevent them When this Maid had told me what she knew thereof I could scarcely believe her the thing was so prodigious but considering the manners of the person and comparing them with the discourse of this Maid I found he was capable to commit actions yet more monstrous I would be wise in this affair and inform my self of the truth to the end that the vengeance I hoped to take might be esteemed just and not rash From that hour mine eyes were Sentinels over the words and actions of Lucian he made no step nor ever approached near the place where Olinde was so mine innocent Sister was called that I did not discreetly watch him from whence I found more confirmation of the truth of the report which was made me then I would have done yet I dissembled the trouble of my mind with intention to govern my self with such industry that at the same time his designes should be broken my Sister delivered from his persecutions his impudence chastised my vengeance accomplished and my self without feare of being known for the Author of his death I disguised my self in the night and followed him when he went about the streets to attrap him all alone and let him feele the violence of my choler in killing him One time amongst others when I went to search him with this designe after having long time walked about the Town and the places of debauches where I knew he ordinarily frequented without meeting with him in entring into the street where the house of Don Ignigo Orozco is situate one of the principall Cavaliers of the City I heard a confused noyse of voices I went towards this house and knew that it was there where the rumour was but yet I knew not what was the cause thereof at the same time I saw two men unknown which approached as I did with like curiosity I came to the doore and perceived the house all within to be on fire which did not only threaten to consume the Edifice but also the goods and persons which were therein and all this misfortune came by the negligence of a Lacquey who had fastned a candle against a woodden seeling From moment to moment the flames augmented with so much fury that some of the men were constrained to leap out of the windowes seeing the stairs on fire the women being lesse couragious stayed besieged in their chambers crying for mercy and causing great pitty to those who heard them Amongst the rest which suffered these fears I perceived through the flames and smoak a Lady whose beauty and cloaths testified her to be a person of esteeme and seeing the extreame necessity which pressed them I cast my self into the house and taking a great hammer from a man that I met which was come to give succour I broke a thin wall and entered into the chamber where the poore desolates were amongst the which I saw saw the originall of my first admiration which was in a swound I tooke her in mine armes and carryed her cut of this fearefull danger which threatened her making all the rest which were prisoners with her to come out As this accident hapned during the first sleepe of the whole family this lady was wakened in a fright and being presently cast into the floore was not clothed but onely with a petticoate and wast coate the one of sattin richly embroydered with flowers of gold and silver and the other pinked through the which appeared a breast of snow capable to inflame ice it selfe Seeing her so little covered I cast my cloake over her body I doe not know whether it was to keepe her warme or for feare she should inflame the heart of some other as she had done mine for what marble could have beene insensible of so many attractions As I carried her away being yet in her swound those two men which I met in coming to the dore came to me with their swords in their hands and one of them who had his face covered with cipres because he would not be known put himself in action to ravish from me the conquest which I had made with so much courage and to take from me the worthy object of my loue In this violence seeing my selfe without my sword which I had quitted having no use thereof against the fire I knew not what to doe but to use words and represent to them that their enterprise was not onely incivill but very cowardly and infamous to set upon a man without armes and in saving a lady of her condition from the fire The other woman which accompanied her alarmed with this insolence begun to cry for helpe then the companion of him that had set upon me in the cypres maske gave me a great thrust in the right side which passed quite through my body then turning his face he fled with the other I would have run after them but the blood which issued in abundance out of the wound rendered me so feeble that I fell downe at the second step In the interim this lady returned from her swound much more vigorous then before having two soules for one for I had given her mine Yet she was like to dye for feare opening her eyes and seeing a man at her feete all covered with blood and whose habits testified that he was not of base condition Whilst she was in this new astonishment the master and servants of a neighbouring house came out some to helpe this lady and others to assist to quench the fire which whilst they did the others carryed away this beauty to their house with one of her cosens which accompanied her At the same instant Don Jgnigo was told of the disaster which was arrived me in saving from the fire the most preticus goods of his house And without knowing who I was he ran
Baptists house who assured me that my brother was returned thither with him against whom it was believed he had the qarrell that Don Baptiste accompanyed with other Cavaliers amongst whom his master was had found them and carried them back to his house Vpon these words I went no further but returned towards the house â—â—ing desirous to know the occasion of this rumor In passing through a street a little remote from the commerce of people I saw at the doore of a certaine house a woman couered with a mantle as I passed she coughed softly which I tooke for a signe that she would stay me and without expecting a second time I came to her and begun like a young man to treat her as a common woman thinking that at that houre no other were to be met in the streets she retired her selfe a little and sayed to me Cavalier I pardon the evill opinion you have conceived of me seeing me alone and so late in this place I am a woman of condition afflicted with an extreame displeasure and have neede of the assistance of a man of valour the opinion which I have that you are so hath caused me to call you This manner of speaking made me give credit to her words and although it was night I saw that which made me judge her to be a person of respect so that changing my stile and actions I said Madame since that your discretion hath prevented my excuses they would be now superfluous I will therefore let alone submissive words and offer you the effect of a most faithfull service Sir answered she although I doe not doubt of the sincerity of your offers I should be yet much more assured if I had the honour to know your name I am called said I Don Charles de Valasquez Ah God! replyed she then remaining silent she seemed to doubt if she should discover to me her designe What is the matter Madame continued I is that name odious unto you Alas Sir said she I honoured it extreamly but to tell you the truth the feare I have to be knowne makes me to desire that you bad not stayed but passed on your way and followed your first intention This answer made me the more curious tâ— know who she was I then gave her my word not to informe my selfe of any thing but blindly to obey her in all she would ordaine me without enterprising any thing that might displease her praying her not to feare to declare to me her intentions protesting to serve her couragiously and never to reveale any secret she should trust me with Then she told me that she was intimate friend to Violante aâ— lady whom I served who triumphed over my libertie and treated me rigorously although I had rendered her a thousand testimonies of my passion She had divers time prayed me by others to desist from my sute telling me my labour would be lost Seeing then that this gentlewoman said she was the intimate friend of my ingratefull mistresse my desire to serve her animated my courage perswading my selfe that I should oblige her to render me some good office towards this cruell one Vpon the assurances which you give me of your discretion and the freedome whereunto your blood obligeth you replyed she follow me I am going into a house about an affaire of great importance you must if you please attend me at the street doore resolved to let no one enter and doe not trouble your selfe with the noyse you may heare there if any happen but if any one offer to goe out let him goe freely without informing your selfe of him As she had finished these instructions we arrived at the doore of an house of eminency she entred thereinto and I finding my selfe ingaged to assist her put my selfe in ambush neere the doore to execute her ordinances I presently heard the noise she told me of and almost at the same instant a man came out having a cloake and a coloured hat which came so farre upon his head that the brims covered his face for is was not so obscure but that I could well observe this hee came out as if hee were in choler which I knew by these words which he spake thus impudent women ought to be treated there needs no other misfortune to our blood but to have it mingled with that of an infamous woman he was scarcely gone when this Lady whom I had accompanyed came out also and coming to me all in teares Seigneur Don Charles sayd she I come from making the last proofe of my misfortunes at the present I have need that you carry me to some friends house of yours where I may put off the cloathes I weare I presently carried her to a house in the Master whereof I had great confidence she went alone into a chamber put off her womans habit and came out in mans she praied me to give her my sword and to take another for my self I extreamly marvelled to see all these strange actions yet without enquiring after any thing I humbly obeyed in all she required yet with great desire to know what would become of these divers changes We left the town she went the first and I followed her step by step she went into a close a little out of the highway in the middle whereof was a Dove-coate she made me hide my self behind it and she kept a little distance from it as if she expected some one wishing me to come to her at the first sign that she should make me saying that she should then have need of my person I remained planted behind the Dove-coate like a bugbeare of hemp-stalkes my spirits much confused with all these mysteries and without being able to penetrate into the intentions of this woman although I had time enough to meditate upon these actions for I was neare an houre in keeping this sentinell In the end I heard some one to come very deliberately I watched and perceived that it was the same man that I had seen come out of the house whither this woman had carried me and left me at the door he approaching to her at a little distance held her this language Don Charles said he before we come to the effect which hath brought us hither I must tell you that it was not necessary to make me come into the field about a thing that I would easily have done in the town You stand upon two points in the writing which was given me this morning from you the first that I should know that you love Violante the second that you are resolved to make me quit the pretensions I have for her I will satisfie you upon both For the first head I will tell you that I am troubled that you have passion for so poore a subject and for the second that it will not at all trouble me to quit that which I never had and which is as hatefull to me as death You ought therefore to be content for this regard