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From Count Lucanor; of the Fifty Pleasant Stories of Patronio, written by the Prince Don Juan Manuel and first done into English by James York, M. D., 1868;; Gibbings & Company, Limited; London; 1899; pp. 207-226.

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[207]



CHAPTER XLV.

Of what happened to a Merchant who went to buy Brains.

manuscript letter O NE day Count Lucanor said, “Patronio, I am furious at a thing I have been told, as it tends greatly to my dishonour; and I fear it will provoke me to act with so much rashness and impetuosity as may cause a scandal.”

Patronio, seeing the Count so irritated, said to him, “My lord, permit me to relate to you what happened to a trader who went one day to buy brains.”

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The Count assenting, Patronio continued as follows: —

“My lord, there lived in a town a famous master, whose sole business was to sell brains. One day the trader of whim I spoke went to this man who sold brains, saying that he wished to become a purchaser.

“The other replied he was very willing to serve him; but desired to know what price he would go to, as the quality would be according to the price he was disposed to pay for it.

“The trader offered him a maravedi,* which he took, saying, ‘My friend, when you are invited to a dinner, and know not the number of dishes of which it is composed, eat heartily of the first which is presented to you.’

“The trader replied that was very poor value for his money; to which the other said, ‘As I told you, it is according to the price given.’

“The trader then presented him with a dollar; and the other told him that, when he should find himself in a rage never to act on the impulse of his feelings, but to wait until he had well considered all the circumstances. The trader, finding that, at this rate, he would be expending many dollars, resolved henceforward to seek advice in his own brain, for better or for worse.

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“Now it happened that this trader, having occasion to go to a distant country by sea, had to leave his wife while she was with child. More than twenty years passed without any tidings of him. The mother, having a son, and believing her husband to be dead, she having no other child, continued to eat and sleep with her son, as had been her custom from his birth; she, from her great love for her husband and child, calling the boy her husband. It now happened that the trader, having completed his business, turned towards home with his fortune, and arriving at the gate of the city where he lived, passed on without making himself known to anybody, and quietly sought his own house, where he concealed himself that he might see what was passing.

“Now when it was evening and the young man came home, the good wife said, ‘Good husband, whence came you?’

“The trader, hearing her call this young man her husband, was much grieved, not because she had married him, but, seeing so young a man, he feared she was leading an immoral life. He determined at once upon killing her, but, recollecting the advice which had cost him a dollar, kept cool. By-and-bye they sat down to table, which the trader seeing, felt more irritated, but he yet remembered the advice he had received, and would not allow himself to be carried away by his passion; but, when night came, and he saw them lie down together, he felt it impossible longer to restrain his anger, and issued 210 forth from his hiding-place, intending to kill him; but, suddenly remembering the brains which he had purchased, became quiet.

“Now, before the fire was quite extinguished, the woman commenced crying bitterly, ‘O, my son and husband, I hear that a vessel has arrived from the country your father journeyed to; for the love of God, I pray you to go early in the morning, and perchance you may hear some news of him.’

“The trader, hearing this, and remembering the situation in which he had left his wife, concluded this might be his own son, and felt much pleased, thanking God very heartily that he had not killed him as he intended; and now thought the dollar which he had expended in the purchase of brains well laid out, as it had taught him self-command.

“And you, Count Lucanor, do not act hastily and before you have given yourself time to ascertain the truth and certainty of that which you complain of; but, once satisfied on this point, let not anger carry you away, or influence you to do anything which may hereafter give you cause for repentance.

The Count was pleased with this advice, and followed it. Don Juan, approving of this example, ordered it to be written in this book, with the following lines: —

If your anger hastily you vent,
’Twill be your fate at leisure to repent.






Footnotes

*  A Spanish copper coin, thirty-four of which make a real de vellon, which is about threepence English.

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NOTES.

How much unhappiness would be spared in this world if the advice given in the two lines appended to this amusing tale were more strictly followed. How unwise is it to act while under the influence of a passion which tramples beneath its feet all guardian agencies; how much better to give some time to reflection, as Norfolk advises Buckingham, when he says, “Stay, my lord, and let your reason with your choler question what ’tis you go about” — Henry VIII.

It is well often to take counsel of our pillow, or, as the Italians say, in a beautiful proverb, “La notte è la madre di pensieri,” — “Night is the mother of thoughts.” Neither should it ever be forgotten that we may some day be reconciled to the person who now excites our passion, and live to regret the too hasty utterance of observations which may ever mar that unity of feeling which previously existed, for, as the Spaniards say, “Amigo quebrado y soldado mas nunca sano,” — “Broken friendships may be soldered, but never made sound.”

So far concerns the moral. The narrative, however, throughout is novel and full of point, showing that good brains, like any other article, should or ought to bring to the vendor a value proportionate to their worth.



212

CHAPTER XLVI.

What happened to a Man with a grey Sand-piper and a Swallow.

manuscript letter O N another occasion, Count Lucanor speaking with Patronio, said “Patronio, in no way can I escape having a quarrel with one of my two neighbours. It happens that one of these is nearer to me than the other; I beg you, therefore, to advise me what to do under these circumstances.”

“My lord,” said Patronio, “that I may the better do this, allow me to relate what happened to a man with a sand-piper and a swallow.”

“Willingly,” replied the Count.

“There was a feeble old man who was so annoyed by the chirping and chattering of the sand-pipers and swallows which surrounded his dwelling, that he begged a friend to get rid of them for him, as he found they entirely prevented his getting any rest.

“His friend replied that he was willing to comply with his request, but that it would be impossible to get rid of both of them at the same time. It therefore only remained for him to decide which should be removed.

“To this the old man replied that the swallows 213 made the most noise, and were the greatest nuisance; ‘But, you know,’ he says, ‘the swallows go and come; I should therefore, prefer getting rid of the sand-pipers, as they are always stationary.’

“And you, Count Lucanor, although your more distant neighbour may be the more powerful, I would advise you rather to quarrel with him than with your adjoining one, although he be the weaker.”

The Count liked this advice, and followed it with much benefit.

And Don Juan, thinking it to be a good example, ordered it to be written in this book, and composed the following lines: —

If thou be forced all ways to exchange a blow,
Choose the more distant, though more powerful foe.





NOTES.

This fable teaches us the well-known maxim, “Of two evils choose the less,” a question often requiring the exercise of our best discrimination. And, if an enemy must exist, there can be no question that a distant one is more to be tolerated than the endless annoyance of a nearer one; the more so, when broils and offences were, in Don Manuel’s time, more frequently decided by the sword than by an appeal to justice.

The sand-piper (Totanus) alluded to chiefly frequents the sand and shingly shores of the sea coast. It is a noisy bird, and utters shrill and wailing cries.



214

CHAPTER XLVII.

What happened to the Devil, with a Woman who went on a Pilgrimage.

manuscript letter C OUNT LUCANOR, conversing one day with Patronio, his counsellor, said, “Patronio, I and some other persons were talking together lately, and inquiring in what manner a bad man could inflict most evil upon others and make them suffer most. Some said, by rebellion; others, by evil-doing; and some declared that the thing of all others which made a man most dangerous was an evil and slanderous tongue. Now, as you have so good an understanding, I pray you to tell me from which of these injuries the persons suffering from them would be likely to receive most harm.”

“My lord,” said Patronio, “that you may the better understand my opinion on this matter, I should like to relate to you what happened to the Devil, with a woman who went on a pilgrimage.”

The Count, requesting to hear the narrative, Patronio proceeded as follows: —

“In a certain town there resided a young man of good personal appearance and his wife, who lived so happily together that they were never known to 215 disagree. The Devil seeing this, and always going about seeking to do evil was much grieved at this semblance of worldly felicity, and determined to leave no means untried by which he could mar their happiness and draw them into his meshes.

“One day he was returning from the town where this couple lived, sad and dejected at the ill-success of his schemes, when he met an evil-disposed woman in the guise of a pilgrim. Having saluted each other, she asked him from whence he came so sad. He told her he was returning from the town where the man and woman lived, detailed their state of happiness, and how he had been going about for some time to cause dissension between the, but without success.

“She said she was much astonished, and the more so, knowing his cunning, at his being frustrated; and so promised, if he would follow her advice, she would soon put an end to his troubles.

“The Devil consented to do all she suggested, provided she could cause a difference between the man and his wife. They immediately made arrangements for their future operations.

“The woman then went to the town where the young couple resided, and devoted the whole of her time to watching their habits and proceedings. She ultimately called at their house, saying that she had been an old servant in the family and was anxious, if they would engage her, to devote her whole life to their service.

216

“The good wife, believing in her word, unfortunately took her into her house, and confided to her, after a while, all her secrets, as did also her husband.

“Now, after living in their service for some time, and becoming the confidant of both parties, she came one day, with a sad face, saying to the wife, ’I fear from what I have seen that your husband is devoting himself more to another woman than he ought, and I come to advise you to lose no opportunity in securing his love by a more devoted attention — the loss of his affection being the greatest evil that could happen to you.’

“When the good woman heard this, although she could scarcely believe it, yet it had the effect of making her anxious and sad.

“The false servant seeing this, then went to meet the husband, who she knew was returning home from a certain place, and, with a woful face, told him that, much as she disliked it, she felt it her duty to inform him that she feared his wife loved another more than himself; at the same time praying, for the love of God, he would not tell his wife, or she would kill her.

“The young husband, hearing this, would not believe it; nevertheless, it had the effect, of causing him to be very depressed and dejected.

“The woman, seeing this, hastened home to the wife, saying to her, with great feeling, ‘My dear child, I cannot understand how it is that your husband is becoming so indifferent to you; and, that 217 you may believe in my fidelity, take notice when he comes in how angry and sad he is, contrary to his usual custom.’ On leaving the wife she went to the husband with the same story.

“As soon as the husband reached the house, and found his wife so dejected and so different from her usual appearance, he became more uneasy. After a while the servant proposed to the wife to consult some soothsayer, who could advise her the best method of regaining and securing her husband’s affection. The wife, who desired to again live happily with her husband, willingly assented to this. In a few days the servant informed her mistress that she had found a wise man, whom they now consulted, and who gave her to understand that, if she cut a few hairs from her husband’s beard, under the chin, it would have the effect of instantly removing all his anger, and they would live in harmony, as before, and perhaps more happily; at the same time giving a razor for the purpose. The young wife, anxious to regain her husband’s former love, and again live happily as before, consented to do as suggested.

“The false servant now turned to the husband, telling him that she was miserable at the prospect of losing him, but she could no longer conceal it from him that his wife intended to kill him and go away with her admirer; adding that he might verify the truth of her statements. She now said that his wife and her lover had arranged to kill him in the following manner. She then suggested that he should come 218 in by-and-bye to take a little rest, and told him that, as soon as he was asleep, his wife intended cutting his throat with a razor.

“The husband was much alarmed at what the woman told him, resolving inwardly to test the truth of her assertion, guarding himself by precautions from any actual danger. On returning home, his wife received him more kindly than she had done for some time, asking him why he so incessantly worked, taking so little rest; inviting him, at the same time, to lie down and place his head on her knees while she lulled him to sleep.

“On the husband’s hearing this he felt convinced of the truth of the servant’s statement, and, in order to test his wife’s conduct he lay down as she proposed, resting his head on her lap, and in a little time feigned to be asleep. She now took in her hand the razor to cut off the hairs from his throat, as advised by the false servant; when the husband, surprising her with the razor in her hand in the act of applying it to his throat, no longer doubted her treachery, and, starting up with alarm, seized the razor from her hands, and instantly decapitated her. The wife’s father and brothers, hearing the noise which this struggle occasioned, ran hastily into the room and were horrified at the spectacle they there beheld, and, having never heard any evil reports against the young woman, immediately attacked the young man and slew him.

“Again, the relatives of the young man, hearing 219 how unfairly he had been slain, attacked in their turn the father and brothers of the wife, and killed them. This brought others into the fray, so that many in the town lost their lives.

“All this was caused by the false representations of the wicked servant; but, as God never permits evil, known or concealed, to go unpunished, so it was soon discovered that all these misfortunes arose from the hypocrisy and false representations of a deceitful female pilgrim, who, being brought to justice, was condemned to a most cruel death.

“And you, Count Lucanor, if you desire to know what class of men are most dangerous in society, learn, from this recital, that they are those who, under the guise of friendship or otherwise, introduce calumny and false representations for the destruction of good feeling. I advise you, therefore, to be most on your guard against religious cats, or ‘sanctimonious traitors,’ against whom the Scriptures also caution us, saying, ‘A fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos,’ — ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’ For certain it is that no man can long conceal entirely his thoughts and intentions; there will arise occasions when they will escape him.”

The Count found much truth in what Patronio had said, and prayed to God to preserve him and his friends from the baneful influence of all calumniators.

And Don Juan, liking the example, had it written 220 in this book, and composed the following lines, which say: —

The doings, not the semblance, heed,
Wouldst thou from evil chance be freed.




NOTES.

We are strongly inclined to believe that Molière, in writing his celebrated, “Tartuffe,” had in view the fable of Don Manuel. Although the characters introduced are not exactly alike, his severe criticisms on the hypocrisy of the abbés of his day (so generally commented on at that time by most writers) resemble in that and in the construction of the story the little drama of Don Manuel, wherein is so vividly depicted the great evil of hypocrisy, and where, by misrepresentations, not only is the happiness of one family destroyed, but several murders committed, and, indeed, a whole town involved in a general massacre.

In this tale I have not translated literally the invitation made by the wife, “Y que ella lo espulgaria,” fearing it might be offensive to the eyes of some of our readers. In making this remark, I cannot but comment on the general refinement of Don Manuel’s writings, and their entire freedom from the grossness which, at a later period, characterized the works of some of the best Spanish writers.



221

CHAPTER XLVIII.

The advice which Patronio gave to Count Lucanor when informed that a Man had offered to teach him the art of foretelling coming events, which he exemplified by what happened to a good man, who became first rich and afterwards poor, by the intervention of the Devil.

manuscript letter O NE day Count Lucanor said to Patronio, “A man tells me that he knows many ways and signs whereby to foretell coming events, which art he desires to teach me, so that I may be enabled to increase my power and better my possessions. But, as my conscience inspires me with the feeling that this is not altogether without sin, before I accept this offer, I wish you to direct me what to do.”

“My lord,” said Patronio, “in order to illustrate your situation, allow me to relate to you the story of the man with the Devil.”

“Willingly,” said the Count.

“Patronio proceeded as follows: — “A very rich man arrived at such a state of poverty that he was unable to maintain himself, which misfortune made him very wretched. One day, being particularly 222 sad, and wandering alone among the mountains, he chanced to meet the Devil, who, though from his intuitive knowledge he was well aware of what was passing in the man’s mind, nevertheless asked him why he was so sad.

“The man replied, it was no use telling him, as he could not remove the cause.

“The Devil answered, and said to the man, that, if he were willing to comply with all he required of him, he would prove to him that he was able to relieve him, and that he knew why he was unhappy. He then related all that had happened to him and the cause of his sadness, asking him again if he would accept his conditions, as, if so, he would relieve him from his misery, making him richer than any of his family had ever been before, saying that he was the Devil, and had the power to do it.

“The man, hearing this, felt a little alarm; nevertheless, his misery was so great that he ultimately agreed, on condition of being made very rich, to do all that was required of him.

“So it is that the devil always knows his time to make men fall into his snares. When he sees us in any trouble or necessity, it is then that he offers us his assistance to avoid labour and anxiety for the sake of an immediate apparent relief. So it was that he obtained possession of this man, making him his slave.

“The conditions being arranged, the Devil told the man that he must now become a robber, and 223 that he would give him the power to open the gate or door of any house he desired, no matter how well secured it might be; and if by chance he were taken prisoner, he had only to cry out, ‘Help me, Don Martin,’ and he would come and set him free from all danger.

“On these conditions, the man set out for the house of a rich merchant, under the cover of night (for evil-doers always avoid the light). He reached the door, which the Devil opened for him; and it happened in the same manner with others, so that in a short time the man found himself very rich indeed, and lost all remembrance of his former poverty; but, not content with his riches, he still continued his career of robbery, until, being caught at last and taken to prison, he called on Don Martin, who, speedily arriving, placed him at liberty. Nevertheless, he yet continued his former practices, and being taken prisoner, he called, as before, for his deliverer, whose attendance was not so prompt as on the former occasion. When he asked him how he dared to deceive him, and why he delayed so long in coming to help him, the Devil replied that he was particularly engaged at the moment. He was again, however, liberated.

“Now the man, seeing the facility with which he was freed from prison, still continued his robberies, but, Don Martin not responding to his last appeal, he was tried and sentenced to die. After sentence was passed, Don Martin once more placed him at 224 liberty in the name of the king. Again this man returned to his old courses, and again was taken prisoner. This time, however, Don Martin did not arrive until he was at the foot of the scaffold. Then man then told Don Martin this was no child’s-play, for his delay had caused him dreadful alarm.

“Don Martin replied he had brought him five-hundred maravedi in an alms-bag, which he was to offer to the judge, who would immediately liberate him. Now, while he was making preparations, there appeared some difficulty in procuring a rope, when the man, calling the judge aside, gave him the bag containing the money.

“The judge, after a short time, turning to the people, said, ‘My friends, did you ever see a rope wanting when the man is really guilty? it is clear that God does not desire the death of the innocent; therefore we shall defer the execution until tomorrow. Examine his antecedents more carefully, and depend upon it, justice shall be satisfied.’ This the judge did to gain time to count the money in the bag, where, instead of money, finding only a rope, he immediately ordered the execution of the prisoner, who, having the rope round his neck, called again on Don Martin, who attending, he desired to know why he had deserted him in this extremity; to which the Devil replied that, under any circumstances he could help him, except when he had a rope round his neck, as then he — the 225 Devil — was deprived by this of his power. The consequence was that the culprit met the fate which awaited him, losing thereby both soul and body, from not resisting the temptation of the Devil; such being the fate of all those who rely upon false aid and delay their repentance. And, if you doubt my word, think of what happened to Alvar Nuñez and Garcilaso, who were most credulous men and believed in all manner of signs and prognostications.

“And you, Count Lucanor, if you desire to save both soul and body, put your trust and hope in God, who will never desert you, and not in omens and predictions; for it is a great sin to doubt the power of God, placing your hopes on auguries and such occult fancies.”

And the Count, thinking this good advice, followed it with much benefit. Don Juan also considered it so good an example as to be worthy of being written in this book, and he composed the following lines: —

Who doth not trust in God repose,
Evil his life and sad its close.




NOTE.

The study of astrology, witchcraft, or demonology, and the occult sciences, occupied much attention at the period when Don Manuel wrote, and he, fearing not to be wiser than his time, has chosen in the above tale an example entirely in conformity with the opinion he desired to propagate. The Devil 226 he shows us as the first of all sorcerers, and makes him powerful only for evil. We see, however, in all the old writers who had faith in sorcery, that, while admitting the agency of evil, there yet remained a doubt as to its fulfilment, consequent upon the permission of an all-superintending superior agency of good. This same drama we see enacted in the present day, in the form of pantomime, where the efforts of the evil one are ultimately rendered abortive by the watchful spirit of goodness. There is a very old fable in Sir Roger L’Estrange’s collection, which is curiously like the one above, where a malefactor who had committed I know not how many villanies and run through the discipline of many jails, made a friend of the Devil to help him out of all his distresses. This friend of his brought him off many and many a time, and still he was taken up; again and again he had recourse to the same Devil for succour. But, upon his last summons, the Devil came to him with a great bag full of old shoes on his back, and told him plainly, “Friend,” says he, “I am at the end of my line, and can help you no longer. I have beat the hoof till I have worn out all these shoes in your service, and not one penny left me to buy more, so that you must e’en excuse me if I drop you here.”





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