of armed knights； judge whether he had good reason to fear； but what
he did was to lean his elbow on the arm of the chair； and his cheek
upon his hand； and； asking Camilla's pardon for his ill manners； he
said he wished to take a little sleep until Anselmo returned。
Camilla in reply said he could repose more at his ease in the
reception…room than in his chair； and begged of him to go in and sleep
there； but Lothario declined； and there he remained asleep until the
return of Anselmo； who finding Camilla in her own room； and Lothario
asleep； imagined that he had stayed away so long as to have afforded
them time enough for conversation and even for sleep； and was all
impatience until Lothario should wake up； that he might go out with
him and question him as to his success。 Everything fell out as he
wished； Lothario awoke； and the two at once left the house； and
Anselmo asked what he was anxious to know； and Lothario in answer told
him that he had not thought it advisable to declare himself entirely
the first time； and therefore had only extolled the charms of Camilla；
telling her that all the city spoke of nothing else but her beauty and
wit； for this seemed to him an excellent way of beginning to gain
her good…will and render her disposed to listen to him with pleasure
the next time； thus availing himself of the device the devil has
recourse to when he would deceive one who is on the watch； for he
being the angel of darkness transforms himself into an angel of light；
and； under cover of a fair seeming； discloses himself at length； and
effects his purpose if at the beginning his wiles are not
discovered。 All this gave great satisfaction to Anselmo； and he said
he would afford the same opportunity every day； but without leaving
the house； for he would find things to do at home so that Camilla
should not detect the plot。
Thus； then； several days went by； and Lothario； without uttering a
word to Camilla； reported to Anselmo that he had talked with her and
that he had never been able to draw from her the slightest
indication of consent to anything dishonourable； nor even a sign or
shadow of hope； on the contrary； he said she would inform her
husband of it。
〃So far well；〃 said Anselmo； 〃Camilla has thus far resisted words；
we must now see how she will resist deeds。 I will give you to…morrow
two thousand crowns in gold for you to offer or even present； and as
many more to buy jewels to lure her； for women are fond of being
becomingly attired and going gaily dressed； and all the more so if
they are beautiful； however chaste they may be； and if she resists
this temptation； I will rest satisfied and will give you no more
trouble。〃
Lothario replied that now he had begun he would carry on the
undertaking to the end； though he perceived he was to come out of it
wearied and vanquished。 The next day he received the four thousand
crowns； and with them four thousand perplexities； for he knew not what
to say by way of a new falsehood； but in the end he made up his mind
to tell him that Camilla stood as firm against gifts and promises as
against words； and that there was no use in taking any further
trouble； for the time was all spent to no purpose。
But chance； directing things in a different manner； so ordered it
that Anselmo； having left Lothario and Camilla alone as on other
occasions； shut himself into a chamber and posted himself to watch and
listen through the keyhole to what passed between them； and
perceived that for more than half an hour Lothario did not utter a
word to Camilla； nor would utter a word though he were to be there for
an age； and he came to the conclusion that what his friend had told
him about the replies of Camilla was all invention and falsehood；
and to ascertain if it were so； he came out； and calling Lothario
aside asked him what news he had and in what humour Camilla was。
Lothario replied that he was not disposed to go on with the
business； for she had answered him so angrily and harshly that he
had no heart to say anything more to her。
〃Ah； Lothario； Lothario；〃 said Anselmo； 〃how ill dost thou meet
thy obligations to me； and the great confidence I repose in thee！ I
have been just now watching through this keyhole； and I have seen that
thou has not said a word to Camilla； whence I conclude that on the
former occasions thou hast not spoken to her either； and if this be
so； as no doubt it is； why dost thou deceive me； or wherefore
seekest thou by craft to deprive me of the means I might find of
attaining my desire？〃
Anselmo said no more； but he had said enough to cover Lothario
with shame and confusion； and he； feeling as it were his honour
touched by having been detected in a lie； swore to Anselmo that he
would from that moment devote himself to satisfying him without any
deception； as he would see if he had the curiosity to watch； though he
need not take the trouble； for the pains he would take to satisfy
him would remove all suspicions from his mind。 Anselmo believed him；
and to afford him an opportunity more free and less liable to
surprise； he resolved to absent himself from his house for eight days；
betaking himself to that of a friend of his who lived in a village not
far from the city； and； the better to account for his departure to
Camilla； he so arranged it that the friend should send him a very
pressing invitation。
Unhappy； shortsighted Anselmo； what art thou doing； what art thou
plotting； what art thou devising？ Bethink thee thou art working
against thyself； plotting thine own dishonour； devising thine own
ruin。 Thy wife Camilla is virtuous； thou dost possess her in peace and
quietness； no one assails thy happiness； her thoughts wander not
beyond the walls of thy house； thou art her heaven on earth； the
object of her wishes； the fulfilment of her desires； the measure
wherewith she measures her will； making it conform in all things to
thine and Heaven's。 If； then； the mine of her honour； beauty；
virtue； and modesty yields thee without labour all the wealth it
contains and thou canst wish for； why wilt thou dig the earth in
search of fresh veins； of new unknown treasure； risking the collapse
of all； since it but rests on the feeble props of her weak nature？
Bethink thee that from him who seeks impossibilities that which is
possible may with justice be withheld； as was better expressed by a
poet who said：
'Tis mine to seek for life in death；
Health in disease seek I；
I seek in prison freedom's breath；
In traitors loyalty。
So Fate that ever scorns to grant
Or grace or boon to me；
Since what can never be I want；
Denies me what might be。
The next day Anselmo took his departure for the village； leaving
instructions with Camilla that during his absence Lothario would
come to look after his house and to dine with her； and that she was to
treat him as she would himself。 Camilla was distressed； as a
discreet and right…minded woman would be； at the orders her husband
left her； and bade him remember that it was not becoming that anyone
should occupy his seat at the table during his absence； and if he
acted thus from not feeling confidence that she would be able to
manage his house； let him try her this time； and he would find by
experience that she was equal to greater responsibilities。 Anselmo
replied that it was his pleasure to have it so； and that she had
only to submit and obey。 Camilla said she would do so； though
against her will。
Anselmo went； and the next day Lothario came to his house； where
he was received by Camilla with a friendly and modest welcome； but she
never suffered Lothario to see her alone； for she was always
attended by her men and women servants； especially by a handmaid of
hers； Leonela by name； to whom she was much attached （for they had
been brought up together from childhood in her father's house）； and
whom she had kept with her after her marriage with Anselmo。 The
first three days Lothario did not speak to her； though he might have
done so when they removed the cloth and the servants retired to dine
hastily； for such were Camilla's orders； nay more； Leonela had
directions to dine earlier than Camilla and never to leave her side。
She； however； having her thoughts fixed upon other things more to
her taste； and wanting that time and opportunity for her own
pleasures； did not always obey her mistress's commands； but on the
contrary left them alone； as if they had ordered her to do so； but the
modest bearing of Camilla； the calmness of her countenance； the
composure of her aspect were enough to bridle the tongue of
Lothario。 But the influence which the many virtues of Camilla
exerted in imposing silence on Lothario's tongue proved mischievous
for both of them； for if his tongue was silent his thoughts were busy；
and could dwell at leisure upon the perfections of Camilla's
goodness and beauty one by one； charms enough to warm with love a
marble statue； not to say a heart of flesh。 Lothario gazed upon her
when he might have been speaking to her； and thought how worthy of
being loved she was； and thus reflection began little by little to
assail his allegiance to Anselmo； and a thousand times he thought of
withdrawing from the city and going where Anselmo should never see him
nor he see Camilla。 But already the delight he found in gazing on
her interposed and held him fast。 He put a constraint upon himself；
and struggled to repel and repress the pleasure he found in
contemplating Camilla； when alone he blamed himself for his
weakness； called himself a bad friend； nay a bad Christian； then he
argued the matter and compared himself with Anselmo； always coming
to the conclusion that the folly and rashness of Anselmo had been
worse than his faithlessness； and that if he could excuse his
intentions as easily before God as with man； he had no reason to
fear any punishment for his offence。
In short the beauty and goodness of Camilla； joined with the
opportunity which the blind husband had placed in his hands； overthrew
the loyalty of Lothario； and giving heed to nothing save the object
towards which his inclinations led him； after Anselmo had been three
days absent； during whic