“You would deal with them more harshly and cruelly
than their owner himself,” said Vivaldo, “for
it is neither right nor proper to do the will of one
who enjoins what is wholly unreasonable; it would not
have been reasonable in Augustus Caesar had he permitted
the directions left by the divine Mantuan in his will
to be carried into effect. So that, Senor Ambrosia
while you consign your friend’s body to the earth,
you should not consign his writings to oblivion, for
if he gave the order in bitterness of heart, it is
not right that you should irrationally obey it.
On the contrary, by granting life to those papers,
let the cruelty of Marcela live for ever, to serve
as a warning in ages to come to all men to shun and
avoid falling into like danger; or I and all of us
who have come here know already the story of this
your love-stricken and heart-broken friend, and we
know, too, your friendship, and the cause of his death,
and the directions he gave at the close of his life;
from which sad story may be gathered how great was
the cruelty of Marcela, the love of Chrysostom, and
the loyalty of your friendship, together with the
end awaiting those who pursue rashly the path that
insane passion opens to their eyes. Last night
we learned the death of Chrysostom and that he was
to be buried here, and out of curiosity and pity we
left our direct road and resolved to come and see
with our eyes that which when heard of had so moved
our compassion, and in consideration of that compassion
and our desire to prove it if we might by condolence,
we beg of you, excellent Ambrosia, or at least I on
my own account entreat you, that instead of burning
those papers you allow me to carry away some of them.”
And without waiting for the shepherd’s answer,
he stretched out his hand and took up some of those
that were nearest to him; seeing which Ambrosio said,
“Out of courtesy, senor, I will grant your request
as to those you have taken, but it is idle to expect
me to abstain from burning the remainder.”
Vivaldo, who was eager to see what the papers contained,
opened one of them at once, and saw that its title
was “Lay of Despair.”
Ambrosio hearing it said, “That is the last
paper the unhappy man wrote; and that you may see,
senor, to what an end his misfortunes brought him,
read it so that you may be heard, for you will have
time enough for that while we are waiting for the
grave to be dug.”
“I will do so very willingly,” said Vivaldo;
and as all the bystanders were equally eager they
gathered round him, and he, reading in a loud voice,
found that it ran as follows.
CHAPTER XIV.
WHEREIN ARE INSERTED THE DESPAIRING VERSES OF THE DEAD SHEPHERD, TOGETHER
WITH OTHER INCIDENTS NOT LOOKED FOR
