"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."




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