Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 " He succeeded, and escaped."
 
 Clje ^Tales of tljc "fe>pani!Bjj Boccaccio." 
 COUNT LUCANOR ; OR THE 
 
 Fifty Pleasant Stories 
 
 Of Patronio 
 WRITTEN BY THE PRINCE DON JUAN MANUEL 
 
 AND FIRST DONE INTO ENGLISH BY 
 
 JAMES YORK, M. D., 1868 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY STANLEY L. WOOD 
 
 GIBBINGS fcf COMPANY, LIMITED 
 
 1 8 BURY STREET, LONDON, W.C. 
 1896
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 N introducing for the first time in Eng- 
 land one of the choicest productions 
 of early Spanish literature a book 
 written a century before the invention 
 of printing it may be as well to say a few words 
 as to the author and the times in which he lived. 
 
 Don Juan Manuel was born in Escalona, on the 
 5th May, 1282. His father, Don Pedro Manuel, 
 a brother of Alfonso the Wise, died when he was 
 two years old. Don Juan was educated by his 
 cousin, Sancho IV, and lived with him on the same 
 familiar terms as his father had with Alfonso. He 
 exhibited early those warlike tendencies which 
 characterized all the great Spanish nobles of that 
 time; in 1294, while yet a boy, he was already in 
 the field against the Moors. 
 
 Under Ferdinand IV, who succeeded Sancho, and 
 knew how to appreciate the qualities of Don Manuel, 
 the latter reached, at the age of twenty-eight, to the 
 highest employments of the State. Unfortunately, 
 Ferdinand, dying in 1312, left his successor, Alfonso 
 XI, only thirteen months old, which gave rise to
 
 iv PREFACE. 
 
 a long series of disturbances and disputes for the 
 regency, which, in those rude times, could only be 
 settled by an appeal to arms. In 1320, Don Manuel 
 succeeded in having himself declared joint regent, 
 which office he held till the king's majority was 
 proclaimed in 1325. During this regency much 
 disorder and irregularity prevailed, which, however, 
 are attributed to Don Manuel's colleagues. It 
 appears that he himself, as far as he was concerned, 
 administered the kingdom wisely and firmly. 
 
 The young monarch, however, on reaching his 
 majority, was dissatisfied with the state of things. 
 Alfonso XI. had many of the qualities which were 
 most appreciated in that age courage, vigour, ad- 
 dress, and activity. He was hardy, sober, simple 
 in his habits, and skilled in all athletic sports. But 
 all these gifts were neutralized and rendered una- 
 vailing by the evil counsels of those by whom he 
 was surrounded. He chose his advisers among men 
 whose ambition and turbulence had ravaged the 
 country, but whose lawless deeds he attributed only 
 to zeal for his cause. Accustomed from his earliest 
 youth to regard them as his friends, while their sole 
 thought was to captivate his favour and make it a 
 stepping-stone for their ambition, he appointed them 
 to the exclusion of Don Manuel, whose influence, 
 though insufficient to check every abuse, had hitherto 
 been a beneficial restraint. 
 
 But Don Juan was not a man to be trifled with 
 thus with impunity. He retired from the court and
 
 PREFACE. v 
 
 armed his friends against the king, who, at length, 
 terrified by the power of Don Manuel and his adhe- 
 rents, who numbered among them some of the 
 most influential men in the kingdom, with a view 
 to effect a reconciliation, proposed a marriage with 
 Don Juan's daughter, Constantia. The betrothal 
 took place, and for a time all went well. But the 
 treacherous murder of Don Juan's uncle, at Toro, 
 in 1327, awakened his suspicions of the king; and 
 quitting hastily his victorious army which was then 
 engaged against the Moors, he retired to the kingdom 
 of Murcia. Alphonso remonstrated and asseverated, 
 but the one proof of his good faith the fulfilment of 
 his contract of marriage with Dona Constantia was 
 wanting. He now, indeed, accepted the hand of 
 Dona Maria, the Infanta of Portugal; writing to 
 Don Juan that, since he refused him his fealty, he 
 was no longer bound to him, and at the same time 
 giving orders for the imprisonment of Constantia in 
 the citadel of Toro. Don Manuel, touched to the 
 quick in his pride and affection, took arms against 
 the king, and entered into all the alliances he could 
 make, heedless whether it was with friends or foes. 
 After a long and sanguinary succession of struggles, 
 the king's party gained a final victory in 1335. But 
 Alphonso, who admired the brave persistence of his 
 adversaries, took Don Manuel again into favour, 
 who gave the king, during the remainder of his life, 
 the advantage of his bold arm and varied experience. 
 Deserted Constantia was married to the heir-appa-
 
 vi PREFACE. 
 
 rent of Portugal ; much, however, against the wish 
 of Alphonso, who was touched, perhaps, with a 
 too tardy regret for his breach of faith, or with a 
 jealous aversion that another should supersede him 
 in the affections of her whom he had so grossly 
 outraged. Meanwhile, Don Manuel, after waging 
 victorious war for the king against the Moors, died, 
 at the age of sixty-five, in 1 347. 
 
 Allied by descent and marriage with nearly all 
 the royal families of Spain and Portugal, Don Juan 
 Manuel may be considered as a type of those ancient 
 Spanish nobles, whose pride of lineage, whose fierce 
 courage, and chivalrous sentiment are traditional. 
 These characteristics, however, he shared with many 
 others of his time, and they would hardly have 
 served to make his name remembered. The dis- 
 tinguishing and exceptional fact that causes it to 
 stand out conspicuous from the rest, is his author- 
 ship. His victories and defeats, his royal relation- 
 ship and descent are nothing to us now ; while the 
 very thing upon which he probably prided himself 
 least, or looked upon as at best an idle solace from 
 graver toils the collection of stories which he 
 penned in the rare intervals of leisure between the 
 labours of the camp and the council, and which he 
 bequeathed in manuscript to the monks of Penafiel 
 still lives to be read, and to afford instruction and 
 entertainment to a generation that follows the arts 
 of peace as nobler than the arts of war
 
 PREFACE. vii 
 
 El Conde Lucanot first found its way into print 
 in 1575, when it was published at Seville, under 
 the auspices of Argote de Molina, whose elaborate 
 genealogy of the author would delight a heraldic 
 mind. It was again printed, at Madrid, in 1642,* 
 after which time, in the general neglect all over 
 Europe of early literature, it lay forgotten for nearly 
 two centuries. 
 
 An incomplete edition, with modernized spelling, 
 was published at Stuttgart in 1839, and reprinted at 
 Paris in 1840. An edition was also published at Bar- 
 celona in 1853. But the first critical edition present- 
 ing a standard text, founded on an elaborate collation 
 of the earlier editions and of the existing manuscripts, 
 appeared only seven years ago (Madrid, 1860), 
 under the superintendence of Don Pascual de Ga- 
 yangos. In this edition the missing chapter, the 
 absence of which renders the two early ones in- 
 complete, was supplied from a manuscript in the 
 National Library at Madrid. 
 
 It is indeed time that such a book, so full of 
 the antique simplicity and wisdom, should be ap- 
 preciated. The artless naivete of these tales ought 
 to delight an age surfeited with the sensational 
 novels that pour from our circulating libraries in 
 an uninterrupted stream. Of analysis of character, 
 
 * The editions of 1575 and 1642 are among the rarest books 
 in the world.
 
 viii PREFACE. 
 
 indeed, about which so much cry is made now- 
 a-days, there is little. It was an age when men 
 were not always probing their moral sensations 
 and analysing their own minds with a morbid self- 
 consciousness. It was a robust, healthy age, little 
 given to fret itself with metaphysical or fine-spun 
 distinctions; an age of muscular activity, not over 
 prone to much speculation, and what there was of 
 abstract thought was so clear and transparent that 
 he who runs may read. 
 
 And so, though every tale in the collection illus- 
 trates some wise moral and closes with some pithy 
 maxim for the conduct of life, there is no dogmatic 
 teaching. Every reader could apply the tale in his 
 own way, and adapt the moral to the peculiar cir- 
 cumstances of his own condition. And, indepen- 
 dently of any moral, each story is a real story, 
 artistic and interesting nay, true in the best sense 
 of the word, true to nature and the human heart. 
 
 The book is further a picture of the time. Any 
 one who wishes to have a living representation of 
 the Spanish chivalry of the fourteenth century, of 
 the life and manners of that picturesque epoch, of the 
 blunt nobleness and rude valour of which the Cid 
 is still cherished in Spain as a type will find it here, 
 if anywhere. 
 
 What shall we say as to the literary merit of the 
 book ? Written more than a century before the 
 invention of printing, long before modern writing 
 became a practice and an art at a time when the few
 
 PREFACE. ix 
 
 scholars who wrote used Latin as the only fitting and 
 permanent vehicle of their thoughts it has, doubt- 
 less, what we at this day may call faults of style, 
 with occasional needless and somewhat wearisome 
 repetitions ; these the translator found it difficult to 
 abridge without interfering with the characteristic 
 features of the original, as regards quaintness and 
 clearness of detail two qualities which constitute 
 the charm of the book, and are essential to the force 
 and point of able literature. 
 
 Like our Chaucer, Don Juan Manuel has a high 
 claim to the reverence of his countrymen as one of 
 the first who consolidated their language, and dis- 
 carding ' canine-latin ' (Ciceronian having become 
 impossible), gave to the Castilian dialect a per- 
 manence and importance, at the same time improving 
 and enlarging its capabilities of expression. 
 
 From the Arabic phrases which we find scattered 
 through the book, it may safely be assumed that Don 
 Manuel had, during his long intercourse with the 
 Moors, become tolerably proficient in that language. 
 This inference lends probability to the idea that 
 some of the Eastern collections of tales were not un- 
 known to him, and that he may have drawn con- 
 siderably from such sources in some of his narratives. 
 
 Considering the general character of the literature 
 of those times, " Count Lucanor " is singularly free 
 from grossness. There is not, indeed, one instance 
 of intentional impurity in the whole book ; so that it 
 may safely be placed in the hands of children with-
 
 x PREFACE. 
 
 ont fear of contamination. If there be any likeness 
 to the Decameron, it is rather in the mediaeval 
 abandon and simplicity of both the narrators than 
 in their subjects ; for there is, as we say, no trace 
 in Don Manuel of the licentiousness of his more 
 famous Italian contemporary. 
 
 It has been the translator's aim to preserve, as 
 much as possible, all the characteristic features of 
 the original. While avoiding archaic words, which 
 would render the book distasteful and difficult to the 
 general reader, he has purposely chosen a somewhat 
 antique style, to correspond as far as might be with 
 his author's. The most laborious, and, perhaps, the 
 least satisfactory portion of his task has been his 
 endeavour to render the couplets which wind up the 
 tales by corresponding English couplets, without 
 departing too widely from the original, or adhering 
 to it so closely as to be stilted. 
 
 The notes appended to each chapter consist prin- 
 cipally of historical and literary illustrations necessary 
 to the complete understanding of the tales themselves, 
 which, from their antiquity, may easily be supposed 
 to contain many allusions to events and to persons 
 now grown somewhat obscure. In some of these 
 the translator has been considerably indebted to the 
 researches of M. Adolphe de Puibusque, whose 
 French version of "Count Lucanor" was published 
 in 1854.* 
 
 * There exists also a German translation by Eichendorff. We 
 are not aware that the book has appeared in any other language.
 
 PREFACE. xi 
 
 The advantages of Tabular or allegorical teaching 
 are too well understood to need any comment. Don 
 Manuel, however, enjoys the distinction of being 
 free from the cynicism and covert sarcasm which 
 mar the instructiveness of too many writers of this 
 class. He has been able to paint vice and folly in 
 their true colours, without degrading human nature 
 to point a clever epigram. For that satire only is 
 wise and good which has in it an undercurrent of 
 tenderness and pity for those foibles which the 
 satirist himself shares, more or less, with his fellow- 
 men. 
 
 We trust that " Count Lucanor " may be accepted 
 by the English reader as a genuine, if rugged piece 
 of ore from that rich mine of early Spanish literature 
 which yet lies hidden and unwrought. 
 
 London, 1868,
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 The Prologue . i 
 
 CHAP. I. Relates to what happened tq a Moorish King of 
 
 Cordova 4 
 
 CHAP. II. Treats of that which happened to Lorenzo Suarez 
 
 Gallinato, and Garciperez of Vargas, and another knight . 8 
 CHAP. III. Treats of that which happened to Don Rodrigo 
 
 el Franco and his knights 14 
 
 CHAP. IV. Of a Hermit who sought to know whom he 
 
 should have for his companion in Paradise, and of the 
 
 leap made by King Richard of England . . . .21 
 CHAP. V. Of that which happened to the Emperor Frederick 
 
 and Don Alvar Fanez, with their wives . . . . 29 
 CHAP. VI. Of that which happened to the Count of Provence 
 
 and Saladin the Sultan of Babylon . . . . .42 
 CHAP. VII. Of that which happened to a King and three 
 
 Impostors 52 
 
 CHAP. VIII. What happened to a King with a man who 
 
 called himself an Alchymist 58 
 
 CHAP. IX. Of that which happened to two Cavaliers who 
 
 were in the service of the Infant Prince Henry . . 64 
 CHAP. X. Concerning what happened to a Seneschal of 
 
 Carcasona 69 
 
 CHAP. XI. Of that which happened to a Moor, who had a 
 
 Sister pretending to be alarmed at any ordinary occurrence 73 
 CHAP. XII. Of that which happened to a Dean of Santiago, 
 
 with Don Ulan, the Magician, who lived at Toledo . . 77 
 CHAP. XIII. What happened to King Ben Abit, of Seville, 
 
 with Queen Romaquia, his wife 85 
 
 CHAP. XIV. Concerning what happened to a Lombardian, in 
 
 Bologna 89 
 
 CHAP. XV. What Count Fernan Gonzales said to Nuno 
 
 Lainez , 92
 
 xiv CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 CHAP. XVI. Of what happened to Don Rodrigo Melendez de 
 
 Valdez 95 
 
 CHAP. XVII. Concerning that which happened to a great 
 
 Philosopher and a young King, his pupil . . . 99 
 CHAP. XVIII. Relates what happened to a Moorish King, 
 
 who had three Sons, and who desired to know which 
 
 would become the best Man 105 
 
 CHAP. XIX. Of that which happened to the Canons of the 
 
 Cathedral Church of Paris, and to the Friars of Saint 
 
 Francis, called Minors 112 
 
 CHAP. XX. Of that which happened to a Falcon and a 
 
 Heron, and, more particularly, to a cunning Falcon, 
 
 which belonged to the Infant Don Manuel . . . 115 
 CHAP. XXI. Recounts what happened to Count Fernan 
 
 Gonzales, and the reply which he gave to his Vassals . 119 
 CHAP. XXII. Of that which happened to a King and his 
 
 Favourite 122 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. What happened to a good Man and his Son, 
 
 leading a beast to market . . . . . . .129 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. Of what a Genovese said to his soul when 
 
 about to die 135 
 
 CHAP. XXV. What happened to the Crow with the Fox . 137 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. What happened to the Swallow, with the 
 
 other birds, when he saw the flax sown .... 142 
 
 CHAP. XXVII. Relates what happened to a Man who carried 
 a very precious Treasure hung round his neck, and who 
 had to pass a river 144 
 
 CHAP. XXVIII. Of what happened to a woman called 
 
 Truhana 147 
 
 CHAP. XXIX. Of that which happened to a Man who was 
 suffering from a malady, and whose liver had to be 
 cleansed 150 
 
 CHAP. XXX. Of what happened to a Man who, through 
 poverty and lack of other food, was reduced to eat some 
 peas I5 1 
 
 CHAP. XXXI. What happened to a Cock and a Fox . .154 
 
 CHAP. XXXII. What happened to a Man catching Partridges 157 
 
 CHAP. XXXIIL Relates to what happened to a Man with 
 
 his Friend who had invited him to dinner . . -159
 
 CONTENTS. xv 
 
 Page 
 CHAP. XXXIV. What happened to the Owls and the Crows 161 
 
 CHAP. XXXV. The advice which Patronio gave to Count 
 Lucanor, when he said he wished to enjoy himself, illus- 
 trated by the example of that which happened to the Ants 165 
 
 CHAP. XXXVI. Of that which happened to a good Man and 
 
 his Son, who boasted of having many Friends . . . 168 
 
 CHAP. XXXVII. Relates what happened to the Lion and the 
 
 Bull 174 
 
 CHAP. XXXVIII. Relates to the advice which Patronio gave 
 to Count Lucanor, when he expressed a desire to obtain 
 a good reputation ; and the example was what happened 
 to a Philosopher who was suffering from a severe illness 178 
 
 CHAP. XXXIX. Of what happened to a Man who was made 
 
 Governor of a large territory ...... 182 
 
 CHAP. XL. Of that which happened to Good and Evil, illus- 
 trated by what occurred to a Man with a Madman . . 185 
 CHAP. XLI. Of the association between Truth and Falsehood 191 
 
 CHAP. XLII. Of what happened to a Fox who pretended 
 
 to be dead 195 
 
 CHAP. XLIII. What happened to two blind Men travelling 
 
 together 198 
 
 CHAP. XLIV. Of what happened to a young Man on his 
 
 wedding-day 200 
 
 CHAP. XLV. Of what happened to a Merchant who went to 
 
 buy brains 207 
 
 CHAP. XLVI. What happened to a Man with a grey Sand- 
 piper and a Swallow 212 
 
 CHAP. XLVII. What happened to the Devil, with a Woman 
 
 who went on a pilgrimage 214 
 
 CHAP. 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 exem- 
 plified by what happened to a good Man who became 
 first rich and afterwards poor by the intervention of the 
 Devil . . . . . . . . . . .221 
 
 CHAP. XLIX. What happened to Don Lorenzo Xuares Galli- 
 
 nato, when he beheaded the renegade Priest . , . 227 
 
 CHAP. L. Concerning that which happened to Saladin and 
 
 a Lady, wife of a Knight in his service .... 231
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 " He succeeded, and escaped " (Chap. XLII.) Frontispiece 
 " For have I not completed the Mosque of Cordova ? * . To face page 6 
 
 " On reaching the gate, each knight struck it with his lance " 10 
 
 "Stuck his spurs into his horse and jumped into the sea" ,, 25 
 " ' Sire, to me it matters not whose son I am, therefore I 
 
 tell you that you are riding without any clothes ' " 57 
 
 " And in it they found a paper " 62 
 
 " She cried out, that she well knew why they were come " . 70 
 " Without evincing any feeling or pity, broke the neck and 
 
 drew away the clothes " , 75 
 
 " Making as many bricks as she pleased " . . . ,, 87 
 " After the philosopher had listened some time, he began 
 
 to weep bitterly " ,, ,, 102 
 
 " He, in their presence, burnt all the writings " 113 
 
 "When he saw him he was astonished " 127 
 
 " On their way they met some men returning from the town " 131 
 " The king and an attendant, who stood on the opposite 
 
 bank, called out to him in a loud voice to throw away the 
 
 load which he carried, otherwise he would be lost " . ,, ,, 145 
 
 " It fell to the ground and was broken " 148 
 
 "As he ate he threw away the pods, when he perceived 
 
 another man behind him eating them" .... 152 
 " As the hungry man gained strength from the repast he 
 
 gradually lost the feeling of shame" 160 
 
 " But in this case they were afraid to venture " . . . ,, 169 
 
 '" My son, you act badly '" ..,,,, 171 
 
 " He was immediately suspected " ,, 179 
 
 "He suddenly upset the pail of hot water over his head " . ,, 189 
 
 " So, taking out his scissors " ,, ,, 196 
 
 " It was not long after they arrived at the dangerous part of 
 
 the road" * '99 
 
 " ' Bring me water for my hands ' " , 203 
 
 "Told him that when he should find himself in a rage never 
 
 to act on the impulse of his feelings ".... 208 
 
 " He met an evil-disposed woman in the guise of a pilgrim " 215 
 "Wandering alone among the mountains, he chanced to meet 
 
 the Devil " . . . 223 
 
 " Drew his sword and slew the offending priest " . . ,, ,, 228 
 
 " She feigned, however, not to comprehend his meaning '" . ,, ,, 235 
 
 " Met on the road a young esquire who was hunting " . ,, 238
 
 COUNT LUCANOR 
 COM*
 
 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 the many strange things that 
 our Lord God made, He thought good 
 to make one very marvellous. That is, 
 that of the numberless men who are in 
 the world, there is not one who altogether resembles 
 another in face. All men's features, indeed, are 
 made up of the same parts, but these parts are not 
 the same in one as in another. And since in the 
 features, which take up so small a place, there is to 
 be found so great a variety, it is less to be wondered 
 at that there should be a difference in the mind and 
 will of men, and that you should find no man in 
 these respects altogether like another. And I will 
 give you a few examples that you may the better 
 understand this. 
 
 Men, who seek and desire to serve God, all seek 
 one thing, but they do not all serve Him in the same 
 manner ; for some serve Him in one way, others in 
 another. Or again, those who serve their lords, all 
 serve them, but all do not serve them in one and the 
 same manner.
 
 2 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 Again, those who labour in the fields, or rear stock, 
 or manufacture, or hunt, have all different methods 
 of doing the same thing. From these and many 
 other examples, too long to relate, you will under- 
 stand that, although all men possess will, mind, and 
 feelings alike, little as they resemble each other in 
 features, still less do they in these other qualities : 
 and each acquires a greater fitness and aptitude, 
 where self-interest is the stimulant ; so, if you wish 
 to convey your knowledge to another, endeavour to 
 convince him that it is for his own interest. And 
 as many men do not understand subtle or abstract 
 matters, hence it is that they derive no pleasure from 
 books, or writings, which treat only of such subjects ; 
 and consequently can never appreciate or understand 
 them. And therefore I, Don Juan, son of the In- 
 fant Don Manuel, Governor of the frontiers and 
 kingdom of Murcia, composed this book, using 
 therein the choicest expressions I could find ; in- 
 troducing also many examples which may benefit 
 those who hear them ; and this I did following the 
 example of the physicians who, in their treatment of 
 the liver, mix with their medicines sugar, honey, or 
 something to make them more agreeable.* So is it 
 when any other member of the body is affected, 
 
 * Compare Tasso, Ger. Lib. I. 3. 
 
 " So we, if children young diseased we find, 
 
 Anoint with sweets the vessel's foremost parts, 
 To make them taste the potions sharp we give ; 
 They drink deceived ; and so deceived they live." 
 
 FAIRFAX'S translation.
 
 THE PROLOGUE. 3 
 
 each requires its own proper remedy ; and this rule 
 I will, with the blessing of God, adopt in this book, 
 so that all who read it may be benefited and amused 
 at the same time, and they shall not have the excuse 
 to say that, being tiresome and dry, the good advice 
 therein was lost ; for, like the palatable ingredients 
 combined with the bitter medicines essential for the 
 complaint, so the beauty and aptness of the language 
 which I have endeavoured to convey in this book 
 shall render the moral inseparable from the story. 
 
 And God, who is the author and giver of all good, 
 will I trust, in His mercy, cause all who read this 
 book to derive benefit therefrom both in soul and 
 body ; knowing this to be my desire and intention in 
 writing it ; and He will attribute any faults commit- 
 ted therein to the weakness of my understanding, 
 and not to perverseness of spirit. And if any good 
 be derived therefrom, I and my readers should thank 
 God for it, He being the author and source of all 
 light and truth. And now we will commence the 
 book in the manner of a dialogue between Count 
 Lucanor and his friendly adviser Patronio.
 
 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Relates to what happened to a Moorish king 
 of Cordova. 
 
 >NE day Count Lucanor spoke to Patronio 
 his friend after this manner : 
 
 " Patronio, you know that I am a 
 great hunter, and that I have invented 
 many new devices in hunting which no other man 
 ever thought of; and you know also that I have 
 made improvements in the hoods and leashes, such 
 as were never made before ; nevertheless the people 
 speak ill of me, and ridicule me; and when they 
 praise the Cid Ruy Diaz, or Count Ferdinand 
 Gonzalez, for the many things which they did, or 
 the holy and happy King Ferdinand for the many 
 conquests which he gained, they say of me, with 
 ironical praise, that I also have done many great 
 things, alluding to the hoods and leashes. Now I 
 feel this irony very painful to me, and injurious to 
 my character ; therefore, I pray you, advise me what
 
 KING ALHAOUIMA. 5 
 
 to do, so as to avoid being ridiculed for the good 
 things I do." 
 
 " My lord, " said Patronio, " in order that you 
 may know what it behoves you to do in this case, I 
 will, with your permission, relate what happened to 
 a Moorish king of Cordova." The Count assented, 
 and Patronio proceeded : 
 
 "There was in Cordova a Moorish king, named 
 Alhaquima, who governed his kingdom well : he 
 studied to act with honour to himself and justice to 
 others ; indeed, he did all that was required of good 
 kings ; not only in guarding their kingdoms, but in 
 augmenting their territories, with the view that they 
 might receive the praises of their people ; and after 
 death be remembered for their good deeds. Yet 
 this king gave himself up to a life of luxury and en- 
 joyment ; vice and disorder reigning in his palace. 
 Now it happened as they played before him on an 
 instrument which the Moors liked very much, and 
 which they called Albogon, that the king perceived 
 that it did not sound as well as it ought, so he took 
 the instrument and made a hole at the lower part of 
 it, but in the same direction as the other holes ; and 
 since that time the Albogon has given a much better 
 sound than before. 
 
 " Now although this cannot be considered but as 
 an improvement, yet it was not an act suited to the 
 dignity of a king and so thought the people for 
 when they heard that the improvement was made 
 by the king, they exclaimed in a ridiculing manner
 
 6 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 in Arabic, 'Vahedezut Alhaquima/ which sig- 
 nifies, ' This is the work of King Alhaquima.' This 
 exclamation became so common all over the country 
 that it at last reached the ears of the king, who 
 begged to know why the people always used this 
 saying ; but his attendants were anxious to avoid 
 answering his question. He however insisted on 
 being told the truth, and the signification of the ex- 
 pression ; so they were compelled to tell him. When 
 he heard it he was very much grieved ; but instead of 
 punishing those who related the origin of the saying, 
 he resolved to do some worthy deed, in order that 
 the people might be compelled to praise him de- 
 servedly. 
 
 "At this time the mosque of Cordova not being 
 yet finished, King Alhaquima did all that was neces- 
 sary for its completion, and in this way it became 
 one of the most beautiful mosques the Moors had in 
 Spain, glory to God ! it is now a church, called 
 'Saint Mary of Cordova.' It was dedicated, by 
 the 'good King Ferdinand,' to Saint Mary after he 
 had taken Cordova from the Moors. 
 
 " Now when the Moorish king had done so good a 
 work as that of finishing the mosque he said to him- 
 self, the people have hitherto ridiculed me for the 
 addition I made to the Albogon, (one of which 
 instruments he then held before him,) but now they 
 have reason for praising me, for have I not completed 
 the mosque of Cordova ? From this time the Moors 
 ceased to speak in ridicule of him ; and to this
 
 " For have I not completed the Mosque of Cordova?"
 
 NOBLE DEEDS. 7 
 
 day, when they wish to exalt a good act, say, ' It is 
 as the work of King Alhaquima.' 
 
 " And you, my lord, if you feel displeased and un- 
 happy because you are ridiculed for the improvements 
 you have made in hoods and leashes and other things 
 relating to the chase, study to do some noble and 
 worthy deed suitable to your station." 
 
 Count Lucanor found this to be good advice, and 
 acted accordingly, the result being that the people 
 spoke well of him. 
 
 Don Juan, considering this to be a good example, 
 caused it to be written in this book, and made these 
 verses, which say : 
 
 If any good thou doest, how small soever, 
 
 Let it be nobly done, for good deeds live for ever. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 It would appear that in this narrative the author refers to 
 Al Hakem II, who reigned in Cordova from 961 to 976. 
 He was a man of peace and a cultivator of the Arts, like his 
 noble father Abd' el Nahman III, who built the beautiful 
 city of Medina al Zarah, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, if 
 he did not finish, at any rate he appears to have done much 
 towards a mosque which occupied more than one hundred years 
 in its completion. 
 
 King Ferdinand III, mentioned in the text, was enthusiastic 
 in obtaining from the Moors their splendid mosques, with the 
 view of converting them into Christian Churches ; it was thus 
 in 1236, that he conquered Cordova, and replacing the crescent 
 with the cross on the tower of the mosque, with grand proces- 
 sions, benedictions, and prayers, purified and dedicated it to the 
 Virgin Mary. 
 
 It is an interesting fact that to this day, the saying, " It is as 
 the work of King Alhaquima," is a "household word," in Spain, 
 when oraise is to be bestowed for any work or achievement.
 
 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Treats of that which happened to Lorenzo Suarez 
 Gallinato, and Garciperez of Vargas, and another 
 knight. 
 
 NE day when Count Lucanor was con- 
 versing with his counsellor Patronio, 
 he said : " Patronio, it happens that I 
 have a powerful king for an enemy; 
 our quarrel has lasted so long that we have now 
 resolved, for our future welfare, to terminate the war. 
 Now, although we have thus agreed, nevertheless we 
 are suspicious one of the other, and I am always on 
 my guard ; for, not only his people, but mine also, 
 have been assassinated ; and they send me, without 
 ceasing, secret messengers informing me that my own 
 life is in danger. Now, as I wish to be at peace, I 
 entreat you to advise me how to act under these 
 circumstances." 
 
 " Count Lucanor," replied Patronio, " the advice 
 which I have to give you demands your serious 
 attention, and for many reasons. 
 
 " Firstly : Any man wishing to quarrel with you 
 will be under the necessity of making great prepara- 
 tions, while he will endeavour to lead you, at the 
 same time, to understand that he only desires to 
 serve you, and while appearing to regret the injuries
 
 THE THREE KNIGHTS. 9 
 
 you have sustained, will doubtless let fall some remark 
 such as will raise your suspicion, of which you must 
 avail yourself by making the required preparations, 
 although this very act not improbably may lead to 
 the rupture. 
 
 " He, however, who advises you to take no precau- 
 tion, believe me, is not your friend ; but he who 
 would say, ' Strengthen the walls of your fortress,' 
 gives you a reason to believe that he does not desire 
 to enjoy your possessions ; he again who would say to 
 you, ' You have too many friends and attendants, 
 and you expend too much money in maintaining 
 them/ gives you reason to believe that he does not 
 like your honourable and secure position. So you 
 see, you are in great danger if you take no measure 
 of precaution, while again, if you do, you are very 
 likely to bring about a conflict. But since you wish 
 me to advise you how to act in this case, I will re- 
 count to you what happened to a certain very brave 
 knight. 
 
 " The holy and good King Ferdinand, having be- 
 sieged Seville, had amongst his followers three knights, 
 who were considered the best and bravest in the 
 world. One was Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato, another 
 was Garciperez de Vargas, but the name of the 
 other I have forgotten. These three knights had, one 
 day, a dispute among themselves as to who was the 
 most daring and valiant ; and, since they could not 
 agree in any other manner, they each determined to 
 reach the gate of Seville, and to strike it with their
 
 IO COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 lances. The following morning they armed, and 
 rode towards the city. Now when the Moors who 
 were on the bastions and towers saw only three 
 knights, they thought that they came as envoys, so 
 allowed them to pass the moat, and parapet, and 
 arrive at the city gate. On reaching the gate, each 
 knight struck it with his lance, and having done so, 
 turned his horse's head towards the camp. When 
 the Moors saw the knights returning without leaving 
 any message, they concluded that they had come 
 only to offer an insult, and so determined to pursue 
 them. On opening the gate the Moors found that 
 the knights had already gone some distance ; never- 
 theless they followed them with fifteen hundred 
 horse, and more than twenty thousand foot. Now 
 when the three knights saw the Moors approaching, 
 they turned their horses, and waited their arrival ; 
 but, on their coming nearer, the knight, whose name 
 I have forgotten, was the first to charge them, 
 whilst Lorenzo Suarez and Garciperez remained 
 quiet ; but, on the Moors coming still nearer, Gar- 
 ciperez charged them also, Lorenzo Suarez still 
 remaining stationary until the Moors forced him to 
 the attack ; when he threw himself among them 
 and performed wonderful acts of valour. When 
 the royal army saw their knights surrounded by 
 the Moors, they hastened to their assistance,, as they 
 saw them in great danger ; but, by the mercy of 
 God, none of these knights were mortally (although 
 severely) wounded. The conflict, however, between
 
 " On reaching the gate each knight struck it with his lance."
 
 ATTACK ON THE MOORS. 1 1 
 
 the Moors and Christians became so general that 
 king Ferdinand was obliged to approach in person ; 
 and on that day the Christians displayed great valour. 
 
 " When the king returned to the camp, he ordered 
 these three knights to be brought before him, telling 
 them that they deserved death for having acted so 
 foolishly, by having without his orders brought on a 
 general engagement ; thereby causing the loss of many 
 brave soldiers. The chiefs of the army, however, 
 interceded with the king for them, and they were 
 liberated in consequence. 
 
 "Soon after, the king, hearing that the knights had 
 acted from a spirit of emulation, ordered them to 
 attend again, and assembled all the most valiant men 
 of his army ; so that they might decide which was 
 the bravest. The debate was animated, each bring- 
 ing forth good reason for praising his own party 
 some maintaining that he who first attacked the 
 Moors displayed the greatest courage ; others giving 
 preference to the second ; the decision, however, was 
 given thus : 
 
 "If the Moors who approached had not been so 
 numerous, and could skill and courage have con- 
 quered, then the knight who first charged them 
 only began that which he might have completed ; 
 but, since this was not the case, he must have 
 approached, not to conquer, but, through shame of 
 flight, and an inability to resist the influence of fear, 
 therefore it was that he made the attack. The 
 second had better hopes than the first, because he
 
 12 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 resisted acting in an hopeless cause and bore longer 
 the emotions consequent upon his perilous position. 
 But, Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato, who waited until the 
 Moors attacked him, was judged to be the most 
 valiant. 
 
 " And you, my lord, although you are kept in the 
 state of alarm and suspicion of which you now com- 
 plain, yet engage not in a struggle the end of which 
 you cannot forsee, continue to exercise your good 
 sense, and do not suffer yourself to be led away 
 by false reports. Your defences are good, so that, 
 even from a sudden attack, you cannot receive much 
 damage. 
 
 "I advise you now, my lord, to be of good 
 cheer, since you cannot be seriously injured. Wait 
 before you act, for perhaps you will see that the re- 
 ports which annoy you are not true. Those who 
 create these alarms seek only their own interest; 
 and believe me, whether they be of your own or 
 your enemy's people, they are indifferent whether it 
 be war or peace; their object being only that they 
 may be favoured with an opportunity during the 
 commotion to gratify their wicked passions so that, 
 during the conflict between you and your enemy, 
 they may possess themselves, not only of that belong- 
 ing to yourself, but of that which belongs to others, 
 without fear of punishment. 
 
 " So that you are secured against any sudden attack, 
 it is much better to wait until the wrong comes from 
 the other side. Be patient all may yet end well
 
 How TO ACT IN DANGER. 13 
 
 God will be with you, which in such a cause is no 
 small matter. Again, all people will know that you 
 act only for your own preservation ; nor can your 
 enemy declare himself aggrieved. Thus may you 
 preserve peace, which is agreeable to the will of God 
 and all good men." 
 
 Don Juan, finding this to be a good example, 
 wrote the following lines, which say : 
 
 When danger comes, haste not to meet it, 
 Quietly wait, yet boldly treat it. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Of these three knights of the thirteenth century we have 
 little on record. Don Lorenzo Suarez Gallinato has, however, 
 been mentioned in another example, the forty-ninth chapter 
 of this woik, by Don Manuel, where he appears, although a 
 Christian, to have occupied the distinguished post of Chief of 
 the body-guard to the King of Granada. 
 
 Of Garcio Perez Vargas the genealogy has been carefully 
 traced by Argote de Molina, in his Nobleza de Andalucia, fol. 
 96-122, where he is mentioned as one of the nobles of Count 
 Don Pedro. The most brilliant part of his career was at the 
 siege of Seville, and at the battle of Zeres, where he was 
 knighted by the hand of Don Alvar Perez de Castro, for hav- 
 ing killed the King of Ganzules. His name is perpetuated by 
 an inscription still existing over the gate of Zeres at Seville, ot 
 which the following is a translation : 
 
 " Hercules built me, 
 Julius Caesar surrounded me with walls and loft}- towers, 
 
 A Gothic King lost me, 
 
 The holy King won me, 
 Assisted by Garcio Perez de Vargas." 
 
 The brother of this hero, Diego Perez de Vargas, is men-
 
 1 4 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 tioned by Cervantes as a man of great prowess and valour 
 Fighting bravely one day at the siege of Seville, against the 
 Moors, he broke his sword, when seizing a heavy branch or 
 trunk of an oak tree, he, with his terrible weapon, caused such 
 destruction among his enemies that he was nicknamed "El 
 Machaco (the Pounder,)" from the Spanish word Machacar, 
 to pound. Since then the family have assumed the name and 
 have been known as Vargas y Machacar (Don Quixote, cap. 8). 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Treats of that which happened to Don Rodrigo el 
 Franco and his knights. 
 
 NE day as Count Lucanor was con- 
 versing with Patronio his counsellor, 
 he said : " Patronio, it has happened 
 that I have had many great wars, and 
 of such a kind that I have often found myself much 
 embarrassed. Upon one occasion I was in the 
 greatest distress, when those to whom I have done 
 much service, and who are indebted to me for all 
 they possess, deserted me, nay more, even exerted 
 themselves to injure me. Such conduct, to tell you 
 truly, has given me a worse opinion of mankind 
 than I had before I knew these people : I therefore 
 request your advice how to act under these cir- 
 cumstances." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " if those people who
 
 RODRIGO EL FRANCO. 15 
 
 have acted so ungratefully were like Nunez de 
 Fuente Almejir and Ruy Gonzalez de Zavallos and 
 Gutierre Rodriguez de Langueruella, and had known 
 what happened to them, they would not have acted 
 as they have done." 
 
 " How was that ? " said the Count. 
 
 "My Lord," said Patronio, "it happened thus; 
 The Count Rodrigo el Franco married a lady of 
 rank, daughter of Garcia de Azagra. This lady was 
 very virtuous ; but the Count, her husband, calum- 
 niated her. Having no other resource, she prayed 
 to God that if she were guilty He would demonstrate 
 it by a miracle ; and if the Count had falsely accused 
 her, He would show it also by a miracle. Scarcely 
 was the prayer ended, when, by a miracle of God, 
 the Count was smitten with leprosy, and she parted 
 from him. Soon after this separation, the King of 
 Navarre having sent his Ambassador to demand the 
 hand of the lady, she accepted him and became 
 Queen of Navarre. The Count being leprous, and 
 seeing that his disease could not be cured, made a 
 pilgrimage to the Holy Land that he might die 
 there. Now, although he had been much honoured 
 and had many faithful retainers, yet there accom- 
 panied him only the three knights of whom I have 
 spoken, who dwelt there so long that they expended 
 all they had brought from their own country, and 
 were reduced to such poverty that they had nothing 
 to give the Count to eat. Being so reduced, they 
 resolved that two of them should each day go to the
 
 1 6 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 market-place for hire, while the other remained with 
 the Count, and in this way they supported their 
 lord ; as also every night they bathed and wiped the 
 wounds of the leper. It happened one night, as they 
 were bathing his arms and legs, that they felt inclined 
 to spit, and so spat. When the Count saw that all 
 spat, and believing that they did it from the disgust 
 which his malady created, he began to weep, greatly 
 regretting the dislike and repugnance which they 
 evinced towards him; when they, wishing to con- 
 vince the Count that they felt no disgust, took up 
 in their hands some of the water, impure as it was, 
 and drank freely of it. In this manner they con- 
 tinued devoted to the Count until he died. They 
 then determined that it would be wrong to return 
 to Castille without the Count, living or dead ; so 
 they resolved to take his body with them. The 
 distance making this difficult, the natives advised 
 them to boil the body and take the bones, but they 
 replied they would never consent to this, for as they 
 had not allowed any one to touch their lord during 
 his life, neither would they now that he was dead. 
 They then buried him, and waited patiently until 
 all the flesh had perished from off his bones, which 
 they collected, and placing them in a chest, carried 
 them back to Castille on their shoulders, begging 
 their food as they went, and although bearing 
 evident marks of their wretched poverty, arrived 
 nevertheless in good health at Tolosa. 
 
 " On one occasion, as they entered a city on their
 
 PERO NUNEZ. 17 
 
 way, they met a crowd of people who were leading 
 a lady of rank to be burned, she having been ac- 
 cused by her husband's brother of adultery, and the 
 sentence would be fulfilled unless a knight were 
 found who would defend her. 
 
 " Now, when Pero Nunez, of noble and loyal 
 character, heard that, for want of a defender, she 
 might be lost, he told her relations that if he knew 
 the lady to be innocent he would save her, and he 
 requested the lady herself to reveal to him the whole 
 truth. She said she certainly had not committed the 
 crime of which they accused her, but that she had 
 had the intention of doing so. Pero Nunez, on 
 hearing that she had had the intention to do what 
 she ought not, felt assured that some misfortune 
 would happen to whomsoever might defend her ; but 
 since he had already espoused her cause, and knew 
 that she had not committed the crime of which they 
 accused her, he declared himself her champion. 
 Her accusers attempted to prevent his interference 
 under the plea of his not being noble ; but Pero 
 Nunez having proved his nobility, and that they 
 could not prevent him, the friends of the lady 
 furnished him with a horse and arms. Before 
 entering the arena he said to her friends, that, with 
 the assistance of God, he would save the lady and 
 return with honour, but that he felt assured some 
 harm would befall him for the evil which she had 
 intended doing. 
 
 "Soon after entering the arena, by the help of 
 
 2
 
 1 8 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 God, Pero Nunez vanquished his adversary and 
 saved the lady, but in doing so lost an eye, and so 
 was that fulfilled which he had anticipated. 
 
 " The lady and her relations made so many pre- 
 sents to Pero Nunez, that he and his two com- 
 panions were able to pursue their journey with more 
 ease, still carrying the bones of their lord. 
 
 "As they were themselves without leprosy, the 
 King of Castille, hearing of their approach, and that 
 they were carrying with them the bones of their 
 master, expressed himself much gratified to have 
 amongst his subjects such faithful vassals. He sent, 
 therefore, a request that they should come direct to 
 him on foot, dressed just as they were. On the day 
 they returned to the kingdom of Castille, the King 
 himself went on foot five leagues beyond the 
 frontiers of his dominions to meet them. On their 
 arrival they received so many gifts from the King 
 and the people, that they not only became rich 
 themselves, but their descendants also after them. 
 
 " Now the King and all those who accompanied 
 him came to do honour to the memory of the 
 Count, but more especially to the devotion shown 
 by the three knights. They all followed the remains 
 of the leper until they arrived at Osma, where they 
 were interred, after which the three knights separated, 
 and each returned to his home. 
 
 " The day Ruy Gonzalez arrived at his house, 
 and was seated at table with his wife, she seeing the 
 good meat which was placed before her, raised her
 
 PERO NUNEZ. 19 
 
 hands to heaven, and said, ' Lord ! blessed mayest 
 thou be, that thou hast permitted me to see this day, 
 for thou knowest that since Ruy Gonzalez departed 
 from this country this is the first time that I have 
 eaten meat or drunk wine ; ' and Ruy Gonzalez was 
 grieved and said, ' Why have you done so ? ' Do ' you 
 not remember/ said she, ' that when you departed 
 with the Count, and vowed that you would not 
 return without him, you expressed a wish that I 
 should live as a good and honest wife, wanting not 
 bread and water; and since you said that, would it 
 have been right to disobey your wishes ? and for this 
 have I eaten only bread and water.' 
 
 " Pero Nunez, arriving at his house, was received 
 by his wife and friends with great joy, and so great 
 was their pleasure that they could not look at him 
 without laughing, so much so, that Pero Nunez was 
 impressed with the feeling that they laughed because 
 he had lost an eye ; so, with an air of chagrin, he 
 covered his head with his cloak and threw himself 
 on the bed. His good wife, seeing him so sad, was 
 greatly afflicted, and so earnestly did she urge him to 
 tell her the cause of his grief, that he was constrained 
 to say he thought they laughed at him for having 
 lost his eye. No sooner had she heard this than, 
 seizing a needle, she thrust it in her own eye, 
 thereby destroying it, and exclaiming, ' Henceforth 
 if any one laughs it cannot be in contempt of you.' 
 And so God rewarded these trusty knights for their 
 fidelity and honour.
 
 2O COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 "And now, my lord, I say as before, if those 
 of whom you complain had been like these three 
 knights, or had even known what happened to them, 
 they would not have conducted themselves as they 
 have done. 
 
 " But to you, Count Lucanor, permit me to say 
 that the evil conduct of these people must not pre- 
 vent you from doing good when it is in your power. 
 It is not necessary to separate those to whom you 
 have been serviceable from those you may have 
 injured ; but were you to do so, you would pro- 
 bably find that you have received more good from 
 the first than evil from the latter. It would be 
 foolish to expect gratitude from all men to whom 
 you have rendered service ; but it might so happen 
 that one of those people may so remunerate you 
 with his devotion, as would compensate you for all 
 the good you have done to others." 
 
 The Count estimated this as a wise and virtuous 
 precept. And it being considered by Don Juan as 
 a narrative worthy to be retained, he ordered it to 
 be written in this book, and made these lines : 
 
 Though others injure thee, or spite, 
 Yet cease not thou to do aright. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Although each age and country may have its distinguishing 
 glory, whether it be the wisdom of Athens, the arts of Greece, 
 or the heroism of Rome, or the chivalry of the Crusaders, 
 none is perhaps more attractive in its character than the last-
 
 THE GOOD COUNSELLOR. 21 
 
 named, and it is in this that Don Manuel has depicted that 
 patient and devoted fidelity displayed by his three knights to 
 their degraded and expatriated lord, in which their feudal 
 honour and allegiance knew no check until their mission was 
 completely fulfilled. The little interlude of gallantry displayed 
 by Pero Nunez, so neatly introduced, showing that even an evil 
 intention not carried into effect brings with it always a certain 
 punishment, demands our approval. 
 
 The names and chivalric deeds of these three knights have 
 been handed down to posterity in the Nobiliare of Argote de 
 Molina. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Of a Hermit who fought to know whom he should 
 have for his companion in Paradise, and of the 
 leap made by King Richard of England. 
 
 NE day Count Lucanor having called 
 Patronio, said to him, "Patronio, I 
 have great faith in your understanding, 
 and believe that in any matter which 
 you could not comprehend or give advice about no 
 other man could succeed ; I beg therefore that you 
 will advise me as best you can on that which I am 
 now going to tell you. 
 
 " You know very well that I am no longer young 
 and that I have been engaged all my life in one war
 
 22 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 or another ; sometimes against the Christians, at 
 other times the Moors, or kings to whom I owe 
 allegiance, and again, with my more powerful neigh- 
 bours. Now, whenever I chanced to be engaged 
 against the Christians I always carefully avoided, as 
 far as possible, being the aggressor ; nevertheless, it 
 was difficult to act without sometimes inflicting 
 serious damage on many who did not deserve it. 
 Now, for these and the other sins which I have 
 committed, I know I shall one day have to answer ; 
 and as death is certain, and at my age cannot be 
 very far distant, I desire, while I have yet time, to 
 obliterate by good works and deeds of penance my 
 numerous offences, so that, when I appear in the 
 presence of God, I may be worthy of His mercy 
 and a place in Paradise. I pray you, Patronio, as 
 you know how I have hitherto lived, to counsel me 
 now how to act, so as to make reparation for past 
 errors, and attain the happy end I so ardently 
 desire." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " I am much pleased 
 at all you have just told me, particularly for the per- 
 mission you have given me to advise you concerning 
 your present state of life ; had I less confidence in 
 your friendship I might think you merely sought to 
 prove me as the king did his favourite, the history 
 of which I related to you the other day. But I am 
 most pleased to see you really desire to make re- 
 paration for the sins you have committed against 
 God, without however renouncing your duties or
 
 KING RICHARD AND THE HERMIT. 23 
 
 sacrificing your honour; for certainly, were you to 
 retire from the world and become a monk, you would 
 be guilty of one or both of the above-named faults. 
 
 " Firstly, people would say that you were de- 
 ficient in judgment or courage to be contented 
 merely to live useless amongst the good men of this 
 century ; and secondly, it would surprise me very 
 much if you could endure the continued asperities 
 of a monkish life, which, if you were afterwards 
 to forsake or continue to live therein, careless of 
 fulfilling or forgetful of the duties of your state, 
 it would be a very serious injury to your soul, a 
 dishonour to your name, and a blot on your 
 reputation. 
 
 " But since you have formed the good resolution 
 to save your soul, permit me to recount to you what 
 God revealed to a very holy hermit, as also what 
 happened to him and King Richard of England." 
 
 " I pray you," replied the Count, '' to inform 
 me of these particulars." 
 
 "My lord," said Patronio, "there was a hermit 
 who led a very good life, and who laboured much, 
 enduring many hardships for the glory of God, 
 insomuch that God in His great mercy and grace 
 promised him that he should be admitted to the 
 glory of Paradise. 
 
 " The hermit thanked God very sincerely and 
 on this point was well satisfied, but prayed that yet 
 another favour might be granted him, which was 
 that he might see who was to be his companion in
 
 24 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 Paradise. The Lord made known to him by an 
 angel that he ought not to ask these questions ; but 
 so earnest were his prayers, that God thought well 
 to send one of his heavenly spirits a second time to 
 inform him that he should have Richard, King of 
 England, for his companion in Paradise. 
 
 " Although this revelation pleased the hermit, yet 
 it very much astonished him, for he knew King 
 Richard, and also that he was a great warrior, causing 
 the death of many innocent people, and pillaging 
 towns and driving the inhabitants into exile ; now 
 that this man was to be his companion in Paradise, 
 having always led a life so contrary to his, appeared 
 passing strange, as he had always thought King 
 Richard vry far removed from the road to sal- 
 vation. 
 
 "The Lord seeing his little faith, again sent an 
 angel to tell him not to doubt, but to believe im- 
 plicitly that which had been revealed to him. 
 
 " ' Know you not,' said the angel, ' that King 
 Richard has done no less service to God than your, 
 self, and equally merits Paradise in reward for his 
 leap, as you do for all the good works performed 
 during your life.' Now this information only in- 
 creased the astonishment of the hermit, who wondered 
 what this could be. 
 
 " The angel replied thus, ' The Kings of France, 
 of Navarre, and of England joined in the crusade 
 beyond seas; when they arrived at the port they 
 saw, as they prepared to land, so large a multitude of
 
 " Struck his spurs into his horse, and jumped into the sea."
 
 KING RICHARD'S LEAP. 25 
 
 Moors on the coast that they feared being able to 
 disembark. It was then that the King of France 
 sent to the King of England who was already on 
 horseback. On hearing what the envoy had to say, 
 and that the King of France desired his presence on 
 board his ship to counsel together as to what was 
 best to be done, he replied, That for his part 
 his resolution was taken, come what might; feeling 
 very sensible that he had often failed in the due 
 performance of his duty to God, and had committed 
 many sins in this world, nevertheless he had always 
 prayed for forgiveness and that an opportunity might 
 be granted him during his life to make amends ; 
 now he praised God, for he saw the way he had 
 long hoped for, since, if he was killed, being truly 
 penitent, he felt certain that for what he was about 
 to do God would pardon his manifold sins; and 
 if, on the contrary, the Moors were conquered, it 
 would be rendering a great service to God ; so 
 that, come what would, all was for the best. 
 
 " ' And, having said this, he commended his body 
 and soul to God, and praying for His holy protection, 
 made the sign of the Cross, and ordering his soldiers 
 to follow him, stuck his spurs into his horse and 
 jumped into the sea facing the coast where the 
 Moors were assembled ; this being near the port, 
 the sea was very deep, yet the king and his horse 
 did not disappear. 
 
 " ' But God, as a merciful Lord and full of power, 
 remembering what He had said in the Gospel, "That
 
 26 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 He did not desire the death of a sinner, but rather 
 that he should be converted and live," helped the 
 King of England, and saved him from the death of 
 this world, so that he escaped the perils of the sea. 
 The English, seeing this brave act of their king, 
 followed him into the water and joined him in battle 
 against the Moors. 
 
 " ' When the Navarrais and French saw this they 
 felt ashamed to remain on board their ships, and, 
 not being accustomed to endure disgrace, jumped 
 also into the sea and joined in the conflict. The 
 Moors seeing them approach, and admiring this 
 brave contempt of danger, durst not wait for 
 them, but abandoned the port and fled towards 
 the country, but many were overtaken and killed. 
 The Christians were very prosperous and gained 
 much glory for God, all of which resulted from the 
 brave leap made by King Richard of England ! ' 
 
 "When the hermit heard this he was well pleased, 
 and saw how that God favoured him in permitting 
 him to be the companion in Paradise of a man 
 who had done so well in the service of God and 
 in exalting the Catholic Faith. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if you wish to serve 
 God and obtain forgiveness of your sins, try, before 
 you leave this earth, to make amends for the wrongs 
 which you have done to others, be penitent for your 
 sins without taking thought for the things of this 
 world, which are but vanity. Take no heed of those 
 who may say your acts are but to obtain worldly
 
 THE SERVICE OF GOD. 27 
 
 credit, iior of those who would engage you in 
 unworthy enterprises to gratify your self-love, by 
 which much evil is committed ; for, after all, what is 
 ambition ? Far from following such a course, full 
 of peril, direct your energies so that you may merit 
 eternal life, and as it has pleased God to place you 
 in a country where you can fight against the Moors, 
 both by sea and land, so also let all your efforts be 
 directed to the service of your country, being sure 
 that, having made amends to God for the sins you 
 have committed, and being truly penitent, you will 
 undoubtedly receive the reward for the good which 
 you have done and will do, together with complete 
 forgiveness, so that you can rest satisfied in the 
 service of God even to the end of your days. This, 
 I think, is the best plan you can adopt for the salva- 
 tion of your soul and the preservation of your estates 
 and honour ; and should you be slain while in the 
 service of God, your death will be that of a martyr : 
 also, should you die when in the enjoyment of peace, 
 you will be blessed for the good works you have 
 done ; nor could any man speak ill of you, for all 
 would know that you have done everything required 
 of an honourable knight and a faithful servant oi 
 God, and that you had ceased to be a slave of the 
 devil, abstaining from all the vanities of this world, 
 which are so deceitful. 
 
 "And now, Count Lucanor, I have given you my 
 advice as you have demanded, and have instructed 
 you how to save your soul in your present state of
 
 28 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 life ; hold fast your good resolutions, and you will 
 resemble King Richard of England in the leap which 
 he made." 
 
 And the Count was well pleased with the counsels 
 which Patronio gave him, and prayed that an oppor- 
 tunity might be granted to him in like manner to 
 serve God as he desired in his heart. 
 
 And Don Juan saw that this example was very 
 good, and ordered it to be written in this book, and 
 composed the following lines : 
 
 So shall a man reach, by a leap, to heaven, 
 Obeying trustfully the laws that God hath given. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 The wild project of Peter the Hermit, which roused all Europe 
 to arms in the nth century, has been a fruitful source of 
 laudatory prose and verse even to the present day ; nor has it, 
 as we see, escaped the versatile genius of our author, Don Manuel, 
 who, in this chapter, has not only illustrated the heroism and 
 self-devotion of the age, but has also depicted the Pharisaism of 
 the hermit, recalling to our minds also, in the record of the heroic 
 leap of Richard Cceur de Lion, the parable of Jesus, wherein the 
 householder rewards the workman of the eleventh hour, saying to 
 him who murmured, "Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will 
 give unto this last even as unto thee."
 
 TREATMENT OF A WIFE. 29 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Of that which happened to the Emperor Frederick and 
 Don Alvar Fanez, with their wives. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, conversing one day 
 with his counsellor Patronio, said, "I 
 have two brothers who are married 
 and maintain in their establishments a 
 conduct entirely different. One is so enamoured of 
 his wife as to be unable to leave her a single minute; 
 he does only that which she wishes, and never 
 decides on anything whatever without first having 
 taken her advice. The other, on the contrary, allows 
 nothing to be done but what he wishes ; we cannot 
 persuade him to live with his wife, or even take any 
 notice of her. I am afflicted, equally, to find so 
 much weakness in the one and so much aversion in 
 the other. Tell me, then, I pray you, the means, if 
 there be any, to remedy such a state of things." 
 
 " My lord," replied Patronio, " you are right in 
 saying your brothers are equally to blame ; but what 
 can you do ? The influence of women is very power- 
 ful, and often urges us to do wrong to please them. 
 Nevertheless, I would desire you to hear what hap- 
 pened to the Emperor Frederick and to Don Alvar 
 Fanez with their wives, which I think you will find 
 not to be without application to this case."
 
 3o COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " Willingly," said the Count. And Patronio pro- 
 ceeded as follows : 
 
 " As I have two histories to recount, and cannot 
 tell you both at once, I will first relate that of the 
 Emperor Frederick, and then pass on to that of Don 
 Alvar Fafiez. The Emperor Frederick married a 
 lady of very high position and birth, suitable to his 
 rank ; but still they were not happy, for he knew 
 not before the marriage her real character. But 
 after their union (although she was a very virtuous 
 woman), she became the most daring, violent, and 
 perverse person in the world ; for if the Emperor 
 desired to eat, she desired to fast ; if he wished to 
 sleep, it would be her wish to arise ; everything in 
 which the Emperor took pleasure was to her an 
 object of aversion, and all his desires she opposed 
 by doing exactly the contrary. The Emperor 
 suffered this state of things a long time, and felt 
 that he was unable to better his position ; for 
 neither prayers, persuasions, nor even threats, 
 availed anything: good and bad treatment were 
 alike unsuccessful. His whole life was made miser- 
 able, and he became perplexed as to what he should 
 do, as much for his people as for himself. At last 
 he resolved to appeal to the Pope, and related to 
 him all his troubles respecting the conduct of the 
 Empress, begging that he would agree to their 
 separation. 
 
 " ' I see,' said the Pope, ' that, according to the 
 Christian religion, a separation cannot be permitted ;
 
 THE EMPEROR FREDERICK. 31 
 
 yet, on the other hand, it is impossible to live with 
 the Empress, in consequence of her violent temper. 
 What can be done ? The Supreme Law does not 
 permit me to inflict penance unless actual sin has 
 been committed ; but I leave you at liberty to act as 
 you consider most wise and convenient.' 
 
 " The Emperor, after hearing the Pope's opinion, 
 was very much concerned how to act ; whether by 
 persuasion, reasoning, or kindness, so as to remedy 
 the present state of things. But still he found all 
 his efforts of no avail ; the more he strove to obtain 
 peace, the more perverse the Empress became. 
 
 " Now, as the Emperor saw that nothing could be 
 done, he one day expressed a wish to go stag-hunt- 
 ing, and made a poisonous preparation of herbs to 
 put on the arrows, thereby rendering the wound fatal. 
 Putting away a part of this preparation to be in readi- 
 ness for another hunt, he requested the Empress not 
 to touch it on any account whatever, whether for the 
 itch or any unhealed eruption ; for, said he, ' it is 
 so very poisonous that it would destroy any living 
 thing; but here is another ointment, very excellent 
 and much approved of.' The Emperor then applied 
 some of the latter to heal some spots which he had, 
 so that all present might bear witness to its utility in 
 curing such complaints. All this was done in the 
 presence of the knights and ladies there assembled, 
 after which he departed for the chase. 
 
 " Now, the Empress, who had heard him in 
 silence, laughed, and said, 'What deceit; I know
 
 32 COUNT LUCAXOR. 
 
 well that our ailments are different, and he has 
 recommended me to use this ointment which he 
 employs because it cannot cure me ; but I am not so 
 foolish, I will ure the forbidden ointment, and on 
 his return he will find me well, and this, I know, 
 will enrage him ; so much the better it is another 
 reason for my using it.' 
 
 "All who were present tried to dissuade the 
 Empress, both by their tears and supplications. 
 ' Your death is certain/ said they, ' if that poison is 
 used.' But all without avail. For scarcely had she 
 applied the ointment when her agony and with it, 
 her regret commenced. But it was too late ; 
 nothing could save her. Thus she died, a victim to 
 her own perverse disposition. 
 
 " But to Don Alvar Fanez it happened quite 
 otherwise. And, in order that you may understand 
 the whole, I will now recount his history to you. 
 
 "Alvar Fanez was a very good man, and was 
 much honoured. He colonized the village of Ysca, 
 where he resided, together with Count Pero Anzurez, 
 who had with him three daughters. 
 
 " One day Don Alvar Fanez paid an unexpected 
 visit to the Count, who, nevertheless, expressed 
 himself much gratified, and, after they had dined 
 together, desired to be informed the cause of his 
 unexpected visit. Don Alvar Fanez replied that he 
 came to demand one of his daughters in marriage, 
 and requested permission to see the three ladies, that 
 he might speak to each of them separately, when he
 
 ALVAR FANEZ. 33 
 
 would select the one he should desire in marriage. 
 Now the Count, feeling that God would bless that 
 proposition, agreed to it. 
 
 "So Don Alvar Fanez, taking aside the eldest 
 daughter, said that, if it was agreeable to her, he 
 desired to marry her; but, before pursuing his suit, 
 begged to recount to her something concerning 
 himself which she ought to know. 'I am,' said 
 he, 'not very young, and, in consequence of many 
 wounds received by me in various conflicts, my 
 intellects have become weakened; when I drink a 
 little wine, I know not what I say or do, and am 
 often very violent, but regret all this very sincerely 
 on coming to my senses ; also, I am much troubled 
 in my sleep, and suffer from various other causes ; 
 indeed, so much so that few women would consent 
 to marry me.' When he had said this, the daughter 
 of the Count replied, 'The marriage does not de- 
 pend on me, but on my parents.' 
 
 " On hearing this reply Don Alvar Fanez returned 
 to her father, who inquired of his daughter, if the 
 proposed alliance was agreeable to her, and found 
 that, since the interview, she would rather die than 
 marry him. The Count, not wishing to explain the 
 cause, simply said his daughter did not wish to 
 marry. 
 
 " Don Alvar Fanez then had an interview with 
 the second daughter, when he spoke in the same 
 manner as he had done to the first ; and it produced 
 the same result. He then repeated to the youngest 
 
 3
 
 34 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 daughter all he had said to the two others. She 
 replied, however, that she thanked God very much 
 that Don Alvar Fanez desired to marry her ; and as 
 to what he had said about the wine making him ill, 
 should it happen at any time when he was apart 
 from his attendants, she would assist him better than 
 any other person in the world. With respect to his 
 age, she would not decline on that account, but was 
 satisfied with the honour of being his wife. And 
 as to his being furious and rough with his people, 
 she would take care not to excite him, and if hurt 
 herself she knew how to suffer. And to all the 
 things which Don Alvar Fanez said, she replied 
 so favourably that he was very well satisfied, and 
 thanked God that he had found a woman with such 
 an understanding, and told the Count, her father, 
 that he desired to marry this his youngest daughter, 
 whose name was Vascunana. The Count and his 
 wife were much gratified at this announcement, and 
 quickly made arrangements for the;, marriage. 
 
 " After the marriage, Don Alvar Fanez returned 
 home with his wife, whom he found to be so good 
 a housekeeper and so prudent that he considered 
 himself very fortunate in marrying her, and therefore 
 resolved to do only that which was agreeable to her, 
 because God had given her so many good qualities 
 and an excellent understanding. She, on her part, 
 loved her husband very much, and felt that all he did 
 or said was right and for the best. She never dis- 
 approved of or contradicted him in that which she
 
 DONA VASCUNANA. 35 
 
 knew to be agreeable to him ; nor did he think she 
 flattered, or acted with a view to deceive him, and 
 so gain his esteem. For this reason, Don Alvar 
 Fanez loved his wife, and regarded her as one whose 
 honour and care for his interests he had no reason to 
 doubt. 
 
 " It happened one day when Don Alvar Fanez 
 was at home, there came to visit him a nephew of 
 his who was attached to the King's household. 
 After he had been in the house some days, he said 
 to Don Alvar Fanez, 'You are a good and accom- 
 plished man, but there is one fault I find with 
 you.' His uncle desired to know what it was. 
 To which the nephew replied, 'It may be but a 
 small fault, but it is this, you study your wife too 
 much, and make her too great a mistress of you and 
 your affairs.' 
 
 " ' As to that,' Don Alvar Fanez replied, ' I will 
 give you an answer in a few days.' 
 
 " After this, Don Alvar Fanez made a journey on 
 horseback to a distant part of the country, taking 
 with him his nephew, where he remained some 
 time, and then sent for his wife Vascunana to meet 
 him on the road as he returned. When they had 
 journeyed some time without conversing, Don Alvar 
 Fanez being in advance, they chanced to meet a large 
 drove of cows, when Don Alvar said to his nephew, 
 ' See what famous mares we have in this country.' 
 
 " The nephew, on hearing this, was surprised, 
 and thought he said it in jest, and asked him how he
 
 36 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 could say so when they were but cows. At this, his 
 uncle feigned to be quite astonished, saying, ' You are 
 mistaken, or have lost your wits, for they certainly 
 are mares.' The nephew, seeing his uncle persist in 
 what he had said, and that, too, with so much 
 energy, became alarmed and thought his uncle had 
 lost his understanding. The dispute, however, con- 
 tinued in this manner until they met Dona Vascu- 
 nana, who was now seen on the road approaching 
 them. No sooner did Don Alvar Fanez perceive 
 his wife, than he said to his nephew, ' Here is my 
 wife, Vascunana, who will be able to settle our dis- 
 pute.' 
 
 "The nephew was glad of this opportunity, and 
 no sooner did she meet them than he said, 'Aunt, 
 my uncle and I have a dispute. He says that those 
 cows are mares; I say they are cows. And we 
 have so long contended this point, that he considers 
 me as mad, while I think he is but little better. So 
 we beg you will settle our dispute.' 
 
 "Now when Dona Vascunana heard this, although 
 they appeared to her to be cows, yet, as her hus- 
 band had said to the contrary, and she knew that 
 no one was better able than he to distinguish one 
 from the other, and that he never erred, she, trust- 
 ing entirely to his judgment, declared they were, 
 beyond all doubt, mares, and not cows. ' It grieves 
 me much, nephew,' continued Vascunana, 'to hear 
 you contest the point ; and God knows it is a great 
 pity you have not better judgment, with all the ad-
 
 THE MARES AND THE Cows. 37 
 
 vantages you have had in living in the King's house- 
 hold, where you have been so long, than not to be 
 able to distinguish mares from cows.' She then began 
 to show how, both in their colour and form, and in 
 many other points, they were mares and not cows ; 
 and that what Don Alvar had said was true. And 
 so strongly did she affirm this, that not only her 
 nephew, but those who were with them began to 
 think they were themselves mistaken. 
 
 "After this Don Alvar Fanez and his nephew 
 proceeded. They had not, however, journeyed long 
 before they saw a large drove of mares. ' Now 
 these,' said Don Alvar Fanez, ' are cows, but those 
 we have seen, which you call cows, were not so.' 
 
 "When the nephew heard this, he exclaimed, 
 ' Uncle, for God's sake ! if what you say be true, 
 the devil has brought me to this country ; for cer- 
 tainly, if these are cows, then have I lost my senses, 
 for in all parts of the world these are mares, and 
 not cows.' But Don Alvar persisted that he was right 
 in saying they were cows and not mares. And thus 
 they argued until Vascunana came up to them, when 
 they related to her what had been said between them. 
 
 " Now, although she thought her nephew right, 
 yet, for the same reasons as before, she said so much 
 in support of her husband, and that, too, with such 
 apparent truth and inward conviction, that the 
 nephew and those with the mares began to think that 
 their sight and judgment erred and that what Don 
 Alvar had said was true ; and so the debate ended.
 
 38 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " Again Don Alvar and his nephew proceeded on 
 their road homewards, and had proceeded a consider- 
 able distance when they arrived at a river, on the 
 banks of which were a number of mills. While 
 their horses were drinking, Don Alvar remarked 
 that the river ran in the direction from which it 
 flowed, and that the mills received their water from 
 the contrary point. When the nephew heard this, he 
 thought to a certainty he himself had lost his senses, 
 for as he appeared to be wrong with respect to the 
 mares and cows, so might he be in error here also, 
 and the river might really run towards and not from 
 its source. Nevertheless he contended the point. 
 When Vascunana, on her arrival, found them again 
 warmly disputing, she begged to know the cause. 
 They then informed her ; when, although, as before, 
 it appeared to her that the nephew was right, yet 
 she could not be persuaded that her husband was 
 wrong, and so again supported his opinion ; and this 
 time with so many good arguments, that the nephew 
 and those present felt they must have been in 
 error. And it remains a proverb to this day that, 
 ' If the husband affirms that the river runs up to its 
 source, the good-wife ought to believe it, and say 
 that it is true.' 
 
 " Now when the nephew had heard all this, sup- 
 posing that Don Alvar Fanez must be right, he 
 began to feel very unhappy, and to suspect that he 
 was losing his senses. 
 
 "Still pursuing their journey Don Alvar Fanez
 
 A PRUDENT WIFE. 39 
 
 observed his nephew to be very sad and depressed, 
 so said to him, ' Now, nephew, understand that I 
 have given you an answer to what you said to me 
 the other day, when you and others blamed me for 
 having so much confidence in my wife Vascunana. 
 All that you have seen to-day I have done in order 
 that you might become acquainted with her real 
 character, and that consequently my trust in her is 
 not misplaced. I knew very well that the animals 
 we first found, and which I called mares, were 
 really cows, as you said ; and when Dona Vascunana 
 arrived and heard that I said they were mares I 
 knew certainly that she thought you were right, but 
 because she had confidence in me, and thought it 
 impossible for me to err, gave it as her opinion that 
 you were wrong respecting the animals and the 
 river, and that too with such apparent good reasons. 
 And I tell you truly that, from the day we were 
 married, she has not done one thing to disoblige me ; 
 she believes that I always judge and act for the best, 
 wishes all the people to understand that I am the 
 master, and arranges all things so that I may take 
 pleasure in them. So now, nephew, you have the 
 answer which I promised you the other day, when 
 you reproached me with the fault of confiding too 
 much in my wife.' 
 
 "The nephew, having heard these reasons, de- 
 clared himself much pleased ; and seeing how trusting 
 Dona Vascunana was, and in what esteem she held 
 her husband, he acknowledged Don Alvar was not on
 
 40 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 his part too considerate and loving. Thus you see 
 how different were the wives of the Emperor and 
 Don Alvar Fanez. 
 
 "And so, Count Lucanor, if your brothers are so 
 different, the one doing all his wife desires and the 
 other doing quite the contrary, it is perhaps because 
 their wives are like the Empress and Dona Vascufiana. 
 And, if such is the case, you cannot wonder at nor 
 blame them for their conduct ; but if it is not so, 
 then indeed your brothers are wrong, one for con- 
 ceding too much to his wife, who does not merit it, 
 the other for estranging himself from his wife, who 
 deserves his affection. But there is a limit to even 
 this, no man should so indulge his wife in all her 
 desires as to forsake his duty or honour. His love 
 must be tempered with discretion, and not the one 
 sacrificed to the other. Again, he should carefully 
 avoid being too fastidious in that which is unim- 
 portant or of no concern to him, for it is wrong to 
 be too particular about trifles and foster a spirit of 
 irritation and annoyance ; also, the frequent necessity 
 of arranging these ridiculous quarrels tends only 
 to injure the honourable feelings and reputation of 
 both. Also, if any man should have such a wife as 
 the Emperor's, and, like him, be unable to remedy 
 his position, to him I can give no advice but to 
 place his trust in Providence. But you know it is 
 important to both that a man, from the day of his 
 marriage, should give his wife to understand that he
 
 How TO BE MASTER. 41 
 
 himself is the master, so that she may know the life 
 she has to pass. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, after what I have 
 related, will be able now to advise your brothers 
 how to act with their wives." 
 
 The Count was much pleased with what Patronio 
 had told him, and found that what he had said was 
 true and much to the purpose. 
 
 And Don Juan, considering these as good ex- 
 amples and worthy to be retained, ordered them 
 to be written in this book; and made these lines, 
 which say, 
 
 A man at his marriage should teach his wife 
 How he intends her to pass her life. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 The Count Don Alvar Fanez Minaya, referred to in this 
 narrative, was cousin to the famous Cid, Ruy Diaz de Vivar. 
 His mother was Dona Ximena Nunez, who married Fernan 
 Laynez, brother of Diego Laynez, father of the Cid. 
 
 Pero Anzures was the founder of the Church of Valladolid 
 in 1095. Nobksa de Andalusia, p. 104.
 
 42 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Of that which happened to the Count of Provence 
 and Saladin the Sultan of Babylon. 
 
 NE day, as Count Lucanor and Patronio 
 were conversing, the Count said : 
 
 " Patronio, one of my vassals in- 
 formed me the other day that he was 
 anxious to get one of his relations married, and 
 wished to consult me as to what was best to be 
 done, so begged me to favour him with my advice. 
 He informed me of all the conditions to be fulfilled 
 for this marriage. Now, as he is a man who I am 
 desirous should succeed in the world, and as I 
 know you have a good knowledge of such things, 
 I beg you will tell me how you think he should 
 act, so that I may be enabled to give him such 
 advice as shall be for his good." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " in order that you 
 may be enabled to advise this man wisely I shall 
 be happy to recount, with your permission, that 
 which happened to the Count of Provence with 
 Saladin, Sultan of Babylon." 
 
 The Count requested Patronio to tell him what 
 that was ; so he said :
 
 SALADIN. 43 
 
 " My lord, there was a Count in Provence who 
 was a very good man and who desired to live so that 
 God might have mercy on his soul, and purchase by 
 his good actions the glory of Paradise. In order to 
 accomplish this he made a pilgrimage to the Holy 
 Land, taking with him a great number of his de- 
 pendants well-provisioned ; feeling in his heart that 
 whatever happened to him would be fortunate, 
 inasmuch as he had devoted himself to the service 
 of God. But the ways of God are marvellous and 
 inscrutable, and He sees good to place heavy 
 temptations in the way of His servants ; yet, if the 
 temptation be resisted from the love to God, it will 
 prove always to the honour and advantage of the 
 tempted ; thus it was that our Lord held it good to 
 tempt the Count of Provence, and permitted him 
 to be taken prisoner by the Sultan of Babylon. 
 
 "Saladin, hearing the high reputation which the 
 Count enjoyed, showed him much attention, and 
 treated him honourably. In all his great under- 
 takings he consulted his prisoner, and followed his 
 advice. Such was the confidence in the Count that, 
 although nominally a prisoner, the people so re- 
 spected him that in all the dominions of the Sultan 
 he felt almost as if he were in his own kingdom. 
 
 "When the Count left his country he had a 
 very young daughter who, during her father's long 
 absence, had grown up and was now marriageable, 
 upon which the Countess and her relations sent to 
 inform the Count that many princes and great men
 
 44 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 had sought her in marriage. So, one day, when 
 Saladin came to converse with the Count, the latter 
 spoke to him in the following manner : 
 
 " ' My lord, you have granted me many favours 
 and have shown me much consideration ; this I feel 
 a great honour, and, as you have deigned to consult 
 me in many things, I pray your forgiveness if I 
 now solicit your advice in a subject which deeply 
 interests me.' 
 
 " The Sultan was gracious and said he would 
 advise him with great pleasure and assist him in 
 anything whatever it might be. The Count then in- 
 formed him of the proposals made for his daughter's 
 hand, when Saladin replied as follows : 
 
 " ' Count, I know your understanding to be such 
 that with a few words you will be able to compre- 
 hend the subject entirely. You tell me of all those 
 who claim your daughter's hand, their lineage and 
 power, and their relationship with you, but as I 
 do not know their habits and customs, and what 
 advantages the one possesses over the other, I 
 can only advise you to marry your daughter to a 
 worthy man.' 
 
 " The Count thanked the Sultan, and sent word 
 to the Countess and his relations, telling them what 
 the Sultan had said, and that he wished to know 
 all the particulars respecting the men and noblemen 
 who were in the country, their habits and dis- 
 positions ; and told them also that they must put 
 in writing the qualities possessed by the princes
 
 THE SULTAN'S ADVICE. 45 
 
 and men of high rank who demanded his daughter. 
 The Countess and the Count's relations were much 
 astonished, but did as the Count desired, and 
 wrote in detail all the good and bad habits which 
 distinguished those who aspired to an alliance 
 with the Count ; and related to him everything 
 respecting the noblemen who inhabited the country 
 round about. 
 
 " The Count, on receiving this reply, showed it 
 to the Sultan, who found it a satisfactory report, 
 except that the princes and noblemen had each 
 some one fault or another either in their eating and 
 drinking, or that they were irritable or morose, had 
 a bad address, associated with low company, were 
 in debt, or had some other failing. But one, the son 
 of a very rich man, who, although not so powerful 
 as the others, according to what was written, was, in 
 the Sultan's opinion, the most suitable man, and so 
 he recommended the Count to marry his daughter 
 to that man ; for, although he understood the others 
 to be more noble, it was better to esteem a man for 
 his conduct than for his rank. 
 
 "The Count now sent to request the Countess 
 and his relatives to marry his daughter as Saladin 
 had suggested. Although they were much surprised 
 at this advice of the Count, they nevertheless sent 
 for that son of the rich man and told him what the 
 Count required, who replied that he knew well that 
 the Count was nobler, richer, and more honoured 
 than himself; if, therefore, the proposition was made
 
 46 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 in jest they did him injustice, for he thought himself 
 worthy to marry the Count's daughter or any other 
 lady. They replied they wished it seriously, and 
 recounted to him how the Sultan had advised the 
 Count, who would now give his daughter to him in 
 preference to any of the princes or great noblemen 
 who sought her, because he considered him the most 
 worthy man. 
 
 " Now when the rich man's son heard this he 
 understood that they spoke in earnest of the mar- 
 riage, and determined, since Saladin had chosen him 
 from among so many other men, and done him so 
 much honour, he would not fail in this case to do all 
 that which, as an honourable man, was required of 
 him ; he therefore called the Countess and the rela- 
 tions of the Count and told them, as he believed they 
 had spoken truly, he desired to be put in entire 
 possession of the estates of the Count and to receive 
 all the rents, but he did not speak of his future 
 intentions. They were, however, satisfied, and placed 
 all things at his immediate command. As soon as he 
 found himself master of a large sum of money he 
 armed a galley, and requested that the marriage 
 should be solemnized on a particular day. 
 
 " When night came and the ceremony was ended 
 with all its splendour and honour, he called together 
 the Countess, his mother-in-law, and all their rela- 
 tions, and said, ' You know very well that the Count 
 has chosen me from amongst many others as the 
 best man, by the advice of the Sultan. Having,
 
 THE ADVENTUROUS BRIDEGROOM. 47 
 
 therefore, been so much honoured, I feel called upon 
 to act so as to prove myself worthy of my election. 
 I therefore intend leaving home immediately, and 
 recommend to your charge the young lady, my wife, 
 and all the estates ; for I feel confident that God 
 will assist me, and all the world shall know that I 
 have done my duty. 1 
 
 " Soon after this the young man departed on 
 horseback, full of hope, and travelled till he arrived 
 at the kingdom of Armenia, where he remained 
 until he knew the language and habits of the people 
 well, by which time he discovered that Saladin was 
 fond of hunting ; so having the very best hawks and 
 dogs possible, he went in his galley to meet Saladin. 
 Putting into a secure harbour, he commanded his men 
 not to leave that spot without his orders. When 
 he came to where Saladin was, he was well received 
 by him, but he did not kiss his hand, nor offer the 
 homage which was due to him as the Sultan, yet 
 Saladin ordered all his wants to be attended to. 
 The young man thanked him much, declaring that 
 he required nothing, and that he came only, having 
 heard of his great renown in the chase, to beg that 
 he might be permitted to join in his retinue, in order 
 that he might enjoy the advantage of his experience 
 and that of his people. Having brought with him 
 many excellent birds and dogs, he besought the 
 Sultan to select from them those he wished, and 
 with what remained to him begged permission to 
 join in the hunt, where he would render every
 
 48 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 service. This ofter pleased the Sultan much, and 
 he made the selection as desired, but regretted that 
 his guest could not be induced to receive anything 
 in return. 
 
 "After some time it pleased God that things 
 should happen as this young man desired. The 
 falcons chased a crane in the direction of the port 
 where he had anchored his galley. The Sultan rode 
 a very good horse, as did also his guest, when they 
 found themselves far from the retinue, none of whom 
 knew the direction they had taken. On Saladin 
 arriving where the falcons had caught the crane he 
 dismounted in haste and ran to assist them. His 
 young companion, seeing him on the ground occu- 
 pied in feeding the falcons, called his men. Now 
 when the Sultan saw the people from the galley 
 around him, and that the } r oung man had drawn 
 his sword upon him, he was much astonished, and 
 exclaimed, ' It is a base treason.' 
 
 " ' God forbid 1 ' said the other ; ' you know I 
 never did homage to you as my lord, neither have 
 I accepted anything from you.' He had this reason 
 for not doing so. Having said this, he took him 
 and put him on board the galley, telling him that 
 he was the son-in-law of the Count whom he, the 
 Sultan, had chosen as the man worthy to be married 
 to the Count's daughter; and since he had so chosen 
 him, he felt that he would not do credit to his judg- 
 ment unless he acted as he had done. The young 
 man then prayed the Sultan to deliver up to him
 
 THE SULTAN RELEASED. 49 
 
 his father-in-law, saying, ' So shall it be known that 
 the advice you have given me was indeed good and 
 wise.' 
 
 " When Saladin heard this, he was much pleased, 
 and thanked God, being better satisfied that his 
 advice had succeeded than if it had happened 
 otherwise, and told the son-in-law that he would 
 deliver up his father-in-law with great pleasure. 
 
 "The young man, having confidence in the 
 Sultan's word, put him on shore, and accompanied 
 him, but ordering his people from the galley to 
 retire so that they should not be seen by those 
 who might arrive. 
 
 " The Sultan and the son-in-law were feeding the 
 falcons when the suite arrived. They found their 
 master in good humour, but he told none of them 
 what had happened to him. 
 
 "As soon as they arrived at the city, the Sultan 
 went down to the house where the Count was a 
 prisoner, taking with him the son-in-law. When 
 the Sultan saw the Count, he began by saying with 
 much gaiety, 'Count, I thank God for His mercy 
 in having prospered so well the advice which I gave 
 as to the marriage of your daughter. Behold your 
 son-in-law, who has been the means of releasing you 
 from prison.' He then related all that the son-in- 
 law had done ; his loyalty and the great efforts he 
 had made to liberate him, as also the implicit 
 confidence he had in his, the Sultan's, word. 
 
 " Now, the Count, and all who heard this, praised 
 
 4
 
 50 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 the son-in-law very much for his judgment, valour, 
 and great energy; while some praised the Sultan 
 for his great goodness, and thanked God who had 
 directed all things for so good an end. 
 
 " The Sultan gave the Count and his son-in-law 
 many rich presents. To the Count he gave double 
 the amount of the rents which he would have 
 received from his estates during the time of his 
 captivity ; and thus sent him away very rich and 
 much honoured to his own country. 
 
 " Now all this good fortune befell the Count 
 through the good advice which the Sultan gave 
 him respecting the marriage of his daughter with 
 one deserving to be called a man. 
 
 " And you, my lord, since you have to advise one 
 of your vassals respecting the marriage of one of his 
 relatives, tell him that the principal thing is to 
 marry her to a good man; for, if not, no matter how 
 rich, honourable, or mighty he may be, she can 
 never be well married. And you ought to know 
 that a man by his good actions increases the 
 honour, elevates the position of his family, and aug- 
 ments his riches. Of this I could give you many 
 examples. Men of good position, whose fathers were 
 rich and much respected, but who themselves were 
 not as good as they ought to be, have lost both their 
 position and riches. Others, of humbler rank, by their 
 great goodness have gained for themselves riches and 
 honour, so as to become much more respected and 
 esteemed for their conduct than for their lineage.
 
 CONDUCT is FATE. 51 
 
 "And so you will now understand that all the 
 good and evil which befalls us arises from our own 
 actions, let a man's rank be what it may. There- 
 fore, the first thing you ought to inquire after is, 
 what are the habits, the understanding, and general 
 conduct of the man himself, or of the woman, who 
 is about to marry ; and these being, in the first place, 
 satisfactory, then, the higher the rank, the greater 
 the riches, and the more honourable the position of 
 the connection, the better." 
 
 The Count was much pleased with the reasons 
 which Patronio gave him, and held as true all that 
 he had spoken. 
 
 -Don Juan, seeing that this example was very good, 
 wrote it in this book, and made this verse, which 
 says : 
 
 The upright man, in all he does, prevails ; 
 The wicked, in his plans, as surely fails. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 Calderon has made the above story the subject of a three-act 
 comedy, entitled " Count Lucanor." It would seem likely, 
 at first sight, that in giving this name to the bold knight 
 who seized on the person of Saladin, his object was to recall, 
 by an ingenious transposition, the collection to which he was 
 indebted for the idea of the piece. But, as he concludes his 
 drama by asking pardon for a history drawn from the books 
 of chivalry, there seems to be some force in the opinion main- 
 tained by Ticknor, that Count Lucanor was a name borrowed 
 from one of those old books of knight-errantry, and adopted by 
 Don Manuel to avoid the possibility of his being supposed, in the 
 name of his hero, to indicate any veritable living contemporary of
 
 52 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 his. Indeed had Calderon been acquainted with Don Manuel's 
 story, he could hardly have departed so widely as he has done 
 from its moral application. In his comedy, no train of thought or 
 moral lesson is enforced : his sole object appears to have been 
 to complicate with romantic incidents one of those adventures 
 which the heroes of chivalry prided themselves in bringing to 
 a happy termination. 
 
 The Sultan Saladin plays an important part in the tales and 
 Fabliaux of the middle ages. Don Juan Manuel has himself 
 introduced him more than once in this book. He was the 
 Alexander of the Crusades this Salehaddin, who, after having 
 been in the service of the Sultans of Egypt, usurped their throne, 
 became a famous conqueror, and, by the resplendent lustre of his 
 virtues and magnanimity, palliated the cruelties indispensable to 
 his victories, and obtained the title of Great a title more gloriously 
 consecrated by the Gerusalemme of Tasso than by all the panegyrics 
 of historians. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Of that which happened to a King and three 
 Impostors. 
 
 LUCANOR, conversing at an- 
 other time with Patronio, his adviser, 
 said : 
 
 " Patronio, a man came to me and 
 told me something, giving me to understand it would 
 be of great advantage to me if I followed his sugges- 
 tions ; but he said no man must be informed of the 
 secret, that I must trust in him, and, more than this,
 
 THE INVISIBLE CLOTH. 53 
 
 affirmed that if I should confide it to any man in the 
 world I should place not only my property but my 
 life in danger. And as I know no man able to detect 
 a fraud so quickly as yourself I pray you give me 
 your opinion in this case." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " in order that you 
 may know how to act under these circumstances, it 
 would please me to be permitted to inform you 
 what happened to a King and three impostors." 
 
 The Count requested to know what that was. 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " three impostors 
 came to a King, and told him they were cloth- 
 weavers, and could fabricate a cloth of so pecu- 
 liar a nature that a legitimate son of his father could 
 see the cloth; but if he were illegitimate, though 
 believed to be legitimate, he could not see it. 
 
 " Now the King was much pleased at this, 
 thinking that by this means he would be able to 
 distinguish the men in his kingdom who were legi- 
 timate sons of their supposed fathers from those 
 who were not, and so be enabled to increase his 
 treasures, for among the Moors only legitimate 
 children inherit their father's property ; and for 
 this end he ordered a palace to be appropriated to 
 the manufacture of this cloth. And these men, in 
 order to convince him that they had no intention 
 of deceiving him, agreed to be shut up in this palace 
 until the cloth was manufactured, which satisfied 
 the King. 
 
 " When they were supplied with a large quantity
 
 54 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 of gold, silver, silk, and many other things, they 
 entered the palace, and, putting their looms in 
 order, gave it to be understood that they were 
 working all day at the cloth. 
 
 " After some days, one of them came to the King 
 and told him the cloth was commenced, that it was 
 the most curious thing in the world, describing the 
 design and construction ; he then prayed the King 
 to favour them with a visit, but begged he would 
 come alone. The King was much pleased, but 
 wishing to have the opinion of some one first, sent 
 the Lord Chamberlain to see it, in order to know if 
 they were deceiving him. When the Lord Cham- 
 berlain saw the workmen, and heard all they had to 
 say, he dared not admit he could not see the cloth, 
 and when he returned to the King he stated that he 
 had seen it ; the King sent yet another, who gave 
 the same report. When they whom he had sent 
 declared that they had seen the cloth he determined 
 to go himself. 
 
 " On entering the palace and seeing the men at 
 work, who began to describe the texture and relate 
 the origin of the invention as also the design and 
 colour, in which they all appeared to agree, although 
 in reality they were not working; when the King 
 saw how they appeared to work, and heard the 
 character of the cloth so minutely described, and 
 yet could not see it, although those he had sent had 
 seen it, he began to feel very uneasy, fearing he 
 might not be the son of the King, who was sup-
 
 THE ALGUACIL'S REPORT. 55 
 
 posed to be his father, and that if he acknowledged 
 he could not see the cloth he might lose his king- 
 dom ; under this impression he commenced praising 
 the fabric, describing its peculiarities after the 
 manner of the workmen. 
 
 " On the return to his palace he related to his 
 people how good and marvellous was the cloth, yet 
 at the same time suspected something wrong. 
 
 "At the end of two or three days the King 
 requested his ' Alguacil ' (or officer of justice) to go 
 and see the cloth. When the Alguacil entered and 
 saw the workmen, who, as before, described the 
 figures and pattern of the cloth, knowing that the 
 King had been to see it, and yet could not see it 
 himself, he thought he certainly could not be the 
 legitimate son of his father, and therefore could not 
 see it. He, however, feared if he was to declare that 
 he could not see it he would lose his honourable 
 position ; to avoid this mischance he commenced prais- 
 ing the cloth even more vehemently than the others. 
 
 "When the Alguacil returned to the King and 
 told him that he had seen the cloth, and that it was 
 the most extraordinary production in the world, the 
 King was much disconcerted ; for he thought that 
 if the Alguacil had seen the cloth, which he was 
 unable to see, there could no longer be a doubt that 
 he was not the legitimate son of the King, as was 
 generally supposed, he therefore did not hesitate to 
 praise the excellency of the cloth and the skill of the 
 workmen who were able to make it.
 
 56 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " On another day he sent one of his Councillors, 
 and it happened to him as to the King and the 
 others of whom I have spoken ; and in this manner 
 and for this reason they deceived the King and 
 many others, for no one dared to say he could not 
 see the cloth. 
 
 "Things went on thus until there came a great 
 feast, when all requested the King to be dressed in 
 some of the cloth ; so the workmen, being ordered, 
 brought some rolled up in a very fine linen and in- 
 quired of the King how much of it he wished them 
 to cut off; so the King gave orders how much and 
 how to make it up. 
 
 " Now when the clothes were made and the feast 
 day had arrived the weavers brought them to the 
 King, informing his Majesty that his dress was made 
 of the cloth as he had directed, the King all this 
 time not daring to say he could not see it. 
 
 " When the King had professed to dress himself 
 in this suit he mounted on horseback and rode into 
 the city; but fortunately for him it was summer 
 time. The people seeing his Majesty come in this 
 manner were much surprised ; but knowing that 
 those who could not see this cloth would be con- 
 sidered illegitimate sons of their fathers, kept their 
 surprise to themselves, fearing the dishonour conse- 
 quent upon such a declaration. Not so, however, 
 with a negro, who happened to notice the King 
 thus equipped ; for he, having nothing to lose, came 
 to him and said, ' Sire, to me it matters not whose
 
 " Sire, to me it matters not whose son I am, therefore, I tell you that 
 you are riding without any clothes."
 
 THE FRAUD DISCOVERED. 57 
 
 son I am, therefore I tell you that you are riding 
 without any clothes.' On this the King commenced 
 beating him, saying that he was not the legitimate 
 son of his supposed father, and therefore it was that 
 he could not see the cloth. But no sooner had the 
 negro said this, than others were convinced of its 
 truth, and said the same ; until, at last, the King and 
 all with him lost their fear of declaring the truth, 
 and saw through the trick of which these impostors 
 had made them the victims. When the weavers 
 were sought for they were found to have fled, taking 
 with them all they had received from the King by 
 their imposition. 
 
 "Now you, Count Lucanor, since that man of 
 whom you speak forbids your trusting to any one, 
 and demands your entire confidence, be careful you 
 are not deceived ; for, you ought to know very well 
 that he can have no reason for seeking your advan- 
 tage more than his own ; nor has he more reason to 
 serve you than have those who are indebted to you 
 and are already in your service." 
 
 Count Lucanor found this to be good advice, so 
 adopted it. 
 
 And Don Juan, also seeing that it was a good 
 example, wrote it in this book and made these lines, 
 which say as follows : 
 
 Who counsels thee to secrecy with friends 
 Seeks to entrap thee for his own base ends.
 
 58 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 This story, so quaintly and graphically written, stands alone 
 in the interest of its details, neither the Short Mantle, which 
 figures under the title of the "Manteau mal taille," in the Fabliaux 
 of the thirteenth century, nor the "Enchanted Bowl" of Ariosto, 
 nor indeed any of the romance writers of that age contain any 
 subject wherein the various passions and interests which move 
 mankind are so well delineated. 
 
 The false promises made by the impostors, arising out of want 
 and desperation, recall to mind the old Spanish proverb, " Cuando 
 el Corsario promete misas y cera, con mal anda la galera ; (The 
 galley is in a bad way when the Corsair promises masses and 
 candles)." 
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 What happened to a King with a man who called 
 himself an Alchymist. 
 
 [NE day Count Lucanor conversed with 
 Patronio in the following manner : 
 
 "Patronio, a man came and told me 
 he possessed a secret which would enable 
 me to acquire great riches and honour, but that to 
 begin the work certain sums of money would be 
 required; and this being furnished, he promised to 
 return me tenfold on my outlay. Now, since God 
 has blessed you with a good understanding, tell me 
 what you think most desirable to be done under 
 such circumstances."
 
 THE ALCHYMIST. 59 
 
 "My lord," said Patronio, "in order that you 
 may know how to act, having regard for your own 
 interest, under such circumstances, I should like to 
 inform you what happened to a king with a man 
 who called himself an alchymist." 
 
 The Count desired him to relate it. 
 
 "There was once," said he, "a man who being a 
 great adventurer desired by some means or other to 
 enrich himself and rise out of the miserable situation 
 in which he then was. Knowing of a certain King 
 who taxed his people heavily, and was very anxious 
 to acquire a knowledge of alchymy, he procured a 
 hundred doublas * 'and filed them down, mixing the 
 gold dust so procured with other metals, and from 
 this alloy he made a hundred false coins, each 
 weighing as much as a doubla. He then took a 
 supply of these spurious coins, dressed himself as a 
 quiet and respectable man, and went to the city 
 where the King dwelt, and, entering the shop of a 
 grocer, sold to him the whole of his counterfeits for 
 about two or three doublas. The purchaser inquired 
 the name and use of these coins, to which he replied, 
 ' They are essential to the practice of alchymy, and 
 are called tabardit. 1 
 
 " Now, our adventurer continued to reside in this 
 city for some time as a respectable and well-dressed 
 man, and it became circulated as a secret that he 
 knew the science of alchymy. When this news 
 
 * An ancient Spanish gold coin.
 
 60 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 reached the King, he sent for him and asked if he 
 were an alchymist. 
 
 " He, however, appeared as if anxious to conceal 
 his knowledge, and replied that he was not, but 
 ultimately admitted that he was, at the same time 
 telling the King that no man but himself knew the 
 secret, and that no great outlay was required ; but 
 that, if his Majesty desired it, he could furnish him 
 with a little of the ingredients, and then show him 
 all he knew of the science. This pleased the King 
 very much, as it appeared, according to the alchymist's 
 representation, that he would incur no risk. Our 
 adventurer now sends, in the King's name, for the 
 things required, among them being the tabardit, 
 which were easily procured at a cost of not more 
 than three dineros,* and when they were brought 
 and melted down before the King there was pro- 
 duced the weight of a doubla of fine gold. The 
 King, seeing that these materials which cost so little 
 produced a doubla, was delighted, and told the 
 alchymist that he considered him to be a most 
 worthy man, giving him an order to make more. 
 
 " Our adventurer replied, as if he had no more 
 information to give, 'Sire, all that I know I have 
 shown to you, and henceforth you will be able to do 
 it as well as myself. Nevertheless, should any of 
 the ingredients be wanting, it will be quite impossible 
 to produce gold.' Saying this, he departed for his 
 own house. 
 
 * An ancient Spanish copper coin.
 
 THE SINE QUA NON. 61 
 
 "The King now procured some of the materials 
 himself, and made gold ; he then doubled the quan- 
 tity and produced the weight of two doublas ; again 
 doubling this quantity, he produced four doublas of 
 gold ; and so, in proportion, as he increased the 
 weight of the ingredients, he produced an jncrease 
 of gold. When the King saw that he could make 
 any quantity of gold he desired, he ordered as much 
 of the material to be brought him as would pro- 
 duce a thousand doublas. So the quantity was 
 brought him as he desired, with the exception of 
 the tabardit which could not be got. The King, 
 seeing that the tabardit was wanting, and that with- 
 out it he could not make gold, sent for the alchymist 
 and told him he was unable to make gold as he had 
 been accustomed to do. 
 
 " On this the alchymist begged to know if he had 
 all the ingredients the same as hitherto. 
 
 " The King replied, ' Yes, all except the tabardit! 
 
 " ' Then/ said the alchymist, ' although you have 
 all the other things, yet, failing this one, you cannot, 
 as I told you at first, expect to make gold.' 
 
 The King then asked if he knew where to pro- 
 cure the tabardit, and he was answered in the 
 affirmative ; the King then requested that he should 
 procure for him a sufficient quantity to make as much 
 gold as he might desire. 
 
 " The alchymist now replied that any other per- 
 son could obtain it as well as himself, and, perhaps, 
 better; but, if the King particularly wished it, he
 
 62 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 would return for some to his own country, where he 
 could procure any amount. The King then counted 
 and found that, including all expenses, it would cost 
 a large sum to procure this one ingredient, but he 
 furnished our adventurer with the sum required and 
 sent him on this service. 
 
 "As soon as the alchymist had received the 
 money he went away in great haste, never to return. 
 
 "When the King found that the alchymist re- 
 mained away longer than he ought, he sent his 
 servants to his house to know if there had been any 
 tidings of him, but they found none whatever; but 
 at his house was left a small chest which was locked ; 
 this they opened, and in it they found a paper on 
 which was written, 'I know well there is no such 
 thing in the world as tabardtt, but be assured that 
 your Majesty has been deceived. When I came to 
 you and said that I could enrich you, you ought 
 to have said to me, " First enrich thyself, and then 
 I will believe thee." ' 
 
 " Some days after this, some men were laughing 
 and amusing themselves by writing the names and 
 characters of their friends and acquaintances, saying, 
 such and such were intelligent, such and such were 
 foolish, and of others in like manner, good and bad. 
 Amongst those classed as imprudent was found the 
 name of the King. When the King heard of it, he 
 sent for the authors of this writing, and, having 
 assured them that no harm should come to them, 
 demanded why they had placed his name amongst
 
 Anil in it they found a paper."
 
 MISPLACED CONFIDENCE. 63 
 
 those of imprudent men. They then answered him, 
 ' Because you have entrusted so much treasure to a 
 stranger of whom you had not the least knowledge.' 
 
 "The King replied that they were mistaken, for 
 should the man return he would bring with him 
 much gold. 
 
 " ' Then,' said they, ' our opinion would lose 
 nothing ; for, should he return, we will erase your 
 name and insert his.' 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, if you do not wish to 
 be considered a man of weak understanding, must 
 not risk so much of your property for a thing that 
 is uncertain ; otherwise, you may have to repent 
 sacrificing the certain for the uncertain." 
 
 This advice pleased the Count much, so he acted 
 upon it, and found the result good. 
 
 And Don Juan, seeing this to be a good example, 
 ordered it to be written in this book, with these 
 following lines : 
 
 To venture much of thy wealth refuse 
 
 On the faith of a man who has nought to lose. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 This tale, so full of point and humour, is, as we see in the paper 
 found in the alchymist's trunk, not without its bearing on the 
 caution required in daily life, to avoid impositions; as, also, the 
 dangers to which cupidity exposes men who grasp at every de- 
 lusive project to gratify their passion for gain. 
 
 It may be, also, that Don Manuel desired in this narrative 
 to ridicule ths follies of alchymy, to which his learned uncle, 
 Alfonso X, was much addicted, and the belief in which was so 
 universal in the middle ages.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Of that which happened to two Cavaliers who were in 
 the service of the Infant Prince Henry. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, conversing one day 
 with his friend Patronio, addressed him 
 in the following manner : 
 
 " Patronio, for a long time I have 
 had an enemy who has done me much injury ; nor 
 can I say that I have not done the same to him 
 in fact, we live in a state of constant warfare with 
 each other. And now it happens that another man, 
 much more powerful than either of us, is about to 
 commence a war against him and me ; and this man 
 is in a position to do us both a serious injury. Seeing 
 this to be the case, my old enemy comes to me to say 
 that we should lose no time in defending ourselves 
 against this our common foe ; for that, if both unite 
 against him, it is certain that we shall be safe : but, if 
 one keeps apart from the other, it is equally certain 
 that whichever of us he might first select would 
 easily be conquered by him; and, that one being 
 vanquished, he who remained would become an easy 
 victim. So, you see, Patronio, that I am in great 
 perplexity as to how I shall act. On both sides I 
 have much to fear ; my former enemy is not wanting in 
 will to injure me, and, should he at any time find me
 
 THE Vicious HORSES. 65 
 
 in his power, I am not sure of my life. Whatever 
 arrangement we may make, I shall feel no confidence 
 in him, or he in me ; and these considerations keep 
 me in perpetual anxiety. On the other hand, as you 
 you will perceive, if we are not friends, as he wishes, 
 we shall both be seriously injured. Now, as I have 
 great confidence in your abilities, I pray you to 
 advise me how to act under such circumstances." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " your position is 
 very critical and not without danger. In order 
 that you may better understand how to act, it is 
 desirable that you should know what happened at 
 Tunis to two cavaliers who lived with the Infant 
 Prince Henry." 
 
 The Count desired to be informed, and Patronio 
 proceeded : 
 
 " Two cavaliers who were in the service of the 
 Infant, at Tunis, were such excellent friends that 
 they resided together in the same house. Each had 
 his own horse ; and, in proportion as these friends 
 loved each other, so did their horses appear to 
 detest each other. Now, these cavaliers were not 
 rich, and consequently, were unable to maintain 
 separate establishments ; but, owing to the vicious- 
 ness of their horses, they found it impossible to 
 reside any longer together, so very reluctantly 
 separated. Things had gone on in this way for 
 some time, when, finding nothing could be done to 
 remedy the evil, they spoke to the Infant concerning 
 it, and begged he would give their horses to a lion 
 
 5
 
 66 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 which was kept by the King of Tunis. The Infant 
 complied with their request, and spoke to the King, 
 telling him how the cavaliers were annoyed by the 
 viciousness of their horses, and asking the King's 
 permission to have these horses turned into the 
 lion's court. 
 
 " When the two vicious horses found themselves 
 loose in the lion's court, but before the lion had 
 sallied forth from his den, they commenced kicking 
 and biting more violently than ever. While they 
 were so fighting, the door of the lion's den, leading 
 into the court, was thrown open. 
 
 " As soon as the two horses saw the lion leave his 
 den for the court they began to tremble violently, 
 and by degrees approached each other till they were 
 so close together as to appear almost one. They 
 then conjointly attacked the lion, kicking and biting 
 him so furiously that he was compelled to retreat 
 into the den from whence he came. 
 
 " From this time the two horses continued good 
 friends. They ate together from the same crib, and 
 lived together in a very small stable. 
 
 "Thus, you see, my lord, from the great and 
 common terror these two vicious horses had of the 
 lion arose a lasting friendship. And you, Count 
 Lucanor, if you believe that your old enemy fears so 
 much his and your common enemy, and requires 
 your assistance so urgently as to induce him to forget 
 the feuds which have hitherto existed between you, 
 knowing that he cannot defend himself without your
 
 COMMON DANGER. 67 
 
 assistance, then I hold that, like the two horses, it 
 will be advisable that you approach each other by 
 degrees until you have so united your forces as to 
 lose all fear and distrust of each other. But, mark 
 you ! until you acquire this necessary confidence in 
 your ally, you must proceed with a certain amount 
 of caution. If you find him acting at all times with 
 good faith and loyalty, and know for certain that he 
 has no intention to revenge himself on you, or do 
 any injury to you, then it will be better that you 
 unite with him in earnest, in order that the stranger 
 may not conquer or destroy you ; for it is even better 
 to suffer the ills you now complain of than those ot 
 your new enemy, the extent of which you cannot fore- 
 see; but, should anything occur to give you reason 
 for doubting the sincerity of your ally, then it would 
 be wrong to assist him, for he might lead you into 
 great peril to secure his own safety. It remains, 
 therefore, that you be vigilant, whilst preparing to 
 guard against the combined danger threatened you 
 by a new adversary and your former enemy." 
 
 " Count Lucanor was much pleased with what 
 Patronio had related, and found that he had given 
 him very good advice. Also Don Juan thought this 
 a very good example, so he commanded it to be 
 written in this book, and wrote these lines, which 
 say thus : 
 
 When danger threatens, enemies unite, 
 And join, as friends, to carry on the fight.
 
 68 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 NOTES TO CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Infant Prince Henry mentioned in this chapter was the 
 son of Ferdinand III. (called the Saint), and his queen, Beatrice. 
 Being persecuted by his brother, Alfonso X, after many 
 dangers, sought refuge in Tunis, about the year 1259. The 
 Bey, knowing his rank, and admiring his courage, gave him, 
 after a time, the entire command of his army ; a position he 
 held for a period of four years, during which time he became 
 renowned for many acts of valour, so that many Castilians 
 sought for appointments in the army under his command, and 
 fought with him under the flag of Tunis. Of these were the 
 two cavaliers spoken of in this narrative. The Moors of the 
 court, becoming jealous of the position held by the prince, 
 conspired to impress the Bey with the notion that there 
 existed a plot to murder him and place the Infant on the throne. 
 Hearing this, the king became alarmed, and, judging any means 
 of escape justifiable, made an appointment with the Infant for 
 a secret conference, which, being punctually kept by the un- 
 suspecting prince, he found himself face to face with the lions 
 of the Bey. The prince, seeing the peril of his position, drew 
 his sword and awaited the attack. Happily, however, the 
 animals remained immovable and allowed him to retire uninjured. 
 The Bey, frustrated in his design, and ashamed of his intentions, 
 ordered the Infant to immediately leave his territories, together 
 with all the Christians : which was done, resistance being 
 impossible. After an adventurous life, this hero returned to 
 Spain on the death of his nephew, Sancho the Brave, and he 
 there forced the people to name him tutor to Ferdinand IV, 
 and died in 1304. This history is interesting in so far that it 
 leads us to the source from whence Don Manuel has doubtless 
 derived the relation given in his narrative. The Infant Henry, 
 to whom this affair in Tunis happened, being his uncle, it may 
 be that the circumstance as related did actually occur to the two 
 cavaliers of his retinue.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Concerning what happened to a SeneschaL of 
 Carcasona. 
 
 MOTHER time, when Count Lucanor 
 was conversing with Patronio, he 
 spoke to him in the following man- 
 ner : 
 
 " Patronio, as I know that death is unavoidable, 
 I would now, while I have yet time, found some 
 work of charity which may hereafter be applied for 
 the benefit of my soul, and of which good act all 
 the world may be cognizant. I pray you, therefore, 
 to advise me how best to accomplish this end. ' 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " whatever you do, 
 whatever may be your object, or whatever your in- 
 tentions, act always with honour and justice. But, 
 as you desire to know how a man should act so as to 
 benefit his soul and increase his reputation, I should 
 be much pleased by being permitted to relate to you 
 what happened to a Seneschal of Carcasona." 
 
 The Count desired to be informed what that 
 was. 
 
 " My lord, a Seneschal of Carcasona being 
 seriously ill, and informed that he was not likely to 
 recover, sent for the Prior of the Dominican Friars
 
 70 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 and the Guardian of the Franciscan Order, and 
 informed them what he wished they should do for 
 the salvation of his soul, and desired that if he died 
 they would see fulfilled all the dispositions of his 
 will. They, on their part, willingly agreed, for he 
 left much for alms, prayers, and masses. Now, when 
 all his charitable dispositions had been complied 
 with, the friars were well satisfied, and hoped trust- 
 ingly for the eternal salvation of his soul. 
 
 "It happened some short time after this that there 
 was a woman in the town said to be possessed of 
 the Devil, and who spoke most extraordinary things. 
 The friars, hearing this, thought it advisable to go 
 to her and inquire if she knew anything respecting 
 the soul of the Seneschal, and they did so. 
 
 "As soon as they entered the house where the 
 possessed woman lived, and before they could put 
 any questions to her, she cried out, that she well 
 knew why they were come, and that the soul of the 
 Seneschal was in hell, where she had left it a short 
 time ago. 
 
 "When the friars heard this, they told her she 
 lied, for they were certain that the Seneschal had 
 humbly confessed and devoutly received the sacra- 
 ments of the holy Mother Church ; and that, since 
 the Christian faith was infallible, it was not possible 
 that what she said could be true. 
 
 "She replied, that, without doubt, the faith and 
 law of Christians are very true, but that he had not 
 acted as a sincere Christian before his death ; that,
 
 She cried out that she well knew why they had come."
 
 BUYING SALVATION. 71 
 
 however much he might have given, hoping thus to 
 secure the salvation of his soul, still it was not given 
 with a good grace for he had commanded that the 
 charitable dispositions of his will should only be 
 executed in case he died, when he could no longer 
 retain possession of his riches nor carry them with 
 him to the grave. Had he recovered, he never 
 intended fulfilling any part of these charitable inten- 
 tions. Moreover, he regarded only the opinion of 
 those around him and of the world, hoping thus to 
 obtain fame and honour by his charitable donations. 
 Therefore, although he did a good act, it was not 
 well done, since man must be judged by his in- 
 tentions ; and the intentions of the Seneschal were 
 not good, although they may have appeared so; 
 therefore he has received his reward. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, since you desire my 
 counsel, I give you that which appears to me most 
 valuable. It is, if you wish to do good, to do it 
 while you have life, if you hope for a reward here- 
 after. The first thing required of you is to repair 
 the wrongs you may have done, for little will it 
 avail you to steal the sheep and offer the feet to 
 God. So, likewise, you will benefit little by holding 
 the fruit of robbery and spoliation, although you 
 may give alms out of your ill-gotten gains. In order 
 that your alms may be worthy of acceptance, it is 
 necessary that they partake of the following con- 
 ditions : firstly, that the gift be a part of your own 
 rightful property, given under the influence of a true
 
 72 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 and contrite spirit, not from the superfluities, but 
 from that which the giver is in need of himself 
 Again, the donation should be made during life ; 
 and, lastly, it should be done simply for the love of 
 God, and not through vain-glory or worldly feeling. 
 The fulfilling these conditions constitutes righteous 
 almsgiving, for which a man may expect to be well 
 rewarded. Nevertheless, neither you nor any one 
 else should fail to do good, although they may not 
 be able to fulfil all the above conditions ; that would 
 be very weak and unwise, for certain it is that a 
 good action always claims its reward. Meritorious 
 works draw men from sin, induce to repentance, and 
 to the well-being of the soul, tending even to fame 
 and worldly advantages. All good actions tend to 
 good ; nevertheless, they will be more available for 
 salvation and more profitable to his soul if a man 
 act under the influence of the conditions above 
 mentioned." 
 
 And Count Lucanor, considering what Patronio 
 said was true, resolved to follow his advice, and 
 prayed to God for grace to enable him to do so. 
 
 And Don Juan, finding that this was a very good 
 example, caused it to be written in this book, and 
 made these lines, which say : 
 
 In aim, as well as deed, be pure, 
 If you would make your glory sure.
 
 STRAINING AT A GNAT. 73 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 The lesson taught in this tale was a severe one for the superior 
 clergy, who were at this period not noted for their humility or 
 abnegation ; as it was also a reflection upon the tenacity of some 
 men, not only to life, but to life's treasures, by the illustration of 
 an attempt to cheat Providence into the salvation of his soul, by 
 giving what the dying man could no longer retain. It reminds us 
 of the Spanish anecdote, where a dying bequest records that " if 
 the missing cow was found it should be for the children ; if not, 
 it should be for God." The same nation has also a saying refer- 
 ring to the Abbot of Bamba, on spurious benevolence. "El Abad 
 de Bamba lo que nopoede comer lo da por su Alma." "The Abbot 
 of Bamba gives away for the good of his soul that which he cannot 
 cat." 
 
 In his fable of The Sick Man and the Angel, Gay has powerfully 
 illustrated the moral conveyed by Don Manuel in this history 
 the futility of the hope that heaven may be purchased by a 
 posthumous legacy fon pious uses of the wealth that has been 
 hoarded during life for selfish purposes. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Of that which happened to a Moor who had a Sister 
 pretending to be alarmed at any ordinary occurrence. 
 
 iNOTHER day, Count Lucanor, convers- 
 ing with his friend Patronio, said, 
 " Patronio, you know that I have an 
 elder brother. We are sons of the 
 same parents, and, because of his seniority, I look
 
 74 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 on him as if he were my father; and, as such, he 
 expects me to obey him. He passes for a good 
 Christian and has credit for being prudent, but it 
 has pleased God that I should be richer and more 
 powerful than he is ; and, although he is careful to 
 disguise the feeling, yet I am certain he is jealous 
 of me. Whenever I need his assistance, or require 
 anything from him, he gives me to understand that 
 he cannot help me, because it would be sinful, and 
 always breaks off the affair by excusing himself in 
 this manner ; while at other times, when he requires 
 my assistance, he tells me it is incumbent on me to 
 serve him, although, in doing so, I might lose every- 
 thing in this world ; in fact, he says I ought not to 
 hesitate in risking even my life in his service and 
 all this to oblige him only. Under such circum- 
 stances, I pray you to advise me how to act, and 
 what is my real duty." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " it appears to me that 
 your brother's actions, to say the least of them, are 
 selfish, and much resemble those of the sister of a 
 certain Moor, which I would relate to you." 
 
 The Count desired him to do so. 
 
 " My lord, a Moor had an over-indulged sister, 
 who prided herself in appearing timid ; and to such 
 an extent did she carry this whim that she feigned 
 alarm at the most ordinary occurrence, even when 
 she drank water out of one of the narrow-necked 
 earthen jars (such as were then generally used), and 
 heard the water gurgling as it flowed, she pretended
 
 " Without evincing any feeling or pity, broke the neck and drew 
 away the clothes."
 
 SWALLOWING A CAMEL. 75 
 
 to be very much afraid of it. The Moor, being 
 informed of this, was much annoyed. Now the 
 brother was a fine young man, but very poor, and 
 was compelled by necessity to follow a most dis- 
 graceful way of obtaining a living. Poverty often 
 compels a man to do that of which he would 
 otherwise feel ashamed, and such was the case with 
 the Moor, who did thus : when he heard of any rich 
 person being buried, he would go by night to the 
 tomb, disinter the body, and strip it of its shroud 
 and all else of value ; and, by the sale of these 
 articles, he maintained himself and his sister, she, 
 all the time, knowing that her brother supported her 
 by the proceeds of this sacrilege. 
 
 "Now it happened about this time that a rich 
 man died, and was interred in very valuable clothes 
 and other costly things. When the sister knew of 
 this, she told her brother that she would assist him 
 that night in taking away the valuables from the rich 
 man's tomb. 
 
 " When night came, the young man and his sister 
 repaired to the tomb containing the corpse, and 
 opened it ; and, when they had helped themselves to 
 all that was worth taking, they found that the clothes 
 could not be removed without tearing unless they 
 broke the neck of the corpse. The sister, seeing that 
 this would deprive them of much of their value, 
 took the head in her hands, and, without evincing 
 any feeling or pity, broke the neck and drew away the 
 clothes. They then, with their booty, returned home.
 
 76 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " Some little time after this, when they were sitting 
 at table, the sister drank out of the water-jar, and 
 again hearing the gurgling sound feigned alarm and 
 declared that she should faint. Upon this the brother, 
 remembering that without fear she had broken the 
 neck of the dead man, said, in Arabic, ' A ha ya ! 
 halt, tassa niboa valo tassa ni fortuheni; ' that is to 
 say, ' Ha, ha ! sister, you fear then the sound of the 
 water-jar, which says, "batu, batu," but were not 
 afraid to break the neck of a dead man.' And this 
 saying is even till this day a proverb amongst the 
 Moors. 
 
 "And I should say, my lord, that your elder 
 brother, if he excuses himself in the selfish, unjust, 
 manner you have described, resembles, in a great 
 measure, the sister of the Moor. 
 
 " Now, for the future, should your brother demand 
 your assistance, in return giving you only fine words 
 and excuses, do not retaliate, but, more than this, do 
 all that he requires of you, taking care that you do 
 not fall into sin, nor act against your conscience or 
 interest by so doing." 
 
 The Count considered this advice to be good, and, 
 acting accordingly, found it to answer well. 
 
 And Don Juan, being of opinion that this was a 
 good example, caused it to be written in this book, 
 and made these lines, which say as follows : 
 
 He who declines to help thee in thy need, 
 For aid himself in vain one day may plead.
 
 DON ILLAN AND THE DEAN. 77 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 Phis is not one of the author's happiest productions, in so far, 
 however, only, that the narrative does not illustrate (as it evidently 
 was intended to do) the moral it purports to convey. Legrand 
 D'Aussy has given a very free imitation of this tale under the title 
 of " The young Lady who could never hear a certain exclamation 
 without fainting," " De la Demoiselle qui ne pouvait, sans se 
 pamer, entendre un certain jurement." We find another version 
 of it in the Collection of Berbazan. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Of that which happened to a Dean of Santiago, 
 with Don Illan, the Magician, who lived at 
 Toledo. 
 
 ( NE day Count Lucanor was conversing 
 with Patronio, whose advice he sought 
 under the following circumstances. 
 "Patronio," said he, "a man came 
 to me and begged I would assist him, knowing I 
 was able to do so, promising to serve me in return, 
 at any time, either for the promotion of my interest 
 or honour. I rendered him all the assistance in my 
 power, when, before his trouble was removed 
 (although he believed it to be so), a circumstance 
 happened in which I knew he could render me
 
 78 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 assistance, which I begged him to do ; but he made 
 me some excuse. Since then another case has arisen 
 where he could have been of service to me, but 
 again, as before, he has excused himself, and in every 
 instance when I have needed his help he has always 
 declined assisting me under some plea or other. Now 
 his difficulties are not yet removed, nor can they be 
 without my assistance. I, therefore, pray you, having 
 so much confidence in your judgment, to advise me 
 how to act under such circumstances." 
 
 " Count Lucanor," said Patronio, " in order that 
 you may know how to act in such a case, it is 
 desirable that you should hear what happened to 
 a Dean of Santiago, with Don Ulan, who was a 
 great magician, and dwelt in Toledo." 
 The Count begged he would narrate it. 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " there was a Dean of 
 Santiago who had a great desire to be initiated in 
 the art of necromancy; and, hearing that Don 
 Ulan of Toledo knew more of this art than any 
 other person in that country, came to Toledo with a 
 view of studying under him. On the day of his 
 arrival he proceeded to the house of Don Ulan, 
 whom he found reading in a retired chamber, and 
 who received him very graciously, desiring him not 
 to inform him of the motive of his visit until he 
 had first partaken of his repast, which was found 
 excellent, and consisted of every delicacy that could 
 be desired. 
 
 " Now, when the repast was concluded, the dean
 
 FAIR PROMISES. 79 
 
 took the magician aside and told him the motive 
 of his visit, urging him very earnestly to instruct 
 him in the art in which he was so great an adept, 
 and which he, the dean, desired so anxiously to be 
 made acquainted with. 
 
 " When Don Ulan told him that he was a dean 
 and, consequently, a man of great influence, and 
 that he would attain a high position, saying, at the 
 same time, that men, generally speaking, when 
 they reach an elevated position and attain the 
 objects of their ambition, forget easily what others 
 have previously done for them, as also all past obli- 
 gations and those from whom they received them 
 failing generally in the performance of their former 
 promises, the dean assured him such should not 
 be the case with him ; saying, no matter to what 
 eminence he might attain, he would not fail to do 
 everything in his power to help his former friends, 
 and the magician in particular. 
 
 " In this way they conversed until supper-time 
 approached; and now, the covenant between them 
 being completed, Don Ulan said to the dean, that, in 
 teaching him the art he desired to learn, it would be 
 necessary for them to retire to some distant apart- 
 ment, and, taking him by the hand, led him to a 
 chamber. As they were quitting the dining-room, 
 he called his housekeeper, desiring her to procure 
 some partridges for their supper that night, but not 
 to cook them until she had his special commands. 
 Having said this, he sought the dean and conducted
 
 8o COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 him to the entrance of a beautifully carved stone 
 staircase, by which they descended a considerable 
 distance, appearing as if they had passed under the 
 river Tagus, and, arriving at the bottom of the steps, 
 they found a suite of rooms and a very elegant 
 chamber, where were arranged the books and instru- 
 ments of study ; and, having here seated themselves, 
 they were debating which should be the first books 
 to read, when two men entered by the door and 
 gave the dean a letter which had been sent to him 
 by his uncle the archbishop, informing him that he 
 was dangerously ill, and that if he wished to see him 
 alive it would be requisite for him to come imme- 
 diately. The dean was much moved by this news 
 partly on account of the illness of his uncle, but 
 more through the fear of being obliged to abandon 
 his favourite study, just commenced so he wrote 
 a respectful letter to his uncle the archbishop, which 
 he sent by the same messengers. At the end of four 
 days, other men arrived on foot bringing fresh letters 
 to the dean, informing him that the archbishop was 
 dead, and that all those interested in the welfare of 
 the Church were desirous that he should succeed to 
 his late uncle's dignity, telling him, at the same time, 
 it was quite unnecessary for him to inconvenience 
 himself by returning immediately, as his nomination 
 would be better secured were he not present in the 
 church. At the end of seven or eight days, two 
 squires arrived, very richly dressed and accoutred, 
 who, after kissing his hand, delivered to him the
 
 THE ARCHBISHOP ELECT. 81 
 
 letters informing him that he had been appointed 
 archbishop. 
 
 "When Don Ulan heard this he told him he was 
 much pleased that this good news had arrived during 
 his stay in his house ; and, as God had been so gra- 
 cious to him, begged that the deanery now vacant 
 might be given to his son. 
 
 " The archbishop elect replied, that he hoped 
 Don Ulan would allow him to name to the 
 vacancy his own brother, saying, at the same time, 
 ^hat he would present him with some office in his 
 own church with which his son would be contented, 
 inviting, at the same time, both father and son to 
 accompany him to Santiago. 
 
 " To this they consented ; and all three departed 
 for the city, where they were received with much 
 honour. After they had resided there some time, 
 there arrived one day messengers from the Pope 
 bearing letters naming the former dean Bishop of 
 Tolosa, permitting him at the same time to name 
 whom he pleased to succeed him in his vacant see. 
 
 " When Don Ulan heard this he reminded him of 
 his promise, urging him to confer the appointment 
 on his son. But the archbishop again desired that 
 he would allow him to name one of his paternal 
 uncles to succeed him. Don Ulan replied, that, al- 
 though he felt he was unjustly treated, still, relying 
 on the future accomplishment of his promise, he 
 should let it be. The archbishop thanked him 
 again renewed his promise of future services and, 
 
 6
 
 82 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 inviting Don Ulan and his son to accompany him, 
 they all set out for Tolosa, where they were well re- 
 ceived by the counts and great men of the country. 
 
 "They had resided there about two years when 
 messengers again came from the Pope with letters in 
 which he announced to the archbishop that he had 
 named him cardinal, allowing him, as before, to name 
 his successor. 
 
 "On this occasion Don Ulan went to him, and 
 again urging that many vacancies had taken place, 
 to none of which he had named his son, so that 
 now he could plead no excuse, and he hoped the 
 cardinal would confer this last dignity on his son. 
 But once more the cardinal requested Don Ulan 
 would forgive his having bestowed the vacant see on 
 one of his maternal uncles ; saying he was a very 
 good old man, and proposing they should now de- 
 part for Rome, where undoubtedly he would do for 
 them all they could desire. Don Ulan complained 
 very much ; nevertheless, he consented to accompany 
 the cardinal to Rome. On their arrival they were 
 very well received by the other cardinals and the 
 entire court, and they lived there a long time. Don 
 Ulan daily importuned the cardinal to confer some 
 appointment on his son, but he always found some 
 excuse for not doing so. 
 
 "While they were yet at Rome, the pope died, 
 and all the cardinals assembled in conclave elected 
 our cardinal pope. 
 
 " Then Don Ulan came to him, saying, ' You have
 
 THE SUPPER OF PARTRIDGES. 83 
 
 now no excuse to offer for not fulfilling the pro- 
 mises you have hitherto made me.' 
 
 " But the new pope told him not to importune 
 him so much, as there was still time to think of him 
 and his son. 
 
 " Don Ulan now began to complain in earnest. 
 ' You have/ said he, ' made me very many pro- 
 mises, not one of which you have performed.' He 
 then recalled to his mind how earnestly he had 
 pledged his word at their first interview to do all he 
 could to help him, and never as yet had he done 
 anything. 'I have no longer any faith in your 
 words,' said Don Ulan, 'nor do I now expect any- 
 thing from you.' 
 
 " These expressions very much angered the pope, 
 who replied, tartly, ' If I am again annoyed in this 
 manner I will have you thrown into prison as a 
 heretic and a sorcerer, for I know well that in 
 Toledo, where you lived, you had no other means 
 of support but by practising the art of necromancy.' 
 
 "When Don Ulan saw how ill the pope had re- 
 quited him for what he had done, he prepared to 
 depart, the pope refusing to grant him wherewith 
 to support himself on the road. ' Then,' said he to 
 the pope, ' since I have nothing to eat, I must needs 
 fall back upon the partridges I ordered for to-night's 
 supper.' He then called out to his housekeeper, and 
 ordered her to cook the birds for his supper. 
 
 " No sooner had he spoken, than the dean found 
 himself again in Toledo, still dean of Santiago, as
 
 84 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 on his arrival, but so overwhelmed with shame that 
 he knew not what to say. 
 
 " ' How fortunate is it/ said Don Ulan to him, 
 ' that I have thus proved the intrinsic value of your 
 promises in prosperity ; for, as it is, I should have 
 considered it a great misfortune had I allowed you 
 to partake of the partridges.' 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, will now see how 
 you ought to act towards the man, who, desiring 
 your assistance, is so ungrateful. Risk not too much 
 on the chance of your services being repaid at some 
 future time, or you may anticipate the reward Don 
 Ulan received from the dean.' 
 
 The Count found this to be very good advice, 
 acted upon it, and was benefited. 
 
 And Don Juan, thinking this to be a very good 
 example, had it written in this book and composed 
 these verses, which say as follows : 
 
 Who pays thy kindness with ungratefulness, 
 The more he has to give, he'll give the less. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 Under the title of the "Dean of Badajoz," Herder, and, 
 after him, L'Abb6 Blanchet, have given another version, 
 which has furnished Andrieux with the subject of one of his 
 prettiest tales in verse. The editor of Blanchet's works says f 
 " This is not an oriental tale, but is taken from El Conde Lu- 
 canor, a highly esteemed Spanish work of the fourteenth cen- 
 tury, written by the Infant Don Manuel." The Abbd, how- 
 ever, has so interlarded the original story with adornments of 
 his own, bearing critically on the ecclesiastical condition of his 
 time, that it would be difficult for Don Manuel to recognize 
 his own tale in its French dress.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 What happened to King Ben A bit, of Seville, with 
 Queen Romaquia his wife. 
 
 jHE Count conversed with Patronio one 
 day in the following manner: 
 
 "There is a man," said he, "who 
 has begged me frequently to assist him, 
 and, whenever I have done so, he has always given 
 me to understand how grateful he feels. Lately, he 
 has again called upon me for aid, but I find if I do 
 not do as he requires, he becomes angry, and does 
 not fail to give me to understand, by his manner, 
 that he has forgotten all his previous obligations. 
 Now, as you are a man of good understanding, I 
 beg you advise me how I should act towards this 
 man." 
 
 " Count Lucanor," said Patronio, " it appears to 
 me that what has occurred to you with this man 
 resembles much that which happened to the King 
 Ben Abit, of Seville, with the Queen Romaquia, his 
 wife." 
 
 The Count begged him to recount what that 
 was. 
 
 "My lord," said Patronio, "the King Abit, of 
 Seville, was married to Romaquia, and he loved
 
 86 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 her better than anything in the world. She was a 
 very virtuous woman, and the Moors recount many 
 of her good acts. But in one thing she did not dis- 
 play much wisdom ; this was, that she generally had 
 some caprice or other which the king was always 
 willing to gratify. 
 
 " One day, being in Cordova during the month 
 of February, there happened to be (which was very 
 unusual) a very heavy fall of snow. When Roma- 
 quia saw this she began to weep. The king, seeing 
 her so afflicted, desired to know the cause of her 
 grief. 
 
 " ' I weep,' said she, ' because I am not permitted 
 to live in a country where we sometimes see snow.' 
 
 The king, anxious to gratify her, ordered almond 
 trees to be planted on all the mountains surrounding 
 Cordova, for, it being a very warm climate, snow is 
 seldom or never seen there. But now, once a year, 
 and that in the month of February, the almond 
 trees came forth in full blossom, which, from their 
 whiteness, made it appear as if there had been a 
 fall of snow on the mountains, and was a source of 
 great delight to the queen for a time. 
 
 " On another occasion, Romaquia being in her 
 apartment, which overlooked the river, saw a woman 
 without shoes or stockings kneading mud on the 
 banks of the river for the purpose of making bricks. 
 When Romaquia saw this she began to cry, which 
 the king observing, begged to know the cause of her 
 grief.
 
 " Making as many bricks as she pleased."
 
 AN ACT OF GALLANTRY. 87 
 
 " She replied, ' It is because I am not free to do as 
 I please ; I cannot do as yonder woman is doing.' 
 
 "Then the king, in order to gratify her, ordered 
 a lake at Cordova to be filled with rose-water in 
 place of ordinary water; and, to produce mud, he 
 had this filled with sugar, powdered cinnamon, and 
 ginger, beautiful stones, amber, musk, and as many 
 other fragrant spices and perfumes as could be pro- 
 cured; and, in place of straws, he ordered to be 
 placed ready small sugar canes. Now when this 
 lake was full of such mud, as you may imagine, the 
 king informed Romaquia that now she might take off 
 her shoes and stockings and enjoy herself by making 
 as many bricks as she pleased. 
 
 " Another day, taking a fancy for something not 
 immediately procurable, she began weeping as before. 
 The king again entreated to know the cause of her 
 grief. 
 
 " ' How can I refrain from tears,' said she, ' when 
 you never do anything to please me ? ' 
 
 " The king, seeing that so much had been done to 
 please and gratify her caprices, and feeling now at 
 his wit's end, exclaimed, in Arabic, ' Ehu alenahac 
 aten,' which means, ' Not even the day of the mud. 
 That is to say, that, although all the rest had been 
 forgotten, she might at least have remembered the 
 mud he had prepared to humour her. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if you see, after having 
 done so much for this man, that he is ungrateful, 
 and forgets all previous obligations because you are
 
 88 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 not disposed to do more, I would now advise you to 
 have nothing more to do with him, for he might act 
 in a manner injurious to you. 
 
 "But, above all things, I counsel you never to 
 forget a previous obligation, although the person 
 who was once your friend, and conferred it, is no 
 longer disposed to do all you may require." 
 
 And the Count thought this very good advice, 
 and, acting upon it, found the results favourable. 
 
 And Don Juan, considering it a very good 
 example, caused it to be written in this book, and 
 composed the following lines, which say : 
 
 Waste not your kindness on one 
 
 Who heeds not the good you have done. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 The act of ingenious gallantry recounted in the above chapter 
 is recorded by Cond6, author of the " History of the Domination 
 of the Arabs in Spain," as due to Abd el Rahman III, King of 
 Cordova, who reigned from the year 912 to 964; and who, to 
 satisfy the caprice of his queen, or, as is rather supposed, of his 
 mistress Azahra (the flower), caused, as the little history of Don 
 Manuel tells us, the distant mountains to be covered with almond 
 trees; but which, one would.be rather inclined to believe were 
 orange, the flowers of which bear, in Arabic, the same name as 
 that given to the favourite Azahra. It was for this capricious 
 lady also that the king caused to be built the famous palace of 
 Azahra, near Cordova.
 
 8 9 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Concerning what happened to a Lombardian in 
 Bologna. 
 
 'OUNT LUCANOR held converse one 
 day with his counsellor, Patronio, in the 
 following manner : 
 
 " Patronio," said the Count, " some 
 men have advised me to enrich myself as much as 
 possible, assuring me it will be more advantageous 
 than anything else, enabling me to meet all contin- 
 gencies. I pray you, therefore, to tell me what you 
 think of this advice." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " it is requisite that 
 great men like yourself should have some riches for 
 many reasons, especially that they may not, through 
 want, leave undone that which they ought to do. 
 But do not understand that these riches should be 
 collected for the mere pleasure of accumulation, 
 while you leave unfulfilled the duties which you owe 
 to your people, or the protection of your honours 
 and estates. For, were you to do so, that which 
 happened to a Lombardian, in Bologna, might 
 happen to you." 
 
 " How was that ? " said the Count, requesting him 
 to relate the particulars.
 
 9O COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " there lived in Bologna 
 a Lombardian, who had amassed a large fortune, 
 but had never concerned himself as to the means 
 therein employed, keeping in view only the accumu- 
 lation of his riches. The Lombardian being seized 
 with a mortal illness, one of his friends, seeing 
 him in great danger, advised him to confess to Saint 
 Dominic, who happened to be then in Bologna ; to 
 which the sick man consented. When Saint Dominic 
 was sent for, he desired that a friar should attend 
 the dying man in his place. The sons of the 
 Lombardian, hearing that Saint Dominic had been 
 sent for, were much concerned, fearing that Saint 
 Dominic would influence their father to leave all 
 his possessions for the salvation of his soul, and 
 that nothing would remain for them. When the 
 friar arrived, they told him their father was in a 
 critical perspiration, and that as soon as it was over 
 they would inform him of it. Soon after this, how- 
 ever, the Lombardian lost the use of his speech and 
 died, nothing necessary having been done for the 
 salvation of his soul. 
 
 " When the day of interment arrived, Saint Do- 
 minic was requested to preach his funeral oration. 
 To this the Saint consented. In his sermon, refer- 
 ring to the deceased, he quoted from the Gospel as 
 follows : Ubi est thesaurus ttius, ibi est cor tuutn,' 
 that is to say, ' Where thy treasure is, there is thine 
 heart also ; ' and 1 aving said this he turned himself 
 towards the people, and said, ' My friends, in order
 
 THE TRUE TREASURE. 91 
 
 to show you that the words of the Evangelist are 
 true, go and seek for the heart of this man, and I 
 tell you you will not find it in his body, but you will 
 find it in his money chest.' 
 
 "They then went to search for the heart in the 
 body of the Lombardian, but it was not there. It 
 was found in his strong box, as Saint Dominic had 
 said, full of maggots, and in a most putrid and infec- 
 tious condition. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, if you desire to accu- 
 mulate riches as you have been advised, be careful of 
 two things the one, that the means by which they 
 are obtained be honourable ; the other, that you do 
 not place your heart too much on the possession of 
 them : never do anything which you ought not to 
 do, or leave undone that which it is incumbent on 
 you to perform, but let your treasure be in good 
 works, in order that you may receive the grace of 
 God and be worthy the esteem of your people." 
 
 And the Count was much pleased with the advice 
 which Patronio gave him, and, acting upon it, found 
 it prosper. 
 
 And Don Juan, holding that it was a very good 
 example, ordered it to be put in this book, and made 
 these lines, which say as follows : 
 
 The true treasure gain, 
 And the false disdain.
 
 92 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 The tale related in this chapter is as ancient as it is famous. 
 All countries repeat the moral, in some way or other, it has 
 become a proverb. Where do we not hear the expression, "The 
 avaricious man is heartless." The French have a proverb corre- 
 sponding to the precept of this example : " Le coeur de 1'avare est 
 au fond de sa cassette," "The heart of the miser is at the bottom 
 of his money box." What more particularly distinguishes Don 
 Manuel's tale is the moral commentary which concludes it that all 
 earthly treasures are perishable. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 What Count Fernan Gonzales said to Nufto 
 Lainez. 
 
 NE day, Count Lucanor spoke to Patronio, 
 his counsellor, as follows : 
 
 " Patronio, you know that I am no 
 longer a young man, and that, during 
 my life, I have had many troubles. It is my wish 
 now to inform you that I have resolved from hence- 
 forth to enjoy myself follow the chase and avoid 
 all worldly cares and anxieties. And, since I know 
 that you are always able to give me the best advice, 
 I pray you to counsel me as to this determination." 
 
 "Count," said Patronio, "what you have said is 
 very sensible, and I should like to be permitted to 
 inform you what the Count Fernan Gonzales once 
 said to Nuno Lainez."
 
 NAME AND FAME. 93 
 
 " Tell me, I pray you," said the Count, " what that 
 was." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " the Count Fernan 
 Gonzales, who resided at Burgos, had had much 
 trouble in the defence of his possessions ; but, there 
 happening to come a period of peace, Nuno Lainez 
 said to him, ' Now let me advise you henceforth not 
 to concern yourself so much with external troubles, 
 but give yourself some ease and enjoyment, and leave 
 your people a little leisure to amuse themselves.' 
 
 '"No one,' said the Count, 'would feel happier 
 to have leisure to enjoy himself and be at rest than I, 
 if I could ; but, as you know, I have had wars with 
 the Moors, with the people of Leon, and with the 
 inhabitants of Navarre. However much we may 
 desire to enjoy ourselves, our enemies would lose no 
 time in taking advantage of us ; so if we wished to 
 go hunting with our good falcons riding on com- 
 fortable fat mules up and down the fair plains of 
 Arlanza leaving the country undefended, however 
 agreeable it might be, it would not be wise. It 
 would be said of us as says the ancient proverb 
 
 1 The man is dead and gone ; 
 No more his name is known.' 
 
 But, if we avoid self-indulgence and work hard to 
 keep ourselves in a proper state of defence, guarding 
 well our honour, they will say of us when we die 
 
 1 The man is dead and gone ; 
 But his name and fame live on.'
 
 94 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 Now, since all, good and bad, must die, it does not 
 appear to me right, for the mere sake of self- 
 indulgence, to act in such a manner as to sacrifice to 
 pleasure that fame which should be the reward of 
 our good actions, and remain to us long after we are 
 no more.' 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, since you know that 
 you must die, I would advise you never for the sake 
 of self-indulgence, or for love of pleasure, to neglect 
 those duties, the fulfilment of which, when you die, 
 shall make your name to survive you." 
 
 Now the Count was much pleased with what 
 Patronio said, acted upon it, and found it just. 
 
 And, as Don Juan considered this a good example, 
 he caused it to be inserted in this book, and com- 
 posed the following lines : 
 
 If for vice and wanton pleasure our good fame we spend, 
 Life is given in meagre measure, and we miss the end. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Fenian Gonzales was one of the independent lords or counts 
 of Castile, who, by their power, so long retarded the unity of 
 Spain. His life was similar to that of all the great vassals of 
 the crown one of perpetual warfare. He began his reign of 
 power 933 and died in 968, according to Mariana; or 970, 
 according to Ferreras. The noble answer given by him, as 
 related in this tale, is not a poetic invention, but an historical 
 fact, and may be found in the general chronicle arranged by 
 order of Alfonso the Wise. This observation is particularly 
 interesting as relating to Fernan Gonzales, as poets and 
 chroniclers have sung his praises, with those of the Cid, Bernardo 
 al Carpio, and San Fernando. As we stated in another place,
 
 RODRIGO MELENDEZ. 95 
 
 the count was the hero of a laudatory poem mentioned by 
 Argote de Molina. A work, also written by an Anti-Castilian, 
 entitled, "Defence of Fernan Gonzales, as Sovereign Count of 
 Castile," and which appeared eight centuries after the demise 
 of the count, shows how his memory was revered by the 
 people. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Of what happened to Don Rodrigo Melendez 
 de Valdez. 
 
 LUCANOR conversed one day 
 with Patronio his counsellor in the 
 following manner : 
 
 "Patronio," said he, "you know 
 that one of my neighbours and I have had conten- 
 tions, that he is a man of great influence and much 
 honoured. It now happens that we are both dis- 
 posed to possess ourselves of a certain town, and it is 
 positive that whoever arrives there first will possess 
 himself of it, and thus it will be entirely lost to the 
 other. You know, also, that all my servants and 
 dependants are ready to march, and I have every 
 reason to believe that, with God's help, if I proceed 
 at once, I shall succeed with great honour and advan- 
 tage. But there is this impediment; not being in 
 good health, I shall not be able to avail myself of 
 this opportunity. Now I regret much the loss of
 
 96 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 this town ; but I acknowledge to you that to lose it 
 in this manner provokes me still more, as I lose also 
 the honour which the possession of it would give. 
 Having great confidence in your understanding, I 
 pray you tell me what is best to be done." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " I can understand 
 your anxiety in this matter ; and, in order that you 
 may know how to act always for the best in cases 
 like this, I should be much pleased to relate to 
 you what happened to Don Rodrigo Melendez de 
 Valdez." 
 
 The Count desired him to relate what that was. 
 
 "Count Lucanor," said Patronio, "Don Rodrigo 
 Melendez de Valdez was a knight much honoured in 
 the kingdom of Leon, and was accustomed, when- 
 ever any misfortune happened to him, to exclaim, 
 ' God be praised ! for, since he has so willed it, it is 
 for the best.' This Don Rodrigo was counsellor 
 to, and a great favourite with, the King of Leon. 
 He had many enemies, who, through jealousy, 
 reported so many falsehoods, and induced the king 
 to think so ill of him as to order him to be put 
 to death. 
 
 " Now, Don Rodrigo, being at his own residence, 
 he received the king's command to attend him. 
 Meanwhile those who were employed to assassinate 
 him waited quietly about half a league from his 
 house. Don Rodrigo intended going on horseback 
 to the king, but, coming down stairs, he fell and 
 broke his leg. When his attendants who were to
 
 FIAT VOLUNTAS TUA. 97 
 
 have accompanied him saw this accident, they were 
 much grieved, but commenced saying, half jocosely, 
 to Don Rodrigo, 'You know you always say, "that 
 which God permits is ever for the best : " now, do 
 you think this is for the best ? ' 
 
 " He replied, that they might be certain, how- 
 ever much this accident was to be deplored, yet he 
 would say to them, since it was by the will of God, 
 it was surely for the best, and all they might say 
 could never change his opinions. 
 
 " Now those who were waiting to kill Don 
 Rodrigo by the king's command, when they found 
 he did not come, and knew what had happened to 
 him, returned to the palace to explain why they 
 could not fulfil his orders. 
 
 " Don Rodrigo was a long time confined to his 
 house, and unable to mount his horse. During this 
 delay the king ascertained how Don Rodrigo had 
 been calumniated, and, having ordered the slanderers 
 to be seized, went himself to the house of Don 
 Rodrigo Melendez de Valdez, and related to him the 
 slanders that had been propagated against him, and 
 for the fault that he the king, had committed, in 
 ordering him to be put to death, entreated pardon ; 
 and, in consideration thereof, bestowed on him new 
 honours and riches. And justice was satisfied by 
 the speedy punishment of those who had reported 
 such falsehoods. In this way God delivered Don 
 Rodrigo, who was not guilty. Hence was his cus- 
 tomary affirmation proved true, that, 'Whatever 
 
 7
 
 98 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 God permitted to happen was always for the 
 best.' 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, should not complain 
 of this hindrance to the fulfilment of your wishes. 
 Be certain, in your heart, that 'whatever God wills 
 is for the best ; ' and, if you will but trust in Him, 
 He will cause all things to work for your good. 
 
 " But you ought to understand that these things 
 which happen are of two kinds. The one is when 
 a misfortune happens to a man which admits of no 
 relief : the other is when a misfortune is remediable. 
 Now, when an evil can be cured, it is a man's duty 
 to exert all his energies to obtain the necessary 
 relief, and not remain inactive, saying, ' it is chance,' 
 or ' it is the will of God,' for this would be to tempt 
 Providence. But, since man is endowed with under- 
 standing and reason, it is his duty to endeavour to 
 overcome the misfortunes which may befall him, 
 when they will admit of alleviation. But, in those 
 cases where there is no remedy, then man must 
 patiently submit, since it is really the will of God, 
 which is always for the best. 
 
 " And as this which has happened to you is clearly 
 one of those afflictions sent by God, and admits 
 of no remedy ; and as what God permits is for the 
 best, rest therefore assured that God will so direct 
 circumstances that the result will be as you desire." 
 
 And the Count held that Patronio had spoken 
 wisely, and that it was good advice; and, acting 
 accordingly, he found good results.
 
 THE YOUNG KING. 99 
 
 And Don Juan, considering this a good example, 
 caused it to be written in this book, and composed 
 the lines, which say thus : 
 
 Murmur not at God's dealings; it may be 
 
 He seeks thy good, in ways thou canst not sec. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Don Manuel, in this tale, while calling upon us to exercise 
 implicit faith and resignation to the will of Providence, as z. 
 Christian duty, proves that his mind was not prejudiced by the 
 then prevailing Arab doctrine of fatalism and inert blind submis- 
 sion to what was supposed to be dispensations of Providence, but 
 urges equally the duty of using our intellectual powers that we 
 may be enabled to discriminate between what really is the will of 
 God, and what arises from our own indiscretion, and what does or 
 does not admit of remedy. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Concerning that which happened to a great Philosopher 
 and a young King, his Pupil. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR conversed with Pa- 
 tronio, his counsellor, at another time, 
 in the following manner : 
 
 " Patronio," said he, " it happens 
 that I had a relative whom I loved very much, and 
 who was also much attached to me. He left, at 
 his death, a son, still very young, and it devolves 
 upon me to educate this boy, both from the great 
 obligations I am under, as also for the love I had for
 
 TOO COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 his father ; neither can I forget the great assistance I 
 received from this good friend when I needed it, and 
 which I feel I shall hereafter receive from the son 
 also : and God knows I love him as my own child. 
 Now, as the boy has intelligence, I hope, through 
 God, that he may become a good man ; but youths 
 are often led away by bad examples, and fail in 
 doing all that they ought to do. Now, knowing the 
 correctness of your understanding, it would please 
 me much to have your opinion ; and I pray you to 
 advise me how I should direct this youth, so that his 
 body, soul, and estate may profit by it." 
 
 " Count Lucanor," said Patronio, " in order that 
 you may act as concerns this boy in the manner 
 which appears to me most desirable, I would wish 
 you to hear what happened to a great philosopher, 
 who had a young king for his pupil." 
 
 The Count begged he would relate to him what 
 that was. 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " a king had a son, 
 whom he placed in the charge of a great philo- 
 sopher to be educated, a man in whom he had great 
 confidence. 
 
 "When the king died, his son, the young king, 
 still remained under the care of the philosopher 
 until he was more than fifteen years of age. But 
 soon after this he began to disregard the wise coun- 
 sels of his preceptor, and to associate with reprobate 
 companions, who, having no interest in his real wel- 
 fare, flattered and encouraged him in all his wishes.
 
 THE PHILOSOPHER'S DEVICE. 101 
 
 This conduct caused his manners and habits to 
 become so entirely degenerated that the people began 
 to observe it, and to speak of him, saying, how he 
 was gradually losing the charm and openness of 
 youth. 
 
 " The philosopher whose duty it had been to 
 educate the king, seeing this state of things, was 
 much grieved, and thought seriously of it, but felt 
 quite at a loss how to act. He had tried many times 
 to restrain him by prayers and by gentle means, and 
 often by severe ones, but all without effect. The 
 philosopher seeing this, and finding that in no way 
 could he induce him to listen to good counsel, 
 thought by means of the following device that he 
 might influence him. He commenced by gradually 
 circulating about the court that he possessed the art 
 of divining, and to a greater extent than any other 
 man in the world. 
 
 "After a time this reached the ears of the king, 
 who asked the philosopher if it were really true that 
 he possessed the art of augury, as they had informed 
 him ? 
 
 " This at first he denied ; but, after some further 
 solicitation on the part of the king, he admitted it 
 was so, but expressed great anxiety that it should 
 not be known to the world. 
 
 " Youth is usually impatient to know and do all 
 things ; and the king, being young, urgently pressed 
 the philosopher to give him an example of his 
 powers. The more he excused himself, the more
 
 IO2 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 the young king entreated. At length the philosopher 
 proposed that they should one morning leave the 
 palace together very early, so as not to be observed, 
 when he would give him an exemplification of his 
 powers. 
 
 " Early the following morning they started, the 
 philosopher directing his steps towards a valley in 
 which were a number of deserted villages, where they 
 heard a crow cawing on a tree. The king pointed 
 this out to the philosopher, who made signs for him 
 to be silent. Another crow, which they saw on a 
 neighbouring bough, commenced likewise to caw 
 from time to time, giving it the appearance of a 
 conversation. 
 
 "After the philosopher had listened some time, 
 he began to weep bitterly, rent his clothes, and ex- 
 hibited all the outward signs of violent grief. 
 
 "When the youthful king saw this, he was in 
 great alarm and begged he would tell him what had 
 occurred to disturb him in that manner. 
 
 " The philosopher requested he would not insist 
 on knowing the cause ; but, after much entreaty, 
 told him, saying, it were better for him that he were 
 dead than living, feeling so disgraced through his 
 pupil's conduct; for not only the people, but even 
 the birds, knew that, from his unjust taxation and 
 total neglect of his duties, he would lose his king- 
 dom, together with all his possessions, and be 
 despised by mankind. 
 
 "The young king inquired how he could learn
 
 " After the philosopher had listened some time, he began to 
 weep bitterly."
 
 THE CROW'S EXPECTATIONS. 103 
 
 this from the birds ; and was told, in reply, that 
 these crows intended marrying the son of the one 
 with the daughter of the other. The crow who 
 commenced speaking first, said to the other, ' It is 
 a long time since this marriage was arranged; it 
 would be better now that it should take place.' 
 
 " ' It is true/ said the other crow, ' it was to have 
 been so ; but now I have become much richer than 
 you ; and, thanks be to God/ said she, ' since the 
 present king began his reign, all the villages in this 
 my valley have become deserted, and I find in the 
 abandoned houses abundance of snakes, lizards, 
 toads, and other things which usually exist in such 
 places ; therefore, as I have much more to eat than 
 formerly, the marriage would not now be equal.' 
 
 " When the other crow heard this she commenced 
 laughing, and replied, ' What you have said has 
 very little sense in it, if it be all the reason you 
 can give for breaking off the marriage; for, if it 
 pleases God to prolong the life of the young king, 
 my daughter will be very much richer than your 
 son, as there will be many more deserted houses 
 in the valley where we live, we having ten villages 
 where you have only one ; you need not, therefore; 
 on this account, delay the marriage.' 
 
 " Hearing this explanation, the two crows con- 
 sented at once to the union of their children. 
 
 " Now, the young king, hearing all this, was 
 much grieved, and began to reflect how deficient 
 and careless he had been in the proper fulfilment of
 
 IO4 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 his duties, by his neglect converting his kingdom 
 into a desert. When his preceptor saw how 
 thoughtful and unhappy he had become, and that 
 he appeared now disposed to listen to advice, he 
 gave him some good instructions; and in this way 
 was his conduct entirely changed, and he devoted 
 himself ever afterwards to improve, not only his 
 own affairs, but those of his kingdom. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, since you desire to 
 educate and establish good principles in this youth, 
 let it be done by good examples ; by instructive 
 conversations and in agreeable manner lead him to 
 understand and like his duties. But on no account 
 worry him by misjudged chastisements, or think to 
 guide him by ill-treatment, for the disposition of the 
 young is such that they soon acquire a dislike to 
 those who correct them, particularly young men of 
 high, independent spirit, as they will never admit 
 they are in the wrong, although it may be their best 
 friend who corrects them, and with the kindest 
 intentions, yet they never see things in this light. 
 Avoid carefully this method, so injurious to both 
 parties, and so destructive to the happy accomplish- 
 ment of your wishes." 
 
 The Count was much pleased with the advice 
 Patronio gave him, and acted upon it. 
 
 And as Don Juan approved of this example, he 
 ordered it to be written in this book, and composed 
 the following verses :
 
 EARLY DISPOSITIONS. 105 
 
 Do not chastise the erring youth, 
 But lead him gently to the truth. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This fable is evidently of Eastern origin, and is found in 
 almost all their collections. Although its style seems peculiar 
 to the old Indian, we find in the different relations the 
 birds sometimes represented to be crows ; in others, owls ; 
 again, as other birds of prey. The first idea has had many 
 imitators, but none have developed it with the good style and 
 clearness of the author of Lucanor. Le Sage relates a very 
 amusing tale, similar to the above, of a conversation between 
 two magpies, without, however, determining its origin. He 
 merely says, "It reminds me of an Indian tale that I read in 
 Pilpay or some other fabulist" 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Relates what happened to a Moorish King, who had 
 three Sons, and who desired to know which would 
 become the best Man. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, being one day 
 in conversation with Patroinio, said as 
 follows : 
 
 " Patronio, there are many young 
 men who are being brought up at my court. Some 
 are of high birth, some are not. Now I find their 
 manners and dispositions so various that I am 
 perplexed ; and, knowing the strength of your
 
 io6 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 judgment, I pray you to tell me how I may be 
 able to form an opinion as to which of them will 
 become the best man." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " the question which 
 you place before me is very difficult to answer, for 
 we cannot speak with certainty of that which is to 
 come; and, as what you demand is hidden in the 
 future, so must some uncertainty rest upon my 
 opinion. 
 
 "But we may be able to form some idea by par- 
 ticularly observing their development internally as 
 well as externally. As regards this latter, there 
 is the form of the features, the grace of movement, 
 the complexion, as also the growth of the body 
 and development of its members; by the principal 
 members, I mean those essential to good health, the 
 heart, the brain, and the liver. Yet though all 
 these signs may appear satisfactory, we can speak 
 with no certainty as to the ultimate results, for 
 seldom do they all accord long, one derangement 
 influencing all the functions, or the contrary. But 
 for the most part, according to the indications above 
 named, may we judge of the future. Notice the 
 form of the features, and particularly the eyes, with 
 the grace of movement : these signs seldom deceive. 
 Do not, however, suppose that gracefulness is de- 
 pendent upon beauty or ugliness, for there are many 
 men who are handsome and well-formed, but with- 
 out grace ; while again, others, decidedly ill-made, 
 have that gracefulness which entitles them to be
 
 THE KING AND HIS SONS. 107 
 
 called fine men. Nevertheless, the development of 
 the body and limbs should be taken as indications of 
 valour and activity, although it may not be always 
 so. It is, therefore, as I said before, very difficult to 
 speak with certainty, for what appears favourable 
 now may, by the force of circumstances, be entirely 
 changed. Again, the condition of the mind is still 
 more difficult to understand, when you seek through 
 it for indications of what the young man is to be- 
 come. You require that I should give you some 
 certain signs whereby you can form an opinion of 
 which of your young men will become the most 
 manly. It will much please me to be permitted to 
 recount to you how, upon a similar occasion, a 
 Moorish king proved his three sons, to ascertain 
 which of them would become the bravest man." 
 
 "Relate to me," said the Count, "what that 
 was." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " there was a Moorish 
 king who had three sons. Now he, having the 
 power to appoint which of them he pleased to reign 
 after him, when he had arrived at a good old age, 
 the leading men of his kingdom waited upon him, 
 praying to be informed which of his sons he would 
 please to name as his successor. The king replied, 
 that in one month he would give them an answer. 
 
 "After eight or ten days the king said to his 
 eldest son, ' I shall ride out to-morrow, and I wish 
 you to accompany me.' 
 
 "The son waited upon the king as desired, but
 
 io8 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 not so early as the time appointed. When he ar- 
 rived, the king said he wished to dress, and requested 
 him to bring him his garments. His son went to 
 the Lord of the Bedchamber, and requested him to 
 take the king his garments. The attendant inquired 
 what suit it was he wished for ; and the son returned 
 to ask his father, who replied, his state robe. The 
 young man went and told the attendant to bring the 
 state robe. 
 
 " Now, for every article of the king's attire it was 
 necessary to go backwards and forwards, carrying 
 answers and questions, till at length the attendant 
 came to dress and boot the king. The same repeti- 
 tion goes on when the king called for his horse, spurs, 
 bridle, saddle, sword, and so forth. Now, all being 
 prepared, with some trouble and difficulty, the king 
 changed his mind, and said he would not ride out ; 
 but desired the prince his son to go through the 
 city, carefully observing everything worth notice, 
 and that, on his return, he should come and give his 
 father his opinion of what he had seen. 
 
 "The prince set out, accompanied by the royal 
 suite and the chief nobility. Trumpets, cymbals, 
 and other instruments preceded this brilliant caval- 
 cade. After traversing a part of the city only, he 
 returned to the palace, when the king desired him 
 to relate what most arrested his attention. 
 
 " ' I observed nothing, sire,' said he, ' but the 
 great noise caused by the cymbals and trumpets, 
 which confounded me.'
 
 BEAUTY OF OBEDIENCE. 1 09 
 
 " A few days later, the king sent for his second 
 son, and commanded him to attend very early the 
 next day, when he subjected him to the same 
 ordeal as his brother, but with a somewhat more 
 favourable result. 
 
 "Again, after some days, he called for his 
 youngest son's attendance. Now this young man 
 came to the palace very early, long before his father 
 was awake, and waited patiently until the king arose, 
 when he entered his chamber with that respectful hu- 
 miliation which became him. The king then desired 
 him to bring his clothes that he might dress. The 
 young prince begged the king to specify which 
 clothes, boots, etc., the same with all the other things 
 he desired, so that he could bring all at the same 
 time, neither would he permit the attendant to assist 
 him, saying, if the king permitted him he would feel 
 highly honoured, and was willing to do all that was 
 required. 
 
 "When the king was dressed, he requested his 
 son to bring his horse. Again the son asked what 
 horse, saddle, spurs, sword, and other requisites he 
 desired to have ; and as he commanded so it was 
 done, without trouble or farther annoyance. 
 
 " Now, when all was ready, the king, as before, 
 declined going. He, however, requested his son to 
 go, and to take notice of what he saw, so that on his 
 return he might relate to him what he thought 
 worthy of notice. 
 
 " In obedience to his father's commands, the
 
 no COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 young prince rode through the city, attended by the 
 same escort as his brothers ; but they knew nothing, 
 neither did the younger son, nor indeed anyone else, 
 of the object the king had in view. As he rode 
 along, he desired that they would show him the 
 interior of the city, the streets, and where the king 
 kept his treasures, and what was supposed to be the 
 amount thereof; he inquired where the nobility and 
 people of importance in the city lived ; after this, 
 he desired that they should present to him all 
 the cavalry and infantry, and these he made go 
 through their evolutions; he afterwards visited the 
 walls, towers, and fortresses of the city, so that 
 when he returned to the king it was very late. 
 
 " The king desired him to tell him what he had 
 seen. The young prince replied, that he feared 
 giving offence if he stated all he felt at what he had 
 seen and observed. Now the king commanded him 
 to relate everything, as he hoped for his blessing. 
 The young man replied, that although he was sure 
 his father was a very good king, yet it seemed to him 
 he had not done as much good as he might, having 
 such good troops, so much power, and such great 
 resources; for, had he wished it, he might have 
 made himself master of the world. 
 
 "Now the king felt much pleased at this judi- 
 cious remark of his son. So when the time arrived 
 that he had to give his decision to the people, he 
 told them that he should appoint his youngest son 
 for their king, from the indications he had given him
 
 NOTES OF CHARACTER. 1 1 1 
 
 of his ability, by certain proofs of fitness to govern, 
 to which he had subjected all his sons, although he 
 would have desired to appoint his eldest son as his 
 successor ; yet he felt it a duty to select the one who 
 appeared best qualified for the station. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if you desire to know 
 which of the young men is the most promising, you 
 must reflect on what I have related to you, and, by 
 the adoption of similar means, you will be enabled 
 to form your opinion." 
 
 The Count was much pleased with what Patronio 
 had said ; and, as Don Juan found this to be a good 
 example, he ordered it to be written in this book, 
 and made the following lines, which say : 
 
 By ways and works thou mayest know 
 Which youths to worthiest men will grow. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This interesting narrative, evidently of Arabic origin, recalls 
 to us the heroic tale related in the history of Rodrigo Diaz de 
 Vivar, commonly called the Cid Campeador. This interesting 
 tale is immortalized by Corneille in one of his best plays. The 
 story is as follows. The old Count Diego de Vivar, after the 
 gross insult he received from Count D'Orgaz, called his three 
 sons to him, and forcibly pressed their hands within his own. 
 Now the two elder ones, Fernando and Bermuda, shrieked 
 out as if they had been seized by the gripe of a lion, whilst 
 Rodrigo, the younger, gave no indication of pain, but uttered 
 an exclamation, and said, ' If you were not my father I would 
 strike you." To which the old Count replied, " It would not 
 be the first blow I have received. You now know the offence ; 
 see here is the sword ; I have nothing further to add. With
 
 ri2 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 my white hairs I go to weep over my insulted honour, leaving 
 you, my son, the duty to avenge it." The sentence uttered by 
 the old Count, addressing his son, as written by Corneille, is 
 truly beautiful, when with impassioned dignity he exclaims, 
 " Rodrique, as-tu du coeur ? " (" Rodrigo, have you a heart ? ") 
 
 With more discernment, Don Manuel, who has probably 
 taken this historical fact as the foundation of his own story, 
 with this difference, however, that in his recital he relies, not 
 as the Cid, upon physical indications, but after due investiga- 
 tions, as is shown in his narrative, places his reliance more 
 upon the reasoning powers and mental development of, as in 
 the case of Diego, the younger son. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Of that which happened to the Canons of the Cathe- 
 dral Church of Paris, and to the Friars of Saint 
 Francis, called Minors. 
 
 [OUNT LUCANOR, conversing one day 
 with Patronio his counsellor, said as 
 follows : 
 
 "Patronio, I have a friend, with 
 whom I have arranged to do a certain thing, which 
 we anticipate will be to our mutual advantage and 
 honour. An opportunity now presents itself to com- 
 mence this undertaking; but, my friend being at 
 present absent, I feel uncertain how to act until he 
 returns. Now, as it has pleased God to bless you 
 with a good understanding, I pray you to give me 
 your advice."
 
 He in their presence, burnt all the writings."
 
 A TliNTINNABULAR LITIGATION. I I 3 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " if you would act as it 
 appears to me the most advisable for your interest, 
 I should like you to know what happened to the 
 canons of the cathedral church of Paris, with a con- 
 vent of friars minors." 
 
 The Count begged him to relate what it was. 
 
 "The canons of the cathedral said, that, as they 
 were the superior order in the church, they had the 
 right to toll the first morning bell. The friars con- 
 tended that, as they were obliged to rise very early 
 to study, and then to sing matins, they ought more 
 properly to toll the first bell, and wait for no one. 
 All this caused much contention and disputing, both 
 parties expending large sums of money on lawyers 
 and legal documents, the litigation continuing a very 
 long time at the papal court. 
 
 "At length a mandate arrived, referring the 
 matter to a cardinal, with an express command that 
 he should promptly decide the question at issue. 
 
 " The cardinal ordered all the documents of the 
 case to be placed before him : the multiplicity of 
 these was enough to frighten any man. Now, after 
 having arranged the papers in order, he cited the in- 
 terested parties to appear before him on a given day 
 to receive sentence. When they assembled before 
 him, he, in their presence, burnt all the writings, 
 and said, ' Friends, the cause has gone on long 
 enough, costing you both much trouble and money ; 
 I will therefore discontinue the suit, giving as a final 
 
 8
 
 1 14 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 sentence, that they who rise first shall toll the morn- 
 ing bell.' 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if the project is 
 advantageous to both, and you are able to do it 
 alone, I should advise you not to lose your op 
 portunity, but act with promptness and decision. 
 Things are often irretrievably lost by hesitation and 
 uncalled-for delay, so that afterwards, when a man 
 desires to act, he finds himself incapable of so doing." 
 
 The Count, considering this to be very good advice, 
 acted upon it, and found the results to answer well. 
 And Don Juan, understanding that this was a good 
 example, had it inscribed in this book, and composed 
 the following verse : 
 
 The good occasion use it, 
 Lest, through delay, you lose it 1 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 The above tale resembles not a little the facetious style gene- 
 rally adopted by the Archpriest of Hita, Juan Ruiz, famous 
 for his satirical writings, and a contemporary of Don Juan 
 Manuel, and by Rabelais. These two writers were particularly 
 noted for their satirical allegories. The cardinal, in his refined 
 satire, not only lanced a tacit condemnation against the indo- 
 lence of the canons, but against also the arbitrary and unjust 
 claim set up by them, in contesting with an inferior class that 
 right to which industry and early rising clearly entitled them.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Of that which happened to a Falcon and a Heron, 
 and, more particularly, to a cunning Falcon, which 
 belonged to the Infant Don Manuel. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR conversed one day 
 with his counsellor, Patronio, in the 
 manner following : 
 
 "Patronio," said he, "it has hap- 
 pened lately to me to have contentions with many 
 men, and no sooner is one quarrel ended than I am 
 by some one instigated to commence another ; others 
 again recommend me to rest and be at peace, while 
 again, others wish me to renew the war with the 
 Moors. Now, knowing that no one is better able 
 than yourself to advise me, I pray that you will 
 counsel me how best to act under these circum- 
 stances." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " in order that you 
 may the better act with judgment, it would be well 
 that you should know what happened to a cunning 
 falcon, belonging to the Infant Don Manuel." 
 
 The Count begged that he would relate the cir- 
 cumstance. 
 
 " Count Lucanor," said Patronio, " the Infant 
 Don Manuel being one day at the chase in the 
 country near Escalona let fly a cunning falcon at a
 
 n6 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 heron. Scarcely had he mounted above the heron, 
 than he perceived an eagle approaching, when the 
 falcon, being in great fear of him, left the heron and 
 took to flight. The eagle, finding that he could not 
 overtake the falcon, gave up the chase. As soon as 
 the falcon saw that the eagle had departed he 
 renewed his pursuit of the heron ; which the eagle 
 perceiving, turned again upon the falcon, when the 
 falcon again took flight as before, pursued by the 
 eagle, which soon gave up the chase, when immediately 
 the falcon returned to chase the heron. This occurred 
 three or four times, the eagle departing each time, as 
 before, and each time returning to kill the falcon. 
 
 "The falcon, perceiving that the eagle rendered 
 his killing the heron impossible, he mounted above 
 the eagle and descended upon him with great fierce- 
 ness, wounding him several times, until he drove 
 him away. No sooner was he gone than he flew 
 in pursuit of the heron and was engaged with it 
 very high in air, which the eagle perceiving, again 
 returned to attack him. The falcon, seeing that all 
 his attempts were frustrated, left the heron, and 
 mounted again above the eagle, descending upon him 
 with such violence that he broke his wing. Seeing 
 the eagle fall to the ground with the wing broken, 
 the falcon then went in pursuit of the heron, and 
 killed it this time, having freed himself from the 
 hindrance of the eagle. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, since you desire to 
 know how best to act as regards your estate, your
 
 WAR WITH THE MOORS. 117 
 
 honour, and your soul, and how best to devote your- 
 self to the service of God, can anything in the world 
 be more proper, considering your position, than 
 going to war with the Moors, for the glory of the 
 holy and true catholic faith ? Therefore, as soon as 
 you can liberate yourself from other parties, com- 
 mence a war with the Moors, as much good must 
 arise from it. Firstly, you are devoting yourself to 
 the service of God in an honourable engagement, 
 gaining renown, and not eating the bread of idleness, 
 which should never be said of a powerful noble. 
 And, moreover, those holding your position, and 
 without occupation, are unable to appreciate the 
 worth of those who surround them, who lose the 
 reward which, if engaged, they might otherwise 
 deserve. Idleness may also incline you to do that 
 which might be better left alone. Since, therefore, 
 it is good and profitable that you, holding the posi- 
 tion you do, should be well employed, certain it is 
 that nothing can be better, more honourable, and 
 more to your advantage here and hereafter than a 
 war with the Moors. 
 
 " Reflect, at least, on the example I gave you of 
 the leap made by Richard, King of England, and 
 how much he gained by it. And remember in your 
 heart that you must die, and that God is all-seeing 
 and of great justice, and that you cannot escape the 
 great punishment due to you for those sins which 
 you have committed unless indeed you should be for- 
 tunate enough to have an opportunity to do penance
 
 u8 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 for your sins. So if, being at war with the Moors, 
 you were slain, being at the time truly penitent, you 
 would have the good fortune of being a martyr ; and 
 if you were not killed in battle, your good works 
 and your good intentions would save you." 
 
 The Count considered this a good example, and 
 determined in his heart to follow it. He prayed 
 to God to direct him how best to carry out his 
 wishes. 
 
 And Don Juan, understanding that this example 
 was very good, ordered it to be written in this book, 
 and made these lines, which say as follows : 
 
 God's guidance making thee secure, 
 Fight on to the end, of victory sure. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 This original and amusing tale of Don Manuel appears to be 
 written by the hand of an old hunter, and has not only a war- 
 like but a political signification, illustrating the necessity of 
 exercising our ingenuity, judgment, and steady resolution to 
 overcome opposition, losing not the opportunity, if presented, 
 to soar above, and, like the falcon, overwhelm by the force of 
 well-directed determination what before appeared invincible.
 
 FERRAN GONZALEZ. 119 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Recounts what happened to Count Ferran Gonzalez, 
 and the Reply which he gave to his Vassals. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR returned one day 
 from a campaign, much wearied and 
 quite overcome with fatigue, his treasury 
 being also literally empty; and in this 
 state, before he could enjoy any repose, he received 
 intelligence that another attack was about to be 
 made upon him. Now, the greater number of his 
 vassals, hearing this, strongly advised him to rest 
 and recruit his exhausted strength, and then act as 
 circumstances might dictate. 
 
 Now the Count begged of Patronio to advise 
 him, and this latter replied that, in his opinion, the 
 best way to do this would be by relating to him the 
 answer Count Ferran Gonzalez once gave to his 
 vassals. 
 
 " The Count Ferran Gonzalez conquered Almarzon 
 in Hacinas, and lost there very many of his troops, 
 he himself and the survivors being badly wounded. 
 Now, before they had recovered from their fatigues 
 and wounds, the Count was informed that the 
 King of Navarre had entered his dominions, and 
 he immediately summoned his vassals to prepare 
 themselves to attack those of Navarre. To this they
 
 I2O COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 replied, that both themselves and their horses were 
 too fatigued, and, although desirous to do their duty 
 as usual, yet being wounded as well as the Count 
 himself, they hoped they should be allowed to rest 
 until they were recovered. 
 
 "When the Count saw they were all of the 
 same mind, being himself more influenced by his 
 honour than his sufferings, replied, ' Friends, for 
 the wounds which we have, let us not desert our 
 duty ; remember, those we may receive will serve 
 but to make us forget the old ones.' 
 
 " His people, seeing that he was devoid of all 
 personal considerations, and influenced only by a 
 sense of honour and love of his country, went with 
 him and gained the battle, after which they had a 
 long continuance of peace. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if you are really 
 desirous of doing that which you ought to do, 
 seeing how much is required for the defence of your 
 country, of your people, and of your honour, do not 
 remain inactive because of your unhappy position, or 
 your fatigue, or from a sense of danger, for the new 
 enterprise will serve but to make you forget the 
 troubles which are passed." 
 
 And the Count, considering this to be a good 
 example and very good advice, followed it, and 
 found the result favourable. 
 
 And Don Juan, understanding that this tale was 
 worthy a place in this book, had it written therein, 
 and composed the following verses :
 
 HONOUR AND EASE. 121 
 
 Hold this for sure, for 'tis a truth well proved, 
 Honour and slothful ease are wide removed. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Don Manuel has in this tale exemplified the turbulence of 
 the feudal system of the middle ages. The fable belongs to 
 the tenth century, when every sovereign of lesser rank was 
 little better than a party chief; and had full scope for the 
 exercise of his virtues as well as his vices. The moral tone of 
 society was reduced to so low an ebb that by force of opposi- 
 tion individual characters appear ennobled. The proximity of a 
 race so inimical in their characters and religion to their Spanish 
 neighbours ever increased the peril of these civil commotions. It 
 was necessary to go continually from frontier to frontier to arrange, 
 by the sword or otherwise, petty disputes. So each lord and chief 
 was forced to a constant display of courage and activity. Where 
 can we find anything nobler than the reply of Ferran Gon- 
 zalez, as given in this story, unless that of the French hero, 
 Christian and philosopher of the l6th century, when he said, 
 "La vie est une little, ne perdons pas un seul jour ; nous nous 
 reposerons dans Vetemite" ? 
 
 The above story has been translated, as a specimen, by Tick- 
 nor, in his " History of Spanish Literature," vol. i., pp. 62-68, 
 and is, with one exception to be mentioned hereafter, the only 
 portion of the work which had ever up to this time (as far as 
 I am aware) appeared in English.
 
 122 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Of that which happened to a King and 
 his Favourite. 
 
 HEN Count Lucanor was once in confi- 
 dential conversation with Patronio, his 
 adviser, he said, " Patronio, a man of 
 rank, much honoured and of great in- 
 fluence, and who, you must know, is a particular friend 
 of mine, a few days since informed me, in strict confi- 
 dence, that, from circumstances which have occurred, 
 he had determined upon leaving this country never to 
 return ; and, in testimony of the great regard which he 
 has for me, he desires to leave me all his lands those 
 which he has purchased, as also those which he 
 holds on tenure. It appears to be a great honour as 
 well as very advantageous to me ; yet I pray you to 
 tell me what you think of it, and how I ought to 
 act under such circumstances." 
 
 "Count Lucanor," said Patronio, "your own 
 good sense needs but little of my advice ; but, 
 since you desire my opinion of the matter, let me 
 caution you against being deceived. In the first 
 place, I would say, that however much you may 
 consider this man as your friend, I am of opinion 
 his object is to deceive you ; indeed, your position
 
 THE KING'S FAVOURITE. 123 
 
 calls to my mind that which, under similar circum- 
 stances, happened to a king and his favourite." 
 
 Count Lucanor desired to be informed what that 
 was ; and Patronio related it as follows : 
 
 " There was a king, who had a favourite in whom 
 he had great confidence, which excited the jealousy 
 of those around, so that they sought every oppor- 
 tunity to speak evil of him to the king, his lord. 
 Nevertheless, with all their statements, the king 
 could not be induced to suspect or doubt his loyalty. 
 Seeing that they were in no way able to accomplish 
 what they desired, they informed the king that his 
 favourite was plotting to bring about his death, and 
 as to a young son that the king had, as soon as he 
 had him in his power, he intended to destroy him, 
 and so possess himself of the kingdom. 
 
 " It was not until the king heard this that he en- 
 tertained any doubt as to the loyalty of his favourite, 
 but now he was sorely grieved, and was not without 
 fear ; for in such cases, where there is so much to 
 lose and so much to be gained, no prudent man can 
 hope to act rightly without proof; and therefore 
 the king remained overwhelmed with doubt and 
 suspicion and in great fear, not knowing how to 
 act until he really knew the truth, for he knew there 
 were those who sought evil against his favourite. 
 
 "The courtiers, seeing the king's anxiety, came 
 to him and informed him of an ingenious method, 
 by which he would be enabled to prove the truth of 
 what they had asserted.
 
 124 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 "After hearing them, the king thought well of 
 their suggestions, and acted upon them. Some few 
 days after, the king, conversing with his favourite, 
 gave him to understand by degrees that he was much 
 disgusted with the life of this world, in which all 
 appeared as vanity ; saying no more to him on this 
 occasion. At the end of some days, while talking 
 again with him, he remarked, as if by accident, that 
 each day made him more dislike the life and manners 
 of the world, and so often repeated the same thing 
 until at last the favourite was impressed with the 
 conviction that the king really had no enjoyment in 
 the honours, or riches, or pleasures of this world. 
 And when the king saw that he was fully impressed 
 with this feeling, he said to him, one day, 'I have 
 been reflecting upon the subject which occupies my 
 thoughts, and have come to the determination to re- 
 sign my kingdom, and retire into a distant country, 
 where I am not known and where I can enjoy the 
 pleasure of retirement and peace, and where I can 
 do penance for my sins, and so obtain the mercy and 
 grace of God, fitting me for the glory of Paradise.' 
 
 " When the favourite heard these words of the 
 king, he was much astonished, and used every argu- 
 ment to divert him from his intentions ; and, among 
 others, how unjustly he would be acting towards 
 God, in leaving his people, amongst whom now 
 there was peace and justice ; for it was quite certain 
 that as soon as he had departed the country would 
 be torn by revolutions and contentions, doing great
 
 THE FAVOURITE TESTED. 125 
 
 injury to the cause of God, and to the kingdom, and, 
 above all, said he, ' you cannot with justice leave the 
 queen and your son, who is still so young, exposed (as 
 they certainly will be) to so much danger, both as 
 regards their persons and their estates.' 
 
 " To this the king replied, ' I have well con- 
 sidered in my mind how best I shall be able to leave 
 my kingdom well protected, as also my wife and son, 
 and maintain order in the land. You know that I 
 have raised you to your present position, and have 
 rendered you great service. In return, I have ever 
 found you loyal; you have always served me well 
 and with rectitude. For these reasons, I feel assured 
 I can leave the queen and my son with you in 
 greater safety than with any other man in the world. 
 I therefore consign them to your care, with all the 
 fortresses and provinces of my kingdom, convinced 
 that no harm can come to them, or treachery to my 
 son; and if I should ever return, I feel certain of 
 rinding safe all I have left in your charge ; and if, 
 perchance, I should die, I have equal confidence that 
 you will guard and protect my son until the time 
 comes when he is able to govern the kingdom. It 
 is for these reasons that I feel I can leave well 
 protected all that I possess.' 
 
 "When the counsellor found that it was impos- 
 sible to divert the king from his intentions, and 
 heard that the queen and her son were to be left 
 in his charge, he could not conceal the gratification 
 he felt in having full power to act as he pleased.
 
 126 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " Now he had in his house a captive, who was a 
 very wise man and a philosopher, and whom he was 
 accustomed to consult in all important matters. As 
 soon, therefore, as he parted from the king, he sought 
 his captive and recounted to him what the king had 
 said, and how gratified he felt in the good fortune 
 of having the queen, and her son, and all the king- 
 dom placed under his entire control. 
 
 " When the captive philosopher heard all that had 
 passed between his lord and the king, he blamed him 
 very much for accepting the king's proposals, saying 
 that he felt certain he had placed himself and his 
 possessions in great danger, ' for, whatever the king 
 may have said, it is not his intention to do so ; his 
 only object is to verify the suspicions which your 
 enemies have impressed on his mind ; and by letting 
 him see that you are pleased by his proposal, you 
 have placed yourself in great danger.' 
 
 "When the counsellor of the king heard this 
 explanation he was in great trouble, for he now saw 
 clearly that everything was as his captive had said. 
 And when the wise man whom he kept in his house 
 saw him in such great distress, he counselled him in 
 what manner he might escape from the danger in 
 which he was placed, and this was the way. He 
 was that night to shave off his hair and beard and 
 clothe himself in an old and patched garment, such 
 as is worn by wandering beggars, and with a staff 
 and a pair of old broken shoes well ironed and 
 gaping open, and to put between the lining of his
 
 When he saw him he was astonished.
 
 PROVEN LOYALTY. 127 
 
 clothes a quantity of gold pieces. In this way, at 
 the break of day, he appeared at the gate of the king, 
 and desired the porter who was there to inform the 
 king secretly that he was prepared to depart with 
 him, before the people were awake. The porter 
 was astonished to see him come in that style to have 
 an interview with the king, but did as he desired. 
 
 " The king marvelled much at this message, and 
 desired his favourite to enter. When he saw him 
 he was astonished, and requested to be informed 
 why he presented himself in that style of dress. 
 
 " The counsellor replied that, knowing his deter- 
 mination to travel into a foreign country, and that 
 he so desired it that no persuasion could alter his 
 resolution ; and, as all the honour and wealth which 
 he possessed were derived from the king, and seeing 
 the misery and expatriation he had determined to 
 undergo, even to the leaving of his queen, his son, 
 and his kingdom, he had resolved to travel with him, 
 and to serve him with an unceasing fidelity. He 
 had assumed the dress in which he presented himself 
 in order that they might travel unknown, and having 
 placed gold enough in his vest to serve both their 
 lives, he ventured to suggest that they should im- 
 mediately depart, before their intentions could be 
 known. 
 
 "When the king heard what his favourite had 
 said, believing in his true loyalty, he expressed him- 
 self much pleased, and related the manner in which 
 he had been deceived, and that what he had said
 
 128 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 was but to prove his sincerity. And the counsellor 
 thanked God that he had taken the advice of the 
 philosopher whom he held as a captive in his house. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, must take care not 
 to be deceived by this offer of your friend, for certain 
 it is that he only makes it to test your feelings, as 
 to your desiring to possess yourself of his honour 
 and possessions. Assure him, to the contrary, that 
 you desire neither the one nor the other; for with- 
 out confidence, friendship cannot continue long." 
 
 And the Count thought well of the advice which 
 Patronio gave, and, following it, found the end 
 beneficial. * 
 
 And Don Juan, considering this example to be 
 very good, caused it to be written in this book, and 
 composed these lines : 
 
 Do not believe that a man will descend 
 
 To dishonour himself for the good of a friend. 
 
 And these others which say : 
 
 By the pity of God, and a good counsel in need, 
 A man shall from danger escape, and succeed. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 In this example, the moralist and courtier, Don Manuel, 
 gives us two distinct lessons, the principal of which is addressed 
 to court favourites, and, we suspect, the fruit of his own expe- 
 rience, he having passed the greater part of his life in constant 
 trouble and anxiety, caused by the perfidy of Alfonso XI, who 
 was continually laying snares for him, though, being more en- 
 lightened than his master, he knew how to evade them. In
 
 THE GOOD MAN AND HIS Ass. 129 
 
 many Indian and Arabian tales we find examples of the con- 
 stant struggle going on between kings and favourites. In those 
 states where despotism reigned, ambition was always urging 
 men to dangerous stratagems ; the art exemplified in such can- 
 not astonish us more than the multiplicity of plots arising from 
 the natural distrust of the Asiatic character. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 What happened to a good Man and his Son, 
 leading a beast to market. 
 
 N another occasion, when Count Luca- 
 nor was conversing with Patronio, his 
 adviser, he informed him that he felt 
 much embarrassed as to the method of 
 carrying out an object which he had in view, for 
 he felt that in whatever way he acted many people 
 would criticise and blame him, some with reason 
 and some without. 
 
 " How shall I act ? " said the Count. " I pray 
 you to inform me what you would advise under the 
 circumstances." 
 
 "Count Lucanor," said Patronio, "I know that 
 you can find many men more able to advise you than 
 I am ; besides, God has blessed you with a good 
 understanding, making my advice but of little service 
 to you ; but, since it is your desire that I should give 
 you my opinion how to act, I shall have much 
 pleasure in being permitted to recount what once 
 
 9
 
 130 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 happened, under similar circumstances, to a man 
 and his son." 
 
 The Count expressing his desire to be informed 
 what that was, Patronio related as follows : 
 
 " A good man had a son, who, although young, had 
 so excellent an understanding that the father was 
 induced to consult him in all his projects. The 
 son, however, had no decision or perseverance in 
 his character ; and whatever the father proposed, so 
 many doubts and objections were raised by the son 
 that each project was abandoned and it ended by 
 nothing being done. 
 
 " It is well known that, although the young may 
 not be deficient in understanding and spirit, yet 
 they may commit many errors : having a mind to 
 see the right thing to be done, but, wanting perse- 
 verance and a good guide, never complete anything. 
 And so this young man, though he had a naturally 
 good understanding, yet, wanting the resolution to 
 complete anything, caused his father much trouble in 
 many of his undertakings. 
 
 "For a long time the father submitted to this 
 state of things, suffering much injury from being 
 interfered with in his projects, and annoyance from 
 many things which his son said to him. At length 
 he determined to punish his son, and give him an 
 example by showing him how he managed his own 
 affairs when not interfered with, as we are told by 
 eye-witnesses. 
 
 " The good man and his son were farmers, living
 
 1 On their way they met some men returning from the town."
 
 REMARKS OF PASSERS-BY. 131 
 
 in the neighbourhood of a town. One market-day 
 he told him they should both go there to buy some 
 things which were wanted. They agreed to take a 
 beast to bring back the goods ; and accordingly went 
 to market, leading the beast. On their way they met 
 some men returning from the town. After saluting, 
 these latter remarked how strange it was that they 
 should lead the beast and walk. The good man 
 asked his son what he thought of the remarks made 
 by the men. The son replied that what they said 
 was just, for the animal being unladen it was silly for 
 them to be walking. The good man then told his 
 son to mount, and so journeying they met other men, 
 who commenced saying, ' How is it that the old 
 man, who appears fatigued, should be walking while 
 the young man is riding ? ' Again the good man 
 asked his son what he thought of this remark ; again 
 he replied that he thought they were right. The 
 father then told his son to dismount, and mounted 
 in his stead. A little way further they met some 
 people who observed how unjust it appeared that the 
 old man, who was accustomed to hardships, should 
 be riding like a gentleman, while he allowed his son, 
 who was young and delicate, to walk. Again the 
 good man inquired of his son what he now thought ; 
 he replied that he agreed with them. On this the 
 good man desired his son to mount also, so that 
 neither should walk. Again they met others, who 
 remarked to them that they were committing a great 
 error in both riding on a beast so thin and appa-
 
 132 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 rently so ill able to bear them. Again the good 
 man demanded of his son what he thought of these 
 last remarks. The youth replied, it certainly ap- 
 peared to him that what they said was true. 
 
 " Then the father answered his son, saying, ' Son, 
 remember when we left home we led the beast un- 
 laden, which you thought was best. After meeting 
 some men on the road, who made remarks on our 
 walking, I ordered you to mount, you then agreed 
 with them. We met, afterwards, other men, who 
 said that was not right, in which you also agreed. I 
 then ordered you to dismount, and mounted in your 
 stead ; and, forsooth, because others remarked on 
 my riding and your walking, I ordered you to mount 
 with me; and this also you thought was the best. 
 And now, because others said we were both wrong 
 in riding, you concur with them. Such being the 
 case, I beg of you to tell me what it is possible to 
 do that will not admit of being criticised. We were 
 both walking, and they said we were wrong ; I 
 walked and you rode, again we erred ; then I rode 
 on the beast and you walked, this was judged wrong. 
 Hence, you see, it is not possible, do what you will, 
 to avoid criticism. And this I give you as an 
 example, so certain am I that no action, however 
 worthy, will be thought well of by all. If the 
 action is good, the ill-disposed will find some fault 
 with it ; and if it is an evil action, the good must 
 certainly condemn it. So while you endeavour 
 conscientiously to do your best, still many will speak
 
 DIVERSITY OF OPINION. 133 
 
 of you and judge your actions according to their 
 own views.' 
 
 " And now, Count Lucanor, what is it you 
 desire to do and yet fear what the people may 
 say, whether you do it or do it not ? Since you 
 command me to advise you, my counsel is this, 
 before commencing the undertaking, look at the good 
 and evil which may follow, taking care that your 
 own inclinations do not mislead you ; and seek the 
 advice of those who are of sound understanding 
 and well informed. If such an adviser is not to be 
 met with, take care that you proceed carefully and 
 justly, allowing a day and a night to pass before 
 carrying out your determination, that is, if time 
 permits, carefully avoiding being influenced by the 
 feeling of what people might say of you." 
 
 The Count found Patronio's advice good ; and, 
 acting accordingly, all ended well. 
 
 And Don Juan, approving of this example, 
 ordered it to be written in this book, and composed 
 the following lines, which are an abbreviation of the 
 whole moral ; and the lines are : 
 
 In thy chosen life's adventure, stedfastly pursue the cause, 
 Neither moved by critic's censure, nor the multitude's applause. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This is a well-known fable in all languages. Although Don 
 Manuel's may not be the first, there is yet much that is original 
 in its detail. La Fontaine's fable of "The Miller, his Son, 
 and the Ass," book the third, fable the first, is preceded by a
 
 134 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 prologue, wherein he tells us that he has taken his subject 
 from the life of Malherbe, a writer of the sixteenth century, 
 wherein Malherbe represents himself, like Patronio, giving ad- 
 vice to Racan, his friend but superior in station, who, like Count 
 Lucanor, informs him how undecided he is as to his future 
 course of life. The answer given is the fable above named, 
 which bears an exact resemblance to Don Manuel's, except 
 in the conclusion. The narrative given in this fable first 
 reappears in the Turkish romance, entitled, "The Forty 
 Viziers," where it figures under the title of "The Gardener, 
 his Son, and an Ass." This work belongs to the fifteenth cen- 
 tury, and its author acknowledges to have taken his idea from an 
 ancient Arabian tale, by Cheikh Zadc, entitled, " Hikaiat Arbain 
 Sebah wamesa," " Forty Mornings and Forty Evenings," which 
 latter is derived from the " Book of Sindabah," an Indian 
 romance. This last was translated from Sanscrit into Persian, 
 from that into Arabic, then into Syriac, then into Hebrew. 
 This has served for the Latin work composed towards the end 
 of the twelfth or the beginning of the thirteenth century, under 
 the title of " Historia Septent Sapientium Romce" by Jehans, a 
 monk of Hauteselve, from whence four modern translations 
 are extant, amongst them the French one of 1492, whence 
 Malherbe doubtless derived the subject.
 
 135 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Of what a Genovese said to his soul when 
 about to die. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, conversing one day 
 with Patronio, said, " Thank God ! I 
 feel happy with myself and at peace 
 with all the world. Now I am advised 
 to undertake a dangerous pilgrimage, and I am 
 disposed to follow this advice. Such is my con- 
 fidence, however, in you, that before commencing 
 the undertaking I desire to have your opinion as 
 to its advisability." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, "in order to know what 
 is most incumbent on you, I should like you to hear 
 what happened to a Genovese when communing with 
 his soul." 
 
 The Count desired him to relate what that was. 
 
 Patronio replied, " My lord, there was a Genovese 
 who was very rich, and highly esteemed by his 
 neighbours, who, finding himself at the point of 
 death, assembled all his friends and relations, and, as 
 soon as they arrived, sent for his wife and children, 
 and had himself conveyed to a splendid palace, from 
 whence there was a prospect of earth and sea, and 
 ordered all his treasures and jewels to be brought
 
 136 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 before him ; and when all were before him, he began 
 to speak in a cheerful manner saying, ' My soul, so 
 you wish to leave me. I cannot tell why ; if it is 
 that you desire wife and children, here they are, 
 and such as you ought to be proud of; if it is that 
 you long for friends and relations, here they are, 
 both good and honourable ; if it is gold and silver, 
 precious stones, jewels, and merchandise that you 
 desire, you have them here in abundance ; if you 
 desire vessels and galleys to bring you honour and 
 treasures from afar, behold them on the sea ; if you 
 desire lands or beautiful gardens, look on them from 
 these windows ; if it is horses, and mules, and dogs, 
 for hunting or amusement, you wish, or players to 
 entertain you ; or if it is luxurious rooms, beds, and 
 furniture, or any of the many things that are desir- 
 able in this life, of all these you have a super- 
 abundance. Since you have all that makes life 
 desirable, and are not contented therewith, but seek 
 for what you know not, go therefore to God.' 
 
 " And you, my lord, since, thanks be to God ! 
 you are at peace happy and honoured, take care 
 how you risk your present happiness, in following 
 the advice of those who desire only to engage you 
 in an undertaking which makes you amenable to 
 their wills. They are now submissive to you while 
 you are at home and at peace ; but being away, they 
 may avail themselves of the opportunity to increase 
 their possessions, which they cannot do so long as 
 you live peaceably and quietly, corroborating that
 
 THE CROW AND THE Fox. 137 
 
 which the Genovese said to his soul. My advice, 
 therefore, to you is, so long as you can enjoy peace, 
 comfort, and honour, not to risk them by unrequired 
 adventures." 
 
 The Count was well pleased with Patronio's 
 advice, followed it, and prospered. 
 
 And Don Juan, although liking this moral, did 
 not make a verse as usual, but contented himself by 
 applying to it the old Castilian proverb of 
 
 "Who is well sitting, let him not rise." 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 I believe this to be an original fable, as no source has yet been 
 found from which it is supposed to be derived. 
 
 The yearning of the soul after something more enduring than 
 worldly treasures has been finely expressed by Don Juan, in 
 this chapter. Probably it has e%"en deeper meanings than he 
 himself knew. 
 
 CHAP1LR XXV. 
 What happened to the Crow, with the Fox. 
 
 NOTHER time, Count Lucanor, speak- 
 ing with Patronio, said, " A man 
 who pretends to be my friend began 
 praising me very much, and for the 
 regard he has for me desires to conduct a law-suit
 
 138 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 for the obtaining of property which at first sight 
 appears to be my right." And the Count related 
 the circumstances of the law-suit to Patronio, and 
 how advantageous it appeared to him. 
 
 Patronio, seeing the deceit which lay hidden 
 under plausible words, said, "Count Lucanor, know 
 that this man is deceiving you, wishing to make you 
 believe that your power and position is greater than 
 it really is ; and in order to avoid falling into this 
 snare allow me to tell you what happened to a crow 
 with a fox." 
 
 The Count asked what that was. 
 
 " My lord," replied Patronio, " a crow, happening 
 to find a large piece of cheese, flew up into a tree, 
 in order to eat it without fear or interruption from 
 any one. As soon as he had settled there a fox 
 passed by at the foot of the tree, and, seeing the 
 cheese which the crow held, began to think how he 
 could get possession of it. 
 
 " He addressed the crow thus, ' My lord crow, for 
 a long time I have heard marvellous tales of your 
 nobility and your appearance, and, although I have 
 sought you long, it was not the will of Providence 
 that I should meet you until to-day, and seeing you 
 now, find your merits have been much underrated ; 
 and, to convince you I am no flatterer, I will tell you 
 my real opinion of your merits, likewise what others 
 say of you. People say that the colour of your wings, 
 eyes, bill, and claws is approaching to black. Now, 
 as a blackish thing is not so becoming as any other,
 
 THE Fox's FLATTERY. 139 
 
 people make little of your appearance, not seeing 
 how they err in doing so. It is true your wings are 
 black, but so brilliant that they would shame an 
 Indian peacock, the handsomest bird in the world. 
 What matter if your eyes are black, since black eyes 
 are considered so handsome; and what use is an 
 eye unless to see with ; and as everything black is 
 most attractive, black eyes are the best those of 
 the gazelle being the most admired, and the darkest 
 possessed by any animal. Again, your bill, feet, 
 and claws are stronger than those of any other bird 
 of your size. Your flight also is light, as you can go 
 against the strongest wind more easily than any other 
 bird.* I hold that God, who does all things well, 
 would never allow you to be wanting in any accom- 
 plishment, so I cannot believe but that you sing as 
 well as any other bird. Now, since God has per- 
 mitted me to see you, and I find you so superior to 
 anything that has been said of you, only allow me to 
 hear you sing and I shall consider myself happy.' 
 
 " Now, my lord, you will observe that the inten- 
 tion of the fox was to deceive the crow by flattering 
 
 * The exact contrary, of course, being the case, as a poet 
 who has left few appearances of nature unnoticed, has forcibly 
 said : 
 
 " To-night the winds begin to rise, 
 And roar from yonder dropping day : 
 The last red leaf is whirl'd away, 
 The rooks are blown about the skies." 
 
 In Memoriam, xv. i.
 
 140 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 him with the appearance of truth ; and be assured 
 that the most dangerous and mortal injuries are 
 those where deceit most resembles truth. When 
 the crow heard how skilfully the fox praised him, 
 he believed as truth everything he said, and thought 
 him his friend, not suspecting it was all done with 
 the object of possessing himself of the cheese he 
 held in his bill. Having heard so much, he at last 
 yielded to the entreaties of the fox, and, opening his 
 bill for the purpose of singing, dropped the cheese, 
 which the fox immediately seized and departed. 
 Thus the crow was deceived by the fox, believing, 
 by his flattery, that he possessed more beauty and 
 accomplishments than he really had. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, knowing that Provi- 
 dence has been bountiful to you, should see by this 
 that the man is endeavouring to make you believe 
 that you have more power and are more honoured 
 than you know to be the fact. Be on your guard, 
 therefore, against his deceit." 
 
 The Count was pleased by what Patronio said, 
 took his advice, and so avoided a serious error. 
 
 Don Juan, judging this a very good example, 
 ordered it to be written in this book, and composed 
 the following verses, which sum up in a few words 
 the entire moral of the story, and say as follows : 
 
 Who praises you for what you have not 
 Seeks to deprive you of what you have got.
 
 THE Fox AND THE CROW. 141 
 
 NOTE TO CHAPTER XXV. 
 The outline of this fable will be found in Babrius, i. 77. 
 
 KOPA3 KAI AAQIIH3 
 
 K6/>a Sedijx&s crri/xari rvpbv et(rrj}m* 
 rvpov 5' d\uTri)l- Ixav&ffa. KepSyt) 
 (jLvdij) rbv 6pvi.v riTrdrr](rt rotovrif 
 '' Kopag, Ka\ai ooi irrtpvyes, 6r] 7X1^77 
 ' GIJIJTOS avx^v ortpvov aeroO <f>alveis' 
 
 " 6 roioj 6pvis Kucpl>3 foci nob /rpwfeis I " 
 /c6/)af 5' tTta.lvtp KapSiTjv f-xavviaO-rj, 
 (TTo/iaros dt rvpbv tK/SaXuv ticeKp 
 rbv 1j <ro0rj Xa/3oOcra K 
 " owe TfaO' 6.<pd)vos" elirev, "dXXd <f>uv/iiis. 
 J > K&pa.^, cLiravTa.' vovs Se aot XeiTret." 
 
 Thus translated by the Rev. James Davies, (p. 68). 
 THE FOX AND THE CROW. 
 
 A crow upon his perch was munching cheese, 
 
 When a sly fox, by arguments like these, 
 
 To suit herself, beguiled him of his prize : 
 
 " Fair are thy plumes, good crow, and bright thine eyes, 
 
 " Charming thy neck, an eagle's breast thou hast, 
 
 " In talons thou art by no brute surpass'd. 
 
 " Tis strange that dumb should be a bird so smart 1 " 
 
 The flattered crow became elate in heart, 
 
 And, cawing, from his mouth the cheese let fall ; 
 
 This Reynard snatch'd, and tauntingly did call, 
 
 " Tis true thou wast not dumb, for thou canst speak, 
 
 " Yet, spite of all thou hast, thy mind is weak."
 
 142 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 What happened to the Swallow, with the other birds, 
 when he saw the flax sown. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, conversing one 
 day with Patron io, spoke thus : 
 
 "Patronio, they tell me that my 
 more powerful neighbours are plotting 
 together and using all their influence to deceive and 
 injure me. I do not, however, myself believe it. 
 Still, knowing your prudence, I wish to ask you 
 what you think I ought to do in this matter." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " in order that you 
 may better understand your duty in this case, 
 permit me to relate to you what happened to 
 the swallow and the other birds." 
 
 The Count requested to be informed what that 
 was ; and Patronio spoke thus : 
 
 " My lord, a swallow one day saw a man 
 sowing flax, and perceived that if the flax grew 
 up men would be enabled with the thread produced 
 therefrom to make nets wherewith to catch birds ; 
 so when the sowing was completed, this swallo'w 
 assembled all the other birds and informed them how
 
 THE SWALLOW'S FORESIGHT. 143 
 
 the man had sown the flax, also telling them that 
 when the seed came to perfection it would probably 
 be used to injure them. 
 
 " Now his advice was, that before the seed com- 
 menced growing, and while it was not attached to 
 the earth, they should root it up and destroy it, as it 
 would be very difficult to do so afterwards. 
 
 "The birds thought but little of this advice, 
 although he urged it many times, and were not 
 disposed to act. Now the flax so grew that the 
 birds could not uproot it either with their claws 
 or their bills. When the birds found this to be 
 the case, they regretted not having taken the advice 
 of the swallow to avert the injury now inevitable ; 
 but, alas ! it was too late. 
 
 "Now when the swallow saw the birds would 
 not assist him to avert the common danger, he went 
 to the man, and, placing himself under his protec- 
 tion, obtained from him, for himself and his progeny, 
 a promise of future security ; and since that time we 
 see that the swallows are safe with men, whilst the 
 other birds are daily caught in nets. 
 
 "And you, my lord, if you wish to avert the 
 danger which you think threatens you, remember 
 the saying of the wise man, "when you perceive a 
 threatened danger use every precaution to avert it, 
 for he is not a sensible man who only sees the 
 danger after it has come upon him ; but wise is he 
 who by a slight sign or movement forsees the ap- 
 proaching evil, and provides against it.' "
 
 144 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 The Count was much pleased with this narrative 
 of Patronio's, and, acting according to his advice, 
 found it prosper. 
 
 And as Don Juan approved of this example, he 
 ordered it to be written in this book, and composed 
 the following lines, which say : 
 
 Wouldst thou make sure from danger to escape, 
 Then wait not till it take a threatening shape. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 This tale is found in ^Esop, and La Fontaine has made it the 
 subject of one of his prettiest fables. But there is a point in the 
 prose apologue of Don Manuel, and in an apologue in verse 
 by his contemporary, Juan Ruiz de Hita, which La Fontaine 
 has missed. This lies in the decision of the swallow to seek the 
 protection of men and frequent their dwellings. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Relates what happened to a Man who carried a very 
 precious Treasure hung round his neck, and who 
 had to pass a River. 
 
 day Count Lucanor said to Pa- 
 tronio, " It is requisite that I should 
 visit a distant part of the country, 
 where I have to receive a large sum 
 of money, which I can employ advantageously here,
 
 " The king and an attendant, who stood on the opposite bank, called out to 
 
 him in a loud voice to throw away the load which he carried, 
 
 otherwise he would be lost."
 
 CROSSING THE RIVER. 145 
 
 and having great fear that in returning I may be 
 exposed to much personal danger, I ask for your 
 advice how to act." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " in order that you 
 may better understand how to act in this emergency, 
 allow me to tell you what happened to a man who 
 had to convey a treasure across a river, and which 
 he carried round his neck." 
 
 The Count desired him to proceed, which Pa- 
 tronio did in the following manner : 
 
 " My lord, this man had to pass a very wide and 
 muddy river ; and there was no alternative, there 
 being neither bridge, nor boat, nor any other means of 
 transit, but that of passing through the water. So, 
 taking off his shoes, he found that with their weight 
 and that of the treasure which he carried it was 
 difficult to avoid sinking, the mud increasing as he 
 reached the centre of the river. 
 
 " The king, and an attendant who stood on the 
 opposite bank, called out to him in a loud voice 
 to throw away the load which he carried, otherwise 
 he would be lost. 
 
 " The foolish man, little thinking that if he sank 
 he would lose not only his treasure but his own life 
 also, would not follow the advice given him by the 
 king who stood on the opposite shore. As the 
 current was very strong and the mud became deeper, 
 the man gradually sank until the water reached his 
 neck. Endeavouring now to free his feet from the 
 mud, he found it impossible ; for, with the weight 
 
 10
 
 146 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 which he carried, he rolled over, sank, and was 
 suffocated. 
 
 "Thus, from a miserly feeling, he would not 
 follow the good advice given him by the king, and 
 so lost his own life and the treasure which he 
 carried. 
 
 "Now I advise you, Count Lucanor, let the sum 
 be what it may, and the use of it here be ever so 
 tempting, take care that avarice does not lead you 
 astray, inducing you to risk your own life ; for who- 
 ever should do so, setting his own life at small value, 
 will certainly not receive the esteem of his fellow- 
 men ; unless, indeed, his honour is concerned thereby. 
 For a man who sets small value upon his own life, 
 and has not self-respect, cannot receive the respect of 
 others. For it is certain that a man who properly 
 respects himself will never risk his life through 
 avarice or trifling causes, but only in defence of his 
 honour." 
 
 And the Count, liking this advice, followed it. 
 And Don Juan, admiring the precept, had it written 
 in this book, and composed the following verses : 
 
 Who risks his life for greed of pelf 
 Can hardly hope to enrich himself. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 We believe this fable to be original, as we do not recollect 
 having seen it in any collection. But, whatever may be its 
 origin, or the changes that have been rung on it, the moral 
 application which follows Patronio's recital assures to Don 
 Manuel's production the most distinguished place
 
 J47 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 Of what happened to a woman called Truhana. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR once said to Pa- 
 tronio, " A man has unfolded to me a 
 scheme, and has shown me the manner 
 in which it can be carried out. And I 
 assure you that it is in so many ways admirable and 
 worthy of approval, that, if heaven blessed me with 
 the success it promises, it would be much to my 
 advantage ; for so many things spring out of it, the 
 one from the other, that in the end it would be a 
 very great and noble achievement." He then in- 
 formed Patronio of all the particulars. Who, after 
 he had heard the Count's arguments, answered him 
 thus : 
 
 "My lord, I have always understood that it is 
 wisest to adhere to the things which are certain, and 
 not be ever running after shadows and vain things, 
 lest it happen to you as it did to Truhana." 
 
 The Count desired him to relate this story, which 
 Patronio did as follows : 
 
 "A woman named Truhana, who was not very 
 rich, went one day to market, carrying on her head 
 a jar of honey. Along the road she was calculating 
 how she could sell the honey and buy eggs, these
 
 148 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 eggs would produce chickens, and with the produce 
 of the sale of these latter she would buy lambs ; and 
 in this way was calculating how she would become 
 richer than her neighbours, and looked forward with 
 anxiety to well marrying her sons and daughters, 
 and how she would go through the streets, accom- 
 panied by her sons and daughters-in-law, and how 
 the people would say what a fortunate woman she 
 was to become so rich, having been so very poor. 
 Under the influence of these pleasurable thoughts, 
 she laughed heartily; when, suddenly striking the 
 jar with her hand, it fell to the ground and was 
 broken. Seeing this, she was in great grief at being 
 so suddenly deprived of all her flattering anticipa- 
 tions ; for, having fixed all her thoughts upon an 
 illusion, she lost that which was real. 
 
 "And you, my lord, if you allow yourself to 
 listen to everything that is proposed to you, so as to 
 lose sight of the real and good, you can only blame 
 yourself for your failure." 
 
 The Count was much pleased, and followed this 
 good advice. And Don Juan, liking the moral, 
 wrote, and ordered to be put in this book the fol- 
 lowing lines : 
 
 Confine your thoughts to what is real, 
 And cease to nurse a vain ideal. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 There is scarcely a language in which this fable does not 
 appear under some form. It is, however, evidently of Eastern
 
 " It fell to the ground and was broken " . . . .
 
 CASTLES IN SPAIN. 149 
 
 origin, as we find in the "Arabian Nights" a tale very similar 
 "Alnaschar, the Barber's Brother." The earliest version is 
 in the fifth part of the Pantcha Tantra, entitled, " Aparickchita 
 Kariteva," or, "Inconsiderate Conduct," the object of which 
 is to show the danger of precipitation, and runs as follows: 
 
 An avaricious brahmin, named Soma Sarma, had gathered, 
 in charitable offerings, a large jar full of flour. On entering 
 his home, he hung the jar upon a nail immediately opposite 
 the foot of his bed, so as not to lose sight of it During the 
 night he awakened, and abandoned himself to the pleasurable 
 reflections of gain, saying, "Now this jar of flour, in case of a 
 scarcity, I can sell for at least one hundred pieces of money, 
 and with this sum I can buy a ram and a goat ; these will 
 produce kids, and, selling these, I will purchase a couple of 
 cows; after the sale of the calves I will procure a herd of buf- 
 faloes, which will turn out very advantageous and bring me 
 considerable sums of money; then I shall have a stud, and 
 will sell my horses to great advantage. I will build a fine 
 house and become a man of consequence, when some rich and 
 honourable man will give me his daughter in marriage, with a 
 princely fortune. As I probably shall have a son I will call 
 him by my own name, Soma Sarma ; as soon as he can totter I 
 will take him on horseback before me on the saddle, so that as 
 soon as he sees me he will quit his mother's apron strings and 
 come running towards me. I will call his mother to come 
 and take him away from me : she, being occupied with the 
 household affairs, will not attend to my summons, when I will 
 give him a kick." Saying these words, he stretched out his 
 foot so violently as to break the jar and upset all the flour about 
 the place, where it mingled with the dust and was totally lost ; 
 and with it vanished the bright and flattering illusions of Soma 
 Sarma. 
 
 The name of Truhana in the tale is equivalent to our Ger- 
 trude.
 
 150 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Of that which happened to a Man who was suffering 
 from a malady and whose liver had to be cleansed. 
 
 (MOTHER time, Count Lucanor spoke 
 thus to Patronio, saying, " Although 
 God has been very bountiful to me 
 in many ways, yet I am just now in 
 great want of money ; and, although I would almost 
 prefer dying to doing it, yet I feel I must be com- 
 pelled to sell one of my estates, to which I am much 
 attached, or have recourse to some other equally 
 ruinous means to free myself from my present em- 
 barrassments. I am daily pressed by creditors who 
 could well afford to wait. Now, knowing your good 
 understanding, I pray you to tell me how I had best 
 act under these pressing circumstances." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " you are in much the 
 same position with these men as the man was who 
 was suffering from a malady." 
 
 " How was that ? " said the Count. 
 
 "Count," said Patronio, "a man was in great pain 
 from a disease and was informed by the doctors 
 that there was no other remedy than making an 
 opening in his side and taking out his liver and 
 washing it in certain medicated waters, as it was in
 
 UNREASONABLE CLAIMS. 151 
 
 a very bad state. While he was suffering under 
 this operation, and the doctor held the liver in his 
 hand, another man who was there demanded a piece 
 of the liver for his cat. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if you desire to pro- 
 cure money at a serious injury to yourself to give to 
 those who can afford to wait for it, you are certainly 
 at liberty to do so if you wish, but you will never do 
 it by my advice." 
 
 The Count, being very much pleased by what 
 Patronio said, took care to profit by it ; and Don 
 Juan, liking the moral of the story, requested it 
 should be written in this book, and composed these 
 lines, which say as follows : 
 
 Knowwhen to give and when withhold 
 Or you may come to want untold. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Of what happened to a man who through poverty 
 and lack of other food, was reduced to eat some 
 peas. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, speaking one day 
 to Patronio, said, " God has been very 
 bountiful to me, in granting me much 
 more than I can individually enjoy ; 
 yet it sometimes happens that I am so pressed for
 
 152 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 money, that my life is a burden to me. I beg of you 
 to direct me in this trouble." 
 
 "My lord," said Patronio, "in order that you 
 may better understand how to act under such cir- 
 cumstances, I will, with your permission, illustrate 
 your position by relating what happened to two rich 
 men." 
 
 The Count begged he would do so. 
 
 "My lord," said Patronio, "it is said that one of 
 these two men became so destitute that he could not 
 even procure bread to eat. After begging from door 
 to door, until wearied out, all he could procure was 
 a handful of dried peas, very hard and bitter. Re- 
 membering his former opulence, and seeing himself 
 now reduced through hunger to eat these peas, he 
 began to cry bitterly. As he ate he threw away the 
 pods, when he perceived another man behind him 
 eating them. And this is the point to which I 
 wish to draw your attention. When he saw the 
 man eating the pods, he asked him why he did so. 
 ' Because,' said this latter, ' though I was once richer 
 than you ever were, yet I am now reduced to so 
 great a state of poverty and hunger that I am glad 
 to eat the pods which you are throwing away.' 
 
 " When the former man saw this, he found there 
 was yet another more destitute than himself, and less 
 deserving to be so. Seeing this, he directed his 
 heart to God and prayed that he might be shown 
 how to escape from so much poverty. His prayers 
 were heard, and he prospered ever after.
 
 .SI. 1 
 
 " As he ate he threw away the pods, when he perceived another man 
 behind him eating them " . . . .
 
 CONSOLATION IN POVERTY. 153 
 
 "And you, my lord, should know such is the 
 world, and it is ordained that no condition admits of 
 unalloyed happiness. If at any time, as it appears, 
 you are distressed for money, do not let discontent 
 enter your heart ; but reflect how many men there 
 are at the same moment, who have been both 
 richer and more honoured than yourself, who would 
 be only too glad to occupy what you consider an 
 unfortunate position." 
 
 The Count was much pleased with what Patronio 
 told him, exerted himself, and God helped him well 
 out of his difficulties. 
 
 And Don Juan, liking the example, had it written 
 in this book, and wrote the following lines : 
 
 Let not poverty dismay your mind, 
 
 Since others poorer than yourself you find. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Without depriving the story of any part of its originality, we 
 think the idea was taken from the " Gulistan," of Saadi, chapter 
 the 1 9th, on the excellence of contentment. It also reminds 
 us of an excellent Italian saying: "A man is never so well 
 as not to feel he can be better, nor so ill that he cannot be 
 worse."
 
 154 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 What happened to a Cock and a Fox. 
 
 another time Count Lucanor was con- 
 versing with Patronio, when he said, 
 " You know, thanks be to God, my 
 lands are very large, but are not all 
 united, so that I have many places which are very 
 strong and some which are not so places which 
 are separated a long way from the rest of my estate 
 where my power is greatest. And, when I have any 
 contention with the neighbouring nobles who are 
 more powerful than myself, many who give them- 
 selves out for my friends, and others who volunteer 
 their counsels, endeavour to terrify me on this score, 
 and advise me on no account to go to those distant 
 territories, and to keep within my own defences. 
 Knowing your loyalty and superior judgment, I beg 
 you to advise me how to act in this case." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " it is difficult to ad- 
 vise in great and perilous undertakings, as no man 
 can be certain of the results; for how often when 
 we think we are acting for the best, things turn out 
 unfortunately; while, again, what at another time 
 appears to us the greatest misfortune, turns out to 
 our best advantage. So a man, even with the best 
 intentions, may give advice which may produce
 
 THE COCK AND THE Fox. 155 
 
 effects contrary to his previsions. If the advice is 
 productive of no good, shame is his portion. In 
 asking me to give you advice in so doubtful and 
 perilous a position, I must beg you to allow me 
 to relate to you what happened to a cock with a 
 fox. 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " a good man had a 
 house in the mountains, and among other things 
 reared a great number of fowls. 
 
 " It happened upon one occasion, that a cock, 
 wandering a long way from the house, met a fox, 
 whom he no sooner observed than, fearing to be- 
 come his prey, he flew up into a tree. The fox, 
 seeing the cock in safety, felt very much annoyed at 
 having missed his aim. He immediately began to 
 consider how he could induce the cock to descend. 
 He commenced by begging he would come down 
 and continue his country walk. The cock abruptly 
 refused him, when the fox, seeing he could not per- 
 suade him, began to threaten him, saying, that, as 
 he could not trust him, he would find some means 
 to catch him. The cock, finding himself in safety, 
 laughed equally at his threats and promises. The 
 fox, seeing that he could not intimidate the cock, 
 began gnawing the tree and striking it with his tail. 
 The captive cock, being frightened without reason, 
 flew to another tree. The fox, seeing that he had 
 alarmed him, continued pursuing him from tree to 
 tree, each one taking him farther from home, until at 
 last he caught him and eat him.
 
 156 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " And you, my lord, in your critical position, do 
 not let yourself be frightened at imaginary dangers, 
 but at the same time be prepared for real ones, 
 strengthening the defences of your smaller towns as 
 well as the large ones ; and believe that no man 
 provided as you are with troops and provisions has 
 anything to fear behind his own walls. If through 
 uncalled-for fears you abandon your most distant 
 villages, they will chase you from one to another 
 until deprived of all. Even if you or yours show 
 the slightest disheartenment it will only serve to 
 strengthen your enemies, who, seeing your weak- 
 ness, will never lay down their arms while you 
 possess an inch of land ; but, if well defended from 
 the beginning, like the cock on the first tree, you 
 have nothing to fear from all the battering-rams and 
 scaling ladders of your enemies. Nay, more, to 
 convince you that I speak the truth, it would be 
 impossible to find an army sufficiently strong to 
 make breaches in, or undermine the walls of so 
 many fortified villages. But, my lord, when after 
 due consideration you have determined and com- 
 menced acting, on no account retract. It is always 
 better to face danger than to fly from it, more men 
 being lost in retreat than in the battle-field. Like 
 a little dog attacking a hound ; so long as he remains 
 quiet, showing his teeth, he is safe, but once attempt 
 to run away and he is lost." 
 
 And the Count, feeling this to be good advice, 
 followed it, and was safe. And because Don Juan
 
 FALSE ALARMS. 157 
 
 thought this to be a good example, he had it written 
 in this book, and composed the following lines : 
 
 Defend thee like a man in proper season, 
 
 But be not frighten'd when there is not reason. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This fable has nothing in common with that of La Fontaine 
 which bears the same title. In the ^Esopian fable, versified by 
 the French poet, the cock does not fall a victim to the designs 
 of the fox. In Don Manuel's, on the contrary, he becomes, 
 after resisting all compliments, a prey to false alarms and want 
 of confidence when in actual safety. The moral which Don 
 Manuel intended to convey in his fable was not so much to guard 
 against the influence of flattery as against false alarms. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 What happened to a Man catching Partridges. 
 
 ,OUNT LUCANOR, at another time 
 speaking to Patronio, said to him, 
 " Some men of high and low position 
 cause me and my people a great deal of 
 annoyance and injury, but, when appealed to, always 
 excuse themselves by expressing regret, and assuring 
 me that circumstances only compelled them to act in 
 the way they had done, and not their inclination. 
 Desiring to know how to act under these circum- 
 stances, I beg you to give me your advice." 
 
 "My lord," said Patronio, "in order that you
 
 158 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 should know under these circumstances how best to 
 act, I shall feel pleased at being permitted to relate 
 to you what happened to a man taking partridges. 
 
 "A man who had spread his net to take par- 
 tridges, as soon as he had caught them, commenced 
 killing them one by one, and, while so occupied, a 
 gust of wind blew so fiercely in his eyes as to cause 
 the tears to flow down his cheeks, when one of the 
 birds that was still alive in the net said to the others, 
 'See, my friends, what pain it causes this good man 
 to kill us, for you see it makes him weep.' 
 
 " Another partridge, more knowing, and who had 
 avoided falling into the net, replied, ' My friend I 
 am very thankful to God for having preserved me 
 from falling into the snares of the fowler, and I 
 will continue to implore Providence that I and my 
 friends may be protected from all those who would 
 injure us, excusing themselves by saying that they 
 acted under the pressure of circumstances and 
 against their inclinations.' 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, be on your guard 
 against those you see are disposed to injure you 
 under the plea that they are sorry for it. But if 
 the damage be trifling, and evidently to you unin- 
 tentional, and come from a person who has really 
 been of service to you, I would advise you to shut 
 your eyes and not notice it, unless you clearly see 
 that he is taking an undue advantage of your good 
 nature : it then becomes incumbent on you to defend 
 your fortune and your honour."
 
 CROCODILES' TEARS. 159 
 
 The Count approved of this advice, and Don 
 Juan, considering it a good example, ordered it to 
 be inserted in this book, and wrote the following 
 verses : 
 
 Who does thee ill and feigns regret, 
 Beware of falling in his net 
 
 And on this matter another verse was made by 
 Alfonso, friar of Santiago, which says thus : 
 
 What avail the eyes that water 
 If the hands are bent on slaughter. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 The first germ of this fable appears in Indian collections : 
 witness Lokman, fable 31. But Don Juan imparted to it an 
 entirely new turn and form. The moral with which it winds 
 up is essentially Spanish, and the advice given to Count Lucanor 
 has every appearance of being addressed to the treacherous 
 monarch Alfonso XI. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 Relates to what happened to a Man with his Friend 
 who had invited him to dinner. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, when conversing 
 one day with his counsellor Patronio, 
 said, "A man came to me, proposing 
 to carry out my views in a matter in 
 which I am much interested, but the offer was made
 
 160 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 with so little apparent eagerness that I am inclined 
 to think he would be glad not to be taken at his 
 word ; and although I am anxious to avail myself of 
 it, I am yet disinclined to accept a service so coldly 
 offered. What do you think ? Pray give me your 
 opinion." 
 
 "Then allow me, my lord," said Patronio, "to 
 narrate to you what happened t& a man who had 
 been invited to dine with his friend. 
 
 " My lord, a man who had been very rich became 
 so reduced that he was often in want of the neces- 
 saries of life, which, however, he was too proud 
 to solicit, preferring to suffer the pangs of hunger to 
 the shame of begging his bread. One day, however, 
 when very sorely pressed by hunger, having fasted 
 very long, he happened to pass the gate of an old 
 friend, who was at dinner, and who, seeing him go 
 by, invited him, but very coldly, to partake of his 
 repast. The hungry man immediately accepted 
 the invitation, washed his hands, and sat down to 
 table, saying, ' Thanks, my friend ; you have invited 
 me in a lucky moment, and so generously that I 
 think it unbecoming to refuse you.' 
 
 "As the hungry man gained strength from the 
 repast he gradually lost the feeling of shame, and 
 God enlightened him as to the manner of freeing 
 him from his misery. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, will now understand 
 how, as the offer is made and the service required, 
 you should accept your friend's proffered assistance
 
 " As the hungry man gained strength from the repast, he gradually lost 
 the feeling of shame."
 
 THE OWLS AND THE CROWS. 161 
 
 without hesitation, as it is always better to accept a 
 favour if offered, than to ask one." 
 
 And the Count, following this good advice, 
 profited thereby. 
 
 And Don Juan, liking the moral, composed 
 these lines, to be written with it in this book, 
 saying : 
 
 If thou have need, be not too nice ; 
 Nor wait for friends to ask thee twice. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 What happened to the Owls and the Crows. 
 
 LUCANOR, conversing at another 
 time with Patronio, said, " There is a 
 man of considerable influence with 
 whom I am at variance. This man had 
 living with him a relation and his servant, to whom 
 he was very kind. Lately some difference has 
 arisen between this master and his servant; and 
 the latter, considering himself ill-used, came to me, 
 offering his services in my interests, if I would show 
 him how he could be revenged. Having great 
 confidence in your advice, I wish you to tell me 
 how to act." 
 
 " In the first place," replied Patronio, " believe 
 
 II
 
 1 62 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 me, this man seeks only to deceive you ; and in 
 order that you may better understand how, I will 
 tell you what happened to the owls and the crows." 
 
 The Count begged him to do so, when Patronio, 
 continuing, said, " My lord, the crows and the owls 
 had a great contention, but the crows had the worst 
 of it ; for the owls, whose custom it is to rove about 
 at night, and hide themselves in eaves during the 
 day, which made it difficult to find them, came in 
 the night to the trees where the crows lodged, killing 
 many of them and doing much injury. 
 
 "Suffering so much in this way, they consulted 
 an old crow who was very knowing, relating to him 
 the injurious treatment they received from the owls, 
 their enemies. 
 
 " He suggested to them this plan of revenge : 
 that they should pluck out of him all his feathers, 
 leaving only a few in his wings to enable him to fly 
 a little. In this sad state he went to show himself 
 to the owls, telling them that the crows had thus 
 cruelly treated him, merely because he wished to 
 make peace between them, and offered to show them 
 how they could be revenged on the crows. 
 
 "When the owls heard this they were much 
 pleased, and showed him much endearment, telling 
 him all their secrets and intentions. There was one 
 aged owl, however, who did not partake in the 
 general feeling. Seeing the deceitful intentions of 
 the crow, he told his companions not to trust him, as 
 he only sought to discover their secrets, and advised
 
 THE CROW'S REVENGE. 163 
 
 them to turn him out of their society. But the 
 owls, not putting faith in his advice, he left them, 
 and sought for himself another hiding-place, where 
 they could not find him. 
 
 "Thus the crow continued to live in confidence 
 with the owls until his feathers were sufficiently 
 grown to enable him to take a long flight. It was 
 then he told the owls he wished to go and see where 
 the crows were, in order that they might go with 
 him and exterminate them. But he never returned 
 until accompanied by all the other crows, whom he 
 had informed of all the projects and hiding-places of 
 the owls. 
 
 "In this way, the owls being attacked unpre- 
 pared, and in the daylight, became easy victims to 
 the vengeance of the crows ; all through an unwise 
 confidence in a natural enemy. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, must know well that 
 this man, being connected with the household of your 
 enemy, will be naturally interested in its welfare. 
 I would advise you to place no confidence in him, and 
 if you do employ him, let it be only where no trust 
 is required ; for, be assured, he will deceive you 
 and play you false the first opportunity favourable 
 to his own interest, and so his proposed treachery to 
 his present master will be turned against you." 
 
 The Count followed this advice, which was suc- 
 cessful ; and Don Juan, approving of it, had it 
 written in this book, and composed the following 
 lines :
 
 164 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 If thou wouldst live securely to the end, 
 Distrust a foe who would become a friend. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This example appears also to have had an Indian origin. It 
 is found in the third chapter of "Pantcha Tantra," under the 
 title of " Kakoloukika," or "The War between the Crows 
 and the Owls." Loiseleur des Longchamps, in his essay on 
 Indian fables, gives the following analysis of this tale : 
 "The moral of this story is to show the danger of trusting to 
 strangers or enemies who come under the mask of friendship. 
 The king of the crows, jealous of the king of the owls, forms 
 the project of destroying his enemies, and to succeed more 
 securely therein, charges one of his ministers to introduce him- 
 self among the owls. He succeeds in his project by a ruse 
 which recalls the history of Zopyrus. Stripped of his plumes 
 and covered with blood, he is found, lying at the foot of a tree, 
 by the owls, who take him to their king. The new-comer 
 gains the confidence of the king of the owls, against the advice 
 of his ministers. He betrays their confidence, and shows 
 the crows how they can destroy their enemies, who are suf- 
 focated in the eaves which serve them as a hiding-place."
 
 I6 5 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 The advice which Patronio gave to Count Lucanor, 
 when he said he wished to enjoy himself, illustrated 
 by the example of that which happened to tht 
 Ants. 
 
 [OUNT LUCANOR, speaking one day 
 with Patronio, said to him, "Thanks 
 be to God, ray friend, I am now rich 
 enough, and am advised by my friends 
 to give myself no more anxiety about the concerns 
 of this world, but, as I am in a position to do so, 
 to eat, drink, and enjoy myself; which I can do 
 without infringing on the interests of my children. 
 Having a high opinion of your judgment, I would 
 first seek your advice before acting." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " although it is pleasant 
 enough to live for one's own enjoyment, yet it is first 
 advisable that you should hear what the ants did for 
 their own support." 
 
 " Willingly," said the Count. 
 " My lord, seeing what a little thing the ant is, 
 you might be led to suppose it is possessed of little un- 
 derstanding ; but remark, how in the harvest season 
 they quit their ant-hills, go to the fields, and return 
 laden with as much corn as they are able to carry,
 
 1 66 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 which they deposit in their granaries, to be taken out 
 when the first rain falls. It is supposed they do this 
 to dry it, but that is not the case, as the ants also 
 take the corn out at the beginning of winter, when 
 there is little or no sun to dry it. But were they to 
 take it out every time it rained their labour would 
 be incessant. The reason why they bring out their 
 corn after the first rain is that they find it begin to 
 grow, when it would take up so much room in their 
 granaries that, instead of supporting, it would suffo- 
 cate them. So they eat the dry grain, leaving the 
 other to ferment outside ; and, knowing that this fer- 
 mentation lasts only a short time, they have no fear 
 in doing so of losing their provisions. Nevertheless, 
 during all this time, they do not cease adding to 
 their stores, either from a dislike to idleness, or an 
 unwillingness to despise the gifts of Providence. 
 
 "And how can you, Count Lucanor seeing the 
 prudent foresight and economy displayed by the little 
 ant, in providing for his own wants charged, as you 
 are, with the care of a large property, and respon- 
 sible for the well-being of so many of your fellow- 
 creatures, think only of living in idleness and ease, 
 which shows a littleness of spirit ; forgetting also, 
 that by constant expenditure, with no regard to the 
 augmentation of your means, you must ultimately 
 bring yourself to ruin ? My advice to you is, enjoy 
 yourself as much as you like, but do not do so at the 
 expense of your honour and fortune. Be you ever 
 so rich, you will never lack occasions to increase the
 
 THE ANT'S PROVIDENCE. 167 
 
 lustre of your name and enhance the happiness of 
 your fellow-men." 
 
 The Count was much pleased with the advice 
 given by Patronio, and acted upon it. 
 
 And as Don Juan found this also a good example, 
 he ordered it to be written in this book, with these 
 lines : 
 
 Let not thy lavish hand expend thy hard-earned gains, 
 Live so that honour'd life and death reward thy pains. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 The advice which Don Manuel gives us in his fable, when 
 he introduces the ants, is more noble than that of La Fontaine, in 
 whose fables we find three examples where the ant is introduced. 
 The one most resembling Don Manuel's is "The Ant and the 
 Grasshopper," indeed this is an exact transcript inverse of ^Esop's 
 fable bearing the same name, both inculcating industry, and re- 
 proving a life of sensuality and pleasure. 
 
 The industry and foresight of the ant have been alluded to by the 
 great Eastern philosopher in the following well-known passage : 
 " Go to the ant, thou sluggard ; consider her ways, and be wise. 
 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in 
 the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest" Proverbs of 
 Solomon vi. 6-8.
 
 1 68 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Of that which happened to a good Man and his Son, 
 who boas fed of having many Friends. 
 
 I 
 
 i PEAKING again, on another occasion, 
 Count Lucanor said to Patronio, "I 
 have, as you know, many friends. 
 Well, they give me to understand that 
 they are all most sincerely devoted to my interests, 
 and that, happen what may, nothing shall induce 
 them to desert me. Now tell me, I pray you, what 
 is your opinion as to how far I may depend upon 
 their sincerity and trust them ? " 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " good friends are the 
 best things this world has to give. I always, how- 
 ever, feel some doubt of the sincerity of him who 
 makes great professions, and wait for an opportunity 
 to prove the value of his declarations. But that you 
 may know how to judge a real friend, hear, I pray 
 you, what happened to a good man and his son, who 
 told him he had many friends." 
 
 " Willingly," said the Count. 
 
 "My lord, a good man had a son, whom he 
 advised, among other things, to always endeavour 
 to make many good friends. 
 
 " In compliance with this advice, he liberally
 
 " But in this case they were afraid to venture."
 
 A TEST OF FRIENDSHIP. 169 
 
 dispensed his goods amongst many men, with the 
 view of cultivating their friendship, and these vowed 
 to him their readiness to risk their souls and bodies 
 in his service. 
 
 " One day the father inquired of the son how he 
 progressed in the cultivation of his friendships. 
 
 "'I have many friends,' replied the son, ' and 
 amongst them I am certain of ten who would lay 
 down their lives in my service, and who now only 
 want an opportunity to prove their sincerity.' 
 
 "The father marvelled much at this, and could 
 not conceive how his son, in so short a time, had 
 made so many and such friends ; for, in the course 
 of his long life, he had never been able to make more 
 than one friend and a half. 
 
 "The son did not like his father's questioning 
 the truth of his statement, and insisted that what he 
 said was true. 
 
 " ' Try them, then,' said the father, ' and in this 
 manner. Kill a pig and put it into a sack, and carry 
 it to the house of one of these friends, telling him it 
 is a man you have slain, that you are in great dread 
 of its being discovered, and, as it is quite certain that 
 neither you nor those in any way cognisant of the 
 fact can escape the death which awaits such a deed, 
 beseech him, as a friend, to conceal the bad action, 
 and, if need be, to help you in your defence.' 
 
 " In this way the son did as the father suggested, 
 visiting each friend in turn. All alike told him that, 
 under any other circumstances, they were willing to
 
 170 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 make any sacrifice for him, but in this case they 
 were afraid to venture, and besought him for the 
 love of God to tell no one he had been to their house. 
 Some went so far as to tell him they should never 
 help him more, but they would pray for him ; others 
 said they would not forsake him on the scaffold, and 
 would procure him honourable burial 
 
 "When the young man had thus proved his 
 friends, and could find none to assist him, he 
 returned to his father and told him what had 
 happened. 
 
 " ' You now see,' said the father, ' that those who 
 have lived longest know best how difficult it is to 
 procure a sincere friend. As I said to you before, I 
 have only one friend and a half; go, try this 
 last.' 
 
 "The young man did so. Arriving at the house 
 of this half-friend late at night, carrying the dead 
 pig on his shoulders, he knocked at the door, and 
 told him of his misfortunes, and how he had been 
 treated by his friends, begging of him for the love he 
 bore his father to help him. 
 
 "The half-friend told him that, although between 
 them there existed neither love nor friendship, yet, 
 for his father's sake he would conceal him. He then 
 took the sack carefully from the shoulders of the 
 son, thinking it contained a dead man, and conveyed 
 it into his garden, where he buried it amongst the 
 cabbages, carefully arranging them afterwards, and 
 then sent away the young man contented.
 
 'W'r'l 
 
 - w 
 
 %' 
 
 -- m * 
 
 " My son, you act badly."
 
 A TRUE FRIEND. 171 
 
 " When this latter came home to his father, he 
 related all that had happened. 
 
 " ' So far good,' said the father ; ' now when next 
 you meet this man dispute with him so as to lead to 
 a quarrel, then strike him a blow on the face.' 
 
 " This the young man did ; and when he had 
 struck the blow, the half-friend said, 'My son, you 
 act badly ; nevertheless, I shall never reveal the 
 secret which is between us.' 
 
 "And when the young man told this to his 
 father he sent him to try his other friend. When 
 he arrived at the house of his friend, and had told 
 him, as before, all that had happened, he promised 
 to guard him from death and danger. 
 
 " Now it came to pass that about this time a man 
 had in reality been killed in the city, but no one 
 knew by whom, and as the young man had been 
 noticed going about at night, carrying a loaded 
 sack, he was immediately suspected, judged, and 
 sentenced to death. The friend of his father, seeing 
 no possibility of his escape, determined to sacrifice 
 his own son in the stead of his friend's, and went 
 to the judge, saying he knew the prisoner was not 
 guilty, as it was his own and only son who com- 
 mitted the deed the son acknowledging what the 
 father had said, and thus, by his own death, saving 
 the life of the son of his father's friend. 
 
 " And now, Count Lucanor, having told you how 
 friends are proved, I hold this for a good example to 
 find out who are indeed your friends, and how to
 
 172 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 know if they will risk danger in your defence. There 
 may be many good friends, but there are many who 
 cannot be depended upon in adversity, for friends 
 too often only grow with good fortune. 
 
 " Again, this example may be taken in a spiritual 
 sense, in this manner : although men may think 
 they have many friends, yet, when on the point of 
 death they are often destined to see the vanity of 
 worldly friendship in the professions of friends, who 
 say that they are willing but cannot help them ; and 
 of the clergy, who can only say they will pray to 
 God for them. The wife and children may express 
 their readiness to go with them to the tomb, or 
 promise a sumptuous interment ; nevertheless, none 
 aid them to escape death, as did the son of the 
 good man, who gave his life to save his friend. 
 The dying man finds he must turn to God as his 
 only resource. 
 
 " Now the sinner, seeing he cannot escape the 
 death of his soul, unless he turns to God, who like 
 a merciful Father and true Friend, remembering the 
 love which He bears to man, the work of His hands 
 like the good friend, sent His own Son, Christ 
 Jesus, to suffer and die, He being innocent, to 
 redeem sinful man. So did Jesus, like an obedient 
 son, do His Father's will. He, being true God and 
 true Man, sought and suffered death, and redeemed 
 sinners by His blood. 
 
 "And now, Count Lucanor, it is desirable that 
 you reflect and find out which of these friends is
 
 THE BEST FRIEND. 173 
 
 best and truest, and whose friendship is most worthy 
 of confidence." 
 
 The Count was much moved by this exhortation, 
 and acted with advantage upon its suggestions. 
 
 And Don Juan, liking so good an example, caused 
 it to be written in this book, and composed the 
 following lines : 
 
 Never can man find out a friend so good 
 
 As God, who sought to save him by His blood. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This graphically written tale, which is intended to show the 
 difficulty of acquiring a true friend, is of early date, its invention 
 not being due to Don Manuel. There is but little doubt of its 
 being of Arabic or eastern origin. We first find it in a work 
 entitled, " Disciplina Clericalis," written by Pedro Alfonso, who 
 originally was a converted Jewish rabbi named Moses Sephardi, 
 born in the year 1062, at Huesca, in the kingdom of Arragon. 
 He was a man of much learning ; and at the age of forty-four 
 embraced Christianity, when he was appointed by Alphonso XV., 
 king of Castile and Leon, physician to his palace. The tale 
 alluded to in this work is the " Lesson given by a Father to 
 his Son," and commences, "Arabs moriturus," "An Arab dying." 
 We find some of the fables from this " Disciplina Clericalis " in 
 the "Arabian Nights; " indeed, this narrative, in various forms, 
 has been translated into all languages. The French have many 
 versions of this tale ; it has been published in Germany, in the 
 "Imitations of Oriental Tales," by Herder; and we see it in 
 Boccaccio, the tenth day, eighth novel. 
 
 The scarcity of true friends, a truth so generally accepted, is 
 noticed in an old collection of Greek fables, where a friend of 
 Socrates remonstrating with him for building so small a house,
 
 174 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 the philosopher replied that, " Little as it is, he were a happy man 
 that had but true friends enough to fill it." The allusions made 
 by our English writers to pretended friendships are too well 
 known to render any mention of them necessary, yet I cannot 
 but remark that it forms the subject of one of Gay's best fables, 
 " The Hare with many Friends." 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 Relates to what happened to the Lion and the Bull. 
 
 another time, when Count Lucanor was 
 conversing with Patronio, he said to 
 him, " Patronio, I have a very powerful 
 and honourable friend, of whom, up to 
 this time, I have never had occasion to complain ; 
 but now, from various circumstances which have 
 occurred, it is clear to me that he is not so well- 
 disposed towards me as before, and he appears to 
 be seeking for an opportunity to quarrel with me, 
 from whence I see two causes of uneasiness : the 
 one is, that if he openly declares himself my enemy 
 it will cause me serious injury ; the other is, if he 
 suspects that I mistrust him he will in turn lose 
 confidence in me, and thus, this feeling increasing by 
 degrees, will bring about an open rupture. Knowing
 
 THE LION AND THE BULL. 175 
 
 your great prudence and foresight, I beg of you to 
 advise me how to act under these circumstances." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " that you know how 
 to protect yourself I have no doubt ; I shall tell you, 
 however, what happened to the lion and the bull, to 
 illustrate your present situation. 
 
 " The lion and the bull were very great friends ; 
 being both powerful and strong they lorded it over 
 all the other animals ; so the lion, with the help of 
 the bull, drove off all carnivorous animals, and the 
 bull, with the aid of the lion, drove away all other 
 animals that ate grass. 
 
 " The animals, seeing how the combined influence 
 of the lion and the bull caused them so much injury, 
 consulted together how best to free themselves 
 from this strait. With that view they resolved to 
 cause, if possible, some ill-feeling or want of trust 
 between them; and, knowing that the fox and the 
 sheep were most in the confidence of their enemies, 
 desired to bring them over to their cause, succeeding 
 in which, the fox, who was the lion's counsellor, 
 commenced by telling the bear that he was the 
 strongest of all the carnivorous animals after the lion, 
 and induced him to insinuate to the lion that the 
 bull was playing him false, assuring him that he had 
 spoken something unfavourable of him some few 
 days since. The sheep also, who was the adviser 
 of the bull, induced the horse, the most powerful of 
 all graminivorous animals after the bull, to cause 
 the bull to doubt the friendship of the lion.
 
 176 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " Now neither the bull nor the lion believed 
 exactly what the bear and the horse had told them, 
 although they were ranked next to themselves, yet 
 the mutual confidence which previously existed was 
 shaken, they became more distant, trusting more 
 to their respective counsellors ; which the other 
 animals seeing, spoke out more boldly, and said the 
 lion and the bull were jealous of each other, and felt 
 in their hearts unfriendly. 
 
 " Now the fox and the sheep, thinking only of 
 their own interests and future safety, took no trouble 
 to undeceive their lords, so that the love and friend- 
 ship which previously existed between them turned 
 to distrust and hatred. The other animals, seeing 
 this, united together to increase the ill-feeling which 
 now existed between the lion and the bull. The 
 result in the end was, that they found themselves 
 deprived of the power which they enjoyed when 
 united, and were subjected to the insults of the 
 combined animals, who, now acting together, would 
 not allow themselves to be again subjected to the 
 dominion of their former lords, who found out, but 
 too late, that they were the victims of calumny. 
 
 "And you, my lord, take care, that those who 
 would create in your mind suspicions against your 
 friends do not lead you into trouble, as did the 
 animals the lion and the bull. Now I would advise 
 you, if you have always found your friend loyal and 
 true, to trust in him as you would in a good son or 
 brother. Shut your eyes to trifling circumstances,
 
 SLANDER. 177 
 
 for, be assured, if he intends doing you a serious 
 injury, you will always see some indications of it 
 beforehand. If your friend be merely a time- 
 server, carefully avoid giving him cause to believe 
 that you suspect him ; but, if once you find that 
 his dishonourable intentions admit of no doubt, then, 
 instead of quarrelling with him, endeavour first to 
 persuade him not to desert you and forfeit your 
 friendship endeavour to convince him that mutual 
 harmony is essential to the well-being of both. By 
 these means, and by not allowing yourself to be led 
 away by false representations, you will avoid falling 
 into the error of the lion and the bull." 
 
 The Count was well pleased with what Patronio 
 had related. And Don Juan, approving of this 
 example, caused it to be inscribed in this book, and 
 composed the following lines : 
 
 To lying slanders ne'er attend 
 Against a tried and proven friend. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This apologue, like many others written at the same period, 
 has not only a general but also a political moral. It warns us 
 against losing our friends by the misrepresentations of others, 
 as also it cautions those in power against that treason and 
 perfidy which would divide them from their allies and most 
 sincere dependants. 
 
 "This tale is very ancient ; it is found in the Sanscrit work 
 "Pantcha Tantra," the first chapter of which is entitled 
 " Mitra-Bheda," or "The Rupture of Friendship." The 
 
 12
 
 178 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 personages of this Indian apologue figure as the king lion, 
 Pingalaca ; the bull and his friend, Sandjivaca. The confi- 
 dants of the lion and the bull are two jackals, named Carataca 
 and Damanaca. In this case, the two jackals, jealous of the 
 friendship existing between the lion and the bull, unite, and, by 
 misrepresentations, endeavour to destroy this amity. Differing 
 from Don Manuel's tale this results only in the death of the 
 favourite by his master. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 Relates to the advice which Patronio gave to Count 
 Lucanor, when he expressed a desire to obtain a 
 good reputation; and the example was what 
 happened to a Philosopher who was suffering from 
 a severe illness. 
 
 ^ATRONIO," said Count Lucanor, " the 
 thing a man should most desire to 
 acquire in this world is a good repu- 
 tation, and, having gained it, to be 
 ever watchful, lest it be sullied by any act of his 
 own or others. As I know that no one can counsel 
 me better than you, I beg of you to advise how best 
 to increase and guard my good name." 
 
 "My lord," said Patronio, "it will afford me 
 great pleasure to give you my opinion, and illustrate 
 it by what happened to an aged philosopher."
 
 " He was immediately suspected."
 
 THE PHILOSOPHER ASTRAY. 179 
 
 The Count expressing a desire to know what 
 that was, Patronio commenced by saying, "A well- 
 known philosopher lived once in a town in the 
 kingdom of Morocco, who suffered from an ailment 
 affecting his sight. His physicians forbade his leav- 
 ing the house, and ordered him not to expose his 
 eyes too much to the light. 
 
 " One day, however, thinking his sight sufficiently 
 restored, he ventured to walk alone into the town, 
 where he had many disciples, but the glare of day 
 so increased his defect of vision that he accidentally 
 strayed into a narrow street close at hand, and which 
 happened to be one inhabited by most disreputable 
 characters, of which fact he was not aware; but, 
 being seen issuing therefrom by some of his friends 
 and disciples, he was immediately suspected of having 
 belied in a moment all his former virtuous life and 
 professions. 
 
 "So it is that men occupying certain positions are 
 judged without pity, their slightest failings being 
 criticised ; whilst others, whose position calls for but 
 little attention, appear to escape notice, although 
 guilty of much greater errors. So it was with the 
 philosopher, against whom a general outcry was 
 raised. When he arrived at his house, he was 
 waited upon by many of his disciples, who in great 
 grief demanded why he should have so sacrificed his 
 former reputation, bringing scandal on himself and 
 them likewise. 
 
 " When the philosopher heard this he was
 
 i8o COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 astounded, and demanded to know what evil he 
 had done, and where. 
 
 " They replied that he had been publicly seen 
 to leave the street occupied only by disreputable 
 people. 
 
 "When the philosopher heard this he was in 
 great trouble, and said to his disciples, ' Do not be 
 uneasy; I will give you an answer in eight days.' 
 And, shutting himself up in his study, he composed 
 a very good and useful little book, in the form of 
 questions and answers between him and two of his 
 disciples, on good and bad fortune. ' My sons,' said 
 he, ' good fortune often comes to us unsought as well 
 as sought, and, unfortunately, the world is too apt to 
 judge from the result of an action, being unconscious 
 of the motive which guided it; so also we find 
 men without ability or energy blessed by good for- 
 tune undeserved ; whilst others, more really meri- 
 torious, meet only with misfortune. Again, disasters 
 are not always of our own seeking, as a man 
 may, in the street, unintentionally have his head 
 broken by a stone thrown at a bird : this accident is 
 not of his own seeking, but the result of ill chance. 
 Know, my sons, both in good and ill fortune two 
 things are necessary ; the one is, that we should 
 thank God for the good we have received and the 
 evil we have been enabled to avoid, the other is that 
 rarely or never does any good action pass without 
 its reward, as evil deeds also bear their penalty. 
 Again, we should ever pray to God to deliver us
 
 JUDGING BY APPEARANCES. 181 
 
 from evil and false judgment, as happened to me the 
 other day, when, through the infirmity of a bodily 
 ailment, I, without harm in thought or deed, un- 
 knowingly entered a street of ill fame, and thereby 
 forfeited my good reputation.' 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, in order to increase 
 and perpetuate your reputation, three things are 
 essential ; firstly, let your good actions be done solely 
 with the motive of pleasing God, regardless of the 
 opinion of mankind, keeping unsullied your honour 
 and position, seeking not fame undeserved by good 
 works ; secondly, pray to God to strengthen you, 
 and inspire you to perform such good actions and 
 from a motive so pure as will even gain for you the 
 esteem of all good men ; thirdly, never by word or 
 deed, give cause for a shadow of suspicion to rest on 
 you, as the world is too apt to misconstrue and mis- 
 judge the best intentions. Still, ever remember that 
 the only infallible judge of your actions is God and 
 your own conscience." 
 
 The Count thought this good advice, and prayed 
 to God to help him so to act as to save his soul and 
 increase his honour. 
 
 And Don Juan, finding it a good example, had 
 it written in this book, and made the following 
 lines : 
 
 Let all thy acts be clear of blame, 
 That slander breathe not on thy fame
 
 1 82 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 Of what happened to a man who was made Governor 
 of a large territory. 
 
 LUCANOR, speaking another 
 time with Patronio, said, " Patronio, 
 many tell me that, being very powerful 
 and much honoured, there now only 
 remains for me one thing which is most essential, 
 and that is to acquire riches. And, as I know that 
 you have always advised me for the best, and that 
 you will still continue to do so, I beg of you to tell 
 me what is most incumbent on me." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " the advice which you 
 require of me demands grave consideration, for 
 two reasons. Firstly, that my ideas may be appa- 
 rently contrary to your interest ; and, secondly, it is 
 difficult for me to give advice having the semblance 
 of indifference. Nevertheless, as all loyal advice is 
 meant only to benefit those to whom it is given, I 
 will tell you honestly and without flattery what I 
 think, seeking only your well-being. Now there is 
 much truth and much falsehood in what has been 
 told you ; to convince you of which I have only to 
 relate what happened to a man who had been made 
 governor of a large territory."
 
 SHORT LIFE AND MERRY. 183 
 
 The Count asked him what that was. 
 
 " My lord," replied Patronio, " it was customary 
 in a certain territory to elect every year a governor, 
 who, during the twelve months that his command 
 lasted, was implicitly obeyed, and treated with all 
 due reverence ; but, at the expiration of the year, 
 he was deprived of his command, position, and 
 everything, even to his clothes, and left to perish in 
 a desolate island. It once happened that a man 
 who was so appointed, having more foresight and a 
 clearer understanding, and knowing that they would 
 treat him in the same manner as his predecessors, 
 prepared beforehand for what he knew would 
 inevitably happen. During the year of his supreme 
 command, he ordered a house to be secretly built on 
 the island where he knew he was to be placed, and 
 had it furnished and provisioned so as to leave him 
 in no want of the comforts and necessaries of life, 
 and arranged with his friends and relations that they 
 should send him anything he might have forgotten. 
 When the year of his command was completed and 
 he was left, like the previous governors, naked to 
 perish on the island, he quietly sought his secret 
 abode, where he lived to enjoy the advantage of his 
 precautions. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, if you wish to be 
 well-advised, remember that you are not destined to 
 live here for ever ; the day will assuredly arrive 
 when you must leave this world naked as you came 
 into it, taking nothing with you ; all that remains to
 
 184 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 you are the good or bad deeds you may have 
 performed. Take care, therefore, so to act as to 
 procure for your soul a happy abode in the kingdom 
 where life is counted not by years, but is everlasting ; 
 remembering that your soul is not mortal, and can 
 never perish, and that your good or evil actions in 
 this world will be rewarded or punished in the next 
 according to their deserts. I advise you, therefore, 
 never to forget that power, honour, and riches are 
 perishable, and how unwise it is to sacrifice to them 
 the certainty of eternal life. And again, seek not to 
 exalt yourself by publishing your good works before 
 men. At the same time, let your actions be such as 
 to deserve the prayers of your friends, when you 
 are no longer able to intercede for yourself. Yet, 
 when you have duly provided for the future happi- 
 ness of your soul, when your duties here on earth 
 are accomplished, you may look for the promotion 
 of your honour and prosperity in this world." 
 
 And the Count, finding this very good advice, 
 prayed to God to help him to put it into practice. 
 
 And Don Juan, approving of it also, caused it to 
 be inscribed in this book, and composed the follow- 
 ing verses : 
 
 In quest of this world's fleeting pleasure, 
 Lose not the more enduring treasure.
 
 GOOD AND EVIL. 185 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 We find in the " Imitations of Oriental Tales," by Herder, 
 a similar story to the above, called, "The Desert Island," but 
 the religious allegory is not reproduced in the German work. 
 This beautiful production remains a monument to the Spanish 
 moralist who has succeeded in raising this fable and some others 
 to the rank of an evangelical parable. 
 
 Herder's version of "The Cid," which was long a bone of 
 contention among critics some saying he had naturalised these 
 grand old ballads into German, others that he had distorted and 
 disfigured them has lately been discovered to be a literal trans- 
 lation of a French prose version. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 Of that which happened to Good and Evil, illustrated 
 by what occurred to a Man with a Madman, 
 
 day Count Lucanor said to Patronio, 
 " I happen to have two neighbours ; one 
 is a man whom I love very much, and 
 with whom I have much sympathy; 
 nevertheless, he does things at times which cause 
 me much annoyance. Now, with the other man, I 
 have no friendship, although I have often occasion 
 to be grateful to him. This latter also at times, by 
 his proceedings, gives me some trouble. Now, will 
 you advise me, with your usual good sense, how to 
 manage these two men ? " 
 
 " Count Lucanor," said Patronio, " what you tell
 
 1 86 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 me is not one thing alone, but two things one 
 being very distinct from the other; and I will, 
 with your permission, exemplify to you, by two 
 narratives, how -you should act under these cir- 
 cumstances." 
 
 The Count agreeing to this, Patronio said as 
 follows : 
 
 "Good and Evil agreed once to live together, 
 and Evil, who was soon found to be cunning 
 and rebellious, always seeking some deception or 
 mischief, proposed to Good to purchase a flock of 
 sheep wherewith to maintain themselves. Good, 
 being naturally peaceable and accommodating, agreed. 
 When the sheep had brought forth their young, Evil 
 proposed to Good to shear them ; to this, the latter, 
 not agreeing, requested Evil to act upon his own 
 responsibility. Now, as Evil is always ill-disposed 
 and seeking mischief, this sanction pleased him very 
 much, so he proposed to Good to retain for his 
 share the young lambkins and rear them, whilst he, 
 Evil, would reserve for himself the milk and the 
 wool of the sheep. To this Good assented without 
 complaining. Evil now proposed that they should 
 rear pigs. To this Good agreed as before. This 
 time Evil, pretending to great ideas of justice, 
 proposed that as Good had on a former occasion 
 taken the young lambkins, and he, Evil, the wool 
 and milk of the sheep, they should this time reverse 
 it, he now taking the little pigs, and Good the milk 
 and wool.
 
 EVIL'S BETTER HALF. 187 
 
 "Again, Evil proposed that they should have a 
 kitchen-garden, in which they cultivated turnips; 
 when these had come to perfection, Evil said to 
 Good, as it was difficult to judge the value of what 
 could not be seen, that Good should take the leaves 
 and he would be contented with what was buried 
 in the earth ; and so he did. Again, they planted 
 cabbages, and, when these had grown, Evil said to 
 Good that in justice Good should take this time 
 what was under the earth, and he would take what 
 appeared above it. 
 
 " Now Evil thought it would be convenient to 
 have a woman for their household service, and, 
 Good agreeing with him, Evil proposed that Good 
 should have for his share of the servant from the 
 waist upwards, that being the superior and most 
 useful part of the body, whilst he, Evil, would con- 
 tent himself with the inferior half, or, from the 
 waist downwards. Good, who desired nothing 
 better than the help of two strong arms for the 
 work of the house, was perfectly satisfied with this 
 arrangement, but, as the woman thus became the 
 wife of Evil, she had a son. Now, when she wished 
 to nourish her child, Good resolutely opposed her 
 doing so, saying, that the milk belonged to him. 
 
 "When Evil found he had a son he was much 
 pleased, but, on hearing the child cry very much, 
 inquired of the woman why it was so uneasy. To 
 which she replied that it was for want of nourish- 
 ment ; and, hearing this, Evil told her to give the
 
 1 88 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 child the food it required. But she said to him 
 that Good had strictly forbidden her to do so, as 
 the milk belonged to him, it being his share. 
 
 " Now Evil went to Good and told him he should 
 insist on having the milk given to his son. To 
 which Good simply replied that, as the milk be- 
 longed to his share, he would never consent. 
 
 " Hearing this, Evil became incensed, and Good, 
 seeing him in this great strait, quietly answered, 
 ' My friend, surely you did not believe me so foolish 
 as not to have seen how cunningly and for your 
 own exclusive interest you have heretofore divided 
 matters between us. You never considered my 
 wants or necessities, so you should not now feel 
 any surprise that when you require my assistance 
 I am unwilling to grant it. This will serve to 
 remind you of all you made me suffer.' 
 
 " Now, whether it was that Evil felt the truth 
 of what Good had said, or that he feared to lose 
 his son through hunger, he prayed of Good that, 
 for the love of God, he would take compassion on 
 the innocent child, and not condemn him to suffer 
 thus for his father's faults, promising that hence- 
 forward he would always do all Good should require 
 of him ; and Good, hearing this, praised God, who 
 in His mercy had thus permitted him to bring good 
 out of evil, and replied to Evil that he would agree 
 to the woman's nourishing the child, on condition 
 that the father should take the child in his arms, 
 and go through the streets of the city, and proclaim

 
 He suddenly upset the pail of water over his head."
 
 THE MADMAN AND THE BATH. 189 
 
 aloud that Good had conquered Evil without depart- 
 ing from the paths of virtue. 
 
 " To this Evil consented, too glad, at any sacri- 
 fice, to be able to save the life of his son; and 
 hence we know that good has ever conquered evil 
 with good. 
 
 " But it happened otherwise with the good man 
 and the madman. Now it chanced that a good 
 man kept some baths, and a neighbour, a madman, 
 was the first to come daily to this bath ; afterwards 
 awaiting the arrival of the people to bathe, he com- 
 menced, as soon as he saw them, to beat them with 
 sticks or throw stones at them, so that the pro- 
 prietor of the baths soon lost all his customers. 
 The good man, seeing this, determined to rise very 
 early one day, undressed himself, and went into the 
 bath before the madman arrived, having at hand a 
 pail full of very hot water and a wooden club. 
 When the madman came to the bath, determined, 
 as usual, to attack all who came in his way, the 
 good man, seeing him enter, allowed him to ap- 
 proach, when he suddenly upset the pail of hot 
 water over his head, attacking him at the same time 
 with the club. The madman now gave himself up 
 for dead ; nevertheless, he managed to escape, and, 
 running away, he told everyone he met to be care- 
 ful, for there was a madman in the bath. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, since chance has 
 given you two neighbours who may occasionally 
 abuse your friendship, yet be friendly with them;
 
 i go COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 heed not their small faults, and give them to under- 
 stand you seek not revenge, but desire to act kindly 
 towards them, helping them in their necessities, 
 showing them that, though you need not their good 
 services, yet you desire their friendship and esteem, 
 not as an obligation but through good will." 
 
 The Count, liking this advice, followed it with 
 success. And Don Juan, taking this to be a good 
 example, ordered it to be written in this book, and 
 composed the following lines : 
 
 The evil man must be withstood, 
 Till evil be o'ercome with good. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 Don Manuel, in illustrating, as we see in this apologue, that 
 good arises out of evil, had a more enlightened and philosophical 
 view of the subject than he was probably aware of. 
 
 In this chapter we have two examples, but La Fontaine, who 
 was only acquainted with the first part, as he found it in Rabelais, 
 has made the former the subject of one of his least commendable 
 tales. Had he been able to read Don Manuel's apologue in its 
 integrity, he would doubtless have constructed from it a fable 
 more edifying.
 
 191 
 
 CHAPTER XLI. 
 Of the association between Truth and Falsehood. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR, speaking with Patro- 
 nio, said to him as follows : 
 
 " Know, Patronio, that I am in 
 great trouble and confusion, in conse- 
 quence of some men who, having no regard for me, 
 take every opportunity, by treachery and lying, to 
 injure my reputation, never failing, at the same time, 
 to turn these lies to their own advantage. It is true 
 I could retaliate upon them in the same manner, but 
 I have such a hatred of deception and lying that I 
 cannot allow myself to adopt the same line of con- 
 duct, I beg, therefore, you will advise me how best 
 to deal with these men." 
 
 " Count Lucanor," said Patronio, " Falsehood and 
 Truth once entered into an agreement to keep com- 
 pany together. After a time Falsehood proposed to 
 Truth that they should plant a tree, so that when it 
 was very hot they might enjoy the shade thereof, to 
 which Truth, being always straightforward, agreed. 
 As soon as the tree had taken root and begun to 
 show signs of life, Falsehood proposed to Truth that, 
 to avoid disputation each should take a portion of
 
 1 92 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 the tree as his own ; Falsehood at the same time, 
 suggesting that Truth should take the root, giving as 
 a reason with much colouring and argument, that 
 it was the most desirable part ; ' For/ said he, ' it 
 is well protected by the earth, while the part out 
 of the ground is liable to be damaged and even 
 destroyed by evil-disposed men cutting it down, to 
 be gnawed by beasts, or injured by birds with their 
 claws and beaks ; the great heat may dry it up, or 
 the frost destroy it, but from all these dangers the 
 root is protected.' 
 
 "When Truth heard all these reasons, being con- 
 fiding by nature, and believing all she heard to be 
 true, she accepted the offer made by Falsehood, 
 thanking him for his consideration. 
 
 " Falsehood was greatly pleased at the success of 
 his deception and coloured representations. 
 
 "Truth, having accepted the root of the tree as 
 her portion, had to reside there, under the earth ; 
 while Falsehood remained above, taking up his abode 
 amongst men and things, where he prospered. 
 
 "The tree began to grow, throwing out branches 
 well covered with leaves and flowers of brilliant and 
 attractive colours, giving altogether a most delightful 
 shade and protection from the heat. When the 
 people saw this they sought the shade of the tree of 
 Falsehood, so that it became the resort of all the idle 
 and others from the villages round, who sought its 
 protection, and were there taught by Falsehood the 
 art of deception and untruthfulness. In this manner,
 
 THE TREE OF FALSEHOOD. 193 
 
 he taught some the art of telling the He simple, as 
 making promises, saying, ' Dear sir, I will do so and 
 so, never intending, at the same time, to do it. To 
 others, the lie double, as swearing homage and pro- 
 mise of service, knowing at the time that they are 
 uttering a falsehood, and practising deception. Also 
 the lie malicious, which is the most fatal of all, as it 
 is falsehood and deceit under the colour of truth. In 
 this art Falsehood was very learned, and so skilfully 
 did he convey his instruction to all those who took 
 shelter under his tree, that there was scarcely a man 
 who was not an adept in this art; so attractive, 
 indeed, was this to the people, either from the beauty 
 of the tree or the protection which it afforded, that 
 nearly every one became subservient to this master, 
 so that, in the end, people who were really honest 
 scarcely dared to speak the truth or esteem themselves. 
 
 " Now Falsehood, rinding himself so flattered and 
 honoured, began to despise Truth, who still remained 
 hidden under the earth, so that no man living knew 
 where to find her, or thought of seeking for her. 
 
 " Truth, finding in the end that she had nothing 
 but the roots of the tree apportioned to her by 
 Falsehood, began gnawing and tearing them ; and 
 although the tree had, as before mentioned, fine 
 branches, luxuriant foliage, and brilliant flowers 
 affording a grateful shade, with every promise still 
 it perished without bearing fruit, from Truth eating 
 the root thereof. 
 
 "One day, when Falsehood and his disciples 
 
 13
 
 194 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 were quietly reposing beneath the shade of his 
 tree, a gust of wind blew it down, the root thereof 
 being destroyed, and, falling on Falsehood, it 
 seriously injured him, besides wounding many of 
 his companions. It was then that Truth issued 
 from her subterranean abode, and standing by 
 the wreck of the fallen tree, proclaimed aloud how 
 all the treachery of Falsehood had only tended, 
 as they saw, to his own destruction. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, observe well that 
 falsehood, like the tree, has wide-spreading branches, 
 with its flowers, representing its sayings, its thoughts, 
 its deceptive pleasures, enticing many under its 
 shade, waiting for the fruit which never comes to 
 perfection, and, if perchance it should, is never 
 enjoyed. Now, if your enemies make use of the 
 deceptive wisdom of falsehood, your only alter- 
 native is to be on your guard against them. Never 
 be led to be one of their companions in this art, 
 envy not their apparent success, which can only end 
 in disgrace and discomfort to themselves. Flatter- 
 ing as it may appear, it will end, like the tree of 
 falsehood, in the destruction of those who seek its 
 protection ; and, although truth may be despised and 
 hidden for a time, yet esteem her, and attach your- 
 self to her as the only good whereby you can succeed 
 in this world and obtain salvation and the grace of 
 God in the other." 
 
 Count Lucanor was much pleased with the advice 
 which Patronio gave him, and acted upon it.
 
 THE Fox's DEVICE. 195 
 
 Don Juan, liking the example, had it written in 
 this book, and made the following verses : 
 
 Adhere to truth, from falsehood fly; 
 For evil follows all who lie. 
 
 CHAPTER XLTT. 
 
 Of what happened to a Fox who pretended 
 to be dead. 
 
 [OUNT LUCANOR, upon another oc- 
 casion, sought the advice of Patronio, 
 informing him that he had a relation in 
 a distant land, whose possessions were 
 so very small that he could scarcely defend himself 
 against his more powerful neighbours, " who, feeling 
 their superiority, leave no means untried to vex and 
 annoy him ; and he is so wearied of this daily suffer- 
 ing, that he is willing, at any cost, to free himself 
 therefrom. I, too, am anxious to see him at ease." 
 
 To which Patronio replied : " My lord, in order 
 that you may best know how to advise your relation 
 in this serious difficulty, allow me to relate to you 
 what happened to a fox who feigned death. 
 
 "A fox one night entered a hen-house, and, after 
 causing much destruction amongst the fowls, found, 
 when he was about to return to cover, that it was 
 already daylight and that the people were about.
 
 196 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 Seeing that he could no longer conceal himself, he 
 furtively went into the street, where he lay down, 
 feigning death. 
 
 "When the people saw him lying there ap- 
 parently dead they paid no attention to him, until a 
 man who passed shortly after, observing, as he 
 diought, a dead fox, remarked that hair from the 
 forehead of a fox was an excellent remedy against 
 convulsions in children. So, taking out his scissors 
 he clipped some hair from the forehead of the fox. 
 Others, passing by, had a notion that the fur from 
 the back and loins of a fox was good in some other 
 complaint, and so on, until they nearly deprived him 
 of all his fur. Still, the fox never moved, feeling 
 that his loss was comparatively trifling. Others 
 came, saying that the nails of a fox's foot were 
 an infallible remedy against sudden fear, and tore 
 them off. Still the fox gave no signs of life. 
 Another, believing a fox's tooth to be a cure for the 
 toothache, drew one of his teeth. At last a man 
 came, saying a fox's heart was infallible in heart 
 disease, and took out his knife to cut out the fox's 
 heart, which the animal perceiving, and knowing 
 that he should now lose his life if he delayed, 
 resolved, no matter at what risk, to endeavour to 
 save himself; and he succeeded and escaped. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, will, by this example, 
 see how you should advise your friend not to heed 
 slight infringements, but to let them pass by unnoticed, 
 unless, indeed, his honour is impugned. A man
 
 " So, talcing out his scissors."
 
 BETTER PART OF VALOUR. 197 
 
 need never blush at not being as strong as his neigh- 
 bours, so long as he is contented. He only need 
 feel shame who knows not how to suffer or to resist ; 
 but, when there is real danger, then he should risk' 
 everything in defence of his right and honour, for 
 this is of greater value than life itself." 
 
 And the Count approved of this advice. Don 
 Juan, also considering this a good example, desired 
 that it should be written in this book, and composed 
 the following verses : 
 
 The ills that touch not life contented bear ; 
 Avoid the rest with utmost skill and care. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Don Manuel anticipated by some few years the archpriest of 
 Hita, in whose poems we find the above tale recited (see Sanchez, 
 " Poesias anteriores al Siglo, xv." 1795). The details, however, 
 differ from Don Manuel in some respects, insomuch as that it is a 
 cobbler who cuts off the tail of the fox to make a pair of soft 
 shoes, or some such thing. Then a surgeon takes away a part of 
 his jaw, as a cure for the toothache ; an old woman then deprives 
 him of an eye, to cure the pallor of young girls ; a doctor next 
 cuts off his ear, as a remedy for ear complaints. The fox, how- 
 ever, in the same manner as told by Don Manuel, preserves his 
 life by a resolute escape.
 
 198 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIII. 
 
 What happened to two blind Men travelling 
 together. 
 
 \T another time when Count Lucanor 
 was conversing with his friend Pa- 
 tronio, he said to him, " I have a rela- 
 tion in whom I have great confidence, 
 and I am certain that he is much attached to me. 
 Now he wishes me to undertake an expedition with 
 him. I am myself by no means desirous of joining 
 him, as I have doubts of its success ; but he assures 
 me I have nothing to fear, and that he would rather 
 suffer death than that I should receive any injury. I 
 beg, therefore, you will give me your opinion as to 
 my proceeding." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " for this purpose it is 
 desirable you should hear what happened to two 
 blind men travelling together." 
 
 The Count desiring to know what that was, 
 Patronio continued as follows : 
 
 " A blind man, who lived in a city, was, upon one 
 occasion, visited by a man likewise blind, who 
 proposed that they should both go to a neighbouring 
 town, and endeavour to maintain themselves by
 
 It was not long after, they arrived at the dangerous part 
 of the road."
 
 THE Two BLIND MEN. 199 
 
 charity, when the other remarked that the road was 
 so hilly and dangerous that he feared to go. 
 
 " ' But,' replied the other, ' have no fear, for I 
 will go with you and take care of you/ pointing out 
 to him, at the same time, so many advantages that 
 would accrue from going there, that he trusted in 
 his companion, and they both went. 
 
 " It was not long after they had arrived at the 
 dangerous part of the road, when the blind man 
 who led the way fell, bringing down with him his 
 companion who had feared to undertake the journey. 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if your fears are well 
 founded, and the expedition is really dangerous, do 
 not allow your friend to persuade you to join in the 
 undertaking, for his dying for you would, under 
 misfortune, benefit you nothing." 
 
 The Count followed the advice with advantage, 
 and Don Juan, thinking well of the example, had it 
 written in this book, and composed the following 
 couplet to be placed at the end : 
 
 Be not induced to take a false direction 
 By promises of safeguard or protection. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This narrative may be considered as founded on the wise 
 parable of Jesus, wherein He said to His disciples, "Can the 
 blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?" 
 This same precaution to avoid being led physically by incapable, 
 or morally by designing persons, to the ruin of your estate here or 
 your salvation hereafter, has been proverbialized by all nations.
 
 2OO COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XLIV. 
 
 Of what happened to a young Man on his 
 Wedding Day. 
 
 *NE day Count Lucanor was talking 
 to Patronio his counsellor, and said to 
 him, " Patronio, one of my dependants 
 tells me he can make a very advan- 
 tageous marriage with a woman much richer and 
 more honourable than himself; but there is one dif- 
 ficulty in the way, which is this, he tells me he has 
 been informed that she is of a very violent and im- 
 petuous temper. Now I beg you to counsel me 
 whether I should allow him to marry this woman, 
 knowing such to be her disposition, or whether I 
 should forbid it." 
 
 "Count Lucanor," replied Patronio, "if the man 
 is like the son of a good man, a Moor, advise the 
 marriage by all means ; but if such be not the case, 
 forbid it." 
 
 The Count begged of him to relate the narra- 
 tive. 
 
 "There lived in a city," said Patronio, "a Moor 
 who was much respected, and who had a son, the most 
 promising youth in the world ; but, not being rich 
 enough to accomplish the great deeds which he felt
 
 AN UNDESIRABLE MATCH. 201 
 
 in his heart equal to, he was greatly troubled, having 
 the will and not the power. 
 
 "Now in the same town there lived another 
 Moor, who held a higher position, and was very 
 much richer than his father, and who had an only 
 daughter, the very reverse in character and appear- 
 ance of the young man, she being of so very violent 
 a temper that no one could be found willing to 
 marry such a virago. 
 
 " One day the young man came to his father, and 
 said, 'You know that your means will not allow 
 you to put me in a position to live honourably,' 
 adding that, as he desired to live an easy and quiet 
 life, he thought it better to seek to enrich himself 
 by an advantageous marriage, or to leave that part 
 of the country. 
 
 "The father told him that he would be very 
 happy if he could succeed in such a union. On 
 this, the son proposed, if it were agreeable to his 
 father, to seek the daughter of their neighbour 
 in marriage. Hearing this, the father was much 
 astonished, and asked how he could think of such 
 a thing, when he knew that no man, however 
 poor, could be induced to marry her. 
 
 " Nevertheless, the son insisted ; and, although the 
 father thought it a strange whim, in the end he gave 
 his consent. The good man then visited his neigh- 
 bour, telling him the wish of his son. 
 
 " When the good man heard what his friend said, 
 he answered, ' By heaven, my friend, were I to do
 
 2O2 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 such a thing I should prove myself a very false friend, 
 for you have a worthy son, and it would be base in 
 me to consent to his injury or death; and I know 
 for certain that, were he to live with my daughter, 
 he would soon die, or death, at least, would be pre- 
 ferable to life. Do not think I say this from any 
 objection to your alliance, for I should only be too 
 grateful to any man who would take her out of my 
 house.' 
 
 "The young man's father was much pleased at 
 this, as his son was so intent on the marriage. All 
 being ultimately arranged, they were in the end 
 married, and the bride taken home, according to the 
 Moorish fashion, to the house of her husband, and 
 left to supper ; the friends and relations returning to 
 their respective homes, waiting anxiously for the 
 following day, when they feared to find the bride- 
 groom either dead or seriously injured. 
 
 " Now, being left alone, the young couple sat down 
 to supper, when the bridegroom, looking behind 
 him, saw his mastiff and said to him, ' Bring me 
 water wherewith to wash my hands.' The dog, 
 naturally taking no notice of this command, the 
 young man became irritated, and ordered the animal 
 more angrily to bring him water for his hands, 
 which the latter not heeding, the young man arose 
 in a great rage, and, drawing his sword, commenced 
 a savage attack on the dog, who, to avoid him 
 ran away; but, finding no retreat, jumped on the 
 table, then to the fireplace, his master still pursuing
 
 " Bring me water for my hands."
 
 CATCHING A TARTAR. 203 
 
 Aim, who, having caught him, first cut off his head, 
 then his paws, hewing him to pieces, covering 
 everything with blood. Thus furious and blood- 
 stained, he returned to the table, and, looking round, 
 saw a cat. 'Bring me water for my hands,' said 
 he to him. The animal not noticing the com- 
 mand, the master cried out, ' How, false traitor, did 
 you not see how I treated the mastiff for disobey- 
 ing me ? if you do not do as I tell you this instant 
 you shall share his fate.' The poor little harm- 
 less cat continuing motionless, the master seized 
 him by the paws and dashed him to pieces against 
 the wall. His fury increasing, he again placed 
 himself at the table, looking about on all sides as 
 if for something to attack next. His wife, seeing 
 this, and supposing he had lost his senses, held her 
 peace. At length he espied his horse, the only one 
 he had, and called to him fiercely to bring him 
 water to wash his hands. The animal not obeying, 
 he cried out in a rage, ' How is this ? Think 
 you that because you are the only horse I have that 
 you dare thus to disobey my orders ? Know then 
 that your fate shall be the same as the others, and 
 that anyone living who dares to disobey me shall 
 not escape my vengeance.' Saying this, he seized 
 the horse, cut off his head, and hacked him to 
 pieces. 
 
 "And when the wife saw this, and knowing he 
 had no other horse, felt that he was really in earnest, 
 she became dreadfully alarmed.
 
 2O4 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " He again sat down to table, raging and all 
 bloody as he was, swearing he would kill a thousand 
 horses, or even men or women, if they dared to 
 disobey him. Holding at the same time his bloody 
 sword in his hand, he looked around with glaring 
 eyes until, fixing them on his wife, he ordered her 
 to bring him water to wash his hands. 
 
 " The wife, expecting no other fate than to be 
 cut to pieces if she demurred, immediately arose and 
 brought him the water. 
 
 "'Ha! thank God you have done so,' said he, 
 ' otherwise, I am so irritated by these senseless brutes 
 that I should have done by you as by them.' He 
 afterwards commanded her to help him to meat. 
 She complied ; but he told her, in a fearful tone of 
 voice, to beware, as he felt as if he was going mad. 
 
 " Thus passed the night ; she not daring to speak, 
 but strictly obeying all his orders. After letting her 
 sleep for a short time, he said to her, 'Get up, I have 
 been so annoyed that I cannot sleep ; take care that 
 nothing disturbs me, and in the meanwhile prepare 
 me a good and substantial meal.' 
 
 " While it was yet early the following morning, the 
 fathers, mothers, and other relatives came stealthily 
 to the door of the young people, and, hearing no 
 movement, feared the bridegroom was either dead or 
 wounded; and, seeing the bride approach the door 
 alone, were still more alarmed. 
 
 " She, seeing them, went cautiously and trem- 
 blingly towards them, and exclaimed : ' Traitors,
 
 TAMING OF A SHREW. 205 
 
 what are you doing ? How dare you approach this 
 gate ? Speak not be silent, or all of us, you as 
 well as I, are dead.' 
 
 " When they heard this they were much astonished, 
 and, on learning what had taken place the night 
 previous, they esteemed the young man very much 
 who had made so good a commencement in the 
 management of his household; and from that day 
 forward his wife became tractable and complaisant, 
 so that they led a very happy life. 
 
 "A few days later, his father-in-law, wishing to 
 follow the example of his son, likewise killed a horse 
 in order to intimidate his wife, but she said to him, 
 ' My friend, it is too late to begin now ; it would not 
 avail you to kill a hundred horses : we know each 
 other too well.' 
 
 "And you, Count Lucanor, if your dependant 
 wishes to marry such a woman, if he be like this 
 young man, advise him that he may do it with safety, 
 for he will know how to rule his house : but if he be 
 not likely to act with resolute determination at the 
 beginning, and to sustain his position in his house- 
 hold, advise him to have nothing to do with her. As 
 also I would counsel you in all cases where you have 
 dealings with men to act with that decision which 
 will leave them no room to think that you can be 
 imposed upon." 
 
 The Count thought this a very good example, 
 and Don Juan had it written in this book, and 
 made these lines, saying :
 
 2o6 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 Who would not for life be a henpeck'd fool 
 Must show, from the first, that he means to rule. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 A translation of the above story, by Mr. F. W. Cosens, was 
 separately printed a short time since, and was copied into the 
 Athceneum of June 29, 1867, with some preliminary remarks 
 calling attention to its remarkable resemblance in general idea 
 to the "Taming of the Shrew" a resemblance which Tick- 
 nor was the first to point out in 1848 (" History of Spanish 
 Literature," vol. i. p. 66), and which had escaped the notice 
 of all the Shakespearian editors and commentators. 
 
 As the Editio Princeps of "El Conde Lucanor" was pub- 
 lished at Madrid in 1575, it is, of course, possible that Shake- 
 speare may have seen the book, or, if not, that he may have 
 heard the story from one of the wits and poets of Elizabeth's 
 court 
 
 In a French work, entitled, "La Collection de Legrand 
 D'Aussy," will be found a similar tale to Don Manuel's 
 "La Dame qui fut corrige'e," where the same remedies are 
 employed, but with greater brutality, as the husband, not 
 content with killing his dogs and his horse, beats his wife 
 and knocks out the eye of a disobedient servant. Again, 
 we find the same subject in two Italian works ; one is in 
 the fourth volume "Novelliero Italiano," which has been 
 prettily arranged for the French stage, under the title of "La 
 Jeune Femme Colere;" and again, there is the same tale 
 found in the "Notti Piacevole di Straparola." Two brothers, 
 having married two sisters, on leaving the church for their re- 
 spective homes, one brother presented his wife with a pair of 
 trowsers and two sticks, proposing to her that she should decide 
 which was to be master. She immediately acknowledged his 
 superior right. He then led her to the stables, under the pre- 
 text of showing her his horses, and, finding one that was restive, 
 beat him and killed him. The wife profiting by this example,
 
 THE VENDOR OF BRAINS. 207 
 
 the husband had ever after only to extol her mildness and 
 obedience. The other began very differently; being too much 
 in love with his wife, he allowed her to gain a complete ascend- 
 ency over him, and thus caused his misery. At length he 
 went to consult his brother, who informed him of what he 
 had done. On returning home, this foolish husband led his 
 wife to the stable, and killed a horse in her presence; he then 
 offered her the trowsers and two sticks, requesting her to choose, 
 but she laughed at him ; so that he only lost a horse for his 
 pains. 
 
 From the resemblance of this and the like tales to Don 
 Manuel's account of "What happened to a Young Man on 
 his Wedding Day," written in the fourteenth century, it is 
 pretty clear that he was the originator of the idea. 
 
 CHAPTER XLV. 
 
 Of what happened to a Merchant who went to 
 buy Brains. 
 
 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."
 
 208 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 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 whom 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 pre- 
 sented 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. 
 
 * A Spanish copper coin, thirty-four of which make a real 
 de vellon, which is about threepence English.
 
 " Told him that when he should find himself in a rage never to 
 act on the impulse of his feelings."
 
 A DOLLAR'S WORTH OF WIT. 209 
 
 " Now it happened that this trader, having occa- 
 sion 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 come 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 
 still 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 
 
 14
 
 2io COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 from his hiding-place, intending to kill them ; 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.
 
 SOBER REFLECTION. 211 
 
 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 e la madre di pensieri," 
 " Night is the mother of thoughts." Neither should it ever be for- 
 gotten that we may some day be reconciled to the person who 
 now excites our passion, and live to regret the too hasty utter- 
 ance 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 propor- 
 tionate to their worth.
 
 212 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVI. 
 
 What happened to a Man with a grey Sand-piper and 
 a Swallow. 
 
 N another occasion, Count Lucanor, 
 speaking with Patronio, said, " Patro- 
 nio, 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 there- 
 fore only remained for him to decide which should 
 be removed. 
 
 " To this the old man replied that the swallows
 
 A CHOICE OF EVILS. 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 sands 
 and shingly shores of the sea coast. It is a noisy bird, and utters 
 shrill and wailing cries.
 
 "214 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 CHAPTER XLVII. 
 
 What happened to the Devil, with a Woman who 
 went on a Pilgrimage. 
 
 LUCANOR, conversing one day 
 with Patronio, his counsellor, said, 
 "Patronio, I and some other persons 
 were talking together lately, and in- 
 quiring 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 understand- 
 ing, 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
 
 " He met an evil-disposed woman in the guise of a pilgrim."
 
 THE DEVIL'S COADJUTRIX. 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 them, 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 arrange- 
 ments 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 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 "The good wife, believing in her word, unfor- 
 tunately 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 hus- 
 band is becoming so indifferent to you ; and, that
 
 CONSULTING A SOOTHSAYER. 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 con- 
 sulted, 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 follow- 
 ing manner. She then suggested that he should come
 
 218 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 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
 
 THE FATAL RAZOR. 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 
 irom 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 religions cats or 'sancti- 
 monious 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 and attract 
 attention." 
 
 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
 
 22O COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 in this book, and composed the following lines, 
 which say : 
 
 The doings, not the semblance, heed, 
 Wouldst thou from evil chance be freed. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 We are strongly inclined to believe that Moliere, in writing 
 his celebrated "Tartuffe," had in view the fable of Don Manuel. 
 Although the characters introduced are not exactly alike, yet 
 his severe criticisms on the hypocrisy of the abbes 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. 
 
 |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 his 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 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 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
 
 " Wandering alone among the mountains he chanced to meet 
 the devil " . .
 
 DON MARTIN. 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. Neverthe- 
 less, 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 which 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 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 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. 
 The 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 they were 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 to- 
 morrow. 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 tho
 
 LYING WONDERS. 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 Nunez 
 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. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 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 con- 
 formity with the opinion he desired to propagate. The Devil 
 
 15
 
 226 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 he shows us as the first of all sorcerers, and makes him powerft.1 
 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."
 
 CHAPTER XLIX. 
 
 What happened to Don Lorenzo Xuares Gallinato, 
 when he beheaded the renegade Priest. 
 
 LUCANOR, speaking one day 
 with Patronio, said to him, "A man 
 came to me recently offering his ser- 
 vices. I know him to be a good man, 
 nevertheless I have heard so many tales about him 
 that I am undecided as to accepting his offers. 
 Now, as I know your ability to give me good 
 advice, I beg you to tell me what I should do in 
 this affair." 
 
 "Count Lucanor," said Patronio, "in order that 
 you may know how best to act in this affair, allow 
 me to relate to you what happened to Don Lorenzo 
 Xuares Gallinato." 
 
 The Count desiring to know what that was, 
 Patronio spoke as follows : 
 
 " Don Lorenzo Xuares Gallinato lived a long 
 time in the service of the King of Granada, and 
 when it pleased God to restore him to the favour of 
 the holy King Ferdinand, this latter asked Don 
 Lorenzo one day how he ever hoped for mercy and 
 salvation, having so long served the Moors against 
 the Christians. 
 
 " Don Lorenzo replied that he thought he had
 
 228 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 never done anything very offensive to God, unless 
 it was that he once had killed a priest. 
 
 " King Ferdinand, thinking this a very grievous 
 sin, asked him how it happened : to which he 
 replied that, being in the service of the King of 
 Granada, who trusted everything to him, and being 
 an officer of the body-guard, he one day accom- 
 panied the king, on horseback, to the city, where 
 they heard in a street a riotous noise, as if made by 
 many people. On putting spurs to his horse and 
 advancing to ascertain the cause of the tumult, he 
 found a Christian priest surrounded by people to 
 whom he declared his intention to become a mussul- 
 man and deliver over to them the God in whom the 
 Christians believed and trusted. This unhappy 
 traitor, having procured vestments and raised an 
 altar, celebrated mass thereon, and, after consecrat- 
 ing the sacred Host, delivered it over to the people, 
 who commenced its desecration by dragging it 
 through the streets and treating it with every mark 
 of opprobrium. Seeing this, he, although living 
 among the Moors, remembering he was a Christian, 
 and firmly believing the dogma of his faith, and 
 that what they were insulting was the body of 
 Christ Jesus who had died for the redemption of 
 sinners, thought this was a happy occasion to risk 
 his own life to save from further insult the sacred 
 Host, and revenge those outrages which had been 
 already offered to it ; so, descending from his horse, 
 drew his sword and slew the offending priest. He
 
 " Drew his sword and slew the offending priest.
 
 THE APOSTATE PUNISHED. 229 
 
 then knelt down in adoration before God who had 
 been so insulted. At this the Moors became out- 
 rageous, attacking him with sticks and stones, and 
 causing a great uproar, which the king hearing, rode 
 forward to inquire the cause, finding Lorenzo, sword 
 in hand, defending himself against the Moors, who 
 sought to kill him. He called upon the people to 
 desist, at the same time inquiring the cause of the 
 disturbance, which the Moors related to him with 
 great anger, and how Don Lorenzo had killed the 
 priest. The king demanded to know how he had 
 dared to do so without orders ; when Don Lorenzo 
 simply answered that he was a Christian, and that, 
 as the king trusted the care of his person to him, 
 his loyalty and duty would ever compel him to 
 suffer death rather than that the sacred person of 
 his majesty should be insulted, so his duty as a 
 Christian obliged him to sacrifice his life in defence 
 of the sacred body of the King of kings and Lord of 
 lords ; if his majesty desired to punish him for this, 
 he was ready to submit to his commands. The 
 king, hearing this, understanding his motives, and 
 knowing his fidelity, appreciated him and loved 
 him more. 
 
 " And you, Count Lucanor, if you know this man 
 is really trustworthy, heed not what is said against 
 him, but act as the King of Granada did towards 
 Don Lorenzo Xuares Gallinato ; but, if you think 
 the man deceives you and is unworthy of your con- 
 fidence, avoid accepting his offer of service."
 
 230 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 The Count was much pleased with the advice 
 which Patronio had given him. And Don Juan, 
 liking the example, had it written in this book, and 
 wrote the following couplet: 
 
 Many things unreasonable seem, 
 
 Which, when better known, we find deserve esteem. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 This chapter is wanting in the early editions of " Count Lucanor," 
 and the void is explained by the defective state of the manuscript 
 apparently used by Argote de Molina, which is that supposed to 
 have come from the convent of Penafiel, to which it was be- 
 queathed by the author. Fortunately, another manuscript has 
 been discovered in the National Library of Madrid, containing 
 the whole of the fable, which is given in the excellent edition cf 
 Don Pascual de Gayangos (Madrid, 1860).
 
 231 
 
 CHAPTER L. 
 
 Concerning that which happened to Saladin and a 
 Lady, wife of a Knight in his service. 
 
 OUNT LUCANOR spoke to Patronio 
 one day in the following manner : 
 
 " Patronio, I know for certain that 
 you have an excellent understanding, 
 and that there is no man on earth better able to give 
 advice in any case than you ; I pray you, therefore, 
 to tell me what, in your opinion, is the best qualifi- 
 cation a man can possess. I am more needful of 
 your opinion because I am conscious how many 
 qualities a man requires to enable him to act well 
 and with success ; for a man may have a good 
 understanding, and, nevertheless, not act well. 
 Such being the case, I desire to know the one 
 thing most essential for me to remember and 
 cherish under all circumstances." 
 
 " My lord," said Patronio, " I thank you for your 
 praise, but more especially for the honour you do 
 me in appreciating my understanding. Nevertheless, 
 I fear you may err in this particular, knowing as I 
 well do, how easy it is to deceive ourselves in our 
 judgment of mankind, as we have to determine two 
 things : the one, what is the disposition of a man ;
 
 232 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 and the other, what is his understanding. Now, to 
 clearly know what is a man's real character we must 
 see how he acts towards God, as also what is his 
 conduct towards the world ; for, much as he may 
 aypear to do good works, and allowing that he 
 really may perform some good and worthy actions, 
 yet these may be directed only to his greater advan- 
 tage in this world ; so that all this specious virtue 
 and merit, which certainly serves its purpose for 
 the day, will be found void of all solid foundation, 
 and will not exempt a man from the suffering 
 consequent upon sin. 
 
 "Now others perform their good works for the 
 service of God only, regarding not the world. We 
 all know this is the better part, being that which 
 will secure for us eternal happiness in the future ; 
 nevertheless, those who elect either the one or the 
 other extreme should consider well the course they 
 are pursuing the one acts and lives only for this 
 world, the other is quite regardless thereof. 
 
 " Now, as man owes a duty both to God and to 
 the world, he should so regulate his conduct as to 
 perform good actions, guided by purity of intention 
 in all things a task almost as difficult to accomplish 
 as to hold his hand in the fire without feeling the 
 heat. 
 
 " It is, therefore, right that a man should, in all 
 his actions, consider that he owes a united duty to 
 God and man, for there have been many good kings 
 and holy men who have fulfilled these two duties.
 
 PATRONIO'S DISCOURSE. 233 
 
 " Again, to judge a man's understanding, requires 
 us to weigh well his good works. Many men are 
 found with good solid sense, who cannot at the same 
 time speak two sentences correctly ; whilst others 
 act perfectly, if you believe their own recital and 
 description of what they do and intend doing ; 
 nevertheless, their deeds are of small value. 
 
 " How is it, then, that men act so well in their 
 own opinion and so contrariwise according to the 
 ideas of others ? like to those whom the Scripture 
 calls fools running about with drawn swords in 
 their hands, always ready to destroy all who con- 
 tradict them ; or, as princes who abuse their might 
 and power. 
 
 " Now, that you may be able to judge which man 
 is most pleasing to God and the world, who pos- 
 sesses a real good understanding, whose intentions 
 are pure, and whose words deserve credence, you 
 must carefully judge them by their works ; and this 
 must not be done hastily and without due considera- 
 tion, but you must cautiously watch, even if for a 
 considerable period, in order to ascertain if prudence, 
 justice, a kind regard for the feelings of others, and 
 a true spirit of charity guide their words and deeds. 
 
 " I have entered into a consideration of the 
 motives which should and do influence men, 
 particularly as you have paid me so honourable 
 a compliment, which, perhaps, after a mature con- 
 sideration, you might not feel inclined hastily to 
 repeat, in order that you may decide for yourself
 
 234 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 which is the qualification most essential and most 
 beneficial to man ; and I will farther relate to you the 
 story of Saladin, and the wife of one of his vassals." 
 
 The Count begged to be allowed to hear this. 
 
 "Count/' said Patronio, "Saladin was Sultan of 
 Babylon, and being one day on an expedition with 
 a mighty train of knights and attendants, he found 
 it was impossible to lodge them all in the same house 
 with himself, so he resolved to go and ask for accom- 
 modation at the residence of one of his vassals for 
 himself, who seeing his sovereign at his humble 
 dwelling, felt himself highly honoured thereby, and 
 both he and his wife paid the Sultan every attention, 
 ministering personally to all his wants. It happened 
 that the Devil, who is ever seeking how he can 
 tempt men to vice and folly, inspired Saladin with 
 a violent passion for the wife of his host, and as 
 unfortunately bad advisers, false friends, and abet- 
 tors are never wanting, one of these latter counselled 
 Saladin to send away the woman's husband on a 
 confidential mission, pointing out that, during his 
 absence, the wife would be in the Sultan's power. 
 Now this advice pleased Saladin very much, so he 
 decided on removing the husband to a distant part 
 of his dominions. A few days after the latter's 
 departure the Sultan returned to take up his abode 
 at the house of his vassal, and the wife, grateful for 
 all the benefits conferred on her house, did all in 
 her power to please her sovereign, urging all her 
 domestics to carefully attend to his wants.
 
 She feigned, however, not to comprehend his meaning."
 
 SALADIN AND THE LADY. 235 
 
 "One day, on rising from table, Saladin passed 
 into his own private apartments, and sent to ac- 
 quaint the lady that he desired her attendance there. 
 She, not suspecting evil, immediately went, and was 
 both pained and surprised at hearing the Sultan 
 declare how much he loved her. She feigned, how- 
 ever, not to comprehend his meaning, replying she 
 was quite unworthy his regard, and that she daily 
 prayed to God for his long life and happiness, as 
 she was in duty bound, he being her lord and 
 master, and that she never could forget his noble 
 conduct towards her husband. 
 
 "After listening to her, Saladin replied that he 
 loved her more than any other woman in the world. 
 Nevertheless, she still appeared not to rightly un- 
 derstand his meaning, but was profuse in her 
 professions of respect and gratitude. 
 
 " At length the Sultan was obliged to declare in 
 plain language the nature of his passion, when the 
 woman, who was as clever as she was virtuous, 
 adroitly changed the conversation : ' My lord/ said 
 she, ' I am only a poor weak woman ; still I know 
 that men are not always masters of their feelings 
 and passions, so it may be that you really love me as 
 you say you do ; but this I do know, that when a 
 man, particularly a great one like you, is influenced 
 by a woman's charms and seeks her favour, he 
 makes her most flattering promises, but that, as 
 soon as he has gratified his unworthy passion, he 
 crushes her under the weight of her own dishonour,
 
 236 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 and basely turns his back on her; and such treat- 
 ment I should richly merit were I to listen to your 
 declarations, which, believe me, I will neither hear 
 nor accept.' 
 
 " Saladin vainly endeavoured to persuade her she 
 had nothing to fear, as he would ever be constant 
 and true, protesting that, if she would but grant him 
 a favourable hearing, he would gratify all her wishes 
 and desires. 
 
 " ' Well, then,' she replied, ' since you are willing 
 to gratify all my caprices, I promise you that as 
 soon as I find you are faithful to your word, I, 
 too, will do all you desire of me.' 
 
 " Saladin thought she was going to beg of him, as 
 a favour, to renounce his love for her, and hastened 
 to make this an exceptional circumstance from his 
 general promise. She reassured him, however, say- 
 ing she did not require this nor any other sacrifice 
 beyond his strength. ' Ah, then,' cried he, ' I will 
 solemnly swear to do all you ask me.' 
 
 " The noble and virtuous lady, tranquillised by his 
 promise, knelt before him, kissing his hands and feet. 
 She then told him all she desired was that he should 
 tell her what he considered the best thing a man could 
 possess, and which is the head and foundation of all 
 other virtues, being greater in itself than all others. 
 
 "Now Saladin, hearing this question, began to 
 think what answer he should give, and finally asked 
 the good woman to grant him some time to think 
 the matter over ; to which she consented, promising
 
 THE SULTAN'S QUEST. 237 
 
 that, as soon as he replied to her question, she 
 would, as she had told him, comply with all his 
 wishes. So, for the present, ended the discussion 
 between them. 
 
 " The Sultan now sought his suite and attendants, 
 and began questioning them, in order that he might 
 find a suitable answer to the proposition which had 
 been made to him. 
 
 "Some told him that, in their opinion, a life of 
 piety and devotion and a hope centered solely on 
 God and eternity was the greatest possession men 
 could desire ; whilst others remarked, that a life 
 entirely given to spiritual concerns and neglectful of 
 the duties due to our state and position could not be 
 good. Some now proposed that loyalty was the 
 best qualification for men ; but others remarked, 
 that a man might be very loyal, nevertheless he 
 might be stupid, cowardly, and rude. And so they 
 continued, each one giving some opinion ; none, 
 however, satisfying the Sultan as to the question he 
 had proposed. 
 
 " Saladin, not finding amongst his own court any 
 who could reply to his question, sought out two 
 jugglers, with whom, disguised in their dress, he 
 secretly travelled both by sea and land to seek in all 
 countries a suitable reply to the question. They first 
 went to the Papal court, knowing it to be the resort 
 of Christians from all parts, hoping there to find 
 some one able to solve their difficulty ; after which 
 they went to France, to see if, among kings, they
 
 238 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 would succeed better. As time passed on they 
 began to regret heartily the task they had under- 
 taken, for it appeared a man possessing discernment 
 enough to solve this question was not easily to be 
 met with, and possibly would have abandoned the 
 undertaking had not shame at being thought indolent 
 and careless prevented their so doing. Saladin did 
 not think of giving up all hope, because he had not 
 as yet found a solution in or out of his own dominions. 
 
 " It happened that one day, as the Sultan and the 
 jugglers were travelling, they accidently met on the 
 road a young esquire who was hunting, and had 
 just killed a stag. Now this young man had a very 
 old and feeble father who, in his younger days, was 
 considered the best sportsman in that country, but 
 now, from old age and infirmities, was confined to 
 his chair, still he preserved his understanding as 
 clear and able as when young, age having respected 
 his mental faculties. The young huntsman was 
 coming gaily from the chase, and, meeting the Sultan 
 and his jugglers, he asked them who they were and 
 what they sought. Hearing they were jugglers, he 
 invited them to accompany him home for that night. 
 But they excused themselves, saying they were in 
 great haste, it being very long since they had left 
 their country in search of a particular errand which 
 they could not complete to their satisfaction ; so that 
 they could not, although willing to do so, accept his 
 kind offer. 
 
 " Now the young man questioned them so closely
 
 " Met on the road a young esquire who was hunting.'"
 
 THE SULTAN'S INQUIRY. 239 
 
 that they could not help telling him their errand, to 
 which he replied that, in his belief, his own father 
 was the only man on earth capable of helping them, 
 for, if he could not answer the question, no man 
 living could. 
 
 " When Saladin, who was disguised as a juggler, 
 heard this he was much pleased, and they all followed 
 the young man to his house, who entered gaily, 
 telling his father that he had been most fortunate at 
 the chase, and had met these men on his road home ; 
 whereupon, explaining their difficulties, he besought 
 his father to do his best to satisfactorily answer their 
 question. 
 
 " The old man soon discovered that the one who in- 
 terrogated him was not in reality a juggler, but acting 
 a part. He told his son that, after they had dined, 
 he would reply to any question they might ask him. 
 
 "The young esquire told this to Saladin, whom 
 he believed to be a juggler, which pleased him much. 
 As soon, however, as the tablecloth was removed 
 after the repast, and the jugglers were ready, the old 
 man told his son to ask them to repeat their question, 
 assuring them that he would do his best to give a 
 satisfactory answer, no man having yet done so. 
 
 " When Saladin, still disguised, spoke, saying that 
 the question was, ' What is the greatest qualification 
 a man can possess, and which is the foundation of 
 all other virtues ? ' 
 
 "The old man, hearing this, understood well its 
 meaning, and at once recognized Saladin, having
 
 240 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 spent a long time at his court in former days and re- 
 ceived from him many favours and marks of esteem ; 
 he therefore said to him, ' My friend, the first 
 answer I will give you is this, that never before to- 
 day have jugglers been admitted to my house, and 
 know that what I should now do would be to pro- 
 claim to all present the many favours and benefits I 
 have received from you ; nevertheless, I will hold 
 my peace till such time as I have had a private 
 interview with you, not wishing to do aught which 
 might displease you. Know, therefore, now that 
 the greatest possession a man can own, and the source 
 of all other virtues is honour, for a man will suffer 
 death to defend his honour, it being, as it should be, 
 his dearest treasure. For honour's sake a man re- 
 frains from doing that which he believes to be wrong, 
 let his desire be ever so great. Hence, we see, 
 honour is the most desirable thing a man can possess, 
 it being the beginning and ending of all virtue and 
 goodness, the source and crown of all. So a loss of 
 the sense of shame is the greatest evil that can befall 
 a man.' 
 
 " Now, when the Sultan heard these words, he 
 understood that the old man spoke truly and justly, 
 and, having thanked him for the explanation and also 
 for his hospitality, prepared to depart with his com- 
 panions, not, however, before the old man had in- 
 formed him that, notwithstanding his disguise, he 
 had recognized him from the first. 
 
 " Saladin, thanking his host for his polite atten-
 
 THE GREATEST TREASURE. 241 
 
 tion, and more particularly for the solution of the 
 question, returned with all haste to his own domi- 
 nions, where, on his arrival, he was received with 
 every demonstration of joy. After a little while he 
 sought the residence of the lady who had proposed 
 the question he was to reply to. She received him 
 with every mark of respect and consideration, and in- 
 sisted on his partaking of refreshments ; after which 
 Saladin related all the trouble and journeying it had 
 cost him to have her question solved, but that, at last, 
 he had happily succeeded in finding what he believed 
 to be a suitable answer ; and that, having thus ful- 
 filled his promise, he hoped the lady would now 
 keep hers made to him. To which she replied, 
 ' Most certainly, provided the answer is satisfactory 
 to my mind.' 
 
 "The Sultan said, 'Madam, you asked me what 
 was the greatest treasure a man could possess, and 
 which in itself was the author and source of all virtue 
 and goodness. Now I answer honour, which is 
 the source and foundation of all virtue.' 
 
 " The good lady, hearing this reply, rejoiced very 
 much, and said, ' Sire, now I feel you have spoken 
 truth to me, and have really fulfilled your promise. 
 Now I ask you, as a king, to reply truly to the 
 question I am going to propose ; do you think there 
 is a man in the world possessed of more honour than 
 yourself ? ' 
 
 " Satadin replied that, although he felt loth to 
 answer on his own account, still, truth obliged him 
 
 16
 
 242 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 to say that he believed no man to be more honour- 
 able than himself. 
 
 " The good lady, hearing this, prostrated herself 
 at the Sultan's feet, saying, in a clear, distinct voice, 
 ' Sire, you have told me two great truths ; first, that 
 honour is a man's richest possession ; again, that you 
 believe no man can be more honourable than your- 
 self. It only now remains for you to prove the 
 reality of your words by renouncing your intentions 
 and relinquishing your proposals.' 
 
 " The Sultan was suddenly struck at hearing these 
 words uttered by the lady, and immediately under- 
 stood how she, by a happy stratagem, had saved him 
 from committing a grievous sin and a base and 
 dishonourable action. Thanking God, therefore, 
 and felicitating the lady for her virtue and prudence, 
 he assured her that he loved her more than ever, but 
 with the truth and loyalty of a sincere and noble 
 affection. He now recalled her husband from his 
 distant command, and bestowed such rank, and riches, 
 and honours on their house that their descendants 
 now occupy the first posts in their country ; and all 
 these happy results are due to the virtue of this 
 noble woman, who felt in her heart, as she exem- 
 plified in her conduct, that honour is a man's first 
 and richest jewel, the source and foundation of all 
 happiness. 
 
 " And as you, Count Lucanor, have requested me 
 to inform you what is the most desirable thing for a 
 man to possess in himself ; so I tell you it is honour. 
 And be convinced that no solid virtue can exist where
 
 HONOUR. 243 
 
 it is not. It makes men courageous, frank, loyal, 
 polished in their manners, kind and charitable in 
 their dealings with their fellow-men. It enables 
 them to subdue their bad passions, correct irregular 
 desires, and curb their disordered wills ; its impulses 
 lead men to ever do that which they ought, and 
 which is their duty, as it enables them to avoid what 
 is wrong and unfit for them to perform. People 
 sadly deceive themselves who imagine their ill doings 
 are concealed because performed in secret, for every 
 evil deed must see the light sooner or later. If we 
 feel shame at doing wrong, how much more abashed 
 shall we not feel at seeing our misdeeds discovered. 
 Even a child, when about to do wrong, will depart 
 from it, through fear of shame, without reflecting 
 that God, who sees and knows all things, will render 
 unto all according to their works. And now, my 
 lord, I think I have given you a clear and definite 
 answer to all your inquiries, and I have to thank you 
 for the untiring attention you have kindly given to 
 all these details. But it is certainly more than I 
 can say for many of your suite, and especially of those 
 who have neither the talent of attention nor the de- 
 sire to understand those things which would improve 
 them. I would compare them to those beasts laden 
 with gold, who feel the weight which they are 
 destined to carry, but have no knowledge of its 
 value ; so these only feel fatigue at that which they 
 hear, without being able to appreciate its worth or 
 derive any benefit from it.
 
 244 COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 " And now, having replied to this, as to all your 
 other demands, to the best of my ability, heedless of 
 the disgust my words may have occasioned to some, 
 I pray you to make no other requests, in order that 
 with this example the book may be finished." 
 
 And Don Juan, holding this to be a good ex- 
 ample, caused it to be written in this book, and 
 composed these lines, which say as follows : 
 
 "Tis honour chases evil from the heart ; 
 By honour man acts rightly without art 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 In translating this chapter I have thought it better to use 
 the word " honour," instead of " shame," which is really the 
 literal meaning of the original "verguenza;" for, although 
 honour is a word coined since Don Manuel's day, yet it is clear 
 that it is the qualification he wished to express in his recital 
 that noble and generous sentiment which was the soul of chi- 
 valry, and was held next to religion by the heroes of the middle 
 ages. 
 
 Saladin, the hero of this historical drama, has been, from his 
 own day of the Crusades to the present time, the prototype of 
 every valiant and chivalrous deed. His name has reappeared 
 from century to century in prose and verse and in all languages, 
 ever endowed with some new feature and beauty the hero of 
 some marvellous and heroic adventure, deeds belonging certainly 
 more to the bright dreams of poetry than to the sober pages of 
 recording history.
 
 INDEX OF NAMES REFERRED TO 
 IN COUNT LUCANOR. 
 
 ALBOGON, THE, 5. 
 
 ALHAQUIMA, OR AL HAKEM, KING OF CORDOVA, 5, 7. 
 
 ALMARZON, 119. 
 
 ALVAR FANEZ, 32. 
 
 ALVAR NUNEZ, 225. 
 
 ARLANZA, THE PLAINS OF, 93. 
 
 CARCASONA, THE SENESCHAL OF, 69. 
 
 CORDOVA, THE MOSQUE OF, 6. 
 
 DON ILLAN, 79, 81, 83. 
 
 DON MARTIN, 223. 
 
 FERDINAND, KING, 9. 
 
 FERNAN GONZALES, 93, 119. 
 
 FREDERICK, THE EMPEROR, 30. 
 
 GARCIA DE AZAGRA, 15. 
 
 GARCILASO, 225. 
 
 GARCIPEREZ OF VARGAS, 9. 
 
 GRANADA, THE KING OF, 227. 
 
 GUTIERRE RODRIGUEZ, 15. 
 
 HACINAS, 119. 
 
 KING BEN ABIT OF SEVILLE, 86. 
 
 LEON, KINGDOM OF, 96. 
 
 LORENZO XUAREZ GALLINATO, 8, 12, 227.
 
 246 INDEX OF NAMES. 
 
 NUNO LAINEZ, 93. 
 
 PERO ANZURE/, 32. 
 
 PERO NUNEZ, 17. 
 
 PRINCE HENRY, 65. 
 
 PROVENCE, THE COUNT OF, 43. 
 
 RICHARD QEUR-DE-LION, 24, 117. 
 
 RODRIGO EL FRANCO, 15. 
 
 RODRIGO MELENDEZ, 96. 
 
 ROMAQUIA, 86. 
 
 RUY GONZALEZ, 15. 
 
 SAINT DOMINIC, 90. 
 
 SALADIN, 43, 234. 
 
 SANTIAGO, THE DEAN OF, 78. 
 
 TAGUS, RIVER, 80. 
 
 TRUHANA, 147. 
 
 VASCUNANA, 34, 36, 39 
 
 YSCA, VILLAGE OF, JT.
 
 A 000160678 9