The rogue: or The life of Guzman de Alfarache. VVritten in Spanish by Matheo Aleman, seruant to his Catholike Maiestie, and borne in Seuill

CHAP. IIII.

Guzman de Alfarache discourseth of the Charitie, that we are to vse towards our neighbour; He recounteth what befell him with a Gentleman: And of the free life, and great libertie which a Begger inioyes.

ONe true signe, and assured token of our predestination, is the * 1.1 Pitie and Compassion which wee haue of our neighbour. For, to haue a fellow-feeling of another mans miserie, (as if the case were our owne) is a deed of Charitie, which coue∣reth * 1.2 a multitude of sinnes; and where there is loue, there is God; and he euermore plentifully dwelleth in those hearts by his holy Spirit, where Charitie and mercy aboundeth. All things, with it, haue life and being; without it, dye, and come to no∣thing. For, neither the gift of Prophecie, nor the vnderstanding of Mysteries, nor the knowledge of God, no nor Faith it selfe, without charitie, is any thing at all, but is all as nothing. To loue my neighbour, as I loue my selfe, is of all other, the richest and the greatest Sacrifice; because it is offred vp in * 1.3 the Temple of the euer-liuing God. And the merit is as great (through the mercy of our Sauiour Iesus Christ) to be truly sensible of our brothers mi∣serie and vndoing; as is the pleasure that we take, that our selues should bee saued.

Charitie is the end of the Commandements, it is the only marke, whereat * 1.4 the precepts of the Law doe shoot. And hee that shall be charitable, shall finde the Lord mercifull vnto him in the day of his tryall. And because with∣out God, we are not able to merit any thing of our selues, and for that Chari∣tie is the gift of God, it is very fit and necessarie, that we should begge it at his hands with teares, and doe workes worthy the obtaining of it, moystning with those precious drops, the great drought that we suffer in our soules, and mollifying there with the hardnesse of our hearts, that they may bring forth the fruits of good Workes, which are the effects of a true and liuely faith. For, the humble and contrite spirit shall neuer be forsaken, but God will ra∣ther still succour and supply him with his grace, bestowing his best fauours

vpon him, and inriching him with many notable and knowne benefits.

And albeit Riches (being so neere a neighbour as it is vnto Pride) be an occa∣sion of Vice, weakning, and infeebling those our other Vertues, though it bee dangerous to it's Owner; though it be a tyrannizing Lord, and a trayterous Slaue; yet notwithstanding it is of the nature of Sugar, which hath this condi∣tion * 1.5 and propertie belonging vnto it, that (if it be sweet and good, and hath not lost his fauour) with warme things, it warmeth and giueth heat, and with cold things, it cooleth and refresheth. To the rich, it serues as an Instrument and meanes (by the helping hand of Charitie) to buy eternall blessednesse. And that man shall be charitable, and truely rich, who making the poore man rich, shall make himselfe, of a rich man, poore. For thereby, hee shall make the world to know, that hee is a true Disciple of his Sauiour Iesus Christ.

I stood one day in the outward Court of a Cardinals house, hard by the Porch, closely wrapt and muffled vp in a great Russet Cloake, iust of the same * 1.6 colour as it came from the Sheepes backe, without any other Dye in the world: which was so full of Patches, one clapt vpon another, which I had sowne so of purpose, that (where it had least) it was no lesse then of three threds, so that you could not at all, or very hardly discerne the ground of it's owne true colour. It was as hard and as stiffe as any boord, and for all wea∣thers, farre better then your fastest Felt, or your closest-wrought Rugge, or any other frized cloth in the world; for it was wondrous warme, and no ayre, water, nor cold would passe thorow it, and I was about to say (please it you to excuse the excesse of the phrase) that no arrow was able to pierce it.

Whilst I was thus waiting, there comes mee in a Cauallero to visit the Cardinall, seeming both by his Person, and his Attendants, to bee a Gentle∣man of principall ranke and quality. Who, when he saw mee standing there in this manner, thought verily with himselfe, that I was sicke of an Ague, and that I had then my cold fit vpon me: when as indeed the cause that I lookt so pittifull was, that I had layen there in the Porch the night before; and because it was winter time, and that the ayre was fresh, and the winde blew cold, I was willing to keep me where I was, till the day had aduanced it selfe a little more forward.

He look't earnestly vpon me, and after he had well view'd me, he stood still, * 1.7 and beckned me vnto him. I sneak't out my head, when I came neere vnto him, and being amazed on the sudden, and much astonished, to see a man of his worth approche so neere vnto •…•…ee, my countenance did come and goe, and began strangely to change and alter it selfe, not knowing why, or where∣fore, or what should be the cause of this sudden alteration.

He (good Gentleman) thought that I did shake and tremble, and kindely said vnto me; Put on thy Hat, my Boy, put on, I say, and couer thy head; God comfort thee, and send thee well: And with that putting his hand into his pocket, he tooke out all that he had, which vvas a matter of some thirteene Royals and a halfe, and gaue them mee. I tooke them, and was so rauished therewith, that I was almost beside my selfe, as well in regard of the liberal∣nesse of the Almes, as to see how he went away from me, lifting vp his eyes vnto heauen.

And, I verily beleeue, that he said to himselfe, as he went along; Let (O Lord) the Angels blesse thee, and all those Courtiers, that wait on thee in thy * 1.8 heauenly Kingdome; Let all the spirits of heauen praise and magnifie thy holy name, for men doe not know how to honour thee, they are rude and ignorant creatures. O Lord, how much am I bound vnt thee! that I beeing made of no better metall then this poore man, and perhaps borne of no bet∣ter bloud then he, should sleepe and take my rest in my soft bed whilest he is forced to lye on the hard ground; should goe thus well clad as I doe, whilest

he remaines naked, and comfortlesse; should be thus rich, as I am, and hee so poore; that I should be sound, and he sicke; I admitted, and he despised: And whereas thou mightst (by exchanging only of our places) haue bestow'd all that vpon him, which thou hast conferr'd on me; Yet (O Lord) thou hast been pleased to deale otherwise with me; and thou thy selfe best knowest why, and wherefore. Saue me (sweet Iesu) by that precious bloud, which thou shed∣dest for my sinnes. For this shall be my true riches, to lay fast hold vpon thee: for hauing thee, I haue all things; and not hauing thee, I haue nothing. I say, that this Gentleman knew very well how to imploy those Talents, vvhich God had put into his hands; not considering so much to whom he gaue, as for whose sake he gaue. Looking well vpon me, and looking well into him∣selfe, weighing my wretched, and his happy condition, he gaue me all that he had, with a franke hand, and a free heart; the one being as full of bounty, as the other of compassion.

Such good soules as these, did (in the exercising of their Charity) gaine heauen by our hands, and we (wicked Villaines) haue lost it by theirs; since, through * 1.9 the greedy desire that we haue to receiue, being still crauing & begging when we haue no need, we rob those thereof that are in true want, suffering this Vice of ours to vsurpe vpon anothers Office. We went still full gorg'd, grea∣ter gluttons and drunkards the world did not affoord; our sides were ready to cracke with gurmandizing, and our braines to burst with bowzing; your Senators of Rome could not liue more merrily then we did, for wee were as tall trencher-men, and as good Epicures as the best of them. And albeit vve are not so much respected, nor liue not in that repute and esteeme as they doe; yet our manner of life hath a great deale more ease in it, and I am sure, a great deale lesse trouble.

And we haue besides two such Priuiledges, as none of them all, no not the best man in Rome hath the like. The one is a kinde of liberty that wee haue * 1.10 in begging, yet neuerthelesse doe not loose our liberty, which is not so with your better sort of men. For misery hath no greater misery with it, then when a man is forced to be beholding to such or such a friend to succour and relieue his wants, though this helpe should come from the free hand of his owne naturall brother. For hee buyes at a deare rate, that receiues this kind∣nesse; and farre more dearely does he sell, who giues to him that is of a thanke∣full nature. And if on this point of begging, I might boldly speake my opinion, it is the worstmis fortune, that can befall a poore mans life, when he once comes to be driuen to beg out of meere necessity. For although it be freely gi∣uen, yet the very crauing therof doth cost him much. Moreouer, I shal tell thee what is the cause, that begging doth so much vexe a man, and why it goes so much against his stomake, which is; That man beeing a perfect reasonable * 1.11 creature, like vnto God himselfe (as himselfe saith) for when he was to make man (the most blessed Trinity assisting at that Creation) God said; Let vs make Man after our owne Image and likenesse. (And I could also tell thee, how this is to be vnderstood, but it is not proper for this time and place.) Well, Man was made, and comming forth into the world, we are all of vs naturally in∣clined * 1.12 to deifie our selues, seeking as much as in vs lyeth, to come neere vnto God; nay, (if it were possible) to be gods. And with this thirst, we still grow dryer and dryer; and with this hunger, waxe weaker and weaker.

We see, that God created all things: we would faine doe the like. And see∣ing we can not doe it, as his diuine Maiestie did, of nothing, we would doe it of something, as farre forth as our ability hath power to stretch, seeking to conserue indiuidua Specierum, the indiuiduals of euery Species, or seuerall kinds vpon earth. The bruit beasts in the Fields; the Fishes, in the Waters; the Plants, in the Earth: And so euery thing in it's nature, that is in the world. He beheld those workes, which he had made with his owne hands, and they see∣med

to him very good, as proceeding from those blessed and powerfull hands of his. He tooke delight in looking vpon them, for they were made to his minde. This passeth currant at this day, as it is set downe in the letter. And we likewise are desirous to doe, or at least to counterfet the like; striuing to imitate him all that we may.

How well doe I like that Bird, that I haue bred vp in mine owne house? That Lambe, which hath beene reared in mine owne Farme? That Tree, * 1.13 which hath been planted in mine owne Orchard? That Flower, which hath sprung vp in mine owne Garden? What comfort doe I take in looking vpon them? how does it ioy me, to see them to thriue and prosper? Insomuch, that what my selfe haue not bred, made, or planted with mine own hands, although it be otherwise very good in it selfe, I wil not stick to pluck it vp by the roots, & cast it away from me, & neuer grieue therat, it shal neuer trouble me: wher∣as that, which is the work of mine own hands; the deare child of my industry; the fruit of my labours, though it be not so good as the other; yet because it is my own handy-work, I like it, & I loue it. From my neighbours or my friends Tree, I will not onely take away the Flower, and the fruit, but I will not so much as leaue a leafe, or a sprigge therevpon, and if I haue a minde thereunto, I will not greatly care to cut it downe to the ground. But if it be mine owne, and that I haue planted it with mine owne hands, it would grieue my very soule, if I should finde but a Pism•…•…re, or a Caterpiller vpon it, to doe it any hurt, or to see a Bird but to p•…•…cke at it; and all because it is mine. In a word, we doe all of vs loue our owne workes. And so, in wishing well vnto them, I am like to him that made me, and haue it from him by inheritance.

The like is true in all other actions. It is very proper in God to giue; and * 1.14 very improper, to craue. Vnlesse, when he requireth something of vs for our owne good. For that which he asketh of vs, it is not for himselfe, neither hath he any need thereof; for he is Remedium totius necessitatis: The onely re∣lieuer of all o•…•…r wants, and the onely satisfier of the hungry. He hath much, and therefore is able to giue much; and nothing can be wanting vnto him. He doth communicate and impart vnto all according to their seuerall necessities, easi∣lier then thou canst take water out of the Sea, and with a farre larger hand; so great an in equalitie is there betwixt thy misery, and his mercy.

We would likewise be like to him in this: He made me according to his owne likenesse, and I ought accordingly to be like vnto him; euen as the thing instamp•…•…d ought to be like vnto the Stampe. How mad, how eager, how de∣sirous and how foolishly are we all bent vpon giuing? The Couetous, the sauing •…•…n the Rich, the Vsurer, the Begger, all doe keepe and hoord vp for to giue. But the most of these men vnderstand least (as I told you before) when they are to giue, for they doe not giue, till they be dead. If thou aske these men, why they masse vp money, and why in their life-time they bury it vn∣der ground, and to what end they doe it? Some will answere thee, that they lay it vp for their heires; others, for their soules; others, that they may leaue something behinde them, and all of them sure that they carry none of it away with them Thou seest then, how they are willing to giue and how out of its due time and season; like an vntimely birth, which comes not to perfection. But in the end, this is our end, this our desire.

How God like does a man finde himselfe, when with a generous minde * 1.15 he hath wherewith to giue, and doth giue? How sweet and pleasing is his hand vnto him; how cheer•…•…full his countenance; how quiet his heart; how contented his Soule? His gray haires are remoued; his bloud is refreshed; his life is inlarged. And (questionles) so much the more, by how much he knows, that he hath ability to do it, & is not afraid that he shall euer want. If wee be willing therefore to doe that, which he did; (for so did he with vs) let vs take as much pleasure to giue, as it would grieue vs at the heart to aske.

And those, towards whom Gods hand hath beene so franke and liberall. * 1.16 and hauing made them (which likewise is another particular gift of his) of a noble minde, if they finde themselues oppressed with want, and depriued of these their worldly goods, they will rather indure any misery whatsoeuer, then begge of another to relieue their wretched estates.

These are the men, of whom there is great pittie to be had, and these the * 1.17 whole world ought to relieue with a full hand. For by this it is knowne, who does them friendship, and shewes them any kindenesse, when seeing them in necessitie, they succour them, before they craue their helpe. For, if they should be put to that push, and be driuen to sue vnto them, they will neither giue, nor lend them. It is a debt which they pay them, and yet put it forth to Vsurie with aduantage. This is a friend indeed, which succours his friend in time of need: And this I call succour, * 1.18 when I concurre and run along with him. It becomes me to giue, but beseemes not him to aske. I am to runne equall fortunes with him. I must keepe an euen pace with him, nei∣ther be too farre behinde him, nor too much before him.

If I haue entertained thee too long in this subiect, and haue not giuen thee satisfaction, pardon my ignorance, and accept my good will. So that the li∣bertie of crauing, is permitted only to the poore; And in this we are equall with Kings and Princes, whose particular priuiledge it is, to demaund Subse∣dies, and Ayde-money, which is no basenesse in them, howsoeuer it may be in others. But the difference is, that Kings craue of the Commons, for the Common good, and for to supply their necessarie occasions; But the poore, for themselues only, out of an euill custome, which they haue gotten.

That other Priuiledge, which I told you of, is that of the fiue Senses. Who is he now adaies in the world, that with larger licence, and freer libertie doth * 1.19 inioy them, then the poore man, or with greater securitie, or more content? Who doth so thorowly and so feelingly taste them as he? And because I haue named the word Taste, I will begin first with that.

There is not that pot, which we doe not skimme; nor that meat, which wee doe not proue; nor that banquet, wherein wee haue not a share. * 1.20 Whither did that poore man euer come, that the house that deny'd him to day, did not giue him to morrow? He runnes thorow all mens houses, hee begs of them all, and he tastes of all: and he is best able to say, which house hath the best meat, and the best drest.

For the Hearing; Who heares more then the poore man doth? For being * 1.21 dis-interessed in all kinde of things, none are iealous that hee should heare them; in the open streets, in priuate houses, in publike Churches, in the Mar∣ket-place, and in euery place, euery man treats freely of his businesse, without any suspition of him, though the matter be neuer so important. Sleeping be∣sides a nights, vpon some bulke or stall in the streets, what musicke haue they bestowed vpon them, which we heare not? What Loue-tricks are they priuy to, which we know not? Nothing is kept secret from such poore beggerly Rascals as we bee. And for publike affaires, we haue by a thousand parts bet∣ter intelligence, then all the world besides. For we heare that treated of in more parts, then all men else besides put all together.

For your seeing likewise: how freely may we inioy it, without being noted? nor aske vs the question why we gaze vpon them, nor offer to hinder vs from * 1.22 looking here, or looking there. How often haue I accused and condemned my selfe, when begging in the Church, mine eye hath beene wandring and rouing about? and chuckt and hugg'd my selfe, with the delight and pleasure that I haue taken therein? Or to speake downe-right English, and to declare my selfe more plainely, feeding mine eyes greedily on those Angelicall faces of your finest Ladyes, whose Louers did not dare to looke vpon them for feare of being noted: all which was freely permitted vnto vs.

For matter of smelling; Who can smell better then we, who are called by the name of Smell-Feasts? Besides, if any smell bee so much the better, by * 1.23 how much it is the more profitable; to vs, our owne Amber, and our owne Muske, is better and truer then all the rest, which is a cloue of Garlicke, which ordinarily we neuer goe without; as being a Preseruatiue against all contagious corruption whatsoeuer. And if we be desirous of any other o∣dours, we then get vs to the corner of some one street or other, where these things are commonly sold, and there we satisfie our sense of smelling with the sweet perfume of Ierkins, and of Gloues, some ciuited, and some powdred, that are there laid out for show, till the dust and powder of them come flying into our eyes, and our nostrils.

Will you happely say, that the sense of Touching is wanting vnto vs? And * 1.24 that neuer any good thing came yet to our hands? Lament your ignorance. What such difference I pray, is there betwixt pouertie and beautie? Wee poore beggers touch and handle as good ware as the rich, and inioy as prettie Commo•…•…ties; but all men doe not vnderstand this Mysterie. There be some poore men, which for all their beggerie and pouertie, maintaine such a handsome Doxy as many a gre•…•…t rich man woul•…•… be glad to inioy with all his heart. And yet she had rather haue this poore man, that doth truly pay her her Tribute, and is not wanting vnto her in his loue, then a rich man, that shall defame, and misuse her. And how often haue some women giuen mee an almes with their owne hand (I know not what others haue done) but I out of my youth, would make bold to take hold of hers with mine; and in a kinde of deuout acknowledgement, would neuer let it goe, till I had kist it?

But these are but toyes to speake of, and meere fooleries, but aboue all these things the taste, the sight, smelling, hearing, and touching, the chiefest and truest of all the fiue Senses, put them all together, was that of those ruddy cheeks of your golden Ruddoc•…•…s your Spanish Pistolets, your plum•…•… and ful∣fac't Portuguse, and your cleere-skinn'd pieces of eight of Castile, which we kept secret to our selues, and did priuately inioy in a plentifull manner; For to haue them, for to pay them away is not to inioy them; To inioy them, is * 1.25 to haue them lying by vs. hauing no other need of them, then to vse them for the cleering of the eye sight, and the comforting of our senses. Howbeit, some sticke not to say, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nuncase goza, hasta que se gasta. That he inioyes not his money, that does not spend it. These we did carry about with vs, sewing them in some patches of our doublets neere vnto the heart, and as close to the skinne, as we could handsomely quilt them in, holding them to be restoratiue. There was not anyone piece of a patch about vs, were it ne∣uer so soule and neuer so vile, which was not worth a reasonable good sute of cloathes. We were all flush and f•…•…ll of gold; For, hauing our dyet gratis, and feeding on free cost, the money which we got, we neuer spent. And as the Prouerbe is; Esse te rizo v•…•…o, que te hizo el pico; He made thee rich, who * 1.26 gaue thee whereon to picke. And grano à grano, hincha la gallina el Papa. Graine after graine, the Hen fils her craw. We grew many of vs to increase our Talent, till it came to a good round summe, where with many an honest man might haue lifted his feet from the ground, & not haue stucke in the mire. Rest thy selfe a while in this Inne; for in that our iourney, which we are to make to the Chapter following, you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all heare what hapned in Flo∣rence to a poore man that died there, of the same time and standing with my selfe. Wherein you shall know, whether our Touching be not as good as other mens.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A good marke of Predestmation.
• * 1.2

  Charity, of what force it is.
• * 1.3

  To loue our neighbour, is a great Sacrifice.
• * 1.4

  The charitable man is fauoured of God.
• * 1.5

  Riches, compared to Sugar.
• * 1.6

  What manner of Cloake Guz∣man had?
• * 1.7

  A Gentleman sees Guzman, he lookes vpon him, pi•…•…es •…•…im, giues him an almes, and prai∣seth God.
• * 1.8

  A worthy consi∣deration.
• * 1.9

  To begge without need, may get vs money, but lose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heauen.
• * 1.10

  The great priui∣ledges belonging vnto Beggers.
• * 1.11

  Why it grieues a mans heart to begge.
• * 1.12

  Man, whereunto he is inclined.
• * 1.13

  Euery man loues his owne.
• * 1.14

  Gods great•…•…esse, and mans base∣nesse.
• * 1.15

  To •…•…aue w•…•…e∣with to 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to a man.
• * 1.16

  A r•…•…ble spirit cannot begge.
• * 1.17

  What kinde of almes is nobly bestowd.
• * 1.18

  The Spanish phrase, Esse •…•…amo socorro, con el que corro. A poore begger, to whom he may be compared.
• * 1.19

  The libertie of the fiue Senses, by whom most inioyed.
• * 1.20

  The Taste.
• * 1.21

  The Hearing.
• * 1.22

  The Seeing.
• * 1.23

  The Smelling.
• * 1.24

  The Touching.
• * 1.25

  To haue money, to pay it againe away, is not the inioying of money.
• * 1.26

  Prouerb. Petit à petit l'offeau faict son nid.