The troublesome and hard adventures in love. Lively setting forth, the feavers, the dangers, and the jealousies of lovers; and the labyrinths and wildernesses of fears and hopes through which they dayly passe. Illustrated by many admirable patterns of heroical resolutions in some persons of chivalry and honour; and by the examples of incomparable perfections in some ladies. A work very delightfull and acceptable to all. Written in Spanish, by that excellent and famous gentleman, Michael Cervantes; and exactly translated into English, by R. C. Gent.

CHAP. XXXII. How Philorenus the younger was enamoured on Aureola, con∣cealing it from his brother; and how his brother came to the knowledge thereof.

IN the mean time (excellent Princes and wor∣thy thy shepheards) you may note that my brother loved her (I mean my golden Aureola) as in∣tirely as I my self, his love being unknown to me. For though he knew that I loved her, yet was I not as yet acquainted with the love that he bore Aureola. And in truth, because he knew she was the onely air by which I lived, rather then he would do any thing to procure my disquiet, resolved himself to die for love of Aureola, rather then he should opportunate Aureola to love him, and to deprive me of that without which I could not live. Insomuch that although he so loved her, that for her he would willingly have yeelded to death, and resigned his life, yet he no way to offend me, did not onely conceal his love from Aureola, but also occasion being offered him to talk with her, did spend all that time in commendation of me, protesting unto her, that I was so faithfull, constant and loyal, that if she would dain to reward my love with love, and if she did love me, she would have cause to glory of her hap in fancying him, and placing her love on him, who would prove the faithfullest Amant that was in Italy.

Besides this, he made divers verses in praise of her, and together with sundry brave and precious jewels presented them vnto her, saying that I had sent them; whereas in truth I knew not any thing of them. Insomuch that more by his in∣dustry then mine own diligence (though I neglected no duti∣full service required in that case) at length I obtained the love of mine Aureola. For she loved me so affectionately, that I might judge her love to be of as great force as mine, though indeed it was of such nature, that it was divided between us

both, I mean my brother and me, for we being so like one to other that we seemed to be but one, we could not shun reci∣procation in love; but whosoever loved me, could not but love him, and whosoever loved him, could not but love me. And although I had certainly known that Aureola loved my bro∣ther equally with me, as well as I did but guesse that it was so, yet had I been nothing sorrie, but rather rejoyced greatly that I had obtained so fair a Lady to be both my love, and my brothers friend. For in verity such was my affection towards him, that I could not wish any thing to my self wholly, with∣out wishing part of it unto my brother, being most ready al∣ways willingly to part from any thing which I knew he wi∣shed, and with a good heart to cease and leave from desiring or wishing any such thing whatsoever he had a mind unto. But my brother marking that Aureola could not tell which of us two she loved best, or which of us was most worthy of her love, and thereby equally loved us both, was very sorry, fea∣ring least I might be grieved that I did not my self onely en∣joy all the love of Aureola. And therefore he began to exhort me to séek means to be joined unto her in marriage, think∣ing that so shee should bee forced to withdraw her love from him, and wholly be addicted to me being her wedded husband. To effect which matter, she continually urged Aureola to make promise of marriage unto me very forcibly perswading her thereto; and telling her that I who thought my life no life but in respect of hers, should never be able to live perfectly un∣till such time that I being united and tied unto her in the knot of wedlock, might enjoy her as my wife: untill which thing were brought to passe, I should live a most lamentable life full of dolefull discontent.

Furthermore he promised her, that if she would vouch∣safe to condiscend to my honest desire, and his earnest request, he would move the King and Quéene to deale with her si∣ster the Countesse, and her other friends, about the contract∣ing this marriage, and obtain their good will and consent thereto. Aureola. although she was very unwilling to do so,

yet because he should not think that she would not grant my request for that she equally loved him with me, séemed to grant our request, and to be willing to have the marriage con∣trived betwéen her and my self. Yet she would not have any mention made of it unto any of the Court till thrée moneths were ended, for certain respects which moved her to conceal the matter so long. Which were none other (as afterwards we knew by experience) but such as proceeded from her own unwillingness to be tyed to me, and so to be deprived of the love of my brother, For it afterwards was manifested, she so loved us both that she wished in her heart, that she might have béen married to us both; thinking that she should not perfectly have enjoyed one of us, if any other woman had been married to the other▪ judging that we were both but one, and ought not to be separated. And therefore above all things did she desire that she were beloved of us both, séeing we were both engra∣ved in her heart, that she might not think of the one, without remembring the other.

But my brother thinking that Aureola had a bonnefoy pur∣posed after the time of three moneths expired, to marry with me, made me glad with the news which he brought me of her mind, although himself therewith was utterly spoiled of his felicity and welfare, which I came to know by this means.

It happened even upon the expiring of thrée moneths, on a certain morning betime, that I rising somthing early, walked abroad in the fields without the City, to a little wsod not far off, to recreate my self with a solitary walk, being as it were wearied with the turbulent multitude of people, both Citi∣zens and Courtiers. Which wood, when I had but even en∣tred, me thought I heard one sorely lamenting his estate▪ and by the voice knowing that it was my brothers, I listened very attentively to know the cause of his complaints, whom I heard thus to cry out against fickle fortune.

Yea, Fortune, yea, Thou art Mistress, and wilt be Mi∣stress, Philorenus must testifie the same, and register in the

bottome of his heart, that he was born to be crossed by For∣tune I thought that the Gods had forbidden thee to vex me a∣ny more, but I perceive thou wilt do what thou wilt, though heaven deny. But accursed mayest thou be of heaven, earth and hell, for so denying mortal wights, that thou séemest to have no Deity, but such as is procured by the glory which thou ta∣kest in making men miserable. Yet why do I so blame For∣tune, séeing that if another man were in my case, he would think himself infinitely beholding to her, in causing all things to fall out so agreeing to his humour. For thou lovest Aureola, how much thou knowest; then séeing thou hast had sufficient token of her love towards thee, and considering that he that loveth desireth nothing so much as mutualsy to be loved of her whom he doth love. how canst thou complain of Fortune?

Again, when your mind was such that you wished her to be wholly your brothers, and desired that she should be his wife, you sée al things happen to your pleasure, considering that Au∣reola hath promised to marry her self to him, and yet you will will exclaim against Fortune: all this is true. But the Hag doth let all things fall out according to my mind, knowing that in doing so she doth most torment me. For she hath made my life so miserable, that no content can be harboured in my disquiet breast, being the very habitacle of restless thoughts.

And in this thing is y^e means which she useth in vexing me contrary to all other mishaps and evils, in that she vexeth me with effecting those things the effect of which I most wish for and desire. Which thing how strāge it is I leave to the con∣sideration of those that have the use of their wits▪ séeing by fortunes envie I am my self deprived of that benefit. Alack, what shall then poor Philorenus do, seeing he is so entangled in the love of Aureola that he must either die or injoy her as his own? and yet so loveth his brother (who cannot in like man∣ner live if separated from the same Aureola) th••t he will die a thousand deaths rather then be disloyal to him. Die therefore Philorenus, die; and seeing there ore not as wel two Aureolas as

there be two Philorenus's, make thy self lifeless and thy brother happy, he being one Philorenus alone, and enjoying one onely Aureola, And put case thou wert dead, Philorenus, and dead for no other purpose but to make thy brother happy in the highest degrée, oh how swéet a death would such a death be unto thée! But yet thou mightest be deceived; for thou knowest, nay so knowest that thou canst not doubt, but that, that life will be but a bitter life unto him, thou being without life, and so thou mightst by thy death procure to him either a bitter death, or a life worse then any death. What then resteth thrice misera∣ble wretch, if that thou canst neither live to thy mind, nor die to thy mind? Die living and live dying, and yeeld thy heart to receive each print of grief; that thou mayest always die, being torn with tormenting pain, and yet never be dead, least thy plague rebound from thée to thy brother: and therefore I bid thée farewel Aureola, farewel, my brother must enjoy thee, and I must suffer you both.

After that he had so shut up his complaint, as if he had sign∣ed it with the seal of death, he fell down on the ground, being unable to stand on his feet any longer, & there he lay strugling as if soul and body would have parted, so strong and vehement was the pang that pinched him. Insomuch, that although I was loath to shew my self vnto him there, lest he should know that I had heard and seen him, yet compassion becomming master amongst my affections, for that he needed help in that case, forced me to runne happily to him to aid him. But he no sooner espied me but leaped up again so suddenly that if I had not both seen and heard his former scrikes and cries, I would have surely been perswaded that he did but shew me a tumbling trick, and that he had been exercising his body to some acts of nimblenesse.

And besides also, before I could salute him by reason that I so marvelled at the strangenesse of his change, he spake unto me so chearfully that I could scarce answer him for admiring at y^e force which his love towards me had suddenly procured him. His legs were scarce able to hold his body, and seeing me

his heart commanded them to support him, his eys which were so hiddē with the tears which he shed, that no man could have séen them, as soon as they beheld me, séemed to have recal∣led the flouds that came out of them and to have in a moment swallowed them up, and his face which did as it were swim in tears, seemed to drink up the moisture at my comming, as the morning dew vanisheth in the presence of Phoebus, when he sendeth his golden beams from his fiery chariot, to cherish the pleasant fruits of the earth after they have wept, by rea∣son of the dark coldnesse of the mirthlesse night. Wherefore I séeing that my brotherly brother was so loth to make me acquainted with his passions, onely because he would not give me occasion of grief, but kept it all to himself; I dissembled as much as I could, lest I should by letting him know what I knew, quite discomfort him, and truly make him com∣fortlesse. And although by reason of that which I knew of him, pity caused such grief in me for his discomfort and pas∣sionate torment, that I think if he had not been in place, I had sunk to the ground, for a stronger foundation to hold up my distracted body, oppressed and weighed down by the hea∣vinesse of passing sorrow, then my legs, which séemed to shake like the pillors of a Church that is falling, yet neverthelesse for that time, I plucked up my spirits, and though not so wel able as he, yet as wel as I could, I dissembled my passion, and answered him as chearfully as possibly I might, entertaining him with such talk as I thought most expedient, to cause him not to misdoubt of any thing. Insomuch that he neither thought that I had heard him, nor knew that I felt the pain which he himself suffered. And after we had there walked an half hour or thereabout, we returned both of us together to the Court. And as we passed by the Countesse Verina's Garden, he espied the Countesse walking all alone, where∣upon he began to urge me, in any case not to let that occa∣sion slip, but that I should go unto her, and make her ac∣quainted with the love and affection betwéen me and her si∣ster Aureola, and that he would go with me to bear me com∣pany,

and to perswade the Countess to consent to the contrac∣ting of a marriage betwéen me and Aureola. He said further∣more, considering the thrée moneths which Aureola appointed to have the matter during that time concealed, were expired, he had the day before spoken with the King concerning this matter, and that his Majesty had promised him to be wholly ours in this point, as he had ever before béen in many other; and besides told him some things which he should make rela∣tion of to the Countesse, concerning this match. And to tell the truth, he grew so importunate to have me go to the Coun∣tesse in all hast, that I knew not how to shift off this readi∣nesse. But because I had purposed to bring that to passe which I will by and by shew unto you. I found this excuse to delay our conference with the Countesse; that mistresse Aureola for certain causes had urged me to promise her, that I would not speak unto her sister concerning any thing touching her, be∣fore I forewarned her, or let her know both that I would do it, and the time when I would do it. Which promise (quoth I) being passed, I may not break it.

Whereupon he well contented, séemed to take my excuse so well, that he rather liked of my unwillingnesse to go to the Countesse, then persevered to perswade me thereunto. So that we went both to my lodging, where we began to read certain chronicles of the ancient estate of Italy; things done in times past in the Kingdome of Naples, to drive away the rest of the time till dinner were ready, that we might have some ancient history or other to delight the King and the Queen withall while they dined. For they took such delight in hearing their predecessours déeds and sayings, that we could not have done them a greater pleasure then to rehearse either some pretty saying, or some other worthy act of such Kings or Quéens as had before them swayed the scepter of Naples. But not to be that which I am loath to be, I mean tedious unto you (noble Princes and shepheards,) I will hasten to that which I even now promised to let you know, concerning that which I had certainly of rips counsell in my heart concluded

to do, after I knew by my brothers passions that he himself loved Aureola, and yet continually furthered my desire to his uttermost part.

For indeed I was fully resolved to leave Aureola unto him and my self to the hazard of fortune, and being so resolved, I performed no lesse.