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There was another of the same place and qualifications who also sought
her； and this made her father's choice hang in the balance； for he
felt that on either of us his daughter would be well bestowed； so to
escape from this state of perplexity he resolved to refer the matter
to Leandra （for that is the name of the rich damsel who has reduced me
to misery）； reflecting that as we were both equal it would be best
to leave it to his dear daughter to choose according to her
inclination… a course that is worthy of imitation by all fathers who
wish to settle their children in life。 I do not mean that they ought
to leave them to make a choice of what is contemptible and bad； but
that they should place before them what is good and then allow them to
make a good choice as they please。 I do not know which Leandra
chose； I only know her father put us both off with the tender age of
his daughter and vague words that neither bound him nor dismissed
us。 My rival is called Anselmo and I myself Eugenio… that you may know
the names of the personages that figure in this tragedy； the end of
which is still in suspense； though it is plain to see it must be
disastrous。
About this time there arrived in our town one Vicente de la Roca；
the son of a poor peasant of the same town； the said Vicente having
returned from service as a soldier in Italy and divers other parts。
A captain who chanced to pass that way with his company had carried
him off from our village when he was a boy of about twelve years；
and now twelve years later the young man came back in a soldier's
uniform； arrayed in a thousand colours； and all over glass trinkets
and fine steel chains。 To…day he would appear in one gay dress；
to…morrow in another； but all flimsy and gaudy； of little substance
and less worth。 The peasant folk； who are naturally malicious； and
when they have nothing to do can be malice itself； remarked all
this； and took note of his finery and jewellery； piece by piece； and
discovered that he had three suits of different colours； with
garters and stockings to match； but he made so many arrangements and
combinations out of them； that if they had not counted them； anyone
would have sworn that he had made a display of more than ten suits
of clothes and twenty plumes。 Do not look upon all this that I am
telling you about the clothes as uncalled for or spun out； for they
have a great deal to do with the story。 He used to seat himself on a
bench under the great poplar in our plaza； and there he would keep
us all hanging open…mouthed on the stories he told us of his exploits。
There was no country on the face of the globe he had not seen； nor
battle he had not been engaged in； he had killed more Moors than there
are in Morocco and Tunis； and fought more single combats； according to
his own account； than Garcilaso； Diego Garcia de Paredes and a
thousand others he named； and out of all he had come victorious
without losing a drop of blood。 On the other hand he showed marks of
wounds； which； though they could not be made out； he said were gunshot
wounds received in divers encounters and actions。 Lastly； with
monstrous impudence he used to say 〃you〃 to his equals and even
those who knew what he was； and declare that his arm was his father
and his deeds his pedigree； and that being a soldier he was as good as
the king himself。 And to add to these swaggering ways he was a
trifle of a musician； and played the guitar with such a flourish
that some said he made it speak； nor did his accomplishments end here；
for he was something of a poet too； and on every trifle that
happened in the town he made a ballad a league long。
This soldier； then； that I have described； this Vicente de la
Roca； this bravo； gallant； musician； poet； was often seen and
watched by Leandra from a window of her house which looked out on
the plaza。 The glitter of his showy attire took her fancy； his ballads
bewitched her （for he gave away twenty copies of every one he made）；
the tales of his exploits which he told about himself came to her
ears； and in short； as the devil no doubt had arranged it； she fell in
love with him before the presumption of making love to her had
suggested itself to him； and as in love…affairs none are more easily
brought to an issue than those which have the inclination of the
lady for an ally； Leandra and Vicente came to an understanding without
any difficulty； and before any of her numerous suitors had any
suspicion of her design； she had already carried it into effect；
having left the house of her dearly beloved father （for mother she had
none）； and disappeared from the village with the soldier； who came
more triumphantly out of this enterprise than out of any of the
large number he laid claim to。 All the village and all who heard of it
were amazed at the affair； I was aghast； Anselmo thunderstruck； her
father full of grief； her relations indignant； the authorities all
in a ferment； the officers of the Brotherhood in arms。 They scoured
the roads； they searched the woods and all quarters； and at the end of
three days they found the flighty Leandra in a mountain cave； stript
to her shift； and robbed of all the money and precious jewels she
had carried away from home with her。 They brought her back to her
unhappy father； and questioned her as to her misfortune； and she
confessed without pressure that Vicente de la Roca had deceived her；
and under promise of marrying her had induced her to leave her
father's house； as he meant to take her to the richest and most
delightful city in the whole world； which was Naples； and that she；
ill…advised and deluded； had believed him； and robbed her father；
and handed over all to him the night she disappeared； and that he
had carried her away to a rugged mountain and shut her up in the
eave where they had found her。 She said； moreover； that the soldier；
without robbing her of her honour； had taken from her everything she
had； and made off； leaving her in the cave； a thing that still further
surprised everybody。 It was not easy for us to credit the young
man's continence； but she asserted it with such earnestness that it
helped to console her distressed father； who thought nothing of what
had been taken since the jewel that once lost can never be recovered
had been left to his daughter。 The same day that Leandra made her
appearance her father removed her from our sight and took her away
to shut her up in a convent in a town near this； in the hope that time
may wear away some of the disgrace she has incurred。 Leandra's youth
furnished an excuse for her fault； at least with those to whom it
was of no consequence whether she was good or bad； but those who
knew her shrewdness and intelligence did not attribute her
misdemeanour to ignorance but to wantonness and the natural
disposition of women； which is for the most part flighty and
ill…regulated。
Leandra withdrawn from sight； Anselmo's eyes grew blind； or at any
rate found nothing to look at that gave them any pleasure； and mine
were in darkness without a ray of light to direct them to anything
enjoyable while Leandra was away。 Our melancholy grew greater； our
patience grew less； we cursed the soldier