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Such were the words Anselmo addressed to Lothario； who listened to
them with such attention that； except to say what has been already
mentioned； he did not open his lips until the other had finished。 Then
perceiving that he had no more to say； after regarding him for awhile；
as one would regard something never before seen that excited wonder
and amazement； he said to him； 〃I cannot persuade myself； Anselmo my
friend； that what thou hast said to me is not in jest； if I thought
that thou wert speaking seriously I would not have allowed thee to
go so far； so as to put a stop to thy long harangue by not listening
to thee I verily suspect that either thou dost not know me； or I do
not know thee； but no； I know well thou art Anselmo； and thou
knowest that I am Lothario； the misfortune is； it seems to me； that
thou art not the Anselmo thou wert； and must have thought that I am
not the Lothario I should be； for the things that thou hast said to me
are not those of that Anselmo who was my friend； nor are those that
thou demandest of me what should be asked of the Lothario thou
knowest。 True friends will prove their friends and make use of them；
as a poet has said； usque ad aras； whereby he meant that they will not
make use of their friendship in things that are contrary to God's
will。 If this； then； was a heathen's feeling about friendship； how
much more should it be a Christian's； who knows that the divine must
not be forfeited for the sake of any human friendship？ And if a friend
should go so far as to put aside his duty to Heaven to fulfil his duty
to his friend； it should not be in matters that are trifling or of
little moment； but in such as affect the friend's life and honour。 Now
tell me； Anselmo； in which of these two art thou imperilled； that I
should hazard myself to gratify thee； and do a thing so detestable
as that thou seekest of me？ Neither forsooth； on the contrary； thou
dost ask of me； so far as I understand； to strive and labour to rob
thee of honour and life； and to rob myself of them at the same time；
for if I take away thy honour it is plain I take away thy life； as a
man without honour is worse than dead； and being the instrument； as
thou wilt have it so； of so much wrong to thee； shall not I； too； be
left without honour； and consequently without life？ Listen to me；
Anselmo my friend； and be not impatient to answer me until I have said
what occurs to me touching the object of thy desire； for there will be
time enough left for thee to reply and for me to hear。〃
〃Be it so；〃 said Anselmo； 〃say what thou wilt。〃
Lothario then went on to say； 〃It seems to me； Anselmo； that thine
is just now the temper of mind which is always that of the Moors；
who can never be brought to see the error of their creed by quotations
from the Holy Scriptures； or by reasons which depend upon the
examination of the understanding or are founded upon the articles of
faith； but must have examples that are palpable； easy； intelligible；
capable of proof； not admitting of doubt； with mathematical
demonstrations that cannot be denied； like； 'If equals be taken from
equals； the remainders are equal：' and if they do not understand
this in words； and indeed they do not； it has to be shown to them with
the hands； and put before their eyes； and even with all this no one
succeeds in convincing them of the truth of our holy religion。 This
same mode of proceeding I shall have to adopt with thee； for the
desire which has sprung up in thee is so absurd and remote from
everything that has a semblance of reason； that I feel it would be a
waste of time to employ it in reasoning with thy simplicity； for at
present I will call it by no other name； and I am even tempted to
leave thee in thy folly as a punishment for thy pernicious desire； but
the friendship I bear thee； which will not allow me to desert thee
in such manifest danger of destruction； keeps me from dealing so
harshly by thee。 And that thou mayest clearly see this； say；
Anselmo； hast thou not told me that I must force my suit upon a modest
woman； decoy one that is virtuous； make overtures to one that is
pure…minded； pay court to one that is prudent？ Yes； thou hast told
me so。 Then； if thou knowest that thou hast a wife； modest；
virtuous； pure…minded and prudent； what is it that thou seekest？ And
if thou believest that she will come forth victorious from all my
attacks… as doubtless she would… what higher titles than those she
possesses now dost thou think thou canst upon her then； or in what
will she be better then than she is now？ Either thou dost not hold her
to be what thou sayest； or thou knowest not what thou dost demand。
If thou dost not hold her to be what thou why dost thou seek to
prove her instead of treating her as guilty in the way that may seem
best to thee？ but if she be as virtuous as thou believest； it is an
uncalled…for proceeding to make trial of truth itself； for； after
trial； it will but be in the same estimation as before。 Thus； then； it
is conclusive that to attempt things from which harm rather than
advantage may come to us is the part of unreasoning and reckless
minds； more especially when they are things which we are not forced or
compelled to attempt； and which show from afar that it is plainly
madness to attempt them。
〃Difficulties are attempted either for the sake of God or for the
sake of the world； or for both； those undertaken for God's sake are
those which the saints undertake when they attempt to live the lives
of angels in human bodies； those undertaken for the sake of the
world are those of the men who traverse such a vast expanse of
water； such a variety of climates； so many strange countries； to
acquire what are called the blessings of fortune； and those undertaken
for the sake of God and the world together are those of brave
soldiers； who no sooner do they see in the enemy's wall a breach as
wide as a cannon ball could make； than； casting aside all fear；
without hesitating； or heeding the manifest peril that threatens them；
borne onward by the desire of defending their faith； their country；
and their king； they fling themselves dauntlessly into the midst of
the thousand opposing deaths that await them。 Such are the things that
men are wont to attempt； and there is honour； glory； gain； in
attempting them； however full of difficulty and peril they may be； but
that which thou sayest it is thy wish to attempt and carry out will
not win thee the glory of God nor the blessings of fortune nor fame
among men； for even if the issue he as thou wouldst have it； thou wilt
be no happier； richer； or more honoured than thou art this moment； and
if it be otherwise thou wilt be reduced to misery greater than can
be imagined； for then it will avail thee nothing to reflect that no
one is aware of the misfortune that has befallen thee； it will suffice
to torture and crush thee that thou knowest it thyself。 And in
confirmation of the truth of what I say； let me repeat to thee a
stanza made by the famous poet Luigi Tansillo at the end of the
first part of his 'Tears of Saint Peter；' which says thus：
The anguish and the shame but greater grew
In Peter's heart as morning