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feeling and apparent sincerity； that he overthrew the virtuous
resolves of Camilla and won the triumph he least expected and most
longed for。 Camilla yielded； Camilla fell； but what wonder if the
friendship of Lothario could not stand firm？ A clear proof to us
that the passion of love is to be conquered only by flying from it；
and that no one should engage in a struggle with an enemy so mighty；
for divine strength is needed to overcome his human power。 Leonela
alone knew of her mistress's weakness； for the two false friends and
new lovers were unable to conceal it。 Lothario did not care to tell
Camilla the object Anselmo had in view； nor that he had afforded him
the opportunity of attaining such a result； lest she should undervalue
his love and think that it was by chance and without intending it
and not of his own accord that he had made love to her。
A few days later Anselmo returned to his house and did not
perceive what it had lost； that which he so lightly treated and so
highly prized。 He went at once to see Lothario； and found him at home；
they embraced each other； and Anselmo asked for the tidings of his
life or his death。
〃The tidings I have to give thee； Anselmo my friend；〃 said Lothario；
〃are that thou dost possess a wife that is worthy to be the pattern
and crown of all good wives。 The words that I have addressed to her
were borne away on the wind； my promises have been despised； my
presents have been refused； such feigned tears as I shed have been
turned into open ridicule。 In short； as Camilla is the essence of
all beauty； so is she the treasure…house where purity dwells； and
gentleness and modesty abide with all the virtues that can confer
praise； honour； and happiness upon a woman。 Take back thy money； my
friend； here it is； and I have had no need to touch it； for the
chastity of Camilla yields not to things so base as gifts or promises。
Be content； Anselmo； and refrain from making further proof； and as
thou hast passed dryshod through the sea of those doubts and
suspicions that are and may be entertained of women； seek not to
plunge again into the deep ocean of new embarrassments； or with
another pilot make trial of the goodness and strength of the bark that
Heaven has granted thee for thy passage across the sea of this
world； but reckon thyself now safe in port； moor thyself with the
anchor of sound reflection； and rest in peace until thou art called
upon to pay that debt which no nobility on earth can escape paying。〃
Anselmo was completely satisfied by the words of Lothario； and
believed them as fully as if they had been spoken by an oracle；
nevertheless he begged of him not to relinquish the undertaking；
were it but for the sake of curiosity and amusement； though
thenceforward he need not make use of the same earnest endeavours as
before； all he wished him to do was to write some verses to her；
praising her under the name of Chloris； for he himself would give
her to understand that he was in love with a lady to whom he had given
that name to enable him to sing her praises with the decorum due to
her modesty； and if Lothario were unwilling to take the trouble of
writing the verses he would compose them himself。
〃That will not be necessary；〃 said Lothario； 〃for the muses are
not such enemies of mine but that they visit me now and then in the
course of the year。 Do thou tell Camilla what thou hast proposed about
a pretended amour of mine； as for the verses will make them； and if
not as good as the subject deserves； they shall be at least the best I
can produce。〃 An agreement to this effect was made between the
friends； the ill…advised one and the treacherous； and Anselmo
returning to his house asked Camilla the question she already wondered
he had not asked before… what it was that had caused her to write
the letter she had sent him。 Camilla replied that it had seemed to her
that Lothario looked at her somewhat more freely than when he had been
at home； but that now she was undeceived and believed it to have
been only her own imagination； for Lothario now avoided seeing her； or
being alone with her。 Anselmo told her she might be quite easy on
the score of that suspicion； for he knew that Lothario was in love
with a damsel of rank in the city whom he celebrated under the name of
Chloris； and that even if he were not； his fidelity and their great
friendship left no room for fear。 Had not Camilla； however； been
informed beforehand by Lothario that this love for Chloris was a
pretence； and that he himself had told Anselmo of it in order to be
able sometimes to give utterance to the praises of Camilla herself； no
doubt she would have fallen into the despairing toils of jealousy； but
being forewarned she received the startling news without uneasiness。
The next day as the three were at table Anselmo asked Lothario to
recite something of what he had composed for his mistress Chloris； for
as Camilla did not know her； he might safely say what he liked。
〃Even did she know her；〃 returned Lothario； 〃I would hide nothing；
for when a lover praises his lady's beauty； and charges her with
cruelty； he casts no imputation upon her fair name； at any rate； all I
can say is that yesterday I made a sonnet on the ingratitude of this
Chloris； which goes thus：
SONNET
At midnight； in the silence； when the eyes
Of happier mortals balmy slumbers close；
The weary tale of my unnumbered woes
To Chloris and to Heaven is wont to rise。
And when the light of day returning dyes
The portals of the east with tints of rose；
With undiminished force my sorrow flows
In broken accents and in burning sighs。
And when the sun ascends his star…girt throne；
And on the earth pours down his midday beams；
Noon but renews my wailing and my tears；
And with the night again goes up my moan。
Yet ever in my agony it seems
To me that neither Heaven nor Chloris hears。〃
The sonnet pleased Camilla； and still more Anselmo； for he praised
it and said the lady was excessively cruel who made no return for
sincerity so manifest。 On which Camilla said； 〃Then all that
love…smitten poets say is true？〃
〃As poets they do not tell the truth；〃 replied Lothario； 〃but as
lovers they are not more defective in expression than they are
truthful。〃
〃There is no doubt of that；〃 observed Anselmo； anxious to support
and uphold Lothario's ideas with Camilla； who was as regardless of his
design as she was deep in love with Lothario； and so taking delight in
anything that was his； and knowing that his thoughts and writings
had her for their object； and that she herself was the real Chloris；
she asked him to repeat some other sonnet or verses if he
recollected any。
〃I do；〃 replied Lothario； 〃but I do not think it as good as the
first one； or； more correctly speaking； less bad； but you can easily
judge； for it is this。
SONNET
I know that I am doomed； death is to me
As certain as that thou； ungrateful fair；
Dead at thy feet shouldst see me lying； ere
My heart repented of its love for thee。
If bur