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another's fault。 I will first know what it is that the bold licentious
eyes of Lothario have seen in me that could have encouraged him to
reveal to me a design so base as that which he has disclosed
regardless of his friend and of my honour。 Go to the window；
Leonela； and call him； for no doubt he is in the street waiting to
carry out his vile project； but mine； cruel it may be； but honourable；
shall be carried out first。〃
〃Ah； senora；〃 said the crafty Leonela； who knew her part； 〃what is
it you want to do with this dagger？ Can it be that you mean to take
your own life； or Lothario's？ for whichever you mean to do； it will
lead to the loss of your reputation and good name。 It is better to
dissemble your wrong and not give this wicked man the chance of
entering the house now and finding us alone； consider； senora； we
are weak women and he is a man； and determined； and as he comes with
such a base purpose； blind and urged by passion； perhaps before you
can put yours into execution he may do what will be worse for you than
taking your life。 Ill betide my master； Anselmo； for giving such
authority in his house to this shameless fellow！ And supposing you
kill him； senora； as I suspect you mean to do； what shall we do with
him when he is dead？〃
〃What； my friend？〃 replied Camilla； 〃we shall leave him for
Anselmo to bury him； for in reason it will be to him a light labour to
hide his own infamy under ground。 Summon him； make haste； for all
the time I delay in taking vengeance for my wrong seems to me an
offence against the loyalty I owe my husband。〃
Anselmo was listening to all this； and every word that Camilla
uttered made him change his mind； but when he heard that it was
resolved to kill Lothario his first impulse was to come out and show
himself to avert such a disaster； but in his anxiety to see the
issue of a resolution so bold and virtuous he restrained himself；
intending to come forth in time to prevent the deed。 At this moment
Camilla； throwing herself upon a bed that was close by； swooned
away； and Leonela began to weep bitterly； exclaiming； 〃Woe is me！ that
I should be fated to have dying here in my arms the flower of virtue
upon earth； the crown of true wives； the pattern of chastity！〃 with
more to the same effect； so that anyone who heard her would have taken
her for the most tender…hearted and faithful handmaid in the world；
and her mistress for another persecuted Penelope。
Camilla was not long in recovering from her fainting fit and on
coming to herself she said； 〃Why do you not go； Leonela； to call
hither that friend； the falsest to his friend the sun ever shone
upon or night concealed？ Away； run； haste； speed！ lest the fire of
my wrath burn itself out with delay； and the righteous vengeance
that I hope for melt away in menaces and maledictions。〃
〃I am just going to call him； senora；〃 said Leonela； 〃but you must
first give me that dagger； lest while I am gone you should by means of
it give cause to all who love you to weep all their lives。〃
〃Go in peace； dear Leonela； I will not do so；〃 said Camilla； 〃for
rash and foolish as I may be； to your mind； in defending my honour；
I am not going to be so much so as that Lucretia who they say killed
herself without having done anything wrong； and without having first
killed him on whom the guilt of her misfortune lay。 I shall die； if
I am to die； but it must be after full vengeance upon him who has
brought me here to weep over audacity that no fault of mine gave birth
to。〃
Leonela required much pressing before she would go to summon
Lothario； but at last she went； and while awaiting her return
Camilla continued； as if speaking to herself； 〃Good God！ would it
not have been more prudent to have repulsed Lothario； as I have done
many a time before； than to allow him； as I am now doing； to think
me unchaste and vile； even for the short time I must wait until I
undeceive him？ No doubt it would have been better； but I should not be
avenged； nor the honour of my husband vindicated； should he find so
clear and easy an escape from the strait into which his depravity
has led him。 Let the traitor pay with his life for the temerity of his
wanton wishes； and let the world know （if haply it shall ever come
to know） that Camilla not only preserved her allegiance to her
husband； but avenged him of the man who dared to wrong him。 Still； I
think it might be better to disclose this to Anselmo。 But then I
have called his attention to it in the letter I wrote to him in the
country； and； if he did nothing to prevent the mischief I there
pointed out to him； I suppose it was that from pure goodness of
heart and trustfulness he would not and could not believe that any
thought against his honour could harbour in the breast of so stanch
a friend； nor indeed did I myself believe it for many days； nor should
I have ever believed it if his insolence had not gone so far as to
make it manifest by open presents； lavish promises； and ceaseless
tears。 But why do I argue thus？ Does a bold determination stand in
need of arguments？ Surely not。 Then traitors avaunt！ Vengeance to my
aid！ Let the false one come； approach； advance； die； yield up his
life； and then befall what may。 Pure I came to him whom Heaven
bestowed upon me； pure I shall leave him； and at the worst bathed in
my own chaste blood and in the foul blood of the falsest friend that
friendship ever saw in the world；〃 and as she uttered these words
she paced the room holding the unsheathed dagger； with such
irregular and disordered steps； and such gestures that one would
have supposed her to have lost her senses； and taken her for some
violent desperado instead of a delicate woman。
Anselmo； hidden behind some tapestries where he had concealed
himself； beheld and was amazed at all； and already felt that what he
had seen and heard was a sufficient answer to even greater suspicions；
and he would have been now well pleased if the proof afforded by
Lothario's coming were dispensed with； as he feared some sudden
mishap； but as he was on the point of showing himself and coming forth
to embrace and undeceive his wife he paused as he saw Leonela
returning； leading Lothario。 Camilla when she saw him； drawing a
long line in front of her on the floor with the dagger； said to him；
〃Lothario； pay attention to what I say to thee： if by any chance
thou darest to cross this line thou seest； or even approach it； the
instant I see thee attempt it that same instant will I pierce my bosom
with this dagger that I hold in my hand； and before thou answerest
me a word desire thee to listen to a few from me； and afterwards
thou shalt reply as may please thee。 First； I desire thee to tell
me； Lothario； if thou knowest my husband Anselmo； and in what light
thou regardest him； and secondly I desire to know if thou knowest me
too。 Answer me this； without embarrassment or reflecting deeply what
thou wilt answer； for they are no riddles I put to thee。〃
Lothario was not so dull but that from the first moment when Camilla
directed him to make Anselmo hide himself he understood what she
intended to do； and therefore he fell in with her idea so readily
and promptly that b