Part 7

After this I took service with a master who painted tumbrels. My duty was to grind the colours, and here also I suffered many evil things. Having now grown to be a fine lad, I went into the principal church, and one of the chaplains took me to be his servant. He gave me charge of a donkey, four jars, and a whip. So I began to carry water for the city. This was the first step I ascended, to reach a decent life. For I gave thirty maravedis of profit to my master every day, and on Saturdays I was allowed the profits for myself, and everything else beyond the thirty maravedis a day. I went on so well that at the end of four years I had put something by, and was able to dress myself very well. I bought a doublet of fustian, a coat with sleeves, and a woollen cloak, as well as a sword. Shortly I saw myself clothed like a respectable man. I said to my master that he might take the donkey, as I did not intend to follow that occupation any longer.

[Illustration]

SEVENTH MASTER

HOW LAZARO TOOK SERVICE WITH A CONSTABLE AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS

Having taken leave of the chaplain, I entered the service of a constable, but stayed a very short time with him, for my occupation appeared to me to be dangerous, especially one night when we were attacked with stones and sticks. They treated my master badly, but they could not catch me. This business made me retire from the constable’s service.

Thinking how I should live so as to find some rest and save a little for my old age, it pleased God to enlighten me, and to put me on a profitable road. With the favour of friends and patrons all my labours and hardships, up to that time, were repaid, on reaching what I sought and obtained. [Sidenote: Lazaro gets a Government appointment, and is married.] This was a Government appointment such as enabled no one to thrive except those who occupied it. In it I live and reside to this day, in the service of God and your Honour. My duty is to have charge of the inspection of wine that is sold in this city, as well at public sales as elsewhere, also to accompany those who are condemned for default, and to cry out their transgressions, being a crier speaking in good Castilian. It has happened also that almost everything appertaining to the office passes through my hands, throughout the whole city. He who wants to draw wine for sale may reckon on deriving little profit, unless Lazaro de Tormes is consulted in the matter.

At this time his Honour the Archpriest of St. Saviour’s,[28] my lord and the friend of your worship, seeing my cleverness and noticing my presentable appearance when employed by him in announcing his wines, made an arrangement that I should marry one of his servant girls. Seeing myself that this would bring me benefits and favours, I gave my consent. I was married to her, and to this day I have had no reason to repent it, for I found her to be a good girl and diligent in service. I have favour and help from my lord the Archpriest. He always gives us during the year a load of wheat, meat on festivals, sometimes loaves of fine bread, and the shoes he has left off wearing. He arranged for us to rent a small house near his own. On almost every Sunday and on feast days we dine in his house.

[28] Formerly there were two kinds of parishes in Toledo. Those of the _Muzarabes_, founded by the Gothic King Athanagild, the grandfather of St. Ildefonso, continued through Moorish times. They were existing when Alfonso VI. took Toledo in 1085. Their number was six, reduced to two. The others were called _Latinas_, formed afterwards, of which there were twenty reduced to nine. St. Saviour’s was one of the latter. It has been joined to that of San Pedro since Lazarillo’s time.

[Sidenote: Evil tongues.]

But evil tongues are never wanting, and never let people live in peace. They said I know not what about my wife, because she went to make the bed and cook the dinner, and in this they spoke the truth, but she was not a woman who would give occasion for their scoffing. My lord the Archpriest had promised what I think he will perform, and one day he spoke to me fully on the subject. “Lazaro de Tormes,” he said, “he who listens to evil tongues will never prosper. I say this because your wife may be seen entering my house and leaving it. She comes with honour to herself and to you, and this I promise you. Do not attend to what they say, and be assured that what I tell you is for your good.” I replied that I was determined to care for and preserve my honesty. “It is true,” I said, “that some of my friends have spoken to me about this, and have even certified to me that before I was married to my wife she had borne a child three times, speaking with reverence to your Worship.” My wife took such oaths on the subject that I thought the house would come down upon us, and then she began to weep and to curse the day she had married me. She went on in such a way that I wished I had died before I let such words out of my mouth.

[Illustration: “_But evil tongues are never wanting._”]

I on one side and the Archpriest on the other entreated her to leave off crying, and I swore that never in all my life would I refer to the matter again. I declared that I should rejoice to see her go in and out of our patron’s house whenever she liked, as I was convinced of her honesty. [Sidenote: A good understanding.] So we all three continued to have a good understanding as to this, and have never heard more about it. When any one tries to say anything I stop him by saying: “Look here! if you are a friend do not say anything that will annoy me, for I do not look upon him as my friend who causes me sorrow, more especially if he tries to make trouble between me and my wife, for she is the thing in the world that I care for most. I love her, and may God show favour to her. She is a far better wife than I deserve, and I swear before the consecrated host that she is as good a woman as can be found within the gates of Toledo. He who says the contrary shall answer to me for it.” By this means I manage that they shall say nothing, and I have peace in my house.

[Sidenote: Conclusion.]

This was in the same year that our victorious Emperor entered into this famous city of Toledo, and held the Cortes here,[29] and there were great rejoicings as your Worship will have heard. At this time I was prosperous and at the summit of all good fortune.

[29] In 1525, at the time when Francis I. arrived as a prisoner at Madrid, Charles held a General Cortes of Castille at Toledo. There were present most of the Grandees, and all the foreign Ambassadors. The Viceroy Carlos de Lannoy arrived at Toledo, and was cordially received by the Emperor, after having brought Francis to Madrid. The Cortes petitioned Charles to marry Isabel, the Infanta of Portugal; while the English Ambassadors proposed to him his cousin, Mary Tudor. The Cortes sat until the end of August.--_Sandoval_, i. 664 (2).

PRINTED AT BURGOS IN THE HOUSE OF JUAN DE JUNTA IN THE YEAR 1554

INDEX

PEOPLE MENTIONED

PAGE Alexander the Great, blind man compared to 31 Antonia Perez, Lazaro’s mother 4 Antonio (sword-maker) mentioned by the esquire 56 Arcos, Count of (the esquire had such an air about him that he might have been related to) 59 Comendador de la Magdalena (his stables) 6 Emperor Charles V. held Cortes at Toledo 103 Escalona, Duke of, town belonging to 23-24 Galen, blind man knew more than 16 Gonçales (see Thomé), Lazaro’s father 4 Lazaro de Tormes 4 Ovid, esquire making love using words of 61 Penelope-web (the priest stopping a rat-hole in his chest by day and Lazaro opening it by night) 42 Perez (see Antonia) 4 Pliny, quoted in Prologue 1 Thomé Gonçales, Lazaro’s father 4 Tully, quoted in Prologue 2 Zayde, groom flogged for stealing gear 7, 8

PLACES MENTIONED

Almorox, road to Toledo 22 Escalona, road to Toledo 23 Gelves Island, where Lazaro’s father was killed 11 Maqueda, road to Toledo 30 Murcia, lettuce of (present of the seller of Indulgences to clergy) 84 Old Castille, where the esquire came from 74 Salamanca, start from 4-8 St. Saviour’s, church at Toledo 98 Tejares, birthplace of parents 4 Toledo, Lazaro came to, and lived at 47 Tormes, river where the mill was. Lazaro’s birthplace 4 Torrijos, road to Toledo 29 Valencia, conserves of (priest talked as if upstairs were all the) 32 Valladolid, esquire from near 75 Venice, riches of (esquire thought so much of his real, as if it was all the) 70

VICTUALS AND DRINK MENTIONED BY LAZARO

*Bodigo (small loaves made of the finest flour offered to the Church) _Dic. Acad._ quotes Lazaro. 31 *Horca de cebollas (string of onions) 31, 32 *Caldo (gravy) 32 Conservas de Valencia 32 Duraznos (nectarines) 84 Lechuga Murciana (lettuce) 84 Limas (limes) 84 *Longaniza (sausage) 17, 24 Melocoton (peaches) 84 Nabo (colewort), a root much used of a plant like a “rabano” (radish) but smaller 24 Naranjas (oranges) 84 *Pedaços de Pan (bits of bread) 7 *Queso (cheese) 31, 42 *Razimo de uvas, (bunch of grapes) 22 *Torreznos (Pedazo de Tocino cortado, frito), (fried bacon) 31 *Tripas cocidas (boiled tripe) 62 Uña de vaca (cow’s foot), Lazaro gave it to the poor esquire 66 Pedaços de carne (bits of meat), Lazaro only got the gravy 32 Cabeza de carnero (sheep’s head), Lazaro only got the picked bone 32 *Vino (wine) 18, 26, 27, 71, 98

_Note_--But only those with * eaten or drunk by Lazaro. The rest only talked about.

_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_.

[Illustration: Sketch Map of the Route _from_ SALAMANCA _to_ TOLEDO]

NORTHERN SPAIN

Painted and described by EDGAR T. A. WIGRAM.

Containing 75 full-page illustrations in colour. Square demy 8vo, cloth, gilt top.

Price 20s. net

(_Post Free Price 20s. 6d._)

“Mr. Wigram is an accomplished artist, as distinguished from the mere illustrator. He catches the inner spirit of things, and is not ashamed to give his enthusiasm full rein, and an enthusiasm of this kind is so infectious that the reader shares his joy.... Certainly this is a book to read, admire, and to enjoy.”--_The Guardian._

“We are deeply indebted to Mr. Edgar T. A. Wigram for placing before us such a charming collection of picturesque landscapes and beautiful architectural examples.”--_British Weekly._

SOUTHERN SPAIN

Painted by TREVOR HADDON, R.B.A.

Described by A. F. CALVERT.

Containing 75 full-page illustrations in colour. Square demy 8vo, cloth, gilt top.

Price 20s. net

(_Post Free Price 20s. 6d._)

Southern Spain or Andalusia is a subject _par excellence_ for a “colour book.” The names of Seville, Cordova, Granada, and Cadiz awaken at once visions of the romantic South, of white dazzling cities, of castle-crowned heights, of Christian Knights battling with the Infidels. Above all is Andalusia precious to the art lover as containing those marvellous monuments of vanished Moorish civilisation, the Alhambra, the Alcazar, and the great Mosque of the West. The present work vividly portrays its glories and beauties, and is intended primarily as a souvenir and record for those who have visited the country and wish to re-create their impressions. It will also be welcomed by those unable to visit the places described, as it will help them to realise, if only at second hand, some of its magic charm.

PUBLISHED BY

ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.

IN SPAIN

By JOHN LOMAS

Author of “Sketches in Spain from Nature, Art, and Life.” Editor of “O’Shea’s Guide to Spain.”

With 50 illustrations from photographs. Large crown 8vo, cloth, gilt top.

Price 5s. net

(_Post Free Price 5s. 5d._)

“That it is excellent reading needs not to be said; while in all that makes for guidance--knowledge, observation, and a well-devised plan--it is admirably equipped.”--_Westminster Gazette._

“Those who would visit Spain would be well advised to take Mr. Lomas’s book with them. They will find it of the utmost service. Those who do their travelling by the fireside will scarcely find it less attractive.”--_Scotsman._

O’SHEA’S GUIDE TO SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

Thirteenth edition. Edited by JOHN LOMAS.

With plans and maps. Crown 8vo, cloth.

Price 10s. 6d. net

(_Post Free Price 10s. 10d._)

“It has indeed been long recognised as a standard work upon the subject of which it treats, and an excellent example of orderly method and skilful condensation.”--_Daily News._

“Is not likely to lose the position it has held for so many years as the best published.”--_Continental Traveller._

PUBLISHED BY

ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, SOHO SQUARE, LONDON, W.

* * * * * *

Transcriber’s note:

* Obvious printer errors have been silently corrected.

* Original spelling has been kept, but variant spellings have been made consistent when a predominant usage was found. Spanish spellings have been kept unchanged.

* Footnotes have been renumbered into a single series. Each footnote is placed at the end of the paragraph which includes its anchor.

* Sidenotes have been slightly moved to better match the text.

* Inconsistencies between the main text and the Table of Contents have been eliminated.