The Wanderings of Persiles and Sigismunda: A Northern StoryCervantes Saavedra, Miguel de
General
The Wanderings of Persiles and Sigismunda: A Northern Story
Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de
Spanish fiction -- Translations into English; Voyages and travels -- Fiction
Things were in this state, and evening coming on, when the physician
returned to pay a second visit, and by chance he brought with him Juan
Baptista Marulo, father of Andrew, the lover. As they entered the sick
room, he said, "Look at this young lady, Señor Juan Baptista; is it
not a pity that a demon should have possession of so fair a body, but
we console ourselves with one hope, and that is, that the evil spirit
said he would go away when your son Andrew should arrive, and we are
expecting him every instant."
"So I have heard," said the Señor Juan Baptista, "and I should rejoice
if anything of mine were to be the harbinger of such good news."
"Thanks to me and my diligence," cried Isabella, "but for that he
might be still at Salamanca doing the Lord knows what. The Señor Juan
Baptista, who is here present, may believe me when I tell him he has
a son who is more handsome than holy, and not so studious as he is
gallant. Evil betide the fine ornaments and gay attire of those youths
who commit such havoc in the republic; and ill betide the spurs that
are not sharp, and the mules that do not bestir themselves."
Thus she ran on, stringing together all kinds of dubious words, such
as might convey two meanings to those who were in the secret, and the
bystanders in general. _These_ interpreted them as they were meant.
_Those_ considered them as incoherent nonsense.
"Where did you see my son Andrew, lady?" asked Marulo; "was it at
Madrid, or Salamanca?"
"It was at Illescas," said Isabella: "he was gathering cherries on the
morning of St. John at day-break; but if I must speak the truth, and it
is a marvel if I do so, I see him everywhere, and carry him ever in my
heart."
"Better to be gathering cherries than catching fleas," replied Marulo,
"for that is the common occupation of the students."
"Those creatures," she replied, "are bold, and will enter the stocking
of a prince as freely as the blanket of a? hospital."
"You know everything, evil one," said the doctor; "it seems clear that
you are an old hand." He spoke this to the devil, who, as he imagined,
was inhabiting Isabella's body.
And now, just as if Satan had ordained it, the old uncle of Isabella
entered with every mark of the greatest joy, crying out, "A reward!
my niece, my beloved child; a reward for the news I bring. The Señor
Andrew Marulo, son of this gentleman, Señor Juan Baptista, is just
arrived; and now Heaven grant that we may see the promise accomplished,
which you gave of being freed from the evil spirit at the sight of
him."
Accursed demon, _vade retro, exi foras_, and never think of returning
to this dwelling, which thou shalt see purged and purified.
"Let him come," said Isabella. "Let this reputed Ganymede, this
counterfeit Adonis, come, and give me his hand as a husband, free and
unrestrained, for here am I expecting him, firm as a rock whereon the
sea waves break, but cannot move."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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