Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical settingVaeth, Joseph Anthony
History
Tirant lo Blanch; a study of its authorship, principal sources and historical setting
Vaeth, Joseph Anthony
Martorell, Joanot, -1468. Tirant lo Blanch
Tirant was happy sometimes, but more often he was sad. His conduct and
his speech revealed that something was preying on his mind. His was
the lot of the uncertain lover, swaying between hope and fear. One
day Carmesina asked him why he was so sad. He answered that he was in
love. Then she requested him to tell her who the lady was that caused
him so much anxiety. As an answer, he took something out of his sleeve
and handed it to the princess with these words: “The image that you
will see there can make me die or live.” She took the object, went to
her room, and looked at it. Instead of the painted picture that she
expected to find, she saw an image of herself, for the object was a
precious and beautiful mirror. Carmesina admired greatly this novel
manner of making a confession of love. While she was in her room, Viuda
Reposada, who had been the nurse of the princess and still had much
influence over her, entered the room, and with her came Stephania.
They saw the mirror and inquired how it came into her hands. She told
them all about it. Viuda Reposada then reproached her for being on such
intimate terms with one who was no more than her father’s servant. She
denounced the whole affair as absolutely improper. The princess was
very much affected by this harsh rebuke and, on the verge of weeping,
she retired to her private chamber. Stephania followed and tried to
console her. (Chaps. 126-127)
The next day Tirant sent Diaphebus to see the princess, in order to
find out how she felt disposed towards him since the mirror episode.
When he began to speak to her about Tirant, she exclaimed: “Oh! if
you knew of the trick that he played on me; with a mirror he made a
confession of love to me; just let me see him and I shall tell him
things that he will not care to hear.” (Chap. 127)
The next time that Tirant saw her, she received him coldly, and rebuked
him severely, charging him with being untrue to the trust imposed
upon him; ungrateful and disrespectful to the emperor, her father;
and insolent towards her, because he made a confession of love to her
as one would to a woman of low degree. Tirant answered that he would
avenge the insult by taking his own life. He hastened to his abode.
Immediately upon his departure, she became sorry that she had spoken to
him so severely, and fearing that in his despair he might do himself
harm, sent Stephania to beg him to forgive her, and by no means to take
his life. She was so afraid that Stephania might fail in her mission,
that she herself went to Tirant, expressed her sorrow for what she had
said, and humbly asked pardon. Tirant was deeply moved by the love that
her words and actions revealed, and his woe was changed to joy. (Chaps.
127-130)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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