Whilst the sad and afflicted Celio entered into France by the
mountains of Jaca to see if he could find his dear Finia, our
pilgrim Pamphilus having gotten out of the prison, as a madman whose
fury was over, was admitted to the table where others did eat, where
also sat his fair Nisa; near unto whom he did always endeavour to
sit, and there and in all other convenient places he told her his
fortunes. She blamed him for putting himself into this place,
although she did acknowledge how she was tied unto him, for this his
great folly.
Pamphilus as a true lover, who only aimed at the end of his love,
which was to marry her, and who had sworn by a thousand oaths to
resist the violence of his desires until a lawful marriage would
suffer him to accomplish them, said unto her in comforting her, that
if she had suffered this misery for him, and that they ought to be
all one, there was no reason but he should have his part of this
misery, to the end that equal in all things, their marriage might be
without advantage of one side or another, and that his love unto her
did prevail so far as not to let pass one day without seeing her,
notwithstanding any danger, and although his honour were thereby in
hazard. The servants of the house did not hinder their speaking
together, because that Nisa being apparelled like a man, and having
a care that her hair should not reveal her sex, everybody did
believe that she was as she seemed to be. For although that her
beauty were extreme, yet the world hath not any so great, but it
appeareth little, being much neglected; especially seeing that if
art do not polish the beautifullest and finest diamonds, and that
they be not set in gold with enamelling and other necessary
ornaments, they show not the lustre, grace nor beauty which they
have being artificially cut and set in a foil by cunning workmen.
The misery of this kind of life seemed unto our two lovers as
nothing in regard of the former travails which they had suffered, as
I have heard it often said by many: and I myself know by experience
that if two lovers may see and speak together, they have no feeling
of the miseries which do serve them as means to attain thereunto. Oh
what will not those which love resolve of! What is it, which doth
not seem possible unto them? What travails can weary them? And what
dangers can make them fear? O love strong as death: seeing that a
lover living in that which he loves, and being dead in himself, hath
no more feeling of torment then a body deprived of a soul. With what
tears were these two separated at night, by the cruel officers of
this prison? (If it be cruelty to deal rigorously with mad folks)
with what care and languishment did they attend the day that they
might see one the other? What discreet follies did they utter in
public, full of equivocations to deceive those who heard them, and
to divert the evils which they suffered? And with what amorous
discourses did they in particular warm their desires to marry? How
much doth he commend Nisa's virtue, and the chaste but loving
defence which she made of her honour, for Pamphilus being a man had
yielded often unto his passion, if she had not moderated his
violence? With what grace they gave madly, favours one unto another,
of the wildest things they could find upon the ground, which
Pamphilus stuck in his hat, instead of jewels or feathers which he
was wont to wear. But fortune envying their contentedness, even in
this misery, would not let them live in this place at rest, but
arming himself anew against them, even at that time when as they
thought (by Jacinth’s help) to get out of that prison, there came
unto this city an Italian earl, of the house of Aguilora, called
Emilio, who desiring to have a Fool with him, promised a great alms
unto their house if they would give him a madman, who having lost
his fury might entertain him with sport. Those of the hospital
failed not to promise him one, and withal to bring him to his
lodging some of their most peaceable madmen, amongst whom were the
pilgrim Pamphilus and the fair Nisa. The Earl joyful to see them,
inquired of their keepers their conditions, one of whom answered
thus:
This man strong and able who you see there, was sometimes a brave
soldier, who having served upon many occasions like a Hector,
desired the reward of his valour which he had merited above all
other. But he finding himself denied, and that it was given unto the
cowardliest fellow in the army, fell from this imagination into so
profound a melancholy, that he lost his wits. He hath lost his fury
in the prison although oftentimes it returns. His discourse is
always of marshalling an army, of besieging a fort, of lodging a
camp, or causing it to march. All is sluices, dykes, trenches,
platforms, ravelins, casemates, flankers, palisadoes, counterscarps,
squadrons, cannons, muskets, pistols, corselets, pikes. This weak
and pale man is of another humour, who having given himself too much
to the study of philosophy, lost his understanding. Of this man the
Earl demanded, which was the Primum Mobile, either Coelum Imperium,
or Coelum Crystallinum? unto whom the madman answered thus:
"After moving the spheres by a local motion, the divines do teach us
that there is another heaven perpetually in rest from all motion,
created from the beginning, and full of an innumerable thousands of
intelligences and of happy spirits, which were created together in
it and with it. In such sort as the mingled bodies are accustomed to
engender some things in inferior places, as fishes in the water,
birds in the air and the vegetative creatures, plants and minerals
in the earth. This heaven for its greatness and for its inestimable
light, is called Imperial, as who should say Fiery (not for the
natural property of fire, but for the glorious clearness wherewith
it shineth) is the throne destined before the constitution of the
world, and as a royal palace ordained from the beginning, for all
those who are to reign before the face of God, the light whereof is
so lustrous and clear, that the corporal eyes cannot behold or look
upon it, no more than the birds of the night can the sun."
All the assistants remaining astonished at this discourse, another
one of the madmen began to cry, calling his dogs, and luring his
hawks like the great falconer and huntsman as he had been; of whom,
as the Earl began to laugh, Pamphilus said thus unto him; you ought
not mock at this exercise, but at those who exercise it unorderly
and untimely, without respecting either season or place: for
according to Xenophon and Athenaeus, hunting was famous amongst the
Persians. Homer said it was practised amongst the Greeks that
thereby their young men might become hardier; for as Horace writes,
the Hunter often lies abroad in the cold night without remembering
his wife. Philon the Hebrew tells notable things of hunting, in his
Preface unto his Warfare. Cicero says no less, in his book of The
Nature of the Gods. And Peter Gregory says that the original
thereof, was in the beginning of the world to the end that men
should be able to free themselves from the persecutions of beasts.
If hunting, replied the Earl, (who was a man of great knowledge) had
not passed from the honest exercise (the imitation of war) unto that
of pleasure, who would doubt of the excellence thereof? But in
regard of the hurt it doth in the fields, and the expense which it
brings unto him who follows it? Louis the Twelfth King of France
justly forbade it: for what else is the meaning of the fable of
Actaeon, devoured by his dogs, but that overmuch hunting wastes both
goods and life? And passing by many other things, which might be
gathered from this verse of Virgil, where he says, Aeneas and sad
Dido went a-hunting together in a wood: joined also the dangers of
life which cannot be told, neither is it to be wondered at, that
this man became mad, seeing that as Dion assureth the same exercise
made the Emperor Adrian a fool. Then answered the mad hunter, that
with more reason should he be laid in this place for a madman,
because he would persuade madmen, and reason with them who had no
reason.
The discourse of this madman, said the Earl savouring nothing of
madness, obliges me to answer: for a man must fight with those who
give occasion, play with such as have money, and answer unto
everyone in the same manner he speaks. But if all the madmen in
Spain were as you, and that my children should remain there, I
should rather desire to have them ignorant than learned; know said
the fool that if it were possible a man should desire to be born in
France, to live in Italy and to die in Spain, to be born for the
nobleness of the French, who always have had their king of their own
nation, and never mingled with any other; to live, for the liberty
and felicity of Italy: and to die for the Catholic faith which is so
certain in all Spain. And as concerning your children, whatsoever
happens of it, suffer them not to live in ignorance; for there is
less danger in being mad, than in being ignorant. Whilst this man
spoke, another singing near to him let the Earl know that music had
brought him to that estate, for it is said; that it is a kinswoman
to poetry: the ancients said the madmen have comprised music amongst
the liberal sciences. Aristotle in his Politics, Budeus in his
Commentary upon the Greek tongue and Caelius the Rhodian do say that
music is a mixture compounded of sounds sweet, flat and sharp.
Plutarch in the life of Homer puts one voice flat and the other
sharp, the flat voice proceeds from within and the sharp from the
area of the mouth, and from their divers tempering make the harmony;
the object of the hearing is the sound, and the reflection of the
air, as Galen teaches; and the sound is made from the act of some
one thing into another, by the means of the stroke which causes it:
two bodies are required to make a sound, because that one cannot do
it. The echo is an air struck into hollow places, which resisting
the stroke of the voice, return the same words which are spoken. So
say Themiserus, Pliny, Ovid and Macrobius in his Saturnales. The
voice and the word are not one thing, the word holds the ground from
the tongue helped by the nostrils, the lips and the teeth: and the
instruments of the voice are the throat, the muscles which move, and
the nerves which come down from the brain. Who was the first
inventor of music? asked the Earl. The madman answered, Josephus
said that it was Tubal, Adam’s nephew, although that others give the
invention to Mercury, as Gregory Gerand: and Philostratus said that
Mercury learned it from Orpheus and Amphion. But Eusebius attributes
it to Dionysus. Then asked the Earl, into how many parts music was
divided? The madman answered, according to Boetius, into the
theoretical and the practical, be it either natural, artificial,
celestial or human; the natural and celestial is that which is
considered in the harmony of all the parts of the world: the human
is that which treats of the proportions of the body and of the soul,
and their parts: for Plato, Pythagoras and Architas have thought
that the motions and conversions of the stars cannot be without
music. And Vitruvius is of the opinion that buildings are not framed
without music. Leaving celestial and human, there follows
artificial, divided into musical organs and Instruments.
Thereupon the other madmen began to put in practice that whereof he
only showed the theory, and began to make such a noise with confused
and discording voices, that it was impossible to understand them.
But being appeased, he who kept the madmen made great account unto
the Earle of a mad astrologer, who by the contemplation of such high
things was fallen into this abasement. Hardly had the Earl looked
upon him, when he began to tell him that the composition and figure
of the world in its form was called a sphere which was solid, and
that passing through the middle, the poles were placed in the
extremes or vertical points immovable: one made the North on this
side of the Bear, and from the stars of that part of heaven called
Aquila, Boreal or Arctic; The other which was opposite by diameter
was called Antarctic and meridional; there was he interrupted by
others, who would not let him proceed, and after it was not possible
to appease them, although there were a great many more painters,
poets and mathematicians, but above all there was an alchemist, a
famous disciple of Raymundus Lullius.
At this time Emilio had fixed his eyes upon Nisa, and beholding the
sadness with which she was silent, he demanded of the Master the
humour of this mad creature? Who answered him, that love had brought
him to his folly. Her delicate face, and the occasion of her evil,
gave him at the same time desire and compassion with such affection,
that agreeing with the Master at the price of a hundred crowns, he
made choice of her from amongst all the other to lead her into
Italy. But hardly had Pamphilus seen the effects of this election,
when as his fury increasing truly, which was before but feigned, he
struck, he bit and took on, as if he had been enraged against those
who took his dear Nisa away. But they being a great many against him
alone, the Earl took her from the house, and shortly after from
Valencia. And Pamphilus tied up as a madman, was had back again with
many grievous blows, bewailing bitterly the loss of his dear Nisa.
And by how much he endeavoured to make the officers believe that he
was not mad, by so much the more he persuaded them that he was not
well in his wits: because being oppressed with grief he told them
plainly that he had caused himself to be brought thither only to see
this young mad creature, whom they had accounted to be a man, but
indeed was a woman and his wife, whom he had concealed under this
habit for fear of her father, from whom he had stolen her away.
But they were so confirmed in their opinion of his madness, that by
those reasons whereby he did think they were tied to give him his
liberty, he made them more obstinate to refuse him, until they might
have more evident tokens of the tranquillity of his mind. Whilst he
did complain to see that it served him to no purpose to tell the
truth, which of all things in the world doth most enrage a man, and
that in regard of Jacinth’s absence, he could not tell unto whom to
have recourse. The unfortunate Nisa was meanwhile come to Barcelona,
with so much sorrow and tears that Emilio already repented that he
had bought her: inasmuch as there is nothing more unprofitable than
a sad fool. The Earl embarked, not knowing that she whom he led with
him had the fortune of Scianus’ horse, which cost his masters their
lives: He endeavoured to rejoice Nisa, causing her to sit at his
table, to make her eat meat, because it was told him that she would
famish herself to death, where earnestly beholding her face, and
considering her actions, he did suspect, that she was neither mad,
nor a man: He let this day pass over, and the next day he was
assured of both; Inasmuch as so great a sadness could not be
feigned; and that Nisa's reserved speech and the modesty of her
looks declared openly that which upon other occasions she had hidden
with so much care; Emilio being then persuaded that this mad
creature was a woman, or at the least having evident tokens thereof,
inquired with great care of her sadness, using her as a gentlewoman,
and with respect due unto her sex. Nisa who had now neither care to
disguise herself nor to live, confessed she was a woman, and would
not be comforted by Emilio's words: but Emilio, who the more he
conversed with her the more was engaged in her love, in the end
suffered himself to be vanquished in her beauty: for Nisa now
ceasing to appear as a man captivated all those who beheld her with
her marvellous grace. Love then began to make himself master over
Emilio through pity, which is the cloak under which it enters into
our minds; as the pill under gold, that the bitterness may not
offend: and his passion increased so far as to desire to know her
evil and to procure her remedy. But neither for any effect of love,
nor hope of remedy that he could give her would Nisa witness any
feeling of pleasure, or obligation to him: all which served to
sharpen Emilio’s desires, which he did make appear with greater
demonstrations: whereat Nisa being grieved, endeavoured to divert
him from her love, conjuring him with tears that he would not lead
her in this indecent habit. The Earl being courteous offered her
other clothes, but she assured him that she had made a vow never to
wear any but pilgrim’s habit, until she had seen the Patron of Spain
in Galicia. Emilio nevertheless did make her one of serge, and the
pilgrim being new clothed appeared more beautiful, there being no
new apparel which doth not embellish, nor so poor a habit new which
doth not enrich a well-proportioned body.
But by this time, a great fog with a tempestuous wind arising in the
gulf, the mariners knew by the signs which are wont to forerun such
storms that they were likely to undergo a great hazard of drowning.
Their presage was not vain, for the wind rose with such extremity
and violence and the sea wrought with such huge billows that the
Masters could no more command, nor the rowers obey. The Captain was
astonished, the pilot pale, some cried, others silent and without
stirring remained as men in a trance with fear. And in this
confusion which continued six hours, the miserable galley split
against the rocks; Emilio who now no more remembered his love, and
who knew not that the unfortunateness of Nisa brought forth this
effect (clean contrary unto Caesar’s fortune, which appeased storms)
endeavoured to save his life with much travail: and the heaven
reserving Nisa's life to run greater fortunes, cast her as formerly
she had been upon the shore of Barcelona.
Those which remained alive were cast away in the same place: Nisa
having stayed some time to recover herself after this fortune went
in pilgrimage to Marseille: where one day visiting the famous Church
of the Penitent, whom the angels buried in the mountain where God
gave his laws to Moses, she saw a woman, a pilgrim as herself though
in other habit, who with great devotion was upon her knees at the
stairs of the great altar. She appeared to Nisa to be a Spaniard,
wherefore desiring better to inform herself, obliged thereunto, by
her love unto the country, she stayed at the gate whereat (when
having done her devotions) she came forth, and Nisa saluting her,
they both found that they were Castilians: their joy was so great
that it had been confirmed by embraces, if the man’s apparel which
Nisa wore, had not hindered it: and little by little they went
apart, that they might speak more freely, and with less fear of the
French, who already begun to behold their beauties: and being placed
under a rock which was adjoining the sea, Nisa said thus unto her,
of what province are you, fair Spaniard? Of the Kingdom of Toledo
(answered the pilgrim) and of the greatest city, having merited to
lodge the kings for many years: you are then of Madrid replied Nisa,
and so we are here met by chance two pilgrims of one country, for I
am also of Toledo. Then, said the pilgrim, fetching a great sigh:
there was born the cause of my peregrination, and of my misfortune.
It is easy to be seen in thy youth and in thy beauty, that love hath
brought you into these parts; and if it be of a gentleman of whom
thou dost complain, I believe I know him. It may be so, said the
pilgrim of Madrid, and believe me so soon as I saw you I was
abashed, because you have the very countenance of my enemy; you wish
me evil by all circumstance, then said Nisa: rather all good replied
the pilgrim; for all that resembles his body is agreeable to me,
only I complain of the cruelty of his mind. Will you not tell me his
name or his parents? said Nisa. I hazard a small matter in telling
thee that, answered she; for contrariwise I gain thus much, that it
seems to me I am quiet and at peace, having seen thee, which since I
lost him never came to me before now. His name is Celio, and the
name of a sister which he hath is Nisa, which are the best tokens I
can give thee, to make him known to thee; because besides that she
is famous for her beauty, she is also more famous for her disgrace.
Nisa remained astonished to hear her own name and her brother
Celio’s (for this pilgrim was Finia, Pamphilus’ sister, who had been
left in France as you have already heard) wherefore she desired
earnestly to know the particular of this story, which Finia related
in the same manner as Celio had done to Pamphilus. In the city of
Valencia, accusing his jealousy, which had made him cruelly kill a
French gentleman from whose death ensued his absence, and all the
miseries and travails which she had since endured; Nisa dissembling
that part which she had in the story, blamed the cruelty of her
brother Celio, and with the contentment, which she received in
seeing Pamphilus’ portrait, in Finia her beauty, she tempered her
grief for his absence, and her sorrow which she had, that both their
parents should lose their children for one cause: then did she tell
her that she knew Pamphilus, and that it was not long since she saw
him, assuring her (as one verily believing) that he was in Spain:
Finia demanded of Nisa how she knew him, and where it was that she
had seen him? And Nisa because she would not reveal herself, told
her that she had known him at Constantinople, where they had been
both slaves together: Finia bursting into tears, embraced Nisa and
implored her to tell her name and the story of her brother if she
knew it: Nisa answered that Pamphilus himself had heretofore in his
captivity told it to her, and that she would willingly recount it to
her: but first she deceived Finia in telling her that her name was
Felix, and that going from Toledo with a captain who embarked in
Cartagena, they had been made captives in passing to Oran and
afterwards had to Algiers, where a Turk of Constantinople had bought
her. And so following the story of Pamphilus which was also hers,
from the beginning as you have heard related by Celio until their
departure from Toledo, she began to say as follows:
The Story of Pamphilus and Nisa.
"After that Pamphilus went away from Toledo with Nisa, thinking that
her father would marry her with another, and being jealous of
himself, he told me that suffering some of those discommodities,
which do offer themselves unto such men as travail without their
lawful wives, they came to Seville, a beautiful city, if the sun
shine upon any, for riches, greatness, magnificence, policy, haven
and staple of the Indies: where it may be said that twice every
year, there enters the substance of all Spain. There would Pamphilus
enjoy the beauties of Nisa; but on a sudden he lost the respect
which he was accustomed to bear to her chastity against the oath
which he had solemnly sworn, and hid himself for some days out of
her sight, during which time he was ready to grow mad; yet finding
her again, and craving pardon with new oaths to keep the first
inviolably, they were friends again.
But Pamphilus being one day at the market place, he was recognised
by a merchant of Toledo, a great friend to Nisa her father, who
going about to lay hands on him and apprehend him, Pamphilus was
enforced to lay hand upon his sword, to defend himself from the
Justice. It happened well for Pamphilus, whose courage and address
in arms is incredible, and accompanied with an admirable force; He
was nevertheless constrained to depart speedily from Seville. And he
thinking it discommodious for him to lead Nisa with him in her
woman’s apparel, he clothed her in a suit of his, and cutting off
her hair (of which he after made great relics), he girt a sword to
her side, and so they went to Lisbon together; but they were hardly
accommodated in their lodging, when as a captain, and a great friend
to Lisard, Nisa’s elder brother, who was now in Flanders, had
advertisement of their coming. Although Nisa were sufficiently
disguised, yet her countenance (to those who had formerly seen her)
being sufficiently known, would easily reveal that which they did so
carefully endeavour to hide.
But their good fortune (which delivered them from these dangers, it
may be to reserve them for greater) would at that time, wherein the
captain and his friends came to search for Pamphilus, that Nisa was
alone in the lodging, of whom having enquired her name and her
masters, she said she was a boy who served Pamphilus de Luxan, a
knight of Madrid, not thinking that it did import to tell his name
in a strange country. The captain never informed himself farther for
what he sought; but his ensign inquired news of Nisa; whereat she
being troubled, and repenting that she had said anything of
Pamphilus, answered that she was gone by sea with Pamphilus to
refresh themselves as far as Belen, a famous monastery and the
ancient sepulchre of the Kings of Portugal. This sudden lie of Nisa
saved Pamphilus’ life, or at the least the honour of both those
lovers: for the soldiers went presently to the haven attending there
for their return; and the captain accounting them already taken, and
liking Nisa her fashion, behaviour and countenance exceeding well,
entreated her to become his page, assuring her that he would use her
better than any that ever had worn his casque: Nisa seemed to yield
with great willingness, if he pleased to accept of his service, and
dissembling the care and fear which she had of Pamphilus’ life, said
to the captain that having spoken with her master and given him an
account of such jewels and other things as were in his custody, he
would not fail to come to him; with this answer the captain and the
soldiers were hardly gone out of the doors, when Pamphilus came out
of the town to his lodging, little thinking his enemies were so near
to him: what help do strange countries bring to those unto whom
misfortunes are ever domestic? Nisa told him the danger which
threatened him, and Pamphilus having recourse to the remedy, took a
speedy resolution to leave Spain. Nisa promised to follow him
through seas and lands, (howsoever unknown) and a Portuguese knight
who had a company in Ceuta offered to conduct him. Ceuta is a
frontier tower of the Moors in Africa, not far from Tetouan, and as
it were placed to confront Gibraltar, as the uttermost bound of
Europe: by which place it is said the Moors entered, who under the
leading of Julian conquered Spain. There remained our two lovers for
some time in great peace; although Pamphilus discontent to see his
desires denied by Nisa her chaste resolution, had no great quietness
in his own mind. He would have married her, but it was not possible
to persuade Nisa unto it; she thinking it would be a great
disparagement unto her honour for her to be married in this manner:
and then when he seemed with reason to persuade her, she
contradicted him with tears, remonstrating that she was his, and
that true love had a respect unto an honest end, whereas he who
propounded unto himself only delight, differed little from a beast.
Pamphilus cursed these reasons of Nisa, and sometimes out of grief,
would go a whole day and not speak to her, until in the end overcome
with her sweet patience, he was constrained to send a thousand sighs
as ambassadors for a peace to her, who had the empire over him.
Now the noble courage of this young knight, seeing himself amongst
so many brave soldiers, who went every day to the wars against the
Moors, did believe that it was a dishonour to his birth to carry a
sword idle by his side, whilst others bathed theirs in their
enemies’ blood; wherefore one morning from the watchtowers, the
bells and trumpets giving the alarm, incited by his own generosity
and with the disdains wherewith Nisa in his opinion had disgraced
him three or four days before, he went forth armed at all points,
having a red scarf upon his left arm, a white feather upon his helm,
and a mountain of snow upon his shield; from the top of which, as
from Mount Etna in Sicily came a mouth of fire. So went Pamphilus
out upon his bay horse, which had a black mane and a black tail, and
a white star on the forehead, filling the Portuguese with admiration
to see with what address he managed him; and how gracefully he bore
his lance; but Nisa her evil fortune or his own desperate resolution
who prayed at his departure that she might not see him return alive,
suffered the battle to be ordered in such manner that day that the
Christians had the worst; and Pamphilus searching death, broke into
a squadron of Moors where being wounded and overthrown, he was taken
and led prisoner unto Fez.
The news of this accident came speedily to Nisa’s ears, for the
report of evil successes come sooner to the ears of lovers than that
of happy events: what her grief was it is not necessary to express,
otherwise than in representing Nisa far from her parents, out of her
own country, and from any friends, and which was most, from the dear
presence of him for whose sake she had quitted all these, and for
whose loss she was almost out of her wits. But as the greatest
encounters of fortune do sometime bring forth the greatest strength
and courage of the mind; so Nisa’s grief raised in her mind such
valiant virtue, that she boldly thrust herself into the acquaintance
and friendship of a Moor, who with a safe conduct trafficked in
Ceuta: him she so far gained with her affability and presence, that
he lead her with him to Fez under the habit of an Arab, he teaching
her in a few days the greatest part of the language (of which she
was not altogether ignorant before) Nisa thus lived in Fez in the
habit of a Moor, and under the name of nephew to this barbarian, who
charmed with her understanding, gentleness of spirit and graceful
behaviour, endeavoured to persuade her to leave our religion,
promising to give him his daughter with the best part of his estate,
which was exceeding much. Nisa did not refuse him, nevertheless she
entreated him that he would first suffer her to be instructed in the
law, that she might receive it with more assurance, and more
quietness of mind. With these words and with her beauty, Nisa grew
absolute master of this Moor, of his women (wherein they abound) of
Leila Acha his daughter, of his goods, his slaves and his horses:
upon which as she rode up and down the town for her pleasure, she
was almost adored by these barbarians. She called herself Hassan
Rubin amongst them, a name which Ali Japha had given her in memory
of his son, in whose place he accounted of her, saying that she was
his portraiture. Amongst Ali Japha’s slaves there was one Spaniard,
with whom Nisa having many times speech, she entreated him that he
would inquire secretly with whom a slave of the Kingdom of Toledo
lived; and whose name was Pamphilus? This man found out the same
day, and following her when she was alone, he told her that Sali
Murat had taken him in a battle which was fought in Ceuta, and had
him still in his power, with other slaves who served the masons
about the house which he was building: Nisa glad of this news, in
the evening got on horseback, clothed in a scarlet casque, laid
about with gold lace, having a hat upon her head embroidered with
pearl and a great feather, and a rich sword of Tunis hanging in a
scarf by her side: in this manner she went into the street where
Sali Murat dwelt, and saw (in a new house which was there being
built) her miserable (but beloved) Pamphilus, not yet fully
healed of his wounds, having a poor doublet of course canvas and
breeches of the same, without shoes upon his feet, and carrying with
another Christian the materials wherewith that house was to be
built; she stayed not (as she had thought) because that seeing him
in this state, the tears which she shed would have revealed her; but
feigning to turn her horse in the street, and the beams of her face
properly resembling them of the sun having scattered the clouds of
this water, she stayed looking upon these slaves, and said unto
Pamphilus in the language of Fez, why doth Murat build this fair
house, having another in this street so fair? Pamphilus answered
(according to his knowledge) that they were for the keeping of
slaves, because that since his good success in the former war he was
grown proud, and did presage that he should have many. Thou art then
his slave, said she, in the Castilian tongue. Pamphilus answered
that by his misfortune he was brought to that estate, and earnestly
beholding her face, let fall to the ground that which he held in his
hand, wondering to see a Moor which should so perfectly resemble his
beloved Nisa: for that this should be she, he could not persuade
himself, by reason of her language, her habit and the small time
since that he left her in Ceuta: so he remained without speaking,
endeavouring to cover his astonishment and confusion by his silence,
when as she speaking to him in the Arabian tongue asked of him if he
were a knight? Pamphilus more assured that it was Nisa, by the
resemblance of her face, and distrusting it was not she by her
language, hearing her speak the language of Fez so naturally,
answered her. I told Sali Murat that I was a poor man, but because
you resemble so much a master which heretofore I had (unto whom I
never lied in my life) I will not deceive you. I am a Castilian
Knight, and of the Kingdom of Toledo, and of a place whereof it is
not possible but you should have heard, because that the names of
prince’s courts are notorious to all nations, as Paris in France,
Rome in Italy, Constantinople in Greece and Madrid in Spain; there
was I born, subject unto this misfortune wherein you see me. But
gentle Moor, I pray tell me, who you are and why you ask of me my
country and my quality? I am, said Nisa, nephew to the governor Ali
Japha, and son to Muley Nuzan his brother, by a Christian slave who
was born in Toledo: my name is Hassan Rubin, although that
heretofore I called myself by my mother’s name, Mendoza: my uncle’s
son being dead, he sent for me to Morocco, the place of my birth,
from whence he brought me hither, and to comfort himself called me
by the name of his son; promising me to marry me unto Leila Acha his
daughter, who is the fairest in all Africa, and this is the reason
which inciteth me to love Christians (who are well born) because my
mother was one; especially Spaniards and of her own country: and it
grieves me extremely that thou art belonging to this governor, who
is reputed to use his slaves hardly, as it may be seen by experience
in thyself, who being such that thy nobility doth manifestly appear,
notwithstanding the misery and poverty of thy clothes, yet doth put
thee to such vile labour. Wherefore as well because thou pleasest me
well as for the reasons which I have told thee, I will bring it to
pass, if thou think good of it, that Ali Japha shall buy thee, and
in his house there shall be nothing wanting unto thee but thy
liberty; as for all other things I will use thee as myself.
Pamphilus at these words cast himself at her feet, and by force did
many times kiss them, thanking her for the favour which she did him.
So being departed, Nisa told Ali Japha the desire which she had unto
a Spanish slave who was evil entreated of Sali Murat; the Moor, who
desired to oblige him absolutely and to satisfy his pleasure in all
things, went the next morning to Sali Murat; to treat with him about
the sale of this slave; which being not refused unto him, they
talked of the price: Sali demanded a thousand ducats, because
(sayeth he) he had been taken in good equipage, both for arms and
horse, and a red scarf upon his left arm, a thing which (he said) in
the time of his being in Spain he had seen in kings’ portraitures:
Nisa who was most interested at the bargain said to him that in
Spain clothes were common, and the pride of soldiers equal to the
majesty of their princes: In the end they agreed upon five hundred
ducats, and Nisa going to the chamber where Pamphilus lay, took him
along with her; he filled with tears, and imaginations, attributing
this kindness to the resemblance which was between the Moor and
Nisa, and oftentimes he resolved to believe that it was she; for
although the habit and tongue disguised her, yet the voice and
countenance revealed her. She lodged him in a place differing and
better than that of the slaves: she caused him incontinently to be
clothed, and going to see him the first night, she brought him one
of her smocks, entreating him to wear it under his: Pamphilus cast
himself at her feet, and Nisa turning herself away, he humbly kissed
the ground which she had trodden upon. But they had not long talked
together when Pamphilus grew so certain that if she was not Nisa he
was mad; that thereby he could not sleep, he could not eat nor do
any other thing but show her his thoughts in the violence of sighs:
Nisa fearing that in this perplexity he might lose his wits, to
assure him and thereby to know the secret of his heart, uttered
these words one day to him; Pamphilus the love which I bear thee
constrained me to procure thy good, and to solicit thy rest: I told
Ali Japha that I stood much affected unto thee, and he answered me,
that if I wished he would send thee into thy country, that thou
shouldst go upon thy word, and that from thence thou shouldst upon
thy honour, send him that which thou owest him. But I who lose my
life in losing thee have entreated him to give thee my sister Fatima
to wife, and that thereby I doubted not but I should persuade thee
to alter thy religion and become a Moor; If thou canst bee contented
to do this for me I shall know thy gentleness, and thou shalt enjoy
the most beautiful gentlewoman in all Morocco, and shalt be one of
the richest men of all Africa, because that besides what my father
left her, my uncle will give her a great part of his estate also,
and I will give thee mine, and my wife and I will sojourn under thy
government.
Pamphilus, whose intent was to make her reveal herself unto him, or
else to nettle Nisa so far as that she should declare herself,
coldly answered, that to obey her, and to requite the duty which he
owed her, he would willingly become a Moor; as well for that reason,
as also that he had seen Fatima sometimes in the baths; of whom he
was grown so amorous that the little pleasure and less health which
he had, proceeded from thence. Hardly had Nisa heard Pamphilus’
resolution when in an extreme fury she said unto him, Ah perfidious
traitor and barbarous enemy: without God, without faith, without
love, without loyalty; is this that which thou owest unto heaven, to
thy parents, to thy country and to the unfortunate and miserable
Nisa? Who to deliver thee hath put herself into such great dangers?
I knew well my most beloved Nisa, answered Pamphilus (embracing her)
that this subtlety was necessary, for to make thee reveal thine; for
thou governest thyself in such manner that before thou wouldst have
otherwise plainly declared thyself to me, I should have lost my
wits, if not my life. Let go my arm, ungrateful wretch, said Nisa;
use no more these subtleties, having discovered so much perfidious
weakness; but wretch that I am, why do I complain? Seeing that he
who forsaketh God doth not injure me in forsaking me: but in the end
after many sorrowful complaints, his satisfactions had such virtue
that her anger being overcome by her love, they remained friends,
with more pleasure and firmness than ever, as it always happens
between true lovers.
This day passed away, followed with many others, during which time
they entered into deliberations of the means whereby they might
recover their liberty; which seemed to them impossible in respect of
the love which Ali Japha bore unto Nisa, as also in respect of the
love which Fatima bore unto Pamphilus; for she having heard that he
would be a Moor and that his uncle would marry her to him, favoured
him, to Nisa’s great grief who upon this jealousy was for the space
of three months without any loving correspondence with him: Behold
an unheard of story! Wherein is to be seen what a woman (who loveth)
can effect; seeing she deceived the distrust of an old Moor, and
brought all his house to that point that all things were governed by
the only will of Pamphilus: who taking better counsel, whilst Ali
Japha was gone to Taroudant where the king lay at that time, wrought
so handsomely with Acha and Fatima that they would go into Spain
with him, upon the remonstrance which he made to them that his love
was certain and assured, and theirs deceitful, false and not to be
believed: they were not hard to be persuaded, because they were
women, Moors, and lovers; three things of a lesser resistance. So
one fair night, having packed up all the best jewels they could
find, they got all four to horseback, and Pamphilus being clad in
the like apparel unto Nisa that thereby they might pass more surely,
they came unto Ceuta, where being joyfully received by the General,
he accommodated them with shipping for Lisbon. There he let Acha and
Fatima understand that it was necessary for them to go to Rome, that
the chief and holy Pope might receive them into the Church, and
pardon them himself: all which they did the sooner to get out of
Spain; they being contented to follow them wheresoever they would
go, embarked themselves all together in a ship of Aragon, which had
brought in wheat, and having a fair wind they arrived in Sicily,
from whence because it was the year of Jubilee, they went all four
in the habit of pilgrims to Rome. There Acha and Fatima were
baptized: Acha was called Clementina (of his Holiness’ name), and
Fatima was called Hippolyta, from her godmother. The marriage was
resting still, to be performed according to promise. But Pamphilus
and Nisa entertained them always with hope, remonstrating unto them
that it was not fit nor just that they should be married before they
came unto their father’s house. So after they had seen the great
part of Italy and France, from thence they passed into Spain, where
they thought that Nisa’s parents’ anger was by this time over, for
when thefts in love are not chastised upon the act in warm blood,
they are always remitted with time. But having run a dangerous
fortune in a miserable tartana into which they had embarked
themselves at Villa Franca, and having been long beaten with a sore
tempest, they finished their shipwreck within the sight of the walls
of Barcelona, neither is known, whether Nisa and the Moors are alive
or dead: but Pamphilus swimming attained unto a plank of the ship,
and within a day after, being taken up by some Moors of Bizerta,
they carried him to Constantinople where I saw him a captive, and
where he told me what I have related."
Thus Nisa added to the truth to hide herself from Finia, knowing
already by that which was related in the first Book, how she and
Pamphilus were both taken up half drowned, one by the fishers and
the other by captain Doricles, with their several successes in their
peregrinations in Spain, until they met together amongst the madmen
in the hospital of Valencia. Finia thanked her much for the news
which she had told her of her brother, showing some grief for the
death of Nisa; afterwards having concluded their return into Spain,
they retired themselves together to Marseille, where they rested for
some days, Finia believing always that Nisa was this Felix, whose
name she had borrowed.
In the meantime, miserable Pamphilus suffered in prison with more
rigorous pain than he did before, because that his fury increasing
with his grief he was kept so much the more straitly, by how much he
was thought to be the more mad. In the end Jacinth came to Valencia
and being advertised by Pamphilus of his misfortune, he drew him out
of the cage, and had him to his house, saying that his parents had
sent him five hundred crowns of Castile to defray the charge of his
cure at home. All those who remained in the hospital were sorry,
because until that time, there was never seen a madman so wise, nor
a wise man which did imagine so many follies. There did Pamphilus
take again his ancient habit, and being departed from Jacinth and
his sister, (in whom the wonderfulness of his story raised no less
love than pity) took again the second time his way to Barcelona,
where he was no sooner come but he was met and known, by one of
those whom he had wounded in Montserrat: he was then the second time
laid in prison in the same place where the two Germans his
companions had remained until that time. A thing worthy of
admiration in any understanding, that a man should not be able to
find the clue whereby he might get out of so many labyrinths; from
Barcelona to Valencia, and from Valencia to Barcelona, in journeying
in a small part of his country, with more variable successes then
Aeneas did in his voyage of Italy, or Ulysses in that of Greece.
Pamphilus saw there his friends with great grief, and was received
by them with great joy. And Finia and Nisa coming from Marseille
little by little over the craggy mountains which divide France from
Spain, came unto Perpignan, where I leave them to their rest,
attending the Fourth Book.
The End of the Third Book.