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Heaving the cruel stone； come Tityus
With vulture； and with wheel Ixion come；
And come the sisters of the ceaseless toil；
And all into this breast transfer their pains；
And （if such tribute to despair be due）
Chant in their deepest tones a doleful dirge
Over a corse unworthy of a shroud。
Let the three…headed guardian of the gate；
And all the monstrous progeny of hell；
The doleful concert join： a lover dead
Methinks can have no fitter obsequies。
Lay of despair； grieve not when thou art gone
Forth from this sorrowing heart： my misery
Brings fortune to the cause that gave thee birth；
Then banish sadness even in the tomb。
The 〃Lay of Chrysostom〃 met with the approbation of the listeners；
though the reader said it did not seem to him to agree with what he
had heard of Marcela's reserve and propriety； for Chrysostom
complained in it of jealousy； suspicion； and absence； all to the
prejudice of the good name and fame of Marcela； to which Ambrosio
replied as one who knew well his friend's most secret thoughts；
〃Senor； to remove that doubt I should tell you that when the unhappy
man wrote this lay he was away from Marcela； from whom be had
voluntarily separated himself； to try if absence would act with him as
it is wont； and as everything distresses and every fear haunts the
banished lover； so imaginary jealousies and suspicions； dreaded as
if they were true； tormented Chrysostom； and thus the truth of what
report declares of the virtue of Marcela remains unshaken； and with
her envy itself should not and cannot find any fault save that of
being cruel； somewhat haughty； and very scornful。〃
〃That is true；〃 said Vivaldo； and as he was about to read another
paper of those he had preserved from the fire； he was stopped by a
marvellous vision （for such it seemed） that unexpectedly presented
itself to their eyes； for on the summit of the rock where they were
digging the grave there appeared the shepherdess Marcela； so beautiful
that her beauty exceeded its reputation。 Those who had never till then
beheld her gazed upon her in wonder and silence； and those who were
accustomed to see her were not less amazed than those who had never
seen her before。 But the instant Ambrosio saw her he addressed her；
with manifest indignation：
〃Art thou come； by chance； cruel basilisk of these mountains； to see
if in thy presence blood will flow from the wounds of this wretched
being thy cruelty has robbed of life； or is it to exult over the cruel
work of thy humours that thou art come； or like another pitiless
Nero to look down from that height upon the ruin of his Rome in
embers； or in thy arrogance to trample on this ill…fated corpse； as
the ungrateful daughter trampled on her father Tarquin's？ Tell us
quickly for what thou art come； or what it is thou wouldst have；
for； as I know the thoughts of Chrysostom never failed to obey thee in
life； I will make all these who call themselves his friends obey thee；
though he be dead。〃
〃I come not； Ambrosia for any of the purposes thou hast named；〃
replied Marcela； 〃but to defend myself and to prove how unreasonable
are all those who blame me for their sorrow and for Chrysostom's
death； and therefore I ask all of you that are here to give me your
attention； for will not take much time or many words to bring the
truth home to persons of sense。 Heaven has made me； so you say；
beautiful； and so much so that in spite of yourselves my beauty
leads you to love me； and for the love you show me you say； and even
urge； that I am bound to love you。 By that natural understanding which
God has given me I know that everything beautiful attracts love； but I
cannot see how； by reason of being loved； that which is loved for
its beauty is bound to love that which loves it； besides； it may
happen that the lover of that which is beautiful may be ugly； and
ugliness being detestable； it is very absurd to say； 〃I love thee
because thou art beautiful； thou must love me though I be ugly。〃 But
supposing the beauty equal on both sides； it does not follow that
the inclinations must be therefore alike； for it is not every beauty
that excites love； some but pleasing the eye without winning the
affection； and if every sort of beauty excited love and won the heart；
the will would wander vaguely to and fro unable to make choice of any；
for as there is an infinity of beautiful objects there must be an
infinity of inclinations； and true love； I have heard it said； is
indivisible； and must be voluntary and not compelled。 If this be so；
as I believe it to be； why do you desire me to bend my will by
force； for no other reason but that you say you love me？ Nay… tell me…
had Heaven made me ugly； as it has made me beautiful； could I with
justice complain of you for not loving me？ Moreover； you must remember
that the beauty I possess was no choice of mine； for； be it what it
may； Heaven of its bounty gave it me without my asking or choosing it；
and as the viper； though it kills with it； does not deserve to be
blamed for the poison it carries； as it is a gift of nature； neither
do I deserve reproach for being beautiful； for beauty in a modest
woman is like fire at a distance or a sharp sword； the one does not
burn； the other does not cut； those who do not come too near。 Honour
and virtue are the ornaments of the mind； without which the body；
though it be so； has no right to pass for beautiful； but if modesty is
one of the virtues that specially lend a grace and charm to mind and
body； why should she who is loved for her beauty part with it to
gratify one who for his pleasure alone strives with all his might
and energy to rob her of it？ I was born free； and that I might live in
freedom I chose the solitude of the fields； in the trees of the
mountains I find society； the clear waters of the brooks are my
mirrors； and to the trees and waters I make known my thoughts and
charms。 I am a fire afar off； a sword laid aside。 Those whom I have
inspired with love by letting them see me； I have by words undeceived；
and if their longings live on hope… and I have given none to
Chrysostom or to any other… it cannot justly be said that the death of
any is my doing； for it was rather his own obstinacy than my cruelty
that killed him； and if it be made a charge against me that his wishes
were honourable； and that therefore I was bound to yield to them； I
answer that when on this very spot where now his grave is made he
declared to me his purity of purpose； I told him that mine was to live
in perpetual solitude； and that the earth alone should enjoy the
fruits of my retirement and the spoils of my beauty； and if； after
this open avowal； he chose to persist against hope and steer against
the wind； what wonder is it that he should sink in the depths of his
infatuation？ If I had encouraged him； I should be false； if I had
gratified him； I should have acted against my own better resolution
and purpose。 He was persistent in spite of warning； he despaired
without being hated。 Bethink you now if it be reasonable that his
suffering should be laid to my charge。 Let him who has been deceived
complain； let him give way to despair whose encour