The Magic Garden

Not many years ago in the beautiful, noble city of Zaragoza, a miracle of nature and the glorious crown of the kingdom of Aragon, there lived a rich and noble gentleman who, because of his outstanding qualities had won in marriage an equally fine woman to be his wife. Her nobility and virtue matched his in every way, and this is the greatest reward any man can have. Heaven gave them as the fruit of their marriage two celestial suns, which is how they considered their two daughters. The older was named Constanza, the younger Theodosia, and both were remarkable in their beauty, discretion, and grace, and both were so outstanding that neither sister excelled the other. These two beautiful young ladies, renowned for their wealth, their beauty, and because they were so accomplished and perfect, were considered the pride and joy of the city.

The girls reached the age of discretion when a maiden's beauty and grace begin to blossom. Don Jorge, a young, wealthy nobleman, also a native of the city of Zaragoza, fell in love with Constanza. He was the only heir to his parents' estate for, although he had a younger brother named Federico, he was the elder son.

Federico loved Theodosia, although he hid it so carefully from his brother that the latter never knew about his love. The two brothers didn't get along, and Federico feared his older brother might ruin his courtship of Theodosia.

Constanza did not look on don Jorge with disfavor; indeed, she felt grateful for his affection and accepted it with modesty. She realized

that soon her parents would arrange her marriage, and she didn't think there was anyone in the world as deserving as don Jorge. Trusting in this belief, she appreciated and even favored his courtship. She felt sure that the moment he asked her father for her hand, their love would reach its happy culmination. Of course, she comported herself with such dignity and modesty that, if her father didn't accede to her desire to have don Jorge as her husband, she could, without any offense against her honor, give up this pretension.

Things didn't go so well between Federico and Theodosia; he could never obtain even the slightest favor from her; rather, she showed great scorn for him. The reason for this was that Theodosia was suffering from her impossible love for don Jorge. Jealous of seeing her sister so happily loved, Theodosia began to ponder and plan ways to separate the two lovers. She was so astute and clever that neither don Jorge nor Constanza ever suspected that she was in love with don Jorge, let alone suspected her of plotting against them.

Her rejection of him made Federico so sad and unhappy that everyone knew he was miserable, even though they didn't know the reason. Constanza noticed Federico's melancholy for, although she loved don Jorge with all her heart, she was also fond of his brother. Constanza came close to suspecting that Theodosia was the cause of his great sorrow because she'd noted telltale signs in the way he glanced at her sister. Constanza wanted to find out for sure. This was easy because both gentlemen and their parents were good friends of the house, and the close friendship between their families made it difficult to keep anything hidden.

One day Constanza took Federico aside to talk with him and learned from him how much he loved her sister and how coldly Theodosia treated him. But Federico warned her that don Jorge shouldn't know of his love because, as we've already said, the brothers didn't get along.

Constanza was amazed that Theodosia should scorn Federico because he was in every way worthy of love. But, since Theodosia kept her own love for don Jorge so well hidden, it never occurred to Constanza that don Jorge might be the cause. Rather she blamed it on Theodosia's unloving nature, which she told Federico every time the two talked, and they talked together frequently. Ultimately don Jorge became somewhat annoyed and began to feel jealous of his brother. Constanza's reserve made him more jealous because, even when there was an opportunity, she would never let him take her hand.

Don Jorge's jealousy inspired Theodosia with a plan to make him reject her sister. She thought don Jorge would merely come to despise Constanza. It never occurred to her that he might take revenge. If don Jorge came to hate Constanza, then she could fill the place her sister had formerly occupied. This kind of wrong-headed thinking is typical of people who do evil: they see only the harm they do to their enemy and cannot imagine the harm that might be done to the one they love.

With this plan in mind and not imagining the bloody conclusion it might lead to, Theodosia decided to tell don Jorge that Federico and Constanza were in love with each other. No sooner said than done, for blind Love rules blindly and is likewise served by the blind. One who isn't blind can't rightly consider himself Love's captive.

Fortune soon gave Theodosia her chance. One day, Constanza and don Jorge were alone; he was angry with her and, you might say, jealous, because he'd found her in conversation with his detested brother. So don Jorge told her all his worries and accused her of a waning affection for him. He refused to believe that her reluctance to let him hold hands was simply discreet modesty on the part of the lady. She replied as follows:

"Don Jorge, I'm sorry you don't appreciate my affection and the great favor I grant you in allowing you to love me. But you stoop to such a low opinion of me that you suspect me falsely and entertain unfounded jealousies that you've just mentioned. Furthermore, you dare to ask more favors from me than the ones I already permit, knowing full well that I won't grant them. I can't reply to such unfounded suspicions as yours for, if I'm not more giving to you than I am, how could you think I'd be giving with your brother? As for your complaints about my reserve, I'll tell you once and for all, to keep you from pestering me, that so long as you aren't my husband, you can expect no more from me. I have parents and I shall do their will. Given your many fine qualities, my parents' wishes should not differ from your own wishes. In saying this, I'm telling you what you should do if you want to please me and, if you don't, then things will turn out otherwise."

After Constanza said these words, she left him and went into the next room where there were people and servants present. She didn't want to encourage him to take any amorous liberties.

Theodosia couldn't have wished for a better occasion to work her

deception. She'd been watching and listening to every word they said, and she saw don Jorge so downcast and despondent at Constanza's firmness that she went up to him and said:

"Don Jorge, I can no longer hide my sorrow at seeing you so madly in love with my sister. I can't bear knowing how she deceives your love. If you'll give me your word never to repeat what I tell you, if you'll never tell a soul that I've told you what I know and what you also should know for the sake of your honor, then I'll explain why Constanza's affection for you seems so reluctant."

Suspecting exactly what the treacherous Theodosia was intimating, don Jorge reacted eagerly, anxious to find out what would only cause him grief to learn, which is typical of lovers. Swearing many oaths, don Jorge vowed to her that he would keep her secret.

"Well," Theodosia said, "your brother Federico and Constanza love each other so deeply and so firmly that, to prove it, I need say only that they've agreed to marry. They've promised each other, and I think they've even exchanged other favors. I witnessed this without their knowing. I saw and heard everything that I'm describing to you because I was afraid that might happen. Now that you know the truth and there's nothing you can do about it, I urge you to bear this setback and accept the fact that Constanza wasn't born to be yours. Heaven is saving you for someone who really deserves you, and love made in heaven, human beings cannot set asunder. You'll find the woman you deserve, and your brother will find himself punished for having dared to take away your lady."

Theodosia ended her betrayal at this point, not wanting to tell don Jorge about her love for him at the moment so he wouldn't suspect her treachery. Don Jorge went into a desperate, jealous rage, thinking about his brother's offense against him and Constanza's disloyalty to him. Don Jorge allowed his jealousy to act as judge: his outraged love joined forces with his hatred of Federico to act as prosecutor and, without asking any more questions about the offense, he came to a harsh, cruel sentence. Dissembling, so as not to upset Theodosia, he thanked her courteously for the kindness she'd done him. He promised to repay her by taking her advice and abandoning his courtship of Constanza, now that he knew her affections were directed toward his brother and not himself.

Don Jorge took leave of Theodosia, and she felt extremely pleased with herself. She thought, with don Jorge disillusioned in his hope

of winning her sister, it would now be easy for her to get him for her husband. But that's not what happened, for the greater the offense against a jealous man, the more strongly he loves.

The moment don Jorge left Theodosia's presence, he set out to find his detested brother. First he spoke with the page in whom he confided his closest secrets. He gave him jewels and a large sum of money and told him to prepare a horse and wait for him at a certain place in the outskirts of the city. Then he approached Federico and told him he had certain matters to take up with him that necessitated their meeting outside of town.

Federico agreed to meet his brother, although he wasn't so incautious that he didn't fear his brother, considering the bad blood between them. Fortune, who arranges things as she pleases, without regard for innocence or merit, had already cast her luck in favor of don Jorge and against poor Federico. When Federico came to the designated place, which was very isolated, don Jorge drew his sword and, without giving Federico time to draw his, he called him the robber of all he held dear and ran his brother through the heart with such force that the sword pierced his body and came out his back. The unfortunate Federico instantly surrendered his soul to God and dropped to the ground stone dead.

After the unfortunate youth had died at the hand of his cruel brother, don Jorge went to where his servant was waiting with the horse. He mounted, took the page up behind him, and set out for Barcelona. From there, he embarked on the galleys for Naples, saying farewell forever to his native Spain.

That same night, the ill-starred Federico's body was discovered and brought home to his parents. They and the whole city lamented the dreadful murder whose author remained unknown. It was true that his brother was missing, but it never occurred to anyone that don Jorge might be responsible for such an awful deed. His absence did, however, make people think that he might have had some connection with the misfortune. Only Theodosia, the real cause of the tragedy, could have told the truth about what had happened, but she remained silent because it was important to her honor and her plans.

Constanza deeply lamented don Jorge's absence, but even she never suspected anything unfavorable to his honor and so, waiting to have news of him, she put off all thought of marriage.

Then her father died. He left great wealth to the two girls and their mother to take care of them. For over two years their mother kept

busy managing their affairs and never thought to arrange her daughters' marriages. They didn't initiate anything because they were waiting for the return of their beloved don Jorge, despite the fact that they never heard a word from him during all that time. Neither did the girls want to lose the loving care their mother provided. Time gradually worked its natural effect of forgetfulness on Constanza's love. Not so with Theodosia, who remained steadfastly in love with don Jorge and wanted her sister to marry so she'd feel more secure when don Jorge returned.

Then it happened that a gentleman from Santander, named Carlos, came to Zaragoza on business. He was between thirty and thirty-six years old, better endowed by nature than by wealth, elegant, discreet, and in every way worthy of love. He took lodging right across the street from Constanza's house. The first time he set eyes on the lady's great beauty, he surrendered his freedom to her. His heart was so stricken by love that death alone could have shaken it. His love was only increased by her noble birth, her wealth, her modesty, and her attractive reserve.

Our Carlos was a stranger in this land, and he was poor. Although he had noble ancestors, what he lacked was money, so there was no way he could ask for Constanza's hand in marriage; he knew that her family wouldn't give her to him. But, since there doesn't exist a love without its art, a smart man knows how to use it to his advantage. So Carlos thought up a stratagem that he hoped would get him what he wanted. To put it into effect, he began by making friends with Fabia, which was Constanza's mother's name. He regaled her with gifts that he bought just for that purpose, and the noble lady returned his kindness. He visited the three women from time to time, earning the goodwill of all three with his pleasant company and gracious conversation. Finally, they could scarcely get along without him.

Now that all this had worked out according to Carlos's design, he revealed his plan to an old servant who waited on him, promising to pay her handsomely for her help in this matter. He pretended to be ill, not just a minor temporary affliction but one so serious that he took to his bed.

The old woman, his maid, had already made arrangements with a doctor to whom they'd given a nice present, and he came to attend Carlos. He diagnosed the illness as a dreadful fever. When the noble Fabia learned of her neighbor's illness, feeling very sorry for him, she immediately went to visit. She took care of him as if he were her own

son, attending to all his needs. The feigned illness got worse, according to the complaints of the patient and the doctor's reports, until finally he was urged to make his will and take the last sacraments. This scene took place in Fabia's presence. The seriousness of his illness upset her terribly. The clever Carlos took her hand and, preparing to make his will, he said to Fabia:

"My lady, you can see that I'm closer to death than to life. I don't regret it so much for my sake, even though it arrives at the midpoint in my life, as much as I regret that it will prevent me from serving you, which has been my greatest pleasure since meeting you. for my soul to depart this life with some comfort, please let me reveal a secret to you."

The good lady told him to tell her anything he wanted and to remember that she loved him as if he were her own son and would listen carefully to what he had to say.

"My lady Fabia," Carlos continued, "for six months I have lived across the street from your house, and all this time I have adored your daughter Constanza because of her great beauty and virtue, and I've wanted her for my wife. I haven't mentioned this before because I was waiting for the arrival of a relative of mine who I hoped would serve as intermediary and make all the arrangements. But God, who knows what's best, has, as you can see, seen fit to put an end to my desires without permitting me to enjoy my heartfelt wish. The permission that I'm requesting of you is that you allow me to leave my entire estate to Constanza, that she be allowed to accept it, and that you, my lady, serve as executrix. After my will has been executed, what remains shall be her dowry."

With loving words Fabia thanked him for the great favor he did her. She wept and lamented losing him.

Carlos made his will and mentioned more than a hundred thousand ducats and named fine estates in various parts of Santander. He left everything to his only heir Constanza. Her mother was so grieved that she prayed to heaven to save his life. Fabia went to tell her daughter the news and, throwing her arms around Constanza's neck, she said:

"My darling daughter, how much you owe Carlos! You should consider yourself terribly unfortunate from this day on because you're losing such a fine husband."

The beautiful lady, impressed with Carlos's many fine qualities and also feeling obligated by the wealth he'd left to her, responded:

"Heaven forbid, mother, that Carlos should die, or that my hap-

piness should be so short-lived as to witness his death. I pray that God will grant him life so that we can repay the great kindness he has shown us."

With these fervent wishes, mother and daughters prayed to God to save his life. Within a few days, Carlos, who had his health under control, began to get better and, by the end of the month, he was completely well. Not only was he healthy but also married to the beautiful Constanza because, when he recovered fully, Fabia had taken him into her house and married him to her daughter.

Constanza was very happy because her husband knew how to win her love with gifts and loving caresses. But he'd earned all this through his deception. When Carlos felt fully assured of Constanza's love, he dared to reveal his trick to her, offering as excuse her great beauty and the true love he felt from the moment he first saw her.

Constanza was discreet so, instead of resenting his deception, she considered herself fortunate to have such a husband and felt thankful for his trick. She believed it had been heaven's will, which cannot be thwarted no matter how one tries. Furthermore, the splendid estates she possessed more than made up for what he didn't possess. The only thing that had been lacking to complement her beauty, discretion, and wealth had been a good husband like the one she now had, equally discreet, genteel, of noble blood and fine character. Her mother and sister, seeing Constanza so happy that she truly considered herself blessed, also loved him dearly and, instead of ruing the deception, they considered it a stroke of fortune.

Four years must have passed after Federico's death and still don Jorge remained absent. During this time Constanza had married, and the exquisite lady received as gifts from her husband two lovely children. She was even happier than at the beginning of her marriage, which made her consider as wasted all the time before she'd belonged to Carlos.

Then don Jorge, who'd wandered all over Italy, Piedmont, and Flanders, could no longer bear his absence from his beloved mistress. The people he'd met in those parts assured him that his name hadn't been connected with the death of the unfortunate Federico, so he returned home and presented himself to his parents. Although his absence had made them wonder, don Jorge managed to explain his disappearance and, pretending it was all news to him, he lamented the death of his brother with feigned tears and dissimulated sorrow and put to rest any suspicion they might have felt about his disappearance.

Don Jorge's loving parents received him with all the joy one feels upon finding a prized possession long after having lost it with no hope of its recovery. The beautiful Theodosia shared in that joy because of her passionate love for don Jorge, but she kept her deception secret, particularly from her beloved, so he would never suspect her.

The person who was least happy about his return was Constanza, almost as if she divined what was to happen. She truly loved her husband, so what made everyone else happy made her unhappy, for don Jorge, terribly distressed to find her married, gathered up his nerve and began to serve and court her despite the fact that she couldn't become his wife. Although marriage was impossible, at least he could enjoy her beauty and not belie the many years he had loved her. He haunted her street, sent her gifts, serenaded her, and courted her so attentively that people in the city began to gossip. The lady was deaf to all don Jorge's advances. She wouldn't accept a single gift or letter, nor did she acknowledge his attentions. When she ran into him in church or at a party, she wouldn't respond to his many complaints about the fact that she'd married another man, or to any of the other tender, heartfelt words he'd utter every time he found himself in her presence. On occasion, she tired of hearing his endless complaints and spoke to him so harshly and with such displeasure that her response only served to increase his unhappiness.

The sorrow that Theodosia felt when she saw these amorous extremes in her beloved don Jorge was so great that, if she hadn't been encouraged by her sister's disdain for him, she would have died a thousand deaths. She had good cause for, although she frequently intimated her love to don Jorge, all she received from him in return was rude harshness, which saddened her and brought her to despair.

Constanza was not unaware of what was causing her sister's unhappiness, and she wished don Jorge were inclined to remedy it, because she hated to see Theodosia suffer and she wanted to be free of his importunate courtship. Such a solution seemed more and more impossible, however, as don Jorge became so extreme and crazy in pursuing his desire that he no longer cared if his love for Constanza became common gossip in Zaragoza or if Constanza's husband learned of it.

For over a year, don Jorge behaved in this mad fashion, ignoring the fact that Constanza fled from the sight of him. She never left her house except to go to mass and then only in the company of her husband so don Jorge wouldn't dare address her. She did everything

to discourage the precipitous gallant and get him to desist from obsessively pursuing her. At last Theodosia's melancholy reached its limit, and she took to her bed with a dangerous illness so serious that her family began to lose hope that she would survive. Constanza, who loved her sister dearly, knew that the only remedy for her illness lay in don Jorge's hands. She decided to speak with him and, for the sake of her sister's life, to try to change his cold, cruel attitude. One day, when Carlos had gone hunting, she sent for don Jorge. Don Jorge received the happy message from his beloved lady and was wild with joy. Not wanting to miss his chance, he went immediately to see what the mistress of his heart wanted of him.

Constanza greeted don Jorge with a smile on her face and sat down with him in her parlor. Trying to oblige him and bring him to her will, she said as modestly and amiably as she could:

"Don Jorge, when I look dispassionately at your merits and the affection I owe you, I cannot deny that I was unfortunate the day you left this city, for then I lost hope of having you for my husband. Given the honest affection with which I accepted your courtship, favors, and attentions, I had never expected you to disappear. Of course I am well contented with my husband and thank heaven that I came to merit him, as you can tell from the coldness with which I've treated your attentions since your return. It wouldn't be right for me to deny the obligation in which you place me, but the obligations of my honor are such that I cannot risk exposing myself to your pretension. I can't deny that my first love was powerful and, if there were any way I could correspond and retain my honor and my husband's, be assured that I would have rewarded your perseverance as it deserves.

"But that's impossible, and you exert yourself in vain, even if you devoted a whole century to loving me and trying to obligate me. Because this is the case, I've decided to repay you by giving you in my place another me, since I cannot give you my person. If you grant me this request, you will gain not only my true friendship but also my perpetual debt. Not to keep you in suspense, the beauty I want to give you in exchange for my beauty, which belongs to Carlos, is my sister Theodosia. Despairing because of your scorn, she has come to the end of her days; the only remedy that will bring her back to life is you. Now is the time for you to show me how much I really mean to you, if you will only honor us all by giving your hand in marriage to Theodosia. By doing this you'll put an end to the gossip, my husband's suspicions, your own sorrows, and you'll bring my sister

back from the brink of death. Without your acquiescence, there's no doubt that death will triumph over her youth and beauty. If you were my brother-in-law, I could gratefully repay you as now I cannot out of modesty."

Troubled and despondent, don Jorge listened to Constanza. Then, carried away by his amorous passion, he exclaimed:

"Beautiful Constanza, is this the reward you have in store for all the torment I've suffered for your sake, for the enduring love I have for you? I thought you'd sent for me because you felt obligated by my attentions, and it was only because you wanted to make my love totally impossible! I assure you that I refuse your request. No woman who is not Constanza will ever possess me. I shall die loving you, and I shall live loving you until death overtakes me. When you know how much I desire death for myself, how can you ask me to try to prevent your sister's death? My dear lady, if you don't want me to kill myself right here before your eyes now that I have the opportunity, you'd better take pity on me and deliver me from all the sorrows I suffer for your sake."

Constanza listened. Then she stood up and said jokingly:

"Don Jorge, let's make an agreement: if, between now and tomorrow morning, you will make for me in the square in front of my house a garden with flowerbeds full of perfumed flowers, trees, and fountains that, in all its beauty, freshness, and diversity of birds, surpasses the famous gardens that Semiramis had built on the walls of Babylon, then I shall place myself in your hands for you to do with as you please. If you don't, then you must cease your mad courtship of me and in repayment you will give your hand in marriage to my sister. Unless the black arts assist you, Carlos and Constanza will not lose the honor they've worked so hard to earn and keep. This is the price of my honor; get to work; for a lover as devoted as you, nothing should be impossible."

When she finished, she went into her sister's room, feeling very unhappy about the way things had gone. She left don Jorge in such despair that it was a miracle he didn't kill himself.

He fled from Constanza's house like a man demented. Without seeing where he was going, with faltering step, he went out into the country and threw himself down at the foot of a tree. He cursed his bad luck and the day he'd first seen and loved Constanza. He remained in that state until night began to fall, uttering sad and painful sighs, calling her a cruel, harsh woman, weeping, thinking of suicide. Sometimes he would cry out like a madman, sometimes he would fall silent.

Suddenly a man appeared out of nowhere and stood before him. He said:

"What's the matter, don Jorge? Why do you cry out and sigh in the wind when there's another way for you to solve your problem? What womanish tears are those? Doesn't a man of your courage have more spirit than you're showing? Can't you see, now that your lady has put a price on her love, the solution isn't as difficult as you thought?"

Don Jorge stared at the stranger as he said this, amazed to hear him speak of things he knew no one else could know. Don Jorge replied:

"Who are you who know things even I don't know? You, who promise me a remedy that's impossible? What can you do when my plight is impossible even for the devil?"

"And what would you say if I were the very one you've just named?" the devil himself asked. "Have courage! Take heart! Tell me, what would you give me if I make the wonderful garden your lady has asked for?"

You listeners, just imagine what a desperate man would promise to get what he wanted most, a man who cared little for his life or for his soul! Don Jorge replied:

"You set the price for your service and I'll pay."

"Promise me your soul," the devil said, "and write me an agreement signed by your hand that it will be mine the moment it leaves your body. Then you can go home knowing that before the sun rises you will have answered your lady's impossible wish."

Noble, discreet listeners, the ill-advised young man was in love, so it wasn't hard for him to do exactly what the evil enemy of our repose asked. The devil had brought the necessary implements, and he placed paper and pen in don Jorge's hand. Don Jorge wrote out the agreement as the devil had commanded. He signed it without thinking about what he was doing: to satisfy his monstrous appetite he was giving away his most priceless possession, which had cost its Creator such a dear price. Oh crazy youth! Oh ill-advised gentleman! What are you doing? Look at how much you lose and how little you gain; the pleasure you buy will end in an instant, and the pain you'll suffer will last for eternity. Your desire to possess Constanza lets you heed none of this, but you'll be sorry when it's too late.

After don Jorge signed the pact, he returned to his lodging, and the devil set out to build the fabulous artifact.

When morning came, don Jorge felt sure it would be the day of

his glory. He got up at dawn and dressed as richly and as elegantly as he could. Then he went to the square where the garden was supposed to be. When he reached the beautiful Constanza's house, he felt happier than he'd ever felt in his life as he beheld the most magnificent garden he'd ever seen. Had it not been false like its maker, it might have been built by a great monarch. Don Jorge entered the garden and walked along the beautiful flowerbeds and down the splendid paths and waited for his lady to come out to see how he had satisfied her wish.

The day Constanza had spoken with don Jorge, Carlos had returned tired from the hunt. The next morning, in order to take care of some business that had come up, he awoke at dawn. Since it was scarcely daylight, he opened the window that gave onto the square to dress by its light. The instant he opened the window, he beheld the garden built by the devil to vanquish the fortress of his wife's honor. Carlos stood there astounded, thinking he was dreaming. But even though his eyes might have been deceived by the lavish flowerbeds, the beautiful trees, the intricate labyrinths, his ears couldn't have been, and they were delighted by the sweet song of the many different kinds of birds that, noticing the garden's magnificence in their morning flight, had flocked there to enjoy its splendid beauty. As if awaking from a dream, Carlos called out to his wife and everyone else in the house, telling them to get up and come look at the most marvelous wonder that had ever been seen.

At his astonished cries, Constanza, her mother, and everyone in the household got up, sure that Carlos was making things up. The lady didn't remember her offer to don Jorge, since it was impossible and so, without thinking, she went to see what her husband wanted. When she looked out and saw the garden filled with flowers and trees, the price of her honor, she realized that the garden she'd been given, filled with lovely fountains and bowers, was much more than she'd asked for. Everyone who looked at the garden was filled with wonder. Strolling about in it was don Jorge, very elegant in all his finery. Suddenly Constanza realized what she'd promised. She fell to the floor in a mortal swoon. The sound of her fall brought her husband and the rest of her family to her side. They all thought it was a bewitchment, given the prodigies they were witnessing.

Tenderly Carlos took his wife in his arms and ordered that the doctor be called immediately. He feared she might be dead, and he loved her dearly. Carlos and Theodosia began to weep and lament

Constanza's death. Their weeping attracted the people who'd gathered in the square to look at the garden. Don Jorge, who already imagined what must have happened, came in with them, and they all joined in the lament.

The beautiful lady's swoon lasted for over a half an hour, during which time the doctors attempted every remedy. Then, with shudder, she came to her senses and found herself in her loving husband's arms and surrounded by a crowd of people, including don Jorge. Constanza, pouring forth bitter tears from her beautiful eyes, looked at Carlos and then spoke:

"My lord, if you want to keep your honor, your children's, and the honor of all my noble relatives, then you must put an end to my life this instant. Not because I have, in any way, offended against you or them, but because, without thinking that honor is priceless, I set a price on my honor. I beg you to end my life in imitation of Lucrecia and even to surpass her, for she killed herself after she'd been dishonored, and I would die without losing my honor, but for having thought to put a price upon it. Since I must lose my life and you, who are my life, even though I'm innocent, I am Christian, and it would be wrong for me to lose my soul, which cost its Creator so dearly."

These words shocked Carlos more than anything else that had taken place. He asked Constanza to explain the meaning of what she'd said and to tell him why she was crying so uncontrollably.

Constanza calmed herself somewhat and told everyone assembled around her bed what had transpired between her and don Jorge from the time he'd begun to love her up to the present. In ending, she added that since she'd asked don Jorge for an impossibility, and he'd complied, although she didn't know how, there was no alternative but for her to die. If her husband killed her because his honor had been offended, the whole problem would be solved, and don Jorge could have no complaint. When Carlos understood the implications of this strange situation, he recalled that he enjoyed great wealth through his wife. Inequality can often serve as a restraint to a man's passion, for a man who marries a woman richer than himself doesn't buy a wife but agrees to serve a mistress. As Aristotle says, if the wife brings no other wealth than her virtue, then she must strive through her virtue and humility to earn her lord's esteem. So Carlos, more in love with his beautiful Constanza than ever, said:

"My lady, I cannot deny that you did wrong to put a price on that

which can have no price, for there's no way in the world to pay for a woman's chastity and her virtue. Although you trusted in an impossibility, you should have realized that nothing is impossible for a real lover, who'll do the impossible to obtain the reward for his love. But you've paid for this fault with great suffering; furthermore, I can't put an end to your life, nor can I cause you more grief than you now feel. I'm the one who must die. Fortune, tired of favoring me, now seeks my downfall. You promised to give don Jorge the reward for his love if he made the garden. He has found a way to keep his word to you. The only solution is for you to keep your word to him and I, by doing what you're about to witness, shall not stand in your way. You can fulfill your obligations, and he can enjoy the reward for his great love."

As Carlos said these words, he drew his sword. He was about to plunge it through his heart without even thinking that, in doing such a desperate deed, he too would lose his soul. Don Jorge, anticipating his intent, quickly leapt to his side, grabbed the hilt of the violent sword, and said:

"Stop, Carlos, stop!"

Don Jorge held it firmly and, standing just as he was, he described what had happened between him and the devil. Then he said:

"It isn't right for me to offend against such a noble person as you. When I see that you will take your own life to keep me from dying, I feel such obligation to you that not one life but a thousand would I give to keep from offending against you. (There can be no crueller death for me than to deprive me of the woman I love so passionately, the woman who's cost me so dearly, for I've paid for my love with my soul.) Your wife is hereby free of her obligation to me: I release her from her promise. May Constanza enjoy Carlos, and Carlos Constanza, for heaven has made them equal in virtue and Carlos alone deserves her, just as she's worthy of being his. Let don Jorge die. He was born so unfortunate that not only has he lost his desire to love, he has also lost his priceless soul, which cost God His sacrifice on the Cross."

The instant don Jorge uttered these words, the devil appeared to them all, holding the pact in his hand. He shouted loudly:

"No matter how you try, you won't get the best of me! Where a husband tramples his own desire and, by conquering himself, seeks to put an end to his own life, giving his wife permission to keep her promise; where a crazy lover feels obligated by the husband's act and

so releases his beloved from her promise, which has cost him no less than his soul, as you can see here in this pact in which don Jorge promises his soul to me; I can do no less than they. So that the whole world will be amazed that the devil can be virtuous, here, don Jorge, take this, take back your pact! I don't want the soul of a man who's learned to conquer himself. I release you from your obligation."

With these words, the devil threw down the pact. There was an enormous explosion, and the devil vanished, as did the garden. All that was left in its place was a thick, stinking, smoke that lasted a long time.

At the great noise of the explosion, so loud it sounded as if the whole city had blown up, Constanza, Theodosia, their mother, and all the servants, who'd been entranced at the sight of the devil, came to their senses. They saw don Jorge kneel down and, weeping copiously, he thanked God for the mercy He'd shown in freeing him from such peril. Everyone present likewise knelt down and gave thanks to God, believing that everything had happened for mysterious reasons known only to Him.

After don Jorge finished his devout prayer, he turned to Constanza and said:

"Now, beautiful lady, I recognize how right you've been to maintain your decorum, so well deserved by the husband you have. Obviously Carlos can entertain no doubts about the virtue with which you honor him. So that he can live with confidence in me, I want to ask your forgiveness for the trouble I've caused you and for threatening your good name with my importunate courtship. Now let me request what you offered me yesterday out of concern for my welfare, which I, like a madman, rejected. I'm asking for the beautiful Theodosia's hand in marriage. In doing this, the noble Carlos can live secure, and the whole city will know of your valor and your virtue."

When Constanza heard this, she went up to don Jorge with open arms and placed them around his neck. Her beautiful lips grazed the forehead of the well-intentioned young man who, through his virtue, had finally earned the reward he'd never been able to win through his impassioned desire. Constanza said:

"This favor I grant to you as my brother. It's the first favor you've enjoyed from me in all the time you've loved me."

Everybody joined in the rejoicing, some with exclamations of amazement, others with hearty congratulations. To the delight of everyone who heard their story, that same day don Jorge and the beau-

tiful Theodosia were betrothed. Because they didn't want to wait, the next day the solemn wedding was held with Carlos and Constanza serving as sponsors. There were many parties throughout the city to celebrate the happy end of such a complicated story. At every gathering, Carlos and don Jorge were hailed as exemplars of elegance, nobility, and gentility, and everyone considered the ladies who had merited them to be very fortunate.

They all lived for many years and had lovely children. No one ever found out that don Jorge had murdered his brother Federico until after his death, when Theodosia told the story she alone knew. When she died, this enchantment was found written in her own hand. At the end she promised a laurel wreath as a reward to the one who could prove which of the three had been the noblest: Carlos, don Jorge, or the devil. If anyone wishes to win the laurel, let each person judge. Here I shall end the "Magic Garden," a title given to the enchantment because of that wondrous artifact.

As the noble and discreet Laura ended the last enchantment, all the ladies and gentlemen began to dispute who'd been the noblest, hoping to win the promised laurel for their cleverness as well as a jewel the lovely Lysis had contributed as a prize. Each person defended an opinion: some favored the husband, others the lover, and everyone agreed that the devil had outdone himself, because it's unheard of for the devil to do a good deed.

Don Juan played the devil's advocate divinely and won the proffered jewel, much to don Diego's discomfiture. Don Juan immediately presented the jewel to a triumphant Lisarda, which naturally aggravated Lysis.

Their discussion lasted until so late that there wasn't time to put on the play, so the guests all voted to postpone the play until New Year's Day, the Feast of the Circumcision, when don Diego and the lovely Lysis were to be formally betrothed. Then everyone flocked to the tables and dined with great pleasure. This ended the fifth and final night, and I end my well-intentioned and entertaining soiree, promising a second part if this one is received with the pleasure I hope. In the second part we shall see don Juan's ingratitude punished, Lisarda's change of heart, and Lysis's wedding. I hope my work is appreciated, valued, and praised, not my rough style but the will with which it has been written.

Designer: U.C. Press Staff
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Text: 10/13 Galliard
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