Chapter I: Lazaro Relates the Way of His Birth and Tells Whose Son He Is (3)

Presently the sinful constable began gradually to recover until he was himself again. When he was well, he fell at the feet of the commissary asking for pardon, and confessing that what he had said was by order of the Devil, to do my master harm and to be avenged on him, but principally because the Devil was very much annoyed at the good that was done by the Indulgences being received. My master pardoned him, and signs of friendship were passed between them. Then there was such eagerness to buy the Indulgences that scarcely a soul in the place was without one--husbands and wives, sons and daughters, boys and girls. The news of what had happened soon spread to the neighbouring villages, and when we came to them it was not necessary to preach nor even to go to church. In ten or twelve villages of that neighbourhood where we were, my master sold as many thousand Indulgences, without having to preach a single sermon. When he performed this farce, I confess that I was astounded and believed like many others. [Sidenote: Lazaro was behind the scenes.] But afterwards I was a witness to the jokes and laughter that my master and the constable had over the business. I knew how it had been planned and arranged by the industry and inventive talent of my master. Though only a boy I fell into thought, and said to myself, “How many more tricks will the rogues play on these innocent people!” I was nearly four months with my fifth master, during which I also suffered plenty of hardships.

SIXTH MASTER

HOW LAZARO TOOK SERVICE WITH A CHAPLAIN AND HOW HE PROSPERED

After this I took service with a master who painted tumbrels. My duty was to grind the colours, and here also I suffered many evil things. Having now grown to be a fine lad, I went into the principal church, and one of the chaplains took me to be his servant. He gave me charge of a donkey, four jars, and a whip. So I began to carry water for the city. This was the first step I ascended, to reach a decent life. For I gave thirty maravedis of profit to my master every day, and on Saturdays I was allowed the profits for myself, and everything else beyond the thirty maravedis a day. I went on so well that at the end of four years I had put something by, and was able to dress myself very well. I bought a doublet of fustian, a coat with sleeves, and a woollen cloak, as well as a sword. Shortly I saw myself clothed like a respectable man. I said to my master that he might take the donkey, as I did not intend to follow that occupation any longer.

SEVENTH MASTER

HOW LAZARO TOOK SERVICE WITH A CONSTABLE AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS

Having taken leave of the chaplain, I entered the service of a constable, but stayed a very short time with him, for my occupation appeared to me to be dangerous, especially one night when we were attacked with stones and sticks. They treated my master badly, but they could not catch me. This business made me retire from the constable’s service.

Thinking how I should live so as to find some rest and save a little for my old age, it pleased God to enlighten me, and to put me on a profitable road. With the favour of friends and patrons all my labours and hardships, up to that time, were repaid, on reaching what I sought and obtained. [Sidenote: Lazaro gets a Government appointment, and is married.] This was a Government appointment such as enabled no one to thrive except those who occupied it. In it I live and reside to this day, in the service of God and your Honour. My duty is to have charge of the inspection of wine that is sold in this city, as well at public sales as elsewhere, also to accompany those who are condemned for default, and to cry out their transgressions, being a crier speaking in good Castilian. It has happened also that almost everything appertaining to the office passes through my hands, throughout the whole city. He who wants to draw wine for sale may reckon on deriving little profit, unless Lazaro de Tormes is consulted in the matter.

At this time his Honour the Archpriest of St. Saviour’s,[28] my lord and the friend of your worship, seeing my cleverness and noticing my presentable appearance when employed by him in announcing his wines, made an arrangement that I should marry one of his servant girls. Seeing myself that this would bring me benefits and favours, I gave my consent. I was married to her, and to this day I have had no reason to repent it, for I found her to be a good girl and diligent in service. I have favour and help from my lord the Archpriest. He always gives us during the year a load of wheat, meat on festivals, sometimes loaves of fine bread, and the shoes he has left off wearing. He arranged for us to rent a small house near his own. On almost every Sunday and on feast days we dine in his house.

[28] Formerly there were two kinds of parishes in Toledo. Those
of the _Muzarabes_, founded by the Gothic King Athanagild, the
grandfather of St. Ildefonso, continued through Moorish times.
They were existing when Alfonso VI. took Toledo in 1085. Their
number was six, reduced to two. The others were called _Latinas_,
formed afterwards, of which there were twenty reduced to nine.
St. Saviour’s was one of the latter. It has been joined to that
of San Pedro since Lazarillo’s time.

[Sidenote: Evil tongues.]

But evil tongues are never wanting, and never let people live in peace. They said I know not what about my wife, because she went to make the bed and cook the dinner, and in this they spoke the truth, but she was not a woman who would give occasion for their scoffing. My lord the Archpriest had promised what I think he will perform, and one day he spoke to me fully on the subject. “Lazaro de Tormes,” he said, “he who listens to evil tongues will never prosper. I say this because your wife may be seen entering my house and leaving it. She comes with honour to herself and to you, and this I promise you. Do not attend to what they say, and be assured that what I tell you is for your good.” I replied that I was determined to care for and preserve my honesty. “It is true,” I said, “that some of my friends have spoken to me about this, and have even certified to me that before I was married to my wife she had borne a child three times, speaking with reverence to your Worship.” My wife took such oaths on the subject that I thought the house would come down upon us, and then she began to weep and to curse the day she had married me. She went on in such a way that I wished I had died before I let such words out of my mouth.

I on one side and the Archpriest on the other entreated her to leave off crying, and I swore that never in all my life would I refer to the matter again. I declared that I should rejoice to see her go in and out of our patron’s house whenever she liked, as I was convinced of her honesty. [Sidenote: A good understanding.] So we all three continued to have a good understanding as to this, and have never heard more about it. When any one tries to say anything I stop him by saying: “Look here! if you are a friend do not say anything that will annoy me, for I do not look upon him as my friend who causes me sorrow, more especially if he tries to make trouble between me and my wife, for she is the thing in the world that I care for most. I love her, and may God show favour to her. She is a far better wife than I deserve, and I swear before the consecrated host that she is as good a woman as can be found within the gates of Toledo. He who says the contrary shall answer to me for it.” By this means I manage that they shall say nothing, and I have peace in my house.

[Sidenote: Conclusion.]

This was in the same year that our victorious Emperor entered into this famous city of Toledo, and held the Cortes here,[29] and there were great rejoicings as your Worship will have heard. At this time I was prosperous and at the summit of all good fortune.

[29] In 1525, at the time when Francis I. arrived as a prisoner
at Madrid, Charles held a General Cortes of Castille at Toledo.
There were present most of the Grandees, and all the foreign
Ambassadors. The Viceroy Carlos de Lannoy arrived at Toledo,
and was cordially received by the Emperor, after having brought
Francis to Madrid. The Cortes petitioned Charles to marry Isabel,
the Infanta of Portugal; while the English Ambassadors proposed
to him his cousin, Mary Tudor. The Cortes sat until the end of
August.--_Sandoval_, i. 664 (2).

PRINTED AT BURGOS IN THE HOUSE OF JUAN DE JUNTA IN THE YEAR 1554

INDEX

PEOPLE MENTIONED

PAGE
Alexander the Great, blind man compared to 31
Antonia Perez, Lazaro’s mother 4
Antonio (sword-maker) mentioned by the esquire 56
Arcos, Count of (the esquire had such an air about him that
he might have been related to) 59
Comendador de la Magdalena (his stables) 6
Emperor Charles V. held Cortes at Toledo 103
Escalona, Duke of, town belonging to 23-24
Galen, blind man knew more than 16
Gonçales (see Thomé), Lazaro’s father 4
Lazaro de Tormes 4
Ovid, esquire making love using words of 61
Penelope-web (the priest stopping a rat-hole in his chest
by day and Lazaro opening it by night) 42
Perez (see Antonia) 4
Pliny, quoted in Prologue 1
Thomé Gonçales, Lazaro’s father 4
Tully, quoted in Prologue 2
Zayde, groom flogged for stealing gear 7, 8

PLACES MENTIONED

Almorox, road to Toledo 22
Escalona, road to Toledo 23
Gelves Island, where Lazaro’s father was killed 11
Maqueda, road to Toledo 30
Murcia, lettuce of (present of the seller of Indulgences
to clergy) 84
Old Castille, where the esquire came from 74
Salamanca, start from 4-8
St. Saviour’s, church at Toledo 98
Tejares, birthplace of parents 4
Toledo, Lazaro came to, and lived at 47
Tormes, river where the mill was. Lazaro’s birthplace 4
Torrijos, road to Toledo 29
Valencia, conserves of (priest talked as if upstairs were
all the) 32
Valladolid, esquire from near 75
Venice, riches of (esquire thought so much of his real,
as if it was all the) 70

VICTUALS AND DRINK MENTIONED BY LAZARO

*Bodigo (small loaves made of the finest flour offered
to the Church)
_Dic. Acad._ quotes Lazaro. 31
*Horca de cebollas (string of onions) 31, 32
*Caldo (gravy) 32
Conservas de Valencia 32
Duraznos (nectarines) 84
Lechuga Murciana (lettuce) 84
Limas (limes) 84
*Longaniza (sausage) 17, 24
Melocoton (peaches) 84
Nabo (colewort), a root much used of a plant like a
“rabano” (radish) but smaller 24
Naranjas (oranges) 84
*Pedaços de Pan (bits of bread) 7
*Queso (cheese) 31, 42
*Razimo de uvas, (bunch of grapes) 22
*Torreznos (Pedazo de Tocino cortado, frito), (fried
bacon) 31
*Tripas cocidas (boiled tripe) 62
Uña de vaca (cow’s foot), Lazaro gave it to the poor
esquire 66
Pedaços de carne (bits of meat), Lazaro only got the gravy 32
Cabeza de carnero (sheep’s head), Lazaro only got the
picked bone 32
*Vino (wine) 18, 26, 27, 71, 98

_Note_--But only those with * eaten or drunk by Lazaro. The rest
only talked about.

_Printed by_ R. & R. CLARK, LIMITED, _Edinburgh_.

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* * * * * *

Transcriber’s note:

* Obvious printer errors have been silently corrected.

* Original spelling has been kept, but variant spellings have been
made consistent when a predominant usage was found. Spanish
spellings have been kept unchanged.

* Footnotes have been renumbered into a single series. Each footnote
is placed at the end of the paragraph which includes its anchor.

* Sidenotes have been slightly moved to better match the text.

* Inconsistencies between the main text and the Table of Contents
have been eliminated.