The poetical works (1829)

Recibio un Cavallero, paraque cultivasse sus tierras, a un Quintero, y para pagarle algo adelantado le pidio fiador, y no teniendo quien le fiasse, le prometio delante del sepulcro de San Isidro, que cumpliria su palabra, y si no, que el santo le castigasse: con lo qual el Cavallero le pago toda su soldada, ye le fió. Mas desegradecido aquel hombre, no baciendo caso de su promessa, se huyo, sin acabar de servir el tiempo concertado. Passo de noche sin reparar en ella, por la Iglesia de San Andres, donde estaba el cuerpo del siervo de Dios. Fue cosa maravéillosa, que andando corriendo toda la noche, no se aparto de la Iglesia, sino que toda se le fue en dar mil bueltas al rededor de ella, hasta que por la manana, yendo el amo a quexarse de San Isidro, y pedirle cumpliesse su fianza,

714

halló à su Quintero alli, dando mas y mas bueltas, sin poderse haver apartado de aquel sitio. Pidio perdon al santo, y a su amo, al qual satisfizo despues enteramente poc sù trabajo.—Flos Sanctorum, por Alonzo de Villegas.

If thy debtor be poor, old Christoval cried,
Exact not too hardly thy due,
For he who preserves a poor man from want
May preserve him from wickedness too.

If thy neighbour should sin, old Christoval cried,
Never never unmerciful be!
For remember it is by the mercy of God
That thou art not as wicked as he.

At sixty and seven the hope of heaven
Is my comfort, Old Christoval cried,
But if God had cut me off in my youth
I might not have gone there when I died.

You shall have the farm, young Christoval,
My good master Henrique said;
But a surety provide, in whom I can confide,
That duly the rent shall be paid.

I was poor and I had not a friend on earth,
And I knew not what to say,
We stood by the porch of St Andres' church,
And it was on St Isidro's day.

Accept for my surety St Isidro,
I ventured to make reply,
The Saint in Heaven may perhaps be my friend,
But friendless on earth am I.

We enter'd the church and came to his grave,
And I fell on my bended knee;
I am friendless, holy St Isidro,
And I venture to call upon thee.

I call upon thee my surety to be,
Thou knowest my honest intent,
And if ever I break my plighted word,
Let thy vengeance make me repent!

I was idle, the day of payment came on,
And I had not the money in store,
I fear'd the wrath of St Isidro
But I fear'd Henrique more.

On a dark night I took my flight
And hastily fled away,
It chanced by St Andres' church
The road I had chosen lay.

As I pass'd the door I thought what I had swore
Upon St Isidro's day,
And I seem'd to fear because he was near,
And faster I hasten'd away.

So all night long I hurried on,
Pacing full many a mile,
I knew not his avenging hand
Was on me all the while.

Weary I was, and safe I thought,
But when it was day-light,
I had, I found, been running round
And round the church all night.

I shook like a palsy and fell on my knees,
And for pardon devoutly I pray'd:
When my master came up—what! Christoval,
You are here betimes, he said.

I have been idle good master! I cried,
Good master and I have been wrong,
And I have been running round the church
In penance all night long.

If thou hast been idle, Henrique said,
Go home and thy fault amend;
I will not oppress thee, Christoval,
May the Saint thy labour befriend.

Homeward I went a penitent,
And I never was idle more;
St Isidro blest my industry,
As he punish'd my fault before.

When my debtor was poor, Old Christoval said,
I have never exacted my due,
I remembered Henrique was good to me
And copied his goodness too.

When my neighbour has sinn'd, Old Christoval said,
I have ever forgiven his sin,
For I thought of the night by St Andres' church,
And remember'd what I might have been.

University of Virginia Library

OLD CHRISTOVAL'S ADVICE,

AND THE REASON WHY HE GAVE IT.