in a wise man to fix his thoughts, as he had done, on any other than
his God; and entreated him to devote himself to a religious life, and
conquer the unworthy passion which he had suffered to consume him.
She, however, offered, if he wished it, to show him the fair bosom
which had so captivated him. Raymond was delighted. He thought the
latter part of this epistle but ill corresponded with the former, and
that Ambrosia, in spite of the good advice she gave him, had, at last,
relented, and would make him as happy as he desired. He followed her
about from place to place, entreating her to fulfil her promise: but
still Ambrosia was cold, and implored him with tears to importune her
no longer; for that she never could be his, and never would, if she
were free to-morrow. "What means your letter, then?" said the
despairing lover. "I will show you!" replied Ambrosia, who immediately
uncovered her bosom, and exposed to the eyes of her horror-stricken
admirer, a large cancer, which had extended to both breasts. She saw
that he was shocked; and, extending her hand to him, she prayed him
once more to lead a religious life, and set his heart upon the
Creator, and not upon the creature. He went home an altered man. He
threw up, on the morrow, his valuable appointment at the court,
separated from his wife, and took a farewell of his children, after
dividing one-half of his ample fortune among them. The other half he
shared among the poor. He then threw himself at the foot of a
crucifix, and devoted himself to the service of God, vowing, as the
most acceptable atonement for his errors, that he would employ the
remainder of his days in the task of converting the Mussulmans to the
Christian religion. In his dreams he saw Jesus Christ, who said to
him, "Raymond! Raymond! follow me!" The vision was three times
repeated, and Raymond was convinced that it was an intimation direct
from Heaven. Having put his affairs in order, he set out on a
pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James of Compostello, and afterwards