Storia do Mogor 265.23.4

265.23.4

As the father never gave it a thought nor could the young lady imagine such a thing, he had not the courage to declare his concealed feeling. He came to the house every day, nursing a mystic passion, and anything required to be done at the house was carried out by him with exactitude. But now and again he would say that many marriage proposals were made to him, though he would not accept any one of these proposed brides, save one whom he strongly desired. Seeing the little progress he was making, he went one day to the old father of the damsel, saying : ' This morning they bribed me to make a marriage by offering a dowry of one thousand patacas (2,000 Rs.). The person is of some position and of good fame ; she is called Catharina da Silva. What advice does your Honour give me ?' Well might it be said of him what is sung in an Italian comedy : ' Ardo e languisco in un cotinuo foco Celato amante, e palesato amico. Le parlo, le discorro, burlo e gioco, E delle pene mie nulla glie dico. Così amando e temendo, a poco a poco Procuro di scubrirmi e mi disdico, Procuro desiamar, e piu me infoco.' (I burn and languish in continuous fire, A secret lover, an avowed friend. I speak to her, I discuss, joke and banter, And of my sufferings not a word I say. Thus loving and dreading, little by little I try to declare myself, but do the reverse ; I try to forget my love, and only burn the more).