to me attentively for a few moments.

"Some time before I left Malaga to join the army of our great emperor
and to aid in spreading the glory of his arms through Italy, I was
devoted, after the fashion of young knights, to the service of a
beautiful girl in this city, named Lucila. She had at that time
scarcely reached the period which separates childhood from ripe
maidenhood, and as I--a boy only just capable of bearing arms--
offered my homage with a childlike, friendly feeling, it was also
received by my young mistress in a similar childlike manner. I
marched at length to Italy, and as you yourself know, for we have
been companions since then, I was in many a hot fight and in many an
enchantingly alluring region in that luxurious land. Amid all our
changes, I held unalterably within me the image of my gentle
mistress, never pausing in the honorable service I had vowed to her,
although I cannot conceal from you that in so doing it was rather to
fulfil the word I had pledged at my departure than from any impelling
and immoderately ardent feeling in my heart. When we returned to my
native city from our foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found my
mistress married to a rich and noble knight residing here. Fiercer
far than love had been was the jealousy--that almost almighty child
of heaven and hell--which now spurred me on to follow Lucila's steps,
from her home to the church, from thence to the house of a friend,
from thence again to her home or to some noble circle of knights and
ladies, and all this as unweariedly and as closely as was possible.
When I had at length assured myself that no other young knight
attended her, and that she devoted herself entirely to the husband
chosen for her by her parents rather than desired by herself, I felt
perfectly satisfied, and I should not have troubled you at this
moment had not Lucila approached me the day before yesterday and