登陆注册
15427300000010

第10章 How Lazaro Took up with a Priest and the Things(1)

That Happened to Him with That Man

I didn't feel very safe in that town,so the next day I went to a place named Maqueda.There I met up with a priest (it must have been because of all my sins).I started to beg from him,and he asked me if I knew how to assist at mass.I told him I did,and it was the truth:even though that sinner of a blind man beat me,he'd taught me all kinds of good things,too,and this was one of them.So the priest took me in,and I was out of the frying pan and into the fire.Because even though the blind man was the very picture of greed,as I've said,he was an Alexander the Great compared to this fellow.I won't say any more,except that all the miserliness in the world was in this man.I don't know if he'd been born that way,or if it came along with his priest's frock.

He had an old chest that he kept locked,and he kept the key tied to his cassock with a leather cord.When the holy bread was brought from church,he'd throw it in the chest and lock it up again.And there wasn't a thing to eat in the whole place,the way there is in most houses:a bit of bacon hanging from the chimney,some cheese lying on the table or in the cupboard,a basket with some slices of bread left over from dinner.It seemed to me that even if I hadn't eaten any of it,I would have felt a lot better just being able to look at it.

The only thing around was a string of onions,and that was kept locked in a room upstairs.I was rationed out one onion every four days.And if anyone else was around when I asked him for the key to get it,he'd reach into his breast pocket and untie the key with great airs,and he'd hand it to me and say,"Here.Take it,but bring it back as soon as you're through,and don't stuff yourself."And this as if all the oranges in Valencia were up there,while there really wasn't a damned thing,as I said,besides the onions hanging from a nail.And he had those counted so well that if I (being the sinner that I am)had taken even one extra onion,I would really have been in for it.

So there I was,dying of hunger.But if he wasn't very charitable to me,he was to himself.A good five coppers'worth of meat was his usual fare for supper.I have to admit that he did give me some of the soup,but as for the meat--I didn't even get a whiff of it.All I got was a little bread:that blasted man wouldn't give me half of what I really needed!And on Saturdays everyone around here eats head of mutton,and he sent me for one that cost six coppers.He cooked it and ate the eyes,the tongue,the neck,the brains and the meat in the jaws.Then he gave me the chewed-over bones;he put them on a plate and said,"Here,eat this and be happy.It's a meal fit for a king.In fact,you're living better than the Pope."

"May God grant you this kind of life,"I said under my breath.

同类推荐
  • 沙弥律仪毗尼日用合参

    沙弥律仪毗尼日用合参

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 琴声十六法

    琴声十六法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 白云集

    白云集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北京潭柘寺清拳

    北京潭柘寺清拳

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 无明慧性禅师语录

    无明慧性禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 修真练性三界中:狼行天下
  • 网游之绝色剑帝

    网游之绝色剑帝

    这是一个关于一位女剑士的故事。为了筹钱救生病的母亲,夜倾雪可耻地被包养了……好吧这不是重点,重点是这个包养她的是同为校花的另一个女生?!这是什么鬼?!难道对方是个蕾丝边儿?
  • 寒叶石楠

    寒叶石楠

    欧石楠,孤独的花。她,是不幸运的人,失去了记忆,失去了母亲,只留下了她自己一个人在这个世上……或许,天命注定她最终不会是一个人。因为她有最爱他和她……
  • 午夜残梦

    午夜残梦

    主人公猛子从小体弱多病,他奶奶过世后,魂魄不散,盘桓在她身边,而他总是可以看见身边种种恐怖的异象,使他饱受折磨。梅子从小饱受苦难,和猛子相互倾慕。经过时光的考验他们究竟结局如何在命运面前,一切将如何抉择
  • 真武灵应真君增上佑圣尊号册文

    真武灵应真君增上佑圣尊号册文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 星际末日进行时

    星际末日进行时

    【千万不要被简介迷惑,1v1宠文无虐】充满绝望的红枫经历了种种痛苦,最终他选择了向往的美好自由,然而世界终究不肯放过他,但是他不后悔。没想到他死亡后来到了另一个世界,遇到了......,面对这迟来的温暖,死寂的心是否还会跳动……【耽美向主受,不喜慎入】
  • 倾城乱:白发皇妃

    倾城乱:白发皇妃

    红罗帐内,她被迫承欢,三千青丝在身上狂情男子眼中寸寸成雪。红罗帐外,她的夫君却与美人对酌成欢,双双笑看一场真人春宫秀……当红光被撕裂,点点在风中落下。她艰难步出,那随风飞舞的满头银发,最终刺痛的,又是谁的心扉?经历无情伤害后,一代倾世红颜被逼入绝境,满头青丝成雪。她究竟该低头认命?还是该绝地反击、绽放耀世光芒……
  • 右眼听见爱

    右眼听见爱

    青春用以尝试爱情,得知爱情,懂得爱情.人之初级的懵懂和纯洁,繁华流世的时间会看清内心所向的偏执和生长.当爱情变成一种遇见,无论对错,只要默默守望,不悲不亢,缘分的随长自然孤守在旁,不落一丝骄躁.人用眼观世界,其实心灵的终结才是永恒的归宿,不论怎样去纠结一些俗事的对错过往,必然在一切归于平静之前会意外得到幸福真挚的祷告.右眼的失去不是最后命运的弄拙,反比得到的是一生难求的真情守侯,我听到未来的幸福正在一点一滴发现爱,我的右眼听到有人释放着爱的浓意,肆意的如潮水激荡澎湃,暗暗涌动.
  • 参谋本部里的次元矩阵

    参谋本部里的次元矩阵

    我们不能以一种狭隘的眼光,去拘束无限的可能性。
  • 月泪花迁影之梦恋浮生

    月泪花迁影之梦恋浮生

    弱水一千,我取一瓢饮。尝尽尘世悲欢,换我来生莫忘离誓。弱水二千,我取一瓢饮。尝尽苦泪情毒,换我来生莫负韶华。弱水三千,我取一瓢饮。尝尽血仇恨怨,换我来生莫许薄郎。