by José Rizal
CHAPTER XV
SENOR PASTA
Isagani presented himself in the house of the lawyer, one of themost talented minds in Manila, whom the friars consulted in theirgreat difficulties. The youth had to wait some time on account of thenumerous clients, but at last his turn came and he entered the office,or _bufete_, as it is generally called in the Philippines. The lawyerreceived him with a slight cough, looking down furtively at his feet,but he did not rise or offer a seat, as he went on writing. This gaveIsagani an opportunity for observation and careful study of the lawyer,who had aged greatly. His hair was gray and his baldness extendedover nearly the whole crown of his head. His countenance was sourand austere.
There was complete silence in the study, except for the whispers of theclerks and understudies who were at work in an adjoining room. Theirpens scratched as though quarreling with the paper.
At length the lawyer finished what he was writing, laid down his pen,raised his head, and, recognizing the youth, let his face light upwith a smile as he extended his hand affectionately.
"Welcome, young man! But sit down, and excuse me, for I didn't knowthat it was you. How is your uncle?"
Isagani took courage, believing that his case would get on well. Herelated briefly what had been done, the while studying the effect ofhis words. Senor Pasta listened impassively at first and, althoughhe was informed of the efforts of the students, pretended ignorance,as if to show that he had nothing to do with such childish matters,but when he began to suspect what was wanted of him and heard mentionof the Vice-Rector, friars, the Captain-General, a project, and so on,his face slowly darkened and he finally exclaimed, "This is the landof projects! But go on, go on!"
Isagani was not yet discouraged. He spoke of the manner in which adecision was to be reached and concluded with an expression of theconfidence which the young men entertained that he, Senor Pasta,would _intercede_ in their behalf in case Don Custodio should consulthim, as was to be expected. He did not dare to say would _advise_,deterred by the wry face the lawyer put on.
But Senor Pasta had already formed his resolution, and it was notto mix at all in the affair, either as consulter or consulted. Hewas familiar with what had occurred at Los Banos, he knew that thereexisted two factions, and that Padre Irene was not the only championon the side of the students, nor had he been the one who proposedsubmitting the petition to the Commission of Primary Instruction,but quite the contrary. Padre Irene, Padre Fernandez, the Countess,a merchant who expected to sell the materials for the new academy,and the high official who had been citing royal decree after royaldecree, were about to triumph, when Padre Sibyla, wishing to gaintime, had thought of the Commission. All these facts the great lawyerhad present in his mind, so that when Isagani had finished speaking,he determined to confuse him with evasions, tangle the matter up,and lead the conversation to other subjects.
"Yes," he said, pursing his lips and scratching his head, "there isno one who surpasses me in love for the country and in aspirationstoward progress, but--I can't compromise myself, I don't know whetheryou clearly understand my position, a position that is very delicate,I have so many interests, I have to labor within the limits of strictprudence, it's a risk--"
The lawyer sought to bewilder the youth with an exuberance of words,so he went on speaking of laws and decrees, and talked so much thatinstead of confusing the youth, he came very near to entanglinghimself in a labyrinth of citations.
"In no way do we wish to compromise you," replied Isagani with greatcalmness. "God deliver us from injuring in the least the personswhose lives are so useful to the rest of the Filipinos! But, aslittle versed as I may be in the laws, royal decrees, writs, andresolutions that obtain in this country, I can't believe that therecan be any harm in furthering the high purposes of the government,in trying to secure a proper interpretation of these purposes. Weare seeking the same end and differ only about the means."
The lawyer smiled, for the youth had allowed himself to wander awayfrom the subject, and there where the former was going to entanglehim he had already entangled himself.
"That's exactly the _quid_, as is vulgarly said. It's clear that itis laudable to aid the government, when one aids it submissively,following out its desires and the true spirit of the laws in agreementwith the just beliefs of the governing powers, and when not incontradiction to the fundamental and general way of thinking of thepersons to whom is intrusted the common welfare of the individuals thatform a social organism. Therefore, it is criminal, it is punishable,because it is offensive to the high principle of authority, to attemptany action contrary to its initiative, even supposing it to be betterthan the governmental proposition, because such action would injureits prestige, which is the elementary basis upon which all colonialedifices rest."
Confident that this broadside had at least stunned Isagani, the oldlawyer fell back in his armchair, outwardly very serious, but laughingto himself.
Isagani, however, ventured to reply. "I should think that governments,the more they are threatened, would be all the more careful to seekbases that are impregnable. The basis of prestige for colonialgovernments is the weakest of all, since it does not depend uponthemselves but upon the consent of the governed, while the latterare willing to recognize it. The basis of justice or reason wouldseem to be the most durable."
The lawyer raised his head. How was this--did that youth dare to replyand argue with him, _him_, Senor Pasta? Was he not yet bewilderedwith his big words?
"Young man, you must put those considerations aside, for they aredangerous," he declared with a wave of his hand. "What I advise isthat you let the government attend to its own business."
"Governments are established for the welfare of the peoples, andin order to accomplish this purpose properly they have to followthe suggestions of the citizens, who are the ones best qualified tounderstand their own needs."
"Those who constitute the government are also citizens, and amongthe most enlightened."
"But, being men, they are fallible, and ought not to disregard theopinions of others."
"They must be trusted, they have to attend to everything."
"There is a Spanish proverb which says, 'No tears, no milk,' in otherwords, 'To him who does not ask, nothing is given.' "
"Quite the reverse," replied the lawyer with a sarcastic smile;"with the government exactly the reverse occurs--"
But he suddenly checked himself, as if he had said too much andwished to correct his imprudence. "The government has given us thingsthat we have not asked for, and that we could not ask for, becauseto ask--to ask, presupposes that it is in some way incompetent andconsequently is not performing its functions. To suggest to it a courseof action, to try to guide it, when not really antagonizing it, is topresuppose that it is capable of erring, and as I have already saidto you such suppositions are menaces to the existence of colonialgovernments. The common crowd overlooks this and the young men whoset to work thoughtlessly do not know, do not comprehend, do not tryto comprehend the counter-effect of asking, the menace to order thereis in that idea--"
"Pardon me," interrupted Isagani, offended by the arguments the juristwas using with him, "but when by legal methods people ask a governmentfor something, it is because they think it good and disposed to grant ablessing, and such action, instead of irritating it, should flatter it--to the mother one appeals, never to the stepmother. The government,in my humble opinion, is not an omniscient being that can see andanticipate everything, and even if it could, it ought not to feeloffended, for here you have the church itself doing nothing but askingand begging of God, who sees and knows everything, and you yourselfask and demand many things in the courts of this same government,yet neither God nor the courts have yet taken offense. Every onerealizes that the government, being the human institution that it is,needs the support of all the people, it needs to be made to see andfeel the reality of things. You yourself are not convinced of thetruth of your objection, you yourself know that it is a tyrannicaland despotic government wh
ich, in order to make a display of forceand independence, denies everything through fear or distrust, andthat the tyrannized and enslaved peoples are the only ones whose dutyit is never to ask for anything. A people that hates its governmentought to ask for nothing but that it abdicate its power."
The old lawyer grimaced and shook his head from side to side, in signof discontent, while he rubbed his hand over his bald pate and saidin a tone of condescending pity: "Ahem! those are bad doctrines, badtheories, ahem! How plain it is that you are young and inexperiencedin life. Look what is happening with the inexperienced young menwho in Madrid are asking for so many reforms. They are accused offilibusterism, many of them don't dare return here, and yet, whatare they asking for? Things holy, ancient, and recognized as quiteharmless. But there are matters that can't be explained, they're sodelicate. Let's see--I confess to you that there are other reasonsbesides those expressed that might lead a sensible government todeny systematically the wishes of the people--no--but it may happenthat we find ourselves under rulers so fatuous and ridiculous--butthere are always other reasons, even though what is asked be quitejust--different governments encounter different conditions--"
The old man hesitated, stared fixedly at Isagani, and then with asudden resolution made a sign with his hand as though he would dispelsome idea.
"I can guess what you mean," said Isagani, smiling sadly. "You meanthat a colonial government, for the very reason that it is imperfectlyconstituted and that it is based on premises--"
"No, no, not that, no!" quickly interrupted the old lawyer, as hesought for something among his papers. "No, I meant--but where aremy spectacles?"
"There they are," replied Isagani.
The old man put them on and pretended to look over some papers, butseeing that the youth was waiting, he mumbled, "I wanted to tell yousomething, I wanted to say--but it has slipped from my mind. Youinterrupted me in your eagerness--but it was an insignificantmatter. If you only knew what a whirl my head is in, I have so muchto do!"
Isagani understood that he was being dismissed. "So," he said, rising,"we--"
"Ah, you will do well to leave the matter in the hands of thegovernment, which will settle it as it sees fit. You say that theVice-Rector is opposed to the teaching of Castilian. Perhaps he maybe, not as to the fact but as to the form. It is said that the Rectorwho is on his way will bring a project for reform in education. Waita while, give time a chance, apply yourself to your studies asthe examinations are near, and--_carambas!_--you who already speakCastilian and express yourself easily, what are you bothering yourselfabout? What interest have you in seeing it specially taught? SurelyPadre Florentino thinks as I do! Give him my regards."
"My uncle," replied Isagani, "has always admonished me to think ofothers as much as of myself. I didn't come for myself, I came in thename of those who are in worse condition."
"What the devil! Let them do as you have done, let them singe theireyebrows studying and come to be bald like myself, stuffing wholeparagraphs into their memories! I believe that if you talk Spanish itis because you have studied it--you're not of Manila or of Spanishparents! Then let them learn it as you have, and do as I have done:I've been a servant to all the friars, I've prepared their chocolate,and while with my right hand I stirred it, with the left I held agrammar, I learned, and, thank God! have never needed other teachersor academies or permits from the government. Believe me, he who wishesto learn, learns and becomes wise!"
"But how many among those who wish to learn come to be what youare? One in ten thousand, and more!"
"Pish! Why any more?" retorted the old man, shrugging hisshoulders. "There are too many lawyers now, many of them become mereclerks. Doctors? They insult and abuse one another, and even killeach other in competition for a patient. Laborers, sir, laborers,are what we need, for agriculture!"
Isagani realized that he was losing time, but still could not forbearreplying: "Undoubtedly, there are many doctors and lawyers, but I won'tsay there are too many, since we have towns that lack them entirely,and if they do abound in quantity, perhaps they are deficient inquality. Since the young men can't be prevented from studying, andno other professions are open to us, why let them waste their timeand effort? And if the instruction, deficient as it is, does not keepmany from becoming lawyers and doctors, if we must finally have them,why not have good ones? After all, even if the sole wish is to makethe country a country of farmers and laborers, and condemn in it allintellectual activity, I don't see any evil in enlightening thosesame farmers and laborers, in giving them at least an education thatwill aid them in perfecting themselves and in perfecting their work,in placing them in a condition to understand many things of whichthey are at present ignorant."
"Bah, bah, bah!" exclaimed the lawyer, drawing circles in the airwith his hand to dispel the ideas suggested. "To be a good farmer nogreat amount of rhetoric is needed. Dreams, illusions, fancies! Eh,will you take a piece of advice?"
He arose and placed his hand affectionately on the youth's shoulder,as he continued: "I'm going to give you one, and a very good one,because I see that you are intelligent and the advice will not bewasted. You're going to study medicine? Well, confine yourself tolearning how to put on plasters and apply leeches, and don't ever tryto improve or impair the condition of your kind. When you become alicentiate, marry a rich and devout girl, try to make cures and chargewell, shun everything that has any relation to the general state ofthe country, attend mass, confession, and communion when the rest do,and you will see afterwards how you will thank me, and I shall seeit, if I am still alive. Always remember that charity begins at home,for man ought not to seek on earth more than the greatest amount ofhappiness for himself, as Bentham says. If you involve yourself inquixotisms you will have no career, nor will you get married, norwill you ever amount to anything. All will abandon you, your owncountrymen will be the first to laugh at your simplicity. Believeme, you will remember me and see that I am right, when you have grayhairs like myself, gray hairs such as these!"
Here the old lawyer stroked his scanty white hair, as he smiled sadlyand shook his head.
"When I have gray hairs like those, sir," replied Isagani with equalsadness, "and turn my gaze back over my past and see that I haveworked only for myself, without having done what I plainly couldand should have done for the country that has given me everything,for the citizens that have helped me to live--then, sir, every grayhair will be a thorn, and instead of rejoicing, they will shame me!"
So saying, he took his leave with a profound bow. The lawyer remainedmotionless in his place, with an amazed look on his face. He listenedto the footfalls that gradually died away, then resumed his seat.
"Poor boy!" he murmured, "similar thoughts also crossed my mindonce! What more could any one desire than to be able to say: 'Ihave done this for the good of the fatherland, I have consecratedmy life to the welfare of others!' A crown of laurel, steeped inaloes, dry leaves that cover thorns and worms! That is not life,that does not get us our daily bread, nor does it bring us honors--the laurel would hardly serve for a salad, nor produce ease, nor aidus in winning lawsuits, but quite the reverse! Every country has itscode of ethics, as it has its climate and its diseases, differentfrom the climate and the diseases of other countries."
After a pause, he added: "Poor boy! If all should think and act ashe does, I don't say but that--Poor boy! Poor Florentino!"
