Count Lucanor's Tale - own the author Juan Manuel and opinion

What happened to a dean of Santiago with don Illán, the magician of Toledo

Another day Count Lucanor spoke with Patronio and told him the following:

Patronius, a man came to ask me to help him in a matter in which he needed me, promising me that he would do for me what was more profitable and of greater honor. I started helping him in everything I could. Without having achieved what he wanted, but thinking that the matter was already solved, I asked him to help me with something that suited me very well, but he excused himself. Then I went back to ask for his help, and again he refused, on a pretext; and so he did in everything I asked him to do. But he has not yet achieved what he intended, nor will he be able to achieve it if I do not help him. For the confidence I have in you and in your intelligence, I beg you to advise me what I should do.
"Sir Count," said Patronio, "so that in this matter you may do what is due, I would very much like you to know what happened to a dean of Santiago with Don Illán, the magician who lived in Toledo.
The count asked him what had happened.
"Sir Count," said Patronio, "in Santiago there was a dean who wanted to learn the art of necromancy and, as he heard that Don Illán de Toledo was the one who knew the most at that time, he went to Toledo to learn that science with him . When he arrived in Toledo, he went to Don Illán's house, whom he found reading in a very secluded chamber. When he saw him enter his house, don Illán received him with much courtesy and told him that he did not want him to tell him the reasons for his coming until he had eaten and, to show his esteem, he arranged it very well, gave him everything he needed and he let him know that he was very happy with his coming.
"After dinner, both were left alone and the Dean explained the reason for his arrival, begging Don Illán to teach him that science, because he wanted to know it thoroughly. Don Illán told him that if he was already a dean and a highly respected person, he could reach greater dignities -60- in the Church, and that those who have prospered a lot, when they get everything they wanted, often forget the favors they have received, He was suspicious that, when he had learned that science with him, he would not want to do what he promised now. Then the dean assured him that no matter how much dignity he attained, he would do nothing but what he sent him.
»Talking about this and other topics, they were from the time they finished eating until it was time for dinner. When they already agreed, the magician told the Dean that science could only be taught in a very secluded place and that at night he would show him where he had to retire until he learned it. Then, taking him by the hand, he took him to a room and, when they were alone, called a maid, whom he asked to prepare some partridges for dinner, but not to roast until he sent it.
"Then he called the dean, the two of them entered a well-worked stone staircase and both went down so that it seemed that the Tagus River had to pass over them. At the end of the stairs they found a very spacious room, as well as a very ornate room, where the books and the study room where they would stay were. Once they were seated, and while they were thinking about what books to start with, two men came through the door and gave the Dean a letter from his uncle the archbishop telling him that he was sick and that he would quickly come to see him if he wanted to arrive earlier. of his death. To the dean this news caused great sorrow, not only for the grave situation of his uncle but also because he thought that he would have to abandon those studies that had just begun. But he decided not to leave them so soon and sent a letter to his uncle, in response to the one he had received.
"After three or four days, other men arrived on foot with a letter to the dean informing him of the death of his uncle the archbishop and the meeting they were holding in the cathedral to find him a successor, which everyone believed that it would be him with the help of God; and for this reason he should not go to church, because it would be better if he were elected archbishop while he was away from the diocese that does not appear in the cathedral.
"And after seven or eight days, two very well-dressed squires came with weapons and horses, and when they arrived at the dean they kissed his hand and showed him the letters where they told him he had been elected archbishop. Upon learning, Don Illán addressed the new archbishop and told him that he was very grateful to God that this news had reached him at home and that, because God had granted him such high dignity, he begged him to grant his vacant Dean to a son of his. The new archbishop asked Don Illán to allow him to grant the deanazgo to a brother of his, promising that he would give another charge to his son. That is why he asked Don Illán to go with his son to Santiago. Don Illán said he would do it that way.

"So they went to Santiago, where they received them with great pomp and solemnity. When they lived there for some time, one day they sent the Pope with a letter to the archbishop in which he granted the bishopric of Toulouse and also authorized him to leave his archbishopric to whomever he wished. When Don Illán learned, throwing in his face the oblivion of his promises, he asked her to give it to his son,
but the archbishop begged him to consent to grant it to an uncle of his, brother of his father. Don Illán replied that, although it was unjust, he submitted to his will as long as he promised him another dignity. The archbishop once again promised him that it would be so and asked him and his son to accompany him to Toulouse.
"When they arrived in Tolosa they were very well received by the counts and by the nobility of that land. They spent two years there, at the end of which came messengers of the pope with letters in which he named him cardinal and told him that he could leave the bishopric of Tolosa whom he wanted. Then Don Illán turned to him and told him that, as he had so often failed to keep his promises, he should no longer make excuses to give that vacant place to his son. But the cardinal begged him to consent that another uncle of his, a very honorable old man and brother of his mother, should be the new bishop; and, since he was already a cardinal, he asked him to accompany him to Rome, where he could well favor him. Don Illán complained a lot, but agreed to the request of the new cardinal and left with him to the Roman court.
"When they arrived there, they were very well received by the cardinals and the entire city, where they lived for a long time. But Don Illán continued to pray almost daily to the cardinal to give some ecclesiastical benefit to his son, which the cardinal excused.
"The pope died and all the cardinals elected as new Pope this cardinal of whom I speak. Then, Don Illán went to the pope and told him that he could no longer make excuses to fulfill what he had promised so long ago, the Pope telling him not to urge him so much because there would always be time and way to favor him. Don Illán began to complain bitterly, also reminding him of the promises he had made and that he had never fulfilled, and also told him that he had already expected it from the first time they spoke; and that, because he had attained such high dignity and continued to grant no privilege, he could no longer expect any mercy from him. The Pope, when he heard Don Illán speak like that, got very angry and told him that, if he kept insisting, he would be imprisoned as a heretic and as a magician, because he knew he was the Pope, how everyone in Toledo considered him wise. Necromancer and who had practiced magic throughout his life.
When Don Illán saw what poor reward he received from the pope, despite what he had done, he said goodbye to him, that he did not even want to give him food for the road. Don Illán, then, told the pope that, since he had nothing to eat, he would have to take hold of the partridges he had ordered to roast the night he arrived, and so he called his maid and ordered him to roast the partridges.
"When Don Illán said this, the pope found himself in Toledo, as dean of Santiago, just as he was when he arrived there, his shame being so great that he did not know what to say to apologize. Don Illán looked at him and told him that he could leave, because he had already confirmed what he could expect from him, and that he would consider the partridges as a bad thing if he invited him to eat.

"And you, Mr. Count Lucanor, because you see that the person you have helped so much does not thank you, you should not strive for him or continue helping him, because you can expect the same treatment that Don Illán received from that dean of Santiago.

The count thought that this was good advice, he followed it and it went very well.

And as don Juan understood that the story was good, he sent it to this book and wrote the verses, which read:

The higher up the one whom you help, Less support will give you when you need it.

This phrase has great things:

first we must think that whenever they help us we should continue to have humility and never go unnoticed that friendly hand with which we have at the beginning, it really happens to me in many ways. When I help other people and they already have support then they forget about me, this story tells a spectacular story the whole book with its fifty-one stories is elaborated for anyone who has and does not want to read, I prepare for life with Juan Manuel and his verses.

@karchady