little Orlando for your sake 'T is true I should not with one single Stroak of my Sword fell so many thumping Trees or commit so many Ravages as my Brother Hero in Ariosto My Follies should give more Diversion than his tho' they were nothing near so Terrible and perhaps they would not excite less Compassion You see Madam I have made use of the Permission your Majesty gave me as being a Gallant of no Consequence to be that for the greatest Queen that ever was which this Romantick Blusterer was for a Queen that was never in being 'T was well your Majesty gave me this Permission for otherwise I might have taken it and by refusing it you might have seen your self Dis-obey'd by one who would not do it upon any other Occasion tho' it cost him his Life Setting aside Majesty you are Madam one of the most Admirable Women in the Universe Whereever you go your Eyes make you more Subjects than a great Kingdom gave you and as they do of themselves all those Miracles we have seen them do without your taking any Pains to Teach them we must be forc'd to own they are the Finest and most Charming Eyes in the World but withal the most Dangerous Thus I behold nothing but Rivals in all the Persons that come to see me and I behold no fewer Rivals among the Ladies which is none of the least Miracles your Majesty has perform'd I mean your makinâ— them so Just to you who are naturally Envious to the 〈◊〉 their Sex I should fear Madam that I took too much 〈◊〉 with your Majesty if you did not know better than â—y one that a great deal of Icarus and Ixion enters into the Composition of a Poet and that the History of these two rash Adventurers tho' by the by their end is not very much for the Advantage of these Traders in Immortality is of all Fables that which pleases them most and is of the greatest use to them There is not a Poet to be found who would not prefer the Reputation of being a Modern Ixion to that of turning a Stanza handsomely and a happy Boldness for so they are pleas'd to Christen their Love of Contemplation to the Laurel or Mony or both together But Madam perhaps I begin to abuse the Command your Majesty laid upon me to write to you if I have not already abused it I beseech you therefore that if you think fit to continue this Honour to me you would let me know how far my Letters may be privileged with you that they may never go beyond the Respect I owe you I am Your most humble most obedient and most dutiful Servant Scarron To the Countess de Brienne Paris August 7. 1657. Madam YOU had the Curiosity to see me as well as the Queen of Sweden you ought therefore like her to give me leave to be in love with you and allow me the Honour of a Passion which now perhaps no longer depends upon your consent If you are of opinion that I ask more than you ought to grant me or that I undertake more than I am able to perform I will content my self with being one of your Friends and conceal the Lover from you Unless you think fit to allow me this Favour you must e'en discard me your Service which will be a severe Mortification to me for I have a furious desire to please you with all my Might After so frank a Declaration you may very well imagine that I would not deceive you for all the World I will therefore honestly acquaint you with all the good and ill Qualities of the Person who is resolv'd to devote himself to you while he lives His Body in truth is somewhat ill-shap'd and out of sorâ—s as you could not but observe when you saw him and Women with Child are forbidden to make him any Visits As for his Soul he is so well satisfy'd with it that he would not exchange it with any but yours When he is in love he loves with so much violence that he is sometimes asham'd of himself for it and since all must out although he is nicely punctual in discharging the Offices of Friendship yet he is a little remiss in writing to his Friends But then he speaks well of them upon all Occasions with a sort of Fury too and sometimes so much as to tire his Hearers and when he is oblig'd to espouse a Man's part whom he pretends to love a Lyon and he are one and the same thing If you like me after this Description I am entirely at your Service Thus expecting that you 'll pronounce either my good or bad Destiny I am and always shall be after what rate soever you think fit to treat me Your Languishing Ladyship 's most Passionate Admirer Scarron LETTER VII To the Countess de Brienne Paris Aug. 8. 1657. Madam IT was in your Power I own it to chuse whether you would receive a Declaration of Love from your humble Servant but as it was not in your Power to hinder him from being so bold and presumptuous as to make one allow me to doubt whether you have rejected it till such time as you absolutely Command me to believe the contrary If you a Common Beauty were One Frown might make your Slave forbear But Madam who can you behold Made of Nature's richest Mould A Nymph so Charming who can see And not with Love transported be And when with his resistless Dart The little God has pierc'd the Heart What Mortal can conceal the smart No the poor Wretch is forc'd to show it By sad Experience I know it Come let us go to Confession Madam and honestly own that neither of us were so sincere as we ought to have been in the first Letters we writ to one another and that if it is impossible not to speak to you of Love being so Beautiful as you are 't is no less so for me who pretend to an indifferent Judgment to content my self with only being one of your Friends as I intimated to you in my last If the Conclusion of your Letter is as sincere as the Beginning of it is otherwise the good Opinion you promise to have of me will produce tragical Effects at Court and you will see hundreds of Pretenders there cripple themselves and all to rival me For my part I can't help it if they do and tho' I shall strive by the Violence of my Passion to deserve what your natural Goodness permits me to hope yet I shall not be so love-sick neither as to attempt to please you at the Loss of my Understanding LETTER XVII To the Count de Vivonne June 12. 1660. IN vain my Lord you post it away And kill your Brace of Steeds a day And o're the dusty Plains come pouring Like Husband for a Midwife scouring Or Winds the Clouds before them driving Or Parson scamp'ring for a Living You 'll come too late to see that * The Marriage of Lewis XIV of
Dancers mov'd awkwardly in Courants and many young Citizens trip'd it about in Holland Drawers and wax'd Slippers Madam Star and Madam Angelica fired the Hearts of most of the young Men that saw them and raised Envy in the greatest part of the Women Iuezilla who danced a Saraband at the request of the Players was admir'd and Roquebrune was just ready to die with Love at the sight of it Ragotin likewise confess'd to Rancour that if he did not quickly bring him into Favour with Star France would soon have reason to lament the loss of him Rancour presently gave him hopes and as a more particular Testimony of his Friendship than ordinary desired of him to lend him twenty or thirty Francs Ragotin turn'd pale at this surprizing request and not only repented of but was also ready to renounce his Love However at length that domineering Passion prevailing in him he made up the Sum demanded of different kinds of Money and out of several Pockets and gave them with a sorrowful Countenance to Rancour who engag'd at the same time that in less than twenty four Hours he should be sure to hear himself talk'd of That Day was Acted Sir Noisy Parrot a Play as merry as he that writ it had cause to be sad The Audience was numerous the Comedy indifferently well Play'd and every body was well enough pleas'd execpt the unfortunate Ragotin He through some occasion or other came to the House late and therefore must crowd in where he could get a seat His ill Fortune had placed him just behind a Country Gentleman of the largest size who had a great loose Coat on which not a little encreased his bulk Besides his spreading Haunches Chine and Shoulders he was of a Stature so much taller than other Men that altho' he sat down Ragotin who was but one row off him thought he stood a tip-toe and therefore cry'd out incessantly to him to sit down like the rest not believing that one who sat on the same Bench could be so much taller than any of his Companions The Gentleman whose name was la Baguenodiere knew not for some time that Ragotin had spoke to him till at length being called by the title of the Gentleman with the Green Feather whereof indeed he had a very flaunting one in his Hat but that none of the cleanest nor finest he turned his Head about and saw the little Impertinent who thereupon bid him somewhat roughly to sit down This nevertheless la Baguenodiere was so little moved at that he turned his Face again very gravely towards the Stage as if nothing had been said to him hereat Ragotin began to call to him again to sit down but which he took as little notice of as before only turning about and looking upon him and then returning to his former posture This at last so vex'd Ragotin that he bawled out to him again a third time which notwithstanding la Baguenodiere regarded as little as formerly During all the time the Play lasted Ragotin still treated him after the like manner in great Fury and la Baguenodiere as often look'd upon him with the same unconcern without speaking a Word to him which was sufficient to have enflam'd the most Phlegmatick Man in the World One might have compar'd la Baguenodiere in this Adventure to a large Mastiff and Ragotin to a little Cur that runs barking at him by his side which provokes the great Dog so little that in contempt of him he only steps aside and lifting up his Leg pisses against the Wall At lenght the whole Company began to take notice of what had passed between the largest and the least Man among them and every one presum'd to smile at it just at the time that Ragotin began to Swear and rave through Impatience while la Baguenodiere returned him only a cold and indifferent Glance This Baguenodiere was at the same time the largest Man and the greatest Brute in the World I should have said Clown He demanded with his accustom'd Gravity of the two Gentlemen that sat next to him what they laughed at to which they instantly reply'd very ingenuously that it was at him and Ragotin whereby it seems they thought rather to have tickled than displeas'd him However it so happen'd that it disgusted him and made him to reply in a great rage Then you are a couple of Sots which Affront he cast in their Teeth with so great Indignation and such a sower look that they presently perceiv'd he was piqu'd and therefore thought themselves obliged in requital for his Compliment to give him each of them a good sound Box o' th Ear. La Baguenodiere hereupon having his Arms hamper'd in his Coat could do nothing to them again at first but hunch them to and fro with his Elbows which the two Gentlemen that were Brothers and naturally very brisk taking the advantage of before he could well disengage himself gave him half a dozen more swinging cuffs on the Chaps which they happen'd to deliver with such an equal Measure of Time that those who heard the sound without seeing the Blows given thought verily they had been so many singly Claps At last Baguenodiere got his Arms free from under his cumbersom Coat but being so close press'd by the two active Brothers who box'd him most unmercifully all the while he had not room to move those carnal Weapons of his in He found himself therefore oblig'd to retreat which going to do forwards Pardon the Incongruity of the Expression his Enemies having secured him behind and on either side he chanc'd to fall on a Man below him and by the weight of his Body tumbled both him and his Seat down upon the unfortunate Ragotin who I should have told you not finding himself able to prevail with the Country Gentleman to let him see over him had got a seat a little under him who was thereby forced down upon another that beat him backwards upon another and so onwards to the last Man or Woman no matter which that sat below whereby all these Tumblers in this condition look'd just like so many Ninepins that had been dextrously tip'd by a skilful touch of one The noise of the Persons tumbling the crush'd Legs the frighted Maids the crying Children the babling Women and in a Word of those that laughed of others that lamented and lastly of such as either clap'd their Hands or hissed made such a confuss'd din as one would have thought could have happen'd no where but at the Valley of Iehosaphat Never did such a trifling cause occasion so many great Accidents before but that in my opinion which was the most wonderful was that there happen'd not to be one Sword drawn tho' the Scuffle first began among those that wore them and whereof there were above a Hundred in the Company I was equally surpriz'd at Baguenodieres stupidness who could Cuff and be Cuffed and receive Assaults and make them as if he had been about the most indifferent thing in
to the Bully but to tell you the truth 't was that of the most sneaking kind All these noble Talents added to a little Eloquence his Memory had furnish'd him with from his Master 's Table-talk made him to be the Idol if I may so speak of all those Servant Maids that had best Opinions of themselves Don Diego commanded him to cast an Ogle or two upon Isabella a young Wench that waited on the two Ladies Dorothea and Feliciana de Montsalva He forthwith obey'd his Master's Commands and Isabella was almost assoon caught in the Trap as it was set for her believing her self not a little happy to be belov'd by Gusman whom she in a short time lov'd again as he in a little while after did her really tho' his first Intentions were only to impose on her by his Master's Orders and for his ends As the Love of Gusman was a thing much coveted amongst the Servant Maids of that City so was Isabella's Fortune as great as the most ambitious Valet de Chambre could expect to be raised to She was very well beloved by her Mistrisses from whom she received many Favours and was besides in expectation of a Fortune to be given her by her Father an honest Tradesman Gusman then thinking seriously on the matter resolv'd to be her Husband as she on her part did to be his Wife and therefore having only taken one anothers Words they lived together as such Isabella was not a little displeased to observe than Mariana the Surgeons Wife at whose House Dorothea and Doâ— Sancho had their private Meetings still continued to be their Confidente in a Business whence she knew must come a great deal of Profit to her She had found out the Gold Chain which Sancho had given her and besides discover'd many other Presents he had made her and moreover imagin'd that then might have been several more which she knew nothing ofâ—â—â— This caused her to hate Mariana to Death and which inclineâ—â— me to believe that this young Lass was not a little Meâ—â—â—â—nary It is no wonder then if at the first request her deaâ— Gusman made her to tell him truly whether her Mistriss Dorothea were in Love or not she confest the whole secret to hiâ— on whom she had bestow'd her Heart She inform'd him therefore of as much as she knew of the Intrigue between the two Lovers and concluded all with railing at Mariana for deprâ—â—ing her of her Vails which she said was due to her as Servant of the House Gusman desired of her farther to let him know the Day and Hour when the Lovers were next to meet which she soon after did and he consequently acquainted his Master with not only that but likewise with all the rest that he had learned from the treacherous Isabella Don Diego hereupon habited himself like a Beggar and taking his Post just at Mariana's Door the Night that his Man had inform'd him the Rendesvouz was to be he saw his Rival enter there and some time after a Coach stopping before Dorothea's Cousin's House he observ'd both his Mistriss and her Sister to come out thereof and go in there which you may imagine left him in no small rage well knowing what secret Communication there was between the two Houses He Plotted therefore from that very Minute to rid himself of so formidable a Rival as Don Sancho might prove The surest way to take him off he thought was by Assassins and consequently forthwith hir'd two for that end With these he watched for him divers Nights together and at last met him and set on him with the assistance of his two Bullies both like himself well Arm'd Don Sancho no sooner perceiv'd their Intentions than he put himself in a posture of Defence being also indifferently well provided for that purpose for over and above his Sword and Ponyard he had two Pistols ready charg'd and stuck in his Girdle Don Diego was more forward to engage than his Companions who were only led to it by the thoughts of Gain Don Sancho at first gave Ground out of Policy till he had drawn his Assailants to a convenient distance from the House where Dorothea was But length fearing he might receive prejudice if he still continued on the Defensive part and perceiving Don Diego to press more vigorously than ordinary upon him he let fly one of his Pistols at him and brought him to the Ground half Dead but nevertheless crying out and bawling for a Priest as if he were Mad. At the bare hearing the report of a Pistol the Bullies immediately troop'd off Don Sancho retired to his Lodgings and the Neighbours coming out of their Houses to see what was the matter found the Wounded Man just expiring who nevertheless had so much Life left as to accuse Don Sancho of his Murther This our Cavaliere had soon notice of by means of his Friends who told him moreover that altho' the Law could not reach him yet would not Don Diego's Relations let his Death be unreveng'd but rather seek all opportunities to Murther him wherever they could meet him to Advantage Don Sancho hearing this thought it his best way to retire to a Convent where he knew he might be safe which he immediately did and from thence sent his dear Dorothea an account of his Safety ordering his Affairs so in the mean time that he might be be ready to leave Seville at the shortest warning Whilst matters past thus the Magistrates of the City were doing their best to find Don Sancho out but to no purpose After the heat of the Search was a little over and every body was of opinion that he was clear got off Dorothea and her Sister under pretence of Devotion were carried by their Cousin to the same Monastery whither Sancho was retir'd There the two Lovers had another Meeting in the Chappel where they mutually promised eternal Constancy and Fidelity to each other and at parting utter'd so many moving Expressions that Feliciana her Kinswoman and the good Monk that attended them wept exceedingly and which they were always afterwards enclinable to do whenever the remembrance of this Interview came into their Minds Don Sancho soon after got from Seville in Disguize leaving Letters behind him with his Fathers Factor to be transmitted to the Indies by the first opportunity By these Letters he gave his Father an account of what had befallen him and which had oblig'd him to leave Seville to retire to Naples for the saving of his Life He arrived there safe in a little time and was received very kindly by the Vice-Roy to whom he had the Honour to have formerly belong'd Notwithstanding the great Favours shew'd him he nevertheless led but an uneasie Life in Naples for above a Year or more and that because he had heard no News all that while of his dear Dorothea Some small time after the Vice-Roy equip'd six Gallies to go out a Cruizing after the Algerines Don Sancho's Courage would not suffer him to
such great hast that those who accompanied him had much adoe to keep pace with him He had no sooner given the usual Signal but his Invisible Deity communicated her self to him And they exchanged such soft and tender Expressions that I can't forbear weeping whenever I think on ' em At lastâ— the Lady told him she was lately Affronted in that House and had sent for a Coach in order to leave it but because it might be a long while a coming she desir'd him to send for his which might be sooner got ready and that she would carry him to a place where she would no longer conceal her Face from him The Spaniard needed no farther Intreaty but ran like a Mad-man to his Men whom he left at the end of the Street and sent for his Coach in all hast The Coach being come the Invisible Lady kept her Word and went into it with Don Carlos She directed the Coachman which way he should drive and bid him stop at a great House into which the Coach went by the light of several Flamboys which were lighted at their Arrival The Cavalier leading his Lady went up stairs to a very large Room where he was a little uneasie because she did not pull off her Mask At last several Gentlewomen being come to receive them each a Candlestick in their Hands the Lady was Invisible no longer and pulling off her Mask she let Don Carles see that the Lady at the Grated-Window and the Princess Porcia were but one Person I will not endeavour to describe the pleasant Surprize of the Spaniard The fair Neapolitan told him she had stollen him away a second time to know his last Resolution that the Lady at the Lattice had made over to her all her Pretensions and added a thousand Expressions no less obliging than ingenious Don Carlos threw himself at her Feet embrac'd her Kness and devour'd as one may say her Hands with Kisses By that means avoiding all the Impertinence and Nonsense which People generally speak when they are Transported with Joy The Raptures of his Passion being over he us'd all his Wit and Eloquence to extol the agreeable Caprice of his Mistress and exprest himself so well to her Advantage that he confirm'd her she was not mistaken in her Choice She told him she had been unwilling to trust any Body but her self in a thing without which she could never have lov'd him and that she would never have bestow'd her self upon a Man less constant than himself Thereupon the Princess Porcia's Relations came in having had notice given them of her Design And as they were the chief Men in the Kingdom they easily obtain'd a Dispensation from the Archbishop for their Marriage The same Night the Ceremony was perform'd by the Parson of the Parish who was an honest Priest and a good Preacher and so 't were needless to ask whether he made a fine Exhorration upon the Subject 'T is said they got up late the next day which I am inclin'd to believe The News was soon spread about at which the Viceroy a near Relation of Don Carlos was so overjoyd that the publick Rejoycings began anew in Naples where to this day they talk of Don Carlos of Arragon and of his Invisible Mistress CHAP. X. How Ragotin receiv'd a Blow with a Busk on the Fingens RAgotin's Story receiv'd a general Applause and he valued himself as much upon it as if it had been his own which swelling his natural Pride he begun to treat the Men-Players with Contempt and then accosting the Women he took their Hands without their consent and offer'd to feel their Breasts a piece of Country Gallantry which shews more a Satyr than a Gentleman Mistress Star contented her self to get her soft fair Hands from his dirty rough Clutches but Mistress Angelica her Companion gave him a smiling wrap on the Fingers with her Busk He left 'em abruptly without so much as speaking a word glowing with Rage and Confusion and return'd to the Man's Company where every one spoke as fast as he could without minding what the rest said Ragotin silenc'd most of 'em by asking 'em with a Superior Voice what they thought of his Novel A young Man whose Name I forgot answer'd him bluntly it was no more his than any Body 's else in the Company since he had it out of a Book Whereupon he pull'd one which stuck out of Ragotin's Pocket who scratch'd his Hands to get it from him but in spite of Ragotin he put it into another Man's Hands from whom Ragotin endeavour'd to snatch it to as little purpose the Book having got by this time into a third Man's Hands in the same manner it pass'd to five or six different Hands which Ragotin could not reach because he was the shortest Man in the Company At last having stretch'd himself five or six times in vain torn half a dozen Cuffs and scratch'd as many Hands and the Book still travelling about through the middle Region of the Chamber poor Ragotin who saw every Body laugh at his Expence rush'd like a Mad-man upon the first Author of his Confusion and dealt him several blows on his Belly and his Thighs not being able to reach higher The Hands of his Adversary who had the Advantage of the Place fell five or six times so perpendicular and so heavy on the top of his Head that the Crown of his Hat sunk down to his very Chin which so shook the seat of his Reason that the poor little Man did not know where he was To compleat his Defeat his Antagonist at parting gave him a sound kick on the Head which after a very sudden Retrogradation made him fall on his Breech at the Women-Players Feet Now if possible I would have you to imagine the Rage and Fury of a little Man more proud than all the Barbers in the Kingdom at a time when he was Cock-a-hoop about his Story and that too before Players to whom he design'd to make Love as you shall see anon though he was yet ignorant which of 'em had a greater Title to his Heart To speak the Truth his little Body thus tumbled on his Breech did so lively represent the Fury of his Soul by the different Motions of his Arms and Legs that tho' his Face could not be seen because his whole Head was enchas'd in his Hat yet all the Assistants thought fit to join together and make as it were a Barrier 'twixt Ragotin and his Adversary who by this means got away whilst the charitable Women-Players rais'd the poor little Man roaring like a Lion in his Hat which stopt his Eyes and his Mouth and hinder'd him from fetching his Breath Now the difficulty was how to pull off his Hat for its Crown being in form of a Butter-pot and the Mouth of it narrower than the Bottom God knows whether a Head that got it in by force and whose Nose was so very large was able to get out of it the same way
not been fully pleas'd All the Servants of the House stared with open Eyes upon their young Lady's Bridegroom and every one of the Family was over-joyed excepting poor Victoria whose Heart was opprest with Grief Don Ferdinand was charm'd with Elvira's Beauty and confest to his Cousin that she was still more Beautiful than her Picture His first Complements express a great deal of Wit and he very skilfully avoided those impertinent Fooleries and starch'd Nonsense most Men are guilty of in their first Addresses to a Father-in-Law and a Mistress Don Pedro de Sylva lockt himself up in a Closet with the two Kinsmen and a Lawyer to adjust somwhat that was left unfinished in the Articles In the mean time Elvira staid in her Chamber surrounded with her Women who all exprest their Joy at the good Mien and Noble Air of her Lover Only Victoria stood cold and silent whilst the rest were in their Raptures Elvira observed this and took her aside to tell her she admired she said nothing of the Happy Choice her Father had made of a Son-in-Law who seem'd so Deserving Adding that either out of Complaisance or Civility she ought at least to wish her Joy Madam replied Victoria your Lover's Mien speaks so much to his Advantage it were needless to add my Commendations The Coldness you have taken notice of does not proceed from any indifference and I were unworthy of the Favours you have vouchsafed me should I not share in every thing that concerns you and therefore I should be no less Transported with Joy at your Marriage than all the rest about you are were I not so well acquainted with the Gentleman you are to Wed. My own Husband was an Inhabitant of Sevil whose House was not far from your Lover's He is I confess of a good Family Rich Handsom and I do believe a Man of Wit In fine he is worthy of a Lady such as you are But withal you desire a Man's entire Affection which he cannot bestow on you because his Heart is divided I could wave a Discovery which may perhaps Displease you But I should be wanting to my Duty should I not Reveal all I know of Don Ferdinand in a Business which so nearly concerns the Happiness or Unhappiness of your whole Life Elvira was amaz'd at her Duegna's Words and intreated her not to defer any longer the clearing those Doubts she had started Victoria replied that it was neither to be done before her Women not in few Words Elvira pretended she had some Business of Privacy in her Chamber where Victoria as soon as they were alone told her That Ferdinand de Ribera was in Love at Sevil with one Lucretia de Monsalva a very Beautiful Lady tho' of a very mean Fortune by whom he had three Children upon promise of Marriage and that during Ribera's Father's Life it was kept very secret after whose Death Lucretia having claim'd his Promise he grew very indifferent whereupon she had left the Business to the Management of two Gentlewomen her Relations which made so much noise in Sevil that Don Ferdinand by his Friends persuasion absented himself for a time to shun the Rage of Lucretia's Kindred who sought for Blood and Revenge In this posture were his Affairs added she when I left Sevil which is about a Month agoe at which time it was also reported that Don Ferdinand was going to Madrid to be Married Elvira could not forbear asking whether that Lucretia were a greater Beauty Victoria told her she wanted nothing but a Fortune and so left her extream pensive and firmly resolv'd to give instantly her Father an account of the Discovery At the same Moment she was call'd to entertain her Lover the Business for which he retir'd into the Closet with her Father being concluded Elvira went to him whilst Victoria staid in the Withdrawing-Room where the same Fellow came to her that attended on him when she so generously receiv'd them into her House near Toledo This Servant brought a Packet of Letters for his Master which he had taken up at the Post-Office from Sevil and not knowing Victoria so much her Widows Weeds Disguis'd her he desired to be admitted to the speech of his Master to deliver him the Letters She told him it would be a good while before he could conveniently speak with him but if he durst trust her with she Packet she would be sure to give it him as soon as possibly she could get to him The Fellow made no scruple in the Case and having left the Packet in her Custody went about his Business Victoria who was resolv'd to leave no stone unturn'd goes up to her own Chamber opens the Packet and in a Moment sealâ— it up again together with a Letter of her own which she writ in hast In the mean time the two Kinsmen made an end of their Visit and took their Leave Elvira spying the Letters in her Governant's Hands ask'd what it was Victoria coldly answer'd that Don Ferdinand's Servant had left some Letters with her to deliver to his Master which she was going to send after him not being in the way when he went out Elvira said it would give 'em some further Light about the Discovery she had made This being what she desir'd Victoria breaks open the â—eal a second time Elvira lookt upon all the Letters and fixing her Eye upon one which seem'd to be writ by a Woman Addrest to Don Ferdinand de Ribera at Madrid she read these following Lines Your Absence and the News I hear of your Marriage at Court will soon deprive you of a Person that valued you above her own Life unless you suddenly return and â—â—ke good your Promise which you can neither defer any longer nor deny me without a manifest Indifference or Breach of Faith If what I hear be true that you regard your Vows and Promises so little which you have made both to me and our Children I advise you to take care of your Life which my Relations are resolv'd to take for your Treachery whenever you ungrateful Vsage shall prompt me to call upon 'em for my just Revenge since you enjoy it now only at my Request From Sevil. Lucretia de Monsalva Elvira having read this Letter was persuaded of the Truth of what her Governante had told her Moreover she shew'd it to her Father who could not but admire that a Gentleman of his Quality should be so base as to be Treacherous to a Lady of equal Birth with him after he had so many Children by her Thereupon he went to a Gentleman of Sevil for further Information being a Friend of his and one that had before given him an account of Ferdinand's Wealth and Circumstances He was scarce gone out of Doors when Don Ferdinand came to inquire for his Packet attended with his Servant who told him his Mistresse's Governante had promis'd to deliver them into his Hands He found Elvira alone in the Parlour and told her that though the Engagement
Don Pedro took him along with him and Don Ferdinand remain'd with Victoria who now had as much Reason to bless her good Fortune as she formerly had to curse it CHAP. XXIII An unexpected Misfortune which prevented the Acting of the Play INezilla recounted her Story with admirable Grace Roquâ—brune was so pleas'd with it that he caught up her Hand and kist it whether she would or no. She told him in Spanish That Great Men and Fools have the liberty to do any thing for which Rancour gave her Thanks in his Heart This Spanish Lady's Face began to break yet there were many fine Remains of her former Beauty to be seen But had she been less handsom her Wit made her to be preferr'd to a younger Person All those that heard the Story agreed in this that she had made it very entertaining in a Language she was but yet a Novice in being oftentimes oblig'd to intermix Spanish and Italian with it to express her Meaning Madam 〈◊〉 told her that instead of begging Excuse for putting her to the trouble of speaking so long she expected her Thanks for giving her so fair an Occcasion to shew her extraordinary Wit The rest of the Afternoon was spent in Conversation the Garden being full of Ladies and many Citizens of Note till Supper-time They supp'd after the way of Mans that is to say they made very good Chear which being over every one took their Places to see the Play But Madam Cave and her Daughter were missing They sent to seek them out and it was half an Hour before any Tidings came At last they heard a great noise without the Hall and presently after in comes Madam Cave with dishevelled Hair her Face bloody and bruis'd crying out like a distracted Creatute that her Daughter was stollen away Her Sobs and Sighs did so interrupt her Speech that it was a long time before she could make 'em understand how a couple of Strangers being through a Back-door got into the Garden where she and her Daughter were rehearsing their Parts one of 'em seiz'd upon her whose Eyes she 'd almost scratcht out of his Head seeing two others take away her Daughter by force the same Villain having put her into that sad Condition they saw and afterwards mounting on Horseback follow'd his Comrades one of whom held Angelica before him She told 'em likewise that she pursu'd 'em as far as she could crying out a Rape but finding no Body was within hearing she hasted back again to the House to beg their Assistance With these last words she shed such a Flood of Tears as mov'd all the Beholders with Pity Destiny got presently on the back of a Horse on which Rogatin was just Arriv'd from Mans but whether or no it was the same that threw him in the Morning I cannot justly tell Many other young Men mounted the Horses they could lay their Hands on and rode after Destiny who was got a good way before ' em Rancour and Olive march'd on Foot with their Swords in their Hands in the Rear of the Horse and Roquebrune staid with Star and Inezilla who were endeavouring to Comfort Cave as well as they could Some found fault with him for not going along with the rest ascribing it to want of Courage but others more favourable have commended his Discretion for staying with the Women In the mean time the Guests were reduc'd to change their Comedy for Dancing and having no Fidlers because they expected a Play they trip'd about by the singing of some of the Company Poor Cave found her self â—o Disorder'd that she went to Bed in one of their Dressing-Chambers Star took as much care of her as if she had been her own Mother and Inezilla was very Officious likewise The Indispos'd Woman desir'd they would leave her alone and so Roquebrune leads the two Ladies into the Hall where was the rest of the Company They were hardly set down but one of the House-Maids came and told Star that Cave desir'd to speak with her she promis'd the Poet and Spanish Lady to return immediately to â—â—em and went to Caveâ— 'T is probable that if Roquebrune had any Wit in him he made use of that Opportunity to acquaint the fair Inezilla with his Necessities However as soon as Cave saw Star she desir'd her to make the Door fast and come to her Bed-side Star having seated her self as she desir'd the first thing she did was to Weep afresh and then she laid hold of her Hands bathing 'em with her Tears and Groaning and Sobbing in a lamentable manner Star endeavour'd to comfort her giving her hopes her Daughter would soon be recover'd again her Ravishers being persued by so many People I wish she may never return said she Weeping still more and more I wish she might never be found repeated she again and that this were all my Grief But I must blame her most Nay I must have her and curse the hour I brought her into the World Look here I said she putting a Paper into Star's Hands Look and satisfie your self what a fine Companion you had and read in this Letter the Sentence of my Death and my Child's Infamy Cave sell a Weeping again and Star perus'd the following Note which you may read if you think fit You ought not to doubt the Truth of what I have often told youâ— of my Quality and Fortune since there is no probability that I should deceive a Person to whom I cannot Recommend my self but by my Sincerity This fair Angelica is the only way by which I can Merit your Favour And therefore you may safely promise to grant my Request which I cannot nor shall not desire to obtain till I have convinc'd 〈◊〉 of my Reality As soon as she had perus'd this Letter Cave ask'd her if she knew that Hand As well as my own replied Star It is Leâ—â—der's my Brother's Servant that writes all our Parts This is the Traytor that will break my Heart said the poor Woman see if he have not contriv'd it fairly added she giving another Letter of the same Leander's Writing into Madam Star's Hands which you may read as follows Word for Word It rests only in you to complâ—â—â— my Happiness by continuing in the same Resolution you were in two days since My Father's Tenant who is us'd to supply me with Money has sent me a hundred Pistols and a brace of good Horses which will be more than enough to carry us both into England and being there I am much deceiv'd if a Father who loves his only Son more than his own Life do not quickly condescend to all his desires to make him return again Well said Cave what think you now of your Companion and your Brother's Servant What think you of that Girl I had bred up with so much Care and that young Fellow whose Wit and Discretion we so often admired My greatest Wonder is that they were never observ'd to speak to one another and that my
two Ships in a Sea-fight but the Threats of Destiny and his Magisterial way of speaking brought about what the Curate's Exhortations could not perform and the two mortal Enemies let go their hold spitting half of their bloody Teeth out of their Mouths bleeding at their Noses and their Hands full of Hair both from their Head and Beard The Curate being an Honest Well-bred Man return'd Destiny Thanks very civilly Destiny to do him farther Pleasure caus'd those tvvo Persons to embrace in a very friendly manner who a moment before endeavour'd to strangle one another During the Reconcilement the Inn-keeper ended his obscure Life without giving notice of it to his Friends insomuch that when they entred his Room after the conclusion of the Peace they found there was no more to be done than to Bury him The Curate pray'd over the dead Body and did it very well for he was short His Vicar came to relieve him and in the mean time the Widow bethought her self to roar and cry which she did with a great deal of Ostentation and Vanity The Brother of the Deceased dissembled being sorrowful or was so indeed and the Men and Women-Servants perform'd theâ—â— Parts as well as he The Curate follow'd Destiny into hâ—â— Chamber offering to serve him to the utmost of his Power as well as Leander and in requital they Invited him 〈◊〉 eat a Bit with em Destiny who had eaten nothing yet a that Day and had used a great deal of Exercise fell to with a greedy Appetite Leander fed more upon amorous Thoughts than upon Victuals and the Curate talked more than he did eat He told them a Hundred pleasant Stories about the Avarice of the Deceased and acquainted 'em with the comical Quarrels which this reigning Passion had often caus'd him to have both with his Wife and his Neighbours Among the rest he related to them how he took once a Journey to Laval with his Wife Now as they came back the Horse that carried them both having lost two of his Shoes he left his Wife holding the Horse by the Bridle at the Foot of a Tree and went back as far as Laval to look for his Horse's Shoes but he got nothing but his Labour for his Pains whilst his Wife lost almost all Patience with waiting for him for they were come two Leagues from Laval and began to be in great Pain about him when she espyed him coming bare-foot with his Boots and Hose in his Hands She was not a little surpriz'd at this novelty but she durst not ask him the reason of it for by obeying his Officers in the Wars he had made himself capable to domineer at home Neither did she dare to contradict him when she was commanded to pull of her Stockins or so much as ask him why she did it only she thought 't was out of Devotion He caus'd his Wife to lead his Horse by the Bridle whilst he walk'd behind to drive him Thus the Man and the Wife without Shoes or Stockins and the unshod Horse after a tedious and troublesome March came home at last late in the Night all three very much tired both the Inn-keeper and his Wife with their Feet so gall'd and so sore that they could not Walk for almost a Fortnight after He never was more pleas'd with any thing he had done before and when ever he thought on 't he told his Wife laughing that if they had not come bare-Foot from Laval they had been at a great Expence for Shoes both for themselves and their Horse Destiny and Leander did not much take notice of the Story tho' the Curate told it as a good one either because they did not find it so pleasant as he said it was or because they were not then in Humour to laugh The Curate who was a great Talker was not contented with this but had still a mind to proceed to another and told Destiny that what they heard was nothing in comparison of what he had to tell 'em about the Inn-keepers preparing himself for Death 'T is now four or five Days continued he since he knew he was past recovery and yet he never was more sparing he grudged himself all the new-laid Eggs he cat during his Illness had a mind to know to a Farthing the charge of his Burial and even would have bated something of my Fees the Day I heard his Confession in short to end as he began two Hours before he died he order'd his Wife in my Hearing to bury him in an old Sheet which he knew was somewhere about the House and which had above a Hundred holes in it His Wife represented to him how undecent it would be for him to be Buried in it but he grew obstinate and would have no other His Wife could not find in her Heart to consent to it and because she saw him unable to beat her she maintain'd her Opinion with more assurance than she ever did without breaking in upon the Duty which an honest Wife owes her Husband whether he be cross or no. At last she askt how he could pretend to appear in the Valley of Iosaphat and in what pickle he would rise from the Dead The Sick Man fell into a Passion and swearing as he used to do when he was in Health Zounds cry'd he I never intend to rise again I had as much ado to forbear laughing as to make him understand that he had offended God by thus falling into a Passion and much more by what he had said to his Wife which was a piece of Prophaâ—â—◠〈◊〉 and Impiety He made an act of Contrition for it tho' something against the Grain and not without a Promise on our side that he should be Buried in no other Sheet but what he had pitch'd upon My Brother who burst out a laughing when he heard him so loudly and plainly renounce his Resurrection could not forbear laughing at it still as often as he thought on it again this the Brother of the deceas'd took exception at and from Words advancing to Blows my Brother and he both equally sturdy and Passionate had laid hold of one another and perhaps would be still cuffing and fighting if you had not parted them Thus the Curate made an end of his Relation having all the while addressed himself to Destiny because Leander did not give him much Attention He took his leave of the Strollers with repeated offers of Service and Destiny endeavoured to adminster some drops of Comfort to the afflicted Leander and bid him hope the best As bruised as the poor Youth was he now and then lookt out at the Window to see if his Man came as if his looking would make him come the sooner But when People wait with Impatience for any Body the wisest Men are foolish enough to look towards the Place from whence they expect him which Reflection shall be the close of my Sixth Chapter CHAP. VII Ragotin's Panick Fear attended with Disasters the Adventure of the
the Quarrel and so all parted upon even Terms But wild Discord with her hissing Snakes instead of Hair had not yet compleated all the Mischief she design'd to do in that House for now there was heard in the upper Room such Roaring as little differs from that of a Hog when he is going to be killed and yet he that roared at this rate was no other than Ragotin The Curate the Strollers and several others ran to him and found him sunk up to the Neck into a great Wooden-chest where the Hostess kept her Linnen and what was yet more grievous to the poor entrapp'd Ragotin the Lid of the Trunk which was thick and heavy was fallen upon his Legs and squeez'd 'em so that it griev'd ones Heart to see it A lusty Chamber-Maid who stood near the Trunk when they entred the Room and look'd very much concern'd was suspected of having put Ragotin in so ill a Place This was the Truth of the business and she was so proud of what she had done that whilst she was making one of the Beds she did not vouchsafe to mind how they could get Ragotin out of the Trunk nor so much as answer those who ask'd her the occasion of the Noise they heard In the mean time the little Man was got out of his Trap and had no sooner the use of his Feet but he ran to his Sword They hindred him from laying hold of it but could not keep him from closing with the tall Maid whom he could not hinder from giving him such a fierce Blow on the Pate that all the vast Seat of his narrow Reason was shaken with it This made him start three Steps backward but it had been but a Spring towards a Leap had not Olive held him by the Breeches as he was going to shoot like a Serpent against his dreadful Adversary The Effort he made tho' to no purpose was so violent that the Waste-band of his Breeches was broken as was likewise the Silence of the Company who all fell a Laughing The Curate forgot his Gravity and the Inn-keepers Brother his Affliction Ragotin alone was not dispos'd to Laugh and turned his Anger against Olive who being offended at it truss'd him up and carried him Brandishing his Legs on the Bed which the Maid was making where with the Strength of a Hercules he pull'd down his Breeches whose Waste-band was already broken and then lifting up his Hands and letting them fall quick and amain on his Thighs and Places adjacent in the twinkling of an Eye made them look as red as Scarlet Bold Ragotin flung himself with great Courage from the Bed on the Ground but this venturous Action was not attended with the success it deserv'd His Foot got into a Chamber-pot which to his great Misfortune was left â—n the Bed-side and went in so deep that not being able to get it out by the help of the other Foot he durst not step from the Bed-side where he was for fear of making yet more Sport for the Company and bringing their Raillery upon him which he bore more impatiently than any Man Every body wonder'd to see him so quiet after so great an Emotion Rancour suspected there was something more than ordinary and having caus'd him to come out from the Bed-side half willing half not all the Company perceiv'd where the Shoe wrung him and no body could forbear Laughing at the Pewter-Foot our Dwarf had made to himself We shall leave him treading the Metal with Pride and Contempt that we may go and Welcome a new Company which came at the same time into the Inn. CHAP. VIII What became of Ragotin's Foot HAD Ragotin by his own Strength and without the help of his Friends been able to unpot his Foot I mean to get out of that scurvy Pot it had so unluckily got into his Anger would have lasted at least all the remainder of the Day But he was fain to abate somewhat of his natural Pride and be submissive humbly beseeching Destiny and Ranrcur to procure the Liberty of his Foot right or left for it never came to my Knowledge which of the two it was He did not address himself to Olive because of what past betwixt 'em But nevertheless Olive came to his Aid without entreaty and both his Comrades and he us'd their endeavours to relieve him The repeated Efforts the little Man made to get his Foot out of the Pot had caus'd it to swell and those which Destiny and Olive us'd swell'd it yet a great deal more Rancour put his Hand to it first of all but so aukwardly or rather maliciously that Ragotin thought he had a mind to make him Lame for ever He desir'd him very earnestly to let it alone as also his Comrades and laid himself down upon a Bed till the Smith they had sent for came to File the Pot off his Foot The remaining part of the Day past pretty quietly in the Inn tho' somewhat melancholily letwixt Destiny and Leander the one being very much in Pain about his Man who did not come to bring him News of his Mistriss according to Promise and the other not finding it in his Heart to be merry without his dear Mistriss Star and besides he was concern'd at the Rape of Angelica and pityed poor Leander in whose Face he saw all the Marks of deep Affliction Rancour and Olive soon made a Match with some of the Inhabitants of the Village who were at Bowls and Ragotin the Operation on his Foot being over compos'd himself to rest whether he was really sleepy or because he was asham'd to appear in publick after his unlucky Adventures The Corps of the Inn-keeper was carried to his long home and mine Hostess notwithstanding the pious Thoughts which her Husband's Death ought to have suggested to her exacted upon two English Men who went from Brittany to Paris with as much Barbarity as if she had been a Dutch-Inn-keeper The Sun was just now set when Destiny and Leander who could not stir from their Window espyed a Coach with four Horses attended by three Men on Horseback and four Foot-men Soon after a Maid came to desire 'em to resign their Chamber to the new Company and so Ragotin was oblig'd to shew himself altho' he had a mind to keep his Chamber and follow'd Destiny and Leander into that where the Day before he fancied he had seen Rancour die Destiny was known in the Kitchen by one of the Gentlemen of the Coach who was the same Counsellor of the Parliament of Rennes with whom he got acquainted at the Wedding so fatal to poor Cave This Briton Senator enquir'd of Destiny about Angelica and exprest a concern that she was not found His Name was la Garouffiere which makes me believe he was rather Angevin than Briton for we see as few Briton Names begin with Gar as we see many Angevin ones ending in lere Norman in Ville Picard in Cour and of the People living near the River Garonne
found my self very far from deserving her Favour answer'd Don Sancho I never troubled my self to enquire into the good Fortune of others Why should you not think your self as deserving as another demanded Dorothea Womens Humours are for the most part unaccountable added she and it often happens that the first Assault of a Stranger has better success with them than the continued Siege of a constant Votary You have got a very pretty way to get rid of me quoth Don Sancho for I plainly perceive by your Discourse that the Services of a new comer would not at all be acceptable to you in the prejudice of some more happy Person you have long been engag'd to Don't let that enter into your Head reply'd Dorothea but believe rather that I am not so easie as to be cajolled with the bare pretence of a Passion from one that never saw me in his Life If that be only wanting Madam to compleat my Happiness reply'd Don Sancho conceal your self no longer from a Stranger that has been already so charmed with your Wit You would not be so much with my Face answer'd Dorothea if you saw it Ah! you cannot chuse but be most lovely reply'd Don Sancho since you so freely Confess that you are not so nay now I have greater cause than ever to believe that you are weary of my Company since either that I seem troublesom or because every corner of your Heart has been already taken up by others It were unjust therefore continued he that your goodness should be any longer trespassed upon by my Boldness and which I had discontinu'd before had not I had a mind to convince you that I had more honourable Designs when I made you the faithful tenders of my Life and Freedom than to make you my Pastime and Diversion And to shew you reply'd Dorothea that I do not think that time lost which I have spent in hearing you I will be contented to continue with you so much longer as may suffice to let me know who you are It cannot be my Crime then to satisfie you answer'd Don Sancho and therefore I shall proceed to do it Know then most aimable and unknown Lady added he that my name is Sylva which I had from my Mother that my Father is Governour of Quitto in Peru that I am Travelling this way by his Orders and that I have before spent some part of my Life in Flanders where I have by Services attained to the chiefest Commands in the Army and lastly had confirm'd upon me a Commandery of the Order of St. Iago This in few Words continued he is a faithful account of what I am but what I would be all my Life long rests only in your Power to give me leave to express in a place less publick than this That shall be assoon as possibly reply'd Dorothea But in the mean time to prevent your Desires of knowing more of me at present unless you mean to run the hazard of not knowing me at all know that I am of Quality and that my Face not so homely as to frighten you This said Don Sancho took his leave with a most profound Bow and went up to a Company of Gentlemen that were then discoursing together in a knot Some sullen Ladies now who are ever censuring others Conducts and Magnifying their own who take upon themselves the Arbitration of what is good or ill tho one might lay odds in a Wager on their Virtues as not easy to be made appear and who fancy that for a little brutish Coyness and pretended religious Squeamishness they have a title to Supererogation in point of Honour tho◠the wantonness of their past Youth hath left mor Scandal than ever their crabbed Wrinkles will be able to give good Examples These Mumping Madams I say so short sighted is to their own Faults will perhaps be apt to affirm that Madam Dorothea had too Indiscreetly manag'd herself in the late Rencounter and that not only in receiving Addresses so kindly from a Person she never saw before but likewise in suffering him to make Love to her at all and farther that if any young Lady whom they had the Government of should have done as much she should not have long continued above Ground But let these Novice-Ladies learn from me that every Country has its peculiar Customs and Manners and that tho' in England and France where the Women and Maids walk about at Liberty they are or ought to be offended at the least declaration of Love made them by a stranger yet in Spain it is quite otherwise for there the Women being all Cloyster'd up like Nuns are glad of every occasion of Loves being tendred them altho' it were from one that had not the least thing worthy of them in him Nay the Women there go farther for they commonly make the first Overtures and are first taken by reason that they are last to be seen having only an opportunity to see the Men through their Veils and that only at Church in the Walks from their Balconies or through their Grates Dorothea made her Sister Feliciana acquainted with the Conversation she had with Don Sancho and moreover frankly owned to her as her Confidente that she thought him the most agreeable Cavalier in all Seville Her Sister very much approved of her Design upon his Liberty The two fair Ladies entertained each other for some time on the Advantages and Privileges that Men had above Women They urged that Women were never to be married but at the pleasure of their Parents which did not always suit with their Inclinations when Men were at Liberty to pick and chuse where they pleased and marry when they pleased As for my part said Dorothea to her Sister Love shall never make me◠do any thing contrary to my Duty and I am resolv'd continued she never to marry any Man but who shall singly posse◠all those good Qualities which are only to be found dispers'd among divers others and added she farther I would rather chuse to be shut up in a Convent than to marry a Man I could not like Feliciana told her that was her Resolution too and they both together confirm'd each other in their Opinions with all the reasoning that their Ingenuity could furnish them 〈◊〉 Dorothea found it a little difficult to perform her promise 〈◊〉 Don Sancho which she had given him to make her-self know to him and consequently acquainted her Sister with the 〈◊〉 plexity she was in But Feliciana who was happy in findi◠out expedients put her Sister in mind of a Lady that was Relation of theirs and more than that an intimate Friend all Relations are not so who she was certain would serve her faithfully in any Affair that concern'd her Happiness so much as this did You know says this good Sister to her that Mariana who has been a long while Serviceable to us is married to a Surgeon and lives in a House belonging to our Kinswoman and adjoining
Lys to distinguish her from her elder Sister who bore the Name of the Family The reason of her troubling me she said was because her Writing-Master had been newly gone and tho' there were several others in the Town yet none would teach abroad and truly she thought her Daughters quality too great to go to School She excused her self very much for this Liberty she had taken but withall intimated to my Mother that this Familiarity might end in something more important meaning a Marriage which was soon after agreed on privately between my Mother and her My Mother had no sooner proposed this Employment to me but I readily accepted it and went immediately after Dinner to wait on my Schollar finding a secret Spring within that moved me more than ordinary tho' I knew not at that time what it was I had not been above eight Days in this Exercise but the young Lady my Scholar who was much handsomer than her Sister began to be very Familiar with me and call'd me in Raillery her little Master It was then that I began to find something in my Heart that I had been but little acquainted with before and the young Lady for ought I could perceive by her felt the same We were from that time inseparable and were never so well pleased as when we were left alone together which happen'd not seldom This sort of Conversation lasted about six Months before we declar'd the Sentiments of our Hearts but nevertheless our Eyes spoke sufficiently all the while One Day I had a mind to try to make a Copy of Verses in her Praise to see how she would receive them but having never made an attempt of that Nature before I was affraid I should not succeed Notwithstanding I immediately set my self about reading the best Romance-Writers and Poets I could find having rejected those of the Melesines Robert the Devil Aymons Four Sons the fair Maguelonne Iohn of Paris c. which are trifling Compositions and only fit for Children to read At last looking by Chance into Marot's Works I met with a Roundelay very proper for my purpose This I immediately Transcribed Word for Word and which is as follows A Roundelay YOur Face and Tongue so charming prove That I both gaze and hear And whilst your Looks invite to Love Your Chains am glad to wear But since you make of me a Slave And use me at your Pleasure Why may not I my Mistress have to Occupy my leisure I gave her these Verses which she read with a great deal of Pleasure as I could perceive by her Countenance After having read them she thrust them into her Bosom whence they not long after fell upon the Ground and were taken up by her elder Sister contrary to her Knowledge but which she aftervvards came to knovv by means of a Lackey She thereupon ask'd her Sister for them and perceiving she made some difficulty to let her have them she flevv into a great Passion and vvent and complained to her Mother vvho forthvvith order'd her Sister to give them her vvhich she presently did This sort of proceeding gave me a great deal of hopes vvhen a serious Reflection on my Condition made me to despair again Novv vvhilst vve thus pleased each other vvith our Fancies my Father and Mother being pretty vvell advanc'd in Years determin'd to marry me and one Day made me acquainted vvith their Intentions My Mother discover'd to my Father the Project she had laid with Madam du Fresne but he being a Man of more Sense than ordinary absolutely rejected it saying that that young Ladies Quality was too great for me and besides that she had too little Money to support it well knowing that she would expect to be maintained according to it But as I was the only Son of my Father who was tolerably Rich as likewise Heir to an Uncle who had no Children by the Custom of Normandy many Families look'd upon me as worthy of their Alliance and consequently made me stand Godfather to divers Children with several young Ladies of the best Quality in our Neighbourhood those being the common means to promote Marriages which nevertheless had no effect upon me having been before entirely devoted to my dear du Lys. I was notwithstanding so continually Persecuted by my Parents to Marry some other that to avoid their Importunities I resolv'd to go to the Wars altho' I was not then above 16 or 17 Years of Age. New Levies being made in this City to go to Denmark under the Command of the Count of Montgomery I Listed my self privately with three others younger Brothers my Neighbours We set out in pretty good Equipage and my Father and Mother were so extremely concern'd that the latter was almost like to die with Grief How du Lys bore my so sudden Departure I could not tell as then but which I understood afterwards from her self We Embark'd at Havre-de Grace and Sail'd very successfully till we came within sight of the Sound but then arose so furious a Tempest that the like was scarce ever known before Our Ships were soon separated from each other and that which I was in Commanded by the Count himself was driven very luckily to the Mouth of the Thames where by the help of a Reflux we quickly got up to London the Capital City of England There we staid about 6 Weeks during which time I had opportunity to survey the Rarities of that superbe City and above all the shining Court of its King who was then Charles I. of that Name The Count of Montgomery returned afterwards to his Seat Port-Orson in Normandy whither I did not care to go and therefore desir'd of him to permit me to go for Paris which he did I Embark'd then on board a Vessel bound for Roan where I not long after arriv'd safe and from thence went in a Boat up to Paris There met with a near Kinsman of mine who was the King's Wax-Chandler â— beg'd of him to make use of his Interest to get me into â— the Guards He promis'd he would and did it but he was â— fain to be my Surety for at that time none was to be admitted without one I was receiv'd into Monsieur de â— Rauderies Company My Cousen lent me Money to Equiâ— my self for in my Sea-voyage I had spoiled all my Cloathâ— I thus became equal to many Cadets of good Familys whâ— carryed Maskets as well as I. About that time the Priâ—ces and great Lords of France rise against their King and amongst them Monsieur the Duke of Orleans but his Majesty thro' the Policy of the Great Cardinal Richelieu brokâ— all their Measures but that not without taking a Journey 〈◊〉 to Britany with a gallant Army We arriv'd at Nantâ— where the first Person made an Example of was the Counâ— of Calais who had his Head struck off there This rais'd a Terrour in all the others insomuch that they su'd to his Majesty for Peace which being granted them the
King return'd to Paris In our way we stopt at Mans where my Father came to see me old as he was having been before acquainted by my Cousen that I was in the King's Guards and beg'd of my Captain to Discharge me which he with some difficulty or rather for some consideration did We then return'd to this City where it was agreed that the only way to keep me at home was to Marry me A Surgeon's Wife that was Neighbour to a Cousen German of mine hearing this brought along with her the Under-Baily's Daughter of a Town about three Leagues off under pretence of Devotion being Lent-time but her true Reason was to intrap me if possible Having seen her but once I was desir'd to do it again at my Cousen's House which I did and after about an Hours Conversation with her she went her way when all the Company told me that she was a Mistriss for me to which I bluntly reply'd that I did not like her My reason was not because she was not Rich and Handsome being both in Perfection but because all the Beauty in the World could have no power upon me as long as my dear du Lys was in my Thoughts I had an Uncle my Mothers Brother of a severe Temper who coming one Night to our House after having rally'd me extremely for the slights I had put upon the Under-Baily's Daughter told me I must resolve to go and Visit her at her own House in the Easter Holy-days there being those of a much greater Quality than I who would be proud of such a Match I answer'd neither one way nor other but when the Holy-days came I was forc'd to go thither with my said Cousen the Surgeon's Wife and a Son of hers When we came we were very Courteously received and treated for three Days together We were also carryed to all the said Under-Baily's Farms at every one of which we were handsomely entertained We went likewise to a large Village about a League off this Gentleman's House to pay a Visit to the Curate of the Place who was a Brother to this Ladies Mother and who gave us a very civil Reception At last we returned home as we came that is as to what concerned me as little in Love as before It was nevertheless resolv'd that in a Fortnights time our Marriage should be concluded which term being expir'd I was compell'd to return to the Baily's House together with three Cousin Germans two Advocates and an Attorney of this Jurisdiction but as good Luck would have it they could agree upon nothing wherefore the Business was put off till May next But that Saying is certainly true That Man proposes and God disposes For a little before the said propos'd Time my Mother fell sick and my Father 4 Days afterwards both whose Maladies ended in Death the former dying on Tuesday and the latter on the Thursday following Altho' I Was very sick my self yet I made shift to go Visit my aforesaid severe Uncle who was extremely ill likewise and who dyed in less than a Fortnights time Sometime after all this the Baily's Daughter was propos'd to me a-new but which I would hear nothing of having now no Parents left to force me My Heart was altogether in the aforesaid Park where I frequently walked but never half so often as I had done in Imagination One Morning when I thought no body had been stirring in the Sieur du Fresne's House I walk'd leisurely before it and was not a little surpriz'd when I saw du Lys Singing at the Window an old Song which had for its upholding Ah! Why is he from me the Man that I love This oblig'd me to draw nearer to her and to make her a very low Bow which I accompanyed with this or the like Expression I could wish with all my Heart Madam that you had the satisfaction you so much desire and were it in my Power to contribute towards it I would always do it with as servent a Passion as I have ever shew'd to approve my self your most humble Servant She returned my Salutation answered me not a Word but continuing to Sing on she chang'd the Burden of her Song to Ha! see him before me the Man that I love You may imagine this was not heard by one that was Deaf and having been a little in the Wars I had Courage enough to reply tho' not in Verse I should have just Reason to believe you Sincere Madam If you would but oblige me so far as to open the Door At the same time she call'd to the Lackey spoken of before and bid him to open the Door to me I went in and was receiv'd not only by her but likewise by her Father and Mother and elder Sister with all the Civility and good Will imaginable Her Mother ask'd me why I was so great a Stranger and why they had not seen me as frequently as they were wont My Mourning she told me was no just excuse since I must be allow'd to divert my self now as well as before and in a Word she gave me to understand that I should always be extremely welcome to her House My Answer was only to shew the little Merit I had to pretend to and which I express'd in some few ill-order'd Words as I have done before But at length all concluded with a Breakfast of Milk which you know in this Country passes for a good Treat And which is notwithstanding none of the worst Sir quoth Madam Star But pray go on When I was taking leave to be gone the Mother ask'd me if I would not give my self the trouble to accompany her and her Daughter to see an old Relation of theirs that liv'd about two Leagues off I answer'd that she did me wrong to ask me the Question when an absolute Command would have been much more obliging to me The Journey was pitch'd upon for next Day The time came and the Mother got up upon a little Mule they had in the House the elder Sister rid her Fathers Horse and I carried behind me my dear du Lys. What discourse we had upon the Road I 'll give you leave to guess for as for my part I have forgot it All that I am able to tell you is that du Lys and I often stole from the Company and went to recreate our selves in an adjoining Grove which had a little River that ran through the midst of it upon whose Banks we had the pleasure both to hear the warbling of the Birds and the purling of the Stream to which we added our mutual Endearments and many innocent Caresses which passed between us It was there that we enter'd into a Resolution to divert our selves considerably at the approaching Carnevale Some time after this Journey while I was making of Syder in the Suburbs that are called la Barre and which join to du Lys's Father's Park she came running to me whereby I presently guessed that she had something more than ordinary to tell
for four or five days following as he pass'd to and fro before her Windows she was not to be seen there according to her custom so inconsolable had the death of her lovely African made her Don Pedro was mighty desirous to know how she fared One day as he was discoursing with Don Iuan one of Elvira's Slaves deliver'd him a Letter from his Mistress He open'd it with impatience and read what follows LETTER TWo persons who are minded to marry don't need a third to put them in mind of it You wou'd perswade me that you don't dislike me and I must own that you please me well enough to grant you this moment what I did not promise you till the year was ended You may make your self as soon as you please Master of my Person and Estate and I request you to believe that altho I cannot deliberately embark in such an affair as this yet your merit and my love will render it easie to me and make me break through all difficulties whatsoever Elvira Don Pedro read over this Letter twice or thrice and cou'd hardly believe he was awake He bethought himself that this was the second time he had run the danger of being marry'd as ill as any man in Spain and thank'd Heaven with all his heart that deliver'd him from two such imminent misfortunes by discovering to him two secrets of so great importance As the Negroâ—s death had put Elvira upon this sudden resolution to be marry'd Don Pedro as suddenly resolv'd to get out of her sight as soon as he cou'd He told Don Iuan that it nearly concernâ—d his life and honour to leave Sevil within an hour and that he wou'd only take one Servant with him that he had brought from Granada he desir'd him to sell his Coach and Horses and to pay his Servants with the Money and conjur'd him not to ask the reason of so sudden an alteration and a Journey so hurry'd promising to write to him the very first Town he stopt at He writ to Elvira while they went to hire two Mules for him he gave his Letter to the Slave and when the Mules came took the road to Madrid being confirm'd more than ever in his first opinion and resolving to stand upon his guard against all witty women nay even to detest them While he jogg'd gently on full of these vertuous resolutions Elvira open'd his Letter and read the following lines LETTER AS violently in love as I am with you yet I always prefer the care of preserving your honour to the pleasure of possessing you Thus you cou'd not but observe with what discretion I always managâ—d my Gallantry I am somewhat scrupulous in my own nature and therefore cannot in Conscience ask you to marry me so soon since you are a Widow of but a day's standing You owe more than that comes to Madam to the memory of the poor Negro defunct and you cannot take less than a year to lament the loss of a person who did you so considerable services In the mean while you and I shall have time enough to consider what we have to do Don Pedro. Elvira had like to have run distracted when she read this Letter and it touch'd her more to the quick than even the â—oss of her Guinea Lover but considering that Don Pedro had left Sevil and another Gallant that had all the qualifiâ—ations to please her offering at the same time to marry her she took him to supply the Negro's room Not but that she cou'd have found Negroes enough to have done her business â—ut some body had told her that there was a difference in Negroes as well as other folks and that every thing is not â—herefore the Devil because it is black In the mean time Don Pedro and his trusty Mule got to Madrid and â—he went â—mmediately to an Unkle's house who receiv'd him very courteously This Unkle of his was a rich Cavalier that had an only Son that was betrothed to a young Cousin that was an only Daughter likewise and who being but ten years â—ld past her time in a Convent till she came to be of age to marry him His name was Don Rodrigo and he possessed â—ll the good qualities that can make a man amiable Don Pedro enter'd into a stricter league of friendship with him â—han men usually do with a Relation tho they love him â—ever so well for they are not always our Relations whom 〈◊〉 love best Don Rodrigo seem'd to be disturb'd in his â—ind and Don Pedro perceiving it related all his adventures to him that he might oblige him by this confidence to communicate his to him and if he had any occasion for his service to let him see that he was much more his Friend than his Relation After this he told him that he had observ'd that somewhat sat uneasy upon him and therefore he begg'd him to let him know what it was otherwise he must believe that his friendship was not so hearty as his Don Rodrigo desir'd nothing more hoping to receive some relief in his inquietude when he had once communicated it He therefore acquaints Don Pedro that he was passionately in love with a Damosel of Madrid who was promis'd to a Kinsman whom she expected every hour from the Indies but had never seen just as he was engag'd to a Cousin and waited till she was of age of whom he had but little knowledge This conformity of Adventures said he to Don Pedro has very much contributed to encrease the affection we have for one another altho at the same time it keeps us both in our duty whenever our passion advises us to prefer our satisfaction to those engagements wherein the interests of our Families have link'd us Hitherto my love has made as fair a progress with her as I cou'd wish tho I have not as yet been able to compass my desires which she puts off till her Husband's arrival when her Marriage may secure both of us from any ill consequences that may follow upon an Assignation when we may probably do something else than discourse and talk I will say nothing to you of the beauty of Virginia since 't is impossible to say too much of it and because I shou'd be apt to say so much of it that you wou'd not believe me However this I am certain of that wheâ— you have seen her and her Cousin Violanta who lives with her you will readily own that all Spain cannot show any thing more beautiful than this incomparable pair and wheâ— you have convers'd a few moments with them I will leave you to tell me whether you ever saw wittier Women in your life 'T is this that makes me pity you says Don Pedro to him And why so reply'd Don Rodrigo Because a woman of Wit cries he will most infallibly jilt you either sooner oâ— later You cannot but know continues he by the recital â— have made you of my own adventures what has happen'd to my self and I
It was no sooner thought of but done she committed most horrible ravage upon her Locks but in truth this was no mighty loss to her for there was not one single hair of the growth of her head After this manner did Helen and Mendez strive who should exceed the other when Montafar and the Lackey at a signal concerted between them began a doleful Consort at the Door and wept and sigh'd so cruelly that one would have thought they designed to out-rival the two pensive Ladies near the Bed who by this new striking up of the Chorus began to play their parts so furiously as if they had been too remiss before The old Gentleman was almost distracted to see them weep so immoderately yet know nothing of the occasion He wept however to keep them company as well as he could sobb'd as strenuously as the best of them and conjured the afflicted Ladies by all that was good and sacred by their seraphical Eyes and their celestial Charms to moderate their grief a little and acquaint him with the cause of it protesting that his Life was the least thing he would hazard for their sakes and regretting the loss of his youth which hindered him from shewing the sincerity of his Heart by his Actions At these words the Sky began to clear up a little the Countenances were not so overcast as before and they thought that they had wept enough in all conscience since they could weep no longer without spoiling the jest Besides they were good Husbands of their time and knew that they had not a minute to lose Our old Matron therefore lifting up her Vail above her head to the end that her venerable looks might give her all the credit she wanted on this occasion declaimed in the following manner God of his Almighty Power and Goodness preserve and shield my Lord Marquis de Ville-fagnan from all harm and restore him to his former health Altho' to speak truth the tragical Story we are going to tell him is not very proper to give him joy which is the Elixir of Health but Oâ—â— misfortune is of that nature that we must communicate it At this the poor Marquiss de Ville-fagnan striking himself with the palm of his hand upon his Thigh and fetching sigh from the bottom of his Heart Heaven grant says he that I am mistaken but my foreboding mind tells me that 't is some foolish Frolick or rather some Extravagance of my Nephew Go on Madam go on and excuse me for interrupting you Our old Matron fell a weeping instead of returning him an Answer when the pensive Helen took up the Discourse Since you know by sorrowful Experience says she that your Nephew is a Slave to his extravagant Appetites and have been but too often troubled to compound for his Outrages you will make no difficulty to believe his brutal usage of me When you unhappily sent him to Leon laâ—â— Spring he saw me at Church and at this first interview said some things to me which had they been true neither of us ought to have stirr'd out of that holy ground my self for fear of Justice as being his Murderer and he as â— dead Man and fit to be put in his Grave He told me â— hundred times that my Eyes had kill'd him and omitted none of those insinuating wheedling tricks that Lovers employ to abuse the simplicity of poor Virgins He followed me home to my Lodging he rode before my Windows every day and serenaded me every night At last finding that all his amorous arts signified nothing he corrupted by his Money a Black Wench a Slave of ours to whom my Mother had promised her liberty and by her infernal treachery surpriz'd me in a Garden we have in the Suburbs of the City I had none but this perfidious Maid with me he was â— companied by a Man as wicked as himself and had 〈◊〉 the Gardner to go to the other end of the Town under 〈◊〉 of business What need I say more he clapt his Ponyard to my throat and finding that my Life was less dear to me than my Honour by the help of the Companion of his crime he took that by force which he could never obtain by fair promises The Black acted the part of a distracted Woman and the better to hide her perfidy she wounded herself slightly in the hand and then vanished The Gardner return'd your Nephew affrighted at the blackness of his Crime leapt over the Garden-wall in so much precipitation that he dropt his Ponyard which I took up However this insolent young man had nothing then to fear for not being in a condition to stop him I had command enough over my self to dissemble the inexpressible misfortune that had befallen me I did all I could to appear no more concern'd than I us'd to be The wicked Slave was not to be seen from that moment Soon after I lost my Mother and I might say that I lost every thing with her if my Aunt whom you see there had not been so kind as to take me to her own House where she makes no difference between her tow beautiful Daughters and my self There I came to be inform'd that your Nephew was so far from designing to make me reparation for the injury he had done me that he was upon the point of marrying in this City Upon this I flew hither in the greatest haste I could and expect before I go out of your Chamber that you will give me in Money or Jewels the worth of two thousand Crowns to settle me in some Convent for after what I have known by fatal experience of the temper of this Cavalier I can never bring my self to marry him altho' he and his Relations should endeavour to perswade me by all sorts of Offers and Intreaties I know well enough that he is to be married to night but I 'll soon stop all proceedings and raise such a hurricane as shall make his heart ake as long as he lives if you don't comply with my proposal And to let you see continued this dissembling Hypocrite that what I have told you of your Nephew is so true that nothing can be more see the fatal Ponyard which he clapt to my throat and would to God he had done something more than only threatned me with it She began to weep afresh at the conclusion of the Story Mendez took it in a higher Key than she and the harmonious Consort at the Door of which the little squeaking Lackey made the Treble and Montafar the Bass tuned their Pipes to admiration Our old Gentleman who had already but too easily believed 〈◊〉 the greatest châ—at of her Sex had told him no sooner saw the Ponyard but he immediately knew it to be the same he had formerly bestowed upon his Nephew Therefore all his care was to prevent this Story 's taking air lest it should hinder the Match He would have sent for him with all his Heart but he was afraid lest some people should
leave those villains unpunish'd that have robb'd my Unkle in so unheard of a manner and besides have so perfidiously wounded my reputation These different agitarions employ'd the mind of our young Extravagant when near Xetaffe his Foot-man discover'd Helon's Coach by the marks that had been given them They cried out with one voice to their Master Yonder are the Thieves and without staying for him rode up to the Coach with their Swords in hand The Coachman stopt being terribly affrighted and Montafar was much more than he Helen order'd him to let down the Glasses and look'd out to see how she might prevent so dangerous a storm She saw Don Sancho riding towards her with Sword in hand whose angry countenance promised no good but our amorous Gentleman no sooner cast his eyes upon those two bewitching Stars which had so terribly wounded him but his wounds bled afresh and he immediately believed that his Servants had mistaken for we have always a good opinion of the person we love and as if he had known Helen from his Cradle to have been a Lady of unblemish'd credit he lay'd about his Footmen with his Sword like a distracted man You Dogs cry'd he you Villains did not I bid you have a care not to mistake and don 't you deserve to have your Throats cut for offering this rudeness to a Lady who deserves respect from all Mankind The poor Footmen who had fallen so hastily upon the Coach seeing it had all the marks the Page had given them and sound within it a Lady of so much beauty which commands veneration even from the most brutal Clowns kept off at a distance to avoid their Masters fury who thought he had reason on his side for what he had done and that he was kind to them not to cut them to pieces Don Sancho begg'd Helen's pardon and acquainted her with the occasion why those Sons of a thousand Whores his Footmen had attackt her so rudely which she knew as well as himself See I beseech you Madam says he in what premunires these Rascals may engage their Masters had not I happen'd to be with them these Blockheads upon a few foolish marks would have set the whole Country in an uproar rais'd the Mob and by meer force have carry'd you to Toledo for a Thief Not but that you are one â— cries our Gentleman smoothing his Countenance but Madam you steal hearts and nothing else Helen thankt Heaven within herself for giving her a face that stood her in such stead by clearing her from the wicked actions she us'd to commit and recovering out of her fright answer'd Don Sancho with a great deal of modesty and in few words knowing that to take a world of pains to clear ones self of a thing that is laid to ones charge rather encreases than lessens the suspicion Don Sancho was surpriz'd to find that Treasure by meer accident which he had so violently long'd to see and was such a fool as to think that Heaven favour'd his passion since it hinder'd him from going back to Toledo as it had been in his thoughts which had he done he had miss'd this happiness He ask'd Helen what her name was and where she liv'd in Madrid and begg'd her to give him leave to wait on her that he might by his actions confirm the services he offer'd her Helen told him both false adding that she should think herself very happy to be honour'd with his visits He offer'd to see her safe home but she wou'd by no means consent to it representing to him that she was marry'd and that her Husband was to meet her on the Road and whisper'd him in the ear that she was afraid even of her Domesticks but much more of her Husband 's jealous temper This small confidence she seem'd to repose in him made Don Sancho believe that she did not hate him He took his leave of her and carry'd swifter by his hopes than by his trusty Steed if I may be allow'd so to express my self made the best of his way to Madrid He no sooner arriv'd there but he enquir'd after Helen and her habitation by the marks she had given him His Foot-men were founder'd in looking after her nay he employ'd all his friends upon this occasion but to no purpose When Helen Montafar and the venerable Mendez came to Madrid their first care was how to get out of it They knew well enough that it wou'd be impossible for them to escape the Toledo Cavalier and that if they stay'd to give him a more particular knowledge of their merits they shou'd find him as dangerous an enemy as then they took him to be their humble admirer Helen dispos'd of all her moveables and the next day after her arrival bought Pilgrims habits for herself and companions In this equipage they beat the hoof towards Burgos where Mendez was born and where she had a Sister of her own profession still living In the mean time Don Sancho lost all hopes of meeting with Helen and return'd to Toledo but so confounded and ashamed that he did not speak one word from Madrid till he came to his own house After he had saluted his Wife who gave him a thousand caresses she shew'd him a Letter from his Brother who liv'd in one of the finest Cities in Spain where he had very good preferment in the Cathedral Church and was one of the richest Clergy-men in all the Country wherein he sent him word that he was at the point of death So he stay'd but a night at Toledo and took post either to contribute to his Brother's recovery or in case he died to take possession of his Estate In the mean time Helen pursued her Journey to Burgos being as much dissatisfied with Montafar as she had formerly loved him He had shewn so little bravery when Don Sancho and his Footman stopt their Coach that she did not question but that he was a rank Coward This render'd him so odious to her that she could scarce endure his sight her thoughts were wholly employ'd how to deliver herself from this domestick Tyrant and she flatter'd herself with hopes that she should soon get out of his clutches It was the venerable Mendez that first put it into her head and fortified this pious resolution with all the reasons her prudence cou'd suggest to her This industrious Matron was vext to the heart to see a lazy useless Lubber command her govern Helen and enjoy all the fruits of their labour while he did nothing himself She incessantly represented to Helen the unhappiness of her condition which she compar'd to that of Slaves working in the Mines who enrich their Masters with the Gold they dig out of the Earth with incredible labour and hardship and instead of being the betber treated for it are commonly rewarded with drubs and bastinadoes She continually preach'd to her that Beauty was a good of a short duration and that her Looking-glass which shew'd her nothing now but
at the head of them and you were content at that time to march in the rear And what may further help to wipe off your Scores is your notable life at Sea where for six years together you did abunâ—ance of things pleasing to your Maker working much eating little and always in action and what is more consideable you were scarce twenty years old when to the great â—dification of the Neighbourhood you began that holy Pilâ—rimage Nor is this all says our ancient Matron for it is â—ot to be supposed but that you will be amply rewarded in other World for the care you have taken in this that the women that live with you should not be lazy and unactive â—aking them maintain themselves not only by the labour of â—heir hands but by the sweat of their whole body After â—ll if you die in your bed it must be an inexpressible conâ—lation to you that you will put a pleasant cheat upon the â—dge of Murcia who swore a great Oath that he would â—ake you die in your shoes who expects to have the satisâ—hction to see you cut capers in the air and will be ready 〈◊〉 hang himself when he comes to hear that you were so â—alicious as to dye of your self without the helpâ— of a â—ird Man But I lose time in talking to thee not â—onsidering that 't is high time to begin our Journey which â—e so earnestly desire And therefore old Friend of mine â—ceive this Embrace with as good a heart as I give it for â—am of opinion that we shall see one another no more as soon as she had concluded this comfortable speech Menâ—z threw her Arms about his Neck Helen did the same â—d thus they went out of the Chamber and soon after out 〈◊〉 the Inn. Montafar who had been accustom'd to their â—illery and could return them a Rowland for their Oliver â—on occasion thought that they had said all this only with design to divert him and had not the least suspicion of â—em when he saw them quit the Room fancying to himâ—f that they were gone down to make him some Waterâ—uel or Posset-drink After this he fell into a slumber and â—o he could not be properly said to be fast asleep yet it held â—m so long that our Damosels were got a league of their â—ay before he awak'd He ask'd the Woman of the Inn here they were who told him that they were gone and â—d given her Orders not to disturb him because he had not â—pt a wink the night before Montafar then began to beâ—ve that the Lasses had left him in good earnest He curs'd 〈◊〉 Inn-keeper and Inn to the pit of Hell he threaten'd even â—e ground they walk'd upon and the Sun that gave them light He must needs rise to put on his Cloaths but was so feeble that he had like to have broke his Neck The good Hostess endeavour'd to excuse the two Damosels and back'd what she said with such impertinent reasons that it set out sick Man a raving like one distracted and he call'd her all the vile Names he could think of He was so vex'd that he would not eat a Morsel in four and twenty hours and this no-diet join'd with plenty of Choler had that good effect upon him that after he had recruited himself with 〈◊〉 little Water-gruel he found himself lusty enough to pursue his fugitive Slaves They were got two days journey before him but two hackney Mules that were sending back to Burgos further'd his design as much as they ruin'd that of our two pretended Pilgrims He overtook them within sâ—â— or seven Leagues of Burgos they changed Countenance aâ— soon as they saw him and excused themselves as well as they were able Montafar did not seem to be in the ieast angry with them so great was his joy to have them in his Clutcheâ— He laugh'd as heartily as they did at this merry frollick oâ— theirs and acted his part so well that they believ'd him iâ— their Souls to be a down right passive Blockhead He perâ—swaded them that they had lost the road to Burgos anâ— leading them among some Rocks where he very well knew that no body would come to interrupt him he put his haâ—â— upon a Baggoner to which they had always paid a world oâ— respect and told them like a merciless Devil as he waâ— that they must immediately deliver all their Gold and Sâ—â—ver and Jewels At first they believ'd that their teâ—â— wou'd accommodate the business Helen threw her Arâ—â—â— about his Neck and wept most plentifully but our Caâ—â—â—lier was so haughty now he had them in his power that 〈◊〉 was deaf to all their Prayers and Intreaties and signi'y'd 〈◊〉 them his last will and pleasure which was that they muâ—â— surrender up all to him in a quarter of an hour otherwise they knew what to expect Thus our poor Damoseis 〈◊〉 forc'd to sacrifice their Purses to their safety and it was 〈◊〉 the last regret that they parted with their Money whiâ—â— they loved so passionately But Montafar's revenge did 〈◊〉 stop here for he produc'd certain things call'd Cords 〈◊〉 which he had purposely provided himself and binding 〈◊〉 of them to a Tree just over against one another he 〈◊〉 them with a treacherous smile that knowing how remâ—â—â— and negligent they had been in doing pennance for the sins he was resolv'd to give them holy discipline with 〈◊〉 own hands that they might remember him in their 〈◊〉 He executed his pious design with some Broom-branches and after he had satisfied himself at the expence of their backs he sat himself down between these two meek-hearted sufferers and turning himself towards Helen he spoke to her as follows My dear Helen take not in ill part what I have done but consider my good Intention and know that every one is bound in conscience to follow his own Vocation T is thine to be malicious for alas the World is compos'd of bad as well good and 't is mine to punish the malicious Whether I have acquitted my self as I ought thou knowest better than any one and if I have heartily chastis'd thee be satisfi'd that I as heartily love thee If my duty did not render me deaf to all pity I would not leave so vertuous and honourable a Damosel naked and tied to a Tree to the mercy of the next Passenger Thy Illustriâ—ous Birth with which thou didst lately acquaint me deserves another destiny but thou wilt own I know that thou would'st do the same that I have done if thou wert in my place What falls out most unlucky for thee is that being so publick as thou art thou wilt be soon known and â—tis to be fearâ—d that our Magistrates out of a Maxim of poâ—icy will order this wicked Tree to which thou art as it were incorporated to be burnt together with the wicked Fruit it produces but know to thy great comfort that if thy wicked Actions put thee now in bodily fear the time will
come when it will be a pleasure to thee to relate them and when among thy other laudable qualities thou wilt â—ossess that of being able to pass a long Winter night and setâ—ing folks asleep with the recital of thy famous Exploits But should give the good Mendez just occasion to complain of â—ny unkindness should I address my discourse any longer to â—hee without taking notice of her Nay I should be wanting in my duty to my Neighbour if I should not in â—harity give her some advice that may be useful to her in â—he present posture of her affairs They are continues he â—nd turning himself towards Mendez in a worse condition â—han you imagine let me perswade you therefore to recomâ—end your self seriously to your Maker once in your life at â—ast since your old founder'd Carcass will scarce be able to â—â—pport the fatigue of this day and On that my Prayers 〈◊〉 as easily procure you a Confessor as 't is certain that 〈◊〉 want one Not but that your exemplary life may leave our Conscience in repose you have been so publick-spirited â—d charitable all your days that instead of censuring 〈◊〉 magnifying the faults of others you have repaired those of a Thousand young Maidens and since you have taken such pains to study the most darkest and most conceal'd Sciences ought you not to be commended for it 'T is true the Inquisition has no great kindness for you upon this score nay and has given you some publick marks of its displeasure but you know 't is compos'd of wicked men and that t is natural for people of the same profession to hate one another This is not all for those Gentlemen have a very ill opinion of your Salvation but altho what they say should be true yet a little time will reconcile one to the worst place that is even to Hell itself where you may take it for granted that you will receive all imaginable marks of civility from the Inhabitants having convers'd and dealt with them from your infancy I have one word more to say to you and I have done I might have chastis'd you Madam after another manner but I consider'd that old people according to the Proverb turn Children again that your Ladiship is old enough to be in your first state of innocence and therefore whipping was more proper for the little trick of youth you play'd me than any other chastisement And thus Ladies I take my leave of you earnestly desiring you to have a care of your dear persons Having raillied them in this fashion good or bad as the Reader pleases away he went and left them rather dead than alive not so much for the grief of their having been whipt as because all their Money was gone and they were left in a lonely place ty'd to Trees where they must expect to be devour'd by Wolves With these Melancholy contemplations in their heads as they were looking sorrowfully at one another without saying a word a Hare cross'd the Road before them and some time after a Greyhound thundering after poor Puss and a Cavalier well mounted thundering after the Greyhound Who shou'd this Cavalier be but Don Sancho de Villefagnan who had made a Journey to Burgos to see his sick Brother and kept him Company at a Country house not far from thence whither he had retir'd to take the fresh air He was extremely surpriz'd to behold two women thus bound to their good behaviour but much more so when he found one of them to resemble the beautiful stranger whom he had seen 〈◊〉 Toledo whom he search'd after at Madrid and whom he had ever since perpetually in his mind Being firmly perswadeâ— that she was a woman of Quality and marry'd he doubteâ— whether this was she for he cou'd not imagine what shou'â— bring her into that part of the world in so wretche'd an equipage But Helen's Face having lost nothing of its former Beauty altho somewhat disorder'd by her fright made him conclude that he at last had accidentally met with that treasure which had cost him so many desires and inquietudes So he rais'd himself upon his Stirrups to see whether the Coast was clear and was fool enough to suspect that this was nothing but a Diabolical Illusion which Heaven had permitted to punish him for his sensuality Helen on her side was taken up with a thought full as mortifying and fancied that her ill Stars had chosen that unlucky day to show her to all those that had any thing to say to her Don Sancho look'd upon Helen with great amazement and she look'd upon him with no less disorder each expected when the other would speak first and Don Sancho at last was going to begin the discourse when a Servant came full speed to tell him that â—ome of his Relations were going to â—ill one another Upon this he spurr'd his Beast attended by the Servant and when he came to the place where a left his Company he found some four or five drunken Fellows calling one another Rogue and Rascal with their Tilters in their Hands and flourishing them notably in the air to the prejudice of some Neighbouring Trees that lost some of their best branches upon this occasion Don Sancho who was enrag'd to be depriv'd of the charming Vision he had so lately seen did all he could to reconcile these furious and terrible Gentlemen but all his Arguments his Entreaties and his Menaces had signify'd little or nothing had not the Wine that overâ—oaded their Brains and down right lassitude tript up their Heels and left 'em snoring on the ground as peaceably as if they had never fallen out Don Sancho spurr'd his Horse towards the happy Tree which kept the Idol of his heart and was at his wits ends when he saw the Women were gone He turn'd his eyes all about him to see which way they could be gone but saw nothing but a lonely melancholy place he spurr'd his Horse and examinâ—d every cornere and at last came back to his beloved Tree which like a good natur'd Tree as it was still kept its old place But as Don Sancho was a Poet and what is more a tender-hearted whining Poet he had not the same indifference for this insensible Tree He alighted therefore from his Horse and harangu'd it after the following manner or at least he ought to have done so if he was really so great a Coxcomb as I have been told he was Oh thrice happy Trunk since thou hast had the honour to be embrac'd by that divine Creature whom I love without knowing her and whom I know only because I love her May thy Leaves for ever shine among the Stars let the sacrilegious Ax never presume to wound thy tender Bark may the Thunder reverence thy Boughs and the worms of the Earth not dare to approach thy root let the Winter spare and the Spring adorn thee let the proudest Pines envy thy condition and lastly may Heaven protect thee While our
himself even to thâ—â—â— blows My Brethren cry'd he to them as loud as he was able let the poor wretch alone for the love of God be quiet for the love of the Blessed Virgin These few words appeas'd this horrible tempest and the people made room for Brother Martin who got up to the unfortunate Gentleman well pleas'd in his heart to see him so us'd but shewing by his looks that he was mightily concern'd for him He rais'd him up from the ground he embrac'd and kiss'd him all cover'd with blood and dirt as he was and reprimanded the people for their rude behaviour I am a wicked man said he to the standers by I am a sinner I am one that never did any thing that was pleasing in the eyes of God Do you believe continuâ—d he because you see me drest in this Religious garb that I have not been a Robber all my life the scandal of others and the destruction of my self Alas you are mistaken my Brethren make me the mark of your contumelies pelt me with Stones and draw your Swords upon me Having spoken these words with a counterfeit sorrow he went to throw himself with a zeal yet more counterfeit than that at the feet of his Enemy and kissing them not only begg'd his pardon but likewise gather'd up his Sword Cloak and Hat which he had lost in this confusion He helpt him on with them and leading him by the hand to the end of the Street took his leave of him after he had bestow'd abundance of embraces and as many benedictions upon him The poor man was as it were out of himself with what he had seen and with what had been done to him and was so full of confusion that he durst scarce shew his head in the Streets all the while his affairs detain'd him at Sevil. Montafar had won the hearts of all the City by this pretended action of Devotion The people gaz'd at him with admiration and the Children cry'd after him a Saint a Saint as they cry'd out a Fox a Fox when they saw his Enemy in the Street From this moment he liv'd the happiest life in the world The Nobleman the Cavalier the Magistrate and the Prelate perpetually invited him to Dinner and strove who should have most of his company If he was ask'd his name he would answer that he was a beast of Burden a sink of Filth a vessel of all Iniquity and such like noble Attributes did his counterfeit devotion dictate to him When he visited any of the Ladies he complain'd to them incessantly of the nothingness of his dispensation and the deadness of the inward man adding that he wanted concentration of heart and recollection of Spirit in short he always talkt to them in this magnificent cant and holy Gibberish No alms were given in Sevil but what pass'd through his hands or those of Helen and Mendez who were not wanting on their side to act their parts to admiration and stood as fair to obtain the red-letter'd preferment of the Almanack I mean to be Sainted as Montafar himself A Lady of quality who was a Widow and devout even to superstition sent 'em every day two dishes of Meat for their Dinner and as many for Supper and these dishes were drest by the best Cook in all Sevil. Their house was too little to receive the numerous presents that were sent to them A woman that had a mind to be with child put her petition into their hands that by their mediation it might be presented to the Tribunal of Heaven Another that had a Son in the Indies did the same as likewise a third that had a brother prisoner in Algiers Nay the poor Widow who had to contest with a powerful adversary before an ignorant or a covetous Judge did not doubt the success of her cause when she had once made a present to them according to her ability Some gave them Sweetmeats and Conserves others Pictures and ornaments for their Closet Several charitable persons trusted them with great quantities of Linnen and Woollen Cloath to dispose among the needy that were asham'd to beg and with considerable summs of Money to distribute as they saw convenient No one came to visit them with empty hands and their future Canonization was as firmly believ'd as an Article of Faith At last the the credulity of the people ran so high that they came to consult them about their doubtful affairs and things to come Helen who was as subtle as a Devil manag'd all the answers delivering her Oracles in a few words and those capable of receiving different interpretations Their beds were mean and homely cover'd in the day time with course Blankets but at night with all the fine Furniture that a man could desire that loves to sleep deliciously their house being plentifully furnish'd with good Feather-beds fine Coverlids and in short with all sorts of Moveables that contribute to the convenience and pleasure of life and all this they pretended was to be given to some poor Widow whose Goods were seized in Execution or to furnish some young Womans house who had marry'd without any fortune Their doors were shut up in Winter at five and in Summer at seven a clock as punctually as in a well-regulated Convent and then the Jack was wound up the Spits turn'd merrily round the Capons were set down to the Fire the Table was handsomely spread and our Hypocritical Triumvirate eat heartily and drank plentifully their own healths and those of the people they cheated Montafar and Helen lay together for fear of Spirits and their Foot-man and the Maid that were of the same complexion copy'd so pious an example As for the good Mendez she always lay alone being more taken up with contemplation than action even since she had addicted herself to the Black Art This was their constant practice of life instead of employing their time in mental prayer or doing pennance 'T is no wonder if living so jolly a life they look'd plump and fat All the City bless'd Heaven for it and were mightily surpriz'd that persons of so much austerity and self-denial look'd better than those that liv'd in luxury and ease For the space of three years they deceiv'd the eyes of all the Inhabitants of Sevil receiving presents from every one and appropriating to their own use the alms that pass'd through their hands they heap'd together an incredible number of Pistoles All good success was ascrib'd to the efficacy of their prayers they stood God-fathers for all Children made matches for all the City and were the Arbitrators of all differences At last Heaven was weary of conniving longer at their impious life Montafar who was choleric in his temper us'd frequently to beat his Valet who couâ—d not bear it and had quitted his service a hundred times if Helen who was more discreet than her Gallant had not prevented it by appeasing him with fair words and presents One day he drubb'd him immoderately for little or
but threw himself with his Cloaths upon the Bed and his Man upon another where he slept so heartily that it would have made any man but his Master envy him who for his part could not sleep a wink but a true Lover would think he had committed an unpardonable sin should he sleep like other Mortals In a short time all the people in the Inn were got to bed and every thing was hush'd when some persons on Horseback disturb'd their repose and thunder'd at the Gate like Men that were impatient to be let in The Man of the House that got up to see what the matter was knew them and open'd the Gate to them Soon after Hippolito heard the next Chamber to his open several persons went into it and some of them went out again immediately while the rest that stay'd talk'd to one another He was too much taken up with his own private affairs to have any great curiosity for those of other people and he had not listen'd to their discourse if one of them had not talked so loud that he fancied he was not unacquainted with the voice This made him desirous to know what they talk'd of and at last he heard them speak the following words distinctly Yes my dear Iulia I must once more say it few persons of my condition have been treated worse by Fortune than my self she has plung'd me in miseries that are not to be parallel'd But as great and vexatious as they are they don't so much disturb me as the ingratitude wherewith the basest of men requites my affection for him and this ingratitude does not sit so heavy on me as mine to the man whom I ought to love I blame myself incessantly for it and my inquietude on this score is infinitely more afflicting to me than all the losses I have sustain'd and all the calamities that oppress me The other person that took up the discourse talk'd so low that Hippolito could hear nothing but a few incoherent words that were frequently interrupted by sighs He got up and crept to the Wainscot which divided the two Rooms but the noise he made was heard by the persons whom he had a mind to listen to so their Conversation ceas'd but not the sighs of the afflicted party whose voice he imagin'd to resemble that of Mathilda The Reader may easily guess how impatient he â—as to know whether he was mistaken and to satisfie himself in so important a doubt he was preparing to go out of his Chamber when all on the sudden the door open'd and by the â—â—ght of a dark Lanthorn he saw four Men come into the Room with their Swords in their hands among whom he observ'd the Calabrian Soldier and the Master of the House If he was surpriz'd at so unseasonable a visit from these men who did not seem to come with any good design they were no less so to find him up and awake who they hoped was in a sound sleep Hippolito clapping his hand to his Sword ask'd them what they wanted in his Chamber at such an hour and in such an equipage and he no sooner saw them put themselves in a posture to attack him but he fell upon the first with such bravery and skill that he soon made the Room too hot for ' em In the mean time his Footman awak'd follow'd the noise and seeing his Master set upon by so many Enemies seconded him very valiantly at that instant when having wounded all those that had attack'd him he had laid the most dangerous of them at his feet These Men defended themselves like Fellows that did not value their lives but tho they had been more in number than really they were yet they could not have resisted the valiant Hippolito seconded by so courageous a Servant He kill'd another of his Enemies and the two that were left very fairly betook themselves to their heels He was so vex'd at a slight wound he receiv'd in his own arm that he was resolv'd to pursue them and in all probability had clear'd the World of them as well as he had done of the other Sparks if these Villains had not been so wise in their fear as to make one leap of it down the Stair-case and shut the door after them Hippolito was a long while before he could open it which gave the two Murderers time enough make their â—â—escape so that he and his man return'd to the Inn without them He ran directly to the Chamber where he thought he had heard Mathilda's voice but found it open and no one in it no more than in the rest of the rooms in the House which he search'd with as much care as inquietude Fulvio said he to his Man I heard Mathilda talk I knew her voice and no one but such an unhappy wretch as I am could have mist her when she was so near him He afterwards repeated to Fulvio the words he heard Mathilda speak interpreted them to his advantage as he had some reason to do but instead of giving him consolation they only â—â—â—â—reas'd his affliction for he thought this was a trick of For â—â—â—â—e to let him hear Mathilda's voice for no other end 〈◊〉 to make him more concern'd for not being able to 〈◊〉 her or know what was become of her He look'd a 〈◊〉 this Princess in all the places thereabout and was 〈◊〉 otted as to come back to the Inn to search her there 〈◊〉 a Soul was to be seen except only in the Stable 〈◊〉 whence Fulvio took four Horses besides his own 〈◊〉 Master 's Hippolito quitted this Inn in the most pensive Condition that can be imagin'd Fulvio propos'd to carry off the Theives Horses as being lawfull Prize and represented to him that perhaps they might find Mathilda and then they should want a Steed to mount her on Hippolito did not hear what he said or else would not vouchsafe to make him an Answer so strangely was he taken up with his Melancholy Thoughts Fulvio took his Masters silence for consent and tying the Horses by the Tail drove them before him designing I suppose to make ready Money of them the first Chapman he could find They rode part of the Day together without Hippolito's answering so much as one of the many Questions Fulvio put to him in order to divert him They lost their way and at last were got among a parcel of barren Rocks by the Sea-side that was hard by and ended in a sandy Plain Among these Rocks in a Creek where the Sea run into the Land as they came from a narrow Lane they fell upon a Company of Peasants arm'd with all sorts of Clubs and Weapons who where at first surpriz'd to see two Men on Horseback followed with so many Horses without any to ride them but taking Heart of Grace to see so few and themselves so many for there was at least a Hundred of them got together they encompassed them in a tumultous manner and held the butt ends of their
Sick upon 't immediately and are not Long-liv'd Therefore Madam I will keep to the Death you have allotted me and forgive you for it with all my heart Adieu Madam I Dâ—e your most Obedient Servant and I pray to Heaven that your Diversions in Bretagne may not be spoil'd by any Remorse of Conscience for killing an Honest Fellow that never did you any Harm At least remember Fair Ingrate That if I Die before I see you Heav'n knows it is no Fault of mine These are none of the best Rhimes that 's the truth on 't but at the Hour of Death a Good Christian rather thinks of Dying well than Rhiming well LETTER VI. To the Marquess de Villarceaux FOR the Discharge of my Poor Conscience I am oblig'd to tell you that your Lordship did not know what you did when you offer'd me your Friendship and demanded mine in exchange As much accustom'd as you are to do Generous Actions yet your wishing well to such an Unfortunate Fellow as I am is a strain of Charity more dangerous to put in Execution than you wou'd imagine For my part I see but very little for you to Hope and a great deal to Fear tho' I am never so great a Gainer by the Bargain This and nothing in the World else cost Armentiâ—res his Life in the Days of Yâ—re and t'other Week poor Haucourt not to mention to you the Lord knows how many more whom I cou'd name but you don't know them who all Dy'd Suddenly and before their time for no other Reason but because they had a Kindness for me Wou'd you have me cite you other Examples to convince you that my Unhappiness is Contagious Know then that Cardinal Richelieu Dy'd within a Month after I had the Honour to be introduc'd into his Company and to please him The late Prince of Orange no sooner showâ—d an Inclination to be kind to me but he fell ill of the Small-Pox which carry'd him off The President de Mesme fell immediately into a Consumption after he had given himself the trouble to Visit me in my Quarters Three Story high In short my Friendship is so certain to hurt and that speedily too that I can't for the heart of me unriddle it how our New Cardinal de Retz came to be promoted to the Purple against Wind and Tide as the saying is at the time when he was so indiscreet as to tell all the World that he had an Esteem for me Now after all these Fatal Instances if you are resolved to Honour me with your Heart I surrender my self Body and Soul to your Discretion I am not such a Coxcomb as to refuse Happiness when it is proffer'd me or slight the Friendship of a Person whom I Passionately Love as well upon the Score of his own shining Qualities as my own Natural Inclination However I can't help Pitying you exceedingly for once more I must tell you that I am the unluckiest Devil in the Universe and a certain Fore-runner of Mischief where-ever I come I will tell you more of this matter to Morrow at Madam de Lenclos's whither I will come in a Chair about Dinner-time c. Your most humble and Most obedient Servant Scarron LETTER VII To the Queen of Sweden Madam TO Offer your Majesty a Play of my own Composing is to make you a Present unworthy of your Merit and Quality but 't is my Opinion that every Man ought to be Tax'd according to his Estate towards the Payment of that Tribute which all our present Writers are oblig'd to pay you The Authors of the Augustan Age paid the same Tribute in Verse and Prose to that Patron of Wit Mecaenas of Happy Memory whom your Majesty knows much better than my self by the Testimony of all the Poets to have been a very generous gallant Person But notwithstanding all the Noise that his Name has made in the World he has no other Advantage over your Majesty at present than that of being born before you and I durst lay every farthing I have in the Kingdom of Parnassus that your Majesty would have carried away all his Practice from him and made him as angry as the Great Gustavus your Father would have made his Master Augustus if he had been to dispute the Empire of the Universe with him But Madam if so inconsiderable a Wretch as I am may be allow'd to put a few Questions to so great a Queen as you are does not your Majesty find your self sometimes incommoded by being so great a Heroine Even extraordinary Merit has its Inconveniences and those solemn Trifles call'd Epistles Dedicatory which we Poets forsooth would palm for Incense upon the Persons whom we pretend to deifie are not always of the same Value nor have they the same Effect Some of these Druggs make a mighty Smoke but do not perfume and indeed I am not Prophet enough to foretel whether what I now offer to your Majesty will pass in your Court for right Spanish or Common Essence The late Prince of Orange thought otherwise of it and found it to answer If your Majesty likes it pray don't be sparing of it I shall soon have a Recruit and will keep it for your Use whom all the World unanimously owns to surpass in Merit all the Princes of former Ages to eclipse all those of the present and to be the best Example for all that come after you to Copy This is as true as that I am with the profoundest Humility Your Majesty's most Obedient Servant S LETTER VIII To YOU are taken ill of a Tertian Ague if it turns to a Quartan we must e'en expect to be plagued with it all this Winter for you need not question but it will torment me as much as your self Pray be so kind as to inform me how many Fits we have already had and what the Physicians say to them for you have them first and 't is a very odd business upon my word that you should know all my News four or five hours before I my self do 'T is a Sign I have a good Opinion of my Strength since mortified thus by my own Distempers I can afford to bear so great a share in yours I don't know whether I had not done much better to have stood upon my guard against you the first time I saw you 'T is plain I ought to have done it if we are to judge of things by their Events But who the Duce would have thought that a young Lady wou'd disturb the Repose of an Old Fellow and prove such a Thorn in my Side as to make me lament my unkind Destiny because I am not in a Condition to revenge my Quarrel upon her Jesting apart I know you are very ill but don't know whether the People about you take such care of you as they ought This Inquietude not a little augments my Concern to see you so unhappy and my self incapable of doing you any Service While you all naked in your Bed Those wanton
be so curious as to enquire into the occasion and as 't is natural for us to fear where we desire he no sooner saw our afflicted Ladies rising from their Seats and making as if they were going to break this Marriage to pieces which he so earnestly desired and had taken so much pains to bring about but he ordered his Page to bring him his Cabinet and tell out two thousand Crowns in four Pistole pieces Montafar received them and told them one by one and the old Marquis having made them promise him to honour him with a visit next morning excused himself a hundred times to the Ladies that he was not able to wait upon them to their Chariot Away they went very well satisfy'd with their visit and ordered the Coachman to drive back to Madrid concluding with themselves that if they were pursued it would be on the Road to Leon. In the mean time their Landlady finding that her Lodgers did not come home went into their Chamber she found the Page in the Closet who could not imagin why they shut him up there and she let him go about his business because she knew him or rather because upon enquiry she found none of her moveables missing Those people that make a Trade of robbing and wholly subsist by it tho they don't fear God always fear man They are of all Countries and yet are of none as having no settled habitation As soon as they set foot in one place they make the most on 't they can and when they have graz'd it bare remove to fresh quarters This cursed occupation which is learnt with so much pains and danger differs from all others in this respect that whereas we leave the rest when we grow old purely for want of strength to follow them that of robbing generally leaves a man in his youth and yet 't is for want of living longerâ— One would think that the Gentlemen that follow it must find some unaccountable charms in it since for its sake they venture a great number of years which are sooner or later concluded by the Hangman Helen Mendez and Montafar had none of these pious reflexions in their head 〈◊〉 rather were in perpetual fears lest they should be 〈◊〉 sued They gave the Coachman double his fare to 〈◊〉 the more haste who without question did all he 〈◊〉 please his passengers that paid him so liberally so that we may reasonably conclude that never did any Leathern Vehicle make more expedition to Madrid Montafar was very uneasie and shew'd by the many sighs that escap'd from him that he was rather in a penitential than a merry strain Helen who had a mind to divert his melancholy by recounting to him the particulars of her life which till that moment she had carefully conceal'd from him Since I find thou art in such a musty humour said she to him I will satisfie the great longing thou hast always exprest to know who I am and what adventures have befaln me before we came acquainted together I cou'd tell thee that I am descended from a noble family and according to the vanity now predominant give my self an illustrious name as easily as any of my neighbours but I will be so sincere with thee as to acquaint thee even with the least faults of those who sent me into the world You must know then that my Father of happy memory was a Gallician by birth a Lackey by profession or to speak more honourably of him a Footman He held the memory of the Patriarch Noah in singular veneration for his noble invention of the Vine and were it not for his particular respect to the juice of the Grape one might say of him that he car'd but little for the vanities of this wicked world My Mother was of Granada to speak frankly to you a Slave but you know there 's no contending with our destiny She answer'd to the name of Mary which her Masters gave her at her Baptisin but she was better pleas'd to be call'd Zara which was her Moorish name for since I am to tell you the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth she was a Christian in complaisance and fashion and a Moor in reality Nevertheless she frequently confess'd but t was rather the sins of her Master than her own and as she amus'd her Confessor not with her own failings but with the things she was forc'd to suffer as a Servant and shew'd him of what a meek humble and patient spirit she was the charitable old Father who was a godly man and judg'd of others by himself believ'd her upon her word commended her instead of reproving her so that any one that had stood near enough wou'd have heard nothing but praises on both sides Perhaps you are in pain to know â—ow I came acquainted with so particular a secret and you may very well imagine that my Mother never disclos'd it to â—e but I must inform you that I am very inquisitive in my nature and as young as I was at that time my Mother never confess'd herself but I got as near her as I could to over-hear her confession But to proceed as tawny or to express my self more properly as black as she was her face and shape were not disagreeable and there were more than six Cavaliers Commanders of red and green Crosses that were her humble admirers and strove who should be most in her good Graces She was of so charitable a temper that she granted them all they asked of her and her gratitude to her Masters was so great that to make them some amends for the pains they had been at in rearing her from her Childhood she did all that lay in her power every year to give them a little Slave Male or Female but Heaven did not second her good intentions and all her morly progeny her chequer'd issue I mean all the squawling Demi Negroes of her making dy'd as soon as they were born She was happier in bringing up the Children of other people Her Masters that had lost all their own in the Cradle got her to nurse a young Child despair'd of by the Physicians who in a short time by her good looking after it and the good qualities of my Mothers Milk was perfectly recovered of its ilness and shew'd all the symptoms of a long and healthful life For this piece of service to her Family my Mothers Mistress gave her her liberty when she died Being now at her own disposal she set up for washing and whitening of Linnen and succeeded so well that in a short time there was scarce a Beau or Courtier in Madrid that thought his Linnen well washed unless it pass'd her hands And now she began to practice those Lessons again which her Mother had formerly given her I mean to renew her acquaintance with her correspondents in the other world She had laid aside this ticklish employment rather out of modesty and because she was tired with the encomiums that