The adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane. A new translation from the best French edition. Adorn'd with thirty-three cuts, neatly engraved. In four volumes. ... 1749: Vol 3
Le Sage, Alain René
—  ALS 3 4 . <a). 24 The ADVENTURES. of The prelate did not fail to aſk the name of the licentiate : upon which I ſaid, He is called Lewis Garcias, and is in deſpair on account of having incurred your diſpleaſure,”* * That Garcias (ſaid he, interrupting me) was, if I am not miſtaken, chaplain to a convent of nuns, and lies under the. cenfure of the church: I remember fome informa - tions that I received againſt him: his morals arc but indifferent.“ Sir, (ſaid I, interrupting him in my turn) I will not undertake to juſtify him ; but I know he has enemies; and pretends, that the authors of thoſe informations which you have ſeen, were more bent upon doing him ill offices, than on telling the truth © That may be, (re- plied the archbiſhop) there are abundance of very dangerous diſpoſitions in tliis world, Beſides, granting that his conduct has not been always irre- proachable, he may have repented of his miſbe- haviour ; and in ſhort, there is mercy for every tranſgreffion, Bring the licentiate hither, I take off his ſufpenſion.”” | Thus it is, that the moſt ſevere men abate of their ſeverity, when more dear ſelf-intereſt is con- cerned, The archbiſhop granted, without diffi- culty, to the vain pleaſure of having his works well writ, that which he had refufed to the moſt power ful ſolicitations, I carried the news immediately to the ſteward, who imparted them to his friend ' Garcias, who the very next day, coming to make an acknowledgment of thanks ſuitable to the fa- vour obtained, I preſented him to my maſter, who: contented himfelf with: reprimanding him ſlightly, and gave him the homilies to tranſcribe. Garcias acquitted himfelf ſo well, that he was re-eſta- bliſhed in his miniſtry, and even obtained the living of. 2 — 3 * CAN eee 5 > 3 % * 55 I 3 * deſtiny. of Gabia, a large market-town in the neighbour- hood of Grenada. EAR IV, The archbiſhop is ſcized with a fit of the apoplexy, The dilemma in <vhich Gil Blas found himſc!f, and the method he took to be extricatcd, HILE I thus beſtowed my ſervices on dif- ferent people, Don Fernand being about to leave Grenada, I viſited that nobleman before his departure, in order to thank him anew, for the excellent poſt which he had procured for me, I appeared to him ſo well ſatisfied with my condi- tion, that he ſaid, My dear Gil Blas, I am ra- viſhed to find thee ſo well pleaſed with my uncle the archbiſhop,” © I am charmed with him, (I replied) and ſhall never be able to ſhew myſelf grateful enough ſor his generoſity to me, Nothing leſs could have conſoled me for the loſs of Don Cæſar and his ſon.”* © I am perſuaded (anſwered he) that they are both extremely mortified at your abſence ; but, perhaps, you are not ſeparated for ever: fortune may one day bring you together again.“ Melted by theſe words, I ſighed, and found at that inſtant my love for Don Alphonſo ſo great, that I would have willingly abandoned the archbithop, with all the agreeable hopes he had given me, to return to the caſtle of Leyva, if the obſtacle that baniſhed me from it had been re- moved. Don Fernand perceived the emotions of my ſoul, which pleaſed him ſo much, that he em- braced me with afſection, and aſſured me that his whole family would always bear a part in my + Two 26 The ADVENTURES of Two months after this gentleman's departure, in the very zenith of my favour, we had a hot alarm in the epiſcopal palace : the archbiſhop was ſeized with a fit of the apoplexy ; he was, however, ſuc- coured immediately, and ſuch ſalutary medicines adminiſtred, that in a few days his hea'th was re- eſtabliſhed : but his underſtanding had received a rude ſhock, which I plainly perceived in the very next diſcourſe which he compoſed. I did not, however, find the difference. between this and the reſt ſo ſenfible, as 'to make me conclude that the orator began to flag; and waited for another ho- mily to fix my reſolution. This indeed was quite. deciſive ; ſometimes the good old prelate repeated the ſame thing over and over; ſometimes roſe too High, or ſunk too low: it was a vague diſcourſe, the. rhetorick of an old profeſſor, a meer capu- cinade *. I was not tlie only perſon who took notice of this: the greateſt part of the. audience, when he pronounced it, as if they had been alſo hired to examine it, faid ſoftly to one another, This ſer- mon ſmells ſtrong of the apoplexy.“ Come, maſter homily-critick, (ſaid I then to myſelf) pre- pare to do your office: you ſee that his g ace be- gins to fail: it is your duty to give him notice of it, not only as the depoſitory of his thoughts, but likewiſe, leſt ſome one of his friends ſhould be free enough with him to prevent you : in that caſe you know what would happen; your name would be eraſed from his laſt will, in which there is, doubt- leſs, a better legacy provided for you, than the li- brary of the licentiate Sedillo. * Capucinade. A ſarcaſm on the ſermons of the capuchins, which are not remarkable for cortectneis of compoſit on. Aﬀer 5 - n r "I 3 4 CO Ye Dey 2 Lb Ron 4 eg 4 n 5 r VY "= - IF % Is Re 7 N 72 34 Sl 1 Sat op 4 I : * 50 fs 4 4 * CIL BLAS. 27 After theſe reflections, I made others of & quite contrary nature, To give the notice in que- ftion, ſeemed a delicate point : I imagined that it might be ill received by an author like him, con- ceited of his own works; but rejecting this ſug- geſtion, I repreſented to myſelf, that he could not poſſibly take it amiſs, after having exacted it of me in to preſſing a manner. Add to this, that I depended upon my being able to mention it with addreſs, and make him ſwallow the pill without reluctance. In a word, finding that I run a greater riſque in keeping filence than in breaking it, I de- termined to ſpeak, The only thing that embarraſſed me now, was how to break the ice, Luckily, the orator him- ſelf extricated -me from that difficulty, by aſking what people ſaid of him, and if they were ſatisfied with his laſt diſcourfe. I anſwered, that his ho- milies were always admired, but, in my opinion, the aſt had not ſucceeded fo well as the reſt, in affecting the audience. How, friend! (replied he, with aſtoniſhment) has it met with any Ari- ftarchus “?“ „ No, fir, (ſaid I) by no means: fuch works as yours are not to be criticized; every body is charmed with them. Neverthelefs, ſince vou have laid your injunctions upon me to be free and fincere, I will take the liberty to tell you, that vour lait diicourſe, in my judgment, has not alto- gether the energy of your other performances. Are not you of the ſame opinion?“ My matter grew pale at theſe words ; and faid with a forced ſmile, “ So then, Mr. Gil Blas, this piece is not to your taſte?“ © I don't ſay ſo, * Ariftarchus, a great critic in the time of. Philadelphus. Sir, 23 The ADVENTURES of Sir, cried I, quite diſconcerted : I think it excel- lent, although a little inferior to your other works.“ J underſtand you, (he replicd) you think I flag, 1 don't you? Come, be plain: you believe it is time for me to think of retiring.** * I ſhould not have been ſo bold (ſaid I) as to ſpeak fo freely, if your grace had not commanded me : I do no more, therefore, than obey you; and I moſt humbly beg that you will not be offended at my freedom,”” « God forbid, (cried he, with precipitation) God forbid that I ſhould find fault with it. In ſo do- ing, I ſhould be very unjuſt, I don't at all take it ill that you ſpeak your ſentiment ; it is your ſentiment only that I find bad, I have been moſt egregiouſly deceived in your narrow underſtanding,” Though I was diſconcerted, I endeavoured to find fome mitigation, in order to ſet things to rights again: but how is it poſſible to appeaſe an incenſed author, one eſpecially who had been ac- cuſtomed to hear himſelf praiſed, Say no more, my child, faid he: you are yet too raw to make proper diſtinctions. Know, that I never com- poſed a better homily than that which you diſ- approve ; for my genius (thank heaven) hath, as yet, loſt nothing of its vigour, Henceforth I will make a better choice of a confident, and keep one of greater ability than you, Go, (added he, puſh- ing me by the ſhoulders out of his cloſet) go tell my treaſurer to give you an hundred ducats, and may heaven conduct you with that ſum, Adieu, Mr. Gil Blas, I wiſh you all manner of proſperity, with a little more taite,”? 8 2 »* e ** a. . x wc we Ae — — x" a. q — = LY : - *” „„ a” ae RE” At; „ : RSS —— — — CHAP, ARES = - 8 A&A. It . # 1 — r . > TIE FLAS 29. The ftep that Gil Blas took after the archbiſpop bad diſ- miſſed bim. His accidental meeting oith the licentiate aubo bad been ſo much obliged to bim; with the gra- ztitude of that pricft, Went out of the cloſet, curſing the caprice, or rather weakneſs, of the archbiſhop, and more enraged againſt him, than afflicted at the loſs of his good graces. I even doubted ſome time, if 1 thould go and touch my hundred ducats ; but, after mature deliberation, I was not fool enougls to refuſe them. I conſidered, that this money would not deprive me of the right of ridiculing the prelate: in which, I was refolved not to be wanting, as often as his homilies ſhould be brought upon the carpet, in my preſence, I went, therefore, and demanded the hundred ducats of the treaſurer, without mentioning a ſingle word of what had happened between his maſter and me; and went afterwards in queſt of Melchior de la Ronda, to bid him an eternal adieu. He loved me too much to be inſenſible of my misfortune, which while I recounted, I per- ceived that grief was printed on his countenance. In ſpite of all the. reſpe& he owed the archbiſhop, he couid not help blaming his behaviour, But as I ſwore in my rage, that the prelate ſhould pay for it, and that I would make the whole town merry at his expence, the ſage Melchior ſaid to me, ** Believe me, my dear Gil Blas, you had better ſuppreſs your reſentment, People of an in- ferior rank ought always to reſpe& perſons of quality, whatever cauſe they may. have given them to complain, There are, I own, ſome very mean 20 The ADVENTURES of mean noblemen, who ſcarce deſerve the leaſt con- fideration ; but as they have the power of doing miſchiei, they are to be fearcd.” 1 thanked the old valet de chambre for his good advice, which I promiſed to obſerve, © It you go (ſaid he) to Madrid, you ſhall vifit Joſeph Na- varro, my nephew, who is clerk of the kitchen to Signior Don Balthazar de Zuniga, and, I dare ſay, a young man worthy of your friendſhip, frank, britk, obliging, and forward to ſerve his friends: J wiſh that h: and you may become acquainted, I anſwered, that I wonld not fail to wait on this Joſeph Navarro, on my firit arrival at Madrid, whither I was determined to go. I then quitted the archbiſhop's palace, with an intent never to ſet foot in it again, If I had Nill been in poſ- ſeſſion of my horſe, I ſhould have, perhaps, ſet out immediately for Toledo; but J had ſold him while 1 was in favour, believing that I ſhould have no further occaiion for his ſervice, I hired a furniſhed room, reſolving to ſtay a month at Grenada, and then repair to the Count de Po- lan. As dinner-time approached, I aſked of my land- lady, if there was not an cating-houſe in the neighbourhood ; and the antwering, that there was an excellent one a ſew iteps from her houſe, where there was very good accommodation, and that it was irequented by a great deal of good com- pany ; 1 made her ſhew me the place, and going thither a little after, I was directed into a large hall, which bore ſome reſemblance to a refeQory, Ten or twelve pecplc fat at a large table, covered with a dirty cloch, converſing with one another, while every one cat his own little portion, My meis was likewife brought, which, at another | time, e eee "26% A * e n rr PR - Ee IS GFFL .BEL-A-S 31 time, would, doubtleſs, have made me regret the table I had loſt: but J was then ſo much piqued againſt the archbiſhop, that the ſcanty allowance of my eating-houfe ſeemed preferable to the good cheer I had enjoyed in his palace, i condemned a variety of diſhes, and arguing like the doQor of Valladolid, Unhappy are thoſe, (ſaid I to myſelf) who frequent ſuch pernicious tables, where one muſt continually be on his guard againſt ſenſuality, for fear of overloading his ſtomach, Can one eat too little? In my ill humour, I praiſed thoſe very aphoriſms I had hitherto very much ne- glected. While I diſpatched my commons, without fear of excecding the bounds of temnerance, the licen- tiate Lewis Garcias, now become vicar of Gabia, in the manner already related, came into the hall. He no ſooner perceived me, than he came running to ſalute me with the utmoſt eagerneſs, or rather with all the expreſſions of exceſſive joy, He | hugged me cloſe, and I was obliged to undergo a very long compliment on the ſervice I had done him. He fatigued me with his demonſtrations of gratitude, ** *Fore gad, my dear patron, ſince I have had the good fortune to meet you here, we ſha'nt part without a glaſs; but as there is no good wine in this eating-houſe, 1 will carry you, it you pleaſe, after our ſcanty repait, to a place where I will treat you with a bottle of fine dry Lucena, and a glaſs of fine Muſcadine of Foncar- ral, We muſt certainly commit that debauch. I wiſh I had the happineſs of enjoying you a few days only, at my parſonage of Gabia, There you ſhould be received lize a generous Mecenas, to whom 1 owe the quiet and eaſy life J lead.“ 3 | While 32 The ADVENTURES ef While he talked to me in this manner, his al- lowance was ſerved, and he went to work, with- out ceaſing, however, to entertain me, at inter- vais, with ſomething which he thought would flatter my vanity, I laid hold of this opportunity to ſpeak in my turn; and as he did not forget to enquire about his friend the ſteward, I made no myſtery of my leaving the archbiſhop's ſervice. I even related to him the moſt minute circumſtances of my diſgrace, to which he liſtened with great at- tention. After what he had ſaid to me, who would not have expected to hear him, penetrated with |. the moſt grateful ſorrow, exclaim againſt the arch- biſhop? But this was the fartheft thing from his thoughts, He grew indifferent, penfive, finiſhed his dinner without ſpeaking a word, then riſing ſuddenly from table, bid me good b'w'ye, in a cool manner, and diſappeared. The ungrateful wretch, ſeeing me no longer in a condition to ſerve him, ſpared himſelf even the trouble of concealing his ſentiments, I laughed at his ingratitude, and Jooking at him with all, the contempt he deſerved, called to him aloud, that I might be heard, 4 Holloa ! you ſage chaplain of nuns, go and give orders to cool that delicious wine of Lucena, with which you have promiſed to regale me.“ | CHAP, YL il Blas goes to ſee a play at Grenada, His aſtoniſp- ment at the fight of one of the actreſſes; and the con- ſequences of that event. ARCIAS was no ſooner out of the hall, than two well dreſſed cavaliers came in and fat down by me: they began to talk of the players of the Grenada company, and of a new comedy | N which N I ; -— alt. = 2 n e 1 — — 0. 43 * 8 — — $$. ; O14. BLA'S. 33 which was then on the ſtage. This piece, ac- cording to their diſcourſe, made a great noiſe in the city; and I reſolved to go and ſee it that very day; for I had not been at a play ſince my ar- rival at Grenada. As I had almoſt all that time lived in the archbiſhop's palace, where that di- verſion was anathematized, I had taken care not to indulge myſelf in that pleaſure, but amuſed myſelf entirely with my maſter's homilies. L repaired, therefore, at the proper time, to the play-houſe, where I found a numerous aiſembly ; overheard, all around me, differtations on the piece, before it began, and obſerved that every body undertook to criticize it. One perſon de- clared himſelf for, another againſt the perform- ance. ©* Was there ever a work better compoſed ?*? faid one on my right, © What a pitiful ſtile!““ cried one on my left, Truly, if there are a good many bad authors, it muit be allowed there are ſtill a greater number of wretched critics: and when I conſider the mortifications that dramatic poets muſt undergo, I am aitonithed that there are any ſo bold, as to brave the ignorance of the mul- titude, and the dangerous cenſure of witlings, who ſometimes corrupt the judgment of the public, | At length the Gracioſo * preſented himſelf to open the ſcene, He was ſaluted, on his firſt ap- pearance, with a general clap; by which I per- ceived that he was one of thoſe fpoiled actors, in whom the pit pardons every thing. - And, indeed, this player did not ſpeak one word, nor perform one geſture, without attracting applauſe, The au- dience made bim too ſenſible of the pleaſure they * A favourite actor. VWL. Hy, E had r * 34 The ADVENTURES of had in ſeeing him on the ſtage ; and he abuſed their favour accordingly. I perceived that he ſome- times forgot himſelf in the middle of a ſcene, and put their prepoſſeſſion in his behalf to too ſevere a proof ; for they would often have done him ju- ſtice, had they hiſſed inſtead of extoling him to the ſkies. | There was likewiſe a clapping of hands at the appearance of ſome other actors, and in particular, of an aQreſs, who performed the part of a waiting- woman, whom, having conſidered with attention, no terms can expreſs my ſurprize, when I recol- lected in her the perſon of Laura, my dear Laura, whom I ſtill believed to be in the ſervice of Ar- ſenia at Madrid. I could not doubt that it was ſhe ; her ſhape, her features, the ſound of her voice, every thing aſſured me that I was not miſ- taken. Nevertheleſs, as if J had miſtruſted the evidence of my eyes and ears, I aſked her name of 'a cavalier, who ſat by me. Hey! (ſaid he) from whence come you? It ſeems you are juſt arrived, ſince you don't know the fair Eſtella.“ The reſemblance was too perfect for me to be de- ceived by this diſguiſe: I could eaſily conceive, that Laura, when ſhe changed her condition, had alſo altered her name ; and curious to know her ſituation, for the public is generally pretty well acquainted with the affairs of perſons in her ſphere, I begged to know of the ſame man, if this Eſtella had not ſome gallant of importance. He anſwered, that a Portugueze nobleman, called the Marquis de Marialva, who had been about two months at Grenada, was at a conſiderable expence on her account. ſhe had certainly caufe to be diſſatisfied, would probably diſclaim his acquaintance. All this did not diſſuade me from my deſign of going. After a ſlight repaſt, for ſuch only my eating-houſe af- forded, I went home to my lodging, where I waited impatiently for next day. I ſlept little that night, and got up before the | fun ; but, as I concluded that a nobleman's mi- ſtreſs would not be viſible ſo early, I ſpent t three ©; or four hours in dreſſing, ſhaving, powdefing, and perfuming ; ; reſolving to preſent myſelf before her, in ſuch a condition, as would give her no cauſe to bluſh at ſeeing me again. I ſallied out about ten o'clock, and repaired to her lodging, to which I received a direction, at the houſe where the players lived. She poſſeſſed the chief apartment of a large houſe; the door of which being opened to me, by a chambermaid, I told her, that I wanted to ſpeak with Dame Eſtella. The maid went in to ſignify my defire, and I im- mediately heard her miſtreſs pronounce, with a loud voice, © Who is this young man ? what does he want? Let him come in.“ By this I concluded, that I had choſen an unſeaſonable time for my E 2 viſit, GIL BLAS. 33 8 hs a FIDE — — ops ne 36 The ADVENTURES of viſit, that her Portugueze lover was at her toilet, and chat her reaſon for ſpeaking ſo loud, was to perſuade him that ſhe never received fuſpected meſſages. My conjecture was true; the Marquis de Marialva commonly paſſed the morning in her company; and I expected a very diſagreeable com- pliment, when this truly original actreſs ſeeing me appear, run to me with open arms, crying, % Ah! my dear brother! is it you ??* And, with theſe words, embraced me ſeveral times. Then turning to her gallant, ** My lord, (faid ſhe) par- don me for yielding to the force of blood in your preſence, After an abſence of three years, I can- not behold. a brother, whom I tenderly love, without giving him ſome marks of my affection. Well, my dear Gil Blas, (continued ſhe, addreſ- ſing me anew) tell me ſome news of my family, in what condition did you leave it? This queſtion embarraſſed me at firſt ; but T ſoon diſcovered Laura's intention, and ſeconding her artifice, anſwered, with an air ſuited to the ſcene we had to a, © Thank heaven, ſiſter, our parents are in good health,” © I don't doubt, (ſhe replied) that you are aſtoniſhed to find me an actreſs at Grenada; but do not condemn me un- heard. Three years ago, as you remember, my father thought he had ſettled me to advantage, by giving me in marriage to Captain Don Antonio Coello, who carried me from the Aſturias to Madrid, where he was born. Six months after our arrival in that city, having had an affair of honour brought upon him by his own violent hu- mour, he killed a cavalier, who had taken it in his head to favour me with ſome attention, This gentleman being related to perſons of great quality and credit, my huſband, who had no intereſt, fled - 2 into 75 vil — \ 1 1 40 . |. — 2 1: it * \ yh / [ * \\ TIED hor” " \ 0 [ 1 - - _ — age. Vol. II A L 8 2 2 A N fange. Ry N 1. — 77 70 9 „ A*. e RL 10 10 a * 0 {| | 1 15 iy — „ 5 1215 | - Yn Fel 0 Hi —_ RANT MAT 100 N * Wn Wy | 5 De 5 0 ill 1110 U 1 5 5 , t 4 , — ” In or = 1 * rette 1. %%% 444. 1 40 wy none + ee n FT f a TTL „ 7 eee 109 „eee „„ e Wl eff | es, ah | ht 10 oj * D | ; Þ No ng (Ir al of Wha) Prot 1 "it l 160 [ 1 0 el e bh 1 ſit Wim "on ti 1 N ! Th ” 160 10 y Ri Ne Will, Vi 5. N \l, i vl lot, We 0 169 | , U 1715 ) gil N 8 1 N mn ———— — vs 3 , a 1 * * wn, 5 ne * — 4 — 22 9 Raw? > a. * r : FR... A EH > | > — Wn_D 2<& _ * "RA - into Catalonia, with all the money and jewels he could find in the houſe ; embarked at Barcelona, croſſed into Italy, engaged in the ſervice of the Venetians, and at laſt loſt his life in the Morea, fighting againſt the Turks, In the mean time, our landed eſtate was confiſcated, and I had but a very ſmall jointure left. What could I do in fuch a troubleſome extremity ? I could not return _ into the Aſturias : for what purpoſe go thither ? all the conſolation I ſhould have received from my family, would have been no more than ſym- — and condolance. On the other hand, I had too well educated to be capable of embracing a life of libertiniſm, Upon what determination then could I fix? I have turned actreſs to preſerve my character.“ The Marquis de Marialva, who loſt not a word of the whole diſcourſe, implicitly helieved every ſyllable of what Don Antonio's widow was pleaſed to utter. He even joined in the converſation, and aſked if 1 wasin any buſineſs at Grenada or elſe- where. Having ended my narration, which I finiſhed with the lodging I had hired, word was brought E 3 that 38 The ADVENTURES of \ that dinner was on the table. Upon which I would have retired, in order to go and dine at my eating- houſe ; but Laura, ſtopping me, ſaid, © What do you mean, brother! you ſhall dine with me: and I won't even ſuffer you to live any longer in a hired room ; for I intend you ſhall both cat and lodge in my houſe, Order your baggage to be brought hither this evening, I have a bed to ſpare.” The Poriugueze nobleman, who, perhaps, was not very well pleaſed with this hoſpitality, ad- dreſſing himſelf to Laura, ſaid, No, Eſtella, you have not convenience for him in theſe lodgings. Your brother ſeems to be a pretty young fellow; and the advantage he has in being ſo dear to you, intereſts me in his favour. I will take him into my ſervice: he ſhall be my favourite ſecretary, and chief confident, Let him not fail to come and ſleep at my houſe this very night; for I will order an apartment to be prepared for the purpoſe. I will allow him a ſalary of four hundred ducats ; and if, in the ſequel, I have cauſe, as I hope I ſhall, to be ſatisfied with his behaviour, I will put him in a condition to confole himſelf for being too fincere with the archbiſhop.” The acknowledgements which I made to the Marquis at this juncture, were followed by thoſe of Laura, who improved upon mine. Say no more of the matter, (ſaid he, interrupting her) the thing js done,” So ſaving, he ſaluted his theatrical princeſs, and went away. She led me immediately into a cloſet, where ſeeing herſelf alone with me, I ſhould burſt, (cried ſhe) if I was obliged to reſiſt any longer the inclination J have to laugh. Then throwing herſelf into an eaſy- chair, and holding her fides, ſhe laughed im- mode- e | Gil 3 bA)S, | 39 moderately, as if ſhe had loſt her ſenſes. I found it impoſſible not to follow her example, and when we had indulged ourſelves ſufficiently, “ Confeſs, Gil Blas, (ſaid ſhe) that we have acted a pleaſant farce : but I did not expect ſuch a cataſtrophe my deſign being no other than to provide for you a table and lodging in my houſe ; which, that I might offer with decency, I made thee paſs ſor my brother, I am raviſhed that ſuch a good poſt has occurred to thee by accident. The Marquis de Marialva is a generous nobleman, who will even exceed his promiſe in thy favour. Another (added ſhe) might not, perhaps, have given ſuch a gracious reception to one who quits his friends without bidding them farewel : but I am one of thoſe good creatures, who cannot help ſeeing azain, with pleaſure, a rogue whom they have once loved.“ I candidly acknowledged my un- palite behaviour, for which I aſked pardon, She then conducted me into a very handſome dining- room, where we ſat down at table, and, as a waiting-woman and Jacquey were preſent, behaved to one another like brother and ſiſter. Having dined, we went back to the ſame cloſet where we had converſed together before. There my incomparable Laura, giving a looſe to all her natural gaity, demanded an account of all my ad- ventures ſince our ſeparation. 1 made a faithful recital of the whole; and when I had gratified her curioſity, ſhe gave me the ſame ſatisfaction, in re- counting the following hiſtory of herſelf, | CHAP, 40 The ADVENTURES of CHAP, vn. The hiftory of Laura. Am going to relate, as ſuccinctly as I can, by what accident I embraced the profeſſion of a player. Great events happened, after thou hadſt left in ſuch an honourable manner. My miſtreſs Arſenia, rather tired than diſguſted with the world, renounced the ſtage, and carried me with her, to a fine eſtate which ſhe had bought near Zamora, with the price of her favours, In this city we ſoon contracted acquaintance, and going thither, frequently, to paſs a day or two, came back again, and ſhut ourſelves up in our caſtle. In one of theſe ſmall jdurnies, Don Felix Mal- donado, the corregidor's only fon, faw me by accident, and happening to be pleafed with my appearance, ſought an opportunity of ſpeaking with me in private, which, that J may conceal nothing from thee, I own, was facilitated by my- ſelf, He was a cavalier not yet twenty years, old, fair as love himſelf, a mere pattern in ſhape, and ſtill more engaging by his gallant and generous dehaviour, than by his perſon: for he made me an offer of a large brilliant, which he had on his finger, with ſuch a good grace, and preſſing in- treaties, that I could not, for my ſoul, refuſe it. 1 did not poſſeſs ſuch an amiable gallant with in- difference, But what madneſs is it in Abigails, to attach themſelves to the young heirs of perſons in authority ! his father, the moſt ſevere of all cor- regidors, informed of our intelligence, made haſte to prevent the conſequences of it, and ordered me to be apprehended by a troop of alguazils, who car n 4 | R — , * tun . — L BLA VS. | 41 carried me, regardleſs of my cries, to the hoſpital of compaſſion. There, without any other form of proceſs, the ſuperior ordered me to be ſtript of my ring and dreſs, and cloathed with a long gown of grey ſerge, girded about me with a ſtrap of black leather, from whence a roſary of large beads hung down to my heels. This being performed, I was conducted into a hall, where I found an old monk, of an order that I did not know, who fell a preach- ing penitence to me, much in the ſame manner as Dame Leonarda exhorted thee to patience in the cavern, He told me that I was very much obliged to thoſe who cauſed me to be ſhut up in that place, for they had done me infinite ſervice, in reſcuing me from the ſnares of the devil. I will frankly own my ingratitude : far from thinking myſelf beholden to thoſe who had done me that pleaſure, I loaded them with imprecations. Eight days I paſſed in afflicting myſelf; but on the ninth, (for I counted the very minutes) my fate ſeemed to bear another aſpect. Croſſing a ſmall court, I met the ſteward of our houſe, a perſon who ruled with unlimited ſway ; the ſu- perior herſelf was under his command ; and he rendered an account of his Rewardſhip to none but the corregidor, on whom, alone, he depended, and whoſe entire confidence he enjoyed. His name was Pedro Zendono ; he was born in the town of Salſedon in Biſcay, being a tall, pale, meagre man, whoſe figure would have ſerved as an ex- cellent pattern for the picture of a rank rogue. He ſcarce ſeemed to look at the fiſters 3 and, in ſhort, thou never ſaweſt ſuch an hypocritical face, although thou haſt lived in an archbiſhop's pa- lace... Well — 42 The ADVENTURES of Well then, (ſaid ſhe) I met this Signior Zen- dono, who ſtopt me, ſaying, © Daughter, be com- forted, I am touched with your misſortune. He faid no more, but went about his buſineſs, leaving me to make what commentaries I pleaſed on ſuch a laconic text, As I believed him to be a good man, I innocently concluded, that he had taken the trouble of examining into the cauſe of my confine- ment, and finding me not guilty enough to deſerve ſuch unworthy treatment, was reſolved to do me a good office with the corregidor. I was little ac- quainted with the Biſcayan, who had quite other intentions, He then revolved in his mind, the ſcheme of a journey, which he imparted to me, a few days after. My dear Laura, (ſaid he) I am ſo much affected with your ſufferings, that I am reſolved to put an end to them immediately. In ſo doing, I know I ſhall embrace my own ruin ; but I am no longer maſter of myſelf, I intend to take you out of prifon to-morrow, and conduct you in perſon to Madrid; being reſolved to ſacri- fice every thing to the pleaſure of being your de- liverer. I was ready to ſwoon with joy, at thefe words of Zendono, who judging, by my acknowledge- ments, that I longed. for nothing ſo much as li- berty, had the impudence to carry me off next day, in fight of every body, by the following firaragem, He told the ſuperior, that he had or- ders to bring me to the corregidor, who was at a pleaſure-houſe two leagues from town; and, with the utmoſt aſſurance, made me get into a poſt- chaiſe with him, drawn by two good mules, which he had bought for the purpoſe, and at- tended by no other ſervants than a valet, who conducted the chaiſe, and was entirely devoted to the Le — * 8 GIL B LAS. 43 the ſteward. We ſet out, not for Madrid, as I imagined, but toward the frontiers of Portugal, where we arrived, before the corregidor of Zamora could get notice of our flight, and ſend the b:agies of juſtice in purſuit of us. Before we entered Braganza, the Biſcayan made me put on a ſuit of men's cloaths, which he had the precaution to provide ; and now looking upon me as fairly embarked with him, ſaid to me, at the inn where we lodged, © Fair Laura, be not offended with me, for bringing you into Portugal : for, the corregidor of Zamora will make ſearch for us in our native country, as two criminals, to whom Spain ought not to afford a retreat. But (added he) we can ſhelter ourſelves from his re- ſentment in this foreign kingdom, although it be, at preſent, under the dominion of the Spaniſh mo- narchy, Here we fhall, at leaſt, be more ſecure than in our own country. Follow, therefore, 2 man who adores you; and let us ſettle at Coim- bra, where I will become a ſpy for the holy office, and under the ſhade of that formidable tribunal, our days will ſmoothly ye in eaſe and pleaſure.” - Such a forward propoſal gave me to n ſtand, that I had to do with a chevalier, who did not chuſe to fedreſs the grievances of damſels, merely for the glory of knight-errantry. I per- ceived that he depended a good deal upon my gratitude, and ſtill more upon my diſtreſs. Never- theleſs, though theſe two conſiderations ſpoke to me in his behalf, I rejected his propoſal with diſ- dain, *Tis true, indeed, I had two ſtrong reaſons for ſhewing myſelf ſo reſerved : I diſliked his per- ſon, and diſtruſted his circumſtances, But, when returnipg to the charge, he offered to wed me, as | a 44 The ADVENTURES of a preliminary, and ſhewed me that his ſtewardſhip had put him in a condition to enjoy himſelf for a | long time, I won't deny that I began. to liſten to his addreſſes. I was dazzled by the gold and jewels, which he ſpread before me, and-found, by experience, that as many metamorphoſes are made by intereſt as by love, My Biſcayan became, gra- dually, quite another man 'in .my eyes : his tall, withered carcaſe aſſumed the form of a fine ſhape ; his pale complexion ſeemed agreeably fair; and 1 gave a favourable appellation. to his hypocritical look, I then accepted his hand, without reluc- tance, in the face of heaven, which he called to witneſs our engagement. After this, he ſuffered no contradiction on my part; we ſet out again on our travels, and, in a ſhort time, Coimbra beheld a new family within its walls, My huſband purchaſed for me, ſome handſome cloaths adapted to my own ſex, and preſented me with ſeveral diamonds, among which I recollected that of Don Felix Maldonado, This diſcovery was ſufficient to make me conceive how all the jewels 1 had ſeen were acquired, and to perſuade me that I had not married a ſcrupulous obſerver of the ſeventh article of the decalogue. But, conſidering myſelf as the firſt cauſe of his dexterity, I forgave him in my heart: for a woman will excuſe even the bad actions which her beauty prompts the men to commit; otherwiſe, I ſhould have thought him an execrable villain, I was pretty well ſatisfied with him, for two or three months, during which, he behaved in a gal- Jant manner, and ſeemed. to love me with great tenderneſs : nevertheleſs, theſe marks of affection were falſe appearances ; for. the rogue cheated me at laſt, One morning, on my return from mats, 1 3... Z——T— TX LO” SE ah 4 — , a * D r Ws y mr 1 * 3 * — HE * "0 TOTS.” r 0 "2 8 Fe, Fe 1 k 2 _— I WEE r * 3 e Ae — i * 4 2 GIL BLA S. This perſon, whoſe name was Dorothea, had been to viſit one of her relations ſettled at Coimbra, and was on her return to Seville, where ſhe lived, Such a ſympathy happened between her and me, that we became friends the very firſt day of our journey; and our mutual affection grew ſo ſtrong on the road, that, on our arrival, the lady would ſuffer me to lodge no where but in her houſe. I had no cauſe to repent of my acquaintance ; for ] never knew a woman of a better character; and one might till perceive, by her features, and the Vol. III. F ſpark- 46 The ADVENTURES of rkling of her eyes, that in her youth many a guitarre had been thrummed on her account : in- deed, the was the widow of ſeveral noble huſ- Gands, and lived in an honourable manner, on the zointures which ſhe enjoyed. Among other excellent qualities, ſhe had that of being very compaſſionate to unfortunate young women. When I imparted to her my own ftory, | ſhe entered warmly into my intereſts, and be- ſtowed a thouſand curſes on Zendono. What dogs theſe men are ! (ſaid ſhe, in a tone that made me gueſs ſhe had met with ſome ſteward in her way) perfidious wretches | there are ſuch villains in the world, who divert themſelves in deceiving women, What I am pleaſed at, my dear child, (added ſhe) is, that, according to your relation, you are no longer bound to that perjured Biſ- cayan: if your marriage with him was good enough to ſecure your reputation, by way of re- compence, it is alſo bad enough to permit you to contract 2 better, whenever you can find an opportunity. I went abroad every day with Dorothea, either to church, or to viſit; and this being the way to meet with ſome adventure ſoon, I attracted the notice of ſeveral cavaliers, who, in order to ſound the buſineſs, made intereſt with my old landlady: but ſome had not wherewithal to make a good ſet- tlement, and others were ſtill minors; ſo that I had not the leaſt defire of liſtening to any of them. One day, Dorothea and I took a whim of going to ſee a play at Seville; and upon.conſulting the bill, we found that the players intended to act, La Jamoſa comedia, el embaxador de Si ine compoſed by Lope de Vega — Hmong + | 1 I 3 | | awe on tm. on > eee 29 od __ ———_ Va. wwwdS A two af ww * — — As «@ „„ A £9... "Or LAT © 47 Among the actreſſes who appeared on the ſtage, 1 diſcovered my old friend Phenicia, that jolly N merry wench whom thou haſt ſeen, when ſne was waiting-maid to Florimonda, and with whom thou haſt ſometimes ſupped at Arfenia's houſe. I knew that ſhe had not been in Madrid for two years be- fore, but was ignorant of her being an actreſs. Having an eager defire of embtacing her, I found the piece very tedious : but this might be the fault of the actors, who played either too ill or too well, to yield me amuſement ; for as to me, who am a merry creature, I own myſelf as much diverted by a player who is perfectly ridiculous, as by one who is excellent in his way. At length, the moment I waited for being ar- rived, that is, the end of La famoſa comedia, my widow and 1 went behind the ſcenes, where we perceived Phenicia acting the coquet, and liſtening with affectation to the ſoft warbling of a young bird, which, it ſeems, had allowed itſelf to be enſnared by her declamation. She no ſooner ob- ferved me, than quitting her admirer with a courteous air, the came towards me with open arms, and loaded me with careſſes. We expreſſed our mutual joy in ſeeing one another again; but the time and place not permitting us to launch out into a long converfation, we deferred it till next day, when we might diſcourſe together more fully at her lodgings. 