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GIL BLAS, 



O F 



SANTILLANE. 



VOL. IV. 



i ^ 



THE 



ADVENTURES 



O F 



GIL BLAS, 



OF SANTILLANE. 



TRANttiTED IT 



T. SiMOLLETT, M. D. 



AUTHOR OF RODERICK RANDOM, 



VOL. IV. 



> fn 



^VA ..1. 



LIONS, 






Printed for ConMON and Blamg , Booksellen. 



8 I 5. 



^J, /S 



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f 




ADVENTURES 



O F 



GIL B L A S 

OF SANTILLANE. 
BOOK XL 



CHAP. L 

Gil Bias sets out for the Asturias. He passes 
through f^alladolid , where he visits his 
old Master f Doctor Sangrado ; and meets 
by Accident with Signior Manuel Or^ 
donnez , Director of the Hospital. 

W HiLE I was getting ready for my depar- 
ture from Madrid , with Scipio , on my 
journey to the Asturias , Pope Paul the Fifth 
named the Duke of Lerma to the cardinal- 
ship. This pope , being desirous of establis- 
hing the Inquisition in the kingdom of Naples, 
invested that minister with the purple , that 
he might engage him to make King Philip 
consent to such a laudable design. AH those 
who were well acquainted with this new 
member of the Sacred College , thought , like 
me , that the church had made a fine acqui*- 
sitioD. 

Vol. IV. A 






(2) 

Scipio , who would rather have seen mo 
ia a brilliant post at court , than buried in 
solitude , advised me to present myself be- 
fore the cardinal. « Perhaps , » said he , « his 
eminence , seeing you out of prison by the 
king's order , will think it unnecessary to 
appear any longer irritated against you , and 
take you into his service again.^ «Mr. Scipio, * 
answered I , <? you seem to have forgot that I 
obtained my liberty on condition that I should 
quit the Two Castilcs immediately. Besides , 
do you think me already disgusted with my 
castle of Lirias I I have told you once , and 
MOW repeat it , that if the Duke of Lerma 
would restore me to his good graces , and 
even offer me the place of Don Rodrigo de 
Calderona , I would refuse it. My resolution 
is taken j I will go in quest of my parents at 
Oviedo , and retire with them to Valencia. 
As for thee , my friend , if thou repentest of 
having joined thy fortune to mine , speak j I 
am ready to give thee one half of my money, 
and thou mayest stay at Madrid , and push 
thy fortune s^s far as it will go. „ 

« How ! ^ replied my secretary , nettled at 
my words , « can you suspect rhe of having 
any repugnance to follow you to your re- 
treat I my zeal and attachment are injured 
by your suspicion. What 1 Scipio', that faith- 
ful servant ! vvho , to share your aiHiction , 
would have willingly passed the remainder 
of hi$ days with you in the tower of Segovia 1 



(5) 

sliall he feel any regret in accompanying yon 
to an abode that promises him a thousand 
pleasures, f^o , no > I have no desire o( dis- 
suading you from your resolution. I must 
own , I was a little mischievous , when I 
advised you to shew yourself to the Duke of 
Lerma : I wanted to sound you , that I mi^ht 
know if some seeds of ambition did not slill 
remain in your breast. Well , then ; since 
you are so much detached from pomp aad 
grandeur , let us abandon the court immedia- 
tely , and go and enjoy those innocent and 
delicious pleasures , of which ve have formed 
such charming ideas. » 

We actually set out in a few days , moun« 
ted together in a chaise drawn by two good 
mules , and conducted by a young man , w^hit 
whom I thought proper to augment my train. 
We lay the first night at Alcala de Henares , 
and the second at Segovia ; from whence 
( without staying to visit the generous keeper^ 
Tordesillas) we got to Penafiel on the Duero, 
and next day to Valladolid. At sight of tlis 
• last place , I could not help heaving a pro- 
. found sigh ; and my companion , who per- 
ceived it , asking the cause.—- " Child, „ said 
I , *' I practised physic a long time in this 
city ; and my conscience Qpbraids me with 
it this moment ! Methinks all the sick people 
whom I killed come out of their tombs , and 
seem ready to tear me in pieces. „ ** What 
a fancy is this I ,f said my secretary :. « truly, 

A 2 



\ 



(4) 

Signior de Santillane , you are too good* 
Why should .you repent of having laboured 
in yo\ir vocation ? Observe the oldest physi- 
cians y do they feel any such remorse ? No , 
sure : they still go on in their old course , 
with the utmost tranquillity, throwing the 
blame of all fatal accidents on Nature , and 
claiming honour from every lucky event. „ 

*' True , „ said I j " Dr. Sangrado ,^whose 
method I faithfully followed , was a man of 
that character. Though he saw twenty people 
die daily upon his hands he was so well 
convinced of the excellence of bleeding in 
the arm , and plentiful draughts of warm va* 
ter , which he called his two speficics in all 
kinds of distempers , that , instead of suspec- 
ting his remedies , he believed that his pa- 
tients died because they had not drank and 
been blooded enough. ,, ** Egad 1 cried Scipio, 
bursting into a loud laugh ; *^ this must be an 
incomparable person ! „ ** If thou hast any 
cariosity to see and hear him , ,, said I , 
** thou mayest satisfy it tomorrow morning , 
provided Sangrado be still alive, and at Val* 
ladolid ; which I can scarce believe , for he 
was very old when I left him , and that hap- 
pened a good may years ago. „ 

Our first care , when we arrived at our 
inn , was to enquire about that doctor , whom 
we learned was not yet dead, but being too 
old to visit patients , or move about, he had 
givea place to tl^ree or four doctors^ wbci 



(5) 

had acquired reputation by a new method of 
practice , which did not succeed a with better 
than his. We resolved to stay all next day at 
Yalladolid, as well to rest our horses, as to 
visit Signior Sangrado , to whose house we 
repaired about ten o*clock in the morning , 
and found him sitting in an easy-chair , with 
a book in his hand. As soon as he perceived 
us , he got up , and coming to me , with a 
lirm step , considering his age , which was 
seventy, asked our business with him. « Mr. 
Doctor , )> said I to him , « don't you recol- 
lect me? I have the honour to be one of your 
disciples. Don't you remember a young man 
called Gil Bias , who formerly lived in your 
house , and was your deputy ? ^ — <i What , 
is it you , Santillane 1 )) answered he, embra- 
cing me i <( I should not have known you 
again. I am very glad to see you. What have 
you been doing since you left me I You have 
doubtless practised physic all along ? » « I 
was, indeed , » said I « sufficiently inclined 
to that profession, which, however, some 
strong reasons have hindered me from exer- 
cising. » 

« So much the worse , » replied Sangrado. 
« With the principles which you imbibed 
from me , you would have become an expert 
physician, provided Heaven had given you 
grace to preserve yourself from the dangerous 
love of chemistry. Ah, my son 1 » continued 
he I Yvith au air of sorrow » « what a change 

A3 



(6) 

has happened in physic within these few 
years I that art is robbed of all il's honour and 
dignity : that art , which in all times halh re- 
garded the life of man, is now a prey to rash- 
ness, presumption, and empirics; for their 
actions speak; and in little time the very 
stones will cry aloud against the cabals of 
ihese n€w practitioners. Lapides clamabiint* 
There are in this city physicians ( or such a» 
call themselves so ) who are yoked to the 
triumphal car of antimony. Currus triumphal 
lis antimonii. Truants from the school of Pa- 
racelsus , adorers of kermes^ accidental cures^ 
who make the whole science of medicine 
consist in knowing how to prepare chemical 
drugs. What shall I tell you I every thing is 
turned topsyturvy in their method. Bleeding 
at the foot , for example , hitherto so seldom 
practised, is now almost the only evacuation 
in use. Those purgatives which were for- 
merly gentle and benign , are now changed 
for emetics and kermes. The whole is a mere 
chaos, w^here each does what he thinks pro- 
per : transgressing those bounds of order and 
sagacity which our ancient masters had so 
wisely prescribed. » 

Whatever inclination I had to laugh at such 
a comical declamation , 1 had power to resist 
it. I did more , I exclaimed against kermes y 
without knowing what it was , and at a ven- 
ture wished those who invented it at the devil. 
Scipio , observiug that I made myself merr^ 



(1) 

with this scene , had q niiiid to act in it also. 
« Mr. Doctor, )> said he to Sangrado , « as I 
am graiid-ucphcw to a physician of the old 
school , give me leave to revolt with jou 
against chemical medicines. M^ late grand- 
uncle (test his soul ) was such a warm parli- 
zan of Hippocrates , that he olten hattled 
with quacks who spoke disrespectfully of that 
prince of p\iysic. True hlood will always 
shew itself; I would willingly perform the 
otdce of executioner to those ignorant innova- 
tors of whom you complain with such elo- 
quence and justice. What disorder must these 
wretches create in civil society I » 

< That disorder , ,, replied the doctor , 
** is more extensive than you imagine. My 
having published a book against the robbers 
uf medicine , was of no use : on the contrary , 
tlie mischief daily increases. The surgeons , 
mad with the ambition of acting as physi- 
cians , think themselves sufficiently qualified , 
when there is* nothing to be done but to give 
kermes and emetics , to which they add blee- 
ding at the foot , according to their own fancy. 
They even proceed so far , as to mix kermes 
in apozems and cordial potions ; and so they 
are on a par with your celebrated prescribers. 
This contagion has spread also among the 
dossiers. There are some monks wUo act 
both as apothecaries and surgeons. Those 
apes of medicine apply themselves to chcmis* 
try , and compose pernicious d) ugs , with 

A4 



(8) 

which they abridge the lives of their reverend 

fathers. In fine, there are more than sixty 
monasteries of men and women in Yallado- 
lid i so j^ou may judge what ravage is made 
in them , by kermes united with emetics , and 
bleeding in the foot. „ '* Signior Sangrado , „ 
said I , *^ you have reason to be incensed 
against these poisoners. I groan in concert 
with you y and share your alarms for the lives- 
of mankind , which are so manifestly threa- 
tened by a method so different^ from yours. 
I am very much aQraid that chemistry will 
one day occasion the total ruin of physic ; in 
the same manner as false money proves des- 
tructive to kingdoms. Heaven grant that fatal 
flay be not too near ! ,, 

At this part of our conversation , an old 
maid servant brought in for the doctor a little 
light bread on a salver , and a glass , with 
two bottles , one of which was filled with 
water, and the other with wine. After he 
had eaten a morsel of the bread, he took a 
draught of liquor ^ in which indeed there 
wvere two-thirds of water j but that did not 
aave him from the reproach which he gave 
me a handle to vent against him. ^* Ah, Ah ! ,, 
said I , ** Mr. Doctor , have I caught you iii 
the fact f you drink wine then 1 you who 
have always declared against that liquor ; you 
who, during three-lourlhs of your life, have 
drank nothing but water ! How long have 
ygu acted so iaconsistem wiib yourself? You 



1. 



(9) 

can't excuse yourself on account of your agt ; 
since , in one part of your writings , you de- 
sine old age a natural decay that witbers and 
consumes us ; and , in consequence of that 
definition , deplore the ignorance of those 
people who style wine the milk of old men. 
What , therefore , can you say in your owa 
justification I ,,. 

** You declare w^ar against me very nn* 
justly , ,9 replied the old physician. ** iiad I 
drank pure wine, you wouid have had soom 
reason to look upon me as an unfaithful ob* 
server of my own method ; but you see that 
my wine is very much diluted. „ *^ Another 
inconsistency , my dear master , „ said I : 
** don't you remember that you blamed the 
Canon Sedillo for drinking winV , although 
it ' was mixed with a great deal of water t 
Confess freely, that you are sensible of your 
error i and that wine is not a fatal liquor , as 
you advanced in your works , provided it be 
drank with moderation. ,, 

These words perplexed the doctor, who 
could not deny that he had forbid the use 
of wine in his book; but shame and vanity 
hindered him from owning that my reproach 
was just , as he did not know what answer 
to make. To extricate him out of this dilemma, 
I shifted the discouse ; and in a moment after 
took leave of him , exhorting him to keep his 
ground still against the new practitioners 
** Courage 9 Signior Saagrado I ,. ^nid I 

A 5 




( -o) 
liim ; " be indefatigable in decrying kermes , 
and combat against bleeding in the foot -yvi* 
thout ceasing. If , in spite of your zeal and 
physical orthodoxy, that empirical race should 
succeed in ruining true discipline , you will 
at least enjoy the consolation of having done 
your utmost to maintain it. „ 

As my secretary and I returned to the inn , 
conversing together about the diverting and 
original character of the doctor , a man of 
about five and sisty or sixty years of age pas- 
sed us in the street , walking with his eyes 
fixed upon the ground , and a large rosary 
in his hand. I viewed him attentively , and 
easily recollected him to l\e Signior Manuel 
Ordonnez , that pious director of the hospital , 
of whom such honourable mention is made 
In the first volume of my memoirs. I accos- 
ted him with great demonstrations of respect , 
saying — - « Health to the venerable and discreet 
Signior Manuel Ordonnez ! the most proper 
man in the world to manage the poor*s mo- 
ney. * At these words he eyed me narrowly ^ 
and answered , that he remembered my fea- 
tures , but could not recollect the place where 
he had seen me. « I was ofien at your house ^ 
( said I , ) « while you had in your service a - 
friend of mine called Fabricio Nunnez. p 
« Ah ! I remember you now ; » answered the 
director , with a satincal smile , « by this 
token y that you were both arch lads y and 

uyed together many tricks of youth. Well I 



(«' ) 

what is become of poor Fabricio ? every time 
I think uf him , 1 am uueasy about bit cir- 
cumstances. » 

« My motive , » said I , «for taking the li- 
berty of stoppiug you in the street , was to 
give you an account of him. Fabricio is at 
Madrid , employed in composing miscella- 
nies. » « What do you caU misceUnuies I * 
answered lie. 4. Thai is , » said t , «he writes 
ill prose and verse. ]Ie composes comedies 
and romances ; in a word , he is a young 
man of genius , and is very well received in 
the best families. » « But , » said the direc«- 
tor 9 « how stands he with his banker'? » — 
« Not quite so well , >^ answered I ; « as with 
people of fashion : between you and me , I 
believe he is as poor as Job. » « Oh I I don't 
at all doubt it , „ cried Ordonncz. *' Let him 
make his court to noblemen as much as he 
pleases ; his complaisance , flattery , and crin- 
ging , will bring less into his pocket thau his 
works. Remember I prophesy , that you will 
one day see him in the hospital. „ ' 

" That may very well be , „ I replied. 
** Poetry has brought many a one to that ca- 
tastrophe. My friend Fabricio would have 
done much better had he remained with your 
worship. lie woufd by this time have rolled 
in gold. ,, '* At le»'^st , he would have been 
in very easy circumstances, ,, said Manuel. 
*' I had a regard for him ; and would have , 
by raising him from post to post , procured 

A 6 



( 12 ) 

a solid settlement for him in the hospital v 
had he not been whimsical enough to set up 
for a wit. He composed a comedy ^ which 
was acted by the plajrers of this city : the piece 
succeeded , and from that moment his head tur- 
ned. He believed himself another Lope de 
Yega ; and preferring the smoke of public 
applause to the real advantages which mj 
friendship prepared for him , demanded his 

' disnriission. I remonstrated in vain ^ that he 
Yvas going to quit the substance , and run a£^ 
ter the shadow* I could not detain this mad- 
man y who was actuated with the fury of 
writing. He did not know his own interest, ^ 
added he. 4 The young man who succeeded 
him in my service is a living proof of this» 
Having more judgment , and less understan- 
ding ^ than Fabricio , he applied himself 
wholly to the execution of his commission , 
and studied to please me. Accordingly , I 
have promoted him as he deserved , and he 
now actually enjoys two employments at 
the hospital, the least of which is more thaa 
sufficient to maintain an honest man , encunsr 

; bered with a large family* ,, 



I 



( i5 ) 
CHAP. II. 

• 

Gil Bias continues his Journey , and arri- 
ves safeljr at Oviedo, The Condition in 
wJiich he found his Parents, llie Death 
oj his Father , and the Consequence the^ 
reof, 

Jr AOM Yalladolid v>'e got in four da^ to 
Oviedo , without meeting with any bad acci- 
dent on the road , notwithstanding the pro- 
verb, which says -—<* lliat robbers smell 
the money of travellers afar ofT. ,, We should 
have been , however , a pretty goo<l booty ; 
and two inhabitants of the cavern would have 
been sufficient to carry off our doubloons 
with ease > for I had not learned to grow va- 
liant at court ; and Bertrand , my woco de 
jnulas « ( '^ ) did not seem of a humour to die 
in defence of his master's purse : Scipio was 
the only Hector among us* 

It being night when we arrived in town , 
we went to lodge at an inn hard by the house 
of my uncle the Canon Gil Perez. I was wil- 
ling to understand he situation of my parents 
before I should appear as their son ; and , for 
this piece of information. I couki not apply 
to a more proper person than my landlord 
or his wife , whom I knew to be people 
who were very well acquainted with the af- 

(*) A mttle*driTor» 



(14) 

fairs of their neighbours. In eftect , the land- 
lord , after having eyed me "v^^th attention , 
recollected my face , crying , — *' By St. An- 
tonio de Padua ! this is the son of honest 
Usher Bias of Santillane. „ ** Yes , truly , „ 
said his wife , " it is he indeed 1 he is very 
little altered : it is the same little brisk Gil 
Bias , who had alvays more spirit in his heart 
than beef on his bones. I think I see him still 
coming to this house , with his bottle , for 
wine to his uncle's supper. „ 

" Madam , „ said I , " you have a very 
happy memory , but , pray , tell me the news 
of my family ; my father md mother are 
doubtless in no very agreeaole situation. ,, 
** That is but too true , „ replied the landlady : 
** how bad soever you may think their con- 
dition is , you cannot conceive them more 
distressed than they are. Gil Perez , honest 
man, has lost the use of one half of his body 
by the palsy , and in all appearance cannot 
last long : your father , who has lived of late 
with the canon , has got a defluxion in the 
breast , or rather is at this moment in the 
agonies of death ; and your mother , though 
far from being well , is obliged to serve as a 
nurse to both. „ 

On this report , which made me feel that I 
was a son ,- I'left Bertrand with my equipage 
at the inn , and , attended by my secretary , 
who would not quit me , repaired to my un- 
cle's house. As soon as I appeared bei^re my 



^ 



( i5) 
mother > an emotion which I caused in bef ^ 
signified my presence before her eyes had dis* 
linguisheri my features. ^^ Son , ,, said she f 
with a melancholy air , after she had embra* 
ced me , ^^ come , and see your father breath? 
his last : you are come time enough to b? 
•truck with that cruel spectacle. ,, So saying , 
she carried me into a chamber where the un- 
fortunate Bias of SanliUane , laying on a be4 
that too well denoted the poverty of an usher f 
drew near his exit. Though he was environed 
by the shades of death , his senses had not 
quite forsaken him. ** My dear friend ^ ,, said 
my mother to liim , *' here is your son Gil 
Bias , who begs your forgiveness (or the sor^- 
rows he has occasioned , and asks your bles- 
sing. „ At these words , my father ^ opening 
his eyes , which death had begun to close , 
fixed them upon me » and observing , in spite 
of his own lamentable condition , that 1 was 
very much affected with the loss of him , seit- 
med moved at my grief, and attempted to 
speak , but had not strenght enoug to utter 
one word. I took hold of one of his hands ; 
and while I bathed it with my tears , unablis 
■to pronounce a syllable , he expired , as if he 
had waited for my arrival before he shoulfl 
breathe his last. 

My mother was too well prepared, for his^ 
death to be immoderately afflicted at it , and I 
was perhaps more grieved than she , although 
zny fiitber bad mver given me the ie4»t niArlfL 



( «6 ) 
of friendship in his life ; my being his son iya» 
a sufTicieut cause for me to lament him ; be- 
sides , I upbraided myself for not having assis- 
ted him in his distress ; and when I reflected 
on my hard-heartedness , looked upon myself 
as a monster of ingratitude , or rather as a 
downright parricide. My uncle , w^hom I af- 
terwards beheld stretched on a trucklebed , 
and in a miserable condition , made me feel 
fresh remorse. ^^ Unnatural son 1 „ said I to 
myself, ** contemplate , for thy punishment , 
the misery of thy parents. If thou hadst giveu 
them a small share of the superfluity w^hich 
was in thy possession before thou wast im- 
prisoned , they would have enjoyed conve- 
niences which the revenue of the prebend 
could not afford ; and , perhaps , thou wouldst 
have prolonged the life of thy father ! „ 

The unfortunate Gil Perez was become a 
child again , having lost both his memory 
end judgment : In vain did I press him in my 
arms with marks of real affection ; he seemed 
insensible of what I did. When my^mothef 
told him that I was his nephew Gil Bias , he 
looked at me with an unmeaning eye , and 
made no answer. Though blood and gratitude 
liad not obliged me to lament an uncle fb 
whom I owed so much , I could not have 
beheld him in a condition so worthy of pity 
Vvithout feeling the emotions of compassion* 

All this time Scipio remained in a melan- 
choly silence ; partook of my afSicUoa > aod , 



1 



( '7 ) 
through friendship , mingled his sighs wilh 

mine. As I concluded that ir\y mother , after 
9uch a long absence , wanted to converse 
-with me , and that she might be oneasy at the 
presence of a man whom ^e did no know » 
I took him aside , and said — - ** Go , m^ child p 
go , and repose thyselt at the inn , and leav* 
me here with my mother , who , perhaps ^ 
will think thee one too many in a cuuversa* 
tion that will whoJIjr thurn on familjr affairs. ,, 
Scjpio, rather than put us under any restraint, 
retired ; and I actually discoursed with my 
mother the best part of the night. We ga¥« 
one another a faithful account of what had 
happened to us since my departure for Oviedo. 
She was minute in the detail of those morti- 
fications she had suffered in the families wher« 
she had been ^uenna , and told me an infinite 
number of things on that subject which I was 
glad my secretary did not hear , though h« 
yvas entrusted with all my secrets. With all 
the respect that I owe to the memory of a 
mother , 1 must own that the good lady was 
a little prolix in her narration ; and she 
would have sparet me three fourthts of her 
history « had she suppressed all the trivial 
circumstances of it : she concluded at length » 
and I began mine. I passed lightly over all 
my adventures : But when I came to the visit 
which I received at Madrid from the son ot 
Bertrand Muscada , the grocer of Oviedo , I 
ealairgod upon Uiat artlcU* ** I own ^ ,> wd I 



( '8) 
to tmy mother , '* I gave that young man a very 
bad reception j who, to be revinged, hes doubt- 
less dravvn a very frightful picture of me. „ 
" la that be did not fail ^ j, answered she ; ** he 
told us that he found you so proud of the favour 
of the prime-minister , that you scarce deigned 
to recollect him ; and , when he described 
our distress , heard him with the utmost indif- 
ference. As parents , ,, added she , " always 
endeavour to find excuses for the behaviour 
of their ^ildren, we would not believe that 
you had such a bad heart. Your arrival at 
Oviedo justifies our good opinion of you , and 
your present sorrow confirms your apology. ^ 
« You judge too favourably of me., „ I re- 
plied : ** there is a great deal of truth in young 
Muscada's report. When he visited me , I was 
wholly engrossed by the care of making my 
fortune ; and the ambition that possessed me , 
would not permit me to think of my parents. 
It must not therefore be wondered at, if in 
this disposition , I gave an unwelcome recep- 
tion to a man who accosted me so rudely , 
told me in a brutal manner* that, hearing I 
was richer than a Jew , he came to advise me 
to send you some money, of which you stood 
in great need : he even reproached my indif- 
ference for my family in very indecent terms. 
I was shocked at his freedom; and , losing pa- 
tience , pushed him by the shoulders out of my 
closet. I .own I was to blame in this recoun- 
ter: I ought to bave^refleted , that it was not 




( '9) 

your fanlt if the grocer wauled manners , and 
that his iidvice was never the wor^e for its 
being brutally delivered. 

•' This was what I represented to myself 
immediately after I had sent Muscada ahoui 
his business. IMy blood spoke in your behali ; 
I recalled all my duty to my parents i and , 
blushing for shame for having performed it 
so ill , felt remorse , which nevertheless can 
do me no honour with you , because it wat 
soon sti^od by avarice and ambition : but , 
ha'ving been ailerwards imprisoned by the 
king's order , in the tower of Segovia , I fell 
dangerously ill , and that happy distemper 
hath restored joar son to you : yes » it was my, 
disease and imprisonment that made Nature 
resume all her rights, and entirely detached 
me from court. I now thirst alter solitude ^ 
and my sole motive for coming to the Asturiaft 
was to entreat you to share with me th^ 
sweets of a retired life. If you don't, refuse my 
request , I will conduct you to an estate which 
I have in the kingdom of Valencia, where we 
shall live at our ease. You may believe I in* 
tended to carry my father thither , but , since 
Heaven hath ordained it otherwise , let me 
have the satistaition of enjoying my mother's 
company , and of making amends to her for 
my past neglect by all imaginable care. )» « I 
am very much obliged to your laudable in- 
tention , » said my mother, « and would ga 
>Yilhout he;iiUtioa , if I saw i^ objeclioiu i^ 



(20 ) 

the case ; but I will not leave my brother 
( your uncle ) in this deplorable condition ; 
and! am so much used to this country , that 
I cannot now quit it. However , as the thing 
deserves due consiideration , I will think of it 
at leisure : let us at present take care of your 
father's funeral. i» « That , » said I , « shall be 
ordered by the young man whom you saw 
along with me ; he 13 my secretary , and has 
such zeal and understanding , that we may de- 
pend upon his care. i» 

Scarce had I pronounced these words when 
Scipio returned , it being already day > and 
asking , if we had any occasion for his service 
in ou|* perplexity , I told him that he came 
very seasonably to receive an important order 
which I fcad to give. When he knew what 
the business was -^ « Enough, » said he : «I 
have already contrived the whole ceremony , 
and you may trust to my discretion. » « Bewa- 
re , » said my mother , « of making a pompous 
burial : It cannot be too modest for my hus- 
band , whom all the town knew to be a very 
indigent usher. » — « Madam , ( replied Sci- 
pio , ) » had he been still more needy than he 
was 9 I would not abate two farthings of the 
expence ; for in this I regard my master only $ 
ht has been the Duke of Lerma's favourite, 
and his father ought to be nobly interred. 

I approved of my secretary's design , an<} 
even desired him to spare no cost : the remains 
of vanity wbicb I still preserved , broke out 



V 



(21) 

•n this occasion : I flattered myself, that ia 
being at a great expence upon a father who 
left me no inheritance , 1 should make the 
world admire my generous behaviour. My 
mother , for her part , whatever modesty she 
affected , was not ill-pleased to see her hus- 
band buried in splendour. We therefore gave * 
a charte blanche to Scipio ; who , without 
loss of time^f took all necessary measures for 
a superb funeral. 

He succeeded but too well ; and performed 
such magnificent obsequies , that he brought 
the whole city and suburbs on my back -, all 
the inhabitants of Oviedo , from the highest 
to the lowest, being shocked at my ostenta- 
tion. 4(This minister, » said one , «is in a great 
hurry to lay out money on his father's inter- 
ment ; but he was in none to maintain him. ,, 
'* He would have done better , „said another » 
he succoured his father when he was alive , had 
than to honour him so niucb now that he is 
deadf „ In short, reproaches were not spared; 
every one had a fling at me ; but they did not 
stop here ; they insulted Scipio, Bertrand , and 
me , as we came out of church , loaded us 
with revilings , and hooted us as we walked 
along, and conducted Bertrand to the inn with 
a shower of stones. 

To disperse the mob that was gathered be- 
fore my uncle's house , there was a necessity 
for my mother's shewing herself, and decla- 
ring } that she was perfectly well sati^fi^4 



( 22 ) 

^ith my conduct. Some ran to the public 
liouse , in order to demolish my chaise ^ and 
this they certainly would have done , if the 
landlord and his wife had not found means 
to appease their fury , and dissuade them 
from iheir design. 

All these affronts , which were the effects 
of the young grocer*s report of me through 
the city , inspired me with such aversion for 
my townsmen , that I determined speedily to 
leave Oviedo , where , otherwise , I should 
•perhaps have staid a good while. This -I 
plainly told my mother, who, being very 
much mortified at the reception with which 
the people had regaled me , did not oppose 
my departure. What remained now , was to 
knowhow I sould dispose of her. " Mother,,, 
said I, "since my uncle wants your assis- 
tance , I will not press you to go along with 
xne at present i but as , in all appearance , he 
has not long to live , you must promise to 
come to my estate immediately after his de- 
cease. » 

** I will make no such promise, „ arnswe- 
red my mother ; " being resolved to pass the 
rest of my days in the Asturias , in perfect 
independence. „ *' Will not you always , „ 
said I , *' be mistress in my house ? „ — " I 
don't know that , ,, she resumed : **you may 
fall in love with some young girl , and marry 
her ; then I shall be her mother-in-law ; con- 
sequently we cannot live together.,, *'Y0>i 



(a5) 
foresee misfortune, ,, said I, *^ at too gre.it t 
distance : I have no intention to nnarry ; but, 
if the fancy shouhi strike me , depend upon 
it, I will oblige my wife to bo implicitly sub- 
missive to your will. „ *' 'I'hat is proniiaing 
too much , „ resumed my mother ! '^ I shouUl 
want security for my bondsman , and would 
not even swear , that, in our disputes , yo\x 
would not take the part of your wife ralhcr 
than mine, bow farsocver she might be in the 
wrong. „ 

** You talk reasona})]y , Madam , i> cried my 
secretary , jointtig in the conversation ; « 1 ani 
of your opinion, that submissive daughters* 
|n-law are very rare. In the mean time, to 
accomnf!t>date matters between you and my 
master, since you are absolutely resolved to 
'live in the Asturias , and he in the kingdom ef 
Valencia, he must grant you an allowance 
of one hundred pistoles , which I shall brii>g 
hither every year. By these means , the mo- 
ther and son will live very happy at the dis- 
'tance of two hundred leagues from one ano- 
iher. ,y The parties concerned approved of the 
proposal : I paid the first year's annuity per 
advance, and quitted Oviedo next morning 
before break of day , that I might not be trea- 
ted by the populace like another St. Stephen. 
'Such was the reception I met with in my 
own country. An excellent lesson for those 
people of the common rank , who, after ^4- 



(^4) 

ving got a fortune abroad , return to the place 
of their nativity , and affect the gentleman of 
importance. 

CHAP. III. 

Gil Bias departs from the Kingdom ofVa^ 
lencia , and at lenght arrives at Lirias* A 
Description of his House. His reception j 
with an Account of the People he found 
there* 

VrE took the road to Leon , then to Valen- 
cia ; and , continuing our journey by short 
ctages , in ten days arrived at the city of Se- 
gorba ; from whence , next morning , we re- 
paired to my estate, which was but three lea- 
gues distant from it. As we drew near this 
place , my secretary observed , with great at- 
tention , all the country seats that presented 
themselves to his view , on the right and lefl , 
and , when he perceived one of a grand appea- 
rance , he always pointed to it with his finger , 
and said— "I wish that was our retreat. ,, ** I 
don't know, friend, „ said I to him, '< what idea 
thou hast formed of our habitation i but , if yoa 
imagine that it is a magnificent house , like 
that on some nobleman's estate , I tell you , 
beforehand , that you are furiously mistaken* 
If thou hast not a mind to be the dupe of 
thy own imagination , represent to thyself 
the small house which Horace enjoyed in (he 

country 



( 2? ) 

country of the Sabines, near the Tyber^and 
which he received ns a present from Mae- 
cenas. ,, ^^ Then I must expect to see a cotta- 
ge ! „ cried Scipio. *^ Remember , „ I replied » 
« that I have already given yo\x a description of 
it i and this moment thou mayest thisolf judge 
whether or not I am a faithful painter. Cast 
thy eyes towards the Guadalaviar , and ob- 
serve on its banks , hard by that small ham- 
let f the house, consisting of four smM pa- 
vilions ; that 18 my castle. » « How the de- 
vil i » said my secretary , with surprize : 
4 That house is a perfect jewel ! Besides the 
noble air that these pavilions give it , it is 
extremely well built , and surrounded by a 
more charming country than even the neigh- 
bourhood of Seville , whit:h is called , by 
way of excellence, The Terrestrial Paradise. 
Had we chosen our abode , it could not have 
been more to my taste ; a river waters it with 
its stream , and a thick wood lends its shade , 
when we are inclined to walk in the middle 
of the day. What an amiable solitude is this 1 
Ahf my dear master i in all appearance we 
shall not quit this place in a hurry. )> <( I am 
overjoyed , » answered I , « that thou art 
so well satisfied with our asylum , wliich is 
more agreeable still than you imagine. » Con- 
versing in this manner , we approached 
the house ; the gate of which was thrown 
open , as soon as Scipio signified that it was 
Signior Gil Bias de Santillane , who came 
Vol. IV. "^ B 




(=6) 

f take possession of his castle. At that name , 
so respected by those who heard it pronoun- 
ced , my chaise was admitted into a large 
court , w^here I alighted : then leaning on 
Scipio , and taking state upon mjself , I went 
into a hall , where I was scarce arrived , 
when seven or eight servants appeared. They 
said they came to present their homage to 
their new master j that Don Caesar , and Dott 
Alphonso de Leyva , had chosen them for my 
service ; one in quality of cook , another as 
V cook's assistant , a third as scullion , a fourth 
as porter , and the rest as lacquies : with 
orders to receive no money from me , these^ 
two noblemen intending to defray all the 
expcnces of my house- keeping. Master Jpa«- 
chim , the cook , who was the principal , 
and spokesman of these domestics , gave « 
me to understand , that he had laid in a large 
stock of the best wines in Spain ; and told 
me , that as to eating , he hoped a young 
fellow 9 like him , who had been cook six 
years to the Archbishop of Valencia , must 
know how to compose ragouts that w^ould 
tickle my palate. « I will , » added he , « fall 
presently to work , and produce a sample of 
my skill. Take a walk, Signior, while din- 
ner is getting ready ; visit your castle , and 
see if it be in a habitable condition. » 

** I leave the reader to judge , whether or 

not I neglected this visit ; and Scipio , still 

ng<'9 c^riQus thau I , dragged me from room ^9 



(»7) 

room. We surveyed the whole hou.^e from top 
to bottom ; the least corner ( as yve imagined ) 
did not escape our interested curiosity ^ and 
I had every where occasion to admire the 
bounty of Don Caesar and his son. Among 
other things I was struck with the appearance 
of two apartments , which were as well 
furnished as they possibly could be without 
magnificence ; one of them was hung v^jiVfi 
Arras tapestry , and had in it a bed aiiH 
chairs of velvet , $tiU very handsome , though 
made while the Moors possessed the kingdom 
of Valencia. The furniture of the other was in 
the same taste , consisting of hangings mr.de 
of 'old Genoa damask , with a bed and elbow 
chnirs of the same stuff, adorned with fringes 
of blue silk. All these effects , which would 
have been little valued in an inventory , ap- 
peared there very considerable. 

After having thoroughly examined evevj 
thing , my secretary and I returned to the 
hall y where the cloth was laid with two 
covers. We sat down at table , and in a mo- 
ment was brought in sT olla podrida , so 
delicious , that we pitied the Archbishop of 
Valencia for having lost the cook that com« 
posed it. At every morsel we eat , my new 
lacquies presented to us large glasses filled to 
the brims with wine of a most exquisite re- 
lish. Scipio , not daring to shew before them 
the inward satisfaction that he felt i expressed 

B 2 



i 



(28) 

himself to me by eloquent looks ; and I gave 
him to understand , by the same language , 
that I was as well satisfied as he. A dish of 
roast meat , composed of two fat quails , 
which flanked a leveret of an admnabhjijmetf 
made us quit the olio , and finish our repast. 
When we had eaten like two gormandizers , 
^pd drank in proportion , we got up from 
.table , and walked into the garden , to enjoy 
a vt>lijptuous siesta , (^) in some cool agreea- 
ble place. 

If my secretary seemed hitherto satisfied 
with what he had seen , he was more so , 
when he beheld the garden , which he thought 
comparable even to that of the Escurial. It is 
true , Don Caesar , who came frequently to 
liirias , took pleasure in having it cultivated 
and embellished : the walks well gravelled , 
and bordered vvith orange trees ; a great ba- 
•son of white marble , in the middle of which 
a brazen lion vomited out great gushes of 
water ; the beauty of the floyvers , the variety 
of fruits i all these . objects ravished Scipio : 
but he was in a peculiar manner enchanted 
with a long walk that led by a gentle descent 
all the way to a farmer's house 9 and was 
shaded by the interwoven boughs of the trees 
planted oi> each sidp. Here we stopped to 
inake the eulogium of a place so proper for 

(*) Siesta i^ he^e used to express the afternoon's nap. 
(|ljoyQ4 ^very d^y by the iuhabitants of hot cUma^e^, 



(29) 

an asylum against the heat of the day , and 
sitting down at the root of a young elm , 
sleep easily surprised two merry boys , who 
had just made such a good diiuier. 

Two hours after , we started up , awa- 
kened by the noise of several shot ^ which 
seemed so near that we were frightened. Wo 
got up \\\ a hurry , and repaired to the far- 
mer's house , where we found eight or tea 
peasants , ail inhabitants ofihe hamlet, who 
had scoured and fiied their fusils to celebrate 
my arrival , of which llioy had got notice. 
The greatest part of them knew me , hiwing 
seen me more than once at the castle in the 
exercise of my stewardship. They no sooner 
saw me , than they cried all together. «. Long 
life to our new master , who is welcome to 
Lirias I ^ Then they londed their pieces , 
and regaled me with a general discharge. I 
received them as courtiously as I could i 
preserving my gravity , however ; thinking 
it improper to be too familiar with them. 
I assured them of my protection , lefU wenty 
pistoles among them j and this , I believe , 
they did; not look upon as the most disa- 
greeable part of my behaviour. I afterward 
left them at liberty to spend more pow- 
der , and retired with my secretary into the 
wood , where we strolled about till night , 
without being tired with beholding the gro- 
ves ; so charming is the first view of a new 
possession. 

B 5 



( 5o ) 

The cook , his assistant , and scullion , 
were not idle in the mean time ^ the^ were 
busy in preparing a repast , even superior to 
that which we had eaten > and we were ac- 
tually astonished , when , returning into the 
same hall where we had dined , we saw them 
y)lace upon the table a dish of roasted partrid- 
ges , with a cive C*" ) of rabbit on one side , 
and on the other a capon in ragout. The next 
course of dainties consisted of pig's ears , pic* 
kled cheeks , and cream chocolate. We drank 
plentifully of Lucena , and several sorts of 
excellent wine j and when we found we could 
drink no more , without exposing our healths , 
we thought of going to bed. Then my lacquies 
taking lights , conducted me to the best apart- 
ment , where they gave me my gown and 
ni^ht-cap. I dismissed them , saying , with 
a magisterial air. — « Leave me , gentlemen ; 
I have no farther occasion for you to-night. » 

I sent them all away ; and keeping Scipio 
for a little conversation , asked what he thought 
of the treatment I received by order of the 
noblemen of Leyva. « In faith ! )^ answered 
he 9 « I think you can't be treated better : I 
only wish that this may last. :» « I entertain 
no such wish , » I replied. « It ill becomes 
me to let my benefactors be at such an ex- 
pence on my account > this were to abuse their 

C^) A civ is I iiuce made of the entraiU of a hare or 
rabbit. 



^« 



(5i ) 

generosity ; besides , I can*t put up with s^N 
vatits who are paid by another ; 1 should not 
believe myself in my own house. Neilher am 
I come hither to live in a bustle ; we havo 
no occasion for such a great number of do- 
mestics i we want no more than Bertrand , 
a cook , a scullion , and lacquey. » Although 
tny serretary w^ould not have been sorry to 
live always at the expeuce of the governor 
of Valencia , he did not oppose my delicacy 
in this afTair ; but conforming himself to my 
sentiments , approved of the reform I inten- 
ded to make. This being determined , he lelt 
me I and retired into his own apartment. 

CHAP. IV. 

He departs from Valencia , to visit //*# 
Noblemen of Leyya, His Conversation 
with them , and the kind Reception he met 
with from Seraphina. 

1 Undressed , and went to biHl ; where , fee* 
ling no inclination to sleep , I abandoned my<» 
self to reflection. I represented to myself the 
friendship with which the noblemen of Leyva 
repaid my attachment to thent ; and , pene* 
trated with these new marks of their affec- 
tion f resolved to go the very next day , and 
satisfy the longing impatience I had of seeing 
and thanking them for their favours. I like* 
wise enjoyed , by anticipation , the pleasure 

B4 



(32) 

of seeing Seraphina again ; but that pleasni^ 
was not pure i I could not , without un^sW 
ness , consider that I must , at the same time , 
support the looks of Dame Lorenca Sephora , 
who 9 perhaps , remembering the adventure 
of the box on the ear, would not be overjoyed 
at sight of me. Fatigued with all these diffe- 
rent ideas , [I at length fell asleep , and did 
not w^ake till after sun-rise. 

I was soon a foot ; and , wholly engrossed 
by my intended journey , dressed myself in a 
hurry. Just as I had done adjusting myself, 
my secretary coming into my chamber — - 
« Scipio , i> said 1 , 4i you see me ready to» 
set out for Valencia. I cannot make too much 
haste in going to salutethe nobfemen to v^^honi 
I owe my small fortune : every moment that 
I delay to acquit myself of this duty , seem» 
to accuse me of ingratitude. As for thee , my 
friend , I dispense with thy attendance ; stay 
here in my absence , and I will come back 
. again in eight days. )> « Go , Sir , » he re- 
plied i « pay your respects to Don Alphonso 
and his father , who seem so sensible of your 
zeal 9 and grateful for the services you have 
done them : persons of quality , of that cha- 
racter 9 are so rare , that they cannot be too 
much esteemed. i> I ordered Bertrand to get 
ready for our departure ; and while he yoked 
the mules 9 I drank my chocolate j then I got 
into my chaise , alter having, laid injunctions 
^ipon my people to regard my secretary a» 



(35) 
my other self^ and to follow his orders as i£ 
they were my own. 

I arrived at Valencia in less ihan four 
hours ; and going strait to the governor's sta« 
bles , there alighted , left my equipage , and 
was conducted to the apartment of that no- 
bleman , who was then wath his father Don 
Caesar. I opened the door , entered without 
ceremony , and accosted him in these words i— 
« It does not become valets to send in their 
names to their masters : here is one of your 
old servants come to pay his respects. » So 
saying , I would have kneeled before them ; 
but they hindered me from so doing , and em- 
braced mo , one after another , with all the 
expressions of genuine affection. « Well , 
my dear Sautillane , i> said Don Alphonso , 
have you been at Liiias to take possession of 
your estate I )> — « Yes , Signior , » replied 
I i <' and 1 hopeyou will give me leave to res- 
tore it* » « For what reason I » said he : « is 
ftere any thing disagreeable about it , that 
gives you disgust I i> ^ Not in itself, )> I resu- 
med i « on the contrary , 1 am enchanted 
with it. All that displea^s me in it , is , to 
see cooks of an archbishop , with three times 
more servants than 1 want ; which only serve 
to put you to an expence equally useless and 
considerable. 

** If, „ said Don Caesar, ** you had ac- 
cepted the annuity of two thousand ducats 
.which we offered at Madrid , we should have 

B 5 



( 34 ) 

been contented with giving you the hoiise 
sfurnished as it is ; but you know you refused 
the pension ; and we thought we could do 
no less than make you some other recom- 
pense. ,, " This is too much , „ I replied : 
** your generosity ought to have been confined 
to the present of the estate , which is enough 
to crown my wishes. But, exclusive of your 
cost in maintaining so many people , at a 
great expence , I declare , that these peo£)]e 
incommode and plague me : in a word , my 
lords , take back your estate , or allow me 
to enjoy it according to my own desire. » 
I pronounced these last words with such a 
determined air , that the father and son , who 
did not at all intend to lay me under any 
constraint , promised , at length , that 1 should 
liv,e as I pleased in my own house. 

I thanked them fur having granted me that 

liberty, without which I could not be happy; 

when Don Alphonso interrupted me, saying— • 

•*'My dear Gil Bias , I will introduce you ta 

4'la4y 1 who will be overjoyed to see you. „ 

Wiffc these w^ords he took me by the hand , 

_>«Qd led me into the^apaitment of Seraphina ^ 

"who screamed with joy when she saw me, 

•* Miidam , „ said the governor , " I believe the 

iiriival of our friend Santillane at Valencia is 

-as agreeable to you as to me. „ " That is 

what he ought to be convinced of, „ answered 

s1ioV^*time has not made me lose the remem- 

brao^ of the service be did jpne ^ and to Xtm 



( 55 ) 
gratitude I myself owe him , I add that which 
I ought to have on your account. „ I told the 
lady governess , thai I was but too well re- 
quited for the danger I had shared with her 
deliverers , in exposing my life for her sake* 
Af\er many mutual compliments , Don Al- 
phonso brouhgt me back from Seraphina's 
apartment , and w^e rejoined Don Caesar , 
whom we found in a hall , w^ith several per- 
sons of quality y who came there to dinner. 

All these gentlemen saluted me with great 
politeness ; and were the more civil to me , 
because Don Caesar had told them , that I was 
once one of the Duke of Lerma's principal 
secretaries. Perhaps , likewise , the greatest 
part of them knew it was by my credit that 
Don Alpbonso had obtained the government 
of Valencia ; for every thing is known. Be that 
as it will , when we were at table, the new 
cardinal was the whole subject of tho dis* 
course. Some gave , or affected to give , him 
^reat commendations , while others seasoned 
their praise with some severe sneers. 

From hence 1 concluded , that they wanted 
I should enlarge upon his eminence , and 
make them merry at his expence. I had soma 
inclination to disclose my sentiments of him ; 
but 1 restrained my tongue : and this silence 
made me pass, in the opinion of the com pany^ 
for a man of great discretion. 

After diivier , the guests retired to take 
their siestas at their own homes : Don Caesar 

B 6 



I 



( 36 ) 
and his son , seized with the same desire , shat 
themselves up in their apartments -, and I , 
impatient to see e city , the beauty of whith I 
had heard so much extolled , went out of 
the governor's palace wilh a design to stroll 
through the streets* At the gate I met a man , 
who accosted me in these word— " Signior 
de Santillane , give me leave to salute you. ,, 
When I asked who he was— ** I am now, ,, 
said he , " Don Caesar ^s valet de chambre^ but 
was one of his lacquies while you was his 
steward : I made my coui't to you every mor- 
uing 9 because you was very kind to me ^ and 
I informed you of every thing that happened 
in the house. Don't you remember , that I one 
day gave you notice , that the surgeon of the 
village of Leyva was privately admitted into 
the chamber of Dame Lorenca Sephora ? ,,—• 
<' I have not forgot it , ,, I replied : " But , 
apropos , what is become of that duenna? „ — 
*' Alas ! ,, said he , " after your departure , 
the poor creature pined away and died , morif 
regretted by Seraphina than hy Don Al- 
phonso , who seemed very little afflicted at 
her death. ^ 

Don Ceesar^s valet de chambre having thus 
informed me of Sephora's melancholy end ^ 
made an apology lor having stopped me ^ and 
I continued my walk, sighing at the remem- 
brance of that unfortunate duenna , and Is^ 
menting her fate , which I imputed to my- 
self i without cousiderii)g that it was nxQio^ 



(37) 

owing to her own cancer than to my CTueUys 
I observed with pleasure all that was worth 
seeing in this ciiy ; the marble palace of tho 
archbishop agrecablj^ entertained m^ view , 
as well a the Hne porticos of the exchange ; 
but a large house which I discerned at a 
distance , and which I saw a great number 
of people enter , attracted m^ attention. I 
approached it , in order to know the reason 
of such a great concourse of men and wo- 
men ; and was soon satisHed , when I read 
these words , written in gold letters , on 
a stone of black marble placed over the 
gate , La Posada des los Represantes : (*) 
and the players advertised in their bill , that 
thej would that dajr , for the Arst time , act 
a new tragedy composed by Don Gabriel 
Triaquero. 

CHAP. V. 

Gil Bias goes to the Plajr^ 'where he sees a 
new Tragedy acted* The Success oj that 
Performance , with the Public State of 
Valencia. 

1 STOPPED some minutes at the door, to view 
the people who went in j and observed , that 
they consisted of all ranks. I saw cavaKers of 
a genteel mien, and richly dressed, and some 
figures as ordinary as the cloaths they worer 

(*) Ibe Theatre, 



(58) 

1 perceived ladies of quality alight from their 
coaches , and go to the boxes , which they had 
ordered to be bespoke ; and female adventu- 
rers go in with a view of alluring cullies. 
This concourse of all sorts of spectators made 
fne desirous of encreasing the number. Just as 
I was going to take a ticket , the governor 
and his lady arriving , discerned me in the 
crowd > and ordering me to be called , carried 
me into their box , where I placed myself 
behind them , so as to be able to speak to 
both with ease. I found the house full of peo- 
ple, from top to bottom , the pit very much 
thronged , and the stage loaded with knights 
of the three military orders. ^^ Here is , ,, said 
I to Don Alphonso, «a very numerous assem« 
^'y ' » ■" ** You must not be surpiised at 
that , 'i> answered he : « the tragedy to be re- 
presented is the composition of Don Gabriel 
Triaquero , surnamed the Modish Poet, As 
soon as the play -bills advertise a new thing 
written by thaj; author , the whole city of 
Yalencia is in a flutter , the men as well as 
the women talk of nothing but this piece ; 
all the boxes are bespoke ; and it being tho 
fh St day of its representation , people are 
squeezed to death , endeavouring to enter ; al- 
though every place is double filled , except 
the pit, where they dare not disoblige. » 
« Such madness ! p said I to the governor* 
« That eager curiosity of the public , thai 
furious impatience to see every new ptoducr 



(59) 
tion of Gabriel , gives me an high idea of tbt 
poet's genius. )» 

In this pnrt of our conversation the actors 
appeared , an we left off speaking immedia- 
tely , in order to listen with attention. Tha 
applauses began with the prologue ; every 
verse was attei>ded with a brouhaha / (*) and 
at the end of each act there w^as such a clap« 
ping of hands , that one would have thought 
the house was f^tlJing. After the performance 
thoy shewed me the author , who went from 
box to box , modestly presenting his head for 
the laurels with wich the gentlemen and ladies 
prepared to crown him. 

We returned to the governor's palace , whe- 
re three or four knights arrived in a little ti- 
me : thither also came two old authors , 
esteemed in their w^ay , with a gentleman 
fr<>m Madrid ot understanding and taste. As 
they had all been at the play , the whole con- 
versation at supper turned upon the new pie- 
ce. « Gentlemen , i> said the kinght of St. Ja- 
go , ** what is your opinion of this tragedy I 
Is it not what you call a finished work I su- 
blime thoughts , tender sentiments , manly 
versification, deficientin nothing I in a wordy 
it is a poem adapted to people of taste ! » — » 
^ I believe nobody can be of a contrary o*)ir. 
nion, ,, said the knigfafof Cantara; ** the 
piece is full of strokes that Apollo seems to 
have dictated , and of situations conceived 

(*) IL QOt« of tp(l«R*«« 



\vitli iiiBnite art. I appeal to this gentleman , , 
added he , addressing himself to the Castilian i 
*^ he seems to be a connoisseur j and I'll wager 
he is of my sentiment. „ — *' Don't wager , 
cavalier , ^ answered the gentleman , with 
a sarcastic smile ; " we do not decide so has« 
til J at Madrid : fai' from judging a piece at its 
first representation , we distrust its beauties 
while the^ are in the mouths of the actors ; 
and how well soever we maj be affected to 
the author , suspend our judgment until ws 
have read it : and truljr it does not always 
give us the same pleasure upon paper that 
we received from it on the stage. We scru- 
pulously examine a poem before we esteem 
it , without being dazzeled by the authors re- 
putation , how great soever it may be. When 
Lope de Vega himself, .and Caiderona (*), 
produced new pieces , they found in their ad- 
mirers severe judges , who would not raise 
them to the highest point of glory, until they 
judged them worthy of that elevation. „ 

'* Zooks ! „ cried the knight of St. Jago ; 
•* we are not so fearful as you : we don't 
wait until a piece is printed , but on the first 
representation fix its value : there is not even 
occasion for our listening to it with great at- 
tention ; if we know it to be a production of 
Don Gabriel , that is enough to convince us 
that it is without blemish. The works of that 

(*) 'Doo Pedro Caiderona do la Baret ^ famoai §9t tkt 
•xceUent CQmedie» be bM writteik 




f 4« ) 

poet ought to serve as an epocha for the birth 
of taste : your Lopes and Calderonas were but 
apprentices in comparison of this great master 
of the stage ! ,, The gentleman , v\'ho looked 
upon Lope and Calderoua as the Spiinish So- 
phocles and Euripides , was shocked at this 
rash assertion. ** Such dramatic sacrilege ! „ 
cried he. *' Since you oblige me , gentlemen , 
to judge , like you , from a lirst representa- 
tion y I must tell you » that I am not at all sa- 
tis/ied with this new tragedy of your Dou 
Gabj'iel : it is stuffed with strokes more shi- 
ning than solid i three parts of some oi the 
verses are bad , or mis rhymed i the charac- 
ters ill conceived , and il supported : and the 
sentiments are oAen very obscure. ,, 
. The two authors who were at table , and 
who , through a reserve as commendable as 
rare , had said nothing , for fear of being sus- 
pected of jealousy, could not help applauding 
the gentleman's sentiments with their eyes ; 
which made me guess that their silence was 
not so much owing to the perfection of the 
work , as to other prudential reasons. As for 
the knights , they bc^gan again to praise Don 
Gabriel , whom ihey'even placed among the 
gods. This extravagant apotheosis , andblind 
idolatry , made the Castilianlose all patience : 
he lifled up his hands to heaven , and all of a 
sudden exclaimed, in a fit of enthusiasm —» 
*^ O divine liope de Vegarare , and sublime 
genius ! who has left au imaieuse space bntt 



(42) 

Ween thee and all the Gabriels who attempt 
to reach ty excellence I and you ^ energetic 
Calderona I whose elegant softness , purged of 
•pic stiffness , is inimitable ; do not fear that 
your aitafs will be demolished by this new 
pupil of the muses , who will be very lucky 
if posterity , which you will delight , as you 
tf&light the present age , shall hear his name 
mentioned. „ 

This pleasing apostrophe, which nobodjf 
expected ^ raised the laugh of the whole com* . 
pany , which got up from table , and jparted. 
I was conducted , by Don Atphonso's order ^ 
into afi apartment prepared for me ; there I ' 
iband a good bed, in which my worship, 
went to sleep , deplonng ( like the Castiliaii 
gentleman ) the injustice which ignorant peo- 
ple did to Lope and Calderona. 

CHAP. VL 

Gil Bias f walking through the Streets of 
Valencia , meets a Friar whom he thinks 
he knows. An Account of that Friar* 

A% I had not seen the whole city in my first 
excursion , I went out next day , with an in- 
tention to take another walk ; and perceived 
in the street a Carthusian friar , who doubtless 
was going to transact the affairs of his com- 
munity. He walked with downcast ey^s^ and 
so 4evout an air , that he attracted the notice 




(45) 
bf every body. As he passed close by me , I 
looked at him with attention , and thought I 
saw in him the very person ofOon Raphael ^ 
that adventurer who maintains such an ho* 
nourable place in the two first volumes my 
Memoirs. 

I was so much astonished , to struck with 
this meeting , that , instead of accosting the 
monk , I stood immoveable some minutes : 
during which he was gone a good way from 
jtie. <* Just Heaven I „ said I; ** were ever two 
faces more alike I What mast I think of thie 
affair? Can it be Raphael indeed? or can I 
doubt that it his he ? „ I was too curious to 
know the truth , to remain long where I was* 
I asked the way to the monastery of the Car- 
thusians , whither I instantly repaired , in ho- 
pes of seeing my man again when he should 
return , and firmly resolved to stop and speak 
with him. I had no occasion to wait for this : 
when I came to the gate of the convent , ano- 
ther face of my acquaintance turned wy doubts 
into certainty ; I recollected in the porter my 
old valet Ambrose de Lamela. 

We were equally surprised to find one ano- 
ther in that place. *^ Don't I dream I „ said 
I f saluting him ! '* Is it actually one of my 
friends whom I behold? „ He could not recol- 
lect me at first , or feigned himself ignorant of 
my features : but , considering that this feint 
was useless , he affected the air of a person 
vyho remembers a thing all of a sudden , ** Ah^ 



(44) 

Sigiiior Gil Bias ! „ cried he; forgive liiy 
Want of memory. Since I have lived in this 
holy place , and applied myself to fulfil (ba 
duties prescribed by our rules , I lose insensi** 
bly the remembrance of what 1 have seea ia 
the world. „ 

'* I am sincerely rejoiced , „ said I , ** to 
see you , after an absence of ten years , in 
such a reverend dress , ,,—<-'' And 1 , 99 ht 
replied , '^ am ashamed to appear in it before 
a person who has been witness of the wicked 
life I led. This dress incessantly upbraids mei 
** Alas ! „ added he , sighing profoundly , *« lo 
be worthy of wearing it , I ought to have li- 
ved always in innocence. ,,— *' By this dis^ 
course > with which I am charmed ^ ,^ I resu- 
med , '* my dear brother ^ one may see that 
you have been touched by the finger of the 
Lord. I repeat the asisuranceof my joy at the 
occasion , aixd long earnestly to hear in what 
miraculous manner you and Don Raphael have 
entered into the right way j for I am persua*- 
ded that it was he whom I just now met in 
the Carthusian habit. I am sorry that I did not 
stop him in the street , and speak to him ; and 
I wait here for his return , in order to repair 
my neglect. „ 

" You are not mistaken , „ said Lamela to 
me; *' it was Don Raphael himself whom 
you saw > and as to the detail you desire , here 
it is. After we parted from you, near Segof-ba, 
the sou of Laciada and 1 took the road to Ya- 



( 45 ) 

lencia , with a design of pla^^ing some new 
trick of our profession in that city. One day ^ 
by accident , we went into the Church of the 
Carthusians , while the monks were singing 
psalms in the choir. We considered them at- 
tentively , and experienced that eveuthe wic- 
ked cannot help honouring virtue. We admi* 
red the fervour with which they prayed to 
God , their mortified air , their minds deta<^ 
ched from the pleasures of the age, as well 
as the serenity that reigned in (heir counte- 
nances , and so well expressed the repose of 
their consciences. » 

" While we made these observations , we 
fell into a reverie that became very salutary 
unto us. We compared our morals with those 
of the good monks , and the difference which 
we found filled us with sorrow and disquiet. 
<< Lamela , „ said Don Raphael to me , when 
•we came out of the church , " how art ihoo 
affected with what we have seen ? For my 
part , I cancannot conceal from thee the an- 
xiety of my mind. I am agitated by emotions 
hitherto unknown to me> and, for the first 
time in my life , my conscience upbraids me 
with my iniquity. ,, ♦' I am in the self-same 
disposition, „ answered I ^ the evil actions 
which I have committed, at this instant rise 
up against me ; and my heart, which was be- 
fore hardened agaitist repentance , is now 
torn with remorse. „ ** Ah , dear Ambrose 1 j> 
)resume4 my coiprade , *? we are two strnye4 



if' 



(46) 

abaep , whom the Heavenly Father, througk 
pity , intends to bring back into the fold. It is 
He , my child ! it is He who calls us ! Let us 
not be deaf to his voice , let us renounce chea- 
ting , qui^ the libertinism in which we live; 
and begin from this very fday to labour se» 
riously in the great work of our salvation. 
We must spend the rest of our days in this 
convent , and consecrate them to piety and 
penitence. 

** I applauded Raphael's sentiment , ,, coil» 
tinued Brother Ambrose ; *' and we formed 
the generous resolution of becoming Cartfaa- 
fiians. To put this in execution , we addressed 
ourselves to the father prior, who no sooner 
understood our design , than , in order to prove 
our vocation, he accommodated us with cells, 
and we were treated like monks during a 
whole year. We followed the rules with such 
exactness and c6mtancy , that we were re- 
ceived among the novices. We were so well 
satisfied with our situation , and so full of ar- 
dour, that we courageously underwent the 
toils of the noviciate : we then professed ; af- 
ter which, Don Raphael appearing endued 
with a genius for business , was chosen assise 
tant to an old father who was at that time so- 
licitor. The son of Lueinda would have rather 
spent his whole time in prayer , but he wa9 
obliged to sacrifice his inclination to the good 
of the convent. He acquired such a perfect 
k.aowledge of the interests of the house , that 



\ 



(47) 
lie was deemed capable of filling the place oC 

the old solicitor, who died three jears afler. 
Don Raphael actualljr exercises that employ- 
ment at present y and acquits himteliin it to 
the greatest satisfaction of all our fathers , 
who praise his conduct very much in the ad- 
ministration of our temporalities. What is 
very sui prising is , that , in spite of the care 
of collecting our revenues , with which he is 
invested 9 he aeems engrossed by etvniitj 
alone; and whcro his business leaves him a 
moment to himself, he employs it in the most 
profound meditation. In a word, he is oneoC 
the most holy monks in our monastery. „ 

In this place I interrupted Lamela with a 
transport of joy , that I expressed at the sight 
of Raphael , who arrived. " There , „ criod 
I , ^* there is the holy solicitor , for whom I 
waited so impatiently 1 „ At the same time I 
ran upfmd embraced him. He received my sa« 
lutatioa with a good grace; and , without dis- 
coveiing the least surprise at meeting , said to 
me, with a voice full of sweetness —» '* God 
be praised , Signior de San til lane I God be 
praised for the pleasure I have in seeing you! » 
♦* Truly, „ I replied, *' my dear Raphael , I 
share as much as possible in your happiness. 
Brother Ambrose has recounted to me the his* 
tory of your conversion , and I wa^ charmed 
with the narration. What ndvaiUago have you 
both , my friends , in being iBle to flatter 
yourselves , diat you are oi the small uumbsf 



*♦ 



(48) 
of the elect , who will one da j enjoy eternal 
felicity ! „ 

** Two wretches , such as we are , „ resu- 
med the son of Lucinda , w^ith an air of great 
humility , *• ought not to conceive such hopes; 
hut the repentance oi sinners makes them find 
favour with the Father of Mercy. And you , 
Signior Gil Bias , „ added he , " don't you 
also think of deserving pardon for the crimes 
y^ou have committed I What business brings 
you to Valencia I Don't you unhappily fill' 
some dangerous employment in this place f „ 
»- *« No , thank God ! „ I replied , " since I 
quitted the court , I have led the life of an ho- 
Rest man. Sometimes , at an estate I have some 
leagues from hence , I enjoy the pleasures of 
the country ; and sometimes I come to make* 
Ifnerry with the Governor of Valencia , who 
is my friend , and one whom you both knew 
perfectly well. „ 

Then I recounted the history of Don Al- 
phonso de Leyva , to which they listened 
with attention ; and when I told them that I 
had carried from that nobleman to Samuel 
Simon the three thousand ducats which we 
had stolen from him , Lamela interrupted me, 
and addressing himself to Uaphael — '' Father 
Hilary , „ said he , " at that rate , the mer-p 
chant has no cause to complain of a robbery, 
for which he has received restitution with 
usury ; and we ought to have quiet consciencs 
oa that article. „ ^^ Readily , ,y ^« said the soli^ 

citon 



(49) 
citor. Brother Ambrose and I , before we en- 
tered this convent , sent privately fifteen hun- 
dred ducats to Samuel Simon bj a worthy 
clergyman , who took the trouble of going to 
Xelva , in order to make that restitution : so 
much the worse for Samuel , if he was capa- 
ble of touching that sum, after having been reim- 
bursed of the whole by Signior de Santillaue. „ 
•^ Biit , „ said I to them , " are you sure that 
jour fifteen hundred ducats were faithitilly re- 
mitted to him f „ '^ Questionless , ,9 cried 
Don Raphael. ** I will answer for the clergy- 
man's integrity, as much as for my own. 9, 
*^ And I will join in the security, „ said La- 
mela : ** he is a holy priest, used to these sort 
of commissions , and has had, for things de- 
posited in his hands , two or three law suits p 
which he gained with costs, i, 

Our conversation lasted some time longer ; 
dien we parted ^ they exhorting me to have 
always the fear of the Lord before my eyes^ 
and I recommended myself to their devout 
prayers. 'Goiug strait to Don Alphonso. -^ 
« You can't guess , » said I to him ,« with 
whom I have had a long conversation I <-^ 
I have just parted with two venerable Car-, 
thusians of your acquaintance , one called 
Father Hilary , and te other Brother Am- 
brose. » « You are mistaken , » answered 
Don Alphonso ; I know not one Carthusian, w 
« Pardon me , 1^ I replied : «you saw at Xelva 
Brother Ambrose commissary » and Father 
Vol. IV. C 



(5o) 

Hilary , secretary to the Inquisition, » « Good 
Heaven ! » cried the governor with surpn7.e $ 
is it possible that Raphael and Lamela are 
become Carthusians ! » — - « Yes , indeed , » 
said I , « they have been professed monks 
some years. The first is solicitor , and the 
other porter of the convent. >> 

« Don Caesar's son mused some minutes ; 
then shaking his head — « Mr. Commissary 
to the Inquisition and his secretary , » said 
he , « are , in my opinion , bent upon playing 
some new farce here. » -^ « You are preju- 
diced against them , » answered I. « For my 
own part , having conversed with them , I 
judge more favourably of their intentions. It 
is tme^y w^e cannot dive into the heart i but ^ 
in all appearance , they are two converted 
sinners. » «'rhat may be , » resumed Don Ai- 
phonso i there have been many libertines , 
ifvho , after having scandalized the world hj 
their irregularities , have shut themselves up 
in cluysters , to perform a rigorous penance » 
and 1 wish our two monks may be of that 
sort. ^^ « Why should they not I ^ said I : 
« they have voluntarily emlMnaced a monastic 
life , and have already lived a long time like 
good fiiards. * « Y^ou may say what yon 
please , i» replied the governor ; « I don't 
like that the convent's cash should be in the 
hands of tl^at same Father Hilary , whose 
integrity I cannot help distrusting. When | 
remember that fine detail he gave us of hi^ 



( 5. ) 
adventures , 1 tremble for the Cartfaasiatis. I 
would willingly believe with you , that he 
has taken the habit from a very pious motive, 
but the sight of the cash may awaken his 
cupidity. A reformed drunkard should aever 
he left in a cellar. » 

The suspicion oi Don Alphonso w^as (uUy 
justified in a few days. Father Solicitor and 
Brother Porter disappeared with the casli. 
This piece of news , which was immediately 
spread all over the city, afforded great mirth 
to the withs , who always rejoice at the mis- 
fortunes which happen to endowed monks* 
As for the governor and me , we pitied the 
Carthusians , without boasting of our acquain- 
tance with the two apostles. 

CHAP. V 1 1. 

Gil Bias returns to his Castle of Lirias ; 
hears an agreeable Piece of T^ewsfrom 
Scipio ; and makes a Reform in his Hou- 
sekeeping* 

1 SPENT eight days at Valencia in high taste , 
living among counts and marquisses. Shews » 
balls , concerts , entertainments , conversa* 
tions with the ladies , and other amusements , 
I enjoyed by the favour of the governor and 
his lady , to whom I paid my court so suc- 
cesfully , that , when I set out for Lirias , they 
were sorry to part with me. They even obli- 

C 2 



( 5* ) 
ged me to promise , that I would divide my 
time between them aud my solitude ; and it 
was agreed , that I should live at Valencia in 
the winther , and spend the summer at my 
own house. This convention being made , my 
benefactors gave me liberty to go aud enjoy 
their favours. 

Scipio , who impatiently expected my re- 
turn , was overjoyed at seeing me ; and I re- 
doubled his pleasure by a faithful report of 
my journey. « Well , my friend , ^ said I la 
him afterwards , « how didst thou spend the 
day in my absence I Didst thou divert thysell 
agreeably f » — « As well , » answered he , 
<< as a servant could , to whom nothing is so 
dear as the presence of his master. Sometimes 
seated on the brink of that fountain w^hich 
is in our wood,. I took pleasure in contem- 
plating the beauty of its waters which are as 
pure as those of the sacred fountain , that ma- 
kes the vast forest of Albuna echo with its 
noise ; and sometimes , stretched at the root 
of a tree , heard the linnets sing , and the 
nightingales tune their song. In short , I have 
hunted , I have fished > and what gave me 
more satisfaction than all other amusements , 
I have read several books as useful as en- 
tertaining. )^ 

I interrupted my secretary with precipita- 
tion , to ask where he found these books. 
** I found them , „ said he , <^ in a handsome 
Ubrary » which Master Joachim shewed me 



( 55 ) 

in this castle. )> « Ha ! in what part , « said 
I , « can this pretended library be I Did we 
not wisit the whole house on the firtt day of 
our arrival I So you imagined , i^ answered 
he ; « but you must know we surveyed threo 
pavilions only , and forgot the fourth , whero 
Don Caesar , when became to Lirias , usually 
employed a part of bis lime in reading. Tbero 
are in this library exceeding go(»d books left 
for you , as an assured entertainment , when 
our gardens , stripped of their flowers , and 
our woods of their leaves , shall have nothing 
left to amuse us. The noblemen of Ley va 
have not done things by halves , but provi- 
ded food for the mind , as well as for the 
body. )> 

Truly rejoiced at this piece of news , I 
followed him into the fourth pavilion , which 
presented a very agreeable scene to my view. 
I beheld a chamber , which from that hour 
I destined to be my apartment « as it hdd 
been Don Caesar's. The bed of that nobleman 
w^as still there , together with all the rest 
of the furniture ; that is , a trapes try with fi- 
gures representing the rape of the Sabine wo- 
men. From this room I went into a closet , 
surrounded with low presses filled with 
books , over which appeared the [Sortraits of 
our kings. There were also hard by , a win- 
dow , from whence we had a view of a most 
delightful country , and an ebony bureau stan- 
ding before a large sopha , covered with 

C5 



(54) 

black moroquin. Bot I bestowed my chief at- 
tention upon the library , vrhicb was com- 
posed of philosophy , poetry , history , and 
a freat number of romances on the subject 
of knight-errantry. I concluded that Doo 
Cspsar loved this last kind of writing , sinco 
he had made socb a plentiful provision of it* 
I most confess , to my shame , that I vras no 
less pleased vrith these productions , notwiths- 
tanding all the extravagancies with which they. 
are interwoven ; whether it was owing to 
my being at that time not very considerate 
reader , or that Spaniards in general are too 
much captivated by the marvellous. I will 
say , nevertheless , that I took more pleasure 
in sprightly books of morality ; and that Lu- 
ciau y Horace , and Erasmus , became my 
favourite authors. 

« Friend ^ ^ « said I to Sripio , "t when I 
had surveved mv librarv , «. here is amuse- 
ment iudeed ; but out present business is to 
retrench our house keeping. » ^ I will spare 
you that task , » answered he. « During your 
absence , I have studied your people and now 
may boast of knowing them perfectly well. 
Let us begin with Master Joachim , who , I 
believe , is a compleat rogue , and I don't 
doubt that he was turned out of the archbis- 
hop's service for having committed arithme- 
tical blauders in his occounts. Nevertheless , 
we must keep him for tivo reasons ; the first 
is ^ because he is a good cook ^ and the se- 




( 55 ) 
cond , because I shall always hare an eya 
over him : I will be a spy upon his actions i 
and be most be as cunning as the devil if he 
be able to deceive me. I hav« already told 
him, that you intend to dismiss three-fourths 
of your servants j a piece of aews {\^i gave 
bim some pain » and he assured me , that ^ 
feeling an incVmation to serve you , he would , 
rather than leave the house , be contended 
with (he half of his present wages ; a circums- 
tance which makes me suspect that there is 
some girl in the village from whom he would 
not willingly remove. As for the cook's as- 
sistant , )> added he , « he is a drunkard ; 
and the porter an insolent fellow , for whom 
we have not the least occasion , any more 
than for the fowler : I can easily (ill up the 
place of this last , as I w*iU shew you to-mor- 
row 9 since we have-plenty of fusils , pow- 
der , and shot. Whit regard to the lacquies , 
there is one of them from Arragon , seemin- ' 
gly a good lad } him we will keep : the rest 
are such rogues , that I woul4 not advise you 
to retain them , even if you'wanted an bun* 
dred valets. » 

Having maturely deliberated on this affair, 
we resolved to keep the cook , scullion , Ar- 
ragonian footman, and rid ourselves honou- 
rably of the rest. This was executed that very 
day , by means of some pistoles , which Sci- 
pio took from the strong box , and divided 
among them by my order. When he had mad« 

04 



( =iS ) 
i«(^£as£ ii< t*dij^us hours. I did not know 
:,i^c ^ . .XT t*rmer 1;a«1 such a handsome 
cm lO-^g • . 'r^>--.-v£ r.ever hcfore seen her , 
^uw^-x I r^^vc :k:^^ t\^-ice at her father's 
lotaic r* xr-z.it r^i it ^re^t Dains to conceal 



tM*r. 



•z-it r^i it d:reat pains to conceal 

, i 1^1 • ^« 3r =>« ii r.i> care. Egad , she is a 

1. 1 TT .r^ >-: , ♦ id iei he , ^. I believe 

1. x:c ^: » 5.C t: ^ra. ^vho were dazzled 

l^ "^Xjtt i^ t->;: >^^^'r.: f ♦ T don't deny it,* 

t\t-^=-*-L 1 • V: -j^ .iiili.I jhouiihi I saw 

1 .-^r^' . >-;.'_-> . r .-^ r^l-f i.;.*:-r:tJ ine dlJ of 

^^..-. • ru. r-^.-rci r.y heart with an 



■« • -_-—__'" 



- -. ^^1 . * li-lic A mv sccretnry , 

. -1 il^: ^.^-. iri it l.".st i'-i love. \ ou 

.-. . T.^^-^^ :,~ '=..'.V».€ \-a tnjoy perfect 

"^ " ' T ^- ^ /£ 'V:.i"k ile.sven 1 

-' . -. tc ' 5.;^-^ :: c:"ve:::cn'ies: I 

■- ** ... - -rf ^ --t ^^e sLiU have 

7. ' ---.--.-- :r.? A'ti'/ijince ot 

--. - -.-c I u.-.^€il^'^ke, in 

^ ,^ *"' ^*.." . - ^-.- x.u.^:ri\3te in- 

/ ' -■ ^'^ ^\ /^ - - - v: *» *-^ .c:nt t ibe 
' y^ '..r" .'^^"r 5^ .-.iuts other. 






(59) 

ftnotlier. » « I did not expect , ♦ said he , « to 
see you take such a suddea resolution to marrjr. 
Many country gentlemen in your place would 
not deal so honourably , they would never 
entertain legitimate views with regard to 
Anlonia , until ihey had tried others lo no 
purpose. But , however , » added he , « don't 
imagine that 1 condemn your love , and seek, 
to dissuade you from your design. Your lar- 
mer's daughter deserves the honour you ia* 
tend for her, if she can besrow upon you a 
heart unengaged , and sensible of your gene* 
rosity. This I must inform myself of to day, 
in a conversation with her father, and, per- 
haps , with herself. » 

My confident , who was a punctual man 
in performing his promises , went privately 
to visit Basil ; and in the evening came to see 
nie in my closet , where I waited with im- 
pi\tience mingled with fear. Drawing a good 
4Jmen from his chearful look — « If J may 
believe , » said I , « that smile on thy face , 
thou comest to signify , that I shall soon en- 
joy my wish.» « Yes , my dear master i j> he 
replied ; « every thing is propitious to you. 
I have ad a conversation with Basil and hit 
daughter , to whom I declared your intention. 
The father is overjoyed to hear you design 
to be his son-in-law : and I can assure you , 
that you are very much to Antonia*s taste. » 
<^ O Heaven ! )^ cried I , in a transport of 
joy i what I am I so happy as to be agreea* 

€ 6 



(6o) 

ble to that loveljr creature ! s> — « Doubt- 
less , » he resumed. « She already loves you. 
I have not , indeed , drawn that confession 
Irom her mouth ; but I an convinced of her 
passion y by the gaiety she discovered whea 
she understood your design. Nevertheless , » 
added he , « you have a rival. » « A rival , „ 
cried I , changing colour. *' You need not be 
much alarmed , „ said he > that rival vvill not 
rob you of the heart of your mistress ; he is 
no other than master Joachim , your cook. „ 
«* Ah I the hang-dog ! „ said I , bursting into 
a fit of laughter ; " this was his reason for 
shewing such reluctance to quit my servce: ,, 
•* The very same , „ answered Scipio. ** He 
some days ago demanded Antonia in mar- 
riage , and met with a polite refusal. „ '* With 
deference to thy better advice , „ I resumed , 
•* methiuks it will be proper to rid ourselves 
of the rogue , before he can get notice that 
I intend to marry Basil's daughter j a cook , 
thou knowest , is a dangerous rival. « You 
are in the right , ^ replied the confident : 
« we must clear the house of him. I will give 
him his leave to-morrow morning before he 
begins to work , and then you shall have 
nothing to fear either from his sauces or his 
love. I am sorry , however , to lose such 
an excellent cook ; but I sacrifice my palate 
to your safety. » « Thou needest not regret 
him so much , i> said I j the loss is not irre- 
parable : I will send to Valencia for a cook 



(6i ) 
as good as he. ,) And , indeed , I wrote itn« 
mediately to Ooi| Alphonso , that I had oc* 
casion for a cook ; and the next day h§ sent 
one who consoled Scipio at once. 

Although the zealous secretary had told me » 
that he perceived Antuuia was pleased iu 
her heart wth the conquest which she had 
made of her master , I durst , not depend 
upon his report , being apprehensive that he 
might have been deceived by false appearan- 
ces. To be more sure of the matter , I resol- 
ved to speak in person to the fair Autonia : 
and , repairing to Basil's house , confir- 
med what my ambassador had told him. 
That honest peasant, a man of frankness and 
simplicity , having heard my design , assured 
me , that he would bestow his daughter upon 
me with the utmost satisfaction : 41 But , » ad- 
ded he , ^* don't think that it is on account 
of your being lord' of the manor. Were you 
still no more than the steward of Don Csesar 
and Don Alphonso , I would prefer you to 
all the other suitors who present themselves. 
I have always had a regard for you ; and 
what gives me the most concern is , that An- 
tonia cannot bring you a large fortune. „ ** I 
ask nothing with her , „ said I ; ** ber person 
is all the wealth to which 1 aspire. „ ** Your 
humble servant I ,, cried he : «' that is not my 
intention : I am not such a beggar , as to 
marry my dau^^hter in that manner. Basil da 
Bueuorrigo is iu a condition , thank God , to 



( 62 ) 

give her a dowry ; and for every dinner yotf 
besLovv upon her , she shall aiVord a supper 
to you. In a word , the rent of your estate , 
whiih is but five hundred ducats , shall amdant 
to a thousand by virtue of this marriage. „ 

^ You shall do in that as you please , my 
dear Basil , ,, I replied ; ^* we shall have no 
disputes about interest ; and now that we are 
agreed , the sole business is to obtain the con- 
sent of your daughter. „ ** You have mine, „ 
said he, " and that is enouf^h. „ ** Not alto- 
gether, „ answered I ; '^ ifyour's is necessary ^ 
hers is so too. „ " Her's depends upon me, „ 
said he , *' I would fain see her refuse 1 ,, 
** Antonia , „ resumed I , *' submissive to pa- 
ternal authority , is ready , without doubt , 
to obey you implicitly j but 1 don't know if 
she can do it upon this occasion without re- 
luctance ; /and it' she can't , I should never his 
consoled for having made her unhappy : in 
short , it is not enough for me to obtain her 
hand of you , unless her heart goes to the 
bargain. „ " By'r lady ! „ said Basil , *• I don't 
understand all this philosophy : speak your- 
self to Antonia , and you shall see , if I am 
ast mistaken , that she desires no better than 
to be your wife. „ So saying , he called his 
daughter , and left me alone with her for a 
minute or two. 

That I might enjoy the precious opportu- 
nity, I came to the point at once. ** Fair 
Aiitouia, ,9 said I , *^ determine my fat9« 



(•55) 
Although I have your i'atbar's content , don't 
thiuk that I intend to avail niystlf of it , in 
doing violence to your inclination. Charming 
as it is , I renounce the possession of you , it 
you say that I must owe it to your obedience 
only. ,, ** That is what I will not say, „ ans- 
wered she J '' your addresses are too agreea* 
ble to give me pain ; and , instead of mur- 
muring , 1 approve ot my father's choice. I 
doiVt know , „ continued she , «' whether I 
do weli or ill in talking thus : but if you was 
di!>agreeab!e to me , I should be frank enough 
to own it i why then may 1 not say the con- 
tnu-y with the same freedom t i, 

At those words , which 1 could not hear 
without being charmed , I kneeled before 
Antonia ; and , in the excess of my joy, seizing 
one of her fair bands , kissed it with the ut- 
most tenderness and passion. ** My dear An- 
tonia , „ said I , 'M am enchanted with your 
frankness : continue the same unconstrained 
behaviour ; and , as you speak to your hus- 
band , disclose your whole soul to his view. 
IVlay I then flatter myself, that you will be 
pleased to see ypur fortune joined to litine I ,, 
Basil coming ia at that instant , hindered me 
from proceeding. Impatient to know his dau- 
ghter's answer , and ready to grumble , had 
she shewn the least aversion for me, **Well, ,, 
said he, *< are you satisfied with Antonia I „ 
*^ I am so weli satisfied with her , „ auswe* 
red I , << that I vriii , thi) Yory moment , 



( 64 ) ■ 

go and make preparations for my marriage.^ 
So saying, I took my leave of the father and 
daughter , to go and consult with my secre- 
tary on that subject* 

C H A P. I X. 

The Manner in which the Nuptials of Gil 
Bias and the F'air Antonia were celS" 
brated ; and the 'Hejoicings with which 
thej- were attended^ 

Although I was under no necessity of ob- 
taining the permission of the noblemen of 
Leyva , Scipio and I concluded , that we 
could not , in honour , omit imparting to 
them my desigivof marrying Basil's daughter, 
aud of asking their consent , out of good 
manners. 

I set out immediately for Valencia, where 
they were as much surprized to see me , as to 
hear the cause ot my journey. Don Caesar 
and his son , having seen Antonia more than, 
once , congratulated me on my choice. Don 
Caesar , especially , complimented me upon 
it with such vivacity, that , if I had not be- 
lieved him to be a man quite weaned from 
certain amusements , I should have suspected 
that he had gone sometimes to Lirias to see his 
farmer's daughter, rather than to visit his own 
house. Seraphina , after having assured me thi\t 
she would alvy^ays bear ^ large part in whatever 



(65) 
stiould concern me , said , she had heard a 
rery good character of Antonia : ** But » ,« 
added she , with a satirical look , as if she 
reproached me for the indifference with which 
I repaid Sephora's passion , ^Mt I had not 
heard her heauty extolled , I should depend 
upon your taste , the delicacy of which I 
know. ,, . 

Don Caesar and his son not only approved 
of my marriage , but declared that ihcy would 
defray the whole expence of it. #( Go back te 
Linns » said they, <( and make yourself easy , 
until you hear from us. Make no praparations 
for your nuptials, but leave that toourcare.» 
In compliance with their desire , I returned 
to my house , and , making Basil and his 
daughter acquainted with the intention of our 
patrons , we waited their orders as patiently 
as we could. During eight days, however, we 
received none : but , to make amends , on the 
ninth , a coach and four arrived , full of 
mantua-makers , and rich stuffs for the bride's 
cloaths , and escorted by several men in li- 
very, mounted on mules. One of them brought 
ar letter for me , from Don Alphonso , impor- 
ting , that he would be at Linas next day , 
y^ith his father and spouse , and that the ce- 
remony of my marriage should be celebrated 
on the day following , by the Grand Vicar of 
Valencia. Accordingly , Don Ceesar, his sun , 
and Seraphina , did not fail to come with that 
clergyman , all four together , in a coach and 



( 68 ) 
it actually concealed one , which in a little 
time was explained ; for soon after Scipio 
recovered his spirits , and said softly to me. 
**Why should the happiest of your days be tho 
most disagreeable of mine I It is impossible for 
one to' shun his destiny , ,, added he. *^ I have 
found my wife in the person of one of Sera- 
phina's maids. „ 

** What do I hear ! „ cried I ; " that is not 
possible ! What , art thou the husband of the 
lady w^ho was. taken ill at the same time with 
thee I „ " Yes , Sir , „ he replied , *' I am her" 
husbaiid; and fortune, I swear, could not 
play me a more villainous trick than that of 
bringing her to my view. » « 1 don't know , 
my friend , „ said I " what reason thou 
hast to complain of thy wife j but whate* 
ver cause she may have given thee , pray 
constrain thyself ^ if thou lovest me , do 
not disturb this entertainment by shewing 
thy resentment. „ ^' You shall be satisfied 
with my behaviour , „ replied Scipio , 
*' and see whether or not I can dissemble. „ 

So saying , he went up to his wife , who , 
by the assistance of her companions , was also 
recovered , and embracing her with the ap- 
pearance of as much passion as if he had been 
ravished to see her again , " Ah , my dear 
Beatrice ! „ said he , '* Heaven unites us again, 
after ten years of separation. O happy mo- 
ment for me I „ " I don't know , ,, answered 
his wife , *' whether or not you feel any joy 



(69) 
in meeting me here ; but this I am certain of, 
I gave you no just cause to leave me. What ! 
you found me one night with Siguior Don 
Fernando de Leyva , who was in love with 
my mistress Julia , and whose passion I assis- 
ted ; and you took it in your head that I liste- 
ned to him , at the expence of your and my 
honour^ thereupon ]ealousy turned your brain, 
you quitted Toledo , and fled from me as from 
a nion$terf without deigning to come to an 
explanation I Which of us two, if you please, 
has the most reason to complain ? ,, ^* You , 
to be sure , „ replied Scipio , ** Yes , 
doubtless , „ said she. ^^ Don Fernando, soon 
after your departure from Toledo , married 
Julia , with whom I staid as long as she lived; 
and since we are robbed of her , by an unti- 
mely death , I have been in the service of my 
lady her sister , who , as well as her women , 
can answer for the purity of my morals. „ 

My secretary, at this discourse, the falsity 
of which he could not prove , behaved as be- 
came him. *' Once more , „ said he to his 
wife , '' I own my fault , and ask pardon be- 
fore this honourable assembly. „ Then I , in- 
terceding for him , begged that Beatrice would 
iorget what was past ; assuring her , that, for 
the future , her husband's sole study should be 
to give her satisfaction. She yielded to my en- 
treaty , and the whole company applauded 
their re-union ; for the better celebration of 
which , they were made to sit by one ano-* 



(70 
CHAP. X. 

Tf^at followed the Marriage of Gil Bias 
and the Fair Antonia, The beginning of 
Scipio's Historjc* 

vJN the very next day after my marriage, the 
lords of Ley va returned to Valencia, after 
having given me a thousand new marks of 
friendship ; so that my secretary and I re- 
mained in the house ,vvith our wives and ser- 
vants only. 

The care which both of us took to please 
the ladies was not ineffectual ^ in a little time , 
I inspired my wife with as much love for me 
as I had for her i and Scipio made his spouse 
forget the sorrows which he had made her 
sufler. Beatrice , who had a pliant , obliging 
temper, easily insinuated herself into the fa- 
vour , and gained the confidence , of her mis- 
tress. In short , we agreed , all four , to ad- 
miration , and began to enjoy a situation wor- 
thy of envy. All our days glided away in the 
most agreeable amusements. Antonia was na- 
turally grave , but Beatrice and I were very 
gay ; and had we been otherwise , Scipio*s 
presence was enough to keep off melancholy. 
He was an injcomparable fellow for society , 
one of those comical creatures whose appea- 
rance alone can make a company merry. 

One day , that we took a whinr after din- 
ner to go take a siesta in the most agreeable 

part 






(75) 

part of the wood , my secretary was ia sucJi 
good-humour , that he banished all desire of 
sleeping hy his merrjr discourse. *' Hold thy 
tougue 9 friend 9 „ said I; ^* or, if thou art 
resolved to keep us from taking our nap , en* 
tertain us with some story worthy our at- 
tention. ,^ 

*' With all my heart , Sir , „ answered he : 
<^ shall I recount the history of King Pela- 
gius f „ — " I would rather hear thy own , ,, 
I replied > *^ but that is a pleasure thou hast 
not thought proper to give me since we li- 
ved together, nor ever will , I suppose. „ 
** And what is the reason f „ said he. << If I 
have not recounted my own history, it was 
because you never expressied the least desire to 
hear it : it is not , therefore , my fault that 
you are ignorant of my adventures ; and if 
you are in the least cunous to know them , I 
am ready to satisfy your curiosity. ,, Anto- 
nia , Beatrice , and I , took him at his word , 
and disposed ourselves in order to ear his nar- 
ration, which could not miss of having a good 
effect y either in diverting , or lulling us to 
sleep. 

^< Had it depended upon me , „ said Scipio, 
'* I should have been the son of some grandee , 
or Knight of Alcantara at least ; but as one 
does not chuse his own father , you must 
know that mine was an honest soldier of the 
Holy Brotherhood , Torribio Scipio by name. 
While he was travelling to and fro on the 
Vol. IV. D 



i 



"« 



(76) 

me a brutal fellow of a captain to see the devil , 
whom he ran through the body. The Holy- 
Office f informed of the devil's death , sent its 
officers to the house of Coscolina , whom the j 
seized with all her effects 5 and I, who was 
then but seven years old , was put into the 
hospital of Los Ninos (*). There were in 
that house charitable clergymen ; who , being 
well paid for the education of poor orphans , 
were at the trouble of teaching them to read 
and write. They looked upon me as a promi- 
sing child , and on that account distinguished 
me from the rest, by chusing me to run on 
their errands. They sent me into the city 
with letters and messages; and I made the 
responses at mass. By way of recompence , 
they undertook to teach me the Latin tongue ; 
but they behaved so rudely , and treated me 
with such rigour, notwithstanding the small 
services I did them, that, being no longer 
able to bear it , I ran away one morning early 
^'hen I was sent out on an errand ; and , far 
from returning to the hospital , quitted'Toledo 
by the suburbs that He on the Seville side of 
the city. Though I was scarce yet nine years 
old , 1 felt a sensible pleasure in being free , 
and master of my own actions. 1 was withoqt 
money , and without food j but what did that 
signify I I had no lessons to study , nor themes 
to compose. After having vvalked about tWQ 



( 77 ) 

hours , my little legs began to refuse their ser- 
vice : I had never before made such a long 
journey; and I found myself obliged to halt» 
and give them some rest. I sat down under a 
tree , by the side of the road ; and there , for 
my amusement, took my rudiments out of my 
pocket, and read it in sport ; iheu remembe- 
ring the stripes and floggings which it had 
made me receive , 1 tore out the leaves , saying 
141 great wrHth-«<( Ah j dog of a book I thou 
shalt never make me shed tears again. » While 
I thus glutted my revenge , strewing the 
ground about with my declensions and conju* 
gations , a hermit passed by , with a white 
beard , large spectacles , and a venerable air* 
He came up to me , and we examined each 
other with great eagerness. ^My little gentle*- 
man ,^ said he , smiling, « we seem to look at 
one another with great attention ; I believe it 
would not be a bad scheme for, us to live to- 
gether in my hermitage , which is not two 
hundred yards from hence. » 4^I am your hum- 
ble servant I » answered I , hastily; « I have 
no ambition to be an hermit. i> The good old 
man laughed at this reply; and embracing 
me , said , « Don't be fiightened at my dress , 
my son ; though it is not agreeable, it is use- 
ful; it makes me lord of a charming retreat , 
and of the neighbouring villages; the inhabi- 
tants of which love , or rather idolize me. 
Come along with me , » added he , « and I will 
give you a jacket like this that I wear. If you 

D3 



■I 



■< ■ 



( 78 ) 
chuse it , you shall share with me the sweets 
of my retired life ; and if you don't like it upon 
trial , you shall not only be at liberty to leave 
me , but you may be also assured , that I will 
not fail of giving you a gratification at par- 
ting. ^ I suffered myself to be persuaded , and 
followed the old hermit, who asked me seve- 
ral questions; to which I answered with an 
ingenuity which I have not always preserved 
in ihe sequel. When we came to the hermi- 
tage , he presented to me some fruit , which I 
devoured, having eaten nothing the whole day 
hut a morsel of dry bread , on which I had 
breakfasted in the morning at the hospital. Th«f 
ftnchorite seeing me make such good use of my 
yaws , said— -« Courage , my child ; don't spare 
the fruit ; I have ample provision of it , thank 
God , and I did not bring thee hither to let 
thee starve. i» This was indeed very true ; for 
in less than an hour after our arrival , he 
lighted a fire ; spitted a leg of mutton ; and while 
1 turned the spit , covered a small table with a 
very dirty napkin ; upon which he laid two 
plates , one for himseli , and the other for met 
<^ When the mutton was ready , he took it 
off the spit , and cut some slices for our sup- 
per , which was not a dry meal ; for we 
drank excellent wine , of which also he had 
got store. « Well , my chicken , i> said he , 
when we had done eating , « art thou satis- 
fied with my ordinary I This is the manner 
iu which thou shalt be treated every day , if 



( 79) 
thou livost with mo. Besides , thou shalt do 
what Ihou pleasesl ia this hermitage. All that 
I exact of thee is , to accompany me wheu 
1 go a begging through the neighbouring vil- 
lages , and lead an ass with two panniers , 
which the charitable |>easants usually fill 
wiht eggs , bread , flesh , and fish. This is all 
i require of thee. ^ — <i I w*\U do every tlung 
that you desire , i> I replied , « provided you 
don't oblige me to learn Latin. » Brother 
Chrysotom ( that was the old herniit*s n^me ) 
could not help laughing at my symplicity; 
and assured me anew , that he did not intend 
to force my inclination. 

« We went a begging the very next day 
mth the ass , wich I led by the halur , aud 
reaped a plentiful harvest ; every peasant - 
being glad of an opportunity to put some- 
thing in our panniers : one threw in a whole 
loaf: another a large piece of bacon ; a third , 
a partridge ; in short , we brought home vic- 
tuals enough for eight days ; a circumstance 
that denotes the great friendship and esteem 
that the country people had for the hermit 
It is true , he was of great use to them , in 
giving them his advice when they came td 
consult him in re-establishing peace in fam^ 
lies where discord reigned, in marrying their 
daughters , in fnrnishing them with remedies 
for a thousajid sorts of diseases , and in tea** 
ching prayers proper for barren vromea who 
wished to have children. 

D4 




\ 

(80) 

« By what I have said , you see that I wars 
well fed jn my hermitage. I was as well ac- 
commodated in point of sleeping : stretched 
upon good fresh straw , with a cushion of 
coarse cloth under my head , and a covering 
of the same stuff over my body. I made but 
one nap , which lasted all night long. Bro- 
ther Chrysostom , who had promised to give 
me a hermit's garb , made one for me from 
an old robe that he used to wear , and called 
me little Brother Scipio. As soon as I appea- 
red in the villages in that regular habit , I 
•was thought so handsome , that the ass was 
better loaded than formerly : the business 
was , who should give most 16 the little bro- 
ther I with whosf figure they were so well 
pleased. 

« The easy idle life which I led whith the 
old hermit , could not be disagreeably to a 
boy of my age : accordingly , I liked it so 
well , that I should have continued there 
still , if the Fates had not spun fo# me days 
of a very different kind ; but the destiny 
which I was bound to fulfil , soon detached 
ine from idleness , and made me t}uit Brother 
Chrysostom , as you shall hear. I frequently 
perceived the old man at work, upon a cus- 
hion that served him for a pillow ; he did 
nothing but sew and unsew it ; and 1 obser- 
ved , one day , that he put money into it. 
This remark was attended by a curiosity 
hich I proposed to gratify the very firs 



(8i ) 
journey he should take to Toledo , whither 
he was wont to go once a week. I waited 
impatiently for the day , without' having as 
yet any other design than of satisfying my 
curiosity, At length the old man set out » and 
I ripped up his pillow , where I found among 
the wool with which it was filled , the value 
ot about iit'ty crowns in different sorts of 
coin. 

« This treasure , in all probability , was 
the gratitude of the country people whom tha 
hermit had cured by his remedies , and of 
the women who had been blessed with chil- 
dren by virtue of his prayers. Be this as it 
will y I no sooner saw that it was money , 
which I could appropriate to myself with 
impunity , than my Egyptian disposition pre- 
vailed. I was seized with a desire oi stealing 
it , which cai) be attributed to nothing but 
the force of that blood which circulated in 
jny veins. I yielded to the temptation with- 
out resistance , secured the money in a kind 
of bag where we kept our combs and night- 
caps ; then quilting my hermit's habit , and 
resuming that of an orphan , I ran away from 
the hermitage , believing that I carried of! in 
my bag the whole riches of the Indies. 

« You have heard my beginning , ^ conti- 
nued Scipio ; « and I don't duubt that you 
expect a train of facts of the same nature : 
your expectation will not be deceived ; I have 
many other such exploits to recount before I 

D 5 



■M 



( 82 ) 

come to my laudable actions ; but I will 
come tho them at last ; ancl you will see , by 
my narration , that a rogue may very well 
turn an honest man. 

« Child as I was , I was not fpoT enough 
to return to Toledo ; that would have been 
exposing me to the chance of meeting Brother 
Ghrysostom , who would have made me res- 
tore my treasure in a very disagreeable man- 
ner : I followed another road , which con- 
ducted me to the village of Galves ; where I 
stopped at an in , the landlady of whirh was 
a widow of forty , who had all the qualities 
requisite for turning the penny. This woman 
BO sooner cast her eyes upon me , than jud- 
ging , by my dress , that I was a fugitive 
from the Orphan Hospital , she asked who I 
was , and whither I went. I answered , that 
liaving lost both father and mother , I vyan- 
ted , to go to service. » — « Child , » said she , 
« canst thou read I p I assumed her , that I both 
read and wrote to admiration. Indeed , I 
could form my letters , and join them in such 
a manner, as somewhat resembled writing ; 
and that is enough for the occasions of a vil- 
lage-tavern. « I take thee into my service , )> 
said the landlady ; « thou shalt not be altoge- 
ther useless , but shall keep an account of all 
my debts , active and passive. I will give thee 
no wages , ^ added she ; « because the good 
company that come here , never forget the 
servants ; so that thou may est depend upoii 
xeceiyiag good perquisites. „ 



( 85 ) 
« 1 accepted the proposal , reserving to 
unyseif, as you may vvell believe , the right 
of changing the air , as soon as my stay |at 
Galves should become disngreeable. When I 
found myself engaged in the service of this 
inn , 1 became very uneasy in my mind* I did 
not desire to be thought a monied-man » and 
was very anxious to know where I should 
conceal my honrd', so that it should be secure 
from every stranger's hand. I did not as yet 
know the house well enough to trust to those 
places which seemed most proper to secure 
it. With what perplexity are riches attended ! 
I determined , however , to put my bag in a 
corner oi the corn - loft where there was 
straw ; and believing it more safe there than 
in any other place , made myself as easy as 
possible. There were three servants in this 
house ; a fat ostler , a young maid of Galicia , 
and myself : each of us drew as much as we 
could from the travellers that halted , whe- 
ther they came on horseback or foot. I com-* 
monly caught some halspence of these gentle* 
men when I brought In the bill : they gav)i 
something also to the ostler , for taking care 
of their beasts : but as for the Galician , who 
was the idol of all the carriers that passed , 
•he got as many crowns as we did farthings* 
Every penny that 1 received , I carried to in- 
crease my treasure in the corn-lofi $ and th^ 
more I saw my wealth increase , the more 
^d I fdel my little heart attached to it : I 80- 

. D 6 



(84) 

metimes kissed the specie , and contemplated 
the different pieces with a degree of rapture 
which none but misers can conceive* 

« This affection for my treasure obliged me 
to go and visit it thirty times a day. I fre- 
quently met the landlady upon the stairs; 
and she being naturally distrustful , was cu- 
rious , one day , to know what it was thai 
Gould bring me every moment to the corn-loft.. 
Thither therefore she went ^ and searched 
every corner , imagining that I , perhaps , 
concealed in that place some things which I 
had stole in the house. She did not forget t» 
remove the straw that covered my bag y which 
having found , she opened it ; and seeing 
crowns aiKi pistoles appear ^ believed , or pre- 
tended to believe, that I had stole them ikom 
her. She seized the sum total accordingly : 
then calling me little wretch^ and little ras- 
cal , ordered the ostler , who was entirely 
devoted to her will , to give me fifty lashes ; 
which , when I had received , she turned me 
out of doors y saying , that she would suffer 
no knave to live in her house. In vain did I 
protest that I had not robbed the landlady : 
she maintained the contrary ;. and oi course 
her word was believed rather than mine. Thus 
Brother Chrysostom's money passed from one 
thief to another. 

« I lamented the loss of my money as a 
man mourns the death of an only child ; and 
though my tears did not retrieve what I ha4 



(85) 
lost 9 at least they excited the compassion of 
same people who saw them shed ; and , 
among others , of the Curate oi Galves , who 
was passing by chance. He seemed moved at 
my melancholy condition, and carried m» 
along with him to the parsonage ^ where, in 
order to gain my confidence , or rather to 
pump me , he began by pitying my situation* 
« How much , ^ said he, <n dues this poor 
child deserve compassion I It is not surpri* 
sing if, abandoned to himself* in such a tender 
age , he has committed a bad action. Most 
men find it difficult to live honest through the 
whok course of their lives. » Then addres- 
sing himself to me— « My son , » added ho ^ 
4 from what part of Spain do you come , and 
who are your parents I You seem to be of 
KMDe good family. Tell me ingenuously , and 
' be assured that 1 will not abandon you. )^ 
« The curate , by this politic and charitable 
discourse , engaged me insensibly to discover 
all my affairs with great sincerity. I made a 
general confession. After which , he said , 
« Friend , though it does not become hermits 
to hoard up money , that does not lessen your 
crime : in robbing Brother Chrysostom , you 
have transgressed that article of the decalogue 
which forbids tLeft : but I'll oblige the land- 
lady to restore the money, which I will send 
to the hermit ^ so that your conscience may 
be easy en that score. » But this Iswe^r » was 
the least of my uneasiness. The curate ^ wha 



(86) 
iad a design of his omi , did not stop there? 
« Mj child , » said he , I interest mjseU in- 
jour hehalf, and will procure a good place* 
€oT joo. I YnW tomorrow send jou bj a car* 
rier to m j nephew^ , w^ho is a canon of the 
cathedral of Toledo; he w^ill notrelbse, at 
my request , to receive jroa into the number 
of his lacquies , who live plentifiilly , like so 
many incumbents , on the revenue of his pre<» 
bend : jou will be perfectly w^ell situated , I 
can assure yon. » 

«] was so much consoled by this assurance^ 
that I no longer thought of the bag , nor the 
stripes which I had received , my mind being 
wholly possessed with the pleasure of living 
like an incumbent. Next day , while I was at 
breakfast , a carrier came to the parsonage , 
according to the curate^s orders, with two 
mules bridled and saddled. 1 was helped up 
on the one , the carrier on the other , and we 
set out for Toledo. My fellow-traveller was 
a fellow of humour, who liked to make him- 
self merry at another's expence. « My little 
junior , )> said he , « you have a good friend in 
the Curate of Galves ; he could not give you a 
better proof of his affection , than tat of re- 
commending you to the service of his nephew 
the canon , whom 1 have the honour to know , 
and who is , without contradiction , the pearl 
of the vvhole chapter. He is none of those 
devotees whose pale and meagre faces preach 
vp mortificatiou. He has a capacious couute^ 



(87) 
nance , a rosy complexion , a merry look , is 
a jovial soul , who enjoys the present hour^ 
and in particular loves good cheer. You will 
live in his house like a prince. » 

« The rogue of n carrier , perceiving that I 
listened v\-ith great satisfaction , continued to 
extol the happiness I should enjoy in the ca- 
non's service i and did not leave off speaking 
until we arrived at the village of Obisa , where 
we stopped to bait our mules. The carrier , 
while he walked about the inn , let fall by ac- 
cident y out of his pocket , a paper , which I 
was cunning enough to pick up without being 
observed , and which i found means to read 
while he was in the stable. It vvas a letter 
directed to the priests of the Orphan Hospital | 
and conceived in these terms : 

« Gentlemen , 

« 1 THOUGHT I was bound in charity to 
send back to you a little knave , who is a 
runaway from your hospital. He does not seem 
to want capacity, but deserves to be carefully, 
mewed up ; and I hope that ; by proper cor-* 
rection , he will in time do well. That God 
may preserve your pious and charitable wors««,\ 
bips f is the prayer of 

« The CuBATE of Galyes. » 

« When I had read this letter , which in* 
formed me of the curate's good intention , t 
did not long hesitate. To leave the inn , and 
Ijaiu the banks of the Tagus i Tvhich , wai 



(88) 
more than a league from thence, wsls the 
•^york of a moment. Fear lent me wings to fly 
from the Priests of the Orphan Hospital , to 
whom I would by no means return , so much 
was I disgusted with their manner of thea- 
ching the Latin tongue. I entered Toledo as 
gaily as if I had known where to board. 
True , it is a city of benediction , in Tvhich a 
man of genius , reduced to the necessity of 
living at his neighbour's expence , cannot die 
of hunger. Scarce had I arrived in the market- 
place , when a well-dressed cavalier , whom 
I passed , laid hold of my arm , and said -^ 
•* Hark*e , my boy , will you serve me I I 
should be glad to have such a lacquey as you. „ 
** And I should be glad, „ ansvered I, <^ to 
have such a master as you. „ '^ If that be the 
case , „ he resumed , '' thou art mine from 
this moment. Follow me. ,, This I did, wi- 
thout making any farther reply. 

" This cavalier , who might be about thirty 
years of age , was called Don Abel , and lod- 
ged in a house where he possessed a very 
handsome apartment. He was by profession 
a gamester , and we lived together in this 
^manner : in the morning, I cut as much to- 
bacco for hi/n as. would fill five or six pipes , 
brushed his cloaths , and went for the barber 
to shave him and dress his whiskers. After 
which he went out , and made a tour among 
, the tennis-courts , from whence he returned 
about eleven or twelve o'clock at night. But 



(89) 

each morning before he went out , he gari 
me three rials for my day's expence , leaving 
me at liberty to do what I pleased nntil ten 
o'clock at night. He was very well satisfied 
with me , provided he found me at homo 
when he returned. He ordered a doublet and 
hose of livery to be made for me , so that I 
looked like the page oi a lady oi the town. I 
was very well satisfied wiih my place , and 
certainly I could not have found one mora 
agreeable to my humour. 

« I had led this happy life almost a whole 
month , when my master asked if I was plea- 
sed with his behaviour. I answered , that I 
coult not be more. « Well then , » he resu- 
med , « we shall set out to-morrow for Se- 
ville , whither my affairs call me. Thou wilt 
not be sorry to see that capital of Andalusia* y 

« He that hath not Seville seea > 
« Is no traveller , I ween , m 
« ( laith the proverb, ) 

** I assured him that I vvsas ready to follow 
him whitersoever he should go. That very 
day the Seville carrier come to his lodging : 
to fetch a large cofter , that contained all his ^ 
moveables ; and in the morning we set out for 
Andalusia. „ 

*' Signior Don Abel was so lucky at play, 
that he nevpr lost , except when he chose to 
lose. This talent often obliged him to change, 
bis plage of habitation , that he might avoid 



(90) 
ihs resentment of dupes ; and this was the 
cause of our present journey. Being arrived 
at Seville , we took lodgings near the gate of 
Cordova , and began to live as we had lived 
at Toledo : but my master found a difTerence 
between these two cities. In the tennis court 
of Seville he met with gamesters who played 
as successfully as he ; so that he came home 
sometimes very much out of humour. 

** One morning , being chagrined at the* loss 
of one hundred pistoles , which he ventured 
the preceding day he asked why I had not 
carried his dirty linen to a woman whom 
he employed to wash and perlume it. I ans* 
wered 9 th<it 1 had forgot. Upon which , fal- 
ling into a passion , he gave me hall a dozeft 
boxes on the face so rudely , that he made me 
989 more candles than ever burnt in Solomon's 
temple. " There , little wretch , „ said he i 
*' there is something to make you mind your 
business. Must I be always at your tail , to tell 
you what you have to do ? Why arc you not 
as ready to work* as to eat ? Are you such a 
beast as to be incapable of anticipating my 
orders and occasions ? „ So saying, he went 
.out of his apartment, leaving me very much 
mortifit^d at the blows I had received for such 
a i>1ight fault. 

** I don't know what adventure happened 
to him soon after in the tennis-court , but one 
evening he came home very much heated, 
and said"*" ''Scipioi I am resolved to eo ta 



(y ) 

Italy , and must embark the day aAer td* 
morrow in a ship bound for Genoa. I have 
my own reasons for making that voyage : 
virilt thou not accompany me , and lay hold 
of such a f^ir occasion to see the most de- 
lightful country in the world I ,» I said I 
would i but at the same time purposed to dis- 
appear just when he intended to embark. I 
thought I would revenge myself of him io 
this manner > and was very well pleased with 
the scheme , which I could not help impar- 
ting to a professed bravo whom I met in the 
street : for » since my arrival at Seville , I had 
contracted some bad acquaintances , and this 
in particular. I told him in what manner , 
and for what I had been buffeted ; then com- 
municated my design of leaving Don Abel 
when he should be just ready to go pa l^a^, 
and asked his opinion of my resolution. 

'^ The bravo frowned while he listened to 
me , and twirled the curls of his mustachio | 
then blaming my master with an air of gra<* 
vity -^ ^^ Liltle gentleman , „ said he , ^* you 
are dishonoured ior ever , if you restrict your- 
self to that frivolous revenge which you have 
hatched. It is not enough to let Don Abel de- 
part by himself; that would not be punish- 
ment sufficient. I'he chastisement must be 
proportioned to the injury. Let us therefore 
carry off his goods and money , which we 
will share like brothers after he is gone. ,, 

<< Although I was aaturally inclined tQ 



tbieving , I was frightened at the proposal of 
such an important robbery. Nevertheless , 
the arch rogue who made it , did not fail to 
persuade me to it> and you shall hear the 
success of our enterprize. The bi^avo , w^ho 
Was a big strong fellow , came to our lodging 
next day in the twilight , when I shewed him 
the coffer in which my master had already 
secured his effects , and asked if he could 
carry such a weight. *' Such a weight I.,, said 
he; *'know, that when the business is to 
carry off the goods of another , I can lift 
Noah's ark. ,, So saying , he flung the coffer 
on his shoulders with ease , and w«ut dowa 
stairs with it upon tip-toes. I followed him 
with son^e caution ^ and we were just going 
out at the street door , when Don Abel, 
brought thither so seasonably by his good 
genius /appeared all of a sudden. 

** Where art thou going with the coffer I „ 
said he.l was so confounded that Istood silent; 
and the bravo seeing the affair misgive , threw 
down his load, and betook himself to flighty 
in order to avoid explanations. 

" Where art thou going with the coffer? ,, 
said my master a second time. " Sir, „ ans- 
wered I, more dead than alive, ^' I am going 
to carry it on board the ship in which you 
are to embark to morrow for Italy. „ ** Ha ! „ 
he replied , ^' dost thou know in what ship I 
intend to sail? „ " No, Sir, „ said 1; " but 
I have a tongue in my head > and I should have 



(95) 
•nquired at the harbour, where somebody 
would have certaiuly told me. „ At this my 
answer, which he suspected, he darted such 
II furious look at me , that I was afraid of a 
second beating. ** Who ordered you , „ cried 
he , ^* to bring my coffer out of the house f „ 
•• You yourself, „ said I. ** Don't you re«» 
member how^ you upbraided me some days 
ago I Did not you say, while you beat me , 
that you expected I would prevent your or* 
ders, and do what was proper for your ser« 
Tice of my own accord ? Now it was in con* 
sequence of this* direction , that I employed 
one to carry your coffer to the ship. „ The 
gamester observing that I was more mibchie-« 
reus than he imagined , dismissed me imme- 
diately; saying, with an air of indifference-^ 
** Go , Mr. Scipio ; and , Heaven be your guide* 
I don't chuse to play with people that have 
aometimes a card too many, sometimes one 
too few* Get out of my sight, „ added he, in 
another tone , *^ lest I make you sing without 
your gamut. „ I saved him the trouble of re^ 
pealing his command , and got off in a twink* 
ling ; being woundily afraid thai he would 
•trip me of my doaths , which however he 
luckily spared. I walked along the street | 
considering where I could lie , with my two 
rials , which constituted my whole stock* I 
arrived at the gate of the archl)ishop's palace; 
and , as his grace's supper was then dressing , 
aa agreeable savour issued irom th9 kitchen | 



% 



( 94 ) 

and diffused itseK a whole leagoe aroond* 
*^ Zooks ! ,, said I to mjself , '* I should like 
to dispatch one of those ragouts which salute 
my nose. I should even be contented with an 
opportunity of dipping my four fingers and 
thumb in it. What , can't I fall upon som« 
method of tasting those dainties that smell so 
agreeably ! the tlxing does not seem impossi- 
ble. ,, I whetted my imagination accordingly | 
and , by dint of musing , hatched a trick 
which I immediately put in practice, and 
which succeeded to my wish. I entered the 
court of the palace , and running towards the 
kitchen, cried as loud as I could, '' Helpl 
help I » as if I had been pursued by some assassins* 
** At my repeated cries, Mr. Diego, the 
archbishop's cook , with two or thre^ ecuU 
lions , came running omL to know the caii^e ; 
and , seeing nobody but me , asked yHi^}, 
made such e noise. *^ Ah , Sir i „ said I , pri^ 
tending to be frightened almost out of my witSi 
** for the love of St. Polycarp I pray save ma 
from the fury of a bravo that wants to kill 
me f „ •' Where is this bravo? „ cried Diego ; 
** you are quite alone , without so much as a 
cat at your heels. Go , my child , lay aside 
your fear. It was probably somebody that 
wanted to terrify you for his diversion , and 
who did well not to follow you into this pa«- 
lace \ for, if he had , we should have cut off 
his ears. „ *^ No, no, „ said I to the [cook % 
l^ he did not pursue me for his diversion. Ha 



(95) 

is a big , ill-looking fellow , who intends t<9 
strip me , and waits hard by in the street to 
catch me as I go out. ,, ** He shall wait a long 
time then , „ he replied : ^* for you shall stay 
here till to-morrow, and want for neither 
supper nor bed. „ 

** I was transported with joy w^hen I heard 
these words ; and it was a ravishing sight to 
me J when , being conducted into the kitchen 
by Mr. Oiego , I beheld the preparation for 
his grace's supper* I reckoned fifteen persons 
at work ; but I could not number the dishes 
that I saw , so careful had Providence been 
in behalf of the archbishop. It was then that » 
feasting upon the steams of the ragouts , which 
I had only smelled afar off before , I became 
acquainted with sensuality. I had the honour 
to sup and sleep with the scullions , whose 
friendship I gained to that degree , that next 
day , when I went to thank Mr. Diego for 
the asylum he had so generously afforded , he 
said y " Our kitchen lads tell ma , they would 
be glad to have you for a comrade , they like 
your humour so well $ would you chuse to be 
their companion I ,, I answered , that if I 
enjoyed that piece of good fortune, I should 
think myself perfectly happy. *• If that be the 
case , my friend , „ said be , " look upon 
yourself from this moment as an ofticer of the 
palace. „ So saying , he went and presented 
me to the major-domo , who , on account of 



(96) 

«iy sprightly look , judged me worthy to be 
received among the turuspits. 

*^ 1 was no sooner in possession of this ho- 
Bourable employment, than Mr. Diego, ac- 
cording to the custom of cooks in great fami- 
lies, who privately send victuals to their mis- 
tresses , chose me to carry to a certain lady 
in the neighbourhood , sometimes loins of 
veal , and sometimes fowl or venison. Tins 
good lady was a widow scarce turned of 
thirty , very handsome , very smart , and , to 
all appearance , not over faithful to her cook^ 
who not only furnished her with victuals , 
bread , sugar , and oil , but also provided her 
good wine , ail at the expence of the archbi- 
shop. 

^^ I was effectually improved in the palace 
of his grace , where I played a very pleasant 
prank , which is still spoken of at Seville. 
The pages , and some other domestics , in 
order to celebrate their master's birthday , 
took it in their heads to represent a comedy. 
They chose that of the Be nay ides ; (*) and 
as they had occasion for a boy of my age , 
to play the part of the young King of Leon , 
they cast their eyes upon me. Te major-domo , 
who piqued himself upon his talent of decla- 
mation , undertook to instruct me j and , after 
he had given me a few lessons, assured them , 

(*) A noble family in Spain , descended from Alonso, 
the ninth King of Castile. 

th«;t 



(97) 
tliat I would not be the worst actor in theplfiy. 
As our master was at the expence of the enter- 
tainment , no cost was spared to render it ma« 
guificent. A theatre was built in the largest hall 
in the palace , and decorated with great taste. 
Tere was a bed of turf made in the back scene , 
on which I was to appear asleep , and the 
Moors fall upon me to make me prisoner. 
When the actors were perfect in their parts , 
the archbishop fixed the dajr for the represen- 
tation , and did not fail to invite the most 
considerable noblemen and ladies of the city 
to come and see it. The day being come , 
each actoi^ was busied with his drees. As for 
mine , it was brought to me by a taylor , 
accompanied by our major-domo ; who , ha- 
ving been at the trouble of teaching me my 
part f was also pleased to superintend my 
dress. The taylor cloathed me with a rich 
velverrobe , trimmed with gold lace and but- 
tons , and hanging sleeves , adorned with 
fringe of the same metal i and the major-domo 
himself placed upon my head a crown !of 
paper , powdered with a quantity of fine 
pearls , intermixed with false stones. Besides* 
they girded me with a sash of pink-coloured 
silk 9 wrought with silk flowers i and every 
thing they said to me seemed to lend me wings 
to ran away with the plunder. At length , 
the play began about twilight. I opened the 
scene » by pronouncing some verses , impor- 
ting , that , being unable to keep myself awake.. 
Vol. IV. E 



( 98 ) 
I was going to abandou m^se^f to slumber ; nt 

the same time I withdrew , and lay down 
on the bed of turf which had been prepared 
for me ; but , instead of falling asleep ^ I be- 
gan to consider how I could get into the 
street , and escape with my royal robes. A 
little private stair , that led down under the 
theatre into the hall , seemed proper for the 
execution of my design. I accordingly got up 
nimbly , and seeing that nobody took notice 
of me , slipped down that stair , which 
conducted me into the kail , the door of 
which I gained , crying — " Room , room I 
I am going to change my dress. „ Every 
ope made way for me ; so that , in less 
than two minutes , I got out of the palace 
with impunity , and , by &vour of the night , 
repaired to the house of a bravo of my ac- 
quaintance. 

^* He was perfectly astonished to see me 
in that garb ; and , when I imparted the af- 
fair , he laughed until he was ready to burst : 
then embracing me with so much the more 
joy , as he flattered himself with the hopes 
of sharing the spoils of the King of Leon , he 
congratulated me on having performed such 
a fine stroke ; and told me , that , if I went 
ou at that rate , my genius would one day 
make a great noisa in the world. After we 
had sufficiently made ourselves merry , ** What 
shall we do with this rich dress f „ said I to 
tha bravo : who ansvvtred -« ^< Give yosrself 



(99) 
no trouble on that score , I know an honest 

broker , who , without expressing the least 
curiosity , buvs every thing that is brought to 
him , provided he likes the bargain ; to-mor- 
row morning I will go and bnng him hi- 
ther. 9, In effect , the bravo went out next 
day early , leaving me a-bed in his room , 
and in two hours returned with the broker , 
who carried a yellow bag under his arm. 
** Friend , ,, said he to me > ** this is Signior 
Ybagnez de Segovia , who , in spite of the 
bad example shewn by his brethren of the 
trade , deals with the most scru[>ulous inte- 
grity. He will tell you to a farthing the valua 
of this dress that you want to part with , and 
you may depend upon his estimation. ,, ** Yes, 
certainly , „ said the broker. *' I must be a 
wretch indeed , if I prized a thing under the 
true value. That is a crime with which I 
was never taxed , thnnk God ; and no man 
shall ever lay it to the charge of Ybagnez de 
Segovia. Let us see the goods you want to 
sell , and I will conscientiously tell you what 
they are worth. „ *^ Here they are , „ said 
the bravo , shewing them ; ** and you must 
allow that nothing can be more magnificent : 
observe the beauty of that Genoa velvet » and 
the richness of the trimming. „ '^ I am quite 
charmed with it , ,, replied the broker « af- 
ter he had viewed it attentively ; *^ nothing 
can be finer. ,, — ** And what do you think 
of the pearls of this crown I ,, resumed mf 

E 2 



% 



( i«o ) 
friend. *^ If they were more round , j^ said 
Ybagncz , ,, they would be estimable : bow^e- 
ver, such as they are , I thiuk them very pretty 
and like them as well as the rest of the dress. 
I sincerely own it , ,, contiuued he , *^ ano- 
ther rogue of a broker in my place would 
pretend to despise the merchandize , that ha 
might have it cheap , and would not be asha- 
med of oflenng twenty pistoles for it ; but I 
who have some conscience , will give forty, y, 
« If Ybagnez had said a hundred , he would 
not then have been a just appraiser ; since 
the pearls alone were well worth two hun- 
dred crowns. The bravo , who had a fellow- 
feeling with him , said to me , « You see 
how fortunate you are in falling into the 
hands of an honest man. Sigaior Ybagnez 
prizes every thing as if he was upon his death* 
bed. 9 « That's true , » said the broker ; « and 
therefore I never rise or fall a farthing in my 
price. Well , „ added he ^ ** is it a bargain. I 
Shall I count out the money to you I ,, — p* 
*< Stay , ,, replied the bravo ; ** my friend 
must try on this suit of clo^ths 9 which I 
desired you to bring him. I ani mistaken if 
they won't fit him exactly. ,, Then the bro- 
ker , untying his bundle , shewed me a dou-i 
blet and hose , of a very good dark-coloured 
cloth , with silver buttons. ; the whole see- 
ipingly half worn, I got up to try this dress j 
which , though both too long and too wide f, 

appeared tQ tjiose genU^wien to fcavQ ^j^e^^ 



( lOI ) 

made on purpose for me. Ybagnez rated it at 
ten pistoles i and , as he never abated one 
farthing of what he asked , we were obliged 
to comply with his valuation. So he took 
thirty pistoles out of his purse , and spread 
them upon the table > after which he made 
another bundle of my crown and royal robes , 
which he carried oil accordingly. „ 

« When he was gone, the bravo said,» 
« I am very well satisfied with this broker. » 
And good reason be had to be so ; for , I am 
sure, he gave him one hundred pistoles, at 
least 9 by way of gratification. But he was not 
contented with that sum : he took , without 
ceremony, the h<)lf of the money that lay on 
t^e table , leaving the other half to me , and 
«aying , « My dear Scipio , with these fifteen 
pistoles that remain , I advise you to quit this 
city forthwith ; for you may be assured that 
the archbishop will give orders to search for 
you every where. I should be extremely mor* 
tified if , after having signalized yourself by 
an action which will do honour to your histo- 
1*7 » you should foolishly sufTer yourself to be 
apprehended. i^ I answered , that I v^as fully 
resolved to leave Seville; and, in effect , af- 
ter having bought a hat and some shirts , I 
gained the wast and delightful plain that stret- 
ches , among vines and olives, to the ancient 
city of Carmona , and three days af^er arri* 
ved at Cordova. 

« 1 lodged at an inn as you enter the great 

E3 



( 102 ) 

square , where the merchants live ; and gave 
myself out for the son of a good family at To- 
ledo, who travelled for my pleasure. I was 
well enough cloathed to make people believe 
this story ; and the landlord was finally con- 
vinced by the sight of some pistoles , which 
I let him see as if by chance. It is probable , 
indeed , that my tender years made him be- 
lieve I was some little libertine who had run 
away from his parents , af^er having robbed 
them. Be this as it will , he did not seem ca- 
rious to know more than what I told him of 
the matter ; being y in all likelihood , afraid 
that his curiosity might make me change my 
lodging. For six rials a day I lived very weU 
in this inn , whicn was frequented by a good 
deal of company , there being at supper in 
the evening no less than twelve people at one 
table. It was very diverting to see every one 
eating without speaking a syllable , except 
one man , who , talking incessantly , at ran- 
dom , compensated for the silence of ihe rest 
by his impertinent prating. He affected the 
wit , told stories , and endeavoured , by quaint 
sayings , to entertain the company ; who , 
from time to time , laughed heartily j though 
not so much at the brightness of his sallies as 
at his ridiculous behaviour. 

« As for my part , I paid so little attention 
to the discourse of this original , that I should 
have risen from supper without being able to 
give any account of what be said^ had he not 



( lo3 ) 
found means to interest me in his *conversa- 
tion. « Gentlemen, )» said he , towards the 
end of our meal , 4 I have kept for thedesart 
a most diverting story : an adventure that be- 
f el , a few days ago , at the palace of the ar- 
chbishop of Seville. Ihad it from a bachelor of 
my acquaintance , who told me , that he was 
present when it happened. * These words 
discomposed me a good deal ; I did not doubt 
ihat it was my adventure which he intended 
to recount ; and I was not mistaken. This per- 
son gave a faithful detail of it , and informed 
me of what I did not know , that is , what 
happened in the hall after my departure : and 
this you shall hear. 

« Scarce had I betook myself to flight, 
when the Mooi^s , who , according to the per- 
formance which was represented, were to 
carry me off, appeared upon the stage , with 
a design of surprising me on the bed of tqr| , 
where they thought I was asleep ; but when 
they went to seize the King of Leon , they 
were very much astonished to find neither 
king nor knave. The play was immediately 
interrupted ; all the actors were perplexed ; 
some called me , others searched for me ; one 
hallooed, and another cursed me. The arch- 
bishop , perceiving the trouble and confusion 
that reigned behind the scenes, asked what 
was the matter. A page , who acted the Gra- 
cioso of the piece , hearing the prelate's voice , 
came out, and said to his grace , *^ My lord , 

E4 



*^< 




( 104 ) 

yoD need not fear that the Moors will tafce 
the King of Leon prisoner; he has hescaped 
with his rc»yal robes. „ "Heaven be praised ! „ 
cried the archbishop ; *' he was very much 
in the right to fly from the enemies of our re- 
ligion , and escape the chains which they had 
prepared fur him. He has , doubtless , retur- 
ned to wards Leon , the capital of his king- 
dom ; and I wish he may get home without 
meeting with any bad accident. Let no man 
go in pursuit of htm , for I should be sorry if 
his majesty received any mortification from 
me. „The prelate , .having spoke iu this mao- 
ner , ordered my part to be read » and th» 
play to go on. 

CHAP. XL 

The Sequel ofScipws History. 

^^A s long as my money lasted , the landlord 
treated me with great respect , but no sooner 
did he perceive that my finances were ex- 
hausted , than he looked cool upon me , pic^ 
ked a quarrel , and one morning early desired 
me to leave his house. I quitted it with dis- 
dain , and went into a church belonging to 
the Dominicans, where , while I heard mass , 
an old mendicant came and asked alms of me. 
I took two or three maravedis out of my 
pocket , and giving them to him , said , 
l^ Friend^ pray to Ggd to send me some good 



(io5) 
place : ifyour prayer is heard , you shall not 
repent of your devotion, and may depend 
upon my gratitude. ,, 

^* At these words the beggar viewed me very 
attentively, and answered with a serious air » 
«What post would you have f ,, ** I could 
wish , „ said I , ^^ to be a lacquey in some 
good family. mHc theu asked ii my occasions 
were pressing. •* They cannot be more so, „ 
I resumed : ^^ for , if I have not the good for- 
tune of being settled very soon , there is no 
medium ; I must either die of hunger, or be- 
take myself to your trade. „ *^ If you are re-r 
duced to such necessity , „ said he , " you , 
who are not at all calculated for our business ^ 
inust be in a very disagreeable situation^ but, 
were you in the least accustomed to our way 
of life, you would prefer it to servitude , 
which is , without contradiction , inferior to 
beggary. Nevertheless , since you chuse to b^ 
a servant, rather than to live a free and inde- 
pendent life , as I do , you shall have a master 
immediately. Notwithstanding my appearan- 
ce , I can be of use to you : therefore come hi- 
ther to-morrow at the same hour. „ 

** Resolved to be punctual , I returned next 
day to the same place , where I had not beea 
long, before the mendicant, coming up to 
me , bid me take the trouble to follow him» 
I did so. He conducted me to a cellar not far 
from the church ; and this was the place of 
his residence. We entered his habitation i and , 

E 5 



( io6) 
sitting down upon a bench , which was at 
least an hundred ^ears old , he spoke to me 
in this manner : ^' A good action , as the pro- 
verb says , always finds its recompence : you 
gave me charity yesterday , and that determi- 
nes me to procure a place for you ; and this ^ 
please God , I will soon perform. I am ac- 
quainted with an old Dominican , called Fa- 
ther Alexis , who is an holy ecclesiastic , and 
great confessor. I have the honour to run his 
errands, and acquit myself in that employment 
with so much fidelity and discretion , that he 
never refuses to use his interest for me and 
my friends. I have spoke to him of you in 
such a manner, that he is disposed to do you 
service : and I will present you to Lis reve- 
rence whenever you please. » « There is not 
a moment to lose , » said I to the old beggar i 
^ let us go instantly to the good friar. » The 
mendicant consented, and carried me forth- 
with to Father Alexis , whom we found in his 
room , busy in writing spiritual letters. He 
interrupted his work to speak to me , and told 
me that , at the request of the mendicant , he 
would interest himself in my behalf. « Ha- 
ving been informed, i> added be, « that Sig- 
nior Balthazar Velasquez wanted a lacquey , 
I wrote this morning in your favour; and he 
has answered , that he will receive you im- 
plicitly on my recommendation. You may , 
this very day , go to him from me j he is my 
peuilent and friend. s> The monk , .on this op- 



( «o7 ) 
casion , exhorted me , during three quarters of 
an hour , to do my duty with fidelity and di- 
ligence. He enlarged particularly on the obli- 
gation I was under to serve Velasquez with 
^eal : after which he assured me , that he 
would take care to maintain me in my post , 
provided my master should be pleased with 
my behaviour. Having thanked the monk for 
his generosity, I came out of the convent with 
the beggar ; who told me , that Signior Bal- 
thazar Velasquez was an old rich woollen- 
draper, of great meekness and simplicity. « I 
dare say , » added he , « that you will be per* 
fectly happy in his family. )> I enquired whe- 
reabouts the citizen lived , and went imme* 
diately to his house , after having promised to 
make an acknowledgment to the beggar as 
soon as I should take root in my place. 1 en- 
tered a large shop , where two well-dressed 
apprentices where walking to and fro , in 
expectation of customers ; and , asking it their 
master was at home , told them , I had a 
message to him irom Father Alexia* At the 
mention of that veneriible name , I was 
shewn into the back shop , where the mer- 
chant sat at a bureau , turning over the leaves 
of a large day-book. I saluted him with great 
respect , saying , wbile I advanced -* « Sig- 
nior , I am the young man whom the reve- 
rend Father Alexis recommended to you for 
a lacquey. )> — « Ha I welcome , my child ^ » 
eaid he i «thsit holy man's recommendation U 

£6 



( io8 ) 
sufficient. I receive thee into my service , io 
preference to three or four lacquies that were 
sent by other people. It is agreed : ihy wages 
run up from this day forward. » 

« I had not been long in the service of this 
citizen , before I perceived him to be just suck 
a man as the beggar had described » His sim- 
plicity seemed even so great , that I could not 
jbelp thinking I should End it a difficulty in 
abstaining from playing him some trick or 
other. He had been a widover four years , 
and had two children ; a son turned of fiver 
and-twenty » and a daughter . going in her 
fifteenth year ; who being brought up by a 
severe duenna , and directed by Father Alexis, 
walked in the path of virtue : but Gaspard 
Velasqjuez , her brother , though nothing had 
been spared in his education ^ had all the vices 
jof a young spendthri&t. He sometimes lay two 
or three nights abroad ^andif , at his return, 
his father took it into hb head to reprimand 
him , Gaspard imposed silence upon him in a 
tone still higher than that of the oJd man» 

« Scipio , » said the draper to me one day , 
« I have a son who is the sole plague of my 
life ; he is plunged in all manner of debau- 
chery : a circumstance that surprises me very 
much> for his education was by no means 
neglected. I gave him good masters ,. and my 
friend Alexis hath done his utmost endeavour 
to put him in the right road > but he could 
not succeed : Ga^rd is fallen into a state of 



( '09 ) 
libertinism. Thou wilt say , perhaps , that 1 
treated him too gently in the beginning ol' 
his yout ; and that he was undone by my in- 
dulgence y but that was not the case ; he was 
always chastised when I thought he deserved 
to be used with rigour : for , good natured as 
I am y I have resolution enough » when thero 
is occasion for it. I have even ordered him to 
be confined > and ilie consequence was , ho 
became more wicked than ever. In a word , 
he has one of those bad dispositions which 
cannot be improved by good exampl# , re- 
monstrances , or chastisement. Heaven alono 
can work that miracle 1 » 

*^ If I was not much moved with the sor- 
row of this unhappy father , at least 1 pre- 
tended to be so. ** How much are you to bs 
pitied , Sir 1 „ Siiid I : « a good man like you , 
deserves to have a better sonii ,j ** Heaven , 
nay child ,,, answered he , ** is pleased to de- 
prive me of that consolation. Among other 
causes which Gaspard gives me to complain 
of him y ^ added he ^ ^^ I will tell thee iu 
confidence, there is one that makes me very 
uneasy : that is , the inclination which he has 
to rob me , and which he but too often finds 
means to satisfy in spite of all my vigilance. 
The lacquey , whom you succeed , was in 
concert with him , and for that reason turned 
away. As fur thee , I hope thou wilt not suf- 
fer thyself to be corrupted by my son i but 
ispoose my iateroH } ^9 Father Alexis has 



( "o) 
doubtless exhorted thee. ,, '^ That Til answer 
for , „ said I ; ^* his revereixce exhorted me a 
whole hour to have nothing in view but 
your advantage ; but I can assure you 1 had 
no need of being exhorted tho that f I leel 
myself disposed to serve you faithiully , and 
my zeal will prove itself on all occasions. ,, 

«He who hears one side only , hears nothing. 
Young Velasquez , who was a devilbh beau , 
judging by my physiognomy , that y sl^oold 
be as easily seduced as my predecessor , took 
me aside into a private place , and spoke to 
me in these terms. *^ Hark'e , my dear ; I am 
persuaded that my father has charged th^e to 
be a spy upon my actions ; take care of thy- 
self ; I give thee notice beforehand , that the 
employment is none of the most agreeable. 
If ever I perceive that thou makest thy re- 
marks upon me , I will cudgel thee to death : 
whereas , if thou wilt assist me in cheating 
my father , thou mayest depend upon my gra- 
titude. Must I be more plain with thee f thon 
shalt have a share of the purchase. Make thy 
choice, therefore , and declare this instant 
either for the father or son , for I will admit 
of no neutrality. ,, 

« Sir, » answered I , «you are very short 
with me j and I plainly perceive , that I can- 
not help espousing your cause , though in my 
heart I feel a reductance to betray Siguior 
Velasquez, j^ « Thou oughest to make no 
scruple in so doing , » replied Gaspard ; <^ ha 



( «") 

IS an old miser , who wants to keep me still 
in leading-strings ; a wretch who denies me 
the necessaries of life at the age of five-and- 
twenty i you must , therefore , look upon my 
father in that point of view. » — « Enough , 
Sir , » said I ^ « there is no such thing as hol- 
ding out against so just a cause of complaint. 
I offer my service to second yon in your lau- 
dable undertakings ; but let us conceal our 
mutual intelligence , that your faithful offi- 
ciate may not be turned out of doors. Yon 
will do well, methiuks , in affecting to hate 
me : speak roughly to me before people , 
and do not spare ill language ; even some 
boxes on the ear , and kicks on the breech , 
W^l not be amiss ; on the contrary, the more 
marks of aversion you bestow upo^i me , the 
more confidence will Balthazar have in my 
integrity. As for my part , I will pretend to 
avoid your conversation : in serving you at 
table , I vill seem to acquit myself with re- 
gret; and when I talk of you to the appren- 
tices , don't take it ill , that I rail at you with 
great bitterness. » 

« Egad 1 » cried Velasquez , hearing mj 
last words , I admire thy genius , my frieud : 
thou shewest , at thy age , an astonishing 
capacity for intrigue , from whence I con- 
ceive the most happy presage ; for I hope , 
with thy assistance , I shall not leave my fa- 
ther ono single pistole. » « You do me a great 
d«al of honour ^ t said I ^ « in depending &q 



(112) 

much on my industry : I will do my utmost 
endeavour to justify the good opinion you 
have of my understanding ; and , if I fail , 
at least, it shall not be my fault. » 

<( It was not long before I let Gaspard see 
that I was actually the man he w^anted i and 
this in the first service I did him. Balthazar's 
strong box-stood in his chamber , just by his 
bed-side , and served him instead of a pew 
for prayer. Every time I sooked at it , my 
eye-sight was regaled ; and I frequently said 
to myself-— « Friend strong-box , must thoa 
be always locked to me I Shall I never have 
the pleasure of contemplating thy contents I i^ 
As I went whenever I pleased into this cham- 
ber , which was forbid to nobody but Gas- 
pard , I happened one day to perceive his 
father , who , thinking himself unobserved , 
after having opened and locked his strong- 
box , conceal , the key behind a hanging. I 
marked the place well , and imparted the dis- 
covery to my young master , who embraced 
me with joy, saying , « Ah ! my dear Scipio I 
what a charming piece of news is this ! Our 
fortune is made , my child. « I will this very 
day give thee wax , with which thou mayest 
take the impressioi^ of the key , and put it 
into my hands. I shall easily find an obliging 
locksmith in Cordova ; in which, thank 
Heaven , there is no scarcity of rogues. * 

<* But why, „ said I to Gaspard , ** would 
you make a false key , when we can use the 



( »i3) 
true one I „ «• Because ,» answered he, " nrf 
father , through distrust , or some other mo- 
tive , majr take it into his head to hide it else- 
were ^ and therefore it is better to have one 
for ourselves. „ I approved of his caution ; 
and, yielding to his inclination , prepared for 
taking the impression ot the key. This was 
executed one morning early , while my old 
master paid a visit to Father Alexis , with 
whom he had usually long conversations. This 
was not all ; I used the key in opening the 
box , which being filled with large and small 
b&gs , threw me into a charming perplexity ; 
I did not know which to chuse , such affec- 
tion did I conceive for both kinds. Neverthe- 
less , as the fear of being surprized did not 
permit me to make a long scrutiny , I laid 
hold of one of the largest at a venture : then 
locking the coffer , and replacing the key be- 
hind the hangings , I quitted the chamber 
with my prey, which 1 went and concealed 
under my bed , in a small wardrobe where 

Hay. 

^* Having performed this operation so suc- 
cessfully, I went immediately to young Ve- 
lasquez, who waited for me in a house where 
he bad appointed to meet me , and gave him 
infinite joy , by telling what I had done.. He 
was so well satisfied , that he loaded me with 
caresses , and generously offered me the half 
of the money which was in the bag : but 
that 1 refused , saying — ** JNo » uo , Sir j this 



( "4) 

first \s your own , use it for your occasions : 
I will soon return to the strong-box, irhere, 
thank Heaven ! there is money enough for as 
both. ,, In effect , three days af^er this , I car- 
ried off a second bag , containing , as the for- 
mer , five hundred crowns , of which I w^ould 
receive one fourth only , notwithstanding the 
pressing instances (^ Gaspard , that it should 
]>• equally divided between us. 

^ As soon as thb young man found himself 
well slocked , and , consequently , in a eon« 
dition to satisfy his passion for women and 
play 9 he abandoned himself entirely to both : 
he had even the misfortune to fall in love 
with one of those famous coquettes. , iirho de- 
vour and swallow the largest patrimonies in 
« v«ry little time ; and , being at a terrible 
•xpence on her account , laid me nuder the 
necessity of paying so mnay visits to the 
strong-box , that at length old Velasquez per- 
ceived himself robbed. '* Scipio , „ said hd 
one morning , ** I must tell thee a secret : 
somebody robs me, my friend ; my strong- 
box has been opened , and several bags taken 
out : this is certain. Who must be taxed with 
the theft I or rather , who else than my son 
Gas})4)rd , who has entered my chamber by 
stealth y or been introduced by thee ; for 1 am 
tempted to believe thee his accomplice , 
though you seem to hate one another so much. 
Ntfvtrtheless , I will not listen to my suspi- 
ftiu^i I since F«)tber Alexis hatl^ answered for 



( «'5) 

thy fidelity. „ I replied that , thank Heaven , 
I never coveted my neighbour's wealth ; and 
accompanied that lie with an hypocritical 
grimace, which served instead of an apology. 

** The old man , sure enough , said no more 
of the matter ; but he did not leave ofT inclu- 
ding me in his suspicion ; and taking his pre- 
cautions against our attempts , ordered his 
strong-box to be secured by another lock , the 
k^y of which he always kept in his pocket. 
By these means , all commerce between us 
and the bags being broken , we looked very 
silly y especially Gaspnrd , who being no lon- 
ger able to gratify the extravagance of. his 
liymph , was afraid of losing the privilege of 
visiting her. He had genius enough y however, 
to invent an expedient which supported his 
9xpence a few dnys longer : and that ingenious 
$inti vvas ^ to appropriate to himself, by way 
of loan , all my share of the evacuations 
which I had performed in the strong-box. 1 
gave it all , to the very last piece ; and this , 
methinks , may pass for anticipated restitution 
w^hich I made to the old merchant in the per- 
son of his heir. 

« The young man , when he had exhausted 
this resource , considering that he 'had now 
none left , fell into a profound and gloomy fit 
of melancholy , which gradually disordered 
his reason. He looked upon his father as the 
only plague of his life ; he was seized with 
the most violent despair i and , without lisle- 



( ii6) 

ning to the voice of nature » the wretch con* 
ceived the horrible d6sif;n of poisoning fail 
pui^ut. He not only comrxiuuicated this exe- 
crable project to nie , but even proposed that 
I should be the instrument of his vengeance. 
Being struck with horror at the proposal-* 
« Sir , » suid I , « is it possible that you should 
be so abandoned by Heaven , as to form thii 
abominable resolution I What I are you capa- 
ble of niuixlcring the author of your being! 
Shall it be said, that in Spain ^ in the verf 
bosom of Christianity , a crime was commit- 
ted , the very idea of which raises horror in 
the most barbarous nations I No , my dear 
master , » added I , falling on my knees before 
him , « no ; you will not commit an action 
which would justly incense the whole world 
against you, and be attended with the most 
infamous chastisement. » 

« I said a great many things more to dis- 
suade Gaspard from such a guilty undeitaking. 
I don't know where I found all the arguments 
of a virtuous man , which I used to combat 
his despair ; but , certain it is , I spoke like a 
doctor of Salamanca , though I was but a boy, 
and no other than the son of Coscolina. Ne- 
vertheless , in vain did I represent tohim.9 
that he ought to reflect seriously , and coura- 
geously repel those detestable sentiments which 
had taken possession of his soul. All my elo- 
quence was ineffectual : he hung his head y 
and remained in sullen silence i so that I con* 



("7) 
eluded he would never swerve from his reso- 
lution , notwithstanding ail I oouid say. 

« Whereupon I wert and demanded a pri- 
vate conversation with my old master ; to 
whom , when we were shut up in a room 
together, I said — «Suner me , sir , to throw 
myself at your feet , and implore your mercy .» 
So saying , I fell down before him in great 
agitation, with my countenance bathed in 
tears. The merchant , surprised at my pros- 
tration , and the disorder of my looks , asked 
what I had done. « A deed , » I replied , « of 
which I now heartily repent, and wilh which 
I will upbraid myself as long as I live. I have 
been weak enough to listen to your son , and 
to assist him in stealing your money. i> I then 
made a sincere confession of all that had pas- 
sed on the subject : after which I gave him 
an account of the conversation I had with 
Ga9pard , whose design I revealed , without 
forgetting the least circumstance* 

^^ Bad as his opinion of bis son was , old 
Velasquez could scarce credit my informa- 
tion ; the truth of which , however, having 
no reason to doubt — *' Scipio , „ said he , 
raising me , fur I was still on my knees, <^ I 
pardon thee , in consideration of the impor-^ 
tant notice thou hast given me. Gaspard, „ 
added he , raisiing his voice , '* Gaspard has s^ 
design upon my life I Ah , ungrateful son ! ah, 
monster ! who had better been stifled in the 
hirtb| than allowed to live, and become ^ 



(ii8) 
paricide ! What cause hast thou to attempt 
my life I I allow thee a reasonable yearly sum 
for thy pleasures , and thou art not satisfied ! 
Must I permit thee to squander aviray my 
whole fortune 1 ,, Having uttered this bitter 
apostrophe , he laid injunctions upon me ta 
keep the secret , and said he w^oulcl consider 
what was to be done in sach a delicate con- 
juncture. 

" I was very anxious to know what reso-^ 
lution this unfortunate father would take, 
when that very day he sent for Gaspard , and 
spoke thus to him , without manifesting a 
tittle of what he had in his head. *^ Son^ I 
have received a letter from Merida , impor- 
ting , that if you chuse to marry , you may 
have a maiden of that place , who is but fifteen 
years old , perfectly handsome , and mistress 
o( a good fortune : if you have no reluctance 
to the marriage , we will set out early to-mor- 
row for Merida , visit the lady who is propo- 
sed f and , if you find her to your liking , you 
shall espouse her forthwith. „ Gaspard, hea- 
ring mention made of a good fortune , which 
he thought was already in his clutches , ans- 
wered without hesitation, that he was ready 
to go : so that next morning , at day-break , 
they departed by themselves , mounted oa two 
good mules. 

*« When they had got as far as the moun- 
tains of Fesira, into a place as much frequen- 
ted by robbers as dreaded by travellers, Bal-* 



( ti9 ) 
thafiar alighted , desiring his son to do th# 
same. The young man obeyed , and asked the 
reason of their quitting their mules in that 
place. ^' I will tell thee, ,» answered the old 
inan , darting at him a look in which his grief 
and indignation were painted. '^ We have no 
business at Merida { and the marriage which I 
mentioned is only a fable I invented to bring 
thee hiler. I am not ignorant , ungrateful and 
unnatural son ! I am not ignorant of the crime 
which thou hast hatched ; I know that I am 
to be presented with poison prepared by thee : 
but 9 fool that thou art , dost thou flatter thy- 
self that thou canst deprive me of my life in 
that manner with impunity 1 Thou art mis- 
taken i thy guilt would soon be discovered , 
and thou wouldst perish by the hand of the 
hangman. ^^ There is , „ added he , <^ a sure 
method of satisfying thy rage , without expo- 
sing thyself to an ignominious death. We are 
here without witness , in a place where mur- 
ders are committed every day; since thou art so ■ 
estranged from my blood , plunge thy poniard 
into my bosom , and the murder will be im- 
puted to robbers? „ So saying, Balthazar ba- 
ring his breast, and pointing to his heart -^ 
^' Here, Gaspard ! „ added he, '< strike the 
mortal blow , and punish me for having given 
being to such a wretch as thee I „ 

'< Young Velasquez, thundestruck at these- 
words , far from seeking to justify himself, 
fell without sense or motion at his lathers; 



feet. Tbe good old man , seeing him in that 
ii^ad'tiuii , irfaich seemed to be the begianing 
of repeatance^y coeld not help jielding to his 
paternal weakness, and fljriag to his assis- 
tance ; but Gaspard no sooner recovered the 
use of his reason , than , being unable to bear 
the presence of a father so justly incensed , he 
made an eHort to get up , mounted his mule , 
and rode off i^thout speaking a word. Bal- 
tlnoar let him go, and leaving him to the 
remorse of his ovm conscience , returned to 
Cordova ; where , six months after , he lear- 
ned that his son had thrown himself into the 
monastery of Carthusians at Seville , there t« 
pass the rest of his days in penitence. 

CHAP. XII. 

The Conclusion ofScipws History. 

'« Oad example sometimes produces good 
effects. — The conduct of youug Velasquez 
made me reflect seriously upon my own. I be- 
gan to combat my thievish inclinations, and 
live like an honest man. The habit of seizing 
all the money 1 could lay my hands on , w^as 
60 much confirmed in me by repeated acts , 
that it was not easily vanquished. Neverthe- 
less , I didnot despair of succeeding, imagining, 
that to become virtuous , required only a sin- 
cere desire of being so. I therefore undertook 
t}iis great work , and Heaven seemed to bless 

my 



(IJf ) 

my efforts. 1 no longer beheld the old mer« 
chant's strong*box with a covetous eye ; and 
I believe , that , had it been in my power , I 
should net have touched one of his bags : I 
own , however , that it would have been very 
imprudent in him to put my infant integrity 
to such a proof; and therefore Velasquez took 
care not to do *it. 

« Don Manriquez de Medrano , a young 
gentleman, and knight of the order of Alcan- 
tara , came frequently to our house. We had 
his custom ; and if he was not the best , h* 
was 9 at least, the most noble » of those who 
osed the shop. I had the good fortune to pleas* 
that cavalier , who , every time he met me , 
encouraged me to speak , and seemed to listen 
• with pleasure to what I siaid. '^ Scipio , y^ snid 
he one cfay , ** if I had a lacquey of thy 
humour , I should think myself in possession 
of a treasure; and if thou didst not belong to 
a man for whom I have a regard , I would do 
my endeavour to debauch thee from his ser- 
vice. » -— « Sir , » said I , « you would find 
it a v0ry easy task ; for I have an inclination 
to serve people of quality ; that is my foible ; 
I am charmed by their eaty behaviour. » « If 
that be the case , » replied Don Manriquez ^ 
« I will desire Signior Balthazar to consent to 
thy leaving him , and coming into my service : 
1 don*t believe he will refuse me that favour, f 
Indeed Velasquez granted it the more easily , 
as he did not think the loss of a roguish lacr 
Vol. IV. I 



( 122 ) 

quey irreparable : for my own part , I was 
glad of the change ; the valet of a citizen ap- 
pearing to me a mere beggar , in comparison 
to the lacquey of a knight of Alcantara. 

** To draw a faithful picture of my neyf 
patron , I must tell you , that he was a ca- 
valier endowed with a most amiable person , 
and with such sweetness of temper and culti- 
vated understanding , as oaptivated every 
body who knew him : besides , he had a great 
deal of courage and probity , and wanted 
nothing but fortune. Being cadet of a family 
more illustrious than rich , he was obliged 
to subsist at the expence of an old aunt who 
lived at Toledo , and who , loving him as 
her own , took care to furnish him with what 
money he wanted. He went always handso- 
mely dressed , and was perfectly well recei- 
ved every where ; he visited the principal 
ladies of the city , and , among others , the 
Marchioness of Almenara , a widow of se- 
venty-two years of age ; who , by her enga- 
ging behaviour and agreeable wit » allured 
the whole nobility of Cordova to her house. 
Men as well as women delighted in her con- 
versation , and her family was styled , the 
polite company, 

" My master , who was one of the most 
assiduous visitors of that lady, came home 
from her house , one evening , with an enli- 
vened look that was not natural to him: 
upon which I said mm << Signior , you seem 



( 125 ) 

to be strangely elevated ; may your faithful 
servant ask the cause ! Hath not something 
extraordinary happened I „ The knight smi- 
led at that question , and owned he was ac- 
tually engrossed by a serious conversation 
which he had enjoyed with the Marchioness 
of Almenara. *' I heartily wish , „ said I , 
laughing , ^< that the superanuated toast may 
l^ve made a declaration of love to you. „ — ' 
^< Jesting apart , ,, answered he ; *^ know , 
my friend , that I am really beloved by tho 
Marchioness. ** Chevalier , ,, said she to me ; 
*^ I know the smallness of your fortune , as 
well as the nobleness of your birth ; I have 
an inclination for you , and am resolved to 
make you easy in your circumstances , by 
marrying you , as I cannot decently make 
your fortune any other way. I know very 
we that this marriage will bring upon me 
the rediculc of the world ; that scandal will 
be, very busy at my expense i and that , in 
short , I shall pass for an old fool , who must 
needs have another husband. No matter ; I 
intend to despise slander , in order to mako 
you happy. All that y fear , „ added she » 
** is , that you may possibly have a reluctance 
to comply with my intentions. „ " This , „ 
continued the knight , ** was the subject of 
her discourse , which surprized me the more , 
as she is the most virtuous and prudent wo- 
man in Cordova. I. answered, therefore , I 
was astonished she should do me the honour 

F 2 



( '24 ) 

of ofTenng me her hand; she who had always 
persisted in the resolution of preserving her 
widowhood to the last. To this she replied , 
that 9 having a considerable estate , she should 
be glad in her life- time to share it with a man 
of honour whom she esteemed. ,, *< You are 
then , I suppose , ,, said I , determined to 
hazard the leap. „ — ^^ Can'st thou doubt it I „ 
he replied. ^* The marchioness possesses im- 
mense wealth 9 together vvith excellent qua- 
lities both of heart and head , and I must have 
lost my judgment indeed » if I rejected such 
an advantageous settlement. ,, 

** I very much approved of my master's 
design to lay hold oi this fair occasion to 
make his fortune , and even advised him to 
push matters , so much was I afraid to see 
her inclinations change. Luckily , the lady , 
w^ho had the aflnir still more at heart than I 
had , gave such expeditions orders , th#it the 
preparations were soon made for her mar- 
riage. As soon as it was known at Cordova , 
that the old Marchioness of Almenara was 
going to marry young Don Mannquez de Me* 
drano , the wits began to make themselves 
merry at the widow's expence : bnt in vain 
did they exhaust their stock of raillery ; they 
could not divert her from her design > she let 
the whole city talk , and followed her knight 
to the altar : and the nuptials were celebrated 
with such splendor , as afforded new matter 
for scandal. << The bride, ,, said they. 



( 1^5 ) 
«« might have , at least , for the sake of dc- 
ceucy , suppre3sed all noise and pomp « which 
but ill becomes old widows , who marry 
young husbands. „ 

<< The marchioness , instead of appearing 
ashamed of being , at her age , wife to the 
cavalier, indulged herself , without constraint, 
in the joy which she felt on this occasion : 
she had a grand ^ntertuinment at her house ,' 
accompanied by a concert of music , and the 
feast ended vvilh a ball , at which were pre- 
sent all the fiobility of Cordova. Towards 
the end of the ball , our new-married couple 
slipped ofT; and met in an apartment , where, 
being shut up with a waiting- woman and me , 
the marchioness addressed herself lo my mas- 
ter in these words— '* Don Manriquez, this 
is your apartment; mine is in another part of 
the house : we will pass the pight in separate 
chambers , and in the day we will live together 
like mother and son. „ The knight was at 
first mistaken , and believed that the lady tal- 
ked thus only to engage him to ofler soft vio- 
lence to her delicacy : imagining , therefore , 
that he ought , out of pure politeness , to act 
the passionate lover , he approached her, and 
eagerly endeavoured to serve her in quality 
of a valet de chambre ; but she , far from al- 
lowing him lo undress her , pushed him away 
with a serious air , saying — " Hold , Don 
Mftnriqueai ; „ '< if y^ou lake me for one of 
those amourous old widows , who marry 

F 5 



I 



{ '26 ) 

again out 'of frailty, jou are deceived. I did 
not espouse you to make you buy the advan- 
tages wluch you ml) reap from our contract 
of marriage > these are the pure offering of 
my heart , and I exact nothing in return , but 
sentiments of fiiendship. „ So saying , she 
left my master and me in our apartment , and 
retired into her own , with her w^aitiug maid, 
absolutely forbidding the cavalier to follow 
her. 

„ After her retreat , whe remained a good 
while confounded at what we had heard. 
4( Scipio , » said my master , »— « did thou 
ever hear such a discourse as that ot the mar^ 
chioness ? What do you think of such a In- 
dy f 9 — « Think , Sic, * answered I , « that 
she has not her fellow; you are happy in 
having such a wife , which is like the posses- 
sion of a benefice without cure of soub. v 
« As for my part , t replied Don Manriquez, 
4. I admire a spouse of such an inestimable 
character , and I intend to compensate with 
all imaginable attention , the sacrifice which 
she makes to her delicacy. » Having conversed 
some time about the lady , we went to rest ; 
I upon a truckle - bed in a wardrobe j and 
my master in a fine bed , prepared for him , 
where , I believe , at the bottom , he was 
not sorry to lie alone , and to be quit for his 
fear only. 

,, The rejoicings began again next day, and 
the new married lady appeared in such good 



( T!i7 ) 

humour as to af]for{l scope to the railers. She 
was the first to laugh at what they said; nay, 
even excited others to laugh , hy receiving 
their sallies with a good grace. The knight 
for his part seemed no less satisfied with his 
spouse i and by the tender glances with which 
he looked and spoke to her , one would have 
thought that old ago was his taste. This happy 
couple had in the evening a new conversa- 
tion 9 in which it was decided, that , without 
disturbing one another , they should live , for 
the future , in the same manner as before mar- 
riage : meanwhile , I must do Don Manri- 
quez the justice to say , that out of considera- 
tion for his wife , he did what few husbands 
would have done in his place : he abandoned 
a girl in the city whom he loved , and of 
whom he was beloved ; being resolved ^fis he 
said f to maintain no commerce which would 
seem to insult the delicate conduct of his wife 
^towards him. 

•* While he gave this old lady such strc^ng 
marks of gratitude , she repaid them with 
usury , though she was ignorant of this beha- 
viour i and made him master of her strong- 
box y which was even better replenished than 
that of Velasquez. As she had retrenched her 
housekeeping during her widowhood, she 
put it again on the same footing on which it 
had been in the life-lime of her first husband :. 
she increased the number of her servants , fil- 
led her stable with horses and mules ; in a 

F/, 



( taS) 
word, by her generosity, the cavalier, who 
was the poorest , became the richest knight 
oi 'Alcantara. You will ask , perhaps , what 
I got by ai this I I received fifty pistoles firom 
my mistress , and one hundj'ed irom my mas- 
ter , who , moreover , made me his secretary, 
with an appointment of five hundred crowns ; 
and had even so much confidence in my inte- 
grity , that he created me Yds treasurer. » 

^^ His treasurer i ^ cried I , interrupting 
Scipio , with a loud laugh. *^ Yes , Sir , „ he 
replied , with a dry serious look > ^^ no less 
than his treasurer ; and I'll venture to say f 
that I acquitted myself in that employment 
with honour. True it is , I am perhaps so- 
mewhat indebted to cash ; for as I took my 
wages per advance , and quitted the knight's 
sei virA Suddenly, it is not impossible that i 
may now be in arrears ; at any rate , it is 
the last reproach that I have deserved , ha- 
ving always acted with probity since that time. 

<« I was , therefore , „ continued the son of 
Coscolina , ^* secretary and treasurer to Don 
Manriquez , who seemed as well satisfied 
with me as I was with him j when he recei- 
ved a letter from Toledo , importing , that 
his aunt D6nna Theodora Moscoso was at 
the point of death. He set out instantly to see 
that lady , who had been a mother to him 
for many years ; and I accompanied hint 
in this journey , together with a valet de 
chambre and one lacquey. Being all mounted 



( »29) 

on the best horses in our stables , we soon 
got to Toledo , where we found Donna Theo- 
dora in such a condition ns gave us hopes that 
she would not die of that distemper ; and 
truly our prognostic , though contrary to that 
of an old physician who attended her , was 
verified by the event. 

'* While the health of our good aunt was 
re-eslublishing , less , perhaps , by tbe reme- 
dies she took , thnn by the presence of her 
dear nephew « Mr. Treasurer passed his time 
as agreeably as he could with young people 
whose acquaintance soon introduced him to 
occasions of spending his money. They so- 
metimes carried me to the tennis-court , where 
they engaged me in play ; and , as I was 
not so expert a gamester as my master Don 
Abel , I lost much oftener than I won. I con- 
ceived insensibly an inclination for play ; and 
if I had entirely abandoned myself to that 
passion , it would , doubtless , have compel-* 
'led me to take from our cash some quarters 
of my allowance per advance : but luckily , 
love saved both my own virtue and my mas 
ter*s money. One day , as I passed by the 
chorch de los Ueyes , I perceived through a 
lattice , the curtains of which were with- 
drawn 9 a young maid who seemed rather a 
divinity than a mortal. I would use a term 
still stronger , if there was any , to denote 
the impression which she made upon my heart 
I made it my business to get information about 

F 5 



( i3o ) 

her ; and , by dint oi enquiry 9 learned that 
her name was Beatrice , and that she was 
waiting-maid to^Donna Jolia , second dau- 
ghter to the Count de Polan. ,, 

Beatrice interrupted Scipio with a load 
laugh : then addressing herselif to my wife — 
*' Beautiful Antonia , „ said she , ** pray , 
look stedfastly at me. Don't you think I have 
the air of a divinity ?,,—>«' You had at that 
time , in my eyes » „ said Scipio to her ; '* and 
since I no longer suspect your fidelity , you 
seem to be fairer than ever. „ My secretary , 
afler such a gallant repartee , pursued his 
history thus — . 

**^ This discovery quite inflamed me ; not 
indeed with a legitimate ardour , for I ima- 
gined that I should easily triumph over her 
virtue , by presents capable of shaking it ; but 
I judged amiss of the chaste Beatrice. In vain 
did I offer her ( by means of mercenary wo- 
men ) my purse and affection ; she rejected 
my proposals with disdain. Her resistance 
encreased my desires. I had recourse to the 
last expedient ^ and offered her my hand , 
which she accepted , when she knew that I 
was secretary and treasurer to Don IVIanri- 
quez. As we thought it convenient to conceal 
our marriage for some time » we were wed- 
ded privately, in presence of Dame Lorenca 
Sephora , governess of Seraphina ^ and some 
other domestics belonging to the Duke de 
Polan. As soon as I had married Beatrice , 



( i5. ) 

she facilitated the means of seeing and con* 
• versing with her at night in the garden , in 
which I introduced myself iy a little door , 
of which she gave me the key. Never was 
roan and wife appier in one another than 
Beatrice and I. We waited with equal im- 
patience for the hour of rendezvous , ran thi- 
ther with equal eagerness 9 and the time which 
we spent together , though it was sometimes 
pretty long , seemed hut a< moment to hoth, 

« One uight , which was as fatal to me as 
the others had been propitious 9 1 was surpri- 
sed , at entering the garden , to fmd the little 
door open. I was alarmed by this uncommon 
event , from whence I conceived a bad omen. 
I grew pale and trembled , as if I had fore- 
seen what was to happen ; and advancing in 
the dark towards an arbor where I used to 
converse with my wife , I heard the voice of 
a man. I stopped all of a sudden to listen, and 
my ear was immediately saluted with these 
words — « Don*t let me languish then , my 
dear Beatrice ! compleat my happiness , and 
consider that your fortune is connected with 
it. » Instead of having patience to hear him to 
en end , I thought there was no occasion for 
knowing more. A jealous fury took posses- 
sion of my soul ; and , breathing nothing but 
vengeance, I drew my sword , and went 
hastily into the arbor. « Ah 1 cowardly sedu- 
cer 1 » cried I ; ^ whosoever thou art , thou 
shaU sooner deprive me of life , than rob m« 

F 6 



( .32 ) 

of my faooour. „ So saying , t attacked fbe 
cavalier who was talking to Beatrice. He put 
bimself immediately into a posture of defence, 
and fought like a man who understood the 
art much better than I , who had only recei- 
Yed a few lessons at Cordova. Nevertheless, 
swordsman as he was , I made a push which 
he could not parry ; or rather is foot slipped* 
I saw him fall ; and imagining that I had 
wounded him mortally, fled as fast as my legs 
could carry me, without answering Beatrice, 
who called me. 

** Yes , really , ,, said his wife , interrup- 
ting him , ** I called in order to undeceive 
him. The cavalier with w^hom I conversed 
was no other than Don Fernando de Leyva. 
That nobleman , who loved my mistress 
Julia, had formed a resolution of carrying her 
off by force , believing it impossible to obtain 
her by any other means ; and I myself had 
given him a meeting in the garden , to concert 
with him the steps of that undertaking , on 
which he assured me my fortune depended r 
but in vain did I call my husband ; he avoided 
me as a wife who had been unfaithful to 
him. „ 

*' My situation at that time was such , „ 
resumed Scipio, *' as rendered me capable of 
committing any thing. Those who know by 
experience what jealousy is , and to what ex« 
travagance it drives the soundest understand* 
hig^ , will not be surprised at the disorder 




( i55 ) 
which it produced in my weak brain. I urn 
derweiit a momeiitarjr transition from one ex* 
treme to another. I felt the emotions uf hatred 
succeed those of tenderness , which 1 liud en- 
tertained for my vite a moment before , and 
made an oath to abandon and banish her from 
my memory. Besides , 1 thought I hud killed 
a cavalier j and, in that opinion , bein^ afraid 
of falling into the hands of justice, sutlered 
that inconceivable anxiety , which in< essantly 
pursues , like a fury , the man who iiai di^ne 
a bad action. In this horrible situation , luy 
whole care being to escape , I did not go 
home, but instantly quirted Toledo, having 
no other baggage than the clothes on mj 
back. True, indeed , I had in my porket 
sixty pistoles , which were a pretty good re- 
source to a young man who proposed to liv6 
all his life in service. 

** I walked all night long , or rather ran ; 
for the images of alguazils , which continually 
haunted my imagination, supplied mo still 
with new vigour ^ and the morning surprised 
me between [\()dillas and Maqueda. When I 
arrived at this last town , finding myself a 
little fatigued , 1 went into the church , as 
soon as it was opened ; and , after having put 
op a short prayer , sat down upon a bench to 
rest me. I began to muse upon my present 
situation , which , Heaven knows , was per- 
plexing enough : but I had not time to make 
long reflections. I beard the church echo wilb 



( i34 ) 
two or three smacks of a whip , which ma- 
JLing me conclude that a carrier was passing , 
I got up immediately to see whether or not I 
was mistaken ; and by that time I got to the 
door , perceived one , who being mounted on 
a mule , led two more in a leash. ^ Stop > 
fiiend , „ said I to him j ** where are those 
mules a-going I „ ^' To Madrid , „ answered 
he. ^*I came hither with tyyo good Dominican 
monks , and am going back myself. ,, 

« The opportunity that offered of travelling 
to Madrid , inspired me with an inclination 
to go thither. I made a bargain with the car- 
rier ; mounted one of his mules , and we 
pushed forwards for lilescas , where we were 
to sleep. Scarce had we got out of Maqueda , 
when the carrier , who was a man between 
thirty-five and forty years of age , thundered 
out church-singing with wast vociferation ; 
he began with the prayers v(^hich the canons 
sing at mattins , then sang the credo as it is 
sung at high mass ; and passing on to vespers , 
pronounced them, without even sparing the 
magnificat, Although the rogue sjt'unned me 
with his noise , I could not help laughing , 
and even encouraged him to continue , when 
he was obliged to stop and take breath. 
« Courage , friend ! )> said I to him ; « pray go 
on : if Heaven hath given thee good lungs , I 
see you don't put them to a bad use. » — 
« No , indeed , » cried he $ « I am not , thank 
God > like the most part of carriers , whv sing 



('55) 
nothing but infamous and innpious songs : I 
would not oven repeat ballads made upon our 
wars with the Moors; for these are things 
frivolous , ii not wicked. * — <c You have , 9 
said 1 9 « a purity of heart rarely to be met 
with among muleteers : with this extreme 
delicacy in the choice of your songs , have 
you likewise made a vow of chastity with 
regard to the young wenches who live at 
inns upon the road f )» — « Certainly , » ans- 
wered he. « Continence is another thing on 
which I pique myself in these sort of places , 
where I mind nothing but my mules. » I was 
a little astonished to hear this phosnix of car- 
riers talk in such a manner; and, looking 
upon him as a man of honesty and discretion, 
entered into a conversation with him after he 
bad sung his fill. 

•• We arrived at Illescas in the twilight ; 
where , alighting at an inn , I left the care of 
the mules to my companion , and went into 
the kitchen , where 1 ordered our landlord to 
procure a good supper. This he promised to 
do so effectually , that I should remember I 
had lodged at his house the longest day I had 
to live. •• Ask , „ said he , " ask your carrier 
what sort of a man I am. Ecod I I will defy 
all the cooks of Madrid and Toledo to make 
an olla podrida comparable to those that I 
compose. I will treat you this night with a 
ragout of rabbit dressed in my manner , and 
you shall see whether or not I have re«^on t^ 



( i56 ) 
boast of my skill. „ Thereupon , shewing me 
. a large saucepan , wherein there was ( as he 
said ) a young rabbit already - minced — 
<* There , „ added he , " is what 1 intended 
to give you. When I have once put in some 
pepper , salt , wine , a handful of sweet 
herbs, and other ingredients which I use in 
my sauces , I hope to serve you in a little time 
with a ragout worthy of a judge. „ 

** The landlord , after having thus sounded 
his own praise , began to dress supper ; and , 
while it was doing , I went into the hall , 
where , finding a kind of couch , I lay down 
to sleep off my fatigue , having had no rest 
the night before. In two hours the carrier 
awakening me, said—- « Mailer , your supper 
Is ready ; come , if you please , and sit down 
at table. » There was one in another room.^ 
with two covers , at which my fellow travel- 
ler and I sitting down , the ragout was ser- 
ved. I attacked it with a greedy appetite, and 
found it of an exquisite relish i whether hunger 
made me judge too favourable of it , or that 
my satisfaction was the effect of the cook's 
skill. We had also a plate of roast mutton $ 
and I , remarking that the carrier did honour 
to this last dish only , asked , why he abstai- 
oed from tbae other. He answered , with a 
smile , that he did not love ragouts. This re- 
ply , or rather smile with which it was ac- 
companied , seemed to me mysterious. « You 
conceal | „ said I , ^^ the true reason that faio-. 



( '5? ) 
ders you from eating the ragout : pray ^ do m9 
the plerisurc of letting me know it. » «-• 
« Since you are so curious to know it , » he 
replied , « I will tell you , that I have loathed 
all these sorts of ragouts, siuce, in going odc« 
frouri. Toledo to Cuen^a , they brought me for 
'supper 9 at an inn, an hashed cat instead of 
a rabbit, and that gave me a disgust to all 
fricassees. » 

** The carrier had no sooner spoke these 
words , than » in spite of the hunger that de^ 
Youred me , my appetite forsoock me all of 
a sudden. I took it in my head that I had 
eaten of a pretended rabbit , and could no 
lunger look at the ragout without making 
wry facet. My companion did not cure me 
of this conjecture , when he told me that it 
was a common thing among the inn- keepers 
of Spain , as well as the paslry-cooks , to 
substitute that qui pro quo. This discourse , 
you see , was very consoling ^ and therefore 
I had not the least inclination to return to 
the ragout , nor even to touch the roast meat ^ 
lest the mutton might be as much sophistica* 
ted as the rabbit. 1 rose from the table , cur« 
sing the ragout , the landlord , and his inn ; 
and y lying down again upon my settee, pas- 
sed the rei»t of the night more quietly than I 
bad expected. Next morning , early , after 
having paid the landlord as handsomely as 
if I had been extremely well treated , 1 de« 
parted from lUescas , my imagination still so 



( >38 ) 
full of the ragout , that I fancied every ani« 
mal which I saw was a cat. „ 

" I arrived in good time at Madrid , where , 
as soon as I had satisfied my carrier , I hired 
a small room near the Sun-gate. Mine, eyes , 
though accustomed to quality , were d^zled 
by the great concourse of noblemen who 
usaally appeared at the court-end of the town. 
I admired the prodigious quantity of coaches , 
and the infinite number of gentlemen , pages , 
and lacquies, who attended the great. My 
admiration redoubled , when , going to the 
king's levee , I beheld that monarch surroun- 
ded by his courties. I was charmed at the 
sight , and said within myself — ** I am no 
longer Surprized at what I have heard , that 
one cannot possibly conceive the magnifi- 
cence of the court of Madrid , without being 
an eye-witness of it ; I am overjoyed at my 
comming hither , where , I foresee , I shall 
be able to do something. „ All that I could 
perform , however , was to contract a few 
unprofitable acquaintances. I gradually spent 
all my money, and thought myself very lucky 
in having an opportunity of bestowing my- 
self , with all my merit , upon a pedant of 
Salamanca , w^hom a family affair had brought 
to Madrid , where he was born , and with 
whom I grew acquainted by accident. I be- 
came hxs factotum ; and , when he returned 
to the university , followed him thither. 

" The name of my new patron was -Doa 



( »59 ) 
Ignacio de Ipigna. He assumed the Don , be« 
cause ho had been preceptor to a duke , >Yho , 
by way of recompence , settled upon him a 
pension for life : he enjoyed another , as erne' 
ritus professor of this college ; and he drew 
yearly from the public a revenue of two or 
three hundred pistoles , by the books of dog- 
matical morality which he printed. The man,- 
ner in which he composed his works w^ell 
deserves honourable mention. He spent almost 
all the day in reading Hebrew , Greek , and 
Latin authors , and in writing upon small 
squares of paper each apophtegm or brilliant 
thought which he met with. As these squares 
were filled , he employed me to string them 
upon wire , in form of a garland , and each 
garland made a volume. What a world of 
bad books did we compose i every month 
almost we finished two volumes , and imme- 
diately the press groaned with them. What 
was most surprising , he published these his 
compilings as performances entirely new ; 
and if the critics thought proper to upbraid 
him with having pillaged the ancients , he 
would answer with the most haugty assu«- 
rance , *• Fortuilo lastamur in ipso, „ 

** He was also a great commentator ; and 
there was so much erudition in his annota-' 
tions , that he frequently made remlirks on 
things scarce worthy to be observed ; and so- 
metimes wrote upon his paper squares pas- 
sages from Hesiod , and other authors , very 



% 



( >4o ) 

little to the purpose. That I improved mj 
uiiderstaudiiig in the service of this virtuoso, 
it would be ungrateful in me to deny. I 
brought ^my hand writing to perfection, by 
dint of transcribing his works } and as , ia 
treating me like a pupil , rather than a valet , 
he took care to cultivate my capacity , he 
was also far from neglecting my morals* 
** Scipio 9 „ he would say , when he heard 
of any piece of knavery committed by a ser- 
vant 9 ^' beware , my child , of following the 
bad example ot that rogue ; a valet ought to 
serve his master :yyith equal fidelity and zeal. ,, 
In a word , Don Ignacio lost no occasion of 
inculcating virtue in me ; and his exhortations 
had such good effect , that I was newer in the 
least tempted to play him a trick during the 
fifteen months which I spent in his house. 

•* I have already observed , that Dr. de 
Ipigna was originally of Madrid , where he 
had a kinswomaircalled Cataliua, chamber- 
maid to the prince's nurse. This waiting wo- 
man , who is the same whom I since made 
use of to procure Signior de Santillaue's en- 
largement from the tower of Segovia, being 
desirous of doing a good ofHce for Don Igna- 
cio , engiged her mistress to ask a benefice 
for him from the Duke of Lerma. That mi- 
nister granted him a nomination to the arch- 
deaconry of Granada , which , being a con- 
quered ct»untry , b in the gift of the king. We 
let out tor Madrid , as soon as we learned 



( i4i ) 

this piece of news , the doctor intending ia 
thank his benefactress before he departed to 
Granada. I had more than one opportunity 
of seeing and speaking to Catalina , vvho v> as 
pleased with my easy air and gay disposition. 
For my part , I found her so much to my li- 
king , that I could not help making suitable 
returns to the little marks of friendship which 
she bestowed upon me. In fine , we contrac- 
ted a mutual, attachment. Forgive this con- 
fession , my dear Beatrice : as I believed you 
false , that mistake ought to screen me from 
your reproaches. 

« Meanwhile Dr. Don Ignacio , preparing 
for his departure to Granada , his relation and 
I , frightened at the separation that threatened 
DS I had recourse to an expedient which preser- 
ved us from that misfortune. I feigned myself 
sick, complained of my head and breast, and 
affected all the symptoms of a most violent 
distemper. My master called a physician , 
who having examined me with care , since- 
rely owned that my distemper was a very 
serious matter; and that, in all likelihood, 
I should keep my chamber a long time. 
• « The doctor , impatient t<5 be at his cathe- 
dral , did not think proper to delay his de- 
parture , but took another young man into 
his service , leaving me to the care of a nurse, 
with whom he deposited a sum of money , to 
defray the expence of my funeral if I should 
die, or to recompence my service if 1 should 



C t42 ) 

recover of my disease. As soon as I understood 
that Don Ignacio was gone, all my com- 
plaints vanished. I got out of bed , dismissed 
my physician , who had so much penetration , 
and got rid of my nurse , who stole more 
than half of the money with which she had 
been entrusted in my behalf. While I acted 
this part , Catalina performed another with 
her mistress Donna Anna de Guerva , whom ^ 
by persuading her that I was admirable in 
intrigues , she induced to chuse me for one of 
her agents. Madam Nurse , whom her avarice 
always stimulated to new undertakings , ha- 
ving occasion for such people , received n)e 
into her family , and in a little time put my 
abilities to the proof. She gave me commis- 
sions which required some address ; and , wit- 
hout vanity , I did not acquit myself amiss : 
wherefore she was well pleased with me , as 
I had cause to be dissatisfied with her. This 
lady was so covetous , that she would not 
allow me the least share of the fruits which 
she reaped from my industry and trouble. 
She imagined that she acted with great gene- 
rosity in paying my wages punctually. This 
excess of avarice would have soon induced 
me to quit her service , had I not been retai- 
ned by the affection of Catalina, which kind- 
ling every day more and more , she proposed , 
in a formal manner , that I should take her to 
wife. 

f Softly , my dear , )> said I , « that cere- 



I 



r 143) 

mony can't be performed between us so soon.' 
I must first be convinced of the death of a 
young wohnan who got the start of you , and 
to whom ( for my sins ) I am married. » « Not 
you , indee^ , » replied Catalina i « you only 
say so to conceal, in a polite manner, the re- 
luctance you have to wed me. » In vain did [ 
protest that I spoke the truth. She looked 
upon my sincere confession as a shifl : and , 
being offended at it , changed her behaviour 
towards me. We did not quarrel^ but our 
correspondence visibly cooled ^ and we no lon- 
ger retained for one another any other senti- 
ments than those of decency and common 
regard. 

<n At this juncture, I heard that Signior 
Gil Bias de Santiliane, secretary to the prime« 
minister of the Spanish monarchy , wanted a 
lacquey i and this place Qatlered me the more , 
as it was represented the most agreeable ona 
that I could possess. <n Signior de Santillane, ». 
said people to me , « is a person beloved by 
the Duke of Lcrma , and of consequence can- 
not fail of pushing his fortune a great way : 
besides , he is very generous ; so that , in ma- 
naging his affairs , you will effectually im- 
prove your own. » I did not neglect this op- 
portunity. I went immediately, and presented 
myself to Signior Gil Bias , for whom at first 
sight I found a growing inclination , and who 
" admitted me into his service on account of my 
physiognomy. I did not hesitate on quitting 



wco^ .^y, '^ it please Heaven , 



m 

a? 
t 



that ^s^%4^^^^^^' » 

pla /^y>f*Ai'^«^ *^^^ history; then ad- 

/'l^y >^ ^o me — « Si^iiior de Santil- 
.fsi^f^b^f * P'^ay witness for me to 
r^, "^/^liatyou have always found me a 
^gtid faithful servant. I have n^ed of 
ff'^timony to pursuade them that the son 
y^f^liah has purged his morals , and that 
.^0^ sentiments have succeeded his vicious 
^/nation. ♦ 

^ Y9S 9 ladies , » said I , « this is what 1 
{$n answer for : if Scipio , in his childhood , 
0^ a real picaro , he has corrected his con- 
duct so well since that time , that he is now 
the model of a perfect servant. Far from ha- 
ving cause to blame his behaviour towards me , 
I must own that I lie under great obligations 
to him. The night on which I was apprehen- 
ded to be carried to the tower of Segovia , he 
saved from pillage , and secured a part of my 
effects , which he might have appropriated to 
himself with impunity. He not only preser- 
ved my money , but also , through pure friend- 
ship , came and shut himself up with me in 
prison , preferring the melancholy pleasure of 
sharing my sorrows to all the charms of 
liberty. » 



1500K 



< >45) 

BOOK XL 
CHAP. I. 

Gil Bias is oyerwhelmed with Joy , wick 
is disturbed by a melancholy Event. 
Such Changes happen at Court , as in" 
duce Santillane to go thither again* 

1 HAVE already observed , that there was great 
harmony between Antonia and Beatrice ; 
the last being used to live like a submissive 
waiting-woman , and the other habituating 
herself to act the mistress. Scipio and I were 
husbands of too much gallantry , and too 
•.veil beloved by our wives , to be long wi- 
thout children : they grew pregnant almost 
at the same time. Beatrice , who was the 
first delivered \ brought iuto the word a girl ; 
and a few days after , Antonia crowned mv 
happiness by bringing forth a boy. I sent my 
M^etary to Valencia with this piece of news 
for the governor , who came to Lirias with 
Seraphina , and the Marchioness of Pliego 
to stand godmothers to the children , being 
pleased to add this token of affection to those 
I had already received. My son , whose god- 
father and godmother were that nobleman 
and the marchioness , was christened AI« 
phonso 5 and my lady governess , willing 
Vol. IV. G 



( '46 ) 

that I should have the honour of being dou* 
h\y her gossip , stood with me for Scipio's 
daughter , to whom we gave the name of 
Seraphina. 

Not only the people of my family were 
rejoiced at the birth of my son , the inhabi- 
tants of Lirias likewise celebrated it by feasts ; 
which shewed that the whole village parthook 
of their master's pleasure. But , alas ! our rejoi- 
cings were not of long duration ; orratber , they 
w^ere all of a sudden converted into groans , 
complaints , and lamentations , by an evoiit 
which more than twenty years have not been 
able to make me forget , and which will ever 
be present to my thoughts : my son died ; and 
his mother , though safely delivered , soon 
followed him : a violent fever robbed me of 
my dear wife , fourteen tnonths after we had 
been married ! Let the reader conceive , if 
possible the sorrow with which I was sei- 
zed. I fell into a state of stupid dejection ; and 
felt my loss so much , that I seemed quite in- 
sensible. I was in this condition five or six 
days , during which I would take ilo suste- 
nance ; and , had it not been for Scipio , I 
believe I should either have let myself die of 
hunger , or have lost my reason entirely ; 
but that dexterous secretary found means to 
beguile my grief by conforming himself to it ; 
he made me fwallow broths, by the art of 
presenting them with such a mortified look , 
as if he gave them , not so much with a view 



( i47 ) 
of preserving my life , as of nursing my af- 
fliction. 

This affectionate servant having written 
to Don Alphonso an account of my misfor- 
tune , and the deplorable situation in which 
I was 9 that tender and compassionate noble- 
man , that generous friend , repaired imme- 
diately to Lirias. I cannot , without being 
melted 5 recal the moment in which he pre- 

. sented himself to my view. •' My dear 8an- 
tillane I ,, said he , embracing me , ** 1 am 

' not come hither to console you ; I am come 
to mourn with you for Antonia, as you would 
mourn with me , had fate robbed me of my 

. Seraphina. ,, In effect , he shed tears , and 

, mingled his sighs with mine : so that , over- 
whelmed as I was vith sorrow , I had a lively 
sense of Don Alphonso's goodness. 

This governor having had a long conference 
with Scipio about the means of vanquishing 
my grief , they concluded that I must, for 
some time ^ be removed from Lirias , where 
every thing recalled incessantly to my mind 
the image of my poor Antonia. Upon this , 
Don Caesar's son proposed to carry me with 
him to Valencia , and my secretary seconded 

>lum so well » that 1 yielded to his proposal. 
I left Scipio and his wife at my house, every 
part of which , indeed , served only to in- 
crease my aiHiction , and set out with the 

.governor. When I arrived at Valencia , Don 
Cccsar ) and his daughten-in-law , spared no- 

G 2 



('48) 
thing to divert my chagrin ,• they entertained 
me by turns with all the amusements that 
seemed proper to dispel it; but,Jn spite of 
all their endeavours , I continued as much 
as ever plunged in the most profound melan- 
choly. It was not Scipio's faailt that I did not 
resume my tranquillity : he came often from 
Lirias to Valencia , to know how I was , 
and returned sad or gay , as he perceived me 
more or less disposed to receive consolation. 

One morning , entering my chamber •— 
*• Sir , „ said he with great emotion , " there 
is a report in the city which interest the 
whole kingdom ; it is said that Philip the 
Third is no more , and that the Prince his 
son is now upon the throne : nay , more , „ 
added he , <f that the Cardinal Duke of Lerma 
has lost his post ; that he is even forbid the 
court ; and that Don Gaspard de Guzman , 
Count d'Olivarez , is now prime-minister. I 
felt myself agitated by this piece of news , 
without knowing wherefore , and Scipio per- 
ceiving it > asked if I was any how affected 
by this great change. " Why should it af- 
fect me y my child ? „ said I. ^* I have quit- 
ted the court , and ought to look with indif- 
ference upon all the changes that can happen 
there. „ 

**For a man of your age , „ replied the son 
of Cosco lina , '* you are very much deta- 
ched from the world : were I in your place , 
I should hi)ve a longing desire to go to A^ai 



( '49) 
drld ) and show my face to the young mo- 
narch , to see if he would remember me : 
This is a pleasure iu which I would indulge 
mjself. » « I understand thee , » said I > 
4^ thou would have mo return to court , 
and try Fortune anew , or rather to grow 
ambitious and covetous again. )^ « Why 
should your morals be corrupted I ,, answered 
Scipio : " have more confidence in your own 
virtue ; I will answer for your conduct ; th« 
wholesome reflections which you made u[)oa 
the court during your disgrace , will scieen 
you from the perils of it : re-embark boldly 
upon a sea^, the shelves of which you are so 
well acquainted with. )^ « Peace, flatterer ! » 
said I, interrupting him with a smile ; « art 
thou tired of seeing nie lead a quiet life I I 
thought thou hadst a greater regard for my 
repose. » 

In this part of our conversation , Don Cae* 
sar and bis son coming in , confirmed the 
new« of the king's death, as well as the Duke 
of Lerma's misfortune : they moreover told 
me , that this minister having asked leave to 
return to Rome , it was refused ; and he was 
ordered to repair to his marquisate at Denia i 
then , as if they had been in concert with my 
secretary, they advised me to go to Madrid, 
and present myself to the new king , since I 
was known to him , and had even done him 
such service as the great always recom pence 
"with pleasure. « As for my part , said Don 

G 3 



'^ 



( »5o ) 

Alphonso ; « I don't doubt but he yvill be- 
grateful ; and that Fhilip the Fourth will pay 
the debts of the Prince of Spain. » <; I am of 
the same opinion , )> said Don Caesar , « and 
look upon SantilJane's journey to court as an 
occasion for him to arrive at great prefer- 
ment. )> 

« Truly , gentlemen , » cried I , « you don't 
consider what you say : to hear you , one 
would think I had nothing to do but repair 
to Madrid , in order to have the golden key, 
or some government, conferred upon me : ycu 
tife mistaken : I am , on the contrary, persua- 
ded that the king would take no notice of my 
person , were I to present myself to his view : 
but I will do it if you desire , in order to di- 
sabuse you. » The noblemen of Leyva took 
me at my word , and I could not help promi- 
sing that I would immediately set out for Ma- 
drid. As soon as my secretary saw me deter- 
mined on the journey , he felt an immoderate 
joy : he imagined that I should no sooner ap- 
pear before the new monarch , than that 
prince would distinguish me in the crowd , 
and load me with honours and wealth : the- 
reupon feeding his fancy with the most splen- 
did chimeras , he raised me to the first offices 
of the state , and preferred himself by the help 
of my elevation. 

I got ready, therefore , to return to court ; 
not with a view of' sacrificing again to for- 
tune , but to satisfy Don Caesar and his sou , 



( «5i ) 

who ipfiagiiied that I sbouUt soon possess the 
favour of my sovereign. True it is , I myself, 
felt , at bottom , some desire of trying if the 
young prince would know me again : attrac* 
ted by this emotion of curiosity , without hop9 
or design of reaping any advantage from th^ 
aew reign , I departed with Scipio for Ma- 
drid , leaving the care of my house to Bea- 
trice y who was an excellent economist. 

CHAP. 11. 

Cil Bias arrives at Madrid , and appears at 
Court ; the King remembers and recom- 
mends him to his Prime Minister* The 
Consequence of that Recommendation* 

W E gained Madsnd in less than eight days , 
Don Alphonso having accommodated us with 
two of his best horses , that we migth make 
the greater dispatch ; and we alighted at a 
furnished house where I lodged before , be- 
longing to Vincent Forrero, my old landlord i 
who was very glad to see me again. 

As this was a man who piqued himself 
upon knowing every thing that happened , 
both at court and city , I asked if there was 
i^ny thing new. « A greut many things, 'p 
answered he : « since the death of Philip III, 
the friends and partizans of the Cardinal Duke 
of Lerma have bestirred themselves to maiii«> 
taiu his eminence in the ministry ; but theiy 

G4 



( i52) 
elferts have been ineffectual : the Count d'Ol^- 
varez has got the better of them all. It is said , 
that Spain loses nothing by the change , and 
that the new prime- minister has a genius of 
such vast extent , that he is able to govern the 
whole world : Heaven preserve him I What 
is certain, » added he, « is , that the people 
have conceived the highest opinion of his ca- 
pacity ; and we shall see , in the end , whe- 
ther the Duke of Lerma's place is well or ill 
supplied. » Ftrrero having thus opened , gave 
me an account of all the changes which had 
been made at court since the Count d*01ivarez 
steered the helm of the monarchy. 

Two days after my arrival at Madrid I 
went to court in the afternoon and pnt myself 
in the king's way, and he went into his closet : 
but he did not look at me. I returned next day 
to the same place, but was not more fortunate* 
The third time , he cast his eye upon me as he 
passed , but seemed to take no notice of my 
person ; whereupon I came to a determina- 
tion , and said to Scipio , who accompanied 
me— « Thou seest that the king does not re- 
member me , or , if he does , has no mind to 
renew the acquaintance : I believe it will not 
be amiss for us to set out upon our return for 
Valencia. s> « Not so fast , Sir, )> replied my 
secretary : you know better than I that suc- 
cess at court is only to be obtained by patien- 
ce : don't cease shewing yourself to the prince ; 
by dint of perseverance in appearing before 




(,55) 
liim , you will oblige him to coUpder you 
more attentively , and to recognize the fea- 
tures of his agent with the fair Catalina. » 

That Scipio might have nothing to re- 
proach me )yith , I had the complaisance to 
continue the same conduct during three weeks ; 
and one ddy , at length , the monarch , struck 
with my appearance , ordered me 'to be cal* 
led in ; and I entered his closet , not without 
great disorder to find myself t^te-d-tSte with 
my sovereign. « Who are you I „ said ho i 
^' I remember your face , but cannot recollect 
where I have seen you. ,, *'.Sir, ,, answered 
I, trembling, <^ I had the honour to conduct 
your majesty one night , with the Count de 
Lemos \ to the house of,, — ** Oh ! I remem* 
berit , „ said the prince , interrupting me : 
•' you was secretary to the Duke of Lerma , 
and , if I am not mistaken , your name is San- 
tillane. I have not forgot that you served me 
with abundance of zeal on the occasion , and 
that you was very ill rewarded for your 
pains : was not you imprisoned for that ad- 
venture \ ,, — " Yes , Sir , „ said I; I was 
six months in the tower of Segovia , from 
whence your goodness delivered me. „ 
*' That , ,, answered he , ** does not quit me 
of the obligation ;'it is not enough to let you at 
liberty , 1 ought to recom pence you (brt/he mis- 
fortune whichyr.u suffered for the love of me. ,, 
' Just as the prince had pronounced these 
.words , the Count d'Olivarez ent red his do- 

(i 5 



( «54 ) 

set. A favimrite takes umbrage at everything ! 
he was astonished to find a stranger th«r« ; 
and the king redoubled his surprize, in saying 
to him , « Count , I recommend this young 
man to you ; employ him in some shape of 
other , and take care of his advancement. 9 
The minister affected to receive this order 
with a gracious look , eyeing me fbom head 
JtP foot , **'Qd very anxious to know who I 
WAS. « Go , friend , >^ said the monarch to 
me , making a sign for me to retire ; ^ the 
count will not fail to employ you in an ad- 
vantageous manner , both for my service and 
your own interest. » 

I immediately quitted the closet , and rejoi- 
ned the son of Coscolina , who, extremely 
impatient to know what the king had said to 
me, remained in the utmost agitation. He as- 
ked me forthwith, whether we must return 
to Valencia or stay at court. '« Thou shah 
judge , » said I : then I overwhelmed him 
with joy , in recounting to him , word for 
word , the short conversation which I had 
with the king. « My dear master , » said 
Scipio to me , when he heard ift , « will you 
distrust my almanacs again ? Confess that 
the Lords of Leyva and 1 were not to blame , 
la exhorting you to take a trip to Madrid. I 
already see you in some eminent post ; you 
will become the Calderona of Count d'Oliva- 
rez. » — <i That is not at all what I wish , » 
$aid I f iQlerrupling him ^ I have uo ambitioa 



( i55 ) 

for a place which is environed with so many 
precipices. I would rather have an employ- 
i;nent iu which I should have no occasion to 
do injustice, or carry on a shameful traffic of 
my prince's favour : after the use I made of 
my past credit , I cannot be too much upon 
my guard against avarice and ambition. » 
<i Come , Sir , i> replied my secretary , « the 
minister will give you some good post, which 
you may fill without ceasing to be an honest 
man. ,, 

More urged by Scipio than by my own cu- 
riosity , I went next day to the house of 
Count d'Olivarez beforesun-rise^ having been 
informed , that every morning , in summer 
and winter , he gave audience by candle- 
light. I modestly took my station in the cor- 
ner of the hall, from whence I narrowly ob- 
served the count when he appeared , for I 
had but a superficial view of him in tho 
king's closet : he was taller than the middle 
fize , and might have passed for a fat man, in 
a country where we see none almost but lean 
people i his shoulders were so high , that I 
thought him hunch-backed , though he was 
not so i his head , which was extremely large , 
hung down upon his breast ; his hair was 
black and straight , his visage long , his com- . 
plexion of an olive colour , his mouth sunk 
in , and his chin peaked , and turned upwards 
at the end. 
All tl^is together could not make a very 

G 6 



( '56) 
handsome appearance ; nevertheless , as I be^ 
lieved him to be well disposed towards me ^ 
I looked upon him with a favourable e^e , 
and even fnund him agreeable. True it is, he 
ti'eated every body with an affable and plea- 
sant air , and very graciously received the me- 
morials which were presented to him ; and 
this seemed to supply the place of a good per- 
son. Meanwhile, when I advanced in my 
turn to salute hira , and make myself known , 
he darted a rude and threatening look at me ; 
then turning his back , not deigning to hear 
me, returned into his closet. I now thought 
him more ugly than he was naturally , went 
out of the hall very much confounded at suck 
an unfavourable reception, anddid not knovr 
what to think of the matter. 

Having rejoined Scipio , who waited for 
me at the door , — * « Dost thou know , )> said 
I, '* whnt reception I have met with? ,» — • 
•* No , „ answered he ; « but it is not difticuU 
to guess : the minister , ready to conform him^ 
self to the pleasure of his prince , has , doub- 
tless , oilered you some considerable employ- 
ment.. )> « There you are mistaken , » I re*- 
plied , telling him in what manner 1 had beea 
received. Having listened attentively , ha 
3aid-«« The count must have forgot you , or 
mbtaken you for somebody else ; I advise yon^ 
to wait on him again , and I am sure he will 
treat you with another sort of look. i> 1 fol- 
ia vved my secretary V advice ^ and presented 



( '57 ) 

myself the second time before the minisfef f 
who treated me still worse than at first , fro- 
wned at me as if the sight of me had given 
him pain , turned his e^cs another wa^ , and 
retired without speuking one word. 

I was touched to the quick by his beha- 
viour, and was tempted to depart immedia- 
tely for Valencia ; but this Scipio did not fail 
to oppose , being unwilling to renounce the 
hopes which he had conceived. Dost thou 
not see, » said I to him , « that the count 
wants to remove me from court ? The king 
has expressed to him some regard for me , and 
that is sufficient to bring upon me the aver- 
sion of his favourite : let us yield , my child , 
let ns yield with a good grace to the power of 
such a formidable foe. i> « Sir, * answered 
he, incensed against the Count d'OlivareZr, 
# I would not so easily quit my ground ; I 
would go and complain to his majesty of the 
little regard which the minister shews to his 
recommendation. ^ <^ Bad council , my friend ! # 
said I : « if I should take that imprudent step, 
I should soon repent it j nay , I believe , I rua 
some risque in tarrying iu this city. t» 

My secretary began to weigh these words-; 
and , considering that we had actually to do 
with a man who might make os revisit the 
tower of Segovia , he partook of my fear, and 
DO longer opposed my desire of quilling Ma- 
drid , from whence I resolved lo move ih* 
..yerj next day. 



( i58 ) 

C H A P. 1 1 1. 

Cil Bins is hindered from executing his Bje^ 
solution to leave the Court , and receives 
an important Piece of Service Jr am Jo* 
seph ISavarro* 

KJh wy return to my lodging I met my old 
friend Joseph Navarro , clerk oi the kUchea 
to Don Balthazar de Zuniga. I went up to 
him , saluted him , and asked if he knew me , 
and if he would still be so good as to speak 
to a wretch who had repaid his friendsh^) 
with ingratitude. « You confess , then , s^ said 
he y « that you have a right to load me with 
reproaches : L deserve them all , if I have not 
already expiated my crime hy the remorse 
which attended it.* <i Since you have repen- 
ted your fault, » replied Navarro, embracing 
me, « I ought no lunger to remember it. » I, 
on my part , hugged Joseph in my arms ; and 
we resumed our former sentiments for each 
other. 

He had heard of my imprisonment, and the 
disorder of my affairs , but was ignorant of 
what followed. I informed him of all , and 
even recounted to him the conversation I had 
with the king , not concealing the bad re- 
ception I had met with from the minister , no 
more than my design *of returning again to 
my solitude. « Beware of going thither, » sakt 



( '59) 

be : " since our monarch has expressed • 
friendship for you , it must certaiuly he of 
some service to jou. Betvreen you and me , 
the Count d'Olivarez has a very singular dis- 
position , and is full of whims : he someti-* 
mes , as on this occasion , acts in a very uiiac<^ 
countahle mani^r ; and n<>l>ody but livniself 
has the key of his irregular behavicnir. In 
short , whatever reasons he may have for re* 
ceiving you in this manner, stick closo to th# 
business ; he will not hinder you from profit 
ting by the prince'9 bounty ; this is what I 
assui^ you : I will mention it this evening to 
Signior Don Balthazar de Zuniga, my mas-» 
ter , who is uncle to the Couut d'Olivarez, 
and shares with him the cares of govern- 
ment. i> Navarro having told me this, asked 
a direction to my lodging ; and so we parted. 
It was not long before I saw him again. 
Coming to me next day , ^Signipr de Santil- 
lane , i» said he , « you have a protector ia 
my master , who will favour you with his 
support. On account of the good charactex 
which I gave of you , he has promised to speak 
in your behalf to his nephew the Count d'Oli- 
[arez, , whom I hope he will prepossess in 
favour. )^ My friend Navarro , who did 
irve me by halves , introduced me two 
days ffeer to Balthazar , who said to me , 
with a ^brteous look , « Signior d« SantiUane , 
your friMl Joseph has spoke so well of you 
as to engaA me iu your iotecest^* t I madi a 



( i6o ) 

profound bow to Signior de Zuniga | and 
answered , that I should all my life have a 
lively sense of the obligation I lay under to 
Navarro, for having procured for me the pro- 
tection of a minister who was justly styled , 
the light of the counciL Don Balthazar , at 
this flattering reply , clapped me on the shoul- 
der , saying , with a smile — « You may go 
again to-morrow to the levee of the Count 
d*01ivarez , with whom you will be better 
satisfied than before. i> 

I appeared therefore the third time before 
the prime minister , who , having distingui- 
shed me in the crowd , honoured me with a 
smiling look , from whence I conceived a 
good omen. «This goes well , i> said I to my- 
self : « the uncle has made the nephew hear 
reason. i> I now expected a favourable recep- 
tion , and my expectation was fulfilled : the 
count , after having given audience to every 
body , sent for me to his closet , where ho 
said to me , whit a familiar air — « Friend 
Snntillane, forgive me for having thrown thee 
into perplexity for my diversion ; I pleased 
myself with giving thee uneasiness , in order 
to try thy prudence, and see what thou 
Wouldst do in thy chagrin. I don't doubt that 
thou thought'sl I was displeased with thee j 
but , on the contrary , my child , 1 own I 
have a liking to thy person. Though the king 
my master had not ordered me to take (are of 
thy fortune , I sould have done it throu^^h pui o 



( '6' ) 

iiidiQatioii. Besides , my uncle , Don Balthazar 
de Zuniga , to whom I can refuse nothing , 
has desired me to look upon thee as one for 
whom he interests himself: this is enough to 
determine me in thy favour. » This declara^* 
tion made such a strong impression upon mj 
senses , that they were quite disordered. I 
threw myself at the feet of the minister; who^ 
having bid me rise , went on in this manner : 
« Come hither again this afternoon , and call 
for my steward, who will impart to thee tho 
orders I shall give him. » So saying , fab ex- 
<;ellency went out to hear mass , as he usually 
did every day , after having given audience i 
and then repaired to the king's levee. 

CHAP. IV. 

Gil Bias acquires the Love of the Count 

(VOlivar€z> 

1 DID not fail to return in the afternoon , and 
call upon the steward, whose name was Ooa 
Raymond Caporis. I no sooner told him my 
name, than siiluling me with great demons- 
trations of respect —* <( Signior , » said he , 
follow me, if you please : I will conduct you 
to the apartment which is destined for you ia 
this house. » So saying , he carried me hy a 
little stair to a range of five or six rooms ^ 
which composed the second story of one wing 
«f the house , and which were very plainl^r 



( i62 ) 

furnished. ^Thb, » said he, « is the lodgiag 
which his grace appoints for you ; and here 
you "will have a table with six covers , main* 
tained at his expence. You will be served by 
his own domestics , and there will always be 
a coach at your command. This is not all , i^ 
added he ; «e his excellency has ordered me to 
treat you with the same respect as if you wail 
of the family of Guzman. » « Wliat the deuce- 
is the meaning of all this ! )> said I to myself. 
« How am I to understand these distinctions I 
Is there not some mischief a^ bottom I and is 
it not for his divoi^ion that (he minister givet 
me such honour (S hie ti^'-.s^Uf^nt I » While P 
was in this uncertainty ,yU*Ctiiatiug between 
hope and fear , a page came and told me , 
that the Count wanted me. I went instantly 
to his grace , who being alone in his closet •— 
« Well , Santillane,^ said he , <i art thou sa- 
tisfied with thy apartment , and the orders 
which I have given to Don Raymond I )> — 
« The goodness o( your excellency , » answ^e« 
red I , « seems to be excessive ; and I receive 
it wilh f^ar and trembling. » «For what rea- 
son I „ said he. " Can I do too much honour 
to a man whom the king has recommended 
to my care I No , indeed j 1 do no more than 
my duty in treating thee in an honournble man- 
ner : be not therefore surprised at what I do 
for thee 5 and be assured , that a solid and 
splendid fortune cannot escape thee , provi- 
ded thou art as much attached to me , as thou 



( i65 ) 
wast to the Duke of Lerma. But, with regard 
to that nobleman , >> added he , « I have been 
told that you lived in great familiarity with 
him. I am curious to know how you two 
became acquainted , and what employment 
you exercised under that minister : disguise no- 
thing; I insist upon hearing the whole truth. i^ 
I then remembered my perplexity with the 
Duke of Lerma in the same case , and in 
what manner I extricated myself; and this I 
practised again very successfully : that is to 
say , in my narration I softened the rough 
places , and passed slightly over those things 
which did not much redound to my honour : 
I likewise spared the Duke of Lerma ; though , 
in doing otherwise , I should have better plea- 
sed my hearer. As for Don Rodrigo de Calde- 
rona , I gave him no quarter , but disclosed 
all the fine strokes which I knew he struck in 
the traffic of commanderies , governments , 
and benefices. 

<cWhat you toll me of Calderona , t said 
the minister , interrupting me , « is confor- 
mable to several memorials which have been 
presented against him , and which contain 
heads of accusation still mo^e important. His 
trial will soon come on ; and if you wish his 
downfal , I believe your desire-^i^vill be satis- 
fied. „ *' I don't desire his death , ,, said I : 
^* though it was not his fault that I found not 
mine in the tower of Segovia , where he was 
the cause of my being imprbooed for a good 



( i84 ) 
many months. „ •* How ! „ cried his excel- 
lency , " was Don Rodrigo the cause of thy 
imprisonment I this is what I did not know* 
Don Balthazar , to whom Navarro recounted 
thy history , told me that the late king orde<» 
red thee to be confined , as a punishment for 
having carried the Prince of Spain to a sus- 
pected place in the night : but I knew no 
more of the matter; and I can't conceive 
what part Calderona could play in the piece..,, 
** The part of a lover , who revenges an in- 
jury received , ,, answered I. I then told him 
the whole adventure ; which he thought so 
diverting, that, grave as he was, he could 
not help laughing , or rather weeping with 
mirth. He was infinitely rejoiced with Cata- 
lina , sometimes niece , and sometimes grand- 
daughter ; as well as with the part which the 
Duke of Lerma acted in the whole. 

When I had finished my narration , the 
count dismissed me , saying , that he would 
not fail in finding me some employment next 
day. I ran immediately to the house of Zuni* 
ga , to thank Don Balthazar for his good offi- 
ces , and to tell my iriend Joseph how well I 
was with the prime-minister. 




( i65 ) 
CHAP. V. 

The private Conversation which Gil Bias 
had with Navarro , and the first Business 
in which he was emplojred bjr the Count 
dOlivarez* 

/\s soon as I saw Joseph, I told him, with 
some agitation , that I had a great man j things 
to communicate ; upon which he carried me 
to a private place, where, after having in- 
formed him of what had happened , I asked 
his opinion of the matter. ** My opinion , ,, 
answered he , ^^ is, that ^ou are in the way 
of making a vast fortune : every thing smiles 
upon you : you are agreeable to the prime- 
minister \ and another tiling which may turn 
out to your advantage is , that I can do you 
the same serf ice which you received from my 
uncle Melchior de la Honda , when you first 
entere^ the family of the Archbishop of Gra* 
nada. He spared you the trouble of %Xu^y\nf^ 
the prelate and his principal officers , by dst* 
closing their different chnracters to frou at 
once : and I will , after bis example ^ make 
you acquainted with the count , the eotintese 
his wife , and Dunna Maria d# Oixman^ 
their only child* 

« The minister has a qoirk ^ petMirafinf 
genius , cap«ible of forming gr<«nd de^ig/H. H# 
%pU up for an tuiiversal mao ^ btt^tis^ W hm 



( i66 ) 

a small tincture of every science , and belie- 
ves himself able to decide in every thing. He 
imagines himself a profound lawyer, a great 
captain , and a most consummate politician. 
Add to this , he is so intoxicated with his 
own opinions , that he always follows them 
rather thanr those of others , that he may not 
seem beholden to the understanding of any 
man. Between^ you and me , this defect may 
have strange consequences; from whicli Hea- 
ven preserve the monarchy ! He shines in the 
council by a natural eloquence; and he would 
write as well as he speaks , if, in order to 
dignify his st^le , he did not affect expressions 
which render it stiff and obscure. He is , be- 
sides , very whimsical , capricious , and chi- 
merical : so much for his head. As to his 
heait , he is generous and friendly. He is said 
to be vindictive ; but what Spaniard is other- 
wise I He is also accused of ii%ratitude , in 
being the occasion of exiling the Duked'Uze- 
da, and the Friar Lewis Aliaga, to whom , 
people say , he had great obligations : but this 
is pardonable ; the desire of being prime- mi- 
nister prevails over every other sentiment. 

« Donna Agnez de Zuniga a Yelasco , 
Countess of Olivarez , )» continued Joseph , 
« is a lady who has no fault that I know , 
but that of selling her favours at a high price. 
As for Donna Maria de Guzman , who is , 
without contradiction , this day , the richest 
match in Spain , she is an accomplished 




( '67) 
yoong lady , and the idol of the father. Model 
your behaviour accordingly ; be assiduous in 
making your court to these two ladies ; and 
appear still more devoted to the Count d*01i- 
-varez than you was to the Duke of Lerma 
i>efore your journey to Segovia j in which 
case , you will certainly become a personage 
of rank and power. 

« 1 likewise advise you , » added he , « to 
wait upon my master Don Balthazar from 
time to time ; though you have no need of 
him for you advancement, don*t neglect him ; 
he has a very good opinion of you at present : 
preserve his friendship and esteem , which 
may be of service to you upon some occa- 
sion or other. » « As the uncle aud nephew , ^ 
said I 9 « are both concerned m the ministry , 
is there no jealousy between the two collea- 
gues I * <i On the contrary , „ answered he > 
** they live^gether in the greatest harmony. 
Had it not been for Don Balthazar , tlie 
Count d'Olivarez , perhaps , would not have 
been prime-minister : for , in short , after 
the death of Philip the Third , all the friends 
and partisans of the house of Sandoval exer- 
ted themselves very much , some in favour of 
the cardinal , and others in behalf of his son ; 
but my master, who was the most subtle 
among the courtiers, and the count , as cun- 
ning ns he , broke all their measures , and 
'took such effectual steps to secure ihat place, 
that llieir antagonists were quite foiled. The 



( i68) 
Count d'Olivarez , when he became minister; 
shared the administration with his uncle Doa 
Balthazar, to whom he left the care, of fo- 
reign affairs, reserving all domestic concerns 
to himself : so that , by these means , streng- 
thening the ties of friendship , which ought 
naturally to unite persons of the same blood , 
these two noblemen , independent of one ano- 
ther , live in such good correspondence as to 
me seems unalterable. ,, 

Such was the conversation I had with Jo" 
seph , by whose information I hoped to pro- 
fit : after which I went to thank Signior de 
Zuniga for his goodness towards me. He told 
me very politely , that he would seize every 
occasion of befriending me, and that he was 
^ery glad to find me satisfied with his nep- 
hew , to w^hom , he assured me , he would 
speak again in my favour : resolving at least, 
he said , to convince me , that he had my wel- 
fare at heart , and that , instead of one patron , 
I had two. It was thus that Don Balthazar , 
out of friendship for Navarro, interested him- 
self in my behalf. 

That very evening I quitted my hired 
room , to go and lodge at the prime- minister's 
house, where I stopped with Scipio in my 
own apartment. There we were served by 
the domestics of the family j who, while we 
cat our victuals with an affected gravity , 
laughed, perhaps, wilhin themselves , at the 
respect which they were commanded to 

shew. 



C '69) 
shew. When the table was uncovered , and 
they were retired , my secretary , laying asi- 
de his constraint , said a thousand diverting 
things, which his gay disposition and san- 
guine hopes inspired. As for me , although 
overjoyed at the brilliant situation in which 
I saw myself, I felt myself no longer dispo- 
sed to be dazzled by it ; but , going to bed , 
slept soundly, without giving way to the 
agreeable ideas with which I might have en- 
tertained my fancy ; whereas the ambitious 
Scipio «enjoyed little repose , but passed half 
of the night in hoarding up money for the 
portion of his daughter Seraphina. 

I had scarce got on my cloaths next mor- 
ning , when I was sent for by his grace i 
w^ho , when I came before him , said to me 
•— *' Well , Santillane , let us see a specimen 
of what thou canst do. Thou say est the Duke 
of Lerma employed thee in abridging memo- 
rials : I have got one , which I intend for thy 
first essay. The subject of it is this : it must 
be a performance to prepossess the public in 
favour of my ministry. 1 have Already priva- 
tely spread a report , that I f(»und affairs in 
very great disorder : the business therefore is 
to expose to the eyes of both court and city , 
the miserable condition to which the manar- 
chy is reduced. We must , on this subject , draw 
a picture which will strike the people , and 
binder them from regretting the loss of my 
predessessor. After that , you must extol the 
Vol. IV. H 



( ^7o ) 
measures which I have taken to render his ma* 
jesty's reign glorious , his dominions flouris- 
hing , and bis subjects perfectlj happy. » 

His grace , having spoke in this manner ^ 
gave me a paper, conlaining the just canses 
the nation bad to complaiu of the preceding 
administration , summed up in ten articles; the 
least of which I remember , was snffici<tet ta 
alarm all good Spaniaids; thenshotting nra ia 
a closet adjoining to his own, he left in6t# 
work at liberty. I began to compose my me-' 
morial as well as 1 could. I first of ail descri- 
bed the bud condition of the kingdom, the ft* 
nances exhausted , the royal revenue engros- 
sed by partisans , and the marine entirely rui- 
ned. I then demonstrated the faults committed 
by those who had governed the state under 
the last reign , and the terrible consequences 
which migth proceed from these faults. In 
short , I represented the monarchy in danger $ 
and so sharply censured the former minister , 
that, according to my memorial , the loss of 
the Duke of Lerma was a great happiness for 
Spain. To say the truth , though I hariionred 
tio resentment against that nobleman , I was 
not sorry to do him this good office. Such is 
the disposition of man ! 

In fine , after a frightful picture of the mis- 
fortunes which threatened Spain , I encoura- 
ged the minds of the people , by making them 
conceive fair hopes of the future. I made the 
Countd'Olivar^ speak like a sav ioursent ffpiti 






('7' ) 
heaven for the salvation of the stale ; I promi- 
sod mountains and miracles; in a word , lea* 
tered so well into the views of the new minis- 
ter , that he seemed suiprised at my perfopr* 
mance ; which , when he had read to the end 9 
« Santillane , )» said he , « dost thou know 
that thou hast composed a morsel worthy of 
a secretary of state 1 1 am not suprised that th« 
Duke of Lerma employed thy pen ; thy style 
is concise, and even elegant ( but I think it is 
a little too natural. i> He then pointed out th« 
places which were not to his taste , altering 
them with his own hand » and I perceived , by 
his corrections , that he loved ( as Navarro 
had told me) obscure and far fetched expres*- 
sions. Nevertheless , though he was resolved 
to have nobleness, or rather conceits , in hie 
diction > he preserved two-thirds of my work $ 
and to shew how well he was satisfied with 
my capacity , sent to me , by Don Raymond ^ 
three hundred pistoles , as a dessert at dinner. 

CHAP. VI. 

The Use to which Gil Bias put his three 
hundred Pistoles ; and his' Charge to Sci'^ 
pio : with the Successes of the aboffc^ 
mentioned MemoriaL 

X ais favour of the minister furnished Scipi^ 
with a new opportunity of congratulating my 
return to court. « You see , » said he , « thdt 
Fortune has great desigas in your favour. Am 

H2 



<ir 



you now sorry for having quitted your soli- 
tjde? Long life to the Count d'Oiivarez i he is 
quite another sort of a patron than his prede- 
cessor. The Duke of Lerma , though you was 
80 much attached to him ^ allowed you to 
languish several months , without giving you 
one pistole 3 whereas the count has already 
bestowed upon you a gratification which you 
could not have expected till after long service. 
« I wish y » added he , « that the Lords of 
Ley va were witnesses of the happiness which 
you enjoy , or at least made acquainted w^itb 
it. » — <; It is time, indeed , for them to know 
it , » answered I; « and I was just going to 
talk to thee about the matter. I don't doubt 
that they are extremely impatient to hear from 
me ; hut I waited until I should see myself 
fettled in some shape or other , and be able 
to inform them posi|iv^ly whether or not I 
should stay at court. Now that I am fixed , 
thou mayest set out for Valencia when thou 
wilt , to inform those noblemen of my pre- 
sent situation , which I look upon as their own 
work , since it is certain , that had it not been 
for them , I should never have determined 
upon my journey to Madrid. ^ *— « My dear 
master , ^ cried the son of Coscolina , « how 
Jiappy will they be when I recount to them 
what has happened to yog ! Would I were 
filready at the gates of V.ilencia! but I shall 
be there very soon. Don Alphonso's two horr 
W« K^^^f * I will set out imufiedifttel^ 3^ 



( '73 ) 

with one of his grace's lacquies; for , besides 
that I shall he glad of a companion on tlie 
road , you know people will be dazzled by 
the livery of ihe prime-minister. » 

I could not help laughing at the ridiculous 
vanity of my scretary , though vainer alill 
perhaps than he. I lei lilm do as he desired* 
« Go , )> said I ; « and return as soon as pos- 
sible j for I have another commission io give 
thee : thou must go to the Asturias with mo- 
ney for my mother. I have, through negli- 
gence , let the time pass , on which I promi- 
sed to remit an hundred pistoles to her , and 
which you undertook to deliver with thy own 
bad. These sort of promises from a son ought 
to be sacred , and I upbraid myself with my 
want of punctuality. ,, *— " Sir , „ answered 
Scipio , ^' in six weeks I will bring you an 
account of both these commissions. I will con* 
verse with the Lords of Leyva; make a tour 
to your country-house ,'*and revisit the city of 
Oviedo , which I never remember without 
wishing three-fourths and a half of its inha- 
bitants at the devil. ,, Upon this , I counted 
out to the son of Coscolina one hundred pis* 
toles for my mother's pension , with an hun- 
dred more for himself, that he might agreea- 
bly perform the long jjourney which he had 
undertaken. 

A few days after his departure , the count 
sent our memorial to the press; and it was no 
«ooaer published ; than it became the subject of 

H3 



% 



( '74 ) 

all conversations at Madrid. The people , al- 
ways friends to novelty , were tharnried with 
the performance. The low ebb of the finan- 
ces , which was painted in lively colours , in- 
creased them against the Duke of Lerma : 
and if the strokes of the quill , which that mi- 
nister received , were not applauded by every 
body 9 at least they met with abundance of 
approl .itions. 

As . for the magnificent prowaes made by 
the Count d'OIivarez , and , among others , 
that of defraying the national expence by a 
prudent economy , without incommoding lh* 
subjects t they dazzled the citizens in general , 
and confirmed them in the grand opinion 
which they had already entertained of his ca- 
pacity i so that the whole city echoed with 
his praise. 

That minbter , overjoyed to see the ac- 
complishment of his aim , which in that pu« 
blication had been to acquire the public af- 
fection 9 was resolved to deserve it effectually 
by^ a commendable action , which should be 
serviceable to the king. For thispu)*pose he had 
recourse to the invention of the Emperor 
Galba ; that is , to make those who had enri- 
ched themselves, the Lord knows how, in 
the administration of the finances , regorge 
their wealth. When he had drawn from these 
leeches the blood which they had sue ked , and 
filled the coffers of the king, he undertook to 
preser ve it , by suppressing all pensioos , na 



( 175 ) 
even excepting his own, as well as the grati- 
fications that were given out of the king's 
exchequer ; and to succeed in this design ^ 
which he could not execute without changing 
the face of governnaeBt , he employed me in 
composing a new memorial , the substance 
and form of which he dictated. He then en- 
joined me to raise as much as I could above 
the ordinary simplicity of the style , and give 
more dignity to my expressions. « Enuugh , 
my lord , )> said I ; ^ your excellency shall 
have the splendid and sublime which you de- 
sire. » I shut myself up in the same closet 
where I had composed the first , and thera 
went to work , after having invoked the elo- 
quent genius of the Archbishop of Granada. 

I began by represenling, that we could not 
be too careful in preserving the money which 
w^as in the treasury , and which ought to ba 
employed only in the emergencies of the state , 
as being a sacred fund , reserved on purpose 
to keep the enemies of Spain in awe. Then I 
demonstrated to the king (for the memorial 
was addressed to him ) that , in taking away 
all the pensions and gratifications with which 
the revenue was saddled , he could not , for 
all that , deprive himself of the pleasure of re* 
warding those subjects who should deserve 
his favour ; since , without touching his trea* 
sure , he was in a condition to bestow upon 
them great recompences i that for some he bad 
vice-royalties, governments , orders of knight** 

H4 



( 176 ) 

iiood 9 and military employments ; for othera i 
commanderies, and pensions upon them, titles, 
magistracies : and , in fnie , all sorts of beneftces 
for those w^ho were consecrated to the church* 

This memorial , which was much longer 
than the first , took me up near three days ; 
and luckily I composed it to the taste of my 
master ; who , finding it written with empha- 
sis , and stuffed w^ith metaphors , loaded mo 
with applause. '* I am very well satisfied with 
this, „ said he , pointing to the most tumid 
places ; ^* these are well stamped expressions. 
Courage , friend ; I foresee that thou wilt be 
of great services to me. " Nevertheless, in spite 
of the applause of which he was so prodigal , 
he did not fail to retouch the memorial.. He 
inserted a good deal of his own , and compo- 
sed a piece of eloquence which charmed the 
king and the whole court. The city joined its 
approbation , and conceived ajhtappy omen of 
the future; and flattered itself, that the mo- 
narchy would resume its ancient lustre under 
the ministry of such a great man. 

His excellency seeing that this piece did 
him a great deal of honour, was willing that 
I should reap some fruit from it , in conside- 
ration of my share in the composition : he ac- 
cordingly bestowed upon me a pension of five 
hundred crowns upon the commandery of 
Castile; which was the more agreeable to 
me , as it was not wickedly , though easily- 
got. 



C '77 ) 
CHAP. VII. 

Sy what Accident ^ in what Place, and 
Condition 9 Gil Bias found his Jriend Fa» 
bricio ; and the Conversation that passed 
between them* 

INuTHiTSG gave more pleasure to the count, 
than to know the opinion which the people 
of Madrid had of his conduct in the ministry. 
He asked me very day , what people said of 
him; and even maintained spies, who brought 
him an exact account of what passed, in the 
city. They reported to him every word which 
they heard , and , as he ordered them to be 
sincere, his self love suffered sometimes j for 
the people have an intemperance of tongue 
which has no respect of persons. 

When I perceived that he was pleased with 
these reports , I Ihriployed myself every after- 
noon in going to public places , and joining 
in conversation with good company. When 
they spoke of the government , I listened with 
attention ; and if they said any thing that de- 
served to be re- told to his excellency , J did 
not fail to inform him of it : but it must be 
observed , that I never reported any thing 
which was spoke to his prejudice. 

One day I returned from one of these pla- 
ces , passing by the door of an hospital , I felt 
au JLUcliuation to enter. I walked through twe^ 

U 5 



( '78 ) 
or three wards full of sick people a-bed j and 
surveyed every thing around tne. Among 
these unfortpnate people , whom I could no| 
behold without compassion , I was struck 
with the appearance of one , who , I belie- 
ved , was my old friend and comrade Fabricio. 
Th^t I might have a more distinct view of 
him , I approached his bed ; and , having no 
longer any reason to doubt that it was the 
poet Nunnez , stopped a few minutes to con- 
sider him , without speaking. ; while he , re- 
collecting Qie also , eyed me in the same man* 
pitv. At lenght breaking silence — > '* Sure , ,, 
taid I , *^ my eyes deceive me I Is this actually 
Fabricio whom I meet in this place I „ «« 
'< iThe very same , 5, answered he coldly | 
^ and thou hast no cause to be surprised at It. 
Sihce I left thee , I have ever exercised the 
business of an author : I have composed ro- 
mances y comedies , all kinds of works of 
genius ; I have run my rac^, and am now at 
the hospital;, y^ 

I could not help laughing at these words ^ 
ftud still more at the serious air with which 
they were {uronounced. '< How I y, cried 1 1 
^^ has the Muse brought thee to this place X 
liath she played thee tins villainous trick F ,,— 
^^ Thow seest it so , », he replied ; ^' this 
house is the retreat of many a wit. Thou hast 
done well , my child , to take another road ; 
but metlunks , thou art no longer at court » 
luid the sace of iby afiidrs are changed ; nay ^ 



( 179) 
I remember to have heard , that thoa wast 

imprisoned by order of the king.,,-*'* True , ,, 
said I , '* the charming situition in which I 
was , when we parted , in a little time after 
was followed by a reverse of fortune ^ which 
robbed me of my wealth and liberty : never- 
theless , my friend , thou seest me again in a 
more flourishing state than ever. 9, -* '^ That 
is impossible ! „ cried Nunnez : *' thy ap- 
parel is frugal and plain ; and thou hast aot 
that vain and insolent air which prosperity 
usually gives. „ *^ Misfortune , ,, answered 
I , ^* hath purified my virtue ; and I have lear* 
ned in the school of adversity , to enjoy ricbet 
with moderation. 

" Tell me then , „ cried Fabricio , star- 
ting up in a transport , ** what may be thy 
employment I what business dost thou follow I 
Art thou not Stewart to some ruined grandee^ 
or opulent widow ?,,—»** I have a better 
post , ,, I replied; ** but thou must dispense 
with my telling thee more at present ; I will 
satisfy thy curiosity another time. I will now 
only let thee know , that I am in a condition 
to assist thee , or rather to make thee easy fop 
life , provided thou wilt promise to write nq 
more works of genius , either in verse ov 
prose. Dost thou feel thyself capable of ma«« 
king such a sacrifice to me. ,, .«- <* I have aK 
ready made it to Heaven , ,, said he , ** du« 
ring a severe distemper , of which I am just 
cured. A J^ominican father has made me ab«i 

116 



( i8o ) 
jure poetry , as an amusement which , if not 
criminal , at least diverts the mind from the 
pursuits of wisdom and virtue. ,, 

^^ I congratulate thee , my dear Nunnez, „ 
answered I : " but beware of a relapse. „ — 
*^ Thht I am in no fear of , „ he resumed : 
'* I am firmly resolved to abandon the Muses ; 
and when thou camest into the ward , was 
just composing an eternal adieu to them in 
verse. „ — " Mr. Fabricio , „ said I , sha- 
king my head , *' I don't know if the Domi- 
nican and I dare trust to your abjuration , 
you seem so furiously enchanted by these 
learned damsels ! „ ^' No , no ! ,, answered 
he ; ^M have broke off all connection with 
them ; nay , more , I have conceived an aver- 
sion for the public , who does not deserve 
that authors should consecrate their works 
to it : I should be sorr^' if I could produce 
any thing that would^ please it. Don't ima- 
gine , „ continued. he , *^ that this language 
is dictated by passion : I speak in cold blood. 
I equally despise the applause and hisses of 
the public ^ which one does not know how to 
manage. It b so capricious , that it does not 
think two days one way. What fools are 
those dramatic writers who are vain of the 
success of their performances I Whatever 
noise they make by their novelty , if they are 
brought upon the stage twenty years after , 
they are for the most part very ill received. 
The present generation taxes the past witJi 



^ 



( i8i ) 

want of taste , and its determinations ari 
contradicted by those of the next ; from 
whence I conclude , that those authors who 
are now applauded , will be hissed by poste- 
rity. It is the same thing with regard to ro- 
mances , and other amusing books , which , 
though at first they meet yviih. general appro- 
bation y insensibly sink into contempt, l^hat 
honour , therefore , which we reap from the 
good success of our works , is nothing but 
chimera , an illusion of the brain , a fire of 
straw , which evaporates in smoke. „ 

Though I was well convinced that the 
Asturian poet ^poke this from passion only ^ 
I did not seem to perceive it ; but said to 
him — <( I am overjoyed to find thee disgusted 
with the belles lettres, and radically cured of 
the rage of writing. Be assured that I will 
immediately procure for thee an employment 
in which thou mayest enrich thyself, without 
being at a great expence of genius. )^ ^ « So 
much the better ! )> cried he. « Genius stinks 
in my nostrils , and I now look upon it as the 
most fatal present that Heaven can bestow 
upon man. ^ ^l wish , my dear Fabricio , s^ 
I replied, « that thou mayest still preserve these 
sentiments. If thou persist in thy resolutioa 
to quit poetry , I repeat it , I will soon pro- 
cure for thee an honourable and lucrative 
post ; but until I can do thee this service , it 
added 1 , giving him a purse of sixty pistor 



( >82 > 

Ws , 4( pray accept of this small token of mj 
j^iendship. )> 

^' O generous friend I „ cried the son of 
Barber Nunnez , transported with gratitude 
and jo J i « what thanks do I owe to Heaven 
for bringing thee into this hospital , which 
I will leave this very day by thy assistance I )» 
And he actually ordered himself to be trans- 
ported into a hired lodging : but , before we 
parted , I told hini where I lived » and invited 
him to come and see me , as soon as he should 
be perfectly recovered. He seemed extremely 
surprised , when I told him « that I lodged in 
the house of the Count d'Olivarez. 4C Thiice 
happy Gil Bias , » said he , « whose fate it 19 
tp be a minister's favourite I I rejoice at thy 
good fortune , since thou usest it so well. » 

CHAP. VlII. 

Qil Bias becomes more and more beloved 
bjr his Master > Scipio returns to Madrid ^ 
and gives an Account of his Journey to 
Santillane» 

X HE Count d'Olivarez , whom henceforth I 
shall call the Count -duke , because the king 
was pleased about this time to honour him 
with that title , had a foible which I disco«- 
iiered very much to my own advantage ; and 
this was , fr desire of being beloved. As soon 




( i85 ) . 
as he perceived that any one attached hinfisel 
tp him through inclination , he immediately 
conceived a friendship for that adherent. 

I took cara not to neglect this observation. 
I was not content with barely doing what he 
commaudfid i I executed his orders with such 
demonstrations of zeal as quite won his heart. 
I studied his taste in all things , that I might 
conform myself to it ; and anticipated his 
desire as much as I could. 

By this conduct , which seldom fails of sue* 
cess , I insensibly became the favourite of my 
master ; who , on his part , as I myself had 
the same foible , gained my whole soul , by^ 
the marks of affection which he bestowed 
upon me ; and I insinuated myself 30 far into 
bis favour, that I at lenght shared his con* 
iidence with Signior Garnero , his chief se- 
cretary. 

Carnero had practised the same method of 
being agreeable to his excellency ; and sue- 
eeeded so well , that he was intrusted with 
the mysteries of the cabinet. That secretary 
and I were the two confidents of the prime«« 
minister , and the depositaries of his secrets $ 
with this difference , that he spoke to Gar- 
nero of nothing hut state - affairs , and con- 
versed with me on his own private concerns 
only : by these nieans making as it were two 
separate departments , with which we were 
both equally satisfied , we lived together wU 
tiiiout jealousy, as without friendship. I bad 



% 



« ( i84 ) 
cau$e to be pleased with my situation , which 
giving me continual opportunities of being 
with the Gouiit^duke , I was always at hand 
to observe the very bottom of his soul ; which 
he , though naturally dissembling , ceased to 
conceal from me , when he no longer doubted 
the sincerity of my attachment. 

« Santillane , » said he to me one day , 
« thou hast seen the Duke of Lerma enjoy an 
authority which looked more like the power 
of an absolute monarch than that of a favou- 
rite minister : nevertheless , I am still more 
lucky than he was , even at the highest point 
of his fortune. He had two formidable ene* 
mies in the Duke d'Uzeda , his own son : 
and in the confessor of Philip the Third ; whe- 
reas I see not one person near the king who 
has credit enough. to hurt me , nor even one 
whom I suspect to be my foe. 

« It is true, indeed , » continued he , « that 
when I came to the ministry , I suffered none 
to be near I he prince , but those who were 
connected with me, either by blood or frien- 
dship. I have by vice-royalties or embassies 
got rid of all those noblemen , who , by their 
personal merit , might have acquired some 
portion of my sovereign's favour , which I 
was resolveil entirely to possess : so that I 
may now safely Sijy , no great man takes 
umbrage at my cT'?dil. Thou seest , Gil Bias , ,, 
added he , *' that I disclose my heart to thee. 
As I have reason to think thee entirely de- 



( '85) 
voted to me , I have chosen thee for my con^ 
fident. Thou dost doI want understanding g 
art , I believe , modest , prudent , and dis- 
cret : in a word , thou seemest proper for 
executing twenty sorts of commissions , which 
require a young man of extensive understan- 
ding , who is at the same time in my in- 
terest. ,, 

I was not proof against the flattering ima« 
ges which these words raised in my imagi- 
nation. Some vapours of avarice and amhi- 
tion mounted into my brain , and awakened 
in me those sentiments over which I thought 
I had gained a compleat trium[»h. I protested 
to the minister , that I would answer his in« 
tentions with all my power ; and keep my- 
self ready to execute , without scruple , all 
the commissions with which he should think 
proper to entrust me. 

While I was thus disposed to raise nevr 
altars to Fortune , Scipio , returning from hit 
journey , said , « I have not a tedious narra- 
tion to make. The Lords of Leyva were char- 
med when I told them the reception you met 
with from the king , when he knew you , 
and with the behaviour of the Count d'Oli- 
varez. » 

Here I interrupted Scipio , saying , « You 
would have given them still more pleasure , 
my friend , could you have told them on what 
footing I am now with his grace. The rapidity 
of the progress which I have made in his e^-^ 



( i86) 
eelleocy's heart since thy departure is altoge- 
ther prodigious. )» « God be praised , my dear 
master ! „ answered he ; « I foresee that a 
splendid destiny awaits us. » « Let us -wave 
this subject , „ said I , ** and talk ofOviedo. 
Thou hdst been at the Asturias ; in what con« 
dition didst thou leave my mother I 9^ ** Ah , 
Sir I „ he replied , assuming all of a sudden a 
melancholy look , <' I have nothing but afflic- 
ting news for you from that quarter. 99 *^ O 
Heaven I „ cried I, ^< my mother is certainly 
dead. „ ^* Six months ag« , „ said my secre- 
tary , ** the good lady paid the tribute of na- 
ture y as well as your uncle Signior Gil Perez. ,9 
* I was deeply affected with my mother's 
death , although in my infancy I had never 
received from her those caresses which arto 
necessary to make children grateful in the se- 
quel. Ilikewise paid those tears which I owed 
tJD the good canon , for the care he had taken 
#f my eductition. My grief , indeed » did not 
last Icmg , but soon mellowed into a tender 
remembrance , which I have always preser- 
ved of ipy parents. 



':ii 



( '87 ) 
CHAP. IX. 

How and to whom the Count'Duke married 
his onljr Daughter , with the bitter Fruits 
which that Marriage produced* 

C^ooN after the return ofCoscoUna's son , th« 
CoMnt-duLe fell ii^to a profound reverie « ia 
ivbich he remaUiied for the space of eight 
yvhole days. 1 imagined that he was medita* 
Ung somie great stroke of politics ; but thd 
llibject of his musing reg/irded his own family 
only. ** Gil Bias , „ said he to me one af^er-* 
9boon f '* thou must have perceived that I am 
It good deal perplexed in my mind. Yes, my 
child , I am wholly engrossed by an affain 
upon which the repose of my life de{>ends | 
and I will impart the secret ta thee. 
. ** Donna Maria , my daughter , ,, conti* 
tilled he , *< is now mflrriageable , and her 
heart is disputed by a great number of noble* 
men. The Count dc Niebles , eldest son of 
die Duke d/s Medina Sidonia , chief of the fa« 
mily of Guzman i and Don Lewis de Haro , 
eldest son of the Marquis de Carpio and my 
own sister; are the two candidates who seem 
best intitled to the preference ; especially th« 
last 9 who possesses merit so much superior 
to that of his rivals , that all the court per* 
suade themselves I shall make choice of him 
for my son*ia-law» Nevertheless » without 



(t88) 

entering into the reasons which t have to eir^* 
elude him , as well as the Count de Niebles , 
I will tell thee , that I have ca:>t my eyes on 
Don Hamires Nunnez de Guzman , Marquis 
de Toral , and chief of the family of Guzmaa 
d'Abrados : to this young nobleman , and the 
children vvhi< h he ahall have by my daughter, 
I intend to leave my whole estate annexed to 
the title of Count d'Olivprez , to which I will 
join the quality of grandee ; so that my grand- 
children and their descendants , proceeding 
from the branch d'Abrados and that of Oli- 
varez , will pass for the el .'est of the Gasman 
family. 

« Wei , Santillane , 9 added he , « dost thoa 
not approve of my design t 9 <^ Pardon me , 
Sir , » answered I ; « the prospect is worthy 
of the genius' that formed it : I am only afraid 
that the duke de Medina Sidonia will murmur 
at it. „ ^* Let him murmur , if he pleases , ,, 
resumed the minister ; '^ I shall give myself 
very little trouble about that. 1 don't love his 
branch , which hath usurped the birth-right 
and titles thereunto attached over the house 
of Abrados. I shall mind his complaints less 
than the chagrin of my sibter the Marchioness 
de Carpio , in seeing her son disappointed ia 
his expectation of my daughter. But , after all , 
I intend to please myself, and it is already 
decided that Don Ramires shall prevail over 
all his rivals. ^, 

The Count- duke , having taken this resolu- 




(i89) 
tion , gave n new mark of his singular policy ^"^ 
in putting it in practice. He presented a peti- 
tion to the king , begging that he and the 
queen would be pleased to bestow his daugh- 
ter in marriage , describing the characters of 
the noblemen who were in pursuit of her , 
and leaving the choice entirely to their IVla- 
jesties ; but he did not fail , in speukin|^f the 
Marquis de Toral , to shew that 
most agreeable of them all. Whei 
King, who had a blind complaisant 
minister y returned this answer — 

« I BELIEVE Don Ramires Nunnejj wor- 
thy of your daughter Donna Maria ; noverthe** 
less , take your own choice. The match which 
will suit you best , will be the most agreea- 
ble to m<r. *' The King. „ 

The minister affected to shew this answer | 
end pretending to look upon it as his prince's 
order, made haste to marry his daughter to 
the Marquis de Toral » an event which very 
much displeased the Marchioness de Garpio 9 
as well as the Guzmans , who had flattered 
themselves with the hope of espousing Donna 
Maria. Nevertheless , as they could not hinder 
the iparriage , they affected to celebrate it 
with great demonstrations of joy* One would 
have thought that the whole family were 
charmed with the occasion i but ihe ntffl'ton^ 
tents were soon reven($ed f in e mtfifMer ter^ 
Ifif lancholy ior the Couni'dttke' Pimm M«^ 




( '90 > 
in t^o moitths brought fort a daugliter , wfaicK 
died iu the birth , and , in a few days after , 
leil herdeH a victim to death. Wha^a loss was 
this for a father , who, to use the expression y 
had no eyes but for his daughter j and whd 
saw , in this event , the miscarriage of his 
design , of taking the right of eldership from 
the branch of Medina Sidonia 1 He was so 
sittflHkted , that , for some days , he shut 
bii^^Hfc, and would see nobody but me| 
whoy^onforming myself to his immediats 
grief, seemed as much afflicted as he. To tell 
the truth , I made use of this occasion to shed 
fresh tears to the memory of Antonia. Tb^ 
resemblance which her death had to that of 
the Marchioness de Toral , burst open agaia 
the wound which was but imperfectly cured , 
and renewed my affliction so much , that the 
minister , overwhelmed as he was with his 
own sorrow , could not help being struck 
with mine. He was astonished to see me entef 
so warmly into his chagrin. ** Gil Bias , „ 
said he , one day , perceiving me plonged in 
the most melancholy sadness, ** It is a sweet 
consolation for me to have such a sympathi- 
sing confident ! „ '* Ah , my lord, „ answered 
I , giving to him all the honor of my afldic- 
tion , " I must be very ungrateful and hard- 
liearted, indeed if I did not sincerely sympathi:^ 
with your grace. How can I consider that 
you mourn the loss of a daughter of accompli- 
shed merit , whom you tenderly loved , wit- 



( '9' ) 

hout mingling my tears with your*s I No , my 
lord , I am so sensible of your goodness , that^ 
as long as I live , I shall always share in your 
pain as well as pleasure. „ 

CHAP. X, 

Gil Bias , bx Accident , meets the Poet Num^ 
ne2 , who tells him that he has composed m 
Tragedy , which is immediatelj- to d9 
represented on the Prince's Theatre. The 
bad Success of that Piece , with the sur* 
prising good Luck which attended its 
Fall. 

X HE minister began to be consoled , and I 
of consequence to resume my good humour, 
Yvhen one evening I went out alone to takie 
the air in my coach , and met in my way the 
Asturian poet , whom I had not seen sincift he 
quitted the hospital. He being very well dres- 
sed , I took him into the coach , and w« 
drove together to St. Jerome's Meadow* 

^* Mr. Nunnez , ,, said I to him , *< I think 
myself very lucky in having met you by 
chance , otherwise I should not have had the 
pleasure ,, «•- ^' No reproaches , Santillane , ,, 
said he , with precipitation. <* I sincerely owh 
that I had uo intention to visit thee , and tliou 
shalt hear the reason. Tou promised me a 
good post , provided I should abjure poetry j 
and I hate found a very subilanliiL^M on 





( 19^ ) 
condition that I make verse. I have accepted 
this last y as most suitable to my humour. A 
frieud of mine has introduced me into the fa- 
mi\y of Don Bertrand Gomez de Ribero , trea- 
surer of the king's galiies* This Don Bertrand, 
who wants to have a wit in his pay, finding 
my versification very brilliant , has chosen 
me , preferably to five or six authors , who 
offered themselves candidates for the employ- 
ment of his private secretary. „ 

** I am very glad to hear it , my dear Fa- 
bricio , „ said I ; ^^ for that Don Bertrand is, 
in all appearance , very rich. „ ** Rich ! „ 
answered he, '^ they say he has such immense 
wealth , that he cannot count it. Bo that as 
it will , my office is this , as he piques himself 
upon being gallant , and would pass for a 
man of genius , he keeps a litterary corres- 
pondence with several very sprightly ladies , 
and I lend him my pen to compose billets fil- 
led with wit and humour. I write for him , 
in verse to one , in prose to another $ and 
sometimes in person carry the letters , to shew 
the multiplicity of my talents. „ 

*' But thou hast not told me , „ said I , 
** what I chiefly desire to know > art thou 
well paid for thy epistolary epigrams I „ 
*< Very largely , „ he Teplied. " Rich peopl^ 
are not always generous , and I know some 
of them who are mere scrubs ; but Don Ber- 
trand uses me very nobly. Over and above 
two hundred pistoles of fixed wages , J 

frequently 



( '95 ) 
frequently receive from him smaH gratifica- 
tions , which put me iu a condition to act the 
gentleman , and pass my time agreeably with 
some authors , who, like me, are enemies ta 
care. „ "But, „ I resumed , " has thy trea- 
surer taste enough to relish the beauties of a 
work of genius , and to perceive its faults I ,| 
*^ Not at all , „ answered Nunnez : " though 
he can talk speciously , he is by no means a 
connoiseur. He gives himself out , however ^ 
for a profound critic, decides boldly, and sup- 
ports his opinion with such loudness and obs- 
tinacy 9 that generally, when he disputes , his 
antagonist is obliged to yield, in order to avoid 
the shower of ill language with which he is 
wont to overwhelm his opponents. 

•* Thou mayest well perceive , „ pursued 
he, ^* that I am very cautious of contradicting 
him , whatever cause he gives me for so doing ; 
for, besides te disagreeable epithets which I 
should certainly bring upon myself , I might 
possibly be turned out of doors. I , therefore , 
prudently applaud what he praises , and disap- 
prove of every thing which he condemns. By 
this complaisance , wfiich costs me nothing , 
because I possess the art of accommodating 
myself to the characters of those , who can 
befriend m», I have gained the friendship 
and esteem of my patron. He has engaged me 
to compose a tragedy , on a subject w liich he 
suggested. I have accordiagly finished it under 
Vol. IV. ' ■- A^.-^. I 




( 194 ) 

his eye ; and , if it succeeds, I shall owe one 
part of my glory to his good advice. „ 

I asked the title of his tragedy , and he told 
me it was called , the Count de Saldagne ; in- 
forming me , at the same time , that it would 
be presented in three days at the Prince's 
Theatre. " I wish , „ answered I , •• that it 
may have a great run ; and I have such a 
good opinion of thy genius as to hope it will. ,, 
** I hope so too , „ said he ; *^ but there is no 
dependence upon such hope , so uncertain are 
authors of the event of a dramatic piece. ,, 
At length the first day of its representation 
arrived : and as I could not go to the play , 
being hindered by a commission I had to per- 
form for his grace , all that I could do was 
to send Scipio thither , that I might at least 
know 9 that very evening , the success of a 
performance in which I interested myself. Af- 
ter having waited with impatience. I saw 
him return with a look from which I con- 
ceived a bad omen. ^* Well , „ said I , ** how 
hath the Count de Saldagne been received by , 
the public I „ " Very brutally , „ answered 
he ; ** never was a piece more barbarously 
used. I came away incensed at the insolence 
of the pit. „ " And I , „ said I , ** am incen- 
sed at the fury of Nunuez , in composing 
plays. Must he not have lost his judgment en- 
tirely , to prefer the ignominious shouts and 
hisses of aa audience , to the happy lot which 




( '95 ) 
I CQuld have procured for him f ,, Thus 
through friendship did I inveigh against the 
Asturian poet, and afflicted myself at the 
misfortune of his piece , vvhile ho exulted ia 
the event. 

Two days after , he actually cdme to my 
house in a transport of joy. ** Saiitiilane , ,, 
cried he , *M am come to share with thee the 
extreme pleasure which I feel I In composing 
a bad play , my friend , I have made my for- 
tune. Thou knowest the strange receptioa 
which the Count de Saldagne met with » all 
the spectators exclaimed against him as if for 
a wager , and to that general exclamation I 
owe my good fortune. ,, 

Astonished to hear the poet Nunnez talk 
in that manner , ** How Fabricio 1 „ said I , 
*^ is it possible that the fall of thy tragedy 
can justify thy immoderate joy ?,, — •* Yes^ 
sure , „ answered he. ^^ I told thee before , 
tliat Don Bcrtrand had inserted some of his 
own composition in my piece , which , of 
consequence , he thought excellent. He was 
violently piqued to find the spectators of a 
different opinion , and this morning said to 
me „— •* Nunnez, F'ictrix causa diis pla^ 
cuitf sed viciaj Catoni: if the public is display- 
with thy production , in recompence , it 
pleases me , and that is enough. To console 
thee for the bad taste of the age , I will give 
thee two thousand crowns a-year on my es- 
tate : let us go instantly to my notary , and 

I 2 




('96) 
have the deed drawn. „"We went thither ac- 
cordingly ; the treasurer has signed the deed ^ 
and paid me the first year in advance. ,, 

I congratulated Fabricio on the happy fate 
of the Count de Saldagne , since it had turned 
out so much to the author's advantage. ** Thou 
ikiast reason , ,, continued he , ^* to compli<- 
ment me on the occasion i how happy am I 
in having been soundly hissed 1 If the public 
liad been kind enough to honour me with 
applause , what service should I have recei- 
ved from it t Nothing of consequence ; I 
should have got but a very moderate sum for 
my labours , whereas its hisses have all of 
a sudden made me easy for life. ,,, 

CHAP. XI, 

iantillane obtains an Employment for Sci' 
pio , who departs for Nev(^ Spain. 

jyiY secretary could not without envy look 
Dpon the unexpected good fortune of the poet 
Nunnez , which was the sole object of his dis- 
course during eight whole days. ^* I admire , ,, 
said he , *' the caprice of Fortune , that so- 
metimes delights in loading a detestable au- 
thor with wealth , while she leaves men of 
*genius in misery : I wish she would take it 
in her head to enrich me also in the space 
of one night. ^, •♦ That may very well hap- 
peq , ,1 said I , ^^ and much sooner than yQ^ 

a 



( '97 ) 
tmaginok Thou art here in her temple j tor I 

think we may call the. prime-minister's house 
the temple of Fortune , where favours are of- 
ten bestowed , which all of a sudden enrich 
those who obtain them. ,, *^ That is true , 
Sir , ,, answered he i " but they must bo wai- 
ted for with patience. ,, *' Once more , Sci- 
pio , ,, said I , make yourself easy > perhaps 
you are on the point of having some good 
post. A few days after , an opportunity ac- 
tually offered of employing him advantageously 
in the service of the Count-duke , and 1 did 
not let it escape. 

Discoursing one morning with Don Bay-p 
mond Cnporis , steward of the prime minis- 
ter , our conversation turned upon his excel- 
lency's revenues. " His grace, ,, said he, « en- 
joys the commanderies of all the military 
orders , which are worth forty thousand 
crowns per annum , and he is obliged to 
wear the cross of Alcantara only. Besides » 
his three post of great chamberlain , master of 
the horse , and grand chancellor of the Indies , 
bring in two hundred thousand more ; and all 
that is nothing in comparison to the immense 
sums which he draws from Americiu 1 will 
tell you how : when the king's ships set 
sail from Seville or Lisbon for that country ^ 
he embarks on board of them wine , oil , 
and corn , which his estate of Olivarez «f. 
fords , and he pays no duty. He sells thoM 
commodities in the Indies for four timti ihf 

I 3 



I 



( 198 ) 

price they would yield in Spain , then em- 
ploys the moDey in purchasing spices, co- 
lours, and other things , which are bought 
for nlmost nothing in that new world , and 
afterwards are sold at a high rate in Europe. 
He has already got many millions by this traf- 
fic , without doing the. least prejudice to the 
king. What will not surprize you , „ conti- 
nued he , *< the people employed in transac- 
ting this commerce always return enriched , 
the count allowing them to take care of their 
^own fortune while they manage his.,, 

Coscolina's son , who listened to our dis- 
course , could not hear Don Raymond talk 
thus without interrupting him. *^ Zooks 1 
Signior Caporis , I should be glad to be one 
of these people , for I have long wished to 
see Mexico. „ ** Your curiosity can soon be 
satisfied , „ said the steward to him , ** if 
Signior de Santillane has no objection to your 
desire. Though I am very nice in the choice 
of those whom I send to the Indies on this 
employment » ( for I chuse them all , ) I will , 
without hesitation , insert you in my regis- 
ter , if your master desires it. „ *' You will 
oblige me in so doing , , said I to Don Ray- 
mond ; ** pray give me that mark of ypur- 
friendship. Scipio is a young man v>^honi 
I love i besides , he has a great deal of under- 
standing , and will behave in an irreproacha- 
ble manner. In a word , I can answer for 
him as for myself. „ 



^ 



( '99) 

** If that be the case , „ resumed Capo- 
ns , *' let him repair immediately to Seville ; 
tlie ships will sail for the Indies in a month* 
He shall have a letter from me at his depar- 
ture , for a man who will give him all ne- 
cessary instructions to enrich himself , without 
prejudicing the interest <4^ his excellency , 
which must ever be looked upon as sacred. » 

Scipio 9 charmed with this employment , 
made haste to set out for Seville , with a 
thousand crowns which I gave him to buy 
wine and oil in Andalusia , and put him in 
a. condition to trade in the Indies on his own 
botton. Nevertheless , glad as he was to make 
a voyage , by which he hoped to profit so 
much , he could , not leave me without shed- 
ding tears , and I could not behold his de- 
pai'ture with indifference. 

CHAP. XII. 

Don Alphonso de Lejrva comes to Madrid ; 
the Motive of his Journey » Gil Bias is 
abided at the Cause , but rejoices at the 
Consequence of it, 

Gipio was scarce gone , when a page belon- 
ging to the minister brought to me a billet ^ 
containing these words— ^* If Signior de San- 
tillane will give himself the trouble to call at 
St. Gabriel's Head ^ in Toledo Street , he will 
there see one of his best friends. ,, ** Who 

14^ 



s 



( 200 ) 

«an this anonymous friend be f ,, said I t« 
myself : ** Why does he conceal his name I 
He wants , I suppose , to give me the plea- 
sure of surprise. » I went out immediatelj 
to Toledo Street , and going to the appoin- 
ted place , was not a little astonished to sea 
Don Alphonso de#eyva. « Are you here , my 
lord 1 )> — « Yes , my dear Gil Bias , » ans- 
wered he , hugging me in his arms i it is Don 
Alphonso himself whom you see. )► « What 
brings you to Madrid t „ said I. " I will both 
surprise and afflict you, ^ he replied, 4cin tel- 
ling you the cause of my journey. I am de- 
prived of the government of Valencia ; and 
the prime-minister has ordered me to court , 
to give an account of my conduct. » I remai- 
ned a whole quarter of an hour mute and 
thunderstruck ; then recovering myself , asked 
what he was accused of. « I know nothing 
of the matter , » answered he ; « but impute 
my disgrace to a visit which I made about 
three weeks ago to the Cardinal Duke of 
Lerma , who has been a month confined to 
his castle of Denia. » 

« Oh I truly , » said I , interrupting him , 
•* you have reason to attribute your misfor- 
tune to that indiscreet visit ; you need not 
seek for the cause of it any where else ; and 
give me leave to say , you did not consult 
your usual prudence , when you went to visit 
the disgraced minister. „ ** The error is now 
committed , „ said he i *^ and I have takea 



( 201 ) 

my resolution with a good grace. I will retire 
with my family to the castle of Leyva , where 
I will spend ^he rest of my days in profound 
peace. All that gives me concern is , my being 
obliged to appear before a haughty minister , 
who may possibly treat me uncivilly ; a suffi- 
cient mortification to a Spaniard ! Neverthe- 
less , it must be borne : but , before I would 
make this submission , I was willing to speak 
with you. „ 

" My lord, „ said I , ** don't present your- 
self before the minister until I know what 
you are accused of ; perhaps the evil is not 
without remedy. Be that as it will , you must 
allow me , if you please, to exert myself in 
your favour as much as gratitude and friend- 
ship require. „ So saying , I left him at Iho 
inn , assuring him that he should hear fron^ 
me soon. 

As I had not meddled in state-affairs since 
the two memorials , of which eloquent men* 
tion has been made , I went to Carnero , and 
asked if it was true that the government of 
Valencia had been taken from Don Alphonso 
de Leyva. He answered in the afKirraative , 
but said he was ignorant of the cause. Upon 
this I formed a resolution , without hesitation, 
to address myself to his grace , that I might 
learn from his own mouth what cause he had 
to complain of Don Caesar's son. 

I was so much penetrated with this trou^^ 
blesome event , that I had no occasion to 

I 5 



( 202 ) 

afTect a melancholy look to appear afflicted 
in the eyes of the Count-duke, ** What is the 
matter , Santillane I ,, said he /as soon as he 
saw me; *' I perceive an impression of sorroyr 
on thy countenance , and even the tears ready 
to drop h'om thine eyes ; has any body inju- 
red thee I Speak , and thou shalt be revenged.,, 
** My lord , „ answered I , weeping , **I could 
not conceal my sorrows from you if I would. 
I am quite in despair , being told that Don 
Alphonso de Leyva is no longer governor of 
Valencia ; for I could not hav'e heard a piece 
of news that would affect me more. „ *• What 
sayest thou , Gil Bias I », replied the minister, 
astonished ; *' what concerns canst thou have 
with that Don Alphonso and his governmentf „ 
I then gave him a detail of all the obligations 
•I lay under to the Lords of Leyva : and after- 
wards recounted in what manner 1 had ob- 
tained from the Duke of Lerma the govern- 
ment in question for Don Caesar's son. «,, 

When his excellency had heard me to an 
end, with an attention full of kindness forme, 
Jbe said , « Dry up thy tears , my friend. I not 
only was ignorant of what thou hast told me , 
but own also that I looked upon Don Al- 
phonso as a creature of the Cardinal of Ler- 
ma. Put thyself in my place ; would not the 
visit which he made to his eminence make 
thee suspect him I 1 am v\'illing to believe , ho- 
wever, that having received his employment 
from the Cardinal , he took that step out of 




'*^ 



(205 ) 

pure gratitude. I am sorry for having displa- 
ced a man who owed his post to thee : but if 
I have destroyed thy work , I can repair ii. l 
will even do more for thee than the Duke of 
Lerma did : thy friend Don Alphonso was no 
more than governor of the city of Valencia , 
and I will make him viceroy of the king- 
dom of Arragon. Thou mayest go and inform 
him of this piece of news , and desire him to 
come and take the oaths. » 

When I heard these words , I passed from 
the extremity of grief to an excess of joy , 
which disturbed my intellects so much , that 
my disorder appeared in the compliment of 
thanks which I made to his grace , who was 
not, however, displeased at my confusion. 
But when I told him that Don Alphonso was 
already at Madrid , he said I might introduce 
him that very day. I ran immediately to the 
St. Gabriel , where Don Caesar's son was 
overjoyed to hear of his new employment ; 
be could scarce believe what I said , so im- 
probable did it seem to him , that the minis- 
ter , whatever friendship he had for me, was 
capable of bestowing vice-royalties on my re- 
commendation. I conducted him to the 
Count-duke , who receivedhim very politely; 
and told him , he had behaved so well in his 
government of the city of Valencia , that the 
King , thinking him qualified to fill a higher 
place , had nam ed him to the vice-royalty of 
Arragon. « Besides , i^ added he , ** that dignity 

16 



( 204 ) 

is not above your birth > and the nobility of 
Arragoii cannot murmor at the choice of the 
court. » 

His excellency made no mention of me, 
and the public never knew the part which I 
acted in this affair : a circumstance that sa- 
ved Don Alphonso and the minister a great 
many satirical remarks , that people might 
have passed upon a Viceroy of my making. 

As soon as Don Ceesar's son was certain of 
the place, he dispatched an express to Valen- 
cia to inform his father and Seraphina of his 
good fortune , and they soon came to Madrid : 
their first care was to find me, and overwhelm 
me with thanks. AVhat a moving and glorious 
fight was it forme, to see myself embraced 
with eagerness by the three persons in the 
world whom I loved most ! As sensible of my 
zeal and affection as the honour which the 
post of viceroy did to their family, their ex- 
pressions of gratitude to me were infinite : 
they even spoke to me as to one of their own 
rank ; they seeme<i to have forgot that I was 
their servant ; and thought they could never 
enough manifest their friendship. To suppress 
useless circumstances, Don Alphonso having 
received his letters patent , thanked the King 
and his minister , hand having taken the usual 
oaths , set out with his family for Madrid , to 
go and fix his abode at Saragossa , where he 
made his entrance with aII possible magnifi- 
cence i and the Arragonians shewed by their 



( io5 ) 
acclamations , that they \yere very well plea* 
sed with the Viceroy whom I had set over 
them. 

CHAP. XIII. 

Gil Bias meets Don Gaston de Cogqllos , 
and Don Andrea de Tordesillas , at the 
Palace* The Conclusion of the Story of 
Don Gaston and Donna Helena de GaliS" 
teo. Santillane doesa great Piece ofSer* 
vice to Tordesillas* 

1 SWIM in joy for having so luckily changed 
a di:}placed Governor into a Viceroy : evea 
the Lords oiLeyva were less pleased at it than 
I was. I soon had another opportunity of cm- 
ploying my credit for a friend; which I think 
I should relate , to pei'suade the reader that I 
was no longer the same Gil Bias who sold 
the favours of the court under the preceding 
ministry. 

Being one day in the King's anti-chamber, 
discoursing with noblemen, who, knowing 
my situation with the prime- minister, did not 
disdain my conversation ; I perceived in the 
crowd Don Gaston de Cogollos , that state- 
prisonner whom I had left in the tower of Se- 
govia , and the keeper Don Andrea de Tor- 
desillas along with him. I immediately quit- 
ted my company ,. to go and embrace thesa 
two trieuds , whom , ii thay wara astoimhad 



( 2o6 ) 

to see me there , I was still more so to meet 
in that place. After some warm hugs on both 
sides , Don Gaston said to me— « Signior de 
Santillane , we have a world of questions to 
ask mutually, and this is not a convenient 
place for that purpose; allow me to conduct you 
to A house where Signior de Tordesillas ^nilJ^ 
will be glad to have a long conversation with 
you. » I consented to this proposal : we squee- 
zed through the crowd , and going out of the 
palace , found Don Gaston's coach waiting for 
us iu the street : we went into it all three , and 
were driven to the great market-place where 
the bull fights are performed , and there Co- 
gollos lived in a very handsome house. « Sig- 
nior Gil Bias, )». said Don Andrea , when we 
were set in a hall magnificently furnished j 
« at your departure from Segovia , you seemed 
to hate the court , and to be resolved to remo- 
ve from it for ever. » « That was actually my 
design , 9 answered I ; « and so long as the 
late king lived , I did not change my senti- 
ments ; but when I understood that the prince 
his son was on the throne, I was willing to 
see if the new monarch would know me 
again : he did recollect me , and I had the 
good fortune to be favorably received : he him- 
self recommended me to the prime-minister , 
who has conceived a friendship for me , and 
with whom I am in still greater favour than 
ever I was with the Duke of Lerma. This , 
Signior Don Andrea , is what I had to tell 




^•v 



( 207 ) • 

you. Now , pray , let me know if you are 
still keeper of the tower of Segovia. » « No , 
indeed , » he replied } « the Count-duke has 
put another in my place ; in all prohability 
believing me wholly devoted to his predeces- 
sor. » « And as for me , » said Don Gaston , 
« I was set at liberty for a qtfite contrary rea- 
son. The prime-miuister no sooner learned 
that I was imprisoned at Segovia by theDuko 
of Lerma's order , than he ordered me to be 
discharged. It now remains, Signior Gil Bias, 
to inform you of what has happened to me 
since I have been enlarged. 

" The first thing I did, „ continued he, "af- 
ter having thanked Don Andrea for his kind- 
ness to me during my confinement , v^as to re- 
pair to Madrid, and present myself before the 
Count-duke d'Olivarez, who said to me — 
•' Don't be afraid that the misfortune which 
hath happened to you will in the least preju- 
dice your reputation : you are now fully jus- 
tified, and I am the more convinced of your 
innocence, because the Marquis of Villareal , 
whose accomplice you were suspected to be, 
was not guilty : for thou{];h he is a Portuguese , 
and even related to the Duke of Braganza , he 
is not so much in his interests as in those of 
the king my master. Your intimacy with that 
Marquis is therefore no reproach upon you j 
and, in order to repair the injustice which 
you suffered , in being accused of treason , the 
king has bestowed upon you a lieutenancy ia 



( 2o8) 
the Spanisb guards. „ I accepted the commis- 
sion , begging that his excellencjr would alloir 
me , before 1 should enter upon my dutj*, to 
go to Coria, and visit my auut Donna £leo- 
nora de I«axarilla. The minister gave me leave 
for a month > and I set out , accompanied bj 
one lacquey only. We had already passed Col- 
menar , and were engaged in a holloTV road 
between two mountains , when we perceived 
a cavalier defending himself valiantly against 
three men , who attacked him all together. I 
did not hesitate , but rode to hb succour, and 
put myself on his side. I observed , while we 
fought , that our enemies were masked , and 
that we had to do with vigorous swordsmen : 
however , in spite of their strength and skill , 
we remained conquerors ; for I pierced one of 
the three , who fell from his horse , and the 
other two immediately betook themselves to 
flight. The victory , indeed , was not much 
less fatal to us than to the wretch whom I kil- 
led; siuce , after the action, my companion 
and I found ourselves dangerously wounded. 
But you may guess what was my surprize, 
when in this cavalier I recollected Combados, 
the husband of Donna Helena ! He was no 
less astonished when he saw that I was his de- 
fender. *• Ah, Don Gaston I „ cried he, '* was 
it you then who came to my assistance I When 
you so generously espoused my cause , you 
little thought it was that of the man who de- 
prived you of your mistress. „ " I was reallj 




( 209 ) 

Ignorant of it » ,, answered I. ^< But had I 
known ^ou , do ^ou imagine that I should 
have scrupled to do what 1 have done I Ara 
you 50 much mistaken in me as to think me 
so hase I „ ** No 9 no , ,, he replied ; *' I hava 
a better opinion of your virtue ; and if I dia 
of the wounds which I have received , I hopa 
your's will not hinder you from profiting by 
my death. „ ** Combados „ said 1, <* although 
I have not forgot Donna Helena , know , that 
I don't desire to enjoy her at the expence of 
your life. I am even glad of having contribu- 
ted towards saving you from the swords of 
three assassins , since in that I have performed 
an attion agreeable to your wife. ** Whila 
we conversed in this manner , my lacquey 
alighted, and approaching the dead cava* 
lier , took off his mask , and discovered fea- 
tures which Combados immediately knew* 
*^ It is Capara , ,, cried he , ** that perfidious 
cousin , who , jout of spile , for having been 
disappoiiiied of a rich estate which he un- 
justly disputed with me , has a long time che- 
rished the desire of murdering me , and hath 
at length chosen this day to put it in execu- 
tion ; but Heaven hath permitted him to fall 
a victim to his own design ! „ 

** Mean wile our blood flowed apace , and 
we grew weaker 'and weaker : nevertheless ^ 
wounded as we were , we had strength enough 
to go to the town of Yillarejo , which was 
l>ut two gun-shots from the field of batUt% 




( 212 ) 

some elgreeable friends , with vrbom t liva 
ver^ happily. „ *' I wish I could say as much , „ 
cried Don Andrea ; ** but I am very far from 
being satisfied with my condition : I havo 
lost my post, which was pretty advantageous; 
and I have no friends who have credit enough 
to procure me such another. „ ** Pardon mei 
Sigiiior Don Andrea ^ „ said I smiling , **yoa 
have in me a friend who is good tor soma* 
thing I have alreailiy said that I am still better 
beloved by the Count-duke than ever I was 
by the Duke of Lerma , and you have the 
assurance to tell me to my face , that you hare 
not a friend w^ho can procure a post for yoo* 
Have I not once before done you such a pieco 
of service f Remember that , by the interest 
of the Archbishop of Granada , I was the 
occasion of your being named to exercise an 
employment at Mexico , where you would 
have made your fortune , if love had not de- 
tained you in the city of Alicant ; and I am 
at present more capable of serving you , ha- 
ving the ear of the Prime-minister. „ '* I trust 
wholly to you , then , „ replied Tordesillas. 
** But ,* „ added he , smilting , in his turn , 
** pray don't sejid me to New Spain : 1 will 
not go thither if I was to be made Chief 
Judge of Mexico. ,, 

We were interrupted in this part of our 
conversation by Donna Helena , who came 
into the hal4, and whose amiable person equal- 
led the charming idea yvbich I had formed of 



(ai5) 
hor beauty. ^' Madam , „ said Cogollos to her, 
'^ this is Sigiiior de Santillane , of whom you 
have heard me speak , aud whose agreeable 
company hath often suspended my sorrows 
while I was in prison. » « Yes , Madam p » 
•aid I to Donna Helena , ^* my conversation 
pleased him , because you was always the 
subject of it. V Don George's daughter made a 
modest reply to my compliment » after whith 
I took my leave of this couple , protesting 
that I w^s ravished to find their long passion 
was at length crowned by a happy marriage. 
Then , addressing myself to Tordesillns , I « 
desired him to give me his direction , which , 
when I received — " Without bidding you 
adieu , Don Andrea , ,, said 1 9 '* I hope in 
less than eight days you will s^o that 1 have 
power as well as friendship. „ My words 
were soon verified : the very next day , the 
Count-duke furnished me with an occasion to 
oblige the keeper. ** Santillane, „ said his 
excellency , ** the place of governor of the 
royal prison at Valladolid is vacant j it brings 
in more than three hundred pisjtoles per an- 
num , aud I am resolved to bestow it upon 
thee. ,,-«-'' I would nojt have it , my lord , » 
answered I , *^ were it worth ten thousand 
ducats yearly. I renounce all posts that I 
cannot enjoy without removing from your 
gracfe. ,, — *' But , )» resumed the minister , 
*^ thou mayest very well enjoy this , without 
hcing obliged to leave Madrid , except tp gd 



( 3i4 ) 

sometimes to Valladolid to visit the pri- 
son. „ — *' You may say what you please,* 
I replied , « I will not accept of that emploj- 
meut , but on conditioa that I shall be al- 
lowed to resign it in favour of a brave gent- 
leman , called Don Andrea de Tordesillas , 
formerly keeper of the tower of Segovia. I 
should love to make him that present , as ao 
acknowledgment for the kind treatment 1 re- 
ceived from him during my confiaemebt. f 

The minister , laughing at this discourse, 
said — - « I see , Gil Bias , thou hast a miod 
to make a Governor of a ro jal prison « as 
thou hast made a Viceroy. Well , be it so , 
my friend ; 1 give to. thee this vacant place 
for Tordesillas. But tell me freely- what ad- 
vantage thoii wilt reap from it ; for I don't 
believe thee fool enough to employ thy credit 
for nothing. t> « My lord , » answered I , 
« ought not a man to pay his debts I Don 
Andrea , in the most disinterested manner, 
did me all the service he could : ought not I 
to requite his generosity. 9 « You are beco- 
ming very disinterested , Mr. Santillane , ,• 
said his excellency : *' I think you yyere not so 
much so under the last minister ! )^ « I own it, „ 
said I > '^ my morals were corrupted by bad 
example : as every thing then was put to sale, 
I conformed myself to the fashion ; and as 
every thing is now given away , I have re' 
sumed my integrity. „ 

I procured , then , the governmem of th« 



royal prison of Valladolid for Don Andrea ; 
whom , in a little time , I sent to that city , 
as well satisfied with his new settlement , as 
I was with the oportuuity of acquitting my- 
self of the ohligation I owed him. 

CHAP. XIV. 

Santillane visits the Poet Nunnez. An ac* 
count of the Persons whom he found , the 
Discourse which he heard at his Lodgings, 

V^NG afternoon I was seized with an incli-* 
nation of visiting the Asturian poet , being 
curiousHo know how he was lodged. I wetit 
accordingly to the house of Signior Don Ber- 
trand Gomez de Ribero , and asking for 
Nunnez , « He does not live here , « said the 
porter ; « but lodges there at present , having 
hired the back-side of that house. i> So saying , 
he pointed to a house in the neigbourhood ; 
whither I went ; and after having crossed a 
small court , entered into a naked hall , wher^ 
I found my friend Fabricio still at table , with 
five or six of his companions , whom he trea- 
ted that day. 

They had almost dined , and consequently 
vvere in a trim for disputing ; but as soon as 
they perceived me , their noisy discourse sub- 
sided into profound silence. Nunnez got up 
with great eagerness to receive me , crying » 
*< Geailemea ,. thb is Siguior de Saatillaae , 



ft 



tvhg is so good as to honour me with a visit; 
pray join me in paying your respects to tbe 
favuurite of the Prime-miuister. „ At thess 
words all tbeguests got up to salute me ; and| 
in favour of the title which I had received , 
treated me with great civility and respect. Al- 
though I was neither hungry nor thirsty , I 
could not excuse myseU from sitting down at 
table with them ; and was even obliged to 
honour the toast which they had proposed. 
As I imagined that my presence was a 
check upon their conversation — *' Gentle- 
men , ,) said 1 9 *^ I have interrupted your dis- 
course : pray resume it , or I will be gone. „ 
*^ These gentlemen , „ said Fabricio^** were 
talking of the Iphigenia of £uripiaes. The 
Bachelor Melchior de Yillegas , who is a cri- 
tic of the first order , was asking of Signior 
Don Jacinto de Bumarata , what was the most 
interesting circumstance of that tragedy. „ 
*' Yes , ,, said Don Jacinto ; '* and I answe- 
red 9 that it was the danger of Iphigenia. ,, 
*< And I , „said the Bachelor ," replied , (and 
I am ready to demmistrate my assertion » ) 
that the danger is not the most interesting 
part of the subject. „ ** What is then I „ 
cried the old Licentiate Gabriel de Leon. 
** It is the wind , „ said the Bachelor. 

The whole fcompany burst out into laugh- 
ter at this repartee , which I cpuld not believe 
serious. I thought that Melchior pronounced 
U with a view of euliveniug th^ conversa- 
tion | 



(217 ) 

tidn ; but I did not know this virtuoso , who 
was a man that did not at all understand rail- 
lery. <* Laugh as much as you please , gentle- 
men , ,y replied he drii^ ; '* I maintain that 
the wind alone ought to interest , surprise , 
and move the spectator. Figure to yourselves 
a numerous army assembled to go and besiege 
Troy ; conceive all the impatience of the 
chiefs and soldiers to execute that enterprise , 
that they may speedily return into Greece ^ 
where they have left what is most dear to 
them , their wives , children , and houshold 
gods ; in the mean time , a cursed contrary 
wind detains them at Aulis , seems to nait 
them to the port , and , if it does not change , 
they cannot go and besiege the city of Priam. 
It is the vfind , therefore , which constitutes 
the most interesting point of that tragedy. I 
share with the Greeks , I espouse their cause ; 
my whole wish is the departure of the fleet j 
and I see with indifference the danger of Iphi-* 
genia , since her death is the only means of 
obtaining a favourable wind from the gods. ,9 
Yillegas had no sooner done speaking , than 
the laugh was renewed at his expence. Nunnez 
was so mischievous as to support his opinion , 
that he might affort more game to ^he raillers , 
who began to pass a great many jokes upon 
the wind ; but the Bachelor , beholding them 
all with a phlegmatic , haughty look , treated 
them as ignorant and vulgar minds. I expected 
every moment to Mt tlitDi wamij. and t» go 
Vol. IV. . . -*|K- 




( ^20 ) 

discernment. ,) I answered , that I should 
give his grace a good account of that affair ; 
and prepared for my departure with one 
lacquey only., whom I ordered to put off the 
minister's livery , that things might be done 
the more mysteriously ; and this was very 
much to his excellency's taste. I set out then 
for Toledo , where , when I arrived , I alighted 
at an inn near the castle. Scarce had I set my 
foot to the ground , when the landlord , taking 
me , doubtless , for some country gentleman , 
said to me , *< Signior Cavalier, I suppose you 
are come to town to see the august ceremony 
of the Auto da F6 , (*) which is to be per- 
formed to-morrow. „ I answered in the affir- 
mative \ thinking it more prudent to let him 
believe that , than to give him an opportunity 
of questioning me about my coming to To* 
ledo. *' You will see , „ he resumed , ** one of 
the finest processions that ever happened : 
there are , I am told , more than a hundred 
prisoners ; among whom they reckon above 
ten who.are to be burnt. ,, 

Next morning , indeed , before sun-rise , I 
heard all the bells of the city tolling ; and this 
melancholy sound was to advertise the peo- 
ple , that they were going to begin the^wro^/t 
F6» Curious to see this solemnity , I put on my 
cloaths in a hurry, and repaired to the inqui- 
sition. All along the streets through which th» 

\ (») Th« act of Paitb. 



( 22« ) 

procession Was to pass , scaffolds were erec- 
ted , upon one of which I hired a place. In 
a little) time I perceived the Dominicans ^ 
who walked foremost , preceded by the ban- 
ners of the inquisition. These good fathers 
were immediately followed by the wretched 
victims which were to be sacrificed that day 
by the Holy Olfice. These miserable creatures 
walked one after another , with their heads 
and feet bare , each having a wax-taper in his 
hand f and a godfather (^} by his side. Sofne 
had large scapularies of yellow stuff, garni- 
shed with St. Andrew's crosses painted red , 
and called sanbenito ; others wore carochaSf 
which are high paper caps , made in the shape 
of a sugar-loaf, and covered with flames and 
diabolical figures. 

As I looked attentively ut these unfortunate 
people , with a compassion which I took care 
to conceal , that I might not suffer for it , I 
thought I recollected among those who had 
their heads adorned with carochas , the reve- 
rend Father Hilary , and his companion Bro- 
ther Ambrose. They passed so near me , that 
I could not be mistaken. « What do I see 1 ,, 
said I to myselfr « Heaven , wearied with the 
disorderly lives of these wretches , hath deli- 
vered them at last to the justice of the inqui- 
sition I » So saying , I felt myself seized with 

(*) People named hf the inquisition , to accompany the 
prisoners in the Auto da Fi , and obliged to be answerable 
lor tbexnt 

K 3 




( 222 ) 

horror ; I trembled from head to foot ; and my 
spirits were so disordered , that I had almost 
swooned. The connection which I once had 
with these rogues , the adventure of Xelva , in 
short , all the circumstances of my corres- 
pondence with them , presented themselves 
that moment to my fancy ; and 1 thought I 
could never be thankful enough to God for 
having preserved me from the scapulary and 
carochas. 

When the ceremony was ended , I returned 
to the inn , trembling at the dreadful specta-^ 
cle wbich 1 had beheld : but these afflicting 
images which disturbed my imagination dis- 
persed insensibly ; and now my whole study 
watto acquit myself handsomely of the com- 
mission entrusted to my care. I waited impa- 
tiently for play-time , that 1 might go to the 
theatre , judging that to be the most proper 
beginning of my work : and , as soon as the 
hour came , went thither , and sat down by a 
knight of Alcantara j with whom , entering 
into conversation — « Signior, » said I to 
him, '4( may a stranger be so bold as to ask 
you one question ? „ *• Signior Cavalier , „ 
answered he , very politely , " I shall think 
it an honour. „ ** I have heard the actors of 
Toledo , „ I resumed , ** very much extolled ; 
pray , have I been misiufornied ? „ " No , „ 
replied the knight ; " their company is not 
bad; nay , there are great players among 
em. You will see , among others , the fair 



( 225 ) 

Lucretia , an actress of fourteen years of age , 
who will surprise you very much. I shall 
have no occasion to point her out to you; 
when she appears , you will easily distin- 
guish her from the rest. „ I asked if she was 
to play that evening : and he told me she 
ATould i observing , at the sam^ time , that she 
had a very shining part to act in the piece 
which was going to be represented. 

The play began ; and two actresses , who 
had neglected nothing which could contribute 
towards rendering them charming , appeared 
oil the state ; bo^ , in spite of the lustre of 
their diamonds , I took neither the one nor 
the other for her whom I expected. At length 
Lucretia walked forward from the bottom of 
the stage ; and her appearance was saluted by 
a long and general clapping of hands. '* Ah, 
there she is ! „ said I to myself : ** What a 
noble air I what grace I what fine eyes ! O 
the divine creature I ,, I was actualjy very 
well pleased , or rather passionately struck 
with her person. On hearing her recite the 
first couplet, I found she had nature , fire , 
and understanding above her age i and«I Joi- 
ned my applause to that which she willingly 
received from the whole audience , during the 
whole performance. " Well , „ said the 
knight to me , ** you see how Lucreti«r is ca- 
ressed by the public. ,, 'M am not at all sur- 
prised at it , „ answered 1. ** You would be 
less so still > 99 said he , '' if you had heard 

K4 



( 22^4 ) 

her sing. She is a perfect s^rea. Woe he to 
those who listen i Her dancing is no less for- 
midable : her steps , as dangerous as her 
voice , charm the eje , and force the heart to 
yield. „ '< If that be tlie case , „ cried I , ** it 
must be owned she is a prodigy ! What happy 
mortal has the pleasure of ruining himself for 
such an amiable creature ! ^^ 
' « She has no declared lover, » said he; 
4. and even scandal has not as yet involved 
her in any private intrigue. Nevertheless , ^ 
added he , « this may soon be the case; for 
Lucretia is under the conduct of her aunt £s^ 
tella , who is certainly the most expert of all 
the actresses. ^ At the name of Estella • I in- 
terrupted the knight with precipitation , tO' 
ask Hf that Estella was an actress of the To^ 
ledo company. « She is. one of the best of 
them y „ said he. « She has not acted to night , 
and we have suffered by her absence : she 
usually plays the part of the waiting.- woman , 
which she performs to admiration. Her action 
is full of spirit i perhaps too full ; but it is an 
agreeable fault , which ought to be forgiven. » 
The knight told me wonders of this Estella ; 
and , by the picture he drew of her person , I 
never doubted that it was Laura; that same 
Laura of whom I have spoken so much in my 
history , and whom I had left at Granada. 

However, to be more certain still, after the 
play, I went behind the scenes ; and, casting 
my eyes around , found her in the trying- 




\ 



( 225 ) 

room , talking to some gentlemen , who , per- 
haps, regarded her only as the aunt of Lucre- 
tia. I advanced to salute Laura i but , whether 
through whim , or in order to punish me for 
my precipitate departure from Granada , she 
pretended not to know me , and received my 
civiliiies so drily , that I was a little discon- 
certed. Instead of upbraiding her in a laug- 
hing humour for her coM behaviour towards 
me, I was fool enough to be nettled at it : I 
even retired hastily , resolving, in my pas- 
sion , to return next day to Madrid. « To be 
revenged of Laura , >^ said I to myself, ** her 
niece shall not have the honour of appearing 
before the king : for this purpose , I can give 
the minister such a description of Lucretia at 
I please ; I have no more to do , but to tell 
him that she dances with a bad grace , that 
she has a squeaking voice ; and , in short , 
that her charms consist in her yout only. I am 
sure that his excellency , after that, will have 
no inclination to bring her to court. „ 

Such was the vengeance I meditated against 
Laura for he behaviour to me ; but my resent- 
ment did not last long. Next day , just as I 
was about to depart 9 a page entered my 
chamber , and said — ** Here is a letter for 
Signior de Santillane. „•— ** 1 am the person , 
my child, ,, answered I, taking the letter , 
which contained these words. 

t^ FOIVGET the manner in which you wa9 

K 5 




x^^ 



( 226 ) 

received last night in the trying-room , and 
be so good as to follow the bearer. ,, 

I immediately took the page for my con* 
ductor 9 who , when we were near the play- 
house , introduced me into a very hand some 
house y where I found Laura at her toilette , 
ill a very genteel apartment. 

She got up to embrace me , saying—** Sig- 
nior Gil Bias , I know that you have no cause 
to be pleased with the reception you met 
with when you came to salute me in my' 
trying-room. An old friend , like you , had a 
right to expect more civil treatment : but I 
must tell you , for my excuse , that I was then 
ill a very bad humour. When you appeared, 
I was quite engrossed by some scandalous dis- 
course which one of our gentlemen had utte- 
red against my niece , whose honor is dearer 
to me than my ovvn. Your sudden retreat , „ 
added she , " made me immediately recollect 
myself; and that moment I ordered my page 
to follow you to your lodging , that I might 
fo-day make amends for my fault. „ **That is 
already done , my dear Laura , ,, said L **Lel 
us talk no more of that matter : let us rather 
inform one another of what has happened to us 
since the unlucky day on which the dread of 
just chastisement made me quit Granada with 
great precipitation. I left you , you may re- 
member , in pretty great perplexity : pray , 
how did you extricate yourself I Had you not 



( 227 ) 

occasion for all yotir address to rfppease your 
Portuguese lover ? „ — ** Not at aH , „ re- 
plied Laura. *• Don't you know , that in such 
cases the men are so weak that ihey sonneti- 
ines even spare the women the trouble to jus- 
tify themselves I I ailirmed , „ continued she , 
*' to the Marquis de Marialva, that you was 
my brother. Pardon me , Mr. Santillane , if I 
speak to you as familiarly as heretofore : but 
1 can't get rid of my old habits. I tell thee , 
then , that I brazened it out. „ *' Don't you 
see , „ said I to the Portuguese nobleman , 
** that all this is the work of jealousy and ra- 
ge ? Narcissa , my comrade and rival, incen- 
sed to see me in quiet possession of a heart of 
which she was baulked , has played me a 
tfick : she has bribed the under <^andle-snufTer; 
who , as the minister of her resentment , has 
the impudence to say , that he has seem me 
Arsenia's chamber-maid. Nothing can be mo- 
re false ; the widow of Don Antonio Coelo 
always entertained too noble sentiments to 
humble herself so low as to serve an actress. 
Besides , what proves the falfity of the accu- 
sation , and the conspiracy of my accusers |^ 
is the precipitate retreat of my brother : if 
he was present, he might confound their 
9lander ; but Narcissa has , doubtless , em- 
j^loyed some new artifice to make him disap* 
pear. ,, 

^< Though these reasons , „ pjursued Laura g^ 
f:^ made but anindifTereut^ apology , the Mar« 

k6 



( 228) 

quis was so good as to be satisfied with it 
and that good-natured nobleman continued to 
love me until the day of hb departure fFom 
Granada , on his return to Portugal. Indeed , 
he did not stay long after thee } and the wife 
of Zapata had the pleasure of seeing me lose 
the lover of whom I had deprived her. After 
that I lived some years at Granada ^ then a di- 
vision happening in our company , which is 
often the case , all the players separated : so- 
me went to Seville ^ others to Cordova , and 
I came to Toledo; where I have been ten 
years ^ with my niece Lucretia , whom thou 
must have seen act last nighty since thou wast 
at the play. >► 

I could not help laughing in this place ; and 
Laura asking the cause—-.^' Can't you guess f:^ 
said I. « You have neither brother nor sister^ 
and of consequence can not be Lucretia's 
aunt. Besides ^ when I calculate te time which 
hath elapsed since our last separation ^ and 
compare it with the age of your niece , I can- 
not help thinking that you are more nearly 
related. >^ 

•* ! understand you, Mr. Gil Bias ^ » replied 
Don Antonio's widow , reddening; <* what 
a chronologist you are I it is impossible to> 
make you believe it.. Well then , my friend 
Lucretia is mj daughter , by the Marquis da 
Marialva ; she is the fruit of our correspon- 
dence; I can no longer conceal it frorn thee, 
f * What a i^re&t effort jrou make ^ mj pria« 



./ 




( 229 ) 

cess I » said I , 'Mn revealing that secret , af-^ 
ter having imparted to me ^our adventures 
with the stevvard of the hospital of Zumora* 
I must tell you, moreover , that Lucretia is a 
maid of such singular merit , that the public 
can never be thankful enough to j^ou for ha* 
ving made such a present to it. It were to bo 
wi:»hed that all your comrades had done th^ 
same. „ 

If some mischievous reader , in this place , 
recollecting the private conversations which 
I had with Laura , at Granada » while I was 
secretary to the Marquis de Marialva , suspects 
that I might dispute with the nobleman th» 
honor of being Lucretia's father ^ it is a sus- 
picioh , the justice of which I must avow to 
my shame. 1 recounted my principal adventu- 
res to Laura in my turn , and made her ac- 
quainted with my present situation. 

She listened to my narration so attentively, 
as to shew that it was far from being indif* 
ferent to her i and when I had finished it — 
** Friend Santillane, ,, said she, ^' I iind you 
act a very considerable part on the theatre of 
the world; and you cannot imagine how much 
I am overjoyed at your good fortune. When I 
shall briivg Lucretia to Madrid » with an inten- 
tion to introduce her into the prince's com- 
pany f I flatter myself that she will find a 
powerful protector in Signior Santillane. ^ 

** Never doabt me » » answered I i '^ you 
nay depend upon me : I will procure your 



( 23o ) 

daughter's admittance into the prince's com- 
pany whenever you please j this is what I can 
promise , without presuming too much upon 
my power. ,, — "I would take you at your 
word , ,, replied Laura , *' and set out for 
Madrid to morrow , were I iii)t restricted to 
this plac3 by engagements with our compa- 
ny. „ ** An order from court can break these 
ties , ,1 said I; '^ and you shall receive one in 
less than eight days. I shall be pleased in ta* 
king Lucretia from the Toledans ; such an 
handsome actress is destined for courtiers , and 
properly belongs to us. „ 

Lucretia entered the room just as I had pro- 
nounced these words , and seemed so pretty 
and engaging , that I took her for the goddess 
Hebe. She had just risen ; and her natural 
beauty , shining without the help of art , pre- 
sented a ravishing object to my view. *' Come^ 
niece , ,, said her mother to her , *^ come and 
thank this gentleman for his friendship : he b 
an old acquaintance of mine , who as great 
interest at court , and intends to introduce us 
bot into the prince's company. „ 

These words seemed to give pleasure to the 
dear girl , who made me a low curtsey , and 
said, with an enchanting smile -^ <* I most 
humbly thank you for your obliging inten- 
tions ; but , in taking me from the people by 
w^hom I am beloved , are you sure that I shall 
please the audience at Madrid ? I shall , per- 
hax>« , lose by the change. I remember to havo 



( 25i ) 

heard my aunt say , that she has seen actresses 
caressed in one place , and hissed in another ; 
and this gives me some concern 9 beware of 
exposing me to the contempt , and yourself to 
the reproaches of (he court. ,, 

** Fair Lucretia , „ answered I , " neither 
you not I have reason to be apprehensive of 
that : I rather fear , that , by inflaming all 
that behold you , you , will create some mi- 
sunderstanding among our grandees.,,—^* The 
fear of my niece , » said Laura , « is better 
founded than your's i but I hope they are both 
vain i if Lucretia cannot make a noise by hof 
charms , iii recompense , she is no contemp* 
txble actress. » 

Our conversation lasted some time longer ; 
and I had reason to conclude , from every 
thing which Lucretia said , that she was a 
maid of a superior genius. I then took my 
leave of the two ladies , assuring them , that 
they should soon have an order from court to 
repair to Madrid. 



; 



( ^52 ) 

CHAP. IL 

Santillane giver an Atcount of his Conh 
mission to the Minister , tvAo emplojs 
him to bring Lucretia to Madrid, The 
Arrival of that Actress , and her appea- 
ranee at Court* 

A.T my return to Madrid , I found the Count 
Duke very impatient to know the success of 
my journey. « Gil Bias , » said he , « hast 
tbpu seen this same actress \ \% she worth 
bringing to court ? * — « My Lord , » I re- 
plied , « Fame > which usually praises beau- 
ties more than they deserve , has not said 
enough in commendation of young Lucretia : 
she is an admirable creature , both as to Her 
person and talents. » 

« Is it possible ! ^ cried the Minister , with 
an interior satisfaction , which I read in his 
eyes , and which made me believe that he had 
sent me to Toledo on his own account , « is 
it possible that she can be so amiable I ^ — 
« When you have seen her, » answered I, 
« you will own that no eulogium can do jus- 
tice to her charms. Santillane , )> said his Elx- 
cellency , « give me a faithful relation of thy 
journey. I shall be very glad to hear it. » 

To satisfy my master, I then recounted 
all , even the history of Laura inclusively. I 
told him 9 that this actress had Lucretia by 



( i55 ) 
the Marquis de Marialva , a Portuguese no« 
blemuu , who , stopping at Granada , on his 
travels , fell in love with her. In short, when 
I had recounted to his Grace every thing that 
happened between the two actresses and me, 
he said , — <; I am overjoyed to hear that Lu- 
cretia is daughter to a man of quality i that 
circumstance interest me still more in her be« 
half ^ she must be brought to town. But , )> 
added he , « continue as thou hast J^egun ; let 
not me appear in it : every thing must pass 
in the name of Gil Bias de Sautillane. » 

I went and told Carnero , that his Excel- 
lency desired him to expedite an order, by 
which the King -received into his company 
Estella and Lucretia , two actresses of To- 
ledo. « Aha , Signior de Santillane I » said 
Carnero , with a satirical smile ; « yes , you 
shall be served immediately , since , in all 
appearance , you interest yourself for these 
two ladies. )> At the same time , he wrote an 
oraer with his own hand , and delivered it to 
me lexpedited ; so that I sent it instantly to 
Estella by the same lacquey who had attended 
me to Toledo. Eight days after , the mother 
and daughter arriving at Madrid , took lod- 
gings hard by the prince's company , and their 
first care was to give me notice of it by a bil- 
let. I visited them immediately , where , after 
a thousand offers of service on my ude , and 
as many acknowledgements on theirs , I left 
them to prepare for their first appearance j^ 




( 2^36) 
great success. « She is called Lucretla , » 
ded he j « a name not very suitable lo peopb 
of her profession. She is an acqaaintance of 
Santil lane's , who spoke so much in her fa- 
vour f that I thought it proper to receive hflr 
into your majesty's company. » 

The King smiled when he heard my naiM 
mentioned , because he remembered , perfaapSf 
at that moment , that it was I who had madl 
him acquainted with Cataiina , and foresavr 
that I should do him a service on this occa- 
sion. « Count f » said he to the minister » < I 
will go to-morrow , and see this Lacretia 
act. Take care to advise her of my intention, f 

The Count-duke having repeated this con- 
versation to me , and informed me of the 
King's design , sent me to impart it to oar 
two actresses. « I come , » said I to Laura , 
who was the first I met , « to tell you a piece 
of great news ; you will to-morrow have 
among your spectators the sovereign of this 
monarchy ; this is what I am ordered by the 
minister to acquaint you with. I don't doubt 
that your daughter and you will do your ut- 
most to deserve the honour which the King 
intends you ; but I advise you to chuse a piece 
in which there is both dancing and music , 
that he may admire all the talents of Lucretia 
together. i> — « We will take your advice , » 
replied Laura , « and do all in our poiver to 
amuse the prince. » — « He cannot fail of 
being pleased , s^ said I , seeing Lucretia coilie 



( 237 ) 
in » in a dishabille , which gave her more 
charms than the most superb theatrical dress. 
« He will be so much the more satisfied with 
your lovely niece , as he loves singing and dan- 
cing above all other entertainments. Who 
knows hut he may be tempted to throw the 
handkerchief at her I » « I don't at all wish , » 
replied Laura , « that he may have any such 
temptation ; notwithstanding his being a po- 
werful monarch , he might find obstacles to 
the accomplishment of his desires. Lucretia is 
virtuous , though bred behind the scenes > and 
whatever pleasure she may feel in seeing her- 
self applauded on the stage , she would much 
rather pass for a modest girl than for a good 
actress. 

<< Why should my aunt, ,, said young Ma- 
rialva , joining in the conversation , '* form 
such chimeras to fight with? I shall never be 
obliged to repulse the sighs of the king ; the 
delicacy of his taste will save him from the 
reproaches he would deserve , if he could 
humble his attention to nie. „ — *' But , char- 
ming Lucretia , „ said I, ^* should it happen 
that the prince would attach himself to you ^ 
and chuse you for his mistress , would you be 
so cruel as to let him languish in your charms 
like an ordinary lover? „— ** Why not I ,, 
answered she. ^' Yes , doubtless : and though 
virtue were out of the question , my vanity 
would exult much more in resisting than in 
yielding to his passion. ,» 1 yvas not a Uttlf 




( 240 ) 

fairs f endeavoured to amuse him with plea- 
sures more suitable to his humor. ** Santil- 
lane , ,, said he , afterwards , ** losQ no time; 
make haste , my friend , to go and execute the 
important order which thou hast received, 
and which a great many noblemen at coort 
would glory in performing. Consider , ,, said 
he , ** that thou hast here no Count de Lemos 
to deprive thee of one half of the honor acqid- 
red in this service : thou wilt have it entirely 
to thyself $ and, moreover, enjoy all the 
fruits of it. „ 

Thus did his excellency gild the pill , whick 
I swallowed down gently, though not wi- 
thout tasting the bitterness of it : for , since 
my imprisonment , 1 had been used to look 
upon things in a moral point of view , and 
did not think the post of Mercury in chief 
quite so honourable as it was called. Howe- 
ver , though I was not vicious enough to per- 
form it without remorse , J had not virtue suf- 
ficient to make me refuse the employment. 1 
therefore obeyed the king the more willingly, 
as I saw at the same time that my compliance 
would be agreeable to the minister , whom it 
was my sole study to please. 

1 thought proper to address myself first to 
Laura , to whom , in a private conversation , 
I disclosed my mission in a discreet manner ; 
and , towards the end of the discourse , pre- 
sented the jewels ; at sight of which the lady, 
being unable to conceal her jpy , gave a loose 

to 



, » 



( 24t f 

to it. « Sighidr Gil Bias , „ crio\I slle , « I ougfet 
not to coiistraiii myself bdfor^ my oM^st and 
best friend. I should be to blame iii alKec- 
ting a false severity of ihorals , and nVaking 
grimaces with you. Yes » you heed iii^t doiib^ 
it, ,, contiiiued shi6 , ** I a ih' overjoyed itbat 
my daughter has ihade such a precious con- 
quest , all the adVatttag'eis of which I coM- 
prehend ; but , betweeh yoii and ihe , I ani' 
afraid that LUcr^tia yyill look UpoH theih' 
with a different ey^: foi*', thbti^h a'ybilng afc- 
tress , she is so* car^iif of hdr chastity , that 
she has already i^eject'ed th^ add^esscfs df twd 
young nobleriien , botti dthitible ahdVlch. Ydd 
may say, indeed, that tUesd' v^eVe'iibt king's. 
True ; and , in all* probability', th'^ ph'ssibn of 
a* crowned head will shake the virtiie of^ Lu*- 
cretia. I^evertheless , I must tell ybU', that thli 
thing is uncei^ain , and I dbclare that I' will 
never force the inclinations' qf ' iHy datighferl 
If, far from thinking herself honoUred'by tH^ 
transient afTection of the kiiig", sHe sliali re- 
gard that honour as infamous , let' liot' that! 
great prince be disobliged if slie shall conceal 
herself from him. Return to-morrow, „ added 
she , ** and then I will tell you whether you 
must carry back to him a favourable answer , 
or his jewels. „ 

I did not at all doubt that Laura would ey^ 

hort Lucretia to swerve from her duty , rafr 

ther than remain in it , and I depended a good 

deal on that ei^orfutiou. Nevertheless , I lear^« 

Vol. IV. L 




(242) 

ned with surprise next day , that Laura had 
as much dilficulty in swaying her daughter to 
vice f as other mothers have to form theirs to 
virtue ; and , which is still more surprising , 
Lucretia , af^er having granted some private 
interviews to the monarch , felt so niuch re- 
morse for having yielded to his desires $ that 
she quitted the world all of a sudden, and 
shut herself up in themoaastery of tl^e incar- 
nation , where she soon fell sik , and died of 
grief. Laura , heiag inconsolable for the loss 
of her daughter , whose death she upbraided 
herself with , retired into the convent of the 
Female Penitents , there to mourn the plea* 
sures of her youth. The king was affected by 
the unexpected retreat of Lucretia ; but , being 
of a humour not to be long affected with any 
thing , consoled himself by degrees for this 
event. As for the Count-duke , although he 
did not seem very much touched at this inci- 
dent , it did not fail to give him a great deal 
of mortification i and this the re«ider will ea« 
>ily believe^ 

CHAP. IV. 

Santillane is invested by the Minister with 
a new Employment* 

1 W4S also sensibly affected by the misfor- 
tune of Lucretia , and felt such remorse for 
Jbaving contributed to it , that , looking upoa 






(245) 

myself as an infamous wretch , in spite of the 
quality of the lover whose passion 1 had ser- 
ved > I resolved to abandon the cadudeus for- 
ever. I even expressed the reluctance 1 had to 
bear it , and begged the Count-duke would 
employ me in something else. '* Santillane, „ 
said he , 'M am charmed with thy delicacy ; 
and f since thou art a man of such honor , 
will give thee an occupation more suitable 
to thy virtue. This it is > listen attentively t^ 
what I am going to impart* 

** Some years before I was in favour , ^ 
continued he » ^' chance <me day presented tor 
my view a lady , so handsome and well qiade^:' 
that I ordered her to be followed. I learned 
that she was a Genoese , called Donna Mar- 
garita Spinola , who lived at Madrid on the 
revenue of her beauty , and that Don Fran- 
cisco de Valeasar , an alcade of the court , a 
rich old married man , spent a great deal of 
money upon the coquette. This report , which 
ought to have inspired me with contempt for 
her , made me conceive a violent desire of 
sharing her favours with Valeasar ; and , to 
satisfy it , I had recourse; to a female go-bet- 
ween , who had the address : in a little time , 
to procure for me a private interview with 
the Genoese i and that was followed by many 
more , so that my rival and I were equally 
well treated for our presents. Perhaps , too , 
she had other gallants as happy as we were. 
^^ Be that as it will , Margarita , in recei- 



( 244 ) 

v&ng such confused homag« , insensibly be- 
came pregnant , and brQught forth a son , 
the honor of whom she besthowed on each 
of her lovers ia particular ; but not one of 
them being in consciencei ab\p to boa^t him- 
self the father of that child , it was diso^wned 
by them all y so that the. Genoese v«as obliged 
to maintain it witk the fruit of her intrigues : 
this she did for eighteea jeara , at tho end of 
which tecm.dyinf; , sbe.hastleft her son wit« 
hout fortune , and , which is woca« , wkhout 
•4|iCfttion. 

*^ This , jf pipfBaed his grace , '< is the secret 
I had to impart , and I will: now inform thee 
oi the great' design which I have projected. 
I will biing this unfortunate child from obs- 
curity ; and y making him pas& froin one ex- 
treme to. another, raise him to honours, and 
own him for my son. „ 

At this extravaganj; project it was impos- 
sible for me to holdt my tongue* '* How , my 
Lord 1 „ cried I ; can your excellency have 
taken such a strange resolution I Pardon me 
for using that term , which hath escaped my 
zeal. „ — " Thou wilt safth at 1 am v^iy pru- 
dent , 9, he replied , with precipitation , 
<^ when I have told thee- the reasons which 
determined: me to take, it J I don't desire that 
my collaterals should be- my heirs. Thou i^lc 
say , that I am not , as yet , of such an ad- 
vanced age 9 as to make me despair of having 
"^HMhUdren bymy Lady 01ivare^» Bat everyone 



f M5) 
knows himself best. Let it suffice to tell tli'ee , 
that there is no secret in chemistry which I 
have not tried , in vain ^ to becomie a father. 
Therefore , since fortune , supplying the de- 
lects of nature , preeeuts a chiki to me , whose 
true father perhaps I am , I am resdlved to 
•ndopt him. „ 

When I saw the minister bent on this adop- 
tion ^ I ceased to oppose it , knowing him to 
be a man capable of committing a foolish 
action rather than swerve from his opinion. 
*' The sole business , now , ,, added he ^ *' it 
to bestow education upon Don Henrjr Philip 
de Guzman ( for this name I intend he shall 
bear ) until he shall be in a condition to pos- 
ness th& dignities (hdt aWait hifh. Thou , my 
dear Sdhtillnne , drt ih^ f)ierdbn vVhbih I chust9 
to be his tutof . t cbnfltle in thy underistanding, 
und attachment to me , for thy cat^ in regu- 
lating his fatality , in giviiig him all sorts of 
masters ; in a woM , 6f making him an ac- 
complished il'avaller. „ 

I would hhve r^f\]sed thi^ erftployment , 
represohtin^ tho the CoUht-dbki9 , thMt I Was 
very ill qualified to educate young fioblethen , 
having never practised that business » which 
required more knowledge and merit thad I 
possessed. But he interrupted me , and shut 
my mouth , by saying , that he vVas absolutely 
resolved to make me governor to this adop- 
ted son , whom he destined for the fii^st offit- 
cfes of ihe monarchy. I prepared myself , fhe^- 

L 5 



r^ 



(246) 

refore , to fill this placer for the satisfaction ot 
his grace , who , to reward my compliance, 
encreased my small revenue with a pension 
of a thousand crowns , which he procured , 
or , rather gave me , on the commander gf 
Mamdra. 

CHAP. V. 

The Son of the Genoese is owned by an 
authentic Act^ and called Uon Henry 
Philip de Guzman. Santillane forms the 
Family of that young Nobleman , and 
hires all Sorts 0/ Masters for him* 

X HE Count-duke > in a little lime, actuaUy 
owned the son of Domia Margarita Spinola, 
and the deed was executed with the consent 
and incliuatioQS of the King. Don . Henry 
Philip de Guzman ( for that was the name of 
this child of many fathers ) was declared sole 
heir of the Count d'Olivarez , and of the duchy 
of San Lucar. The Minister, that nohody 
might he ignorant of this event, ordered Car- 
nero to communicate tHe declaration to the 
Ambassadors and Grandees of Spain, who 
were not a little surprised at his conduct. The 
wits of Madrid had a fund of mirth from it 
a long time ^ and the satirical poets <lid not 
neglect su(:h a fair occasion of shedding the 
gall of their pens. 
When I ask^ed where this gentleman was 



( 2/,7 ) 
whom his grace intended to entrust to my 
care —« « He is in this city , » he replied , 
« under the direction of an aunt , from whom 
I will take him as soon as thou shalt have pre- 
pared a house for him. )> 

This was soon performed. I took a house , 
which I caused to be magnificently furnished ; 
hired pages , a porter , and footman ; and \ 
with the assistance of Caporis , filled up the 
places of his officers. When I had completed 
his attendants , I went and advertised his ex- 
cellency , who immediately sent for his equi* 
vocal heir, and new shoot from the trunk of 
the Guzmans , and I found him a tall young 
fellow , of an agreeable person. *< Don Hen- 
ry , » said his grace to him , pointing with 
his finger to me, « this gentleman is the guide 
whom I have chosen to conduct you in the 
career of life. I have the greatest confidence in 
him , and give him an absolute power over 
you. -— « Yes , Santillane , » said he , turning 
to me , « I abandon him entirely to your care, 
and don't doubt that you will give a good ac- 
count of him. » 

To this discourse the minister joined others, 
exhorting the young man to submit to my di- 
rections ; after which I conducted Don Henry 
to his house , where , when we arrived , I 
made all his domestics pass in review before 
him, signifying the ofBce of each. He did not 
seem confounded at the change of his condi- 
tion ; and I accommodating himself to the de^ 

L4 




< 24» ) 

lefjence afid officious respect ih^t was diewi 
to him , he seemiid to h^vf i)9^n alyFay3 that 
>Thic^ hfi Yfa? P.QiVV Jb^om^ by .cjiance. 

Pe djid not ^fmt c^p^cUy , bvjt Wfis vfhoWj 
illiterate , being scare? ^ble tf^ f^f^ of ^rite* 
I furnished hin:i yyUh ^ pr/9f eptipr |# ;|e9ch Jum 
^he elemepts of th? L^tin tpngi^^, 9pd hired 
for hi 9^ masters of gfography , history ^ ^^ 
fencing. Yon jnay well beI]ey^ , th^t I did i^ot 
forget a dancing-master : I was qffly embai^ 
rassed in the choice i for at thdt tim9 tJi^Tf 
vras a great number famoms in tb^t pro&mo9 
^t Madrid , and I did not knovK to whom I 
ought to give tbe preference. Wlule I was in 
this perplexity , a man richly dr9$s^d c^m^ 
into the coort , and I being tpld ths^i he w^an- 
|.ed to speak with me , vreat to him , imagi* 
niug that he was at least a knight of St. Jag9 
pr Alcantara. When I asked bis commands. 
« Sfgnior de Santillane , » answered he , 
after having made several bows , which smel- 
)ed strongly of his profession , « understand 
ding that your worship is the person -who 
chuses mailers for Signior Don Henry , I am 
come to offer my service. My name is Martin 
Ligero J and I have ( thank Heaven ) some 
reputation. It is not my custom to come and 
solicit for scholars ; that is the province of 
little obscure dancing masters. 1 usually wait 
until I am sent for ; but as I have taught the 
Duke de Medina Sidonia , Don Lewis de 
arc , and some Qtber noblemen of the family 



(249) 

of Guzman , to which I am as St were a ser- 
vant born , I tloughf it my duty to anticipate 
your message. » — « I find by your discourse ,» 
said I , « that you are tlie ihaii we want. How 
much do you take per month fjr— «Four 
double pistoles , » answered he , « is the cur- 
rent price , and ) give but two lessons per 
week. » — «Four doubloons a mk)nth 1 » cried 
I ; <i. that is a great deal. » — 4^ Aow I a great 
deal I » repHed he , with a'n air of astonish- 
ment ; «you would give a pistole a month €6 
a master of philosophy. » 

There was no resisting such a pleasaiit re- 
ply y at vV^hi^ch T laug&ed heartily , and asked 
Sigiiior Ligefo , if he really th6ught' a iha'A 
of his profession preferable t6 a master of 
philosophy. « t3bubtless , » said' he , « we are 
of much greater use thah those gentlemen: 
What is a mdn before he has passed through 
our hands I what , but an ill licked cub I But 
our lessons mould him by little and little into 
a due form. In a word , wo teach him to m6ve 
gracefully , giving him attitudes and airs of 
dignity and importance. ,, 

I yielded to the argumentis of this dancing- 
master , whom I hired for Don Henry at (he 
rate of four double pistoles a*m6nth , since 
Aa^ was the price* of great masters of his arf. 



I. 




( 25o ) 
CHAP. VL 

Scipio returning from New Spain , Gil Bias 
settles him in the Service of Don Henry i 
The studies of that jroung Nobleman , 
with tKe Honours which were censer red 
upon him , and an Account of the Lady 
to whom he was mc&ried. Gil Bias beco- 
mes noble in spite of himself^ 

1 HAD not as yet compleated the half of Don 
Heart's family , when Scipio returned from 
Mexico. I asked him if he was satbfied with 
his voyage y and he answered » ** I have rea- 
son to he so ; since » with three thousand du- 
cats in specie , I have hroug]^t over twice as 
much in merchandise of the consumption ol 
this country. ,,— ** I congratulate thee , my 
child , „ I replied. *' Thy fortune is now 
begun; and it is in thy power to compleat 
it y by returning to the Indies next year : or , 
if thou preferrest an agreeable post at IMadrid 
to the trouble of going so far to amass wealth y 
thou hast nothing to do but to speak y I have 
one at thy service. „ — " Egad ! „ said the 
son of Coscolina , " there is no room for he- 
sitation. I would much rather execute a good 
employment near you , than expose myself 
anew to the perils of a long voyage. Pray , 
master , explain yourself; what post da yott 
iuteud for your humble servant I ^ 




(25l ) 

For his better information , I recounted to 
him the story of the young nobleman whom 
the Count-duke had introduced into the fa- 
mily of Guzman ; and after having told him, 
that the minister had chosen me governor ta 
Don Henry , I promised to make him valet de 
chambre to that adopted son. Scipio , who 
asked no better, willingly accepted the post, 
and acquitted himself in it so well , that in 
less than three or four days he acquired the 
confidence and friendship of his new master. 

I imagined that the pedagogues whom I had 
chosen to teach the son of the Genoese, would 
find their Latin thrown away , believing ono 
at his age undisciplinable. But, I was much 
mistaken. He easily comprehended and retai- 
ned all that was shewn to him , and his mas* 
ters were very well satisfied with his capa* 
city. I ran eagerly to impart this piece of news 
to the duke , who received it with excessive 
joy. *' Santillane , „ cried he , transported , 
<' I am ravished to hear that Don Henry has 
such a memory and penetration I I perceive 
my own blood in. .him ; and what convinces 
me of his being my son is , that I feel as much 
affection for him, as if he had been born by 
my Lady Olivarez. Thou seest by this , my 
friend , that nature declares itself. ,, I v\'as 
not fool enough to tell his grace my sentiments 
of the matter; but, respecting his weakness , 
left him to enjoy the pleasure ( whether, true 

L6 



( 25a ) 

or false ) of bielieving himself the father of 
Don Henry. 

Although all the Guzmans aBtertaiaed a 
mortal hatred to this joung noblemaoi of 
fresh date , they dissembled it out of poHcj ; 
laay , some of them affected to court his fiiend* 
ship ', he was visited by the ambassadors and 
grandees who were th&n at Madiid , and ho* 
iioured by them as much as if he ha4 been a 
legitimate son of the Count-duke. TUs mi- 
nister , overjoyed to see such incense ofiered 
to hts idol , soon decked him with dignities. 
He began by asking of the King the cross ol 
Alcantara , with a commandery of ten thou« 
sand crowns , fbr Don Henry. In a )ktle time 
after he was made gentleman of the bed-- 
chamber. Then , resolving to marry him to a 
lady of the most noble family of Spain , he 
cast' his eyes upon Donna Juana Y^lasce, 
daughter to the Duke of Castile , and had au- 
thority enough to accomplish the marriage ^ 
in spite of that Duke and all his relations. 

A few days before the marriage , his grace ^ 
having sent for me , put some papers into my 
hand, saying — *^Hold ^ Gil Bias ^ here are 
letters of nobility, which I have ordered to 
he expedited for thee. „ — ** My Lord , » 
answered I , surprised at his words , ** your 
•excellency knows that I am the son of a poor 
duenna and squire j so that , in my opinion ^ 
the nobility would be prophaned by my 



<\ 



(a53 ) 

sociation ; and his, of all the favours wliich 
his majesty could bestoir ^ that yvhich I dcser* 
ve and desire the least. ,, — ** Thy birth , ,, 
replied the minister^ '< is an objection that is 
easily removed : thou hast been employed ii> 
state affairs y both under the Duke of Lerma's 
ministry and mine : besides , ,, added he, 
with a smile , *^ hast thou not done the mo* 
narch some service which deserves a recom- 
pence ? la a word , Santillane , thou art not 
unworthy the honour vv^hich I have procured 
for thee. Moreover , the rank which thou 
holdest yvith regard to my son , requires that 
thou shouldest be noble ; and it is on that ac- 
count that I have obtained the patent. ,, — • 
•* I yield , my Lord , „ I replied , ** since your 
excellency insists upon my compliance. „ So 
saying,,! went away with my patent in ray 
pocket. 

** I am now a gentleman , » said I to my* 
self, when I had got into the street , ** enno^ 
bled, without being obliged to my parents for 
my quality. I may , when- 1 please , be called 
Don Gil Bias ;• and if any one. of my acquain* 
tance shall take in his head to laugh in my 
face when he calls me so , I will shew my pa^ 
tent. But let us read it , i> continued I, ^taking 
it out of my pocket, and see in what manner 
»\y original meannees Is* washed away. ,, I 
thoreff^re perused the paper , the substance of 
which was , that the King-, to reward th# 
V(ual which I had manifested on more ihiam 



-%,:. I i 



r^ 



(254) 

^ne occasion for his service , and the good o{ 
the state , had thought proper to gratify mj 
attachment with letters of nobility* I will ven- 
ture to say 9 in my own praise, that they did 
not inspire me with the least pride. Having 
the meannes of my extraction always before 
my eyes , this honour humbled instead of ma- 
king me vain ; therefore I determined to lock 
up my patent in a drawer , and never boast of 
its being in my possession. 

CHAP. VII. 

■ Gil Bias meets Fabricio again by Accident* 
The last Conversation that happened 'bet* 
weefi them , and the important Adyict 
which Nunnez gave to Santillane* 

jl he Asturian poet ( as must have been ob- 
served by the reader) willingly neglected 
me ; and my occupations did nut permit me to 
visit him. I had not seen him since the day of 
the dissertation on the Iphigenia of £uripides, 
when chance again threw him in my way 
near the Gate of the Sun. He was coming out 
of a printing-house, and I accosted him, 
saying—*' Aha , Mr. Nunnez! you have been 
at the printer s; that seems to threaten the pu- 
blic with anew work of your composition. „ 
** That is what, indeed, it may expect, » 
answered he. <* I have actually in the press 
a pamphlet which will make some noise ia 



( 255 ) 

the republic of letters. „ *' I don't doubt thf 
merit of tby production, „ I replied » but am 
amazed at thy composing pamphlets , which 
in my opinion are triii^es that do no great ho« 
nou'r to a man of genius. „ ** I know it very 
welly ,) said Fabricio , *^ and am not ignorant 
that none but those who read every thing amu- 
se themselves with pamphlets. However , this 
one has escaped me , which I own is the child 
of necessity. Hunger ^ thou knowest , brings 
the wolf out of the wood. „ 

<* How ! yf cried li ^^ does the author of 
the Count de Saldagne talk in this manner I a 
man who has two thousand crowns a-year It 
— « Softly , friend , » said Nunnez to me ; 
.« I am no longer that happy poet who en- 
joyed^ a well paid pension. The affairs ofth« 
treasurer Don Bertrand are disordered all of 
a sudden. He has fingered and squandered 
away the Ring's money : all his effects are 
seized , and my pension is gone to the devil. ,, 
— *^ That is a melancholy affair, f, I resumed ; 
but hast thou no hope remaining from that 
quarter? „ — - ^* Not the least, „ said be* 
*^ Signior Gomez de IVibero, as poor as bit 
poet , is gone to the bottom ,and will never, 
it his said , get his head above water again. ,, 

** If that be the case^ my child , ^9 answe- 
red 1 9 '* I must fnid out some post to console 
thee for the loss of thy pension. »,— ** I will 
spare thee that trouble , „ cried he. ^* If tbojki 
yrouldst offer me aa employment iu the mir 



r 



IV 



( 256) 
vsfster's offices , worth three thousand cr(m« 
yearly , t would refuse it. The business of 
clerks Will not agree with the liumoorofa 
foster-child of the Muses : I must enjoy mjr li- 
terary amusements. What shall I say to thee! 
lam born to live and die a po«t , and mj de^ 
tiny must be fulfilled. 

^ But don't imagine, i^ continued he, 
*^ that we are very unhapp;^ i besides that we 
live in perfect independence , we-are boys wi- 
thout care. People think that we often dine 
with Democritus, and there they are mistaken. 
There is not one of my fraternity , not even 
excepting the makers of almanacks , who is 
not welcome to some good table. As for my 
part, there are two families where I am al- 
w^ays received with pleasure. I have two co- 
vers laid for me every day; one at the house 
of a fat director of the farms, to whom I have 
dedicated a romance ; and the other at the 
house of a rich citizen , who has the disease cf 
being thought to entertain wits every day at 
his table ; luckily he his not very delicate in 
his choice , and the city furnishes him with 
great plenty. „ 

*^ I no longer pity thee then , „ said' I to the 
Asturian poet , ^* since thou art satisfied with 
thy condition : though I protest to thee anew , 
that thou hast always in Gil Bias a fVientl 
Tvhois proof against thy neglect and indifTe- 
rence : if thou hast occasion for my purse, 
come boldly tome^andlet not a silly shcune 



( 257 ) 
deprive thee of an infallible succour, and rob 
me of the pleasure of obliging thee. „ 

'* By that generous sentiment » scried Nun- 
-aez, «I recollect my friend Santillane. I re- 
turn a thoueiuid thlsinks for thy kind offer « and 
out of gratitude vvill give thee a wholesome 
advice. While the Count-duke continues in 
pow^r p wi thou art in possession of his fa- 
vour, p;*ptit by ike gpportuniljr ; make hasta 
%o enrich tbyselfi k/x I nm told he begins to 
totier. ^ I osktd Fabr^cio if he had that inielli- 
geace on good authority; and he answered 
nf* ^M have it from a knight of Calatrava , 
who has a verj singular talent in discovering 
th^ most hidden secrets » he is looked upon as 
nn oracle , and this is what I heard him say 
yesterday. The Gountrduke has a great many 
enemies , who ar« all united to ruin him : he 
depends too much on ike ascendancy which 
ho has over tha king ^ that monarch ^ it is re- 
ported : begins to listen to the complaints 
which have already reached his ears. 1 1 than- 
ked Nunne?; for his information , of which 
I took little notice , but went home, persua- 
ded that my master's authority was immovea- 
ble , and considering him as one of those old 
oaks which are rooted in a forest , and which 
no storms can overthrow* 



^■i«i*" 






< 2t5o ) 

" By this it is easj to judg« , », pursued tin 
minister , that there is a party, formed against 
me , and that the Queen is at the head of 
it. „ — " Why , my lord , ^ ^id I , ♦* shouU 
you he uoaasy with that conjecture 7 Has not 
the Queea, for more than twelve years , btcn 
used to see you at (he helm ^ and the Ring 
been an a long habit of not .consul ting her I Ai 
for the Marquis of Grana, the monarch , pf^ 
haps , chose his opinion out of desire to sse 
Jus army , and make a campaign. ^^-^ ** Tins 
is not the rase , ^^ said the Count « dnke$ 
*^ say f rather , my enemies hope that the 
King b^ing among bis troops ^ will always bs 
surrounded by the noblemen who will attend 
him ; and that more than one will be found 
so much disgusted at me , as to speak to the 
prejudice of my administration : but they are 
mistaken^ „ added he^^' 1 will make the Prince 
inaccessible to them all during the journey. 9, 
This he actually performed , in a manner 
that deserves to be related. 

The day of the King's departure being ar- 
rived , that monarch , after having entrusted 
the Queen with the care of the government in 
his absence , set out for Sr.ragossa ; but , ill 
Ijis w.iy , passing by Aranjuez , was so de- 
Ijghteil with the place , that he staid there 
almost three weeks : from thence the minister 
carried him to Cuenca , where he amused 
himself still longer by various diversions.Thcn 
the pleasures of the chace detained him at Mp» 



(26l ) 

liua of Arragon i afler which ha was conduc- 
ted to Saragossa. 

His armjr being not so far from thence , hv 
appeared for going to it } but te Count-duke 
altered his inclination , by making him be- 
lieve that he would be in danger of being ivk* 
hen by the French , who were masters* «t 
the plain of Moncon : so that the King, 
hieing, alraidl o£ the> peril which he had no 
cause to fear , took the reselutibn of remai- 
ning shut up at home as in a prison. I'ha 
minister, taking the advantage othis terror » 
and , under pretence* of watching for his sa- 
fety , guarded' him , as it were , from tho 
eight of every body : and the grandees , who 
had been at a vast expence to put themselves - 
in a condition to follov their sovereign , had 
not even the satisfaction of obtaining' one pri- 
vate audience. Philip , at length , tired of 
being ill lodged at Saragossa , of passing his- 
time still worse , or , if you please , of being 
prisoner , returned in a little time- to Madrid. 
Thus this monarch finished his campaing', 
leaving to the Marquis de los Veles , general 
of his ti^ops , the care of maintaining the' 
Honour 6f the Spanish arms. 



rN 



( 262 ) 

CHAP. IX. 

The Revolution of Portugal and the Dis- 
grace 0/ the Count'duke. 

A. FEW days after the King's return , a very 
disagreeable piece of news spread all over 
Madrid. It was reported that th^ Portugaeze, 
looking upon te revolt of the Catalonians as a 
fair occasion offered to them by Fortune for 
shaking off the Spanbh yoke , had taken 
up arms , and chosen the Duke of Braganza 
for their King ; that they were resolved to 
maintain him on the throne , and were con- 
fident of success ; Spain having at that time 
on her hands enemies in Germany , Italy 9 
Flanders , and Catalonia : and they could not 
have found a more favourable conjuncture for 
freeing themselves from a dominion which 
they detested. 

What is wery singular is , that the Count- 
duke , while both court and city seemed to be 
struck with consternation at te news , wanted 
to joke with the King at the expence of the 
Duke of Braganza : but Philip , far from being 
pleased with bis raillery , assumed a very 
grave air, which disconcerted him , and made 
him foresee his disgrace. He no longer doub- 
ted his own fall , when he understood that the 
Queen had openly declared herself against 
him , and loudly accused him of having , by 



( 263 ) 
his bad administration , occasioned the revolt 
of Portugal. The greatest part of the grandees , 
especially those vvho had been at Saragossa , 
no sooner perceived that a tempest was bre- 
wing over the head oi the Count-duke , than 
they joined the Queen; and what gave the last 
stroke to his favour was , the arrival of the 
Duchess dowager of Mantua, formerly go- 
verness of Portugal. This lady , on her return 
from Lisbon to Madrid , plainly demonstrated 
to the King, that the revolution of that king* 
dom happened through the fault of the Prime- 
minister. 

The discourse of this Princess made a great 
impression on the mind of the monarch, who, 
being at length roused from his iiifatuation for 
his favourite , stripped him of all the affection 
which he had entertained for him. When the 
Minister was informed that the King listened 
to his enemies , he* wrote a letter to him, as- 
king leave to resign his employment, and re- 
move from court , since people were so unjust 
as to impute to him all the misfortunes which 
had happened to the kingdom , during the 
course of his administration. He thought that 
this letter whould have a great efTect, and 
that the Prince still preserved so much friend- 
ship for him as to detain him at court; but ail 
the answer which his Majesty returned , was 
the permission that he desired , with^leave (o 
retire whithersoever he would. 

These words , written by the King's owa 



I 



( 264 ) 

hand, were a thunderbolt to his grace, 
yrho by no means expected sHch a reply 9 but, 
though he was very much confouuded, he af- 
fected an air of constancy » and asked what I 
would do were I in his place. ** I would sooa 
take my resolution , „ said I : *^ I would aban- 
don the court , and pass the rest of my days in 
peace at some one of my estates in the coua- 
try. „ ** That is a wboliesome advice ,„ re- 
plied my master; ** aitd T am fully resolved 
to finish my career at Loaches , after I shall 
have once more conversed with the King; 
for I want to demonstrate to him , that I have 
done all that human prudence could suggest 
to sustain the weighty burden w^ith which I 
was loaded ; and that it was impossible for 
me to prevent the melancoly events laid at 
my door ; beiug no more to blame than a skil- 
ful pilot , w^ho , in spite of all he can do , sees 
his vessel tossed about by the waves and 
winds. 9, The Minister still flattered himself, 
that 9 by speaking to the Prince, he might 
adjust matters, and regain the ground' which 
he had lust ; but he never could procure an 
audience 9 and, besides, one was sent to de- 
mand tlie key of the door by which he used to 
enter when he pleased into his majesty's apart- 
ment. Concluding, then, that there were no 
farther hopes for him , he determined in good 
curnest to retire. 

He examined his papers, a great quantity 
of which he very prudently committed to the 

flames i 



( 5i65 ) 
flames ; then naming the officers of his hous* 
hold and valets » whom he intended should 
follow him, he gave orders for his departure , 
which was fixed for next day. As he was 
afraid of being insulted by the populace, in co- 
ming out of the palace , he stipped away early 
in the morning by the kitchen-door , and get- 
ting into a shabby coach, with his confessor and 
me, safely proceeded for Loeches , a village be- 
longing to him, where his lady had built a mag- 
nificent convent of nuns of the Dominican or- 
der. Thither ho repaired in less than four hours, 
and all his attendants arrived soon after. 

CHAP. X. 

The Anxietj' and Cares which at first dis* 
turbed the Repose of the Count- Duke , 
and the happy Tranquillity hj which 
they were succeeded* The Occupations 
ef the Minister in his Retreat. 

IVIadam de Olivarez let her husband set out 
for Loeches, and'stciid a few days aAerhim at 
court, with a design to try if, by her tears 
and entreatJM , she could not effect his being 
recalled ^ buf In vain did she prostrate herself 
before their majesties ; the King had no regard 
to her remonstrances , though artfully prepa- 
red 5 and the Queen , who hated her mortally 
beheld her tears with pleasure. The minister's 
wife was not repulsed for all that : she hum- 
bled herself so far as to imploie the good of- 
Vol. IV. M 



( 266) 
ficesof the Qu«en*8 ladies ; but : thefruit which 
she reaped from her meanness was to perceive 
that it excited contempt rather than compas- 
Mon. Vexed at having taken soch humbling 
steps to no purpose , she vrfaent and joined 
her husband^ to grieve widi lum for the loss 
of a place , which , uiider a- reign lifke that of 
Philip the Fourth, was' perhaps the first of 
the monarchy.' 

The lady's report of the«cottditioa in which 
she lefV Madrid , redoubled the' affliction of the 
Count-duke. <^ Your enemies, ,, said she, 
weepingy ^^the-Duke de Medina Goeli^ and ihe> 
other grandees who hate you,incessantly praise 
the King for having deprived you of the minis- 
try! and the: people celebrate your disgrace 
with an insolence of joy , as if the -end of the 
national misfortune was attached to that of 
your administration. ,, 

« Madam , » said my master to her, « fol- 
low my example , and stifle your sorrow j wc 
must yield to the tempest which we cannot 
divert. I thought , indeed , that I could have 
perpetuated my favour even to the end of my 
life ; the ordinary illusion of ^pinisters and 
favourites , who forget that theitiate depends 
upon their sovereign. Has not the Duke of 
Lerma been deceived as well as I , though he 
imagined that his purple was the sure gua- 
ranty of the eternal duration of his authority If 

In this manner did the Count-duke exhort 
his spouse to arm hersalf with patience j while 



( 567 ) 
he himself WB8 in an agitation^ , v>hirhTvtt§ 
dailjr eiicreased by the dispatches which he" 
received from Don Henry , who , having re- 
mained at coart to observe , took care to in*- 
form him exactly of every thing that happe- 
ned. It was Scipio that brought the letters 
from that young nobleman , whom he still 
served , I having quitted him onhis marriage'* 
with Donna Jaana. The dispatches of thi^ 
adopted son were always filled with bad news^ 
and unhappily no other were- expected from 
him. Sometimes he wrote , that the grandees , 
not contented with rejoicing publicly at the- 
retreat of the Count-duke , were again re- 
united to turn out all his creatures from the> 
posts and employments which they possessed ^i 
to replace them with his enemies ; another' 
time he observed , that Don Lewis de Haro 
began to come into -favour , and would , in^ 
all probability , be made PH me- minister. Of 
all the disagreeable news which my master re** 
ceivedy that which seemed to affect him most', 
was the change made in the Vice-royalty of 
Naples , whiich the court , selelv to mortify^ 
him 9 took from the Duke de Medina de las 
Torres , whom he loved , and gave it to that 
Admiral of Castile, whom he had a! ways hated. - 
I may venture to say that , during three: 
months , his grace felt nothing in his solitude- 
but trouble and chagrin : but his confessol* , 
wh<> was a Dominican friar , and , with'th* 
most solid piety , possessed a manly eloquence ^' 

M 2 



f 



had power enough to console him. By means 
of representing with energy , that he ought 
to hend his thoughts entirely to his own sal* 
vation , he had , with the help of grace , the 
good fortune to detach his mind from the 
court. His excellen6y would no longer hear 
any news from Madrid , his whole care heing 
now engrossed in preparing for his latter endt 
Madam d*01ivare^y also , making a good use 
of her retreat , met with a consolation pre« 
pared hy Providence in the convent w^hich 
she had tounded. There were among the nuns* 
some holy maidens , whose conversation, hill 
of balm 9 insensibly sweetened the bitterness 
of her life.|In proportion as my master turned 
his thoughts from worldly affairs , he became 
more and more tranquil i and in this manner 
regulated the day. He spent almost the whole 
morning in hearing mas? in the church of the 
convent , then returned to dinner j af^er which 
he amused himself about two hours , in playing 
at all sorts of games with me and some other 
of his most affectionate domestics ; then usu- 
ally retired by himself into his closet , vvhere 
he remained till bun-set j at vvhich time he 
took a turn in his garden , or an airing in his 
coach , to the neighbourhood of his castle , 
accompanied sometimes by his confessor , and 
sometimes by me. 

One day , being alone \yith him , and ad- 
miring the serenity of his countenance , | 
lopk the liberty to say — - « My lor<^, allo>Y 



the to express m^ joy : from the air of satis- 
faction in your looks, I conclude that your 
excellency begins to be accustomed to retire- 
ment. ,y — « I am already quite familiarized 
to it , answered he ; « and though I have been 
a long time used to business. I protest to thee , 
child , that I am every day more and more 
pleased with the quiet and peaceable liCe wich 
I lead in this place. » 

CHAP. XL 

The Count-duke becomes , all of a sudden , 
sad and thoughtful ; the sutrprising Cause 
of his Melancholjr » with its fatal cohse- 
(fdience^ 

11 1 s prace , in order to vary his occupations , 
amused himself some times also in cultivating 
his garden. One day , while I beheld him at 
work , he said to me in a jocular strain -«- 
« Santillane , thou seest a minister banished 
from court turned gardener at Loeches. "» — 
« My lord , ^ answered I , in the same tune , 
« methinks I see Dionysius of Syracuse , scho* 
olmaster at Corinth. » IVIy master *smiled at 
my reply , and was not at all displeased at 
the comparison. 

All the people in the house were overjoyed 
to see their master , superior to his disgrace ^ 
charmed with a life so different from that 
which he had always led , when we percei- 

M3 



f 



( 2170) 

T«d with sorrow jthat he viablj cdiaiiged : lie 
.became gloomy , thoughtful , and sunk inta 
a most profound melaocboly. He left off pla- 
ying with us , aod no JoDger eeeined aeasi- 
.hle of all that we could ioTont for hie dtvw- 
sion ; but locked himself up after dinner in 
his closet , where he remained alone till 
night : we imagined that his chagrin hadbMD 
occasioned by the returning ideas of his past 
greatness , and in that opinion left w^ith him 
the Dominican Criar^ whose eloquence , ho- 
wever , could not triumph oyer the melan* 
. choly of his grace , which , instead of dimi- 
nishing , seemed daily to increase. 

It came into my head , that the peusiv^e^ 
of this minister might have some {^articular 
cause , which he was unwilling to disclose : 
and oil this coujecture I formed the design of 
drawing the secret from him : for this pur- 
pose 9 I lay wait for an opportunity of spea* 
king to him in private , and having found 
it p. « My Lord , i> said I , with an air of 
respect , mingled with affection , « may Gil 
Bias be so bold as to put one question to his 
master ? i> — *' Speak , » he replied ; « I give 
. thee leave. )^ — « VVhat , » said 1 , « is become 
.gf that satisfaction which appeared in your 
excellencj^'s face I Have you no longer that 
ascendancy which you had once gained over 
fortune I or does your lost favour excite new 
regret within you I Would you be plunged 
again in that abyss of trouble from which 



( 271 ) 
your virtue hath extricated you ? )> — ^ « N0/9 
thank heaven I ^ resumed the Minister , « my 
memory .is no longer engrossed by the part 
which I acted at court ; I have for ever forgot 
.the honours which I there enjojed.» — « Why- 
then , » sakl 1 9 « since you have philosophy 
enough to banish these things from your re- 
membrance., ares.y<Mi so weak as to abandoa 
•yourself to a melancholy which alarms us 
all / Whatis the matter with you , my dear 
matter I ,, added I , throwing myself at his 
feet ; *' you have , doubtless , some secret sor* 
row that consumes you : will you make a my- 
stery of4tto Santil4aae , whose zeal, fidelity » 
and idiscpetion , you tknow so well I Erywhat 
misfortune 'have 'I lost your con^enoe ?.,, 

<^ Thou hast it sdll , ^said he ; <V but 1 con- 
fess I have a reluctance to reveal the cause of 
that sadness with which thou seest me over- 
whelmed : nevertheless , I cannot resist tho 
entreaties of such a servant and friend as thee. 
Know then the cau^e of my disquiet 9 which 
is a secret that I could impart to none but 
Santillane. Yes , „ continued he , '* I am ci 
prey to the most dismal melancholy , which 
gradually consumes my life. I see almost 
every moment a spectre , which presents ii- 
self bdfope me in the most terrible shap€. In 
vain have I said to myself , that it ts no moejr. 
than an illusion , an unsubstantial phantom 
of my brain ; the continual apparition infests 
my view ». and disturbs my repose. Thou|j[h 

M 4 



\ 



(272 ) 

niv understanding is strong enough to per- 
suade me that this spectre is really nothing, 
1 am notwithstanding weak enough to be af- 
flicted at the vision. I'his is wath thou hast 
forced me to disclose , ,, added he ; '* and 
thou majrest judge whether or not I am to 
blame in concealing from all the world, the 
cause of my melancholy. „ I was equallj 
grieved and astonished to hear such an ex- 
traordinary declaration , which was a strong 
indication of the machine's being disorde^d. 
'^ My Lord , ,9 said I to the ministect ''is 
not this occasioned by too little nourishment f 
for your abstinence is excessive. „ -«— *' Thai 
was what I imagined at first , „ anwered he; 
** and to try if it was actually owing to mjr 
diet , I have foir some days past eaten more 
than usual , but ^vithout any effect : the phan- 
tom still appe«jrs. „ — '* It will certainly 
disappear , ,, said I , to console him ; ** and if 
your excellency would, relax yourself a little | 
hy placing with your faithful servants » I be- 
lieve you would soon find yourself delivered 
from these gloomy vapours* 9, 

In a little time after this conversation, hb 
grace fell sick ; and finding the affair grow 
serious , sent to Madrid for two notaries to 
make his will ; as also for three famous phy- 
sicians , who had the reputation of curing 
iheir patients sometimes. As soon as the arri- 
val of these last was reported in the castle^ 
nothing was heard but groans and lamenta* 



( 275 ) 
tions : the servants looked upon the death 
of their mastei'as just at hand i so much werd 
they prejudiced against these gentlemen; who 
had brought along with them an apothecary 
and surgeon , the usual executioners of their 
prescriptions i They lot the notaries do their 
business ; after wich they prepared to do their 
own. Being of Dr. SangradoV principles , in 
their very first consultation they ordered re- 
peated bleedings » so that in six days they 
reduced the Count-duke to extremity , and on 
the seventh delivered him entirely from his 
apparition. (*). 

Upon the deat of this minister , a deep and 
sincere sorrow reigned in the castle of Loe- 
ches i all his domestics wept bitterly : far 
from consoling themselves for his loss , with 
the certainty of being comprehended in his 
will , there was not one among them who 
would not have renounced his legacy to re- 
cal him to life. As for me , who had been be- 
loved hy him , and whose attachment flowed 
from pure personal affection , I was more 
« afflicted than all the rest ; and question whe- 
ther I shed more tears for Antonia than for 
the Count-duke. 

(*) The Count-duke died on the 12th of July, 154$ • 
not at Loeches , but at Toro , in New Castile ; his death 
< according to report ) having been hastened by bis rela- 
tions , who y seeing hint become more and more odiouii' 
to the people, even in spite of his retroitt , were afraid 
of bis suffering some new ignominy , to the farther di»> 
grace of his family, 

M 5 



^i\ 



( ^74 ) 
CHAP. XII. 

The Transaciions at the Castle of Loeches 
after the Death of the Count-Duke ; and 
the Departure of Santillane. 

X H*^ miiiister , according to hb own direc- 
tion , was buried , without noise and pomp 9 
in the coavent of nuns , by the sound of our 
lamentations. Ailer the funeral , Madam d*01i- 
yarez ordered the will to be read , with which 
all the domestics had reason to be satisfied. 
Every one bad a legacy proportioned to hb 
station ; and the least was two thousand 
crowns : mine was the most considerable ; 
}iis grace having bequf athed to me ten thou- 
sand pisttoles J as a proof of his .particular 
fiffection » He did not forget the hospitals ^ and 
founded annual services in several cojnveats. 
Madam d'Olivarez sent all the domestics to 
Madrid , to receive their legades if^fifi the 
3te\vard Don Maymond Caporis , who had 
Qrde rs to p^y them , I being detained at the 
qastl e s^ven or eig);i.t d^y^ by a high fever « 
which was the ^uit of my affliction. la thi^ 
situati on I was not abandoned by the Domi- 
nican . Criar : tj^at good c.lergym^^ had concei- 
ved; ^^ affection for me ; and interesting liimf 
iaii m my salvation , asked , when he saw 
me in a fair way , v\'hat I intended to do. " I 
4t>u*i Jui. 9W" J ^Y S^o^ father , „ answered I; 



( i^S ) 

^< I have not fis yet determined with myself 
on that score : at some moments I am temp- 
ted to shut myself up in a cell , and do pe- 
nance. 9, -*- *^ Those are precious moments I ,» 
cried the Dominici^n : *' Siguior de Sautii- 
lane ^ you will dp well to profit by them. 1 
advise you as a iriend , Without your ceasing 
to be a layman , to retire , for example , into 
our con>ent at Madrid ; to m^ke yoursdf a 
benefactor to it by a donation of all your for- 
tune , and die there under the habit of St. Do* 
minique. A great many people expiate a 
worldly life by such an end. ^, 

I was then in such a disposition of mind , 
that I began to relish the advice , and told hi) 
reverence that' I would consider of it. But 
having consulted Scipio , whom I saw imme^ 
diately aller the monk , he inveighed again^ 
that sentiment , which seemed to him the 
whim of a sick person. *^ Fie, Signior de 
Santillane , ,, said he ; « can you be pleased 
with such a retreat I will not your house at 
Lirias afford one much more agreeable 7 If 
you was delighted with it heretofore , you will 
have a much better reli^ ^for the sweets of it 
•now 9 that you are of an age much more pro- 
per for tasting the beauties df nature. ,, 

T%e son of CoscoKna had no great dfflii- 
culty in making me change my opinion. 
^* Friend , „ md 1 , •* thou hast prevailed 
over the Dominican. I see it will be better 
ior dme to return to my caaftle , and fix my re* 

M G 



( 276 ) 
aolution accordingly : we mil repair to Lirias 
as soon as I shall be in a condition to travel. ^ 
And this happened very soon ; for the fever 
having left me in a iittle time , I found myself 
strong enough' to put my design in execution, 
^cipio and I went first to Madrid , the sight 
of which city no longer gave me that plea- 
sure which I had formerly felt. As I knew 
that almost all its inhabitants abhorred the 
memory of a minister of whom he preserved 
the most tender remembrance , I could not 
behold it with a favourable eye ; and there- 
fore staid in it only five or six days , which 
Scipio employed in making preparations for 
our departure for Lirias. While he was busy 
about our equipage , I went to Caporis , who 
gave me my legacy in doubloons. I likewise 
visited the receivers of the commanderies ou 
whom 1 had pensions , took measures with 
them for the payment ; and ^ in a w^ord , put 
all my affairs in order. 

On the evening before our departure , I as- 
ked the son of Goscolina , if he had taken his 
leave of Don Henry. " Yes , », answered he j 
<< we this morning parted good friends : he 
^assured me that he was sorry for my leaving 
him. But if he was satisfied with me y I was 
not so with him : it is not enough that the 
valet pleases the master ; the master ought , 
at the same time , to please the valet > other- 
wise they are very ill met. Besides , „ added 
jhe ^ ^ Don HQXLFy lUj^es but a pitiful figure 




(^77) 
at court , where he is sunk into the Tovresf 

contempt. He is even pointed at in the streets f 
and every body calls him the son of the Ge- 
noese. So you may guess y\ hether or not it is 
agreeable to a lad oi honour to serve a man in 
such disgrace. ,, 

At length we set out from IVladrid early 
one morning , and took the road to Cueura , 
ill the following order and equipage : my coiv* 
fident and I were mounted in a chaise and 
pair , conducted by a postilion : three mules » 
loaded with our baggage and money , and led 
by two grooms , followed close af\er i and 
two lusty lacquies , chosen by Scipio , moun^ 
ted on mules , and armed to the teeth , brought 
up the rear : the grooms wore sabres ^ and the 
postilion had two good pistols at his saddle- 
bow. As we were in all seven men , six of 
whom were very resolute, I travelled mer- 
ril/ yj without any apprehension of losing my 
legacy. 

Our mules proudly sounding their bells in 
the villages through which we passed , the 
peasants ran to their doors to see the march 
of our equipage , which they imagined belon- 
ged to some grandee , going to take possession 
of a vice royally. 



CHAP. xni. 

Gil Bias returns to his Castle , where he is 
overjoyed to find Ser€iphina , his God" 
daughter , marrigeable ; and falls in love 
with another Ladj', 

1 SPENT fifleen days on the road tp Lirias , 
being under no necessity of travelling fast : 
all that I desired was , to arrive at it safely ; 
and my wish was accomplished. 

The sight of my castle at first inspired mt 
with some melancholy thoughts, in recalling 
the memory of Antonia ; bdt I soon banished 
them 9 by entertaining my fancy with more 
pleasant ideds ; and this I could the more 
easily do , as twenty years , which were 
elapsed since her death , had a good deal 
weakened the force of my sorrow. 

As soon as I entered the castle , Beatrice 
and her daughter came , mth great eagerness , 
to salute me i then the father , mother , and 
child , hugged one another with transpoiis of 
joy 9 which charmed me. After their mutual 
embraces ^ I looked at my god-daughter at- 
tentively ; sayiug— « Can this be that Sera- 
phina whom I left in the cradle when I de- 
parted from Lirias ! 1 am overjoyed to see 
her again so tall and so handsome : we must 
have her settled for life. » « How 1 my dear 
god- father ^ ^ cried she , reddening al my last 




(^79) 

vrords , « you have seen me but for a moment, 

and you already talk of getting rid of me I ^ 

« No ^ my cUld , » answered I i « we don't 
intend to lose, you by marriage : we must 
have a husband , who wil enjoy you without 
robbing your parents of your company ; and p 
in a manner , live with us altogether. » 

« Such an one offers at present , » said 
Beatrice. « A gentleman of tUs country , ha- 
ving seen Seraphina one day at mass , in the 
village chapel , fell in love with her. He has 
been to visit me , declared his passion , and 
has asked my consent. *^ If you had it , „ said 
I to him , ** you would-be never the nearer* 
Seraphina depends upon her father and god* 
father , who can alone dispose of her. All that 
I can do for you is , to hiform them by a letter 
of your demand , which , I own , does honour 
to my daughter. „ *^ heally , Gentlemen \ ,^ 
added she , *^ I was going to write about it 
immediately ; but now that you are returned , 
you shall do in it what you think proper. ,, 

** But, „ said Scipio, ** what character has 
this hidalgo I Is he like most of your small 
gentry , proud of his nobility , and iusolent 
to plebeians ? », — ^^ Not at all , ,, replied 
Beatrice; ^' he is a sweet-tempered young 
man , extreroiely polite , has a good mien , 
and is not -yet fuU thirty. ,, 

^* You draw an agreeable picture of thai 
cavHlier , „ said I to Beatrice, *< pray what 
is^Jbis name I ,, ^«. << Don Juan de Julella , ^^ 



( 28o ) 
answered Scipio's wife ; ** he has but lately 
succeeded to his father , and lives in a castle 
about a league from hence , w^ith a younger 
sister, who is under his care. „ 

*' I have formerly,,, said I, ** heard of 
this gentleman's family , which is one of the 
most noble in Valencia. ,, ... <^ I esteem his 
nobility , ,, cried Scipio , <dess than the quali- 
ties of his heart and understanding ; and this 
Don Juan will suit us very well, provided he 
be a man of honour. ,, 

'^ He has the reputation of one , „ said Se- 
raphina , joining in the conversation ; the 
inhabitants of LiriaS , who know him , give 
him the best of characters. „ At these words 
of my god-daughter , I smiled to her father, 
who , having likewise observed them , con- 
cluded that his daughter was not displeased 
at her gallant. 

This cavalier soon got notice of our arrival 
at Lirias"; and two days after appeared at 
our castle. He saluted us gracefully ; and , far 
from contradicting by his presence what Bea- 
trice had said to his advantage , his behaviour 
made us conceive an high opinion of his merit. 
He told us , that as our neighbour , he had 
come to congratulate us upon our happy re- 
turn i and we received him with all the cour- 
tesy in our power j but this visit, which was 
made out of pure civility , passed in mutual 
compliments^ and Don Juan , without haviug 
menliened a sellable of his passion for Sera- 



( 28l ) 

phina , retired , onljr desiring our permittiofil 
to profit by a neighbourhood , which he fore- 
saw would be very agreeable to him. 

When he was gone , Beatrice asked our 
opinions of the gentleman: we answered , that 
he had prepossessed us in his favour : and that , 
in all appearance , Fortune could not offer a 
belter match for Seraphina. 

The very next day I went out, after dinner, 
with Coscolina's sun , to return the visit 
which we owed to Don Juan. We took the 
road to his castle, conducted by a guide, 
who, (when we had walked about three 
quarters of an hour ) said , « I'here is the 
cnstle of Don Juan de Jutella. » In vain did 
we cast our eyes all around the country : it 
WU5 a long time before we perceived it; nay , 
yvQ did not discover it till we arrived at the 
gate 'y for it was situate at the fvtot of a moun- 
tain , in the middle of a wood, wlio^io lof^y 
trees concealed it from the view. The house 
denoted the nobility , more than the opu- 
lence , of its master : however , when we en- 
tered , we found the cra2.iue::s of the building 
compensated by the richness of the furniture. 
Don Juan received us in a very handsome 
hall where he introduced us to a lady , whom 
he called his sister Dorothea , and who see- 
med to be about the age of nineteen or twenty. 
She was full dressed , because , having expec- 
ted our visit , she was desirous of appearing 
as amiable as she could i and offering herself 



C 282 ) 

my view in all her charms , she made the 
same impression that Autonia had made upon 
my heart » that is » I was disconcerted i but 
concealed my disorder so well , that Scipio 
himself did not observe it. 

Our conversation , like that of the prece- 
ding day , turned upon the mutual pleasure 
we should enjoy , in visiting one another, 
and living together in good neighbourhood. 
He did not, as yet , speak to us of Seraphiua, 
and we gave him no encouragement to declase 
his passion , resolving that it should first corm 
from himself. 

During the conversation , I frequently eyed 
Dorothea , though I affected to look at her as 
little as possible ; and every time our e^es 
met , she darted fresh arraws into my soul. I 
must say , however, for the sake of truth, 
that this beloved object was not a perfect 
beauty > for, though her skin was of a dazz- 
ling whiteness , and her lips of the complexion 
jof the rose ; her nose was somewhat too long , 
and her eyes too little. Nevertheless , the 
whole together quite enchanted me. In shorty 
I did , not leave the castle of Jutella as I had 
entered in ; and on my return to Lirias, my 
mind was so wholly possessed by Dorothea , 
that I saw nothing but her , and she was the 
sole subject of my conversation. 

^ How , master ! ^ said Scipio , lookiag at 
me with astonishment , 4. you .are very fiill 
of Don Juan's sister. Hath she made a coa« 



(285) 
quest of your heart f i> — « Yes , friend , » 
answered I ; « and I blush at my own weak- 
ness. O Heavens 1 must I , who , since Anto-. 
nia's death , have beheld a thousand beauties 
with indifference , meek with one at my age ^ 
who, in. spite of all my endeavours, inflames 
me with love ! » — « Well , Sir , » replied 
I Coscolina's son ; « you ought to rejoice , ins- 
tead of complain , at this adventure : there is 
nothing ridiculous in men of your age being 
in love ; and time hath not asyet so surrounded 
your brow , as to deprive you of the hope oi 
pleasing. Take my advice ; and when next 
you see Don Juan , boldly demand his sister 
in marriage i he cannot refuse her to such a 
person as you : and besides , if it is absohi- 
tely necessary that Dorothea's husband should 
.be a ^gentleman : are not you one I you have 
letters of nobility, and that is enough for your 
prosperity , when time shall have shrouded 
these letters with that thick veil , which co- 
vers the origin of all great families. After 
four or five generations , the race of Santilla- 
ne will be most illustrious 1 » 

CHAP. XIV. 

The double Marriage celebrated at Lirias ^ 
which concliides the Historjr of Gil Bias 
de Santillane* 

>^GiPio , by this discourse* encouraged me to 
declare myself the lover of Dorothea , withou 
considering that he exposed me to the risquo 



k. 



( 284 ) 

i)f a refusal. 1 could not , however , determina 
upon it without trembling ; for although I loo- 
ked younger than I was ^ ^nd tould have sunk 
ten good years at least of mj age , I could not 
help thinking I had good reason to doubt of 
my pleasing a young beauty. I resolved , ne- 
vertheless , to risque the demand , as soon as 
I should see her brother ; who , for his part ^ 
being uncertain of obtaining my god-daughter , 
was not without abundance of anxiety. 

He returned to my house next morning 1 
just as I had done dressing , and said i— *^ Si* 
gnior de Santillane , I am come to day to tafk 
with you about a serious aflfair. „ I carried 
him into my closet , where coming to th« 
point at once , " I believe , „ continued he, 
•* that you are ignorant of my errand. 1 love 
Seraphina ; and as you can sway her father 
to any thing , pray render him favourable to 
me J procure for me the object of my passion , 
and let me owe the happiness of my life to 
you. ,, — " Signior Don Juan , „ answered 
I , ** since you come to the business at once , 
give me leave to follow your example ; and , 
after having promised you my good offices 
with the father of my god-daughter, to de- 
mand your interest with your sister in my 
behalf. 9, 

At these last words , Don Juan expressed 
an agreeable surprise , from which I drew a 
favourable omen. ♦' Is it possible, „ cried he, 
'* that Dorothea made a cou^uest of your heart 



( a85 ) 

resterday 1 19 — *' I am quite charmed rriiU 
ler I 9, said I ; ^* and will think myself the 
lappiest of mankind , if my demand is agreea-' 
ble to you both, o — **. Of that you may bo 
assured, „ he replied : nohle as we are , we 
will not disdain your alliance. ,, ^^ I am very 
glad 9 9, answered 19^* that you make no 
difficulty in receiving a plebeian for your 
brother-in-law : I esteem you the more on that 
account ; and in so doing , you shew your 
good understanding : but were you even so 
vain as to refuse your sister's hand to any body 
but a gentleman , know, thai I could satisfy 
your pride. I have laboured twenty years un- 
der the minister; and the king , to recompense 
the services which I have done the state , has 
gratified me with letters of nobility , which 
you shall see. ,, So saying , I took my patent 
out of the drawer where it lay concealed, and 
presented it to the gentleman , who read it 
attentively from beginning to end whh vast sa- 
tisfaction. ^^ This is excellent ! „ said he 9 res- 
toring the papers : ** Dorothea is your's. 9, — • 
^^ And you, ,, cried I9 ** may depend upon 
Seraphina. „ 

These two marriages being thus resolved 
upon , all that remained whs to know if the 
brides would consent witl> a good grace; for 
Don Juan and 1 9 being equally delicate, did 
not intend to force their inclinations. That gent- 
leman returned, therefore, to his castle of 
i^ii^ella 9 to propose me to his sisterj and I §$^ 



V 



( 286 ) 
s^mbled Scipio , Beatrice , and their daoghter , 
to communicate the conversation I had with 
that cavalier. Beatrice was for accepting him 
without hesitation i and Seraphina, b^ her 
silence , shewed that she was of her mother's 
o pirn on. As to' the father , he was not indeed 
averse to the match i but expressed some unea- 
siness about the dowry , which , he said , 
must be given to the gentleman , whose castle 
had such pressing need of repairs. I stopped 
Scipio's mouth , telling him , that affair con- 
cerned me i and that I would make a present 
to my god> daughter of four thousand pistoles 
for her portion. 

Don Juan returning that very evening, 
^* Your affairs , „ said I to him , succeed to a 
miracle : I wish mine may be in no worse 
condition. >, — " They are also on -an excel- 
lent footing y „ he replied. ** I had no occa- 
sion to employ authority to obtain Dorothea's 
consent : your person is to her liking , and 
Dhe is pleased with your behaviour. You was 
apprehensive of your being disagreeable to 
her; and she is more justly afraid that, ha- 
ving nothing but her heart and hand to offer „ 
— ** What more would I have ! „ cried I , in 
a transport of joy : ** Since the charming Do- 
rothea has no reluctance to unite her fate with 
mine , lask no more : I am rich enough to 
marry her without a portion , and the posses- 
sion of her alone will crown my wishes I „ 

Don Juain and I , very well pleased with 



( 287 ) , 

having brought matters happily so far , re- 
solved to hasten our nuptials , by surpressing 
all superfluous ceremonies. I brought this gent- 
leman and 8eraphina*s parents together ; and 
after they had agreed upon the conditions of' 
the marriage » he took his leave , promising 
to return next day with Dorothea. The de- 
sh^e I bad of appearing agreeable to that Lady, 
made me employ three good hours at least in 
adjusting and adorning myself ; and yet , for 
all that I I could not make myself pleased 
with my own person. It is. only a pleasure* 
for a young man to prepare himself for visi- 
ting his mistress ; but to one who begins to 
grow old , it is quite a fatigue. However , I 
was more happy than I deserved to be. 

When next I saw Don Juan's sister , sht 
regarded me with such a favourable eye , that 
I imagined myself still good or something. 
I had a long conversation with her > was 
charmed with her disposition , and concluded, 
that , with delicate behaviour , and a great 
deal of complaisance , I should become a 
beloved spouse. Elevated with this agreeable 
hope, I sent to Valencia fortwo notaries, who 
drew up the contract of marriage j then we 
had recourse to the Curate of Paterna , who 
came to Lirias , and married Don Juan and' 
me to our mistresses. 

Thus , for a second time«, did I light the 
torch of Hymen , and had no cause to repent 
my conduct. Dorothea , like a virtuous wife , 



4 



( d88 ) 
made a pleasore of her duty ; and , sensible 
of my care to anticipate her desires , soon 
attached herself to me as much as if I had 
been a young man. On the other hand , Don 
Juan and my god - daagbter were inflamed 
with mutual ardour ; and , what was very ' 
singular 9 the two sisters-in-law conceived 
the most passionate and sincere friendship for 
one another. As for my part , I found so 
many good qualities in my brother-in-law i 
that I felt a real .affection for him , and he 
did not repay it with ingratitude. In short , 
the union that reigned among us was such , 
that in the evening , when we paited only 
till next day , that separation was not per- 
formed without pain ; so that of the two fa- 
milies we resolved to make one*, which should 
live sometimes at the castle of Lirias , and, 
sometimes at that of Jutella , which , for this 
purpose , received great reparations by the 
help of his excellency's pistoles. 

I have for three years , gentle reader , led 
a delightful life with people whom I love so 
much ; and , to crown my felicity , Heaven 
has blessed me with two children , whom 
I piously believe tcT be my own , and whose 
education shall be the amusement of my 
old age. 

FINIS.