approving of my Design of leaving the Kingdom furnish'd me with Money for my Journey and Verville who did not forget though now married presented me with a good Horse and a Hundred Pistols I took my Journey towards Lyons to pass into Italy with design to go once more to Rome and after having taken my last Farewel of Leonora to repair with speed to Candy there to put an end to my wretched Life At Nevers I lodg'd at an Inn which stood near the River and coming thither very early and not knowing how to spend my time till Supper were ready I went to take a Walk on a great Stone-Bridge which lies cross the River Loir There were a couple of Women walking there at the same time one of which that look'd as if she were sick lean'd on the others Shoulder and had much ado to crawl along As I past by 'em I pull'd my Hat off to 'em without taking notice of their Faces and continued walking for some time on the said Bridge still keeping my Thoughts employ'd about my Misfortunes and chiefly about my Amours I was well enough clad as all those ought to be whose Quality cannot excuse an indifferent Habit. When I came again near these Women I over-heard one of 'em say For my part I should believe it had we not heard he was dead I cannot tell how I came to look behind me having no Reason to think they spoke of me and yet no Man but my self was the Subject of their Discourse I presently found the first Lady was Madam la Boissiere grown very pale and wan who rested upon her Daughter Leonora's Shoulder Thereupon I made directly towards them with more assurance than I had in Rome having improv'd my self both as to my Person and Wit during my stay in Paris I found 'em so surpriz'd and amaz'd that I verily believe they would have fled from me had Madam la Boissiere been able to run and this surpriz'd me no less I ask'd them what happy Chance brought me to the Presence of two Persons whom I esteem'd above all the World These Words dispell'd their Fears Madam de la Bossiere told me I ought not to wonder to see 'em look upon me with some Astonishment since Signior Stephano had shew'd 'em a Letter from one of those Gentlemen I waited on at Rome by which he was inform'd of my being kill'd in the War of Parma adding she was overjoy'd to find that News false which had been so unwelcome to her I replied That Death was not the greatest Misfortune that could befal me and that I was going to Venice to court it and if possible spread the Report of my Death with more certainty than before They grew sad at my Resolution and the Mother began to express a great deal of Tenderness to me the Cause of which I cou'd not well guess At last I learnt from her self the Ground of her Civility I was now in a Capacity to serve her and her present Condition would not allow her to despise and look coldly on me as she had done in Rome They had met with a Misfortune which had put them to great Streights For having turn'd all their Furniture into ready Money they left Rome with a French Maid that had serv'd 'em a long time and Signior Stephano's Man a Fleming like himself who would needs return to his Native Country This Fellow and the Wench it seems lov'd each other enought to venture a Match and yet they kept their Amour so private that no Body ever discover'd it Madam la Boissiere being come to Rouenne went by Water thence At Nevers she found her self so very ill that she could go no further During her Sickness she was somewhat hard to be pleas'd and her Maid more unwilling to humour her than ever she had been before One Morning the Wench and her Paramour were missing and which was more grievous still the poor Lady's Money was missing also Her Grief encreas'd her Distemper and she was forc'd to stay at Nevers till she receiv'd Letters from Paris from whence she expected a Supply to proceed in her Journey Madam la Boissiere told me this sad Adventure in few Words I led 'em back again to their Inn which was the same where I had taken up my Quarters where after I had brought 'em to their Chamber and stood a while with 'em I retir'd to my own leaving 'em to their Supper For my own part I could not eat a Bit but thought it was at least five or six Hours while I was at Table I waited upon 'em as soon as they had given me notice that I should be welcome I found the Mother in Bed and the Daughter receiv'd me with a Countenance as sad as it appear'd joyful a Moment before The Mother was still more sad than the Daughter and I griev'd for Company We star'd a while upon one another without speaking a Word At last Madam de la Boissiere shew'd me a Letter she had newly receiv'd from Paris which cast both her and her Daughter Leonora into the deepest Affliction in the World She express'd the Reason of her Grief with a Flood of Tears and her Daughter Leonora wept also most bitterly which mov'd me so sensibly that I thought I did not express my Sense of it enough though I proffer'd 'em all I could possibly do for their Assistance with such a Freedom as put my Sincerity out of all douht I am as yet unacquainted with the Cause of your Grief said I But if my Life may any way contribute to your Relief you may set your Mind at rest Tell me therefore Madam what I must do to serve you Money I have if you want any and Courage likewise if you fear any Enemies and the Satisfaction of having serv'd you is the only Recompence I expect for doing you Service My Words and my Countenance gave them so full an Assurance of the reality of my Sentiments that their Affliction was somewhat abated Madam de la Boissiere gave me a Letter to peruse wherein a Gentlewoman of her Acquaintance inform'd her that a certain Person who was nameless but whom I judg'd to be Leonora's Father was commanded to leave the Court and had retir'd himself into Holland Thus this poor Lady found her self in a strange Country without either Money or the least Hopes of getting any I made her a second Proffer of the small Stock I had which might amount to Five Hundred Crowns and told her I would wait upon her into Holland or any other Part of the World she had a mind to go to In short I assur'd her she had found in me a Person that would do her all the Service she could expect from a Valet and serve and honour her like a dutiful Son I blush'd extremely at this Word of Son But I was no more that hateful Man who was denied Admittance to their House in Rome and to whom Leonora was invisible for now Leonora was much
encrease his speed till at last a Mill presented it self in his way as an Asylum to save him He ran in there with the Executioner close at his Heels and finding the Door of a little Back-yard open he entred in thereat in great haste but which he had no sooner done than he was caught by the Buttocks by a Mastiff Dog He thereupon began to shriek out most dolefully and flying to an adjoining Garden with great precipitation he happen'd to tumble down five or six Hives of Bees that stood just at his entrance This prov'd much the worst of all his Misfortunes for these little wing'd Enemies with their pointed Stings assailing a naked Body that had no Arms to defend it tormented and Blister'd him most cruelly He hereupon bawl'd out so loud that the Dog that had bitten him was scar'd away for fear The same cause drove away the Coachman and Father Gislot which last having given his Revenge too great a loose and kept his Charity too strait lac'd began to repent of his Cruelty and hasten'd immediately to call the Master and his Man to the assistance of the poor Fellow who was thus worried in the Garden The Miller made no great haste but nevertheless came at last when snatching up Ragotin from among his venemous Enemies tho' he might be a little displeased at the overthrow of his Hives yet had he nevertheless more Charity than the Priest and began at first sight to pity him He then proceeded to demand of him What the Devil made him to thrust himself while naked and his Hands tied among his Stocks of Bees But tho' Ragotin was going to answer him yet could he not by reason of the excessive Pains he felt all over his Body A Bears Cub but newly Whelpt and never lick'd into form could not be so shapeless as our Ragotin was in his Humane figure after having been stung by these merciless Creatures being swell'd excessively even from Head to Foot The Millers Wife as pitious as most good Women are got a Bed provided for him and laid him into it Father Giflot the Coachman and Peasant return'd back to the Abbess of Estival who with her Nuns being re-embark'd in their Coach set forwards on their Journey under Convoy of the reverend Father mounted on a Mare It happen'd that the aforesaid Mill belong'd either to du Rignon or his Son-in-Law Bagottiere I cannot say whether This du Rignon it seems was a Relation of Ragotin's which when the Miller and his Wife came to know they took more than ordinary care of him and caus'd a Surgeon of a Neighbouring Town to come and Cure him which he happily perform'd in a short time Assoon as he was well able to Walk he return'd to Mans where his Joy for Rancour and Olive's having found his Mule and brought it home along with them soon made him forget his fall out of the Cart the Coachmans lashes his bitting by the Mastiff and his being stung by the Bees CHAP. XVII Some Passages between the little Ragotin and the great Baguenodiere DEstiny and Star Leander and Angelica two brace of noble and real Lovers arriv'd at the Capital City of Maine without meeting any the least Misfortune by the way Destiny soon reinstated Angelica in her Mothers Favour to whom he had given so plausible an Account and Character of Leander's Amours and Condition that Mrs. Cave began now to approve the young Man's Passion as much as she had before oppos'd it The poor Company of Strollers had had no great reason to brag of theri gettings at Mans had not a Man of Quality that lov'd Plays extremely made them amends for the losses they had sustain'd by the Citizens The greatest part of this Person 's Estate lying in Maine he had taken a House at Mans whither he often invited as well Courtiers as Country Gentry among whom were sometimes the greatest Wits and often times Poets of the first rank to all which he approved himself a kind of Modern Mecaenas His chiefest delight was in Comedy and therefore he not only cherish'd the Composers thereof but likewise invited every Year the best Comedians in the Kingdom to come to Mans. This Nobleman happen'd to come thither much about the same time that these poor Strollers were going thence on account of the thinness of their Audiences but he desired them by all means to continue there a Fortnight longer and the better to incline them to it he presented them with a Hundred Pistols promising to give them as many more at their departure He was glad of this occasion to divert several Persons of Quality of both Sexes that he had brought along with him to Mans and who were to make some short stay there at his Request This Lord whom I will call here the Marquess d'Orse was a great Hunter and had brought all his Hunting Equipage to Mans which in every respect was the finest to be met with in France The Downes and Forests of the Country of Maine made it to be one of the best places for those Sports in the whole Kingdom and that either for Deer or Hares and it being now the Season for such like Divertisements the City of Mans was full of Huntsmen which the approaching Festival had drawn thither most of them with their Wives who were extremely ravish'd at the sight of the Court Gallantry thinking they should now have matter sufficient to furnish them with Chat for the longest Winters Evening It is not the least ambition of the Country People to be able to relate sometimes and brag that at such a time and in such and such a place they have seen such and such Courtiers whom they salute only with their Sir-names and mention without any addition of Title for Example one will tell you he lost his Money to Roquelaure Crequi won so much Coaquin hunted a Stag in Touraine and the like But if you suffer them to enter either upon Politicks or War they will never cease talking till they have drain'd the Subject as dry as they were at first empty But let us here put an end to out Digression Man 's was then filled with Nobility and Gentry of all sorts The Inns were crowded with Guests and the greatest part of the principal Citizens who lodged such Courtiers or Country Gentry as were of their Friends had in a short time their best Linnen foul'd and their Family Provisions exhausted The Strollers quickly open'd their Shop resolving to let their Customers have lumping Penny-worths since they had been so well paid before-hand The Citizens of both Sexes prepar'd for the Diversion and the Town and Country-Ladies were over-joy'd to behold every Day the Court-Madams from whom they learn'd to dress alamode or at least better than they were wont to do which tho' it occasion'd expence to their Husbands yet was it of exceeding benefit to their Taylors who by these means had many an old Gown to alter They had a Ball every Night where several wretched
worthy a Gentleman as Leander Mrs. Cave sobb'd so violently that she could not find a time to answer her neither can I to continue this Chapter any farther and therefore conclude it CHAP. IX How Rancour undeceiv'd Ragotin concerning Madam Star together with the Arrival of a Coach full of Gentry and some other comical Adventures of Ragotin's THE Play went on prosperously and one or other was Acted every Day with great Satisfaction to the Audience which consisted of the better sort and was generally very numerous amongst whom nevertheless hapned no disorder by reason that Ragotin was kept behind the Scenes having no Parts yet given him but which he grumbled at tho' he had been promised some when occasion serv'd He made his complaints almost every Day to Rancour whom he put a great confidence in tho' by the way he was one of the very worst of Men. As he plagued him one Day above the rest Rancour said to him Monsieur Ragotin disturb your self no more about this matter for I must tell you there is a great deal of difference between the Bar and the Stage If a Man have not a more than ordinary Assurance he will be easily put out on the Stage besides the speaking of Verse requires no common Capacity and is more difficult to do than you may fancy You must observe nicely the Pointing of Verse and when you speak it on the Stage run one Verse into another that it may seem Prose and consequently be Natural and easie You must not sing it out and stop at the Cesures or at the end of a Verse as the Vulgar do but Pronounce it always with a good Grace and a becoming Action I would have you therefore continued he to wait a little longer before you come on the Stage and in the mean time you may Act in some private Masquerade or Farce to bring your hand in You may there play the Part of a second Zani or Merry Andrew and I think we have a Habit within that will be very fit for you having formerly belong'd to a little Boy call'd Godenot who had sometimes represented that Person But added he we must first speak to Monsieur Destiny and Madam Star about it This they did the same Day and it was order'd that next Morning Ragotin should represent the said Person He was instructed by Rancour in what he was to say who as you may have observ'd in the first Part of this Romance was altogether inclinable to Farce The Plot of what they play'd was an Intrigue which Rancour unravelled in favour of Destiny As Rancour was preparing himself to begin Ragotin appeared upon the Stage to whom the former spoke thus Little Boy my pretty Godenot quoth he whether art thou going in such haste Then addressing himself to the Company after having chuck'd Ragotin under the Chin and felt for his Beard Gentlemen said he I have always hitherto thought that Ovid's Metamorphosis of Pismires inta Pigmies who had at that time War with the Cranes was only a Fable but now I find it to be true for certainly this is one of the race or else that little Man reviv'd concerning whom about Seven or Eight Years since there was a Song made to this affect The SONG MY Mother would needs have me Wed But a Pigmy alass is the Man For call him a Husband who can That scarce takes up a Foot of the Bed Yet still this of him may be said That if he be not he be not a Man He is he is he is he is he is as much as he can At the end of every Verse Rancour turn'd and winded Ragotin about as if he had been a Poppet making him to appear in so many ridiculous Postures as made the Company to laugh heartily The rest of the Song I have left out as superfluous to our Romance After that Rancour had ended his Song he shew'd Ragotin to the Company telling them that he was risen again from the Dead and to make what he said appear he took off his Masque and exposed him barefaced which caused him not only to blush for shame but likewise to redden with Anger He nevertheless was fain to bear it but however to revenge himself he told Rancour that he was a downright Blockhead for making his Song with such old fashion'd Rhimes But quoth Rancour I think you are a greater Blockhead for a little Man since you could not distinguish betwixt an old Song and a new me this having been made above a hundred Years ago Also continu'd he it is with Rhiming as with Language Custom must regulate all for since as Monsieur Rogula has it who reform'd the French Tongue we cannot give a reason why we pronounce so and so no more ought our Ancestors to do why they Writ after this manner and whereas whatever is most ancient is always most valu'd so ought my Song to be for the same Reason While Ragotin was going to answer Destiny enter'd complaining of the long stay his Man Rancour had made and whom having found in a hot dispute with Ragotin he immediately demanded of them the cause of their Dispute but which he could nevertheless never come to know since they answer'd him both at a time and so loud that they made him stark Mad. His Passion being thus rais'd he thrust Ragotin against Rancour with great Indignation and whom Rancour return'd again against him with like fury till at last they had tossed him about from one to t'other so long that he fell down on his Face and afterwards march'd away on all four under the Curtains This the Audience all rise up to see protesting that this mute Action was worth all the rest of their Farce which they could not proceed any farther with by reason that the Actors had quite laughed themselves into confusion Notwithstanding this Affront Ragotin still Solicited Rancour to bring him in Favour with Madam Star and the better to encline him to do it he often treated him which was very welcome to Rancour who did not scruple to feed heartily at the little Man's cost But as he was wounded with the same Dart he had not the Heart to speak either for Ragotin or himself One Day above the rest Ragotin pressed him so close that he found himself oblig'd to tell him Monsieur Ragotin This Star no doubt is of the nature of those in the Firmament which the Astrologers name wandring for I have no sooner at any time begun to open your Passion to her but she twinkles and leaves me without an Answer Yet how should she Answer me quoth he if she will not hear me But I believe I have discovered the occasion of her Indifference proceeded he and which no question may surprize you but a Man that has a mind to be satisfied in any thing must be prepar'd against all Events This Monsieur Destiny whom she calls her Brother I fancy not to be at all so for I surpriz'd them the other Day Caressing
and afterwards tells him News of the Baron D'Arques his Father and of Monsieur de St. Sauveur Destiny on his part relates all his Adventures not concealing the least and Verville farther acquaints him that Saldagne still continued to live thereabouts as ill a Life as ever and promised him withal that if Madam Star were to be found in his Custody he would do all that lay in his Power to recover her out of his Hands at the hazard both of his own Life and those of his Friends which he could Command He farther tells him that he had no place to retire to but his Father's and another Gentleman 's in the Country who was as bad as he and besides who had little or no Estate to maintain himself and therefore could not be able to entertain another long He must therefore continued he come to our House speedily if he will remain in our Province My Father bears with him 't is true on account of some Relation but my Brother St. Far cates no more for him whatever Friendship has been formerly between them I would advise you therefore proceeded he to come along with me to my Fathers to Morrow and I will place you so that you shall observe all that he does and notwithstanding be seen by 〈◊〉 but those you have a mind to see This Advice of 〈◊〉 Friend Verville's Destiny liked very well and resolved to follow it but Verville being to go to Supper that Night with the Lord of the Town an old Man his Relation who had design'd him for his Heir it could not be put in execution till the next Morning Destiny for his part Supp'd only on what he could find in the Inn and went to Bed betimes that he might not make his Friend wait for him the next Day for that they had design'd to be on their Journy by Sun rising At the Hour appointed they set forth and as they rid along for three Leagues together entertained each other with those Particulars that they had not time to speak of before Assoon as they were got to their Journeys end Verville plac'd Destiny in the House of a Servant of his whom he had married not long before to a Woman in that Town and who lived very prettily not far off from the Baron D'Arques his Father He gave particular orders that he should be kept private and promised that he would return to him in a very short time It was not above two Hours before he did return accordingly but acquainted Destiny at first dash that he had bad News to tell him Hereupon Destiny began to grow pale and to tremble but Verville soon removed the cause thereof by the following Relation I was no sooner alighted quoth he to Destiny but I saw your Friend Saldagne carried between four Men into a Ground Chamber and that by reason of a fall he had got from his Horse which had so bruiz'd him that he was not able to walk At the first sight of me he told me he had occasion to speak with me and desired me to come to his Chamber after that the Surgeon that was then present had done dressing of his Leg which was extremely shatter'd by his fall I came accordingly and assoon as we were alone he began thus I must says he confess all my Faults to you tho' you are the least indulgent of any of my Censurers your Prudence being a continual terror to my Folly He afterwards owned to me that he had carried away a Woman Player for whom he had had a kindness all his Life long and would tell me the Particulars thereof which he believed I would be surpriz'd at He told me consequently that the Gentleman I was speaking of before who had been us'd to entertain him having been obliged to leave the Province on account of siding with a Brother of his who had been found to have made bad Salt he was forc'd to bring his Booty to my Fathers House and that he had desired of his Sister my Wife that she would conceal her in her Appartment for fear this action of this should come to my Fathers knowledge which he said he â—dreaded He afterwards conjured me to lend him one of my Servants because his own were great Blockheads that might conduct her safe to an House of his in Brittany whither he said he would follow assoon as ever he could well mount a Horse He ask'd me farther if I could not procure him a Man or two more to accompany my Servant for well he knew how difficult a thing it would be for three Men to carry off a Woman so far without her consent I made him believe it was an easy matter the better to serve you Now continued Verville to Destiny his Servants are altogether Strangers to you and mine is a very cunning Fellow and Faithful to me therefore I will cause him to tell Saldagne that he will take along with him a stout Fellow an Acquaintance of his to his Assistance and this same Fellow I design shall be you Therefore pursu'd he your Mistriss must be acquainted with this and this very Night that they think to get a great way by the help of the Moon she must feign her self sick at the first Village then will they be oblig'd to stop my Servane shall make Saldagnes Men drunk She shall afterwards seem to recover and then proceeding on in their Iourny it will be an easy matter for my Men to impose on the Drunkards and to make them believe that you come behind with their Charge when it shall be so contriv'd that you shall go a quite contrary way and so carry your dear Star clear off Destiny found a great deal of masterly Contrivance in this Proposal of Vervilles and whose Man whom they had just then sent for entred the Chamber much at the same time They consulted together what they had to do and agreed on all Points Afterwards Verville retired with Destiny the rest of the Day being unwilling to part with him so quickly after so long absence tho' he nevertheless hop'd to see him again at Bourbon whither he vvas to go At length Night came and Destiny vvent vvith Verville's Servant to the place appointed Saldagnes tvvo Men fail'd not to be there likewise when Verville by Saldagnes order consign'd into their Hands the Charge of Madam Star You cannot imagine what Joy enflam'd these two Lovers Hearts at this enterview but speak they must not and look languishingly they dare not so that their Passion might be well term'd inexpressible They had not gone above half a League before Madam Star began to complain Her Attendants exhorted her to take Courage till she came to a Town about two Leagues off where they gave her hopes she should rest Her Malady encreased at every Step and Vervilles Man and Destiny did all that in them lay to prevent Saldagnes Servants from mistrusting the reality of her Sickness so near to the place they set out from At last they
of Murdering both Hereupon I had notice given me that I must soon come to my Trial and that if I escap'd it was more than any Body expected I knew the home-Proofs they had against me and hop'd only for a Miracle from Heaven to acquit me but at last Despair got the upper-hand and my Hopes consequently vanish'd I resolv'd therefore not caring to trust my deliverance to the course of Justice to join with some Highway-Men my Fellow Prisoners in the execution of a design they had laid to procure it for us all Accordingly we one Night forc'd the Gates of our Prison and by the assistance of our Friends got to the Mountains that were nearest Valencia before the Vice-Roy could possibly be inform'd of our Escapes We here continued a long time Masters of the Roads My Sophy's Infidelity and her Parents merciless Prosecution together with the loss of my Estate and Reputation made me so desperate that I car'd not at what rate I hazarded my Life and therefore in all cases of resistance I behav'd my self with so great Resolution that my Companions thought fit to chuse me for their Captain I continued in this Post so succesful for some time that our Troop became formidable even to the Kingdoms of Arragon and Valencia which Countries we were so bold as to put under Contribution I herein make you acquainted continu'd Carlos to Sophy with a Secret that concerns my Life but the Honour you have done me of your Friendship and the Opinion I have of your Integrity makes me not to doubt in the least of my security At length proceeded he I was weary of this wicked course of Life and forsook my Companions at a time when they least expected it I made my way for Barcelona where I listed a private Trooper in the Recruits that were just then raising for Africa I had hitherto had no grreat reason to be in love with Life and therefore having made so ill use of it as to infest my Country I thought I could not do better than to employ the remainder of my Days in its Service and more especially seeing the kindness I have received at your Hands has been the only Comfort I have had since I have been made the most miserable of Men by the most ungrateful Woman in the World The unknown Sophy hereupon took the part of Sophy unjustly accus'd and omitted nothing to persuade her Lover against passing rash Judgments on his Mistriss before he was thorowly inform'd of her Crime She told the unfortunate Gentleman moreover that she was very sensible of his Misfortunes and would do all that lay in her power to alleviate them and to give him a better Proof of her good Will than what lay in Words she desired of him to come and be with her and that assoon as occasion serv'd she would employ all her own and her Friends Interest with the Emperour to get him deliver'd from the Prosecution of Sophy's Parents as likewise from that of the Vice-Roy of Valencia Don Carlos was not at all mov'd with what the Counterfeit Don Fernando could say to him concerning the justification of Sophy but to accept of the offers of his Table and House he was The same Day this faithful Lover spoke to Don Carlos's Captain to permit him to come and serve under him I should have said her Now was our Lover under the command of his Mistriss whom he took to be either dead or Faithless He was very easy from the begining under this new Commander and would often wonder how he came to be so much in her Favour in so short a time He was at once her Intendant Secretary Gentleman and Confident The other Domesticks paid not a greater respect even to Don Fernando himself than they did to him and he would no doubt have been exceeding happy had not the lost Sophy the treacherous Sophy come so often into his Mind Whatever kindness Sophy had for him she always took a great deal of Pleasure to see him griev'd not doubting but it was upon her account At last she had justified Sophy so often and sometimes with that heat that Don Carlos came to suspect that she had either been formerly her Lover or was so still These Wars in Africa ended as you may read in the History These Emperour afterwards made them in Germany Italy Flanders and other Places Our experienc'd She-Warriour under the name of Fernando still kept up or rather encreas'd her Reputation for Courage and Conduct tho' the last of these qualities be seldom to be met with in a Person so young as this valiant Lady's Sex made her to appear The Emperour was oblig'd to go into Flanders and for that purpose demanded leave of the King of France to pass through his Dominions The great King that then reign'd in that Country had a Mind to excel in Generosity a Mortal Enemy who had always surmounted him in Fortune tho' he had not made the best use of it Charles V. was received in Paris with as great Magnificence as if he had been King himself The brave Don Fernando was one of the small number of Persons of Quality that attended him and 't is more than likely that if he had continued long at that Court this fair Spanish Lady being taken for a Man would have enamour'd all the French Ladies and raised Jealousie in the most accomplish'd of Courtiers While this happen'd the Vice-Roy of Valencia died in Spain Don Fernando through his great Merit and Interest with the Emperour doubted not but he should quickly obtain that charge and as he thought so it soon after fell out for he had no sooner ask'd than he had it given him without the least opposition from any Competitor This his good success he immediately thought fitting to acquaint Don Carlos with and at the same time gave him reason to hope that assoon as he was gotten into possession of his new Employment he would not only reconcile him with Sophy's Relations and procure him Pardon of the Emperour for having been chief of the Vandoleros Highway-men but likewise undertake to restore him to his Lands and Estate Don Carlos might very well have receiv'd comfort from these Promises of his Friend had not his Love made him uncapable of it The Emperour soon after arriv'd in Spain and went directly to Madrid while Don Fernando made what hast he could to his new Government From the very Day after his arrival in Valencia Sophy's Friends continually pester'd him with Petitions against Don Carlos who at the same time was both his Steward and Secretary The Vice-Roy promis'd to do them speedy Justice but at the same time let Carlos privately know that he would not fail to protect his Innocence The Cause was quickly prepar'd for Hearing and in five or six Days time both Parties were ready to go to Tryal The Prosecutor demanded of the Vice-Roy that the supposed Criminal might be sent to Prison but which Don Fernando would not
occasion and the Captain thereof as a token of his being reconciled to Ragotin invited both him and his Company to Supper having already prepared a Fricassée for their Entertainment They sat down to Table and had besides the Fricassée some Partridges and Hares which the Gypsies had taken with their Dogs two young Turkies and as many Pigs which they had stolen a Westphalia-Ham and several Neats-Tengues which they had got by Stratagem and lastly they had a Hare-pye borrow'd of a Baker the Crust of which was voraciously devour'd by five or six young Gypsies that stood at their Mothers Elbows Add to all these another Fricassée of Pigeons which Ragotin gave them and you must confess they had Chear enough The Guests besides the Comedians were to the number of Nine all good Dancers and yet better Thieves They began their Healths with that of the King and Princes and afterwards proceeded to remember those honest Noblemen that suffer'd them to harbour within their Jurisdictions The Captain propos'd to the Comedians to drink to the Memory of the deceas'd Charles Dodo who was Uncle to the Lying-in-Lady and who had been hang'd during the Siege of Rochel by the Treachery of one Captian la Grave Every one began to curse that Captain as a false Brother and at the same time rail'd heartily at all Provosts Ragotin's Wine in the mean while went about plentifully but which had nevertheless this Quality in it that it occasion'd no Quarrels among the Guests who even to the Manhater Rancour were so extremely pleased with one another that they Complimented and Slobber'd and Kissed like so many Beaux Ragotin for his part was resolv'd not to bring a Scandal on his House by flinching and therefore suck'd up his Tipple like to any Spunge Having drank all Night one would have thought they should have been sit for Sleep by Sun-rising but it so happen'd that the same Wine that made them so good Friends the Night before had now inspir'd them with a Spirit of Separation They resolv'd to part therefore and the Gypsies packing up their Awls not forgetting to him something here and there from their Host the Tenant went one way while the jolly Landlord mounting his Mule likewise rod another and who being now as serious as he was before transported took his Journey directly towards Mans not minding in the least whether Rancour or Olive followed him or not being wholly taken up with blowing a Pipe of Tobacco that had been smoak'd out above an Hour before He had not been gone above half a League still sucking his empty Pipe which afforded him not one whiff of Smoak before the fumes of the Wine began to seize his Crown-Office and conâ—â—quently soon caused him to tumble out of his Saddle Assoon as the Master was off the Mule thought she had nothing to do but to return from whence she came and therefore instantly â—â—sted back to her Stable while the poor Ragotin after having â—ndifferently unburden'd his surcharg'd Stomack fell into a profound Sleep in the middle of the Highway He had not â—lept long snoring however like a crackt Organ-Pipe before a naked Man something resembling the Picture of our first father but extremely Hairy Dirty and Nasty came up to him and began presently to strip off his Cloaths This wild Man took more than ordinary pains in drawing off Ragotin's new Boots which I have told you somewhere before in this true History that his Friend Rancour claim'd as his which one would have thought might have been sufficient to have awak'd him had not he as the saying is been dead Drunk but as he was all this Force had no other effect upon him than to drag him bare-Breech'd two or three Rods together from the place where he first lay Being thus unmercifully us'd a Knife by chance fell out of the Sleepers Pocket which the wild Fellow immediately seizing as if he would have flead the scarce animate Carcass sell to ripping up his Cloaths Shirt Boots and Stockings with whatever else he could not easily get off and packing them up upon his Back fled away with them as swiftly as a Wolf would have done with a Lamb. Leave we this Man to run away with his Spoil he being the same that had formerly so terribly frighted Destiny while he was in pursuit of Angelica and let us return to assist Ragotin who yet continued asleep tho' he ought by all means to be waked Altho ' his naked Body had been for some time exposed to the scorching Sun and endured the stinging Assaults of several sorts of Insects yet was it not possible to wake him till some Peasants came by rattling with a Cart. They no sooner perceiv'd him but they all cry'd out There he is and afterwards coming up softly to him as if they had been unwilling to disturb him they made sure of his Legs and Arms and binding them fast with good strong Cords they took him up so hamper'd and canted him into their Cart which they immediatelye drove away with as much expedition as a Lover would do a Coach with a stolien Heiress in it Ragotin was as yeâ— so damnably Drunk that neither the violence offer'd him nor the excessive joulting of his Caravan could possibly awake him when the Pealants all of a sudden driving on heedlesly with a great deal of precipitation overthrew at length both him and the Cart in a huge Slough of Mire and Water The sudden coldâ—â— he there felt together with his bruizing by the Stones or somâ—â— such like thing as his fall soon forc'd him to be sensible oâ—â— what a condition he was in and the being in that Conditionâ—â— almost made him to run Mad. He found himself bound bodâ—â— Hand and Foot and wallowing like David's Sow in the Mirâ—â— he felt his Head ake as well upon account of his Drunkennesâ—â— as fall and lastly he could not but extremely wonder to 〈◊〉 four Country Fellows lifting him up out of the Water whiâ—â— as many were employ'd in dragging the Cart out of the 〈◊〉 This Adventure so exceedingly scar'd him that he spoke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word tho' he was naturally a great Talker and had 〈◊〉 â—o much occasion as now and a Moment after he couâ—â— noâ— possibly have been heard had he spoke never so much 〈◊〉 the Carrers untying his Legs only without giving any reasoâ—â— or observing any farther Civility to him immediately 〈◊〉 to drive their Cart back to the place from whence they 〈◊〉 as violently as they had done it thither The discreet Read may perhaps have a desire to know what these Fellows would have had with Ragotin and how they came to do nothing to him but which I could not pretend to satisfie them in had it not come to my knowledge by Chance A Priest of the lower Mayne a little Melancholly-Mad having been brought up to Paris by a suit at Law during the time that his Cause was preparing for a Hearing would needs spend his time in Printing
we thought fitting to pass by contenting our selves only with tipping them the Wink to follow usâ— which they soon after did but with the young Fellows along with them which we perceiving immediately enter'd our Boat and landed near one of the Gates of the City where we met the Siâ—ar du Fresne who forthwith demanded of me where I had left his Daughters I not knowing presently whaâ— Answer to make told him frankly that I had not had the Honour to see them all that Night Having heard this he took his leave bidding us good Night and went towards his Park at the Gate whereof he overtook his Daughters whom asking where and with whom they had been du Lys pertly answer'd with such a one naming me At that the Father reach'd her a sound Box o'th'Ear together with you Lye at the end on 't for continu'd he had he been with you tho' it were much later I should never have ask'd you the Question Next Day the aforesaid Widow came again to let me know what had happen'd the Night foregoing and to acquaint me that du Lys was extremely Angry with me not only at the box o'th'Ear she had received on my account but also at my disappointing of her she intending to have got quickly rid of those Impertinent young Fellows I excused my self as well as I could and declin'd going near her for four Days together But one Day as she and her Sister sat with some other young Ladies on a Bench before a Shop in a Street next to the City Gate which I was going out at to the Suburbs I passed by them moving my Hat a little but without looking much upon them or saying any thing to them The other Ladies immediately ask'd what was the meaning of my so cold Deportment which they scarce took to be Civil Du Lys gave them no Answer but her elder Sister told them that she did not know the Reason and that if they had a mind to be satisfied in it they must know it from my self Adding moreover Come let us go place our selves a litâ—le nearer the Gate that he may not be able to get by us as he comes back without taking more notice I quickly return'd when this good Sister catching me hold by the Cloak and pulling me to her said to me How comes it Haughty Sir that you can pass by your Mistress without taking any notice and at the same time pulled me down by her but when I turned to embrace her and tell her the reason she slung away like a Mad thing I staid a little longer with them and after went my ways I resolv'd then not to go near my Mistress for some Days longer and which I perform'd but which seem'd as so many Ages to me till at length one Morning I met Madam du Fresne who stopping me ask'd me what had made me so great a stranger to her House I answer'd that it was the ill-humour of her younger Daughter whereupon she immediately promis'd to make up the difference betwixt us and bid me meet her within an Hour at her House I was not a little impatient till I had obey'd her and herefore went at the time appointed to Madam du Fresnes House As I was going up into her Chamber according to her Direction I met du Lys coming down who perceiving me made so much haste by me that I could not stop her I afterwards went into the Chamber where I found her Sister who began immediately to Simper whereupon I told her how briskly her Sister had gone by me but she assur'd me that that was all seigned and that to her Knowledge she had gone a Hundred times to the Window to look whether she could see me and farther that she was now gone but into the Garden whither I might go after her if I pleas'd I took the hint and went to the Garden-door but found it lockt whereupon I beg'd of her to open it but she would not which her Sister hearing from the top of the Stairs came down and open'd it for me by a Trick she had got I went in but du Lys ran from me as if she had been Mad. I followed and overtook her and catching her by one of her Sleeves pull'd her dovvn upon a Camomil-bank clapping my self at the same time dovvn by her I made her all the Excuses that I vvas capable of doing but she continued inexorable at length I acquainted her that my Passion vvas not to be fool'd vvith and that therefore iâ— she did not quickly think fit to let me knovv her Mind Despair might drive me to the doing of something vvhich she might repent having been the Cause of This never theless vvrought nothing upon her the vvhich perceiving drevv my Svvord out of the Scabbard and presenting it â— her naked desir'd that she vvould be pleas'd to thrust it thro' mâ— Heart telling her at the same time that it vvas altogether impossible for me to survive a deprivation of her Favourâ— She thereupon rise to be gone informing me that she haâ— never yet kill'd any body and that vvhen she vvas so dispos'd I should not be the first Person Then I stopt her aâ— beg'd she would stay and see me do it my self to whicâ— she answer'd coldly that I might do as I pleas'd for 〈◊〉 should nor go about to hinder me At that I clapt 〈◊〉 Point to my Breast and put my self into a Posture to 〈◊〉 upon it which she observing immediately grew pale 〈◊〉 kickt away the Hilt from the Ground so that the swâ—â—â— fell down assuring me withal that that Action had extremely frighted her and beg'd that I would let her see 〈◊〉 more such Sights I answer'd I were willing to obey 〈◊〉 providing she vvould be less unkind to me for the futâ—â—â— vvhich she promis'd to be We aftervvards embrac'd so 〈◊〉 iugly that I could have vvisht ' to have had a Quarrel 〈◊〉 her every Day of my Life to occasion so charming a 〈◊〉 conciliation Whilst vve remain'd in these Transports her Mother enter'd the Garden and told us she vvould have come sooner but that she imagin'd vve had no need of her interposing to reconcile us One Day as the Sieur du Fresne his Wife du Lys and I were Walking together in the Park this good Mother told me aside that she had been a faithful Advocate in my behalf She might easily speak this without her Husbands hearing of it since he was very deaf We both thank'd her however rather by Gesture than Words A little after Monsieur du Fresne took me aside and told me that his Wife and he had agreed to give me their younger Daughter in Marriage before he went to Court to wait his Quarter in his turn and therefore desir'd I would put my self to no more Charges in Serenades or the like I return'd him my Acknowledgments but after a confus'd manner being more than ordinarily Transported at so unexpected a Happiness But I well remember I told him
not yet dispos'd to receive his Addresses but that time for ought she knew might make an alteration upon her to his Advantage With these Words she left him and retir'd The small Hopes she gave him put him upon a Stratagem which was like to have spoil'd all and that was to make her Jealous He consider'd with himself that since she had shew'd some good Will towards him she would not fail to be Jealous if she really lov'd him He therefore sought out a Comrade of his that had a Mistress that lov'd him as much as his slighted him He desir'd him to give him leave to make his Addresses to her and he to do the like to his that he might observe how she would take it His Comrade would by no means grant his request till he had his Mistresses consent which nevertheless soon after demanding he easily obtain'd The first time that these two Ladies came together which I should have told you they did almost every Day the two Lovers made their exchange according to Agreement St. Germain stepping up to and Courting his Comrades Mistress whilst his Comrade did the like to the Haughty Margaret who received him but very coldly But assoon as she perceived her former Spark and his Mistress laugh'd she began to fly out into a great Passion well knowing then that this exchange had been concerted on Agreement and therefore immediately flung out of the Company with Tears in her Eyes This caused the obliging Mistress to go after her and endeavour to appease her telling her that this Stratagem of her Lovers was only to know her Mind the better and not to circumvent or affront her and therefore earnestly entreated her to take no farther notice of it but rather to favour the constant Addresses of so sincere a Lover as St. Germain had long been to her All this notwithstanding gain'd little upon the humoursom Margaret whereupon the unfortunate St. Germain was driven to so fierce a despair that for the future he fought nothing so much as to shew the violence of his Love by some rash Action which he hop'd might procure his Death This Resolution one Night not long after he had an occasion to put in Practice for whilst he and Seven of his Comrades were coming out of a Tavern half Drunk and with their Swords by their sides they chanc'd to meet three or four Gentlemen amongst whom was a Captain of Horse With these they began to dispute the Wall and which they obtain'd by being the greater number but the Gentlemen returning immediately after with four or five more of their Company they pursued these Persons that had so greatly Affronted them and overtook them in the High-Street when St. Germain being the foremost and having been the forwardest in the Affront the Captain discovering him to be a Trooper by his Hat stept up to him and gave him such a lusty blow with a Back-Sword that he cut thro' his Hat and cleft part of his Scull Having done this and thinking themselves sufficiently reveng'd the Captain and his Companions march'd off leaving St. Germain for dead in the Arms of his Friends He had little or no Pulse left and less Motion insomuch that they immediately carried him home and sent for several Surgeons who found Life yet remaining in him These drest his Wound stitch'd up his Scull and then bound it up The noise of this Contest had at first allarm'd the Neighbourhood but they were much more surpriz'd when they heard a Man had been so dangerously wounded The thing was talk'd about from one to t'other after a different manner but however all concluded that St. Germain was a Dead Man This Report quickly got to his cruel Mistresses House who tho' undrest yet immediately ran to see him and whom she found in the condition I have told you As soon as she saw Death begin to show its self in his Face she fell down in a Swoon and it was found no easy matter to recover her When she came to her self the Neighbours began to accuse her of being the Cause of this disaster and that if she had not been so unkind to him he would never have been so desperately rash this being but the result of what he had frequently threaten'd Then began she to tear her Hair wring her Hands and do all that Mad People are wont to do She afterwards proceeded to serve him with that diligence that all the time of his Illness she would neither undress her self nor lye down on the Bed not permit any of his Sisters to do any thing about him After he came to himself and began to know People it was judged necessary that she should absent herself which she was nevertheless with great difficulty prevail'd on to do He at length was cur'd and when he came to be perfectly well he was Married to his capricious Mistress Margaret to the satisfaction of every body but much more of himself After Leander had finish'd this Novel the Company return'd to the Town where having well Supp'd Danc'd and the like they put the new marry'd Couples to Bed These Weddings had been kept so secret that they had no Visitors for two Days after but on the third Day they were so embarras'd with them that they had not leisure left them to Study their Parts After a little time they all continu'd their Exercise as before except Ragotin who was fallen into a perfect Despair as you will find in the following Chapter CHAP. XVII Ragotin's Despair and Death with the end of the Comical Romance RAncour perceiving that he as well as Ragotin had no more hopes left of succeeding in his Love to Star got up betimes and went to the little Man whom he found likewise risen and Writing at the Table Upon his enquiry what he was doing he told him he was writing his own Epitaph How quoth Rancour Do People use to make their Epitaphs before they are Dead But what surprizes me most of all continu'd he is that you make it your self Yes I have made it my self answer'd Ragotin and will shew it you He thereupon open'd a Paper which was folded and read these Verses Ragotin's EPITAPH HEre th' unlucky Ragotin lies Who liv'd a Slave to fair Stars Eyes Yet Destiny him of her depriv'd Which made him take a Iourney strait To th' other World compell'd by Fate For needs must where the Devil driv'd For her a Stroller he became And here with Life concludes the same This is fine indeed quoth Rancour but you will never have the satisfaction to read it on your Tomb for it is the common Opinion that dead People neither see nor understand any thing of what we do that survive them Ah! answer'd Ragotin you have partly been the cause of my Misfortunes for you always gave me hopes I should succeed and yet I am very well assur'd you all along knew the contrary Then Rancour protested to him that he knew nothing certainly of it but confess'd that he