that I should never have dar'd to have ask'd his Daughter in Marriage as well considering my small Merit as the inequality of our Conditions To which he answer'd that as for Merit he was well satisfied that I had sufficient and for Quality every body knew I had that would very well supply it meaning I suppose my Estate I don't remember what reply I gave but this I know well that he invited me to Supper that Night and where it was concluded that the Sunday following we should have a Meeting of our Friends to finish the Nuptials He acquainted me likewise what Portion he design'd to give with his Daughter but as for that I told him I had sufficient for us both and therefore required her Person only Then I thought my self the most happy Man in the World But alas That Happiness did not last long for the Night before the Day that we were to be Marryed as du Lys and I were sitting upon a Grass-plat we perceiv'd at a distance a Councellor of the Presidial-Court coming to pay a Visit to the Sieur du Fresne his Kinsman whereat both she and I conceiv'd the same thought at a time and began to be both concern'd tho' we knew not well at what which nevertheless the event of what we feared made but too perspicuous For next Day when I went to meet the Company at du Fresne's House according to Agreement I found du Lys at the Court-gate crying Upon asking her what she ail'd I could obtain no answer whereupon I enter'd into the House and found her Sister in the same Condition I ask'd her likewise what was the meaning of so many Tears She answer'd sobbing that I would know but too soon Then I went up into the Chamber and found the Mother but she no sooner saw me than she went out without scarce speaking a Word to me for Tears Sobbs and Sighs had so disturbed her that all she could do was to look pittifully upon me and cry Ah poor young Man I resolved to know the Cause of this sudden Change and therefore immediately went to Monsieur du Fresne's Chamber where I found him sitting in an Elbow-chair At my coming in he told me bluntly that he had alter'd his Mind and would not now Marry his younger Daughter before his elder and tho' he did Marry her it should be sure not to be before his return from Court I answer'd upon these two Heads first That his elder Daughter would not at all be displeas'd to have her younger Sister Marryed before her providing it were to me since she had always loved me as her Brother and more than once professed as much And secondly I acquainted him that I would willingly stay for her ten Years instead of three Months that he should be from home At last he told me in plain Terms that I must think no more of his Daughter and so turn'd from me Having heard this I immediately determin'd to go home and kill my self But as I was drawing forth my Sword for that purpose the aforesaid Widow that had formerly been our Confidence came in upon me where I was and prevented me in that Design by telling me that she came from du Lys and that she desired me by her not to afflict my self but have Patience and Matters might perhaps change to my advantage She farther inform'd me from her that I had her Mother and Sister sure to my Interest and above all herself whose Kindness and Constancy to me was unalterable She likewise told me that the Sisters had resolved as soon as their Father was gone that they would give me an opportunity to continue my Visits as before Tho' this Discourse was extremely pleasing to me yet could it not altogether comfort me for I afterwards fell into so deep a Melancholy that Despair suggested to me to consult the Devil about my Fate Hereupon a little before Monsieur du Fresne's Departure I went to a large Copse about half a League from the Town where it was the Vulgar Report that evil Spirits inhabited and where 't is certain the Fairies who are no doubt the Devil's Imps had formerly been I went a great way into this Copse and when I thought I was far enough I began to call upon and invoke the Spirits to Assist me in this worst of Misfortunes but after I had Pray'd and Bawl'd for some time to no purpose and only heard the Birds warble which I interpreted to be their concern for my Misfortune I return'd home to my House not at all satisfied when throwing my self upon the Bed I was immediately seiz'd with such a wild Frenzy that I even lost my Speech insomuch that 't was thought I could never have escap'd Death Du Lys was ill at the same time and much after the same manner which has inclin'd me to believe ever since that there is something in Sympathy more than ordinary for as the Cause of our Sickness was the same so was its effect which we understood by our Doctor and Apothecary having both the same but as for our Surgeon 's they were several I grew well a little before du Lys which made me to go or I might rather say be carryed to see her When I came to her House I found her a Bed and her Father gone to Court She no sooner saw me but she seem'd to recover which made me desire her to rise but she was no sooner got out of Bed than she fainted away in my Arms. This made me extremely sorry that I had desir'd so unreasonable a thing of her and therefore I had her immediately put to Bed again where after some time I left her to recover by Sleep which perhaps she would not have done had I staid with her Not long after we were both entirely recovered and pass'd our time very pleasantly all the while her Father continued absent till at last returning again he was inform'd by some secret Enemies of ours that I had kept his Daughter company ever since he had been from home This made him to rave extremely and to forbid his Wife and Daughters seeing me any more which I learnt afterwards by our Confidente as likewise that they had notwithstanding engaged in a Resolution to see me often and inform'd me of the means by this Widow The first was that I should observe when this unkind Father came into the City when I might go to his House and continue there till his return which was well enough known by his Knock. Then were I to step behind the Tapistry and afterwards while either a Man or Maid or one of his Daughters took off his Cloak I might easily slip out behind him which he could never hear by reason as I have told you before that he was Deaf This contrivance I frequently made use of but which being at length discovered I was forc'd to have recourse to another which was to meet my Mistriss and Friends in our Confidentes Garden which I did several
reproach'd Destiny and Star that though during all the time they had liv'd together they might have seen how much she was their Friend yet they repos'd so little Confidence in her and her Daughter that they were still unacquainted with their Birth and Quality adding she had not met with Crosses enough in her Life to be able to advise unfortunate Persons such as they seem'd to be To which Destiny answer'd that their not discovering themselves to her was not out of any Distrust but because he thought the recital of their Misfortunes could not but be very tedious telling her withal he would be ready to entertain her with the Story of their Adventures whenever she was willing to throw any time away upon the hearing of it Cave was glad of this Opportunity of satisfying her Curiosity and her Daughter who had the same eager Desire being sat near her on Stat 's Bed Destiny was going to begin his Story when they heard a great Noise in the next Chamber Destiny stood listning a little while but the Noise and the Squabble encreas'd instead of ceasing and some Body cry'd out Murder Help Murder Destiny with three Leaps got out of the Chamber at the Expence of his Doublet which Cave and Angelica tore as they were going to stop him He went into the Chamber from whence the Noise came which was so dark that he could not see his own Nose and where the Fisty-cuffs Boxes on the Ears and several confus'd Voices of fighting Men and Women together with the hallow Noise of naked Feet stamping on the Floor made an hideous and frightful Uproar He ran very rashly amongst the Combatants and in one Moment receiv'd a Cuff on one side and a Box on the Ear on the other which changed his good Intention of parting those Hobgoblins into a violent Thirst of of Revenge He began to set his Hands a-going and made a Flourish with his two Arms by which many a maim'd Chops were abus'd as it afterwards appear'd by his bloody Fists the Scuffle lasted so long till he receiv'd twenty Cuffs more which he returnd with double the Number In the heat of the Fight he felt himself bit at the Calf of the Leg and clapping his Hands to it he met with something hairy which he took to be a Dog but Cave and her Daughter who appear'd at the Chamber Door with a Candle like the fire of Saint 〈◊〉 after a Storm espy'd Destiny and let him see he was amidst seven Persons in their Shirts who being in close Conflict before begun to let one another go as soon as the light appear'd This Tranquility did not last long The Innkeeper who was one of the naked Combitants grappl'd the Poet anew Olive who was also amongst 'em was attack'd by the Innkeeper's Man another of the Combatants Destiny went to part em whereupon the Hostess who was the Animal that bit him and whom he took for a Dog because she was bare-headed and had short Hair flew at his Face assisted by two Maids as naked and bearheaded as her self The Shreeks and Cries fill'd the Air once more the Cuffs and Boxes made the Room ring again and the Fight grew still warmer than before At last several Persons who wak'd at the Noise came into the Field of Battel parted the Combatants and procur'd a second Suspension of Arms. Now the question was to know the occasion of the Quarrel and what fatal Accident had brought seven naked Persons into one Room Olive who seem'd the least concern'd of all said that the Poet was gone out of the Room and that he saw him come back as fast as he could run follow'd by the Innkeeper who had a mind to beat him that the Hostess follow'd her Husband and fell foul of the Poet that as he was going to part 'em a Servant and two Maids fell upon him and that the Light happening to go out at the same time made the Fight last longer than 't would have done Now 't was the Poet's turn to speak for himself He said that he had made two of the finest Stanza's that ever were written since Stanza's were in Fashion and fearing to lose 'em he went to the Maid of the Inn for a Candle which they scornfully refused to give him that the Inn-keeper call'd him Rope-dancer which he return'd by calling him Cuckold He had no sooner spoke the word but the Host who was within reach gave him a good slap on the Chops you would have thought they made a fighting Consort together for as soon as the box on the Ear was given the Inn-keeper's Wife his Man and his Maids rush'd upon the Strollers who receiv'd 'em with sound Cuffs This last Encounter was more fierce and obstinate that the other two Destiny having clos'd with a lusty Wench and tuck'd up her Smock gave her a Thousand flaps on the Butrocks Olive who saw the Company pleas'd with it did the same to the other Maids The Inn-keeper was busie with the Poet and the Hostess the most Furious of all the Combatants was seizd by some of the Spectarors which made her fly into such a Passion that she cry'd out Theves Her Cries awak'd La Rappiniere who liv'd over against the Inn. He caus'd the Door to be open'd and judging by the Noise he heard that there could be no less than seven or eight People kill'd upon the Spot he parted the Fray in the King's Name and having learnt the cause of all the Disturbance he Exhorted the Poet not to make any more Verses in the Night-time and was like to beat the Inn-keeper and his Wife for giving a hundred abusive Names to the Players whom they call'd Jack-puddings and Tumblers swearing withal to turn them out of Doors the next day but La Rappiniere to whom the Inn-keeper ow'd Money threatned to Arrest him which threatning presently stopt his Mouth La Rappiniere went home again the rest return'd to their Chambers and Destiny to that of the Players where Cave desir'd him not to defer any longer to give her the story of his and his Sisters Adventures He told her he was ready to satisfie her Curiosity and begun his Relation in the same manner you shall see in the next Chapter CHAP. XIII The History of Destiny and Mistress Star I was born in a Village near Paris and I might make you believe that I came of a very Illustrious Family since no Body can disprove what a stranger says of himself but I am too Generous and too much a lover of Truth to deny the meanness of my Extraction My Father was one of the Topping and most Substantial Men in his Village whom I often heard say that he was a poor Gentleman's Son that he spent his Youth in the Wars where having got nothing but dry Blows and empty Pockets he betook himself to the Service of a rich Parisian Lady in the Quality of her Gentleman-Usher and that having scrap'd a Sum of Money in his Place because he was also
by one and oblig'd to returâ— to the Inn from whence they came but this did not vex thâ—â— so much as when they heard that there was no Coach-makâ— to be met with nearer than at a large Town three Leagâ—â— off Hereupon they immediately called a Council but 〈◊〉 to no Resolutions plainly perceiving that their Caravan 〈◊〉 not likely to be fit for Action till the next Day Madam Bouvillon who had preserv'd to her self a great Authority 〈◊〉 her Son by reason that the whole Estate of the Family caâ— by her commanded him in the mean time to take one of 〈◊〉 Servants Horses and mount his Wife on another and to 〈◊〉 Visit an old Uncle of hers who was then Curate of the 〈◊〉 Town whence the Coachmaker was to come The Lord 〈◊〉 this Town likewise was a Relation to the Councellor and 〈◊〉 over an Acquaintance of the Advocate and Gentleman 〈◊〉 therefore they also resolv'd to take a Vagary to the same plaâ—â— and on the same Account For this end their Landlady was 〈◊〉 furnish them with Horses which she did but at very grâ—â— Rates Madam Bouvillon being thus left alone either beeâ—â— she was tired or that she feigned to be so or else by reason 〈◊〉 no Horse was able to carry her weight sent her Servant 〈◊〉 Destiny to desire him to come and Dine with her and 〈◊〉 Dinner was getting ready she spent her time in Dressing First she Curl'd and Powder'd then put on a lac'd Apron and Nightraile and afterwards took to pieces a Point de Venise Cravat of her Sons to make her a Commode After this she opened her Daughter-in-Laws Trunk and took thence her Wedding Gown and put it on In a Word being thus trickt up and adorn'd she seem'd like to any little Venus in a Cloud tho' that somewhat of the fattest Now notwithstanding all these preparations of hers Destiny had no doubt much rather have Dined with his Companions but then how could he have obey'd the Commands of his very humble Servant Madam Bouvillon He therefore not knowing how to get free was forced to comply but was not a little surpriz'd when he saw his Paramour so youthfully drest She received him with a smiling Countenance took him by the Hands to have him wash them and squeez'd him after a manner that meant something more than ordinary He for his part was less Sollicitous of his Invitation than of the occasion of it and therefore often neglected Eating which gave her opportunity to press it He knew not what to say to her being naturally no great Speaker but she plentifully supply'd that defect by her never ceasing Clack She was but too ingenious to suffer any chalm in Conversation for want of something to say When a Woman that talks much meers with a Man that says little and does not answer her she always talks the more for judging of her Friend by her self and perceiving that he has not Reparteed to what she advanced she presently believes he has not been pleased with what was said and therefore to mend the Matter proceeds to say a great deal more which commonly proves as Impertinent as her first Discourse was Ridiculous The only way that I can propose to deal with such Women as these is to talk as much if not more than they for thereby if they cannot be silenc'd their Voices may at least be drowned As for the matchless Bouvillon she was the most immoderate Talker of nothing that ever was known and she not only talk'd to her self while she was in private but would answer her self likewise The silent disposition of Destiny giving her an Opportunity she determin'd to divert him with some large Relation or other The Subjects she chose to speak of was the Intrigues of Laval the Town where she lived but she never hapned to blame any Person or Action but she always took thence an occasion to commend her self protesting at every fling of Satyr on her Neighbour that tho' she was guilty of many Faults yet in that Particular he was Innocent Tho' Destiny was extremely mortify'd at the beginning of her Discourse and made no Answer yet he afterwards found himself oblig'd for quietness sake to smile now and then and sometimes to cry out Oh! That 's Pleasantâ— or That 's strange both which he often spoke Mal à propos Assoon as Destiny had done eating the Voider was brought and the Table cleared Then Madam Bouvillon clapping her self down at the Feet of the Bed pulled him down by her and her Servant letting the Waiters of the Inn go out first leaving her likewise drew the Door after her and shut it This Madam Bouvillon perceiving and thinking that Destiny had also observ'd it said to him See this Foolish Iade has shut the Door after her To which he reply'd If you please Madam I 'll go and open 〈◊〉 No said she stopping him let it alone but you know continu'd she when two Persons are lock'd up together as they have an opportunity to do what they please People will judge of them as they think fit 'T is not on such Reputations as yours Madam reply'd Destiny for People to pass rash Iudgments However Sir quoth Bouvillon one cannot have too much caution against Slander Well Madam reply'd Destiny but People will not Talk without Grounds and sure they can have none when they reflect upon the Inequality of our Conditions Will you please therefore Madam continued he that I go open the Door By no means Sir quoth she going to bolt it and adding withal For as long as People think it shut it is better it were really so that no Body may come in upon us without our consent Having said this and perform'd the Office of a Friend for her self she turn'd towards Destiny giving him to understand by her large fiery Cheeks and little sparkling Eyes what Sport she had a mind to be at then she proceeded to take off her Hankerchief from her Neck and thereby discover'd to her Lover at least ten Pound of exuberant Flesh that is to say near the third part of her Bosom the rest being distributed in two equal Portions under her Arm-pitts This ill Intention of hers causing her to Blush which sometimes the most Impudent will do her Neck was grown as red as her Face and both together might be well taken at any distance for a Scarlet * Caps which Country Men use that Button about their Necke Riding Cap. All this made Destiny to blush too but it was with Shame when I 'll give you leave to guess what might be the cause of Madam Bouvillons Then she began to complain that she had something that troubled her in her Back and moving her self about in her Harness as if she had Irch'd she begged of Destiny to thrust his Hand down her Back to scratch her This the Youth immediately obey'd her in trembling all the while but whilst he was 〈◊〉 in pleasing her behind she diverted her self with him
It was no sooner thought of but done she committed most horrible ravage upon her Locks but in truth this was no mighty loss to her for there was not one single hair of the growth of her head After this manner did Helen and Mendez strive who should exceed the other when Montafar and the Lackey at a signal concerted between them began a doleful Consort at the Door and wept and sigh'd so cruelly that one would have thought they designed to out-rival the two pensive Ladies near the Bed who by this new striking up of the Chorus began to play their parts so furiously as if they had been too remiss before The old Gentleman was almost distracted to see them weep so immoderately yet know nothing of the occasion He wept however to keep them company as well as he could sobb'd as strenuously as the best of them and conjured the afflicted Ladies by all that was good and sacred by their seraphical Eyes and their celestial Charms to moderate their grief a little and acquaint him with the cause of it protesting that his Life was the least thing he would hazard for their sakes and regretting the loss of his youth which hindered him from shewing the sincerity of his Heart by his Actions At these words the Sky began to clear up a little the Countenances were not so overcast as before and they thought that they had wept enough in all conscience since they could weep no longer without spoiling the jest Besides they were good Husbands of their time and knew that they had not a minute to lose Our old Matron therefore lifting up her Vail above her head to the end that her venerable looks might give her all the credit she wanted on this occasion declaimed in the following manner God of his Almighty Power and Goodness preserve and shield my Lord Marquis de Ville-fagnan from all harm and restore him to his former health Altho' to speak truth the tragical Story we are going to tell him is not very proper to give him joy which is the Elixir of Health but Oâ—â— misfortune is of that nature that we must communicate it At this the poor Marquiss de Ville-fagnan striking himself with the palm of his hand upon his Thigh and fetching sigh from the bottom of his Heart Heaven grant says he that I am mistaken but my foreboding mind tells me that 't is some foolish Frolick or rather some Extravagance of my Nephew Go on Madam go on and excuse me for interrupting you Our old Matron fell a weeping instead of returning him an Answer when the pensive Helen took up the Discourse Since you know by sorrowful Experience says she that your Nephew is a Slave to his extravagant Appetites and have been but too often troubled to compound for his Outrages you will make no difficulty to believe his brutal usage of me When you unhappily sent him to Leon laâ—â— Spring he saw me at Church and at this first interview said some things to me which had they been true neither of us ought to have stirr'd out of that holy ground my self for fear of Justice as being his Murderer and he as â— dead Man and fit to be put in his Grave He told me â— hundred times that my Eyes had kill'd him and omitted none of those insinuating wheedling tricks that Lovers employ to abuse the simplicity of poor Virgins He followed me home to my Lodging he rode before my Windows every day and serenaded me every night At last finding that all his amorous arts signified nothing he corrupted by his Money a Black Wench a Slave of ours to whom my Mother had promised her liberty and by her infernal treachery surpriz'd me in a Garden we have in the Suburbs of the City I had none but this perfidious Maid with me he was â— companied by a Man as wicked as himself and had 〈◊〉 the Gardner to go to the other end of the Town under 〈◊〉 of business What need I say more he clapt his Ponyard to my throat and finding that my Life was less dear to me than my Honour by the help of the Companion of his crime he took that by force which he could never obtain by fair promises The Black acted the part of a distracted Woman and the better to hide her perfidy she wounded herself slightly in the hand and then vanished The Gardner return'd your Nephew affrighted at the blackness of his Crime leapt over the Garden-wall in so much precipitation that he dropt his Ponyard which I took up However this insolent young man had nothing then to fear for not being in a condition to stop him I had command enough over my self to dissemble the inexpressible misfortune that had befallen me I did all I could to appear no more concern'd than I us'd to be The wicked Slave was not to be seen from that moment Soon after I lost my Mother and I might say that I lost every thing with her if my Aunt whom you see there had not been so kind as to take me to her own House where she makes no difference between her tow beautiful Daughters and my self There I came to be inform'd that your Nephew was so far from designing to make me reparation for the injury he had done me that he was upon the point of marrying in this City Upon this I flew hither in the greatest haste I could and expect before I go out of your Chamber that you will give me in Money or Jewels the worth of two thousand Crowns to settle me in some Convent for after what I have known by fatal experience of the temper of this Cavalier I can never bring my self to marry him altho' he and his Relations should endeavour to perswade me by all sorts of Offers and Intreaties I know well enough that he is to be married to night but I 'll soon stop all proceedings and raise such a hurricane as shall make his heart ake as long as he lives if you don't comply with my proposal And to let you see continued this dissembling Hypocrite that what I have told you of your Nephew is so true that nothing can be more see the fatal Ponyard which he clapt to my throat and would to God he had done something more than only threatned me with it She began to weep afresh at the conclusion of the Story Mendez took it in a higher Key than she and the harmonious Consort at the Door of which the little squeaking Lackey made the Treble and Montafar the Bass tuned their Pipes to admiration Our old Gentleman who had already but too easily believed 〈◊〉 the greatest châ—at of her Sex had told him no sooner saw the Ponyard but he immediately knew it to be the same he had formerly bestowed upon his Nephew Therefore all his care was to prevent this Story 's taking air lest it should hinder the Match He would have sent for him with all his Heart but he was afraid lest some people should