Britany of a very disagreeable Figure and a worse Brain When I saw him going it came into my Thoughts that if the Party whether Waiting-Woman or Chamber-maid whom I had entertain'd should see him in that rugged Shape and speak with him a while that certainly she would not mistake him for the Person that waited on Verville This great Looby did his Message well enough for a looby having found Madam Saldagne with her other Sister nam'd Madam Lery whom she had entrusted with Vervilie's Love to her As he was waiting for an Answer they heard Monsieur Saldagne singing on the Stairs He was coming to his Sister's Chamber who hastily convey'd the British Mercury into a Press for Clothes However the Brother made no long stay with his Sister and so the Britan was set in the open Air. Madam Saldagne lock'd her self up in her Closet a while to answer Verville's Letter and Madam Lery discours'd the Britan whose Conversation I doubt was not very entertaining Her Sister having made an end of her Letter releas'd her from our Clown sending him back with a Billet wherein she promis'd to meet him that Night at the same Time and Place as before As soon as it was Night you may imagine that Verville was ready to go to the Place of Assignation We were admitted into the Garden and it fell to my Lot to cope with the same Person I entertain'd before and whom I found so very witty She express'd more Wit this second time than she had done at first and both her Accent and manner of Speech was so charming that I confess I wish'd she might be as Handsom as she was Ingenious In the mean time she could not believe me to be the Britan she had seen before nor could she apprehend why I should have so much more Wit by Night than by Day for having heard the Fellow relate that Monsieur Saldagne's coming into his Sister's Chamber had put him into a great Fright I took it upon my self and plaid upon her with it assuring her that I was not then in so much fear for my self as for Madam Saldagne This put it out of all Dispute that I was the same ill-favour'd Râ—gue and I observ'd afterwards she began indeed to discourse like a Chamber-maid She then inform'd me that Monsieur Saldagne was a terrible Man that having lost both Father and Mother in his Youth being Master of a great Estate and having only few of his Kindred he exercis'd a great deal of Tyranny over his Sisters to make them turn Nuns using them not only like an unjust Father but like a jealous unsupportable Husband I was about to take my turn and tell a Story of the Baron d'Arques and his Sons when the Garden-Door which we had not made fast was thrown open and in comes Monsieur Saldagne attended by two Footmen the one carrying a lighted Flamboy in his Hand He came from a House which stood in the same Row with his and ours where they gamed every Day and which Saint Far frequented to pass away the time They had both plaid there that Evening and Saldagne having soon lost his Money was coming home by his Garden contrary to his Custom and there surpriz'd us as I told you finding the Door open We were at that time all four of us together in a cover'd Walk which gave us opportunity to shun his and his Mens View The Gentlewoman remain'd in the Garden upon pretence of 〈◊〉 king the fresh Air and to give it the better Colour began to sing though she had little Inclination to it as you may easily imagine In the mean time Verville having scall'd the Wall by mean of a Vine-Arbour jump'd down on the other side But a third Footman of Saldagne's that was but coming in seeing him leap fail'd not to run and give his Master notice he had seen a Man leap from the Garden-Wall into the Street At the same instant I fell down with a great noise into the Garden the same Arbour by means of which Verville made his escape being unfortunately broke down under me This Noise together with the Fellow's Tale alarm'd all those that were in the Garden Saldagne runs to the Place from whence the Noise came Follow'd by his three Men and spying a Man with his Sword drawn for as soon as I could get up I put my self in a posture of defence he attack'd me at the Head of his Company but I soon made him know I was no easie Conquest The Fellow that carried the Flamboy advanc'd farther than the rest which gave me opportunity to see Saldagne's Face whom I presently knew to be the same Frenchman that would have murder'd me at Rome for having hindred him from being rude to Leonora as I before related He knew me likewise at first sight and making no doubt but I was come thither to take my just Revenge he cry'd out You shall not escape me now I assure you And then I was hard put to it indeed besides that I had almost broken one of my Legs with my Fall I maintain'd a running Fight till I retreated into a Summer-house whither I saw Verville's Mistress run in before in a woful Condition She staid within it though she saw me enter whether she wanted time or Courage to go out I know not For my part my Resolution encreas'd when I consider'd they could attack me only before at the Summer-House-Door which was very narrow I wounded Saldagne in one of his Hands and the boldest of his Footmen in his Arm which procur'd me a little Respite yet could I not have any Hopes of escaping believing they would at last make shorter work with me and dispatch me with Pistols having found it too difficult to be done with Swords But Verville came to my Relief He would by no means go Home without me and having heard the Bustle and clashing of Swords he ventur'd to bring me off from the Danger he cast me into or at least to share it with me Saldagne with whom he had already made an Acquaintane thought he came to his Aid as a Friend and Neighbour He took it as a great Obligation and accosting him said You see Sir how I am set upon in my own House Verville who understood his meaning immediately reply'd He would be his Servant against any other Man but that he came to protect this one against all the World Saldagne enrag'd to find himself mistaken swore desperately he did not doubt to make his Party good against two such Traytors himself and at the same time charg'd Verville most furiously but was repuls'd by him with a great deal of Gallantry Then I thought it high time to get out of my Summer-house to joyn with my Friend and surprizing the Lacquey that carried the Flamboy I was loath to kill him and contented my self to give him a back-stroke over the Pate which put him into such a Fright that he ran off from the Garden into the Fields crying out Thieves
King return'd to Paris In our way we stopt at Mans where my Father came to see me old as he was having been before acquainted by my Cousen that I was in the King's Guards and beg'd of my Captain to Discharge me which he with some difficulty or rather for some consideration did We then return'd to this City where it was agreed that the only way to keep me at home was to Marry me A Surgeon's Wife that was Neighbour to a Cousen German of mine hearing this brought along with her the Under-Baily's Daughter of a Town about three Leagues off under pretence of Devotion being Lent-time but her true Reason was to intrap me if possible Having seen her but once I was desir'd to do it again at my Cousen's House which I did and after about an Hours Conversation with her she went her way when all the Company told me that she was a Mistriss for me to which I bluntly reply'd that I did not like her My reason was not because she was not Rich and Handsome being both in Perfection but because all the Beauty in the World could have no power upon me as long as my dear du Lys was in my Thoughts I had an Uncle my Mothers Brother of a severe Temper who coming one Night to our House after having rally'd me extremely for the slights I had put upon the Under-Baily's Daughter told me I must resolve to go and Visit her at her own House in the Easter Holy-days there being those of a much greater Quality than I who would be proud of such a Match I answer'd neither one way nor other but when the Holy-days came I was forc'd to go thither with my said Cousen the Surgeon's Wife and a Son of hers When we came we were very Courteously received and treated for three Days together We were also carryed to all the said Under-Baily's Farms at every one of which we were handsomely entertained We went likewise to a large Village about a League off this Gentleman's House to pay a Visit to the Curate of the Place who was a Brother to this Ladies Mother and who gave us a very civil Reception At last we returned home as we came that is as to what concerned me as little in Love as before It was nevertheless resolv'd that in a Fortnights time our Marriage should be concluded which term being expir'd I was compell'd to return to the Baily's House together with three Cousin Germans two Advocates and an Attorney of this Jurisdiction but as good Luck would have it they could agree upon nothing wherefore the Business was put off till May next But that Saying is certainly true That Man proposes and God disposes For a little before the said propos'd Time my Mother fell sick and my Father 4 Days afterwards both whose Maladies ended in Death the former dying on Tuesday and the latter on the Thursday following Altho' I Was very sick my self yet I made shift to go Visit my aforesaid severe Uncle who was extremely ill likewise and who dyed in less than a Fortnights time Sometime after all this the Baily's Daughter was propos'd to me a-new but which I would hear nothing of having now no Parents left to force me My Heart was altogether in the aforesaid Park where I frequently walked but never half so often as I had done in Imagination One Morning when I thought no body had been stirring in the Sieur du Fresne's House I walk'd leisurely before it and was not a little surpriz'd when I saw du Lys Singing at the Window an old Song which had for its upholding Ah! Why is he from me the Man that I love This oblig'd me to draw nearer to her and to make her a very low Bow which I accompanyed with this or the like Expression I could wish with all my Heart Madam that you had the satisfaction you so much desire and were it in my Power to contribute towards it I would always do it with as servent a Passion as I have ever shew'd to approve my self your most humble Servant She returned my Salutation answered me not a Word but continuing to Sing on she chang'd the Burden of her Song to Ha! see him before me the Man that I love You may imagine this was not heard by one that was Deaf and having been a little in the Wars I had Courage enough to reply tho' not in Verse I should have just Reason to believe you Sincere Madam If you would but oblige me so far as to open the Door At the same time she call'd to the Lackey spoken of before and bid him to open the Door to me I went in and was receiv'd not only by her but likewise by her Father and Mother and elder Sister with all the Civility and good Will imaginable Her Mother ask'd me why I was so great a Stranger and why they had not seen me as frequently as they were wont My Mourning she told me was no just excuse since I must be allow'd to divert my self now as well as before and in a Word she gave me to understand that I should always be extremely welcome to her House My Answer was only to shew the little Merit I had to pretend to and which I express'd in some few ill-order'd Words as I have done before But at length all concluded with a Breakfast of Milk which you know in this Country passes for a good Treat And which is notwithstanding none of the worst Sir quoth Madam Star But pray go on When I was taking leave to be gone the Mother ask'd me if I would not give my self the trouble to accompany her and her Daughter to see an old Relation of theirs that liv'd about two Leagues off I answer'd that she did me wrong to ask me the Question when an absolute Command would have been much more obliging to me The Journey was pitch'd upon for next Day The time came and the Mother got up upon a little Mule they had in the House the elder Sister rid her Fathers Horse and I carried behind me my dear du Lys. What discourse we had upon the Road I 'll give you leave to guess for as for my part I have forgot it All that I am able to tell you is that du Lys and I often stole from the Company and went to recreate our selves in an adjoining Grove which had a little River that ran through the midst of it upon whose Banks we had the pleasure both to hear the warbling of the Birds and the purling of the Stream to which we added our mutual Endearments and many innocent Caresses which passed between us It was there that we enter'd into a Resolution to divert our selves considerably at the approaching Carnevale Some time after this Journey while I was making of Syder in the Suburbs that are called la Barre and which join to du Lys's Father's Park she came running to me whereby I presently guessed that she had something more than ordinary to tell
the Steward and Caterer of the House and had the knack of emptying his Mistress Purse to fill his own Pockets he Marryed an old Waiting-woman of the Family who dy'd soon afteâ— and left him all she got in her Service Being soon weary of his condition of a Widower and no less of that of a Servant he Marryed a Country-woman who furnish't his Lady's House with Bread And 't is to this last Marriage I owe my Birth My Father was call'd Gariques what Country he was of I never could learn and as for my Mother's Name it signifies nothing to my Story Let it suffice that she was more coverous than my Father and my Father more covetous than she and that they had both a pretty large Conscience My Father had the Honour of being the inventer of the piece of Flesh tied with a string to the Pot-handle which having boil'd a considerable time may be taken out again and serve several times to make Soop I could tell a hundred more pieces of Husbandry which gain'd him with Justice the Reputation of a Man of Wit and Invention but for fear of being Tedious I will content my self with relating only two which may seem Incredible though most certainly true He bought up a great quantity of Corn with design to sell it very dear if the year should prove bad but the Harvest being plentiful and Corn falling in its Price he was so possess'd by Despair and the Devil that he had a mind to hang himself One of his Neighbours who happen'd to be in the Room when he enter'd upon that Noble Design and had hid her self for fear of being seen for what reason I know not was not a little Surpriz'd when she saw him hang on one of the Joynts of the Cieling She ran to him crying out help help she ran to cut the Rope and by the help of my Mother who came to the Noise got it from his Neck Perhaps they repented the doing of so good an Action for he beat 'em both to Mummy and made that poor Woman pay for the Rope she had cut by stopping some Money he ow'd her His other Prowess is no less strange He grudged himself whatever he eat and his Wife being brought to bed of a Boy the Fancy took him in the Crown that she had Milk enough to Nourish both his Son and himself and hop'd that by sucking his Wife he would save Bread and live upon a Food of easie Digestion My Mother's Wit was much inferior to his though her Avarice was as great but though she did not invent things as my Father did yet having once conceiv'd 'em she put 'em in execution more exactly than he She therefore try'd to nourish both her Son and Husband with her own Milk and ventur'd also to feed upon it her self with so much Obstinacy that the little Innocent Creature was starv'd to Death and my Father and Mother so weakned and so famish'd that when they came to eat they Surfeited themselves and fell both Sick upon it Some time after my Mother went with Child with me and having happily brought forth a most unhappy Creature my Father went to Paris to desire his Mistress to stand Godmother to his Son with an honest Church-Man residing at his Village where he had a Benefice As he was returning home in the Evening to avoid the heat of this Day and pass'd through a great Strect in the Suburbs the Houses whereof were for the most part a building he saw afar off by the Moon-shine something that glister'd to his Eyes as it was crossing of the Strect He did not think it worth his while to enquire what it was but hearing the Groans of one in Pain at the same place where what he had seen vanish'd out of sight he boldly enter'd one of those unfinish'd Buildings where he found a Woman sitting on the Ground The place she was in receiv'd sufficient Light from the Moon as to let my Father perceive that she was very young and very richly clad having a Gown of Silver Tissue which was the glistering thing my Father saw a Moment before You must not question but my Father who did not want Resolution was less surpriz'd than the young Lady but she was in a condition that nothing worse could happen to her This Consideration gave her the assurance to speak first and tell my Father that if he was a Christian he would take pity on her that she was in Labour ready to be brought to Bed and the Maid she sent for a â—usty Midwife not returning she slipt away from her House without waking any Body her Maid having left the Door open that she might come in again without making a Noise She had scarce made an end of this short Relation when she was deliver'd us a Child which my Father receiv'd into the Lappet of his Cloak He acted the Midwife as well as he could and the young Lady conjur'd him to carry away the little Creature with all speed to take care of it and not to fail two days after to go to an old Churchman she nam'd to him who would give him Money and all necessary Orders for the Nursing of the Child At this word Money my Father who had a penurious Soul was going to display all the Eloquence of a Gentleman-Usher but she would not give him time she put into his hands a Ring for a Token to the Priest he was to go to from her caus'd him to swaddle the young Creature in her Neck-handkerchief and sent him away in hast Maugre his unwillingness to leave her in the condition she was in I am inclin'd to believe she had much adoe to get home again as for my Father he return'd to his Village gave the Child to his Wife and did not fail two days after to go to the old Priest and shew him the Ring He learnt of him that the Child's Mother was a young Lady of a very good Family and very rich that she got this Child by a Scotch Lord who was gone into Ireland to raise Soldiers for the King's Service and that this Foreign Lord had promis'd her Marriage Moreover the Priest told him that by reason of her precipitate Delivery she was fallen desperate sick and being in that Extremity she consest all to her Father and Mother who instead of Chiding her endeavour'd to Comfort her because she was an only Child that the thing was a Secret in the House and afterwards he assur'd my Father that if he would take care of the Child and keep Council his Fortune was made Thereupon he gave him fifty Crowns and a bundle of all sorts of things necessary for a Child My Father return'd home after he had well Dined with the Parson I was put out to Nurse and the Stranger kept at home in my stead A Month after the Scotch Lord came back and having found his Mistress so very ill that she would not live much longer he married her one day
before she died and so was no sooner Husband than Widower He came two or three days after to our Town with the Parents of his Wife There they began to weep afresh and were like to stifâ—le the Child with Kisses my Father had reason to be thankful to the Scotch Lord for his Generosity and the Parents of the Child did not forget him They return'd to Paris very much satisfied with the Care my Father and Mother took of their Son whom they would not yet take to Paris with them because the Marriage was still kept Secret for some Reasons which never came to my Knowledge As soon as I was able to walk my Father took me home to keep the young Earl of Glaris Company for so he was call'd by his Father's Name The Natural Antipathy which is said to have been between Iacob and Esau in the very Womb of their Mother was never greater than that which was between the young Earl and me My Father and Mother lov'd him tenderly and had an Aversion for me though I was the more hopeful Boy of the two There appear'd nothing but Mean in him As for me I seem'd to be what I was not and rather an Earl's Son than Gariquet's and if I am at last no more than a wretched Player 't is undoubtedly because Fortune had a mind to be reveng'd upon Nature for designing to make me something without her help or if you please because Nature is sometimes willing to favour those whom Fortune is cross to I shall pass over in Silence the Infancy of two young Clowns for Glaris was such by inclination as much as my self since our most Memorable Adventures were nothing but abundance of Fisty-cuffs In all the Quarrels we had together I always got the better of him except when my Father and Mother sided with him which they did so often and with so much Heat that my Godfather Monsieur Saint Sauveur by Name was highly offended at it and demanded me of my Father He made him a present of me with great Joy and my Mother had yet less Regret than he to lose me Thus I was at my Godfathers well Clad well Fed much Caress'd and never beaten He spar'd no Cost to make me learn to Read and Write and as soon as I was fit to learn Latin he obtain'd of the Lord of the Village who was a very civil Gentleman and very Rich that I should study with two of his Sons under a Learned Man he had from Paris and to whom he gave a very good Salary This Gentleman the Baron d'Arques by Name took great care to have his Sons well brought up The eldest call'd Saint Far was a handsom Gentleman but as untractably rough and brutish in his Nature as ever any Man was to make amends the young Brother was both handsomer than Saint Far and had a Vivacity of Mind and a Greatness of Soul equal to the Beauty of his Body In short I do not think there ever was a more hopeful young Gentleman than Vervelle for this was the younger Brother's Name He honour'd me with his Friendship and as for me I lov'd him like a Brother and ever respected him as a Master As for Saint Far he had none but ill Inclinations and I cannot better express the Sentiments he had both for his Brother and me than by telling you that he lov'd not his Brother more than me for whom he had a great indifference and that he hated me no more than he did his Brother whom he lov'd but little His Diversions were indifferent from ours for he lov'd nothing but Hunting and quoted Books of Morality whereas Vervelle seldom went out a Hunting and took great delight in Reading wherein I agreed wonderfully with him as in every thing else without being put to the trouble of doing any thing out of Complaisance as in Duty I ought The Baron d'Arques had a large Library of Romances Our Tutor who had never read any in his College who at first forbad us the reading of 'em and had condemn'd 'em a hundred times before the Baron d'Arques to render 'em as odious to him as he found 'em Delightful grew at last so much in Love with 'em himself that having devour'd both the old and the new ones he confest that the reading of good Romances was as Instructive as Pleasant and no less proper to inspire young People with Noble Sentiments than the reading of Plutarch He therefore encourag'd us to read 'em as earnestly as he had discourag'd us before and first of all advis'd us to peruse the Modern but these were not yet suitable to our Palate and till we were fifteen we were much more delighted by the reading of Amadis de Gaul than Astrea and other fine Romances that have been made since by which the French have shewn to the World as by a thousand things besides that if they do not invent so much as other Nations yet they bring the Inventions of others to a far greater Persection We therefore bestow'd upon the reading of Romances the greatest part of the time we had allow'd us for Diversion As for Saint Far he call'd us the Ruyters and went abroad every day either to Hunt or to beat the poor Country Fellows which he did with wonderful Succesâ— The Inclination I had to do well gain'd me the Favour of the Baron d'Arques who lov'd me no less than if I had been his near Relation He would not suffer me to leave his Sons when he sent 'em to the Academy but sent me thither along with 'em rather as a Companinon than a Servant There we stay'd about two year to learn our Exercises at the end of which time a Man of Quality Related to the Baron d'Arques raising Soldiers for the Venetians Saint Far and Verville persuaded their Father to let 'em go to Venice with their Kinsman The good Gentleman desir'd that I should accompany 'em still and Monsieur de Saint Sauveur my Godfather who lov'd me extreamly gave me very gener ously Bills of Exchange for a considerable Sum to make use of 〈◊〉 in case those I had the Honour to accompany should be unwilling to bear my Charges We went the longest way about on purpose to see Rome and the other fine Cities of Italy in each of which we staid a considerable time excepting those which are in the Spaniard's Hands I fell sick at Rome and the two Brothers went on their Journey the Gentleman under whose Conduct they were being willing to lay hold on the Opportunity of the Pope's Gallies which were putting out to Sea to joyn the Venetian Army near the Streights of the Dardanells where they waited for the Turks Verville was extraordinary sorry to leave me and I almost mad to part from him at a time when by my Services I might in some measure have deserv'd the Love he had for me As for Saint Far I believe he lest me with as much indifference as if he had never seen me
and joyntly set upon me I defended my self most happily from so many Enemies but must needs at last have fallen a Sacrifice to this Multitude if Verville the most generous Friend on Earth had not thrust himself betwixt them and me at the hazard of his own Life He gave his own Footman a good cut over the Pate because he found him more forward than the rest to get his Masters Applause I yielded up my Sword to the Baron but that could not appease him he call'd me Rascal ungrateful Villain and all the Injurious Names his Anger could suggest him even so far as to threaten to have me hang'd I boldly reply'd that as much Rascal and ungrateful Villain as I am I had given his Eldest Son his Life nor had I offer'd to hurt him till he had treacherously wounded me Verville maintain'd to his Father I was in the right but he said he would never see my Face again Saldagne went with the Baron d'Arques into the Coach where they had already put Saint Far and Verville who would by no means leave me took me into another with himself He set me down at one of our Princes Houses where he had many Friends and return'd to his Father 's soon after Monsieur de Saint Sauveur sent a Coach for me that very Night and carried me privately to his own House where he took as great care of me as if I had been his only Son Verville came to see me the next day following and told me his Father had been inform'd of the Challenge by Saldagne's Sisters whom he happen'd to find in my Chamber He afterwards assur'd me with a great deal of Joy that the Business was made up by an Agreement of a Double Marriage to be consummate as soon as his Brothers Wounds were healed which were not in any dangerous place That it lay in my Power to be made Friends with Saldagne and that his Father's Anger was appeas'd who was very sorry he had Misused me He added he wish'd I might soon recover to be a sharer of their Joy but I reply'd I could not find in my Heart to stay in a Country where they might Reproach me with the meanness of my Birth as his Father did but would soon leave the Kingdom either to lose my Life in the Wars or raise my self by my Sword to a condition proportionate to the Sentiments of Honour his noble Example had inspir'd me with I am apt to believe he was concern'd at my Resolution but a Man in Love cannot mind any thing long besides his own Passion Destiny was thus pursuing his story when they heard the Report of a Gun in the Street and presently after one playing upon a pair of Organs This kind of Musick never perhaps us'd at the Gate of an Inn call'd all those People to their Windows that had been wak'd with the Gun In the mean time the Organs plaid on and those who were no strangers to such Instruments took notice that the Organs plaid a Church-Tune No Body could apprehend the Design of so devout a Serenade which however was not yet acknowledg'd for such But the doubt was soon clear'd by two pitiful Voices the one of which squeal'd out a Treble part and the other roar'd out a rumbling Base These two Catter-wauling Voices were accompanied by the Organs and all together made such a horrible Consort as set all the Dogs a howling round about They sung Our Warbling Notes and Ivory Lute 's Shall Ravish every Soul c. with the rest of that old Ditty after these harsh Notes they over-heard a Person whispering as loud as ever he could and scolding at the Singer's for singing so Cuckoo-like always in one Tune The poor Choristers reply'd they knew not what the Devil he would have them sing Sing what you will else said he speaking a little louder for I will have singing for my Money Upon this peremptory Sentence the Organs chang'd their Tone and another plous Anthem was sung as devoutly as before None of the Hearers had yet dar'd to speak for fear of interrupting the Musick when Rincour who could not for his Life hold his Tongue on this Occasion baul'd out aloud What! do they use to perform Divine Service here in the Street One of the Assistants said they were singing Tenebrae in good earnest 'T is a Nightly Procession adds a third In fine every merry Fellow in the Inn had his Jest upon the Musick neither could any one guess who was the Serenading Fool nor whom he design'd to Complement In the mean time the Anthem was carrying on to a Conclusion when ten or a dozen Dogs which followed a proud Bitch ran in betwixt the Musicians Legs and because many Rivals cannot be long together without Quarrelling after some Grumbling Snarling and Grinning of Teeth they fell together by the Ears of a sudden with so muchâ— Fury and Animosity that the poor Musicians to save their Shins betook themselves to their Heels leaving the Organs at the mercy of the Dogs These immoderate Lovers were so uncivil in the heat of their scuffle as to throw down the Harmonious Machine with the Frame that supported it and I should be loath to Swear that some of these cursed Dogs did not lift up a Leg and pisâ— upon the batter'd Organs those Creatures being very Diuretick in their Natures especially when some Bitch or other of their Acquaintance is dispos'd to proceed to the Multiplication of her Species The Consort being thus out of Tune mine Host order'd the Inn Door to be open'd intending to secure the Organs with the Table and Trestle on which it stood from farther Mischief whilst he and his Servants were busie about this charitable Office The Organist return'd accompani'd by three Persons amongst whom were a Woman and a Man mufled up in his Cloak This Man was the very Ragotin in Person who designing to Serenade Madam Star addrest himself for that purpose to a little Eunuch Organist of a Church 'T was this Monster neither Man nor Woman that sung the treble Part and play'd on the Organs which his Maid had brought an overgrown Chorister sung the Base both for the sum of two Testers such was the scarcity of Provisions in the plentiful Country of Mayne As soon as the Inn-keeper found out the Author of the Serenade he cry'd aloud on purpose to be heard by all that were at the Window Is it then you Mosieur Ragotin that come with your Vespers to my Door You had best go to Bed and not disturb my Guests at this time of Night Ragotin reply'd that he was mistaken in his Man and yet spoke it so as if he intended to discover what he seem'd to deny In the mean time the Organist finding his Instrument much batter'd and being a veâ—ry Cholerick Creature as all Beardless Animals are wont to be â—wore to Ragotin he would make him pay for it Ragotin reply'd he did not care a straw Ay but I 'll make you care said
both the Witnesses of her Marriage Have I thus long been so â—â—liscreet and Reserv'd to commit at last a most Irreparable Fault And have I refus'd so many Men of Quality of my Acquaintance who would have thought themselves too happy in my Enjoyment to throw my self away upon a stranger who perhaps laughs at my easie Credulity now he has ruin'd my Fame and made me for ever Miserable What will they say at Toledo And what will they say in all Spain Can a young base cheating Pretender be Discreet Why did I let him know I lov'd him before I was assur'd of the sincerity of his Heart Could he have chang'd his Name if he had meant to keep his flattering Promises Or can I hope after all this he will not Reveal his easie Conquest over me What will not my Brother be provok'd to do against me by what I have done against my self And to what purpose is he courting Glory and Fame in Flanders whilst I Disgrace him in Spain No no Victoria thou must do any thing to repair this Crime But before I proceed to Vengeance and desperate Remedies I must try to regain by my Craft what I have lost by my Imprudence It will be then time enough to use desperate Ways when I have found all others ineffectual Victoria had it seems a great Spirit and Presence of Mind since she could fix on such a good Resolution in such a Plunge Her old Gentleman-Usher and her Waiting-woman would have given her Advice But she told 'em she knew as much as they could say and that Action and not Words must now do her Business So the very same day a couple of Carts were laden with Household-stuff and Necessaries Victoria giving out amongst her Domestick Servants that she had pressing Business concerning her Brother which call'd her to Court She took Coach with her Squire and Woman and hastened to Madrid whither her Goods were appointed to follow As soon as she Arriv'd she enquir'd for Don Pedro de Sylva's House and being inform'd where abouts it was hired one for her self in the same Street Her Gentleman-Usher's Name was Rodrigo Santillane who from his Youth was bred up by Victoria's Father which made him love his Mistress as if she had been his own Sister Having much Acquaintance in Madrid where he had spent his youthful Days he soon discover'd that Don Pedro de Sylva's Daughter was to be Wedded to a Gentleman of Sevil Named Ferdinand de Ribere which Match was made up by a Cousin of his of the same Name it being so near the Conclusion that Don Pedro was already providing Servants for his Daughter The very next day Rodrigo Santillane in a plain and decent Garb Victoria in the Habit of a Widow of a mean Condition and Beatrix her Waiting-woman who was to personate his Mother-in-Law and Rodrigo's Wife went all together to Don Pedro's and desir'd to speak with him Don Pedro receiv'd them very Civilly to whom Rodrigo said with much assurance that he was a decay'd Gentleman of the Mountains of Toledo and having one only Daughter by his first Wife which was Victoria whose Husband died not long since at Sevil finding his own and his Daughters Fortune very low he had brought her to Court to get some good Service for her and being inform'd that he was about setling his Daughter's Family at her Marriage he hoped he would not take it unkindly that he came to proffer the young Widow's Service to him she being a Person very fit to be a Duegna to the Bride adding his Daughter's Merit gave him the Confidence to present her to him not doubting her Breeding and good Nature would give her a little better Title to her Mistresses Favour than the small Beauty she had to recommend her Before I proceed any farther I must adveriâ—â—â—â— those that are unacquainted with it that the Ladies in Spaiâ— keep Duegnas in their Houses and those Duegnas are much the same thing as our Governantes or Ladies of Honour belonging to great Persons I must add to this that the Duegnas or Duegnes in Spain are severe and troublesom Animals no less dreadful than a Domineering Mother-in-Law To go on with the story Rodrigo plaid his part so well and Victoria so Beautiful as she was appear'd so agreeable in her modest and plain Attire and had such a promising Look in her Face that Don Pedro de Sylva accepted of her immediately to govern his Daughter He proffer'd Rodrigo and his Wife an Employment in his House likewise but Rodrigo excus'd himself and told him he had some Reasons not to accept of the Honour he intended him but having a House in the same Street he would be ready to wait upon him at any time he should command it Thus was Victoria entertain'd in Don Pedro's House infinitely belov'd both by him and his Daughter and no less envied by all the other Servants Don Antonio de Ribera who had contriv'd the Match between his Faithless Cousin and Don Pedro de Sylva's Daughter came often to bring Don Pedro News that his Kinsman was on his Journey and had written to him at his setting forth from Sevil. And yet this Cousin did not appear This very much perplex'd him nor could Don Pedro and Elvira tell what to judge of it but Victoria was the most concern'd However Don Ferdinand was not able to come so soon For the very same day he parted from Victoria Heaven punish'd his Treachery As he Arriv'd at Illescas a fierce Dog running out of a House unawares affrighted his Mule so terribly that his Leg was sorely bruis'd against a Wall and he thrown down and his Knee put out of Joint which pain'd him so much he could not prosecute his Journey He was seven or eight days under the Surgeons Hands who were none of the most Skillful and his Ailment growing worse and worse he at length acquainted his Cousin with his Misfortune desiring him withal to send him a Horse-Litter The News of his Fall afflicted 'em no less than the knowledge of his being so nigh pleas'd them Victoria who still lov'd him was not a little Disquieted Don Antonio sent a Letter to convey Don Ferdinand to Madrid where being Arriv'd whilst they were providing Cloaths for him and his Retinue which was very Magnificent he being the Eldest Son of the Family and wealthy enough the Surgeons of Madrid more Skilful than those at Illescas cured him perfectly well Don Pedro de Sylva and his Daughter Elvira had notice given 'em of the day whereon Don Antonio de Ribera was to bring his Cousin Don Ferdinand to them It is probable the young Elvira did not neglect her self nor was Victoria without Concern She saw her faithless Lover make his Entrance trickt up like a Brideâ—groom and if he was so Charming in a poor disorderly Habiâ— what must he be now in his Wedding-Cloaths Don Pedro was very well satisfied with him and his Daughter must have been very nice had she
which was between her and him might excuse two Visits in one day yet he only came for the Letters his Man had left with her Duegns Elvira freely told him that she had taken then from her and had the Curiosity to break them open no doubting but a Man of his years had some Amorous Engagement in so great a City as Sevil and though her Curiosity yielded her but little Satisfaction yet she had met with the Caution in Recompense how dangerous it was for People to be Married together before they were thoroughly acquainted with each other adding she would not debar him 〈◊〉 longer of the Pleasure of perusing his Letters At these 〈◊〉 she restor'd him his Paquet with the Counterfeit Letter 〈◊〉 making him a slight Curtesie left him without waiting 〈◊〉 his Answer Don Ferdinand was strangely Surpriz'd at his â—â—â—tresses Discourse He perus'd the suppos'd Letter and â—â—â—ceiv'd it was a Trick to hinder his Marriage He address'd himself to Victoria who remain'd in the outward Room and told her without taking much notice of her Face that either some Rival or malicious Person had contriv'd that Letter to abuse him I a Wife in Sevil cry'd he with Amazement I Children if this be not the most impudent Imposture that ever was set on 〈◊〉 I 'll forfeit my Head Victoria told him he might possibly be innocent but however Elvira in Discretion could do no less than make a farther enquiry into the Truth of it and therefore the Marriage would certainly be put off till her Father Don Pedro could be convinc'd by a Gentleman of Sevil his Friend whom he was gone to seek on purpose that this was only a pretended Intrigue With all my Heart answer'd he and if there be but a Lady of the Name of Lucretia de Monsalva in all Sevil let me forfeit the Honour and Reputation of a Gentleman And let me intreat you added he to let me know if you are so far in your Lady's Favour as I suppose you to be that I may bespeak your good Offices on this Occasion Truly answer'd Victoria I believe without Vanity that she will not do a thing upon any Body's Account that she has refus'd to do on mine But withal I know her Humour is such that she is not easily appeas'd when she thinks her self disoblig'd And as all the hopes of mending my Fortune depend on the Kindness she has for me I shall never offer to contradict her out of Complaisance to you nor hazard her Displeasure by endeavouring to work her out of the ill Opinion she has of your Sincerity I am but poor added she and not to get any thing were to lose a great deal If what she had promis'd to give me in case I marry a second time should fail I might live a Widow all the rest of my Days though I am yet young enough and not so deform'd but that some body or other may like me But 't is an old Saying and a true one That without Money She was thus going on with a true Governante's tedious Tale for to actâ—her Part to the Life she must talk a great deal But Don Ferdinand interrupring her said Do me but one piece of Service I shall require of you and I will put you above the Hopes of your Mistress's Reward And added he to convince you that my Promises are not empty Words give me Pen Ink and Paper and you shall have what you will under my Hand Jesu Signior says the feign'd Governante a Gentleman's Word is as good as his Bond But to obey you I will fetch you what you desire She return'd again with Materials enough to have drawn a Bond of a Million of Gold and Don Ferdinand was so Gallant or at least had such a Months mind to Elvira that he signs her a Blank leaving her to fill it as she pleas'd thereby to engage her to serve him with greater Zeal This rais'd Victoria up to the Clouds She promis'd Wonders to Don Ferdinand and told him she wish'd her self the unhappiest of all her Sex if she did not act in this Business as if she her self was a Party concern'd And in this she spoke a great Truth Don Ferdinand left her full of Hopes and Rodrigo Sanâ—illane who went for her Father being come to visit hâ—â— to learn how her Design advanc'd she gave him an Account of all and shew'd him the Blank Paper subscriâ—â—d for which he gave Thanks to Heaven with her finding all things seem'd to contribute to her Happiness To lose no time he went home to the House that Victoria had hir'd not far from Don Pedro's as I before related where he had fill'd up the Blank Don Ferdinand had given with a Promise of Marriage attested with Witnesses and dated about the same time that Victoria receiv'd this faithless Man into her Country-House He was as skilful a Pen-man as any in Spain and had studied Don Ferdinand's Hand so well in a Copy of Verses of his own Writing which he left to Victoria that Don Ferdinand himself would have been mistaken in the Forgery and thought it to be his own Hand Don Pedro de Sylva could not meet with the Gentleman he sought to be inform'd about Don Ferdinand's Amours but left a Note at his House and came back to his own where that same Night Elvira unbosom'd her Secrets to her Governante and vow'd she 'd sooner disobey her Father than ever to marry Don Ferdinand confessing withal that she was pre-ingaged to one Don Diego de Maradas a long while before and had in all reason complied enough with her Father's Commands and her own Duty by putting a Constraint on her own Inclinations to satisfie him but since Heaven had order'd it so that Don Ferdinand's Treachery was discover'd she thought by refusing him she did obey the Decrees of Heaven which seem'd to allot her another Husband You may imagine Victoria fortified Elvira in these good Resolutions and spoke quite contrary to Don Ferdinand's Expectations Don Diego de Maradas said then Elvira to her iâ— much dissatisfied with me for having forsaken hiâ— Obedience to my Father but the least inviting Look from me will bring him back were he at as great a distance from me as Don Ferdinand is from his Lucretia Write to him Madam and I shal willingly be your Messenger Elvira was overjoy'd to find he Governante so favourable to her Designs She commanded to Coach to be made ready for Victoria who immediaâ—ely went a way with a Billet-doux for Don Diego and being alighted at heâ— Father Santillane's she sent the Coach back again telling the Coachman she would walk it whither she design'd to go 〈◊〉 nest santillane shew'd her the Promise of Marriage he had draw up and she immediately wrote two little Notes one to 〈◊〉 Diego de Maradas the other to Don Pedro de Sylva her Ladâ—â— Father wherein she entreated 'em to repair to her House about Business with the Direction where she dwelt and subscribed
her self Victoria Portocarrero Whilst they were carrying these Notes Victoria strips off her Black Weeds put on very rich Clothes pulls out her Locks which I have been told were of the finest Hair that could be and dress'd her Head as nicely as if she was going to Court Don Diego de Maradas came in a while after to know what Concern a Lady to whom he was a perfect Stranger might have with him She receiv'd him very civilly and they were scarce set down when it was told her that Don Pedro de Sylva was come to wait upon her She intreated Don Diego to conceal himself in her Alcove assuring him it concern'd him very much to hear the Discourse she should have with Don Pedro. He easily comply'd with the Desire of a Lady of so much Beauty and so good Mien and Don Pedro was admitted into Victoria's Chamber not knowing her so much had her Head-dress and rich Attire chang'd her Face and heightned her Majestick Air. She desir'd him to place himself in a Chair whence Don Diego could easily hear all they said and then began in these Words I think Sir I ought in the first place to inform you who I am because in all probability you are impatient to know it I am of the Family of the Portocarrero's born in the City of Toledo where I was married at the Age of Sixteen and became a Widow about six Months after My Father was a Knight of the Order of St. Iames and my Brother of the Order of Callatraâ—â— Don Pedro interrupted her to let her know her Father was his intimate Friend What you tell me rejoices me extreamly answer'd Victoria for I shall have occasion for a great many Friends in the Affairs I design to acquaint you with After this he inform'd Don Pedro of all that pass'd between her and Don Ferdinand and put into his Hands the Promise of Marriage counterfeited by Santillane He had no sooner read it but she went on thus You know Sir what Honour obliges Persons of my Quality to do in these Cases For though Justice should be partially denied me yet have my Friends so much Power and Credit that they would prosecute my Interest to the highest I thought Sir it became me to let you know my Pretensions that you might put a stop to the Match you had design'd for your Daughter She deserves better than to be thrown away upon a faithless Man and I believe you are so discreet as not to be obstinate in giving her a Husband whom another has right to dispute with her Were he a Grandee of Spain replied Don Pedro I would have nothing to do with him if he were unjust and false I shall therefore not only deny him my Daughter but my House And as for your self Madam both my Friends and Interest are at your Service I had notice given me before that he was a Maâ— that follow'd his Pleasure even at the Expence of his Reputation and being of that Humour though you had no Title to him he never should have my Daughter who I hope in God shall not want a Husband in the Court of Spain Don Pedro took his leave of Victoria seeing she had no more to say to him and then Victoria call'd Don Diego out of the Alcove where he overheard all the Conversation she had with her Mistress's Father This spar'd her the Labour of repeating her Story She deliver'd Elvira's Letter to him which transported him with Joy and lest he should be in Pain to know how she came by it she entrusted him with her Metamorphosis into a Duegna knowing he was as much concern'd as her self to keep it socret Don Diego before he left Victoria wrote an Answer to his Mistress's Letter wherein the infinite Joy he express'd for his reviv'd Hopes plainly discover'd the real Affliction he had been in ever since he thought them quite lost He parted from the fair Widow who presently put on her Governantes Habit and return'd to Don Pedro's In the interim Don Ferdinand de Ribera was gone to wait upon his Mistress and had taken his Cousin Don Antonio along with him to endeavour to set all that to rights again which had been charg'd against him by Victoria's feign'd Letter Don Pedro found'em with his Daughter who knew not what to answer when they both desir'd no better Justification than only a due Enquiry whether there ever were in Sevil such a Lady as Lucretia de Monsalvo They repeated the same Plea to Don Pedro to clear Don Ferdinand to which he answer'd That if that Engagement with the Lady of Sevil was a Supposition it was so much the easier defeated but that he came from a Lady of Toledo nam'd Victoria Porto-caâ—â—ero to whom Don Ferdinand had promis'd Marriage and to whom he was still more engag'd having been so generously assisted by her when a meer Stranger to her which he could noâ— deny since she had under his Hand and Seal a Promise of Marriage from him adding a Person of Honour ought not to court a Wife at Madrid whilst he had one already at Toledo At these Words he shew'd the two Cousins the Promise of Marriage in due Form Don Antonio knew his Cousin's Writing and Don Ferdinand mistaking it though he were confident he had never given any was quite confounded at the sight of it The Father and the Mother withdrew after they had coldly bid them adieu Don Antonio quarrell'd with his Cousin for employing him in this Treaty when he had another on foot before They took Coach together where Don Antonio having made him confess his unhandsom Proceeding with Victoria reproach'd him a Thousand times with the Heinousness of the Fact and represeâ—â—ed to him the evil Consequence that was like to attend it He told him he must not think of getting a Wife not only at Madrid but in any part of Spain and that he were happy if he could get off by marrying Victoria without forfeiting his Life with his Honour Victoria's Brother being a Person not us'd to put up so foul a Business without full Stisfaction It was Don Ferdinand's Part to be silent whilst his Cousin continued his Reproaches His Conscience sufficiently accus'd him of Treachery and Falshood against a Lady that had so highly oblig'd him but this Promise of Marriage almost distracted him not knowing by what strange Inchantment they had made him grant it Victoria being come back to Don Pedro's in her Widow's Weeds deliver'd Don Diego's Letter to Elvira who told her how the two Kinsmen had been there to justifie themselves but that Don Ferdinand was charged with other-guess Practices than his Amours with the Lady of Sevil she afterwards related what Victoria knew better than her self though she pretended to admire and detest Don Ferdinand's Baseness That same Day Elvira was invited to a Play at one of her Relations Victoria whose Thoughts still ran upon her own Affairs hop'd if Elvira would follow her Counsel that this Play would prove favourable
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
would scorn to deny afterwards before any Iudge I have all along told your Highness the Truth as I would have done to my God and therefore I shall not stick to repeat what I have so often profess'd that I not only ever have but also ever shall to my Lives end Love and adore Sophy What say you Interrupted the Vice-Roy with Concern in his Countenance do you pretend to adore her I do reply'd Don Carlos not a little surpriz'd at the manner of the Question and have not only promiss'd to marry her but likewise to carry her off to Barcelona But if I have carried her away or know where she is at present may I be put to the cruellest of Deaths As for dying continued he I know it is impossible for me now to escape it but I shall nevertheless dye innocent if it be not a Crime to have lov'd so faithfully so Persidious and Inconstant a Woman But cry'd the Vice-Roy with a stern Countenance What is become of this Woman and your Page Are they mounted up to Heaven Are they conceal'd in the Earth Or whether are they gone The Page answer'd Don Carlos was a spruce Gallant and she a fine Lady he was a Man and she a Woman Ah Traytor reply'd the Vice-Roy now you discover your base Suspicions and the small esteem you entertain'd for the unfortunatd Sophy Curs'd be that Woman continued he that confides in the Promises of Men and suffers her self to be abus'd by too easy a Belief Neither was Sophy a Woman of common Vertue added he nor your Page Claudio a Man Sophy was a constant Maid and your Page a ruin'd Woman that had been in Love with you and consequently stole away and betray'd her as a Rival to her I am Sophy unjust and ungrateful Lover Proceeded he I am Sophy who have undergone incredible Hazards and Hardships on the account of a Man that deserves not to be so well belov'd since he could think me guilty of the very worst of Treacheries Sophy found it not in her power to say any more Her Father immediately knew her and catch'd her up into his Arms her Mother Swoon'd away on one side and her Lover Don Carlos on the other She soon disengag'd herself from her Fathers embraces to run to the two that were fainted away and who coming quickly to themselves she was in doubt which to embrace first Her Mother all bedew'd her Cheeks with Tears and she return'd the like She embrac'd her Dear Don Carlos with all the Passion imaginable and who was like to have swoon'd away again with the excess of it He nevertheless held her fast and not yet daring to approach her Lips he endeavour'd to satisfie himself on her Hands both which be kissed above a thousand and a thousand times Sophy was scarce able to withstand all the Kindnesses and Complements made her The Italian Count on his part going to profer his still insisted on his former Pretensions to her as being promis'd him both by her Father and Mother this Don Carlos hearing and having at the same time one of her Hands greedily kissing at his Mouth he instantly quitted it and laying his Hand on his Sword which had been just then brought him he put himself into a posture enough to have frighted an Army and swore that rather than suffer himself to be depriv'd of his dear Sophy provided she would still continue to Love him he would hew down the City of Valencia and bury its Inhabitants in its Ruins She on her part declared she would have no other Husband but her dear Carlos and therefore conjur'd both her Father and Mother either to resolve to approve of him or to expect to see their only Daughter speedily Cloyster'd up in a Convent Her Parents hereupon soon gave her liberty to make choice of what Husband she pleas'd which the Italian Count perceiving he immediately took Post and rid away for Italy Sophy afterwards gave an account of all her Adventures which being so very extraordinary were admir'd at by every body A Courier was soon after dispatch'd to carry the News of this wonderful Discovery to the Emperour who thereupon sent Orders that Don Carlos after he had married Sophy should be invested with the Vice-Royship of Valencia and moreover as a recompence for all the great Services his Lady had perform'd under the name of Don Fernando he gave to this happy Lover a Principality which his Heirs enjoy to this Day The City of Valencia was at the charge of the Wedding which was perform'd with all the Magnificence and Splendour imaginable and Dorothy who had resum'd her Female Habit much about the same time with Sophy was married not long after her to a near Relation of Don Carlor's CHAP. XV. A matchless piece of Impudence in the Sieur de la Rappiniere THE Councellor of Rennes had just done reading his Novel when la Rappiniere arriv'd at the Inn. He entred the Room boldly where he had been told Monsieur de la Garrouffiere was but assoon as he perceiv'd Destiny standing in a corner both he and his Man that came along with him began visibly to change their Countenances La Garrouffiere after having shut the Door demanded of the bold la Rappiniere if he could not guess upon what account he was sent for Is it not upon account of a Comedian reply'd the Villain laughing whom I had a mind to have my share of How do you mean your share answer'd la Garouffiere with a serious Countenance Does it become a Iudge as you are to talk after that rate And did you ever yet condemn a Person to be hang'd that deserv'd it more than your self La Rappiniere continu'd to turn the thing to Ridicule and would needs make it pass for the Act of a good Companion But the Senator urg'd it so home to him and after so severe a manner that he at last forc'd him to confess that it was an ill Action and for which he immediately made some trifling Excuses to Destiny who notwithstanding could scarce forbear calling him to an account for offending him so basely after he had been oblig'd to him for his Life as you may find he had been in the beginning of these Comical Adventures But Destiny had another Quarrel to debate with this wicked Provost of greater Consequence which he had communicated to Monsieur de la Garrouffiere and who had promis'd to make him give him satisfaction Whatever Pains I have taken to dive into la Rappiniere I could never yet discover whether he were more wicked towards God or towards Man more unjust to his Neighbour or more vicious in himself I know only this to be true that never any Man had more Vices heap'd up together nor in a more eminent Degree than he He confest he had had a Design to carry away Madam Star as boldly as if he had reason to boast of a good Action and farther he impudently told the Councellor and the Comedian that he
some whimsical Fancies of his on the Revelations He was so exceeding fertile in Chimeras and always so fond of his last Productions that he still blotted out the former whereby his Printers were forc'd to Correct the same Sheet at least twenty times over This made them so Mad that for every Sheet he was oblig'd to look out for a new Printer till a last he happen'd on the Person that Printed this present Romance wherein he chanced to light upon some Leaves which mention'd this same Adventure I have told you This Priest knew more of the Story than I who writ it having it seems been inform'd from the Peasants own Mouths who had carried away Ragotin What had been the occasion of their so doing which I could not possibly have come to the knowledge of He saw at first wherein my Relation was defective and acquainted my Printer therewith who was extremely surpriz'd at the Information thinking with others that my Romance had only been a fabulous Story of my own Invention Supposing it might be of some service to me to put me in the right my Printer desired him that he would come and give me a Visit which he readily consented to Then did I learn from this faithful Mansean that the Peasants who had bound Ragotin while a sleep were some of the nearest Relations to the poor Mad-man that run about the Country who had frighted Destiny in the Night and stript Ragotin in the Day-time They had it seems resolv'd among themselves to coop up their Kinsman whenever they met him and had made several attempts upon him for that purpose but he still beat them and got from them being a stout rugged Fellow Some Persons of a Neighbouring Village having espy'd Ragotin lying Naked in the Sun took him for the Mad fellow lying a sleep but daring not to come near him for fear of a beating they gave notice to the Country Fellows his Relations who venturing to seize on him with all the caution before mention'd took him without knowing who he was and discovering afterwards their Mistake set his Feet at liberty but not his Hands for fear he might attempt something against them These Memoirs I had from this Priest pleased me extremely and I must own did me no ordinary Service but in return I thought I made him sufficient recompence by advising him not to procced any farther in the publishing of his Ridiculous Visionary Comment Some Readers perhaps will condemn me for having inserted this needless Circumstance and others it may be at the same time commend me for my Sincerity Return we now to Ragotin his Body all besmear'd and bruis'd his Mouth dry and gaping like to the parcht Earth his Head heavy and dull and his Arms pinion'd behind his Back He got up as well as he could and having cast his Eyes round him as far as he could see and perceiving neither House nor Man near him he beat it on the Hoof taking to the nearest Road he could find and all the way racking his Brains to find out the cause of his Disaster Having his Hands tied behind him he was not a little incommoded by several obstinate Flies that chose to fix on those parts of his Body which by reason of his being bound he could not possibly reach therefore he sound himself frequently oblig'd to lye all along upon the Ground whereby either to rub off or crush the troublelom Vermine At last he came to a hollow way having a thick Quick-set Hedge on either side and wherein a little purling Stream run down to a Neighbouring River This gave him occasion to rejoice hoping now to get clear of his Mud and Dirt which hung in great plenty about him Coming near the Ford he saw a Coach which had been just then overturn'd and out of which the Coachman and another Fellow were hawling five or six Nuns that had been well drench'd in the Water This piece of Charity he perceiv'd to be perform'd at the earnest Exhortations of a venerable Prelate who stood hard by looking on Among these Nuns was the old Abbess of Estival who was coming from Mans whither an Affair of Importance had called her The Abbess and Nuns were no sooner drawn out of the Coach but they perceiv'd at a distance Ragotin's naked figure marching towards them whereat they were extremely asfrighted and much more Father Giflot the discreet Director of the Abby He caus'd the devout Sisters to turn their Faces hastily about that they might not desile their Eyes with so great Impurities and at the same time calling out aloud to Ragotin commanded him not to approach any nearer at his peril Ragotin nevertheless kept onwards of his way till at last coming to a long Plank that had been laid a'cross the River for People to walk over he was met in the middle thereof by Father Giflot follow'd by the Coach-man and Peasant who all doubted at first whether they were not best to exorcise him his shape seeming to them Diabolical At length the Father took Courage and demanded of him Who he was Whence he came How he came to be Naked And lastly What made him to have his Hands tied behind him All which Questions he asked with a great deal of Gravity and Decorum which notwithstanding Ragotin answer'd very saucily requiring of the Priest What he had to do to ask him so many Questions and afterwards pressing to go forwards upon the Plank he push'd the reverend Father so rudely that he tumbled him over Head and Ears into the Water the good Priest drew in after him the Coachman and he in like manner the Country Man all which Ragotin perceiving and being pleased at immediately set up a great laughter He afterwards held his way on towards the Nuns who cover'd their Faces with their Veils and would by no means be seen by him Ragotin for his part was indifferent whether he saw their Faces or not and consequently went onward of his way thinking speedily to get quit of his Adventure which nevertheless Father Gistot did not intend he should He pursued him therefore close with the Country-man and Coach-man for his Seconds which last being naturally the most Cholerick of the three and besides put out of Humour by the Abbesses Scolding at him detach'd his Body from the rest and coming up to Ragotin reveng'd himself with his Whip on his Hide for the Water he had bestow'd on his Ragotin durst not abide a second Charge and therefore immediately put himself into a posture to fly He sled then like a Dog with a Bottle to his Tail while the incens'd Coachman not satisfied with a lash or two gave him half a score more to encrease his speed leaving at every stroak the Characters of his Wrath imprinted in Blood upon his Breech Giflot tho' almost out of Breath with running so swistly had yet still enough left to cry out Whip him whip him soundly which animated the Coachman to redouble his Stripes and poor Ragotin to
Translated by help of the divine Roquebrune who had sworn by Apollo and the Nine Muses that in six Months time he would teach her all the Graces and Perfections of the French Tongue Inezilla was so obliging that she did not require much entreaty and therefore while Ragotin was taken up in consulting the Magician Ferdinando she Read the follovving Novel with a most Charming Voice and Judicious Accent CHAP. XIX The Two Rival Brothers a Novel DOrethea and Feliciana de Monsalva were two the most aimable Ladies in all Seville but tho' they had not been such their Fortunes and Quality were so very considerable that those alone had been sufficient to have engag'd any Gentleman to Court them that had Inclinations to be well Married Don Manuel their Father had not yet declar'd himself in favour of any Person and Dorethea who as his eldest Daughter ought to have been first 〈◊〉 had like her Sister so well manag'd her Looks and Actions that the most confident pretenders to her had yet reason sufficient to doubt whether their Addresses would be well or ill received However these fair Sisters never went to Mass without a great crowd of Lovers after them exceeding Sparkishly trick'd up and they never came near the Holy-Water but there were Hands of all sorts and sizes ready to dip with them out of a peculiar kind of Devotion Whenever they happen'd but to lift off their Eyes from their Prayer-Books they immediately became the Center of I know not how many wishful Glances and they could not make the least step in the Church but they had presently abundance of Curtsies to return to the great number of Beaux that bow'd to them on all sides But however troublesom where the Civilities paid to them in Publick the frequent Serenades under their Windows made them considerable amends and rendred that restraint supportable which they were oblig'd to undergo by the Custom of their Country Hardly a Night passed but they were regal'd with some Musick or other and often in the Day time there was running at the Ring and Tilting just under their Windows which look'd towards the Market-place most proper for those Exercises One Day among the rest a Stranger begot the admiration of the Spectators by his wonderful Address beyond the ability of any of the Gentry of the City who was likewise observ'd by the two Sisters to be a very compleat Cavalier Divers Persons of Seville who had been formerly his Acquaintance in Flanders where he commanded a Regiment of Horse invited him to run at the Ring with them which he accoringly perform'd in a Soldiers Habit. Some Days after there happen'd the Consecration of a Bishop at Seville The Stranger who went by the name of Don Sancho de Sylva would needs be at the Ceremony and consequently appeared in the Church together with the greatest Gallants of the City The fair Sisters came thither likewise with many other Ladies disguiz'd after the mode of the Place with Mantles of thick Stuff and Hats with Plumes of Feathers in them Don Sancho by chance had plac'd himself between the two Sisters and another Lady whom he accosted but she desiring him civilly to desist and leave a place next her for a Friend she expected he obey'd her and turned towards Dorothea de Montsalva who sat nearer to him than her Sister and who had observed all that passed betwixt him and the Lady I was in hopes Madam quoth he addressing himself to Dorothea that the Lady here to whom I have just made my Applications would not have refused me her Conversation upon the account of my being a Stranger but she has justly rewarded my presumption in thinking I had any thing tolerable to offer I nevertheless beseech you Madam continued he to shew more Pity and Generosity to a Gentleman who has a mind to experience the Bounty of the Ladies of Seville You give me a much greater cause to treat you ill than you have done this Lady reply'd Dorothea since you offer me only what she had before refus'd but that you may have no real reason to complain of our Ladies of this Country I consent to converse with you as long as this Ceremony lasts to convince you that I have no Assignation to attend That is what does not a little surprize me reply'd Don Sancho being so wonderfully beauteous as you are and which makes me enclinable to believe that either you are very formidable the Gallants of this Town very faint-Hearted or else that the Person whose place I now usurp is absent And do you believe then Sir quoth Dorothea that I am so little skill'd in the Art of Love that I could not refrain from appearing in publick without my Gallant if I had any For the future you would do well not to entertain such unbecoming Opinions of those you are wholly unacquainted with You may be convinc'd Madam reply'd Don Sancho that I have a better Opinion of you than you imagine if you would but allow me to adore you suitable to my Inclinations Our first Motions are always fallacious answered Dorothea and besides there are no small difficulties to be encountered in the performing of what you propound There are none so great reply'd Don Sancho but I would endeavour to surmount them all to gain the Honour of your Esteem That is not the work of a few Days Repartee'd Dorothea you don't consider perhaps Sir that you do but travel through Seville and it may be are ignorant that I should not well like to be belov'd only en passant But grant me Madam what I humbly request reply'd Don Sancho and I will be bound to continue in Seville as long as I live Now you speak like your self Reply'd Dorothea and I cannot but wonder continu'd she that a Person that was able to say so many fine things should not before this have provided himself of a Mistriss to exhaust his Gallantry upon Is it added she that he never yet thought any of them worth his trouble It is rather reply'd Don Sancho our of a distrust he has of his Abilities Answer me precisely Sir continu'd Dorothea to what I shall now demand of you which is this Which among all your Ladies it is that would be soonest able to keep you in Seville were it her request I have told you already Madam reply'd Don Sancho that you might if you so pleased the soonest of any You never saw me before Sir quoth Dovothea therefore pray let some other happy Lady be the Person I must acknowledge then answer'd Don Sancho since you command it of me that had Dorothea de Montsalva as great a stock of Wit as I have discover'd in you I should think that Man happy whose Merit and Services she could Smile upon There are many Ladies in Seville reply'd Dorothea that not only equal but excel her But added she Have you ever yet heard that among all the crowd of her Admirers she ever favour'd one more than another As I
their Chambers and at Night took a Walk towards Don Manuel's House They there heard Instruments of several kinds runing under Dorothea's Window and afterwards an excellent Consort when that was over a single Voice accompained only with a Theorbo complain'd for some time of the Cruelties of a Tygress in an Angels formâ— Don Sancho was so provoked at this that he certainly had truss'd up the Serenaders had not the Marquess Fabio prevented it by representing to him that he could have done no more if Dorothea had appear'd in the Balcony to encourage his Rival but since she had not he ought to believe that the Words that were Sung were rather Complaints of a dissatisfied Lover than thanks for any Favours receiv'd The Serenaders retir'd after they had perform'd their Task and Don Sancho and the Marquess retir'd also to their Lodgings Dorothea began to be importun'd more and more every Day by her Indian Lover Her Father Don Manuel was extremely desirous to have her speedily Married and therefore she feared that if Don Iuan de Peralta being Rich and of so good a Family as he really was should offer himself to him for his Son-in-Law he would easily be prefer'd to all others and she consequently more press'd by her Father to Marry than she had hitherto been The Day after the Serenade Dorothea spent wholly in her Sisters Company often telling her That she could no longer suffer the Gallantries of the Indian and farther that she could not but wonder how he could make his Courting of her so publick before he had obtained her Fathers leave to Court her It is a thing that extremely surprizes me likewise reply'd Feliciana and if I were in your place the first opportunity that offer'd I would treat him so ill that he should ever after be out of Hopes either of saying or doing any thing to please me For my part continu'd she I can't discover any Charms in him to please a Woman He has not that Air which is to be acquir'd only at Court and the great Expences he is at here has nothing of the Polite and plainly shews him to be a Stranger She proceeded afterwards to finish a very disadvantageous Character of Don Iuan de Peralta not remembring that at his first appearing in Seville she had confest to her Sister that she liked him and that as often as she had had occasion to speak of him she had always done it with some sort of concern Dorothea observing her Sister so alter'd or at least that she seem'd to be so from the Opinion she had formerly entertain'd of this Cavalier presently suspected that she loved him as much as she pretended to dislike him She therefore to clear her doubts told Feliciana that she had no manner of aversion for Don Iuan's Person but rather a respect by reason that she found so much of Sancho's likeness in his Face Her only reason for slighting him was because she could Love no Man after Don Sancho and she added farther since she could not hope to be his Wife she was resolv'd never to be one to any other but determin'd to spend the remainder of her Days in a Convent Altho' you were resolved upon such a strange Undertaking which I don't believe reply'd Feliciana yet you might spare me the trouble of hearing of it Never doubt it dear Sister answer'd Dorothea for it is but too true and it is as certain that you will speedily be the richest Fortune in Seville It is therefore continued she that I would see Don Iuan once more to encline him since he is not like to have me to have the same Love and Respect for you But proceeded she farther when I do see him I shall withal desire him to importune me no more with his Addresses since I find they are so very displeasing to you And let me tell you added she further that I know no Person in Seville to whom you could be happier Married than to him If I said he displeased me reply'd Feliciana I must own it was rather through Complaisance to you than any aversion I had for him Confess rather dear Sister quoth Dorothea that you Love him and apprehend me for a Rival At these Words Feliciana began to blush and was extremely out of Countenance She proceeded to defend herself against her Sisters Accusation but which served rather to condemn than acquit her At last she found she was oblig'd to confess that she lov'd Don Iuan which she would nevertheless not have done had she believed it in her power to have concealed it Dorothea was so far from disapproving her Sisters Passion ' that she encouraged her in it by promising to serve her to her Power Soon after Isabella who had broke off all Communication with her Friend Gusman ever since the accident that befel Don Sancho had orders from Dorothea to go immediately and find out Don Iuan and to tell him that she and her Sister desired his Company about Midnight in the Garden when her Father would certainly be a Bed She likewise bad her to carry him the Key of the Garden-Gate Isabella who had been gain'd over by Don Iuan and consequently had made it her business to procure him her Mistrisses esteem tho' without success was extremely surpriz'd at this sudden change but at the same time not a little glad that she was to carry him so good News who had so often oblig'd her tho' she brought him none but bad She made what hast she could therefore to his Lodgings but found him not inclinable to credit her Message till she shewed him the fatal Key At the same time she put the Key into his Hands he put a perfum'd Purse with 50 Pistoles in it into hers which she received with no less Joy than she had occasion'd him by her coming As ill-luck would have it the same Night that Don Iuan was to have admittance into Dorothea's Fathers Garden Don Sancho and his Friend the Marquess happen'd to take their rounds that way They were in the Street where Dorothea lived about Eleven a Clock when all of a sudden four Men well Arm'd came up to them and star'd them full in the Face Don Sancho thinking his Rival might be among them forthwith told them surlily That the Post which they had taken up there he had occasion for to dispatch a certain Affair in and therefore requir'd them to be gone and give him Liberty for that purpose To which they immediately reply'd that they would do it with all their Hearts but that the place was as proper for them to execute a Design they had in Hand which he must give them leave to do before he could find any room there This answer so nettled Don Sancho that it was only a Word and a Blow with him for he immediately set upon them with that Vigour that he soon put them into disorder and his Friend the Marquess charging them at the same time they were driven to the end of the
little difficulty to suffer them to enter and search his House as believing that they would not open his Chamber wherein he had hid the Gentleman he protected Don Sancho perceiving it was impossible for him to escape being found amidst the great number of the Watchmen and Mob that were spread all over the Garden came out of his own accord from the Lawrel-Grove and going up to Don Manuel who was not a little surpriz'd to see him whisper'd him in his Ear That a Cavalier of honour should always keep his Word and ought never to abandon one that he had once thought fitting to take into his Protection Hereupon Don Manuel desired the Constable who was one of his Friends to leave Don Sancho in his Custody which request was readily granted him being a Man of Quality and the rather because the Wounded Person was not yet Dead After this the Constable and Watch retired and Don Manuel having discovered Don Sancho and finding by his Answers that he was really the Person he had admitted into his Garden he did not doubt but the other must have been some Love-adventurer intended to have been introduced to his Daughters by Isabella To be the better convinc'd of the Truth he desired Don Sancho to go into a Chamber and not to stir thence till he came to him again which Sancho promised he would In the mean time Don Manuel went to Don Iuan de Peralta to whom he feigned that his Servant had come into the Garden at the same time with the Watch and desired to speak with him Don Iuan knew very well that his Servant was Sick a Bed and therefore could not well come to him besides he had had no Orders from him so to do and moreover knew not where he was all this together made him extremely concern'd at what Don Manuel had said to him Nevertheless that he might not discover himself thro' the want of a ready Answer he immediately reply'd to Don Manuel at random If you please Sir let him be ordered to attend me at my Lodgings Don Manuel then presently discovered him to be the young Indian Gentleman that had madâ— such a noise for some time in Seville and having been alreadâ— informed of his Quality and Estate resolv'd not to suffer hiâ— to go out of his House till he had married her of his Daughters whom he could best fancy He discours'd some time with him to be better satisfied in those matters which kept him still in suspence Isabella saw them talking together from the other Door and immediately went and told her Mistress of it Don Manuel soon perceived her and thought she was coming to bring a Message from one of his Daughters to Don Iuan and therefore left him to run after her and intercept her Design Just as he overtook her the Light that was in the Chamber was burnt out Whilst he was groping after her being in the Dark Isabella got clear of him and went and told Dorothea and Feliciana that Don Sancho was in their Father's Chamber and that she saw them talking together The two Sisters immediately run thither Dorothea for her part was not affraid of meeting her dear Don Sancho with her Father being resolv'd to confess how much she loved and was beloved by him as likewise for what end she had made that Assignation with Don Iuan. She happen'd to come into her Father's Chamber just at the same instant that Don Iuan was stealing out whom she taking for Don Sancho caught by the Arm and spoke to him thus Why cruel Don Sancho doest thou thus fly from me and wherefore wilt thou not hear my Vindication against the unjust Aspersions thou hast cast upon me I confess you could not have reproached me sufficiently had I but been guilty of what you have some sort of reason to believe me But you know there are many Falsities which sometimes have as great resemblance of Truth as Truth it self which is ever best discovered by Time Allow me therefore so much as may serve to unravel this Confusion wherein yours and my Misfortune and perhaps that of divers others has involv'd us Help me to justify my self and let not thy Passion which hurries thee on to condemn me provoke thee to pronounce an unjust Sentence before a due Conviction You may perhaps have heard continued she that a certain Cavalier Loves me but did you ever hear that I return'd his Love You may likewise have seen him here and it is most true that I have sent for him but when you shall also know for what reason I am pretty well assured you will repent of your cruel Usage to me and be inclinable to own that I could give you no greater proof of my Fidelity Why is he not now in thy Presence this Spark that importunes me so frequently with his Passion that I might have an opportunity to ask him before thee whether I ever gave him leave to profess he loved me or if he ever had any reason to believe I had read his Letters But my Misfortune is such added she sighing that as often as I would have shun'd him he has appear'd before me but now I have occasion for him to clear my Innocence he is absent Don Iuan had so much patience as to hear all she could say without giving her the least Interruption and that chiefly that he might thereby discover what she had all along before kept a Secret from him At last just as he was going to reproach her with baseness Don Sancho who had been groping from Room to Room to find the way into the Garden and still missing it at length came so near as to hear Dorothea talking with Don Iuan whom he knowing by her Voice approached them as softly as he could but was notwithstanding soon discover'd by Don Iuan and the two Sisters At the same Moment Don Manuel came into the Chamber with Lights carried before him by two Servants Hereupon the two Rival Brothers presently star'd each other in the Face looking fiercely and laying their Hands upon their Swords Don Manuel stept in between them to prevent any mischief and immediately commanded his eldest Daughter to make choice of one of them who as her Husband might be authoriz'd to chastize the other Don Iuan then began to speak and told Don Manuel that for his part he resign'd up all Pretentions to the Cavalier that was before him but that not through fear Don Sancho said the same thing adding moreover that since Don Iuan had been introduced into Don Manuel's House by his Daughter it was probable that she both loved him and was beloved by him and therefore for his part he would die a thousand Deaths before he would marry one with the least scruple upon her Then Dorothea throwing herself at her Father's Feet conjured him to hear her She related to him all that had passed between Don Sancho de Sylva and her to the time of his killing of Don Diego on her account She
wait on Monsieur de la Garrouffiere who after the accustom'd Compliments had passed between them told him there was a company of Strollers in that Town one of which had a great resemblance of Mrs. Cave This caused him to go next Day to the Play where having seen the Person mention'd to him he was forthwith inclin'd to believe that he must needs be a Relation of Caves he was so like her After the Play was over he went upon the Stage and enquir'd of him what Country he was of whence he came how long he had been a Player and by what means he got into the Company To all which Questions he answer'd so directly that it was no hard matter for Verville to find that he was Mrs. Caves Brother who had been lost when his Father was killed at Perigord by the Baron of Sigognac's Page This he frankly own'd adding withall that he had never been able to meet with his Sister since Then Verville let him know that she was at that time in a Company of Strollers at Alençon that she had met with many Misfortunes but that now she was like to have large amends made her by a Gentleman of 12000 Livres a Year being to be suddenly Married to an only Daughter of hers and farther that this Gentleman was now along with them and acted among them He also acquainted him that the Marriage was to be Consummated at his return to Alençon and that it was very necessary for him to go along with him both to see his Sister and to wish his Niece Joy The Stroller was extremely pleased at this News and promis'd to be going with him assoon as he pleas'd but we must leave him for a while packing up his Awls and return before him to Alençon The Prior of St. Lewis came the same Day that Verville went away to acquaint the Strollers that the Bishop of Sées had sent to speak with him to Comunicate some matter of Importance to him and that he was very sorry that he had not then leisure to perform his promise to them but that however there would be no time lost for while he was at Sées they might go to Fresnaye to act Sylvia at the Wedding of the Lords Daughter and that at his return he would certain finishly what he had begun He went forthwith and the Strollers immediately set themselves about preparing for their departure likewise CHAP. XII What happen'd in the Iourney to Fresnaye as likewise another Misfortune of Ragotin's THE Night before the Wedding a Coach and several Saddle-Horses were sent for the Strollers The Actresses went in the Coach together with Destiny Leander and Olive The others rid on the Horses and 〈◊〉 mounted his own Nag which he still keptâ— because he could not sell him and who was now cur'd of his Lameness He would have fain persuaded Star 〈…〉 to have got up behind him giving for 〈◊〉 that they might ride much easier than in the Coach â— which 〈◊〉 People together but neither of them would accept of his Proffer To go from Alençon to Fresnaye it was necessary for to pass throâ— the Forest of Persaine which was in the Province of Maine They had not gone above a Mile into this Forest before Ragotin call'd out to the Coach-man to stop alleging that he saw a Troop of Horse-men coming towards them It was not thought necessary to stop but every one nevertheless would be upon his Guard When he came near the Horsemen Ragotin gave notice that it was la Rappiniere with his Archers Hereat Madam Star began immediately to look Pale which Destiny perceiving told her she had no reason to fear any Insult being offer'd to her there by reason that la Rappiniere would never pretend to any such thing in the Presence both of his Archers and Monsieur de la Fresnayes Servants whose House they were also near La Rappiniere knew well that it was the Strolling-Company that were coming towards him and therefore advancing to the Coach-side with his accustomed Impudence he saluted the Actresses but to whom he made very coarse Compliments which they returned cold enough to have put any one out of Countenance that had not so much Brass in his Forehead as la Rappiniere had He told them that he was looking after Robbers that had robb'd some Trades-men near Balon and that he was informed they were coming that way Whilst he was thus talking to the Strollers one of the Archer's Horses that was a little wanton leapt upon Ragotin's Horse's Neck which he going backward to avoid hapned among a parcel of dead Trees whereof one pointing directly towards him took him under his Wastcoat and hung him from his Saddle which he being willing to disengage himself from spurr'd his Horse lustily and thereby remain'd like a Scare-crow truss'd up in the Air for his Horse no sooner felt his Favours than he left him crying that he was kill'd run thro' and I know not what The Standers-by laugh'd so heartily to see him hanging in thâ—â— Posture that they had no manner of regard to assisting of him Indeed they call'd once or twice to the Foot-men to unloose him but they ran away on the other side laughing In the mean time his Horse was run quite away and would not suffer himself to be stopt At length after every body had laugh'd their Belly full the Coach-man who was a strong lusty Fellow stepâ— down from his Seat and approaching Ragotin lifted him â—ff from hiâ— Tenter-hook and took him down The Coâ—â—â—y gather'd about him and made him believe that he wasâ—â—â—â—unded but that they could not get him Cur'd till they 〈◊〉 to the next Village where there was a good Surgeon â—â—refore that in the mean time they must apply some greâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ves to him to keep the Wound from festering which they immediately did They afterwards put him into the Coach in Olives room who came out Whilst this pass'd the Foot-men and Olive went after his Horse that would not be stopt and notwithstanding his being got a great way brought him back again to his Master This done la Rappiniere left the Company and they continu'd onwards of their Journey towards the Gentleman's House where they soon after arriv'd and sent thence for a Surgeon who they privately instructed what he was to do He seem'd to Probe the imaginary Wound that Ragotin had whom they had put to Bed He likewise pretended to Tent it and afterwards Bound it up telling his Patient that if it had been never so little on the other side he had been no longer a Man of this World He then order'd him a strict Diet and so left him to his repose The little Man was so imaginarily Afflicted at this Accident that he could not believe but he was desperately wounded He therefore did not think fit to rise to assist at the Ball vvhich vvas given after Supper This Ball vvas furnisht vvith Musick from Mans the Musicians of Alençon being gone to a Wedding at Argenton
in being none of the wisest Men in the World that du Val-Rochet might have an opportunity to kill him which she fancyed no hard matter and then she propos'd to Hang him out of the way for his pains But as Fortune would have it it hapned quite otherwise for Val Rochet trusting to his skill in Fencing seem'd to dispise du Lac thinking he durst not make a Thrust at him but herein he was extremely deceiv'd for whilst he put himself out of guard du Lac made a home Thrust at him and run him thro' the Body whereof he instantly dyed This done du Lac went home to his House and acquainted his Wife therewith who was not only surpriz'd but concern'd at so unexpected an Accident He after this fled away privately to a Relation of his Wives who as I have told you before had several Persons of Quality to her Kindred who labour'd incessantly to obtain her Husbands Pardon from the King Madam Fons-blanche was not a little astonish'd when she was first told that her Husband was kill'd but coming afterwards to herself she was advised to Bury him quickly and privately to prevent his Body being Arrested by the Bailiffs Thus in less than six Weeks time Fons-blanche had been a Widow twice Du Lac not long after obtain'd his Pardon which was confirmed by the Parliament of Paris notwithstanding all the opposition the deceas'd Person 's Widow could make This made her to entertain a wilder Design than Madam du Lac had done before and that was to Stab du Lac as he walked in the Market-place with some of his Friends For this purpose she provided herself of a Ponyard and marching up to him attackt him so furiously that before he could get himself into a Posture of Defence or have any of his Friends turn about to help him she had Stabb'd him mortally in two Places vvhereof he died three Days after His Wife immediately got this Virago seiz'd and clapt up in Prison Her Tryal came on and she was Condemn'd to Die but her Execution was respited by reason of her being with Child nevertheless not long after the Stench of the Prison did the Work of the Hang-man for she dyed of a Disease caus'd thereby after having been first delivered before her time and her Child being Baptiz'd died likewise soon after Madam du Lac began afterwards to reflect on what she had been the occasion of and therefore forthwith resolv'd to turn Nun which she did after having put her Affairs in order in the Nunnery of Almeneche in the Diocess of Sées where she now continues if she be not yet dead of her Austerities which she voluntarily inflicted on her self The Actors and Actresses countinu'd their Attention even while Monsieur de la Garrouffiere had done speaking so well they lik'd the Story he had entertain'd them with Roquebrune starting up all of a sudden told the Company after his usual way that this was a rare Subject for a Grave Poem and he would make an excellent Tragedy of it which he would reduce to Dramatick Rules The Company took little notice of what he said but all admir'd at the wonderous Courage of the Women who being push'd on by Jealousie did not boggle at the most hazardous Attempts Then it was Disputed whether Jealousie were a Passion or not and all concluded that whatsoever it was it ruin'd the Noblest of Passions Love There was a good while yet to Supper when all the Company agreed to go and Walk in the Park which they did and afterwards sat themselves down on the Grass Then Destiny said he thought nothing so pleasant as Novels which Leander confirming offer'd to relate another concerning a Neighbour's Daughter of his which was accepted and after three or four times Coughing he began as follows CHAP. XVI The Capricious Lady a Novel THere liv'd in a small Town of Britany call'd Vitray an ancient Gentleman who had been Married a great while to a very virtuous Lady without having any Children by her Amongst other Houshold-Servants he had a Steward and a Housekeeper thro' whose Hands most matters relating to the Family passed These two Persons as most Servants do sooner or later made Love and promiss'd each other Marriage They had so well play'd their Parts in their several Stations that both the good old Gentleman and his Lady died not long after very much incumber'd As for the two Servants they became Rich and Married having little or no regard to their Masters Misfortune Some Years afterwards a certain ill Accident fell out that caused the Steward to fly his Country and which to do the more securely he listed himself in a Troop of Horse leaving his Wife without Children She having waited for his return about two Years and hearing nothing of him caus'd a Report to be spread abroad that he was Dead and accordingly went into Mourning for him When this was a little over she was sought after by several Persons in Marriage and among the rest by a rich Merchant who marry'd her and at the Years end had a Child by her who might be about four Years old when her Mothers first Husband return'd home to his House To tell you which was the most surpriz'd the two Husbands or the Wife is not in my Power but certain it is that the first Husbands occasion of going away still continuing against him he was easily prevail'd upon by the other Husband to take a small sum of Money to be gone again 'T is true he every now and then return'd secretly for a little Subsistance from his Wife which was not refus'd him In the mean time the Daughter whose Name was Margaret grew up and being Rich tho' she was not handsome did not want for Sparks to Court her Among the rest was a rich Merchants Son who did not mind his Fathers Business but lov'd to frequent Gentries Company where he often met with his Mistress Margaret who was received among them on account of her Riches This young Man whose Name was Monsieur de St. Germain had a good Countenance and Courage enough to engage him often in Duels which at that time were very frequent He Danc'd very gracefully Gam'd with all the better sort of Company and was always well drest In the many meetings he had with this young Lass he took all opportunities to let her know what a kindness he had for her and how desirous he was to be her Husband This she seem'd to approve of well enough and consequently invited him to come and see her at home which he did by permission of her Father and Mother who extremely favour'd the Match But afterwards when he was about to ask her of her Parents he would by no means do it till he had her consent likewise not believing when she had yeilded so far in other things she would oppose him in that but to his great surprize upon putting the Question to her he found her to repulse him furiously both in Words and