seen Plays acted at Paris confest that the King's Players could hardly have acted better Ragotin in his Heart and Mind ratified the Donative he had made of his Body and Soul to Madam Star in presence of Rancour who promis'd him every day to persuade his Mistress to accept it Without this Promise Despair had soon made this little pitiful Lawyer the Noble Subject of some great Tragical Story I cannot tell whether the Men pleas'd as well the Ladies of Mans in their Acting as the Women did the Men. Nay if I did know the Truth of it I should hardly discover it◠but because the wisest Man is not able at all times to keep hi◠Tongue betwixt his Teeth I shall conclude this present Chapter to avoid all further Temptation CHAP. XVII The ill Success of Ragotin's Civility AS soon as Destiny had stript himself of his old Embroidery and put on his ordinary wearing Apparel La Rappiniere carried him to the common Goals because the Man they had taken that day the Curate of Domfront was set upon desir'd to speak with him In the mean time the Actresses went home to their Inn with a great Attendance of Citizens Ragotin happening to be near Cave as she came out of the Tennis-Court where they had acted offer'd her his Hand to lead her home thô he would◠rather have paid that civil Office to his Dear Star he did the like to Angelica so that he was Squire to the right and left This double Civility occasion'd a treble inconveniency for Cave who had the upper hand as in all reason she ought was crowded to the Wall by Ragotin that Angelica might not be forc'd to walk in the Kennel Besides this little Dwarf reaching no higher than their Wasts pull'd down their Hands so much that they could scarce keep themselves from tumbling over him But that which most troubled them was his often looking behind him to stare on Madam Star who was talking to a Brace of Country Beaux that would by all means lead her to her Lodgings against her Will. The poor Actresses endeavour'd many times to get loose from their Gentleman-Usher but he held so fast that they thought themselves in Fetters They desir'd him a hundred times to spare himself that trouble he only answer'd your Servant your Servant his ordinary Compliment and grip'd their Hands still harder and harder Therefore they were fain to be patient till they came to their Chamber-stairs where they hop'd to be set at Liberty but Ragotin was better bred And repeating only your Servant your Servant to all they could say he endeavour'd at first to go up with 'em abreast which he found impossible Then Cave turn'd her back to the Wall and crept up side-long dragging Ragotin after her who dragg'd Angelica in like manner she dragging nothing but laughing like a Fool. Now as an Additional Inconveniency when they were within four or five steps of their Chamber down comes a Servant belonging to the Inn with a huge sack of Oats of an excessive Weight who with much adoe so heavy was his Load bid them go down again for he could not get up again with his Burden Ragotin would needs argue the case with him the Fellow swore bluntly he would let fall his Sack upon ' em This made them go down again much faster than they went up but Ragotin would not let go his hold The Man with the Oats prest hastily upon 'em which caus'd Ragotin to miss a step so that he hung in the Air holding still the Players by the Hand till he pull'd down Cave upon him who supported him more than her Daughter by reason of the Advantage of the Place Thus she tumbled down upon him lighting with her Feet on the Pigmy's Belly and Breast and knock'd her Head so fiercely against her Daughter's that they lay all three tumbling on the Floor The Fellow thinking they could not easily get up time enough and being no longer able to support his Load let 's his Sack down upon the Stairs swearing and cursing like an Ostler The Sack bursts open with the Fall and then came in mine Host who scolded like mad at the Ostler But as he was mad at the Fellow so the Fellow was mad as the Players and they as mad at Ragotin who was as mad as the maddest of 'em all because Madam Star coming not far behind 'em was Witness of this Disgrace not much inferior to the late Adventure of the deep-crown'd Hat wherein his Head was most unmercifully 〈◊〉 llowed up not to be recover'd till a pair of Cizars broke the Inchantment Cave took her great Oath that Ragotin should never lead her again and shew'd Madam Star how black and blew he had squeez'd her Hands Star told her 't was a just Judgment upon her for Robbing her of Monsieur Ragotin who had engag'd himself to bring her back to her Lodgings after the Play adding she was glad of the Mischance that was befallen him 〈◊〉 breaking his Word However he heard nothing of all this being all the while in Dispute with mine Host who threatned to make him pay the Wast 〈◊〉 his Oats and had already offer'd to beat his Servant on the same account who for that reason beat Ragotin and call'd him Petty-fogger Angelica began to banter him in her turn and Reproach'd him with his Infidelity to Mistress Star In fine Fortune did plainly shew how little she was yet concern'd in the Promises made to Ragotin of making him gain her Affection to that Degree as would make him more happy than any Lover in the whole Country of Mayne Nay La Parche and Leval added to it The Oats were gather'd up again and the Actresses went up into their Chamber one by one without any further Misfortune Ragotin did not follow them nor can I exactly tell what became of him Supper-time came and to Supper they went After Supper every one withdrew to their respective Affairs and Destiny lock'd himself up with the Actresses in order to pursue his story CHAP. XVIII The Continuation of the History of Destiny and Star I Made the foregoing Chapter a little of the shortest perhaps this will prove somewhat longer however I am not sure of it but we shall see Destiny took his usual Seat and resum'd his Tale in this manner I shall finish my Story as briefly as I can possible fearing I have tir'd you too much already with the Account of my Life and Fortune Verville having given me a Visit as I said before and not being able to persuade me to return to his Father's He left me in all appearance much troubled at the Resolution I had taken and went home where a while after he married Madam Saldagne as Saint Far did Madam Lery She had as much Wit as Saint Far had Dulness and I wonder how two Persons of such unequal Talents have liv'd together in the Matrimonial Society In the mean time I presently recover'd and the generous Monsieur de Saint Sanveur
about his Novel He recited several Lampoons he had made upon most of his Neighbours upon some Cuckolds that were nameless and upon some Women He sung drunken Songs and shew'd him abundance of Acrosticks and Anagrams which are generally the first things with which your paltry Rhimers being to plague Men of Sense Rancour made him a compleat Coxcomb for he cry'd up all he heard with Eyes lifted up to Heaven and swore like a losing Gamester that he never heard any thing so fine Nay he was so transported that he made a shew of pulling off his Hair He told him now and then 't is a great Misfortune both for you and us that you do not leave all other Business to write for the Stage for in two or three Years time Corneille would be no more talk'd of than Hardy is now adays I am added he an absolute Stranger to Flattery but to encourage you I must needs own I no sooner saw you but I read in your Face that you were a great Poet and you may know of my Comrades what I told 'em about it I am seldom mistaken I smell a Poet at two Miles distance and therefore as soon as ever I cast my Eyes on you I was acquainted with you as well as if I had brought you up All this fulsom Stuff went down with Ragotin as glib as several Glasses of Wine which he drank at the same time and which intoxicated his Brain as much as Rancour's Commendations swell'd his Vanity As for Rancour he eat and drank very briskly erying out now and then for God's sake Monsieur Ragotin improve your Talent Once more let me tell you you are much to blame not to make your Fortune and ours For my part I scraul a little Paper as well as other People but if I made Verses half so good as these you have been reading to me I should not be so hard put to it to keep Life and Soul together but would live upon my Income as well as Mondors Therefore Monsieur Ragotin pray write and if this next Winter we do not eclipse the Companies of the Hostel de Bourgoyne and des Marez may I never tread the Stage again without breaking one of my Arms or Legs I 'll say no more and so let 's drink He was as good as his Word and having pet a double Measure into a Glass he drank Monsieur Ragotin's Health to Monsieur Ragotin himself who did him Reason accordingly and return'd it with the Health of the Women Players This he drunk Cap in Hand and in such a Rapture that as he laid the Glass on the Table he broke its Foot without taking notice on 't and went three or four times to set it upright but finding it impossible he at last flung it over his Head and pull'd Rancour by the Sleeve to let him know he had the Honour of breaking a Glass in drinking the Players Health It vex'd him a little that Rancour did not laugh at it but as I said before he was rather an envious than a risible Animal Rancour ask't him What he thought of their Women The little Man blush'd without giving him an Answer But Rancour putting the same Question to him again at last what by his Sturtering his Blushing and his broken Speech he let Rancour understand he lik'd one of the Players extremely But which of em said Rancour The little Man was so disorder'd for having said so much that he answer'd I don't know Nor I neither said Rancour This Reply cast him into greater Disorder and with a bewilder'd Look he said 'T is 't is He repeated the same Word five or six times over again at which the Stroller growing impatient I like your choice said he she 's a very beautiful Person This put him quite out of Countenance insomuch that he could never tell which he lov'd most though it may be he knew nothing of it himself or that his Passion was rather Lust than Love At last Rancour naming Mrs. Star to him he said 'T was she with whom he was in love For my part I verily believe that had he nam'd either Angelica or her Mother Cave he had forgot the Blow he had receiv'd with a Busk from the one and the Age of the other and given himself Body and Soul to the very first that Rancour had nam'd So great was the Trouble of Goatish Ragotin The Stroller made him drink a great Bumper which carried off part of his Confusion and pledg'd him with another which done he looking about the Room whisper'd as though it were a great Secret though there was no Body Well your Wound is not mortal and you have address'd your self to one who is able to cure you provided you will be rul'd by him and keep Counsel not but your Enterprize is very difficult for Mrs. Star is a very Tygress and her Brother Destiny a Lion But she does not see Men every Day like you and I know what I can do Let 's drink out our Liquor and to morrow will be Day They drank each a Glass of Wine which interrupted their Conversation for a while After that Ragotin had recounted all his Accomplishments and Riches and told Rancour that a Nephew of his was Clerk to a Financier that this Nephew had contracted a great Friendship with the Partisan de Ralliere during the time he was at Mans to settle an Excise-Office there and by the means of his Nephew's Interest he endeavour'd to give him Hopes that he would procure him such a Pension from the King as his Players in Ordinary had He told him likewise That if any of his Relations had Children he would prefer 'em in the Church because his Niece was married to the Brother of a certain Miss kept by the Steward of an Abbot of that Province who had good Livings in his Gift Whilst Ragotin was thus relating what great Interest he had who the more he drank the more thirsty he grew was still filling both the Glasses which were emptied in an instant Ragotin not daring to refuse any thing from the Hands of a Man from whom he expected such a great piece of Service In short they swill'd till they had both their fill Rancour according to his custom grew more serious and Ragotin so dull and heavy that he laid his Head down on the Table and fell asleep Rancour call'd one of the Maids to make a Bed ready for him because no Body was up at his Inn. The Maid told him she had as good make two for she was sure Monsieur Ragotin wanted one In the mean time he slept and snor'd as well as ever he did in his Life for all the Noise they made while they were putting clean Sheets to two of the three Beds that were in the Room But when the Maid came to wake him and acquaint him his Bed was ready he call'd her a Thousand Whores and threatned to beat her At last Rancour having turn'd him in his Chair towards the Fire
at which the Sheets were air'd he rubb'd and open'd his Eyes and suffer'd himself to be undrest without repining They got him into his Bed as well as they could and Rancour having first made the Chamber-Door fast went into his About an Hour after Ragotin got up to what purpose I never could learn He rambled a long time about the Room not knowing where he was and having overturn'd all the Chairs and Tables he met in his Way and tumbled down himself several times without being able to find his Bed again he went at last to Rancour's and pulling his Bed-cloaths made him start out of his Sleep Rancour ask'd him What he would have I look for my Bed said Ragotin 'T is on the Left Hand of mine reply'd Rancour The little drunken Man took to the Right and thrust himself betwixt the Rug and the Straw-bed of the third Bed which had neither Feather-bed Quilt nor Sheets and there he slept all Night very quietly till next Morning Rancour got up and dress'd himself before Ragotin wak'd and then ask'd him Whether 't was to do Pennance that he left his Bed to sleep on Straw Ragotin was positive that he never got up and that the Room must be haunted The Inkeeper hearing this stood up for the Reputation of his House and picking a Quarrel with Ragotin threatned to sue him for giving it an ill Name But I have sufficiently exercis'd your Patience with the tedious Story of Ragotin's Debauch let us return to the Strollers Inn. CHAP. XII A Combat in the Night I Am too much a Man of Honour not to advertise the Courteous Reader that if he be offended at all the silly Trifles he had already seen in this present Book he will do well not to go on with the reading of it for upon my Conscience he must expect nothing else altho' the Book shou'd swell to the bigness of the Grand Cyrus And if from what he had read he doubts what will follow perhaps I am in the same Doubt as well as he for one Chapter draws on another and I do with my Book as some do with their Horses they bestride having the Bridle on their Neck and trusting to their good Conduct But perhaps I have a fix'd Design and without filling my Books with Examples for Imitation I shall instruct with Delight in the same manner as a drunken Man creates in us an Aversion for Drunkenness and may sometimes divert us by his merry Impertinence Let 's end this Moral Reflexion and return to our Strollers whom we left in the Inn. As soon as their Room was clear'd and Rancour got with Ragotin the Door-keeper they left at Tours came into the Inn with a Horse loaden with Goods and sat down to Supper with ' em By this Relation and what they learnt from one another they understood how the Intendant of the Province cou'd do them no harm having had much ado to escape himself from the Hands of the boistrous Mob with his Fuziliers Destiny told his Comrades how he got away with his Turkish Habit with which he design'd to represent Marret's Soliman and that being inform'd that the Plague was at Alencon he was come to Mans with Cave and Rancour in the same Equipage we have describ'd in the beginning of these most true though little Heroical Adventures Mistress Star acquainted 'em also with the good Offices she receiv'd from a Lady at Tours whose Name never came to my Knowledge and how by her Means she was conducted as far as a Village near Bonnestable where she sprain'd her Foot as she alighted off her Horse She added that hearing the Company was gone to Mans she got her self carried thither in a Litter which the Lady of that Village lent her with a great deal of Civility After Supper Destiny alone stay'd in the Lady's Chamber Cave lov'd him as if he had been her own Son Mistress Star was no less dear to her and her Daughter and only Heir Angelica lov'd Destiny and Star like a Brother and a Sister She did not yet exactly know who they were nor upon what Account they turn'd Players but she had taken notice that though they call'd one another Brother and Sister yet they were better Friends than near Relations that Destiny paid to Star the greatest Respect imaginable that she was extream modest and virtuous and as Destiny had a great deal of Wit and seem'd to have a liberal Education so Mistress Star look'd more like a young Lady of Quality than like a Stroller Now Destiny and Star were belov'd by Cave and her Daughterâ— because they really deserv'd their Love both by their good Qualities and the mutual Friendship which they naturally had for two Players who had as much Merit as any in France though they never had the good Fortune to tread either of the two Theaters in Paris which are the Non plus ultra of French Players Those who do not understand these three little Latin Words which came so pat in my way that I could not refuse to place 'em here may be pleas'd to ask some Latinist of their Acquaintance the meaning of ' em To end the Digression Destiny and Star did not scruple to express their mutual Fondness before Cave and Angelica and shew the extream Joy they had to see each other after so long an Absence They related as pathetically as ever they cou'd how uneasie they were about each other and Destiny acquainted Mrs. Star that the last time they acted at Tours he thought he spy'd their inveterate Persecutor amongst the Crowd of their Auditors although he had his Cloak about his Face and that as he went out of the City not finding himself able to resist him if he should offer to attack him with his Force he had disguis'd himself by putting a great Patch on his Face He told her afterwards how many Litters they met with when they went to fetch her adding he was much mistaken if their common Enemy was not the same unknown Man who search'd so nicely all the Litters as you have seen in the seventh Chapter Whilst Destiny was speaking poor Mistress Star cou'd not forbear shedding some few Tears Destiny was sensibly touch'd with 'em and having comforted her as well as he cou'd he added that if she wou'd suffer him to use the same Endeavours in seeking out their Enemy as he had us'd till then in avoiding him he wou'd soon free her from his Persecutoins or lose his Life in the Attempt These last Words redoubled her Grief Destiny had not Courage enough not to grieve also and Cave and her Daughter who were of a tender and compassionate Temper griev'd either out of Complaisance or by Contagion and I believe they did even weep I cannot tell whether Destiny wept but this I know that the Women and he were silent a long while and in the mean time every one wept as they thought fit At last Cave renew'd the Conversation which Tears had interrupted and
reproach'd Destiny and Star that though during all the time they had liv'd together they might have seen how much she was their Friend yet they repos'd so little Confidence in her and her Daughter that they were still unacquainted with their Birth and Quality adding she had not met with Crosses enough in her Life to be able to advise unfortunate Persons such as they seem'd to be To which Destiny answer'd that their not discovering themselves to her was not out of any Distrust but because he thought the recital of their Misfortunes could not but be very tedious telling her withal he would be ready to entertain her with the Story of their Adventures whenever she was willing to throw any time away upon the hearing of it Cave was glad of this Opportunity of satisfying her Curiosity and her Daughter who had the same eager Desire being sat near her on Stat 's Bed Destiny was going to begin his Story when they heard a great Noise in the next Chamber Destiny stood listning a little while but the Noise and the Squabble encreas'd instead of ceasing and some Body cry'd out Murder Help Murder Destiny with three Leaps got out of the Chamber at the Expence of his Doublet which Cave and Angelica tore as they were going to stop him He went into the Chamber from whence the Noise came which was so dark that he could not see his own Nose and where the Fisty-cuffs Boxes on the Ears and several confus'd Voices of fighting Men and Women together with the hallow Noise of naked Feet stamping on the Floor made an hideous and frightful Uproar He ran very rashly amongst the Combatants and in one Moment receiv'd a Cuff on one side and a Box on the Ear on the other which changed his good Intention of parting those Hobgoblins into a violent Thirst of of Revenge He began to set his Hands a-going and made a Flourish with his two Arms by which many a maim'd Chops were abus'd as it afterwards appear'd by his bloody Fists the Scuffle lasted so long till he receiv'd twenty Cuffs more which he returnd with double the Number In the heat of the Fight he felt himself bit at the Calf of the Leg and clapping his Hands to it he met with something hairy which he took to be a Dog but Cave and her Daughter who appear'd at the Chamber Door with a Candle like the fire of Saint 〈◊〉 after a Storm espy'd Destiny and let him see he was amidst seven Persons in their Shirts who being in close Conflict before begun to let one another go as soon as the light appear'd This Tranquility did not last long The Innkeeper who was one of the naked Combitants grappl'd the Poet anew Olive who was also amongst 'em was attack'd by the Innkeeper's Man another of the Combatants Destiny went to part em whereupon the Hostess who was the Animal that bit him and whom he took for a Dog because she was bare-headed and had short Hair flew at his Face assisted by two Maids as naked and bearheaded as her self The Shreeks and Cries fill'd the Air once more the Cuffs and Boxes made the Room ring again and the Fight grew still warmer than before At last several Persons who wak'd at the Noise came into the Field of Battel parted the Combatants and procur'd a second Suspension of Arms. Now the question was to know the occasion of the Quarrel and what fatal Accident had brought seven naked Persons into one Room Olive who seem'd the least concern'd of all said that the Poet was gone out of the Room and that he saw him come back as fast as he could run follow'd by the Innkeeper who had a mind to beat him that the Hostess follow'd her Husband and fell foul of the Poet that as he was going to part 'em a Servant and two Maids fell upon him and that the Light happening to go out at the same time made the Fight last longer than 't would have done Now 't was the Poet's turn to speak for himself He said that he had made two of the finest Stanza's that ever were written since Stanza's were in Fashion and fearing to lose 'em he went to the Maid of the Inn for a Candle which they scornfully refused to give him that the Inn-keeper call'd him Rope-dancer which he return'd by calling him Cuckold He had no sooner spoke the word but the Host who was within reach gave him a good slap on the Chops you would have thought they made a fighting Consort together for as soon as the box on the Ear was given the Inn-keeper's Wife his Man and his Maids rush'd upon the Strollers who receiv'd 'em with sound Cuffs This last Encounter was more fierce and obstinate that the other two Destiny having clos'd with a lusty Wench and tuck'd up her Smock gave her a Thousand flaps on the Butrocks Olive who saw the Company pleas'd with it did the same to the other Maids The Inn-keeper was busie with the Poet and the Hostess the most Furious of all the Combatants was seizd by some of the Spectarors which made her fly into such a Passion that she cry'd out Theves Her Cries awak'd La Rappiniere who liv'd over against the Inn. He caus'd the Door to be open'd and judging by the Noise he heard that there could be no less than seven or eight People kill'd upon the Spot he parted the Fray in the King's Name and having learnt the cause of all the Disturbance he Exhorted the Poet not to make any more Verses in the Night-time and was like to beat the Inn-keeper and his Wife for giving a hundred abusive Names to the Players whom they call'd Jack-puddings and Tumblers swearing withal to turn them out of Doors the next day but La Rappiniere to whom the Inn-keeper ow'd Money threatned to Arrest him which threatning presently stopt his Mouth La Rappiniere went home again the rest return'd to their Chambers and Destiny to that of the Players where Cave desir'd him not to defer any longer to give her the story of his and his Sisters Adventures He told her he was ready to satisfie her Curiosity and begun his Relation in the same manner you shall see in the next Chapter CHAP. XIII The History of Destiny and Mistress Star I was born in a Village near Paris and I might make you believe that I came of a very Illustrious Family since no Body can disprove what a stranger says of himself but I am too Generous and too much a lover of Truth to deny the meanness of my Extraction My Father was one of the Topping and most Substantial Men in his Village whom I often heard say that he was a poor Gentleman's Son that he spent his Youth in the Wars where having got nothing but dry Blows and empty Pockets he betook himself to the Service of a rich Parisian Lady in the Quality of her Gentleman-Usher and that having scrap'd a Sum of Money in his Place because he was also