THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 s/c. 
 
 A 


 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF 
 VANILLO GONZALES; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE MERRY BJTCHELOR. 
 VOLUME THE FIRST.
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF 
 VANILLO GO NZ ALES, 
 
 S U R N A M E O 
 
 THE MERRT BATCHELOR. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 FROM THE FRENCH OF 
 
 ALAIN-RENE LE SAGE, 
 
 AUTHOR.OF THE CELEBRATED NOVELS OK " GIL BLAS" 
 AND "THE DEVIL UPON CRUTCHES." 
 
 VOLUME THE FIRST. 
 
 MORIS HOMINUM MULTORUM VIDIT XT UKBES. 
 HE WANT MEN AND MANY MANNER! SAW." 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 FRJNTED FOR G. G. AND J. ROBINS ON* i 
 PATER-NOSTF. R ROW.
 
 "7 
 
 v. I 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 J. HE two translations of thofe highly 
 celebrated and popular novels, Gil Bias, 
 and Le Dkible Boiteux,. have rendered the 
 extraordinary merits of LE SAGE, as a 
 novel writer, fo well known and re- 
 fpeded throughout Great Britain, that, 
 in order to recommend the following 
 Iliilory to the favourable attention of 
 A 3 the
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 the Public, it is only neceflary to an- 
 nounce, that the original from whence 
 it is drawn is the undoubted produc- 
 tion of that ingenious and entertaining 
 Author. It was the laft effort of his 
 expiring genius. It is' faid, by the 
 editor of his works, to be of Spanifh 
 extradion, " Tirh de VEfpagnol" and 
 there is certainly a novel of nearly the 
 fame tide in that language; but, ex- 
 cept in one or two very trifling inftan- 
 ces, they bear as little refemblance to 
 eachotherasMACEDON,by FLUELLIN'S 
 comparifon, does to MON MOUTH. 
 
 " IN the comparifon between MA- 
 " CEDON and M ON MOUTH," fays the 
 ingenious Welchman, " the fituation, 
 " look you, is both alike : there is a 
 
 " river
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 " river in MACEDON ; there is alfo 
 "moreover a river at MONMOUTH; 
 " and there is falmons in both." 
 
 SHAKESP-EAR'S HKSRY IV. 
 
 BETWEEN fixty and feventy years 
 ago, a few chapters of this work was 
 " done out of French j" and, in the 
 preface of that publication it is faid, 
 that " Don ESTEVANILLE GONZALES 
 " wrote it himfelf, publifhed it at 
 " ANTWERP, and dedicated it to the 
 " Duke of AMALTI, formerly General 
 " of his Catholic Majefly's Forces in 
 ** the Netherlands, under whom he ap- 
 " pears to have ferved." The prefcnt, 
 however, is certainly the nrft time it 
 has appeared wholly in n Englilh 
 drefs > and if it be capable, as the 
 A 4 tranflator
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 tranflator flatters himfelf it is, of afford- 
 ing not only amufement, but ufeful in- 
 ftru<ftion, it is extremely unimportant to 
 the reader from what fources it was ori- 
 ginally derived. 
 
 IT has diverted both the Spanim and 
 the French nations, when they were in a 
 better humour to be pleafed with fuch 
 productions than they feem to be in at 
 prefent j and, as the Englifh people frill 
 preferve both their good humour and 
 their good fenfe, it is reafonable to ima- 
 gine, that it will not now be difpleafing 
 to them. It does not confift, like mod of 
 the novels of the prefent day, of a fcries 
 of idle and unmeaning fictions, which 
 ferve only to miilead the judgment, and 
 
 corrupt
 
 P R E F A CE, 
 
 corrupt the heart; but contains exafl 
 portraits of a variety of real character?, 
 moral, political, and literary; a ferbs 
 of lively and pleafant adventures ; and 
 many keen but juft cenfures upon the 
 vices and follies of mankind, from 
 whence the people of all nations may- 
 derive both pleafure and improvement. 
 
 THE biographer of this admirable- 
 writer has indeed obferved, that this 
 work, being the laft he ever wrote, 
 is madcap of the " jhreds and patches" 
 of his imagination j and it mull be con- 
 felTed, that its wit and pleafantry is not 
 fo uninterruptedly fupported as it is in 
 its archetype, the perhaps inimitable 
 GIL BLAS. But though it was the laft 
 written, it certainly is not the lead 
 A 5 meritorious
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 meritorious of his works. Where is 
 the folly of pedantry more humoroufly 
 cxpofed, the compunctions of avarice 
 more corredly depicted, or the preten- 
 fions of empiricifm more happily ridi- 
 culed, than in the characters of THE 
 OLD KNIGHT, the Licentiate SALA- 
 BLANCA, Dr. ARRISCADOR, and his 
 Coadjutor POTOSCHI ? Can the female 
 mind be more ferioufly warned againfl 
 the dangers of coquetry than by the fate 
 of Donna INNES; or the career of 
 
 youthful vanity be more inftruclively 
 
 
 
 checked than by the flory of Don 
 RAMIREZ DE PRADO? The hollow 
 profe {lions of common acquaintances 
 are finely contrafled with the fervices of 
 real friends in the regifter of Don 
 HENRY OF BOLOGNA; and the punim- 
 
 ments
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 merits which mould always follow poli- 
 tical depravity, with the tortures which 
 generally accompany difappointed ambi- 
 tion, were perhaps never more truly 
 exemplified than in the refpeftive deaths 
 
 of DonRoDERIGO DE CALDERONAand 
 
 the Duke of OSSUNA. In fhort, there 
 is no character, amidil: the great variety 
 with which this work abounds, but 
 furnimes to a reflecting mind a ufeful 
 lefibn and an entertaining ftory. 
 
 A 6 THE
 
 THE 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FIRST VOLUME. 
 
 CHAPTER THE FIRST. 
 
 THE lirth and -parentage of VANILLO -, and 
 the kind of education he received* 
 
 CHAPTER THE SECOND. 
 
 VANILLO refohes to quit the frofej/ion of Sur- 
 gery , and -proceeds to SALAMANCA to com- 
 fkte his Jl udies. 
 
 . CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE THIRD. 
 
 VANILLO, having reached SALAMANCA, places 
 bimfelf in a bcarding-boufe \ the mafter of 
 which introduces him into the third clajs at 
 the Uni-verfity. 
 
 CHAPTER THE FOURTH. 
 
 The progrefs VANILLO made in the ftudy cf the 
 Belles Lettres - y the caufe which abated bis 
 fondnefs for jludy ; and tbecourfe he took ufen 
 leaving the Univerfjty. 
 
 CHAPTER THE FIFTH. 
 
 The kind cfjervice V ^ANILLO followed with Don 
 CHRISTOVAL DE GAVARIA , and the indij- 
 tretion that caufed him to be difcharged. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE SIXTH. 
 
 The conduff of VANILLO after his diftnijfion 
 from the fervice of Don C H R i s T o v A L ; and 
 by what accident he entered into the fervice 
 of the Licentiate SALABLANCA, Dean of 
 the Cathedral of SALAMANCA. A defer ip- 
 tkn cf the ftngular character of this Ecde- 
 fiaftic. 
 
 CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. 
 
 VANILLO quits SALAMANCA and viftts 
 MADRID. The adventure he met with on 
 the road ; and the conferences it produced* 
 
 CHAPTER THE NINTH. 
 
 The confolation which VANILLO received on 
 being rekafed from prifon, and the happier 
 fituation in which he found biuifdf an bis 
 arrival at MADRID. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE TENTH. 
 
 VANILLO gains the friendjhip of Don 
 
 OF BOLOGNA, who /hews him a fecret re- 
 gifter which he kept in his ftudy. 
 
 CHAFFER THE ELEVENTH, 
 
 VANILLO goes into the fervice of another 
 mafter, and becomes a Page to the Duke of 
 OSSUKA* 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWELFTH. 
 
 The Duke of OSSUNA is appointed Viceroy of 
 SICILY ; he departs from MADRID to em- 
 bark at the port cf BARCELONA, frcm 
 whence he proceeds to GENOA, a/id from 
 thence to NAPLES. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH. 
 
 be Duke cf OSSUNA arrives in SICILY : 
 his entry into PALERMO ; and the firft pro- 
 ceedings cf his adminiftration* 
 
 CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH. 
 
 The ujeful -friend VANILLO met with ; and the 
 fortuitous rircumftances which rendered his 
 fervices neceffary to the Viceroy. 
 
 CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH. 
 
 The particular convcrfation VANILLO had with 
 the Duke ; and with what addrefs he afted 
 the -part ivblch THOMAS bad ajjigned to 
 him. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH. 
 
 g confer fation iffbi;b p fifed the enjuing mcrn- 
 ing between VANILLO and THOMAS. The 
 ingenious Jentcnct which was pc.fed ly the 
 "Duke 0/"OssuNA j and the confluence wlitb 
 that fentence ytduccd K%W tbs future fo 
 of VANILLO. 
 
 CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH. 
 
 By 'what accident and with what defgn 
 
 VANILLO became an Apothecary j and the- 
 
 bapfy ejfeft which a quid pro cpv produced 
 in his fortunes. 
 
 CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH. 
 
 'Jbe tragical eccidcr.t ivbifb fcUvascd this ludi- 
 trcus ac, 7 'Ji.'hture t and the extreme f-eril in 
 
 ivhicb
 
 CONTENTS. 
 which if involved both VANILLO and 
 
 POTOSCHI. 
 
 CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH. 
 
 r ANiLLO, on bis pffige to LEGHORN, gains, 
 the friendjhip of a young Gentleman, who 
 condufts him to PISA. The union in which 
 they lived together -, and the caufe cf thtir 
 feparation. 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH. 
 
 meets, three miles from PISA, with 
 two Genocje who were going to F LORE NCR. 
 He joins company with them j. and is induced 
 by curiofity to vifit a celebrated Necromancer. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST. 
 
 he arrival of VANILLO at FLORENCE ; the 
 employment that was offered to him ; and tht 
 frvict be rendered Don CHRISTOVAL, 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND. 
 
 I 
 
 3'be conclufan cf this adventure > the appreben- 
 fion VANILLO entertained - t and his depar- 
 ture from FLORENCI with Den CHRIS- 
 
 TOVAL. 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD. 
 
 Von CHRISTOVAL and hh fuite embark at 
 
 LEGHORN end fail to BARCELONA, from 
 
 . :nce they proceed to SARAGOSSA, Ibe 
 
 marriage of Den CHRISTGVAL ; and the con." 
 
 Jsytence cf IMS union. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 SHATTER THE TWENTY- FOURTH. 
 
 CHRISTOVAL and VANILLO arrive at 
 
 the Cajlle of RODENAS. The manner in 
 which they were received by the Bijhop of 
 ALBARAZIN. 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH. 
 
 ANILLO departs from the Caftle of RODENAS, 
 and returns to SARAGOSSA. He lofes his 
 way andjleeps in a Hermitage. 
 
 [AFTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH. 
 
 fhe Hiflory of the Hermit. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH 
 
 VANILLO takes bis leave of THE HERMIT, 
 and proceeds to SARAGOSSA j from ivhenct 
 be returns to RODENAS with good news for 
 Don CHRISTOVAL. fbe confluence cf this 
 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. 
 
 Tbe candutl of VANILLO on bis return /0 SALA- 
 MANCA ; the important fervice be rendered 
 bts friend V AN EG AS j and by ivbat accident 
 be received intelligence of bigniora DALFA 
 and the jilt BIRNARDINA. 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH. 
 
 be melancholy accident v;hicb happened three 
 months afterwards at the Epifccpal Palace ; 
 
 tM
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 the revolution it -produced; and tbe courfe 
 which VANILLQ fleered by tbe advice of 
 VANEGAS. 
 
 CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH. 
 
 be private cmwerjation which Mafter DA MIEN 
 CARNICERO bad with his Nephew. 
 
 T H I
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 VANILLO GONZALES; 
 
 O R, 
 
 THE MERRY BATCHELOR. 
 
 CHAPTER THE FIRST. 
 
 Vie Birth and Parentage of VANILLO; and 
 the kind of Education he received. 
 
 STATIUSopenshisTHEBAio with the 
 rape of EUROPA, as the firft caufe of 
 the foundation of THEBES. But do not 
 be alarmed, my kind Reader: I will not 
 be induced, by his example, to commence 
 the (lory of my life by informing you 
 xvho were my anceftors in the reign of 
 VOL. i. B PELA-
 
 2 THE HIS TO &Y OF 
 
 PELAGITS*. It is dangerous to dive too 
 deeply into the hiftory of one's relations ; 
 and I muft acknowledge, that I fhould feel 
 greatly embarrafled if I were obliged to 
 ipeak even of my Grandfathers, of whom 
 
 * PELAGUS, the near relation of RODRI GO, a king 
 f)f the Vifigoths in SPAIN, was compelled to abandon 
 his principality to the MOORS, and to conceal his perfon 
 during the incurfions of thofe barbarians. The holy 
 edifice of NOTRE DAME at COVAGANDA was the place 
 of his refuge, and a deep cave, furrounded with almoft 
 inacceflible rocks, the caufe of his fecurity. In this 
 retreat he continued three years, contriving and bring- 
 ing to maturity the means by which he meditated the 
 expulfion of thofe victorious ftrangers, and at length 
 il!ued from his obfcurity full of hope and courage. 
 Having collected his adherents, he drove the ufurpers 
 away; and the MOORS, being unable to fubdue his 
 high fpirit and increafmg power, entered into a nego- 
 tiation with him for peace, and ultimately left him in the 
 quiet enjoyment of a certain extent of territory, on the 
 payment of a trifling tribute. But afterwards, in the 
 year 716, conceiving the MOORS had infulted him, he 
 marched againft them with a large army ; defeated them ; 
 conquered feveral provinces ; and was, in a fhort time, 
 proclaimed King of LEON and the ASTUJMAS. He 
 died in 737> with, the reputation of a prince of high 
 courage, exemplary piety, andgreaj virtue. -TRAN- 
 SLATOR. 
 
 I never
 
 VANJLLO GONZALES. 5 
 
 I never received any very clear or fatis- 
 factory information. With the characters 
 of my Father and my Mother, however, 
 I am well acquainted. They were engaged 
 in profeflions of very oppofite kinds; for 
 while my Mother was employed in bringing 
 people into the world, my Father Was 
 equally indufirious in putting them out of 
 it In fhort, my Father, MR. STEPHEN 
 GONZALES, was a venerable Doctor of 
 Phyfic; and my Mother, like the mother 
 of SOCRATES, was a Midwife. 
 
 MY Father having taken his degrees in 
 the Univerfity of ALCALA, chofe the City 
 of MURCIA for the place of his refidence, 
 and the fcene of his medical enterprizes ; 
 and he was fo fortunate, as to become in a 
 (hor't time the rnoft faQiionable phyfician of 
 the country ; though there was nothing 
 new in his modes of practice, for he fol- 
 lowed, implicitly, the prefcriptions of the 
 Antients : andt^ Before, whenever a patient 
 fell a victim to nis advice, an event which 
 recurred but too frequently, he ufed to 
 Ay, that it certainly was not his fault. 
 
 B 2 BE INS-
 
 4 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 BEING one day called in to attend a 
 difficult parturition, in which my Mother, 
 then unmarried, aflifted, he was fo charmed 
 with her youth, her beauty, and the dex- 
 terous manner in which, under his infpec- 
 tion, (he exercifed her obftetric talents, that 
 he foon afterwards married her ; and I was 
 .the firft fruit of this union. My Mother, 
 in about three years afterwards, was deli- 
 vered of a daughter, who was borne to the 
 baptifmal font by a neighbouring Gentle* 
 man and his female friend, and chriftened 
 INESILLA; a name fince rendered extremely 
 celebrated, as the Reader will perceive by 
 the fequel of this Hiftory. 
 
 As the wives of phyficians generally die 
 before their huibands, my Father loft his 
 profeflional avTociate before 1 had attained 
 the ninth year of my age. Being placed as 
 a boarder at one of the firft fchools in the 
 city, where I was inftrufted in the rudiments 
 of the Latin tongue, my progrefs in learning 
 was fo rapid, that I was, in a fiiort time, 
 qualified to enter into the third clafs at the 
 Univerfity of SALAMANCA, where it was 
 intended I mould be fent, to compleat my 
 
 ftudies.
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E 3. > 
 
 ftudies. But at this important period of my 
 life, my Father was feized with a violent 
 diforder ; and, treating his complaint ac- 
 cording to the prefcriptions of HIPPO- 
 CRATES, foon left my fitter and myfelf or- 
 phans to bewail his lofs. 
 
 DAM i EN CARNICERO, my Mother's bro- 
 ther, the mod celebrated furgeon in MURCIA, 
 and my Godfather, took us under his care. 
 Conceiving that I was more likely to fucceed 
 in his profeffion than in that of my Father, 
 who, accredited as he was for medical fkill, 
 had not died rich, he took me immediately 
 from fchool, and bound me apprentice to 
 hirafelf. Like other apprentices, I was at 
 firft obliged to fweep the (hop, to draw water 
 from the well, to walh the maving-cloths, 
 and to heat the curling irons *. I had at this 
 time jnft entered into the fourteenth year 
 of my age, and being a thoughtlefs, giddy, 
 gay, lively lad, I acquired the nick-name 
 of MERRY PIN. At the expiration of two- 
 months 1 was permitted to handle, and in- 
 
 * The Reader will recoiled that the bufinefs of 'Barber, 
 and the profeffion si Surgeon, were formerly united under 
 the appellation of BARBER-SURGEON. 
 
 B 3 ftructed
 
 6 x THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ftructed how to tife the razor. A poor beg- 
 gar^ who came to afk a charitable fhaving 
 at the fhop, was the fir ft fubiect on which I 
 tried my fltill in furgery ; for as my Uncle 
 and his affiflant were bath abroad, the ope- 
 ration of courfe devolved upon me. Defiring 
 the poor mendicant to feat himfelf on a 
 bench which was appropriated to thefe kind 
 euftomers, I placed a dirty Pnop cloth be- 
 neath his chin, and lathered him lo fpiritedly 
 about the nofe, month, and eyes, that he 
 grinned like an old monkey tormented by 
 its keeper. Put things took a very differenc 
 turn when I began to life the razor ; for the 
 inftrument, unfortunately for my patient, 
 was fo perverfe, that at every ftroke it 
 might be faid rather to carry away the ftelh, 
 than to (have off the beard. 
 
 " MY little friend," exclaimed the beg- 
 gar, not being able any longer to endure 
 the pain he felt, '* pray tell me whether 
 " you are fhaving my beard or (hipping 
 i( my fkin ?" 
 
 " BOTH/' replied I ; '* for yo'.ir beard A 
 f my honefl fellow, is fo thick and llubborn, 
 " that it is impoflible to take off live one 
 ** without inj'.u.'img the other." 
 
 ' My
 
 VANILLO GQN2ALES. 7 
 
 MT Uncle, who entered the mop juil as I 
 had finiftied my operation, could fcarcely 
 refrain from laughing at the ludicrous figure 
 which the mangled face of the poor devil 
 prefented to his view ; but, affiiming a 
 folemn countenance, lie pre fenced the fuf- 
 ferer with a few pieces of money, in order 
 to alleviate the misfortune of having fallen 
 under my hands. 
 
 THIS poor fellow m^fl probably took 
 great care to circulate intelligence of the 
 extent of my ikill in Qiaving to all his 
 brethren ; for from that hcur no beggar 
 has ever ventured to afk charity at the (hop. 
 
 MY Uncle feverely reprobated my con- 
 duct ; and, to pun i (h me for having ac- 
 quitted myfelffo badly, interdicted me from 
 ufing the razor until further orders. The 
 fciffars, however, I was ftill permitted to 
 wield. One morning, a young ftudent of 
 the Univerfity came to the fhop for'thepur- 
 pofe of having his hair drcfied. The tafk 
 was afligned to me. This young gentleman 
 was the fon of an eminent woollen-draper; 
 and my Uncle, to have a watchful eye upon, 
 my proceedings, chofe to be prefent during 
 B 4 this
 
 t THE HI STORY OF 
 
 this operation, that I might be the more 
 attentive to my duty. I fucceeded to- 
 lerably well for fome time, and cut his hair 
 according to the fundamental rules of the art. 
 In fhort, every thing went on in the happieft 
 way imaginable, until the moment I was 
 about to make a finiQiing ftroke, when uiy 
 fortunately forgetting that he had ears under 
 his hair, I carried away at leail half of one 
 ef them by a fmgle clip of the fciffars. The 
 (ludent uttered a dreadful fcream ; and my 
 kind protector was no fooner informed of 
 the cataftrophe, than he beftowed upon me 
 an equal and alternate quantity of male- 
 dictions and blows. Having applied thcfe 
 little correctives, which I well deferred, he 
 drefled the wounds I had made, and ac- 
 companied the fufferer to his father's houfe, 
 to whom he represented the injury as the 
 accident of an aukward blockhead, whom 
 he had left, by the fevere punifhment he 
 had inflicted, half dead in the mop. The 
 draper, fenfible that no other compenfation 
 could be procured for this irreparable injury, 
 was at length appeafed by the ftory my 
 Uncle told him, and granted me his pardon fc 
 
 THR
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 9 
 
 THE maledictions and blows, however, 
 \vhich my Uncle had given me were not the 
 only punimments I received for this offence. 
 I was now interdicted not only fromfaaving, 
 but from cutting of hair, and every other 
 furgical operation whatever, under pain of 
 being ftrappe d ; fo that I was reduced ex- 
 clufively to the exercife of my Initiatory- 
 functions. 
 
 BUT my inevitable deftiny counteracted 
 the effect of thefe neceffary reftraints : 
 One afternoon, while only my Uncle and 
 myfelf were at home, a man between fix 
 and feven feet high, with a tremendous fword 
 by his fide, and of no very conciliating afc 
 pect, entered the mop. He had all the 
 appearance of a Valiente ; his hair was 
 twrfted ; his hat fiercely cocked, with a 
 large feather fprouting from one fide of it ; 
 and his whifkers extended from the corners 
 of his mouth to the middle of his temples i 
 it was impoflible to look at him withouc 
 trembling ! " Mafter DAMIEN," faid hei 
 addreffing himfelf to my Uncle,- " turn up 
 my wbijkers." My Uncle accordingly or- 
 B 5 dered
 
 io THE HIST CRY OF 
 
 dered me to heat the irons ; and, while 
 they were in the fire, he defired the Gentle- 
 man to fit down in the arm chair, and 
 adjufted one of his curls ; but jufl as he was 
 preparing to comb the other, which he had 
 already let down for the purpofe, a violent 
 outcry refounded from the ilreet. Running 
 to the door to learn the occafion of it, my 
 Uncle difcovere'd a great concourfe of 
 people furrounding one of his moil parti- 
 cular friends, who appeared preparing to 
 fight. No longer mailer of his actions, he" 
 rufhed inilindively to the affiflance of his 
 friend, leaving his cuilomer in the con- 
 dition I have defcribed, with one fide turned 
 i\p and the other hanging ilraight down. The 
 quarrel continued fo long, that the Gentle- 
 man's patience was quite exhaufted ; and, 
 turning h'mfelf toward me, " My young 
 *' friend," (aid he, " are not you able to 
 " fniJJj what your Matter has begun ?" 
 
 THE queftion touched my pride ; and 
 feeling that I could not, without difgracing 
 myfelf, anfwer in the negative, I boldly 
 replica, " Tes, SirS 
 
 To
 
 VANlLLO GdNZALES. ji 
 
 To afford him, therefore, unqueftionable 
 teftimony that I poffefTed the talent Qffinl/h- 
 ing a whifker, I immediately took the irons 
 red-hot from the fire, and, paflfmg them too 
 clofely under his nofe, unfortunately finged 
 his upper lip, and quite burned away the 
 curl which I had fo rafhly undertaken to 
 drefs. He vociferated a horrid yell, which 
 fhook the houfe to its foundation ; and, 
 fifing in all the madnefs of rage from his 
 chair, " You fon of a thoufand bitches,'* 
 exclaimed he, " do you take me for Sf. 
 "Laurence?" At the fame time he drew 
 his fword to run me through the body ; 
 but, before he could accomplifh his defign, 
 I reached the door of the (hop, and de- 
 camped with fuch rapidity that in lefs than 
 a minute I found myfelf at the extremity 
 of the city: fo true is it, thsttJIV/ffg and running 
 are e/Tentially different. 
 
 I SOUGHT refuge in the houfe of a 
 Mereer who lived in the fuburbs, and who 
 was diftantly related to the family by my 
 mother's fide ; where, conceiving myfelf 
 free from all danger, " Now," exclaimed 
 I, ' let fate do its word in this affair." 
 
 B 6 TH
 
 iz THE HISTORY OF 
 
 THE Mercer, on my reprefenting to him 
 the difafter which had happened, burft into- 
 an immoderate fit of laughter; and laying 
 hold of the curling irons, which I {till 
 held faft in my hand, obferved a large lock 
 of hair with an incipient curl at the end of 
 it, fo long and briftly, that it would have 
 made an excellent bottle bruflu 
 
 I CONTINUED in my afylum, where my 
 Uncle, who immediately conjectured the 
 place of my retreat, found me the enfuing 
 day. He told us, thai the enraged Gentle- 
 man, having exhaufted his anger in a thon- 
 ^fand horrid imprecations againft me, was at 
 length appeafed by the apologies he made,, 
 and went away. 
 
 MY Uncle carried me home to his fliop ;. 
 feverely lectured my mifconduct ; and 
 feemed to defpair of my. attaining any great 
 proficiency in the arts of furgery. The 
 ihame of ignorance, however, urged me 
 to induftry ; and in a (hort time I acquired 
 fo complete a knowledge of the ufe of THE 
 RAZORandTHE SCIJSARS, that. I could Ihave 
 withovit flaying the fkin, and drefs without 
 amputating the ears of his patients. I even 
 
 attained
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. *j 
 
 attained fome knowledge of the ufe of THE 
 LANCET, although I moil candidly confefs, 
 that in the frrft operation which I performed 
 with this inftrument, I difabled the fword- 
 arm of a young foldier, whom I was intruded 
 to bleed: for, having heard that HIPPO- 
 CRATES, in his Treatife on Phlebotomy, re- 
 commends a large orifice, I made one which 
 appeared rather like the wound of a 
 lance than the incifion of a lancet ; and my 
 patient, perhaps, was extremely fortunate 
 that he efcaped with only lofmg the ufe of 
 his arm. 
 
 INDEEH, I could not be any where fo 
 well fituated to learn the art of Butchery, 
 rather than that of adroit Surgery, as with 
 my protector DAMIEN CARNICERO; and 
 I was perfectly aftoniflied, that any perfon 
 fhould be fo foolifli as to place himfelf under 
 his hands; for he was bigoted to the prac- 
 tice of the Antients, and followed their pre- 
 cepts with fcrupulous precifion and feverity. 
 
 A FEW instances of his mode of practice 
 in particular cafes will completely exhibit 
 his profeflional character. In vensefection, 
 he made the incifion tranfverfely ; and to 
 clofe the orifice, either choaked the vein 
 
 with
 
 14 THE HISTORY Of 
 
 with a filk cord, or cauterifed the wound 
 with a red-hot iron. To relieve a patient 
 from the pangs of the gout, he made 
 punctures on the afflicted part, with needles 
 put together in the form of a bru(h ; and 
 difiipated all fcrophulous fwellings by prick^ 
 ing the parts with the {harp points that 
 grow on a thornback's tail. A nafal has- 
 morrhage he flopped by making a tranfverfe 
 incifion from one part of the forehead to 
 the other; or rather two incifions, in the 
 fhape of St. Andrew's Crofs, all round the" 
 hairy part of the head. The moft powerful- 
 caufticks were cenftantly applied to the hip, 
 loins, and thighs, to remove fciaticas; and 
 he extracted the head-ach by pkcing red- 
 hot irons on each fide of the noftrils, temples, 
 cheeks, and under the chin. The element 
 of FiRK>inhoft,washis grand fpeeificfor the 
 cure of every diforder; and the belly, legs, 
 and thighs of dropfical perfons were fried or 
 broiled without mercy. But, as it fome- 
 umes happened, whenever a refractory pa- 
 tient obftinately refufed to try the effect of 
 thefe falutary ordeals, he humanely accom- 
 modated his practice to the weaknefs of the 
 
 patient ;-
 
 VANILLO GON2TALES. r-y 
 
 patient ; and, under pretence of employing 
 a more anodyne remedy than fire, lie fcalded 
 the fiefh with hot water or bailing oil ; un- 
 lefs they preferred being fmged with igni- 
 fied fulphur, fpirits of wine, gunpowder, 
 melted lead, or liquified glafs. 
 
 THIS able ProferTor, anxious to inftruct 
 me in all the myfteries of the healing art, 
 frequently carried me with him when he 
 had any grand operation to perform ; but, 
 inftead of affording information to my mind, 
 he tortured every feeling of my heart. I am 
 fure that I fhould have endured, without 
 complaining, all the pains that can afflict 
 mankind, rgther than have undergone the 
 mildeftofhis remedies. He was, however/ 
 principal Surgeon to the Hofpital of MUR- 
 CIA, where-I- conftantly attended him, ta 
 learn this art of broiling people into health. 
 
 LEAVING me, one morning, by the bed- 
 fide of a man who had been broiled in 
 Various ways for the dropfy, the unhappy 
 fufferer entreated me, with doleful cries, to 
 afford him one drop of water, to affuage 
 the raging thirft by which he was devoured. 
 The heart of a Surgeon fhould be inexorable 
 
 to
 
 i& ' THE HISTORY OF 
 
 to the cries of his patient ; but, unable to 
 refi-ft the affecting intreaty which was made 
 to me upon this occafion, I prefented to hia 
 lips a large jug half full of water, whkh 
 he feized with avidity between his hands> 
 and emptied in a moment. No fooner, 
 however, had I afforded him this comfort, 
 than he fainted away, and experienced, by an- 
 almoft inftantaneous death, a perfect relief 
 from all his complaints. 
 
 GREAT as my regret was at having thus- 
 rathly liflened to the voice of pity, it did 
 not prevent me from profiting by the fatal 
 event my kindnefs had occafioned : for, per- 
 ceiving the firings of a purfe juft peeping 
 from the fob of his breeches, which lay un- 
 der the pillow on which his head reclined r 
 1 felt a ftrong inclination to take it away ; and 
 my virtue was too weak to refifl fo powerful a 
 temptation. I accordingly drew away the 
 purfe, which was not an empty one, from 
 the pocket, and, haftily concealing it, marched 
 out of the hofpital, leaving the deceafed,. 
 whofe heir I had thus become, without 
 having given him the trouble to make a will 
 in my favour. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 C '7 > 
 
 CHAPTER THE SECOND. 
 
 VANILLO refolves to qv.it ike Profcjffion of 
 Surgery; and proceeds to SALAMANCA, to 
 complete his Studies* 
 
 THE impatience I felt to difcover the- 
 value of the property which had fo 
 unexpectedly devolved upon me, would 
 not permit me to go far without fatisfying 
 my curiofity. Stopping, therefore, at the 
 firft convenient place for the purpofe, I 
 untied the firings of the purfe, anddifcovered 
 that it contained five-and-thirty beautiful 
 doubloons, as new and mining as if they 
 had .been juft coined ; together with a 
 (mail packet containing a ring fet with 
 brilliants, which, though ignorant of the 
 quality of precious (tones, I concluded to 
 be of great value. What a treafure to a 
 poor lad, who, until this moment, had 
 never touched a piece of gold ! I thought 
 my fortune was made. 
 
 ' POSSESSED
 
 i3 T H E H f S T O R Y O P 
 
 ' POSSESSED of'fuch riches," faid I to 
 myfelf, ** I cannot do better than to pro- 
 " ceed to SALAMANCA, and finiih my (In- 
 dies by attending a conrfe of philofophy. 
 I {hall make a princely figure at the Uni- 
 " verfity. It is certainly more congenial 
 ' to my difporuion to adopt the pur.fuits 
 " of literature, than to continue the vile 
 ' profeffion in which 1 am at prefent 
 ;< engaged. Adieu, then, to furgery, both 
 c< ant lent and modern ! I will quit the 
 " City of MURCIA immediately." Inmort, 
 vs irhout even an inclination to fay FARE- 
 WELL to my Uncle, who, without doubt,, 
 would have oppofed my defign, I inftantly 
 fet off on the road to SALAMANCA. 
 
 WALKING clofely along the banks of the 
 SEGURA, I arrived at the Village of 
 MOLINA; where, finding myfelf fatigued, I 
 determined to pafs the night, having already 
 travelled twelve miles, which I thought a 
 tolerable diftance for the firft day's jour- 
 ney. The mailer of the inn in which I 
 intended to lodge, perceiving a foot tra- 
 veller without \vhifkcrs, no fword by his 
 fide, and but rather meanly habited, con- 
 cluded
 
 VANILLO CONZALES. 19 
 
 eluded from thefe appearances that I did not 
 abound in money; addrefllng me in confe- 
 quence with great familiarity, " Young 
 " Gentleman," faid he, " if I may judge 
 u by your appearance, you are not over- 
 " loaded with filver, and will therefore, per- 
 " haps, have no objection to regale yourfelf 
 " with a nice bit of bread and a moderate 
 " quantity of cheefe for your fupper to- 
 night." 
 
 GREATLY mortified by this fcornful 
 and infulting addrefs, " Sir," replied I, 
 with afperity, " take notice that although 
 I may not be overburthened with SIL- 
 VER, I have plenty of GOLD ;" and im- 
 mediately drawing the purfe from mjr 
 pocket, I exhibited to him a handful of 
 'the doubloons. 
 
 SURPRIZE and aftoniflvncnt feized the 
 ountenance of the hod at this fight : and 
 aking one of them in his hand to examine 
 t it was real, u Ah ! you young rogue," 
 aid he, putting his finger to the fide of 
 nofe, " you have been robbing a ten- 
 der-hearted father. You have an incli- 
 nation to travel, and in order to infure
 
 so THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " yourfelf a kind reception on the road, 
 <c have laid violent hands on the good 
 <l man's treasures." 
 
 4< You are deceived, "returned I, "your 
 " conjecture is without foundation, for I 
 " have neither Father nor Mother alive. 
 " Thefe double pilloles were given to me 
 tf by Uncles and Aunts, who raifed a contri- 
 " bution among themfelves to enable me to 
 " proceed to SALAMANCA, to finifh the 
 44 fludies I commenced at MtiRciA, the 
 " place of my nativity." 
 
 " YOUR friends, then," replied the hoft, 
 4< are very imprudent to fend you alone 
 ft with fo much gold about you, upon the 
 ft mules of ST. FRANCIS, to the diftance 
 " of feventy-two miles from your own pro- 
 (( vince. If you will follow my advice, sy 
 a<lded he, " you will continue your route 
 *' to-morrow morning- along the banks of 
 *' the river until you arrive at CRUZ DE 
 " CARAVACA, where you may bargain with 
 *' a muleteer to condud: you to CIVIDAU- 
 " REAL, from whence you may reach 
 44 SALAMANCA by the fame kind of con- 
 44 veyance in five or fix days." 
 
 . I THANKED
 
 VANILLO GONZALE3. 21 
 
 I THANKED my hoft for the friendly in- 
 formation he had afforded me ; and, pro- 
 mifmg to follow his advice, aiked what he 
 could let me have for fupper. 
 
 " I HAVE really nothing in the houfe," 
 replied he, *' but bread and cheefe ; there 
 lf is, however, a rich farmer in the neigh- 
 * f bourhood who breeds poultry for the 
 *' purpofe of fupplying the markets at CAR- 
 <c THAGENA ; I will fend to him and pur- 
 chafe a couple of chickens, with which I 
 can make you a delicious fricalfe ; and I 
 promife you not only excellent bread, but 
 fomeof the fineft wine in all Spain." 
 " You promife well," anfwered I. 
 "AND I will keep my word," faid he. 
 I talk, I know, like moft of my frater- 
 nity, but I am determined to make you 
 confefs that there is at leaft one hoft in 
 ' SPAIN, who treats his cuftomers with ci- 
 * vility and good cheer." 
 
 AND I acknowledge that I had no reafon 
 o be difcontented either with his fare or his 
 converfation. He polfeffed a lively fancy ; 
 ind, contrary to the generality of Spani(h 
 nnkeepers, was a very honeft man ; at leaft 
 he gave me great reafon to think fo, from 
 
 the
 
 22 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 the converfation I had with him during 
 fupper ; for placing himfelf at the table to 
 aflift me in eating the fricaffeed chickens, 
 he reprefentcd to me with great gaiety and 
 good-humour the dangers to which I fhould 
 be expofed at SALAMANCA, and, without 
 affuming the aufterity of a moral preceptor, 
 exhorted me carefully to avoid them. 
 
 THE enfuing morning, when I took my 
 leave of him, he wiflied me every poffible 
 profperity; and acldrefling me with great 
 gravity, " Young Gentleman," faid he, 
 ** I am inclined, in order to enable you 
 4< to guard againll the dangers to which 
 *' your youth is likely to expofe you, to 
 <c make you a prefent ;" and he imme- 
 diately prefented me with a little box, 
 containing a thread paper and needles. 
 
 SURPRIZED at fo whimfical a gift, I aiked 
 him his reaforis for making me fuch a pre- 
 fent. 
 
 " I PRESENT them to you,'* replied he, 
 44 becaufe there are three occafions upon 
 " which you may find a needle and thread 
 *' particularly ferviceable. 
 
 " FIRST,,
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 13 
 
 "FIRST, Sew up your mouth whenever 
 
 ** you may be tempted to fpeak mal-a-propos. 
 
 11 SECONDLY, Sew up your purfe when- 
 
 <c ever your generous feelings aue likely 
 
 " to lead you into an idle expence. 
 
 tl AND as for THE THIRD fewing," 
 added he, " I mall leave that to your 
 i( own reileclion, upon experience, to find 
 ** out." 
 
 BURSTING into a violent fit of laughter at 
 this ludicrous conceit, I complied with his 
 requeft ; and, accepting the box, promifed 
 to preferve it during my life as a facred 
 teftimony of his friendfliip and judicious 
 counfel. 
 
 I THEN continued my journey, keeping 
 the banks of the river until the clofe of the 
 day, when I arrived atCRUzoiiCARAVACA, 
 where I found a muleteer, who, for a certain 
 futn, agreed to carry me not only to Civi- 
 DAD-REAL, but even to the city of SALA- 
 MANCA. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE THIRD. 
 
 VANILLO, having reached SALAMAKCA, 
 places hlmfelfln a Boarding-houfe^ the Majler 
 of which introduces him into the third Clafs 
 at tie Univerfoy. 
 
 ON my arrival at SALAMANCA, a place 
 I had frequently wilhed with much 
 ardour to fee, I went into the vicinity of 
 the Univerfity, and addreffing myfelf to an 
 old half-blind Librarian, who was fquinting 
 for cuftomers at the door of his ihop, I re- j 
 quefted him to direct me to a good tutor. 
 
 " IF you wim," faid he, *' for a tutor 
 " who is not only learned but who alfo 
 " keeps an excellent table, I recommend 
 ** you to DOCTOR CANIZARES ; a man 
 " you will be pleafed with. He lives 
 ft there,'* pointing with his finger to a 
 houfe at a (hort diftance : c< You will here- 
 *' after thank me for directing you to a man 
 " who lives fo hofpitably, that his word 
 ** dinners are better even than the feafts of 
 *' othsr tutors." 
 
 RELYING
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 25 
 
 RELYING implicitly upon the recommen- 
 dation of the old Librarian, Iwentaccording- 
 jy to the Doctor's houfe, who, conceiving 
 that I intended to increate the number of his 
 inmates, received me with every demon- 
 ftration of Civility and refpect. 
 
 THE perfon of the Doftor was extremely- 
 thin and tall, his fkin dry and withered, 
 his beard black, his eyes funk into their 
 fockets, and his cheeks hollow. c< It is 
 ftrange," thought I, " that a man the hof- 
 " pitality of whofe board is fo celebrated, 
 t( fhould appear fo lank and meagre; but 
 " perhaps it may be conftitutional ;'for I re- 
 *' membered to have heard my uncle fay, 
 " that bodies, though compofed entirely of 
 " fkin and bone, have fometimes fuch keen 
 *' appetites, that if the devil Ihould appear 
 ** to them in the fhape of victuals, they 
 " would fwallow him horns and all." 
 
 DOCTOR CANIZ ARES enquired my name, 
 the fituation of my family, the place from 
 whence I came, and my views in vifiting 
 SALAMANCA. 
 
 I ANSWERED his qucftions in the way that 
 feemed mod advantageous to my interefts ; 
 
 VOL. i. c and,
 
 2 5 THE HIST ORY OF 
 
 and, after further converfation, in which he 
 affured me that I (hould not repent of hav- 
 ing felected his houfe for my refidence, he 
 conduced me to a (mail apartment in the 
 attic (lory, containing no other furniture than 
 a cheft of drawers, two chairs, a table, and 
 a truckle-bed. 
 
 " THIS, young gentleman," faid he, " is 
 <e your apartment, where you may depofit 
 " your clothes whenever you pleafe." 
 
 " I HAVE no clothes, 1 ' replied I, *but 
 f< thank God I have that which will pur- 
 *' chafe whatever I may want -, and, to 
 " make your mind perfectly eafy on my ac- 
 " count, I am willing to pay you. the firft 
 if quarter in advance." 
 
 THE Doctor caught with eagernefs at this 
 propofal; and, on his telling me that his 
 terms were forty piftoles a-year,I took twen- 
 ty doubloons from my purfe, which I exhibi- 
 ted fo as to attract his notice, and gave 
 him five of them for my firft quarter's 
 board and lodging. After having carefully 
 examined each of them one by one, he af- 
 fured me that no pains on ' ' ^.irt mould be 
 fpared to render me the moft learned mem- 
 ber
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E 3. 27 
 
 ber of THE UNIVERSITY; inquired, with 
 feeming anxiety, what progrefs I had 
 made in my ftudies ; and, interrogating me 
 upon fubjecls of moral philofophy and the 
 fciences, declared that I was well qualified 
 to enter into the third clafi. This flatter- 
 ing appreciation of my abilities was follow- 
 ed by a promife that he would undertake to 
 procure my reception into the College with- 
 out any examination, as the Regent of that 
 form was his intimate friend : but while he 
 was proceeding to recommend the ftudy of 
 the beileskttrcs, the bell fummoned us to fup- 
 per. We accordingly defcended into a 
 parlour, where, in a kind of refectory, flood 
 a long and narrow table, at which were pla- 
 ced ten or twelve ftudents, all of whom 
 were about my own age, except two, who 
 might perhaps have reached their twentieth 
 year. 
 
 HAVING faluted the company on entering 
 the room, and taken my feat at the table, my 
 attention was engaged by the fimilarity of 
 the merles which covered it. Before eachftu- 
 dentwere placed luorfels of bread about three 
 ounces in weight, and two plates, in one of 
 c z which
 
 a* THE HISTORY O-F 
 
 4 
 
 which were two onions, roafted on 'the cin- 
 ders, and in the other a handful of nuts. 
 The apparent.frugality of the repaft, which 
 did not 'in any degree correfpond with the 
 praifestheLibrarian had beftowedon theli- 
 beralifey of the Dodor, mortified me. Con- 
 jecturing, however, that it might be the even- 
 ing of a fad, I confoled myfelf with the hope 
 of better fare on the fucceeding days. The 
 fame quantity of bread, onions, .nuts, and a 
 pint mug of wine, fo abundantly diluted 
 that I mould have preferred the pure water 
 to fuch a taftelefs mixture, we*re alfo placed 
 before me. But a keen ftornach recon- 
 ciles every fpecies of food. I devoured my 
 bread and onions, cracked my nuts, and 
 drank my mixture with an avidity, which, 
 if the Doctor obferved me, muft have con- 
 vinced him that I was not a young man of a 
 very fqueamii"h appetite. My companions 
 did equal honour to their refpective por- 
 tions;; and every thing on the table was fo 
 entirely eaten, cracked, and made an end of, 
 that even a familhed fparrow could not have 
 picked up a fingle crumb. 
 
 THE
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 29 
 
 THE repaft being finiflied, \ve rofe from 
 rable to enjoy, in an open court adjoining to 
 the room, the finenefs of the evening. I 
 loon made myfelf acquainted with my fel- 
 low-ftudents, particularly with the eldeft of 
 them, who, after fame converfation, drew 
 me afide, and afked me who it was. that had 
 been fo much my enemy as to advife me to 
 board and lodge with DOCTOR CANIZA- 
 RES.. I told him it was an old blear-eyed 
 Librarian who lived in the neighbourhood. 
 
 " OH the malicious wretch !" exclaimed 
 he, burfting into a fit of laughter, " the old 
 (t fellow was only joking with you ; for he, 
 " as well as the whole neighbourhood, well 
 <c knows we are fo fcantily fed, that our tem- 
 " perance and frugality is the common fub- 
 " ject of laughter-" 
 
 " WHY," replied I, our fupper con- 
 " vinced me that I was not in a very hof- 
 <f pitable houfe, and I a'iure you I would 
 cc change my fituation to-morrow, if I had 
 " not foolimly paid the old rogue a quarter 
 " in advance. 5 * 
 
 " I SHOULD have left the houfe long be- 
 
 cfc fore now,'* replied the (Indent, " if the 
 
 t( reafcn
 
 30 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " reafon I have for (laying was not much 
 " ftronger than my inclination to depart.'* 
 
 '* WHY, what motive can you pombly 
 '' have," faid I, " ftronger than hunger ? 5 * 
 
 " T WILL inform you," replied the ftu- 
 dei^i' *' The learning of DOCTOR CANIZA- 
 " RES is much greater than even his ava- 
 *' rice. He poffefies a complete knowledge 
 " of the Greek and Roman authors, and I 
 " allure you, that, although he feeds the 
 " body upon {lender diet, he is capable of 
 t; furnifhing the mind with a. rich variety of 
 te curious and ufeful information ; and 
 " therefore it is that I content myfelf \vith 
 * 4 his nuts and his onions." 
 
 " You afford me infinite confolation/' 
 exclaimed I. " I am, like you, difpoled to 
 14 endure the pangs of an empty ftomach for 
 " t!>'j lake of porTefiinga well-ftored mind." 
 
 \VHILE I was engaged in this kind of 
 converfation with my fellow-ftudent, whole 
 name was DON RAMIREZ DE PR ADO, the 
 bell lummoned us to bed ; and we foon 
 afterwards parted with reciprocal aflurancca 
 of iriendfliip and efleem. 
 
 ON
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 31 
 
 OK entering my chamber, I threw my- 
 ferf upon a. bed harder than marble., the 
 fheets of which were made of frnall rough 
 towels, fo coarfely fewed together, that 
 the feams were more annoying than the 
 texture of the cloth. In defiance, ..how- 
 ever, of thefe inconveniences, I ilept like a 
 dormouie until nine o'clock the next 
 morning. 
 
 WHILE I was clreffing, the Doctor en- 
 tered the room, followed by a perfon whom 
 he introduced to me as the family Taylor ufu- 
 ally employed by theyoungGentlemen inhis 
 houfc :- " He waits on you," continued he, 
 11 with- an offer of his fervices ; he is a 
 tf fkilful workman, and fo confcientious in 
 " the way of bufmefs, that he never takes 
 < an inch of cloth too much/' 
 
 NOT being very well equipped, I bar- 
 gained with him for fonie clothes; and, on 
 my paying him fix double pifloles, he agreed 
 to furnifli me with a complete fuit in two 
 days. 
 
 THE Taylor had fcarcely left me before 
 
 the bell announced that the hour of dinner 
 
 approached ; and I defcended foon after- 
 
 c 4 wards
 
 $2 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 wards into the apartment where we had 
 Tapped the preceding evening. My fellow- 
 Undents alfo afTembled, and we took our 
 refpeclive feats at the table. Although I 
 had prepared my mind to expect a very 
 ^rugal repaft, the dinner now ferved up far 
 furpaffed my expectation. The firft courfe 
 regaled us with foup like that which they 
 ufually give to hounds for the purpofe of 
 preferving their fcent : crufts of mouldy 
 bread floated on its furface, but real bouilli 
 was difficult to be feen. Before every 
 ftudent flood a porringer, from which he 
 crammed the ftomach with a degree of 
 appetite that excited my admiration; and, 
 although I had not hitherto rafted much 
 adverfity, I rafted and fipped my foup until 
 I had emptied the porringer. 
 
 MY ftomach was fo fatisfied by this 
 curious mefs offottp fante, that I could not 
 fwallowamorfelof our fecond courfe; which 
 confided of a fmall di(h of fricaffeed goats 
 trotters, in which, I fancy, the cook had nor 
 forgot the horns, fo much did it feem to 
 grate between the teeth. The other ftudents 
 however, whofe appetites were whetted by 
 
 a con-
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 33 
 
 a conftant famine, fell upon the fricaflee 
 with fo much eagernefs, that it vaniihed in 
 the twinkling of an eye. 
 
 THIS repaft, which, without danger of 
 contradiction, I may fay was not the word 
 I faw at DOCTOR CANIZARES'S, beiri^-. 
 finJihed, I went into the cky to purchafe 
 fuch linen, books, and other necerTaries, 
 as were fuitable to a ftudent of the third 
 clafs ; and when all my purchafes were 
 made, there remained, aias ! no more than 
 twenty doubloons in my pocket. " Cou- 
 " rage, VANILLO," faid I aloud to myfelf, 
 " your affairs, young man, feem ftill in a 
 " good condition. Twenty double piftoles 
 " is a little fortune ; and when they are 
 " exhaufted, I have a further refource in 
 " a diamond ring ; for a refource it cer- 
 ** tainly is : but, flop my friend ! Have 
 4< you any knowledge of the value of pre- 
 t( cious ftones ? You know very well that 
 " you have not. Confefs, then, what a fool 
 " you would find yourfelf if this diamond, 
 " upon which you rely fo much, mould 
 |* prove a counterfeit." 
 
 c 5 Ti-rt
 
 34 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 THE torment which this laft reflection 
 occafioned was intolerable, and going im- 
 mediately into the Great Square, where 
 the moft opulent Merchants re fide, I en- 
 tered the (hop of a Jeweller, and produ- 
 cing the ring, requefted he would con- 
 fcientioufly inform me what it was worth. 
 The Jeweller, after a very attentive exa- 
 mination, valued it at a hundred piftoles, 
 and aiked me if I was inclined to difpofc 
 of it. I told -him that I had no fuch in- 
 tention at prefent,- but that in all proba- 
 bility it would foon find its way to market. 
 
 ** WELL," faid he, u whenever you 
 * { chufe to part with it, bring it to me, 
 *' and I will give you its full value." 
 
 CONSIDERING myfelf another CRCESUS, 
 I left the (hop, and reached home with a 
 mind occupied by the moft agreeable re- 
 flections. 
 
 " SlGNIOR GONZALES," laid THE Doc- 
 
 TOR to me as I entered the room, "I have 
 " fpoken to the Profeifor ; and, upon cer- 
 '* tain proofs which I have given him of 
 " yovir capacity, he will receive you -into 
 *' the third Ciafs without the ufual exanu- 
 
 <4 nation.
 
 VANILLO GO'NZALES. 3; 
 
 <i nation. You may take your feat in. the 
 " College whenever you pleafe." 
 
 THIS I determined to do as foon as I 
 received my new cloaths ; and accordingly, 
 a few days afterwards, DOCTOR CANIZARES 
 taking me in his hand to the Univerfity, 
 conduced me to the apartment of the 
 Licentiate GUTTIEREZ HOSTIGADOR, the 
 Regent of the third Clafs, who received us 
 us with great pomp and gravity. 
 
 I NEVER faw the countenance of a 
 pedant in which prefumption was more 
 ftrongly marked than in that of this Li- 
 centiate. 
 
 1 BEG leave," faid the Dodor, " to 
 " introduce to you a young Gentleman 
 " who wimes to augment the number of 
 (C your fcholars." 
 
 THE Licentiate placing his hand upon 
 my head, faid, " Sir, I have only a few 
 *' words to addrefs to you. If you poirefs 
 " talents and are fond of ftudy, we (hall 
 " be contented with each other; but if you 
 " are indolent or licentious, you will not 
 *' find favour in my fight," 
 
 C 6 I AS-
 
 3<$ THE HISTORY OF 
 
 I ASSURED THE REGENT that I would do 
 
 every thing in my power to afford him fatisr 
 faction. 
 
 " THEN," faid he, ft you may take your 
 '* feat on the form this morning. But 
 " let me recommend you not to fufter 
 f< a fyllable of what I fliall fay to be loft ; 
 il for you will hear nothing from me but 
 ** what is worthy of your attention." 
 
 WE took our leave of the Licentiate ; 
 DOCTOR CANIZARES retiring to his own 
 home, and I among the fcholars who 
 were walking in the area of the College 
 which is appropriated to the third Clafs. 
 Beingfoon afterwards fummonedtotheHall, 
 I feaied myfelf, as a new-comer, on the 
 lowed form ; and the better to ingratiate 
 myfelf with the Regent, prepared to liften 
 to him with the attention he had recom- 
 mended. A profound filence prevailed 
 throughout the room the moment he ap- 
 peared ; and I (hail never forget the ar- 
 rogance with which he feated himfelf in 
 the Profeflbr's chair. 
 
 THE Great Mogul, when feated on his 
 throne, has lefs oftentation than was exhi- 
 bited
 
 VANILLO G ON Z ALES. 
 
 37 
 
 bleed on this occafion by this Pedagogue, 
 on whom I kept my eyes invariably fixed. 
 The countenance of every fcholar diico- 
 vered the fearful reverence in which he 
 w.as held ; but from the members of the 
 third Clafs he feemed to expect the humbled 
 attention. 
 
 WHEN any of his difciples patted him in 
 the purlieus of the College, and, inadver- 
 tently or otherwife, neglected the common 
 falutation, he vociferated, in the mod im- 
 perious tone, " Hey, Sir ! where is your 
 " hat ?" And if the offender did not im- 
 mediately anfwer fo as to fatisfy his vanity, 
 he was ordered into the cuftody of the 
 Liclors, that is to fay, the UJhers^ by whom 
 he was conftantly followed, who were or- 
 dered to feize the contumacious fcholar, 
 and drag him to the roftrum, where he was 
 foon convinced that his breeches had but 
 one button. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 3 S THE HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAPTER THE FOURTH. 
 
 fke Progrefs VANILLO made in the Study of 
 tie Belles Lettres ; the Caufe which abated 
 his Fondnefs for Study ; and the Courfe he 
 took upon leaving the Univerfity. 
 
 T^TOTWITHSTANDING the feverity 
 JL ^ of the Profeflbr, I ftudied under his 
 iriftrudions for fix months, and became the 
 "mod celebrated of his pupils. My appli- 
 cation indeed, during this period, was fo 
 intenfc, that I could not fail of acquiring 
 confiderable knowledge. The regular per- 
 formance of College exercifes was not fuf- 
 ficient to fhtisfy my affiduity, but I ftudied, 
 at my leifure hours, thofe excellent au- 
 thors which DOCTOR CANJZARES recom- 
 mended to my attention, and whrch his 
 learned and critical commentaries on their 
 texts enabled me the better to underftand ; 
 and by thcfe means profited at leaflas much 
 by the inflruclions I received at home, as by 
 thoic I received at College. 
 
 THE
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 59 
 
 THE purfuits of learning, however, did 
 not prevent me from fometimes drolling 
 along the banks of theToRMEs, which, 
 by its agreeable and romantic windings, 
 contributes to increafe the beauty of the 
 rural fcenery which furro\mds SALAMAN- 
 CA. DON RAMIREZ DE PRADO, the eldeft 
 (Indent of our houfe, was generally my 
 companion in thefe excurfions. He had 
 indeed a powerful reafon for preferring 
 my company to that of other ftudents ; 
 for, knowing that I had money, he did me 
 the favour to become a borrower, and to con- 
 tinue my debtor to this day : therefrefhments 
 alfo of thefe walks were always enjoyed at 
 my expence. 
 
 DON RAMIREZ DE PRADO, although a 
 young collegian, had acquired fome know- 
 ledge of the world ; and generally pafled 
 his vacations, and fometimes his clafs 
 days, at certain houfes in the city, where, 
 in the company of famionable females, he 
 relaxed the feverities of ftudy. Among 
 other females, he had formed an acquaint- 
 ance with aSEGNiORA DALFA, the widow 
 of a Doctor of Laws, about thirty-five years 
 of age, of an agreeable perfon and very 
 
 lively
 
 4 o THE HISTORY OP 
 
 lively difpofition ; who to her own charms, 
 which were quite fufficient to attract a num- 
 ber of admirers, added thofe of a niece 
 of her hulband's, named BERNARDINA ; a 
 young female whom no eye could behold 
 without endangering the fafety of the heart. 
 THIS experienced ftudent offered one af- 
 ternoon to introduce me to his femalt 
 friends, alluring me that nothing fo much 
 contributed to poliQi the manners of a young 
 man, as the company of rational and ele- 
 gant women. I was eafily perfuaded by a 
 companion with whom I lived in the clofcft 
 friendship, and we accordingly went toge- 
 ther to the houfe of SEGNIORA DALFA. 
 The reception we met with convinced me 
 that my conductor was upon very clofe and 
 intimate terms with the family. The ladies 
 almoft. overwhelmed me with civilities be- 
 catife I was his friend, or rather, becaufe it 
 had been previoufly fettled amongfl them- 
 felves, that this was the mod Jikely means to 
 feduce me. An agreeable converfation of 
 three hours, in which the wit and fpirit ot the 
 widow (hone with great brilliancy, in a thou- 
 fand lively and diverting fallies, formed the 
 
 entertainment
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 4 t 
 
 entertainment of the evening ; but, although 
 the niece fpoke very feldom, fhe occafionally 
 glanced at me a pair of fine bright eyes, 
 which infpired me with more delight than 
 all the brilliant Tallies of heraunt. BERNAR- 
 INA, who was exactly my own age, and., 
 without exaggeration, a beautiful girl, cre- 
 ated the warmed emotions in my bread : 
 in (hart, without thinking of love, I became 
 deeply enamoured with her charms. 
 
 IT was not difficult for DON RAMIREZ., 
 on our return, to conjecture the fentiments 
 which occupied my mind. <{ SIGNIOR 
 <f GONZALES," faid-he, as we were walking 
 home, " what think you of my fair friends.? 
 tf Which are you for, the widow or the 
 " niece ?" " For the niece,' r replied I, 
 " although I admit that her aunt is ex- 
 " tremely amiable." " Your candour upon 
 <f this occafion," anfwered DON RAMIREZ, 
 *' calls for an open avowal on my part. 
 " Know then that I adore SEGNIORA DAL- 
 (< FA, and as we are not rivals, both of 
 " us may, without reftraint, purfue our re- 
 " fpective inclinations." 
 
 STUDY,
 
 42 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 STUDY, perhaps, \vonldinafhoittimeluve 
 obliterated all recoiled ion of BE R N AR D i N A ; 
 but four days had fcarcely elapfed before 
 DON RAMIREZ thus addrefled me : *' SIG- 
 "" NIOR GONZALES, I have great news to 
 41 communicate to you. You have charmed 
 (( the lovely BERNARDINA. She has difclo- 
 "" fed the fecret of her affection to her aunt* 
 *' who has confidentially imparted it to me ; 
 *' and the extraordinary friendship I fed 
 "" for you induces me to announce it to you, 
 <c to enable you to profit by the difcovery 
 <f I have made. If you are happy enough, 
 *' as I have no doubt you will be, to fix he? 
 < affection fo firmly as to induce her to mar- 
 " ry you, you may live at your eafe the rc- 
 " mainder of your days ; for (lie will be the 
 " fole heirefs of a maternal uncle, whofe for- 
 " tune is immenfe, and who has only two 
 Ct children extremely iickly and infirm. 
 " Pay your addreffes to her, therefore,- 
 t{ with the warmed afllduity. To-morrow 
 *' I will again introduce you into her com- 
 " pany. All I'regret : " added he, 4t is, that 
 " 1 have not a penny in my pocket ; for, if I 
 <( had money, I would prepare upon this 
 
 " occafioa
 
 VANILLO G ON Z ALES. 43 
 
 lt occafion a little elegant collation for them: 
 '* women are extremely fond of thofe who 
 (t pay them the tribute of expence, and 
 " there are fome lovers fo fenfibleof it, that 
 <e they frequently by fuch means only en- 
 '* fure their fuccefs." 
 
 HASTILY interrupting my companion., 
 " Well, my friend/* exclaimed I, " the 
 (t money that may be neceffary is ready. 
 fe I have yet fome double piftoles re- 
 " maining, which do not belong to any 
 " man alive" and true it was that their 
 real owner was dead. I accordingly drew 
 from my purfe two doubloons, which I pre- 
 fenced to DON RAMIREZ, afking him if that 
 fum would be fufficient. " Without doubt," 
 replied he, " we mud proceed economicil- 
 " ly. I perceive, my young friend, that 
 " you are laviih of your money. I mud 
 " check this generous difpofition. Leave 
 (c the management of thefe matters to me. I 
 " will undertake to provide ahanclfo re col- 
 *' lation which (hail coft you very little mo- 
 tc ncy, and Hill do you great honour." 
 
 I OUGHT upon this occalion to have avail- 
 ed mylclf of the needle and thread with 
 viiich my friendly Hoft at MOLINA had 
 
 prefentcd
 
 44 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 preferred me ; but fo far was I from con- 
 ceiving that I was employing my doubloorrs 
 iroprovidently, that I felt myfelf much obli- 
 ged to my companion for having fuggefted 
 this pleafurable party. 
 
 THE en fuing day I accompanied DON 
 RAMIREZ a fecond time to the manfion of 
 SEGNIORA DALFA, who received us wirh 
 accumulated tokens of politenefs. Whentl/e 
 refrefhments which D-ON RAMIREZ had pre- 
 pared, confifting of a few bafkets of fruit, and 
 a variety of liqueurs, fome iced, and others 
 in their common ftate, were produced, the 
 ladies affected great furprize. " Young gen- 
 " tleman," faid SEGNIORA DALFA, with 
 feeming uneafmefs, " you will oblige me ta 
 " find fault with you for putting yourfelf to 
 * c this expence : you are young, and cannot 
 " poffefs more money than your neceflary dif- 
 " burfements require ; you mould therefore 
 "manage it prudently." 
 i (t MADAM," replied my friend, " it is not 
 ct I who entertains you ; it is SiGNioRGoN- 
 " ZALES, who> thank heaven, is fufficiently 
 te rich to afford a collation of this kind every 
 " day without injuring his circumftances. He 
 
 " has
 
 V A N 1 L L O G O N Z A L E S. 45 
 
 c has neither father nor mother living; is 
 "complete matter of his actions, in porTef- 
 <( fion of a good fortune, and enjoys that 
 t( fituation in which every young man of 
 ** family and fpirit would with to live." 
 
 ON my part, I affured the ladies that the 
 refrefhments produced were of fuch trifling 
 value as to be fcarcely worthy of their atten- 
 tion. Upon this obfervation DON RAMIREZ 
 tookoccafiomo pafs encomiums upon my ge- 
 jierofity,in terms fo extravagant, that if 1 had 
 not been, as I certainly was, totally devoid of 
 experience, I muft have perceived that my 
 friend was privately leagued withthefe female 
 Circes, and that their only defign was to 
 ruin me : an event which happened very 
 foon afterwards ; for, becoming every day 
 more and more in love with BERNARDINA, 
 I made her fo many prefents, and gave her 
 aunt fo many collations, that my doubloons 
 difappeared, and my diamond ring found its 
 way to the ihow-glafs of the jeweller. 
 
 I HAD very little money remaining when 
 the irregularity of my conduct attracted the 
 notice of DOCTOR CANIZARS, who, fear- 
 ful that I might difable myfeif from paying 
 
 him
 
 46 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 him at the expiration of the current quarter, 
 infifted on having his money immediately, 
 although it wanted feveral days of being 
 due. My pride being piqued by his fuf- 
 picions of my mifconduct, although they 
 were extremely juft, I inftantly paid him, 
 and, without waiting until my time ex- 
 pired, immediately quitted his houfeto take 
 my abode elfewhere. 
 
 I RETIRED to a furniihed lodging, which 
 I hired in the city, at a confiderable ; 
 diftance from the Univerfity ; and, per- 
 ceiving that I had now only four piftoles 
 remaining out of all the wealth I once 
 poflefled, refolutely determined to aban- 
 don thofe (Indies and gallantries 'which I 
 had no longer the ability to continue. 
 
 POVERTY foon healed the wounds of love, 
 which had fo injurioufly interrupted the pro- 
 grcfs of my (Indies, and I refoly-ed never 
 more to behold the treacherous RAMIREZ, or 
 the female adventurers, who had confpired 
 with him to purloin my property. In this re- 
 nunciation I felt a fort of confolation for the 
 k>fs of my money, as if, in not having them 
 as witnefies of my mifery., I was in any de- 
 gree lefs miferable. 
 
 ONE
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S, 47 
 
 ONE morning, as I was coming out of 
 the church of St. Stephen, my tutelary 
 faint, a fervant in a very fplendkl livery fa- 
 luted me. Upon an attentive perufal of 
 his face, I recollected him as a clafs-fellow 
 at College. " How, MANSANO !" exclaim- 
 ed I, (t have you alfo played truant from 
 *' theUniverfity? You have had perhaps fome 
 " unlucky difagreement with the Licentiate 
 <e HOSTIGADOR ?" " Even fo," replied MAN- 
 SANO. "The tyranny of that pedant has dri- 
 <: ven me from the feat of learning. I was 
 < induced, for the firft time, to abfent my- 
 <l felf from College, and although I publicly 
 " aiked pardon before the whole clafsformy 
 <c fault, the inflexible tyrant, to gratify the 
 '" vindictive difpofition of his mind,irTuedam 
 * order of -caftigation. Upon rny refifting 
 u his authority, he fent his myrmidons to 
 '*' feize me by force ; but, although I clofed 
 '" in with them, my courage could do lit- 
 * c tie more in the unequal conteit, than to 
 *' give them marks of my prowefs upon the 
 " face and.mins, which they afterwards re- 
 4< paid by laQies on my back with ufurious 
 ** intereft, Since that day," continued MAN- 
 
 SANO,
 
 4* THE HISTORY OF 
 
 SANO, " I have never entered the College ; 
 " but, to relieve my poor parents from the 
 <f burthen of maintainingrne, have accepted 
 *' a place in the houfehold of the Biihop of 
 " SALAMANCA, a prelate of extraordinary 
 " merit, and large revenues, who fup- 
 ft ports the dignity of his fee with the libe- 
 4C rality of a Prince* The hofpitality of his 
 " table, to which company of the firft cha- 
 <( rafter and diftinction daily refort, is un- 
 " bounded ; a fingle meal would fupport an 
 <c hofpital for three days ; and the condi- 
 " tion of his domeftics, whofcarcely do any 
 *' thing but drink, eat, play, and fleep* is 
 *' truly happy ; for, after having experien- 
 " ced a pleafmg fervitude of nine or ten 
 11 years, a handfome provifion is made for 
 " them for the remainder of their lives." 
 
 I CONGRATULATED MANSATS'O On his 
 
 ^ood fortune, and wifhed him a good 
 morning. Meditating profoundly on the 
 nature of his employment, and the felicity 
 which he had fo impreffively defcribed, I 
 regretted that I had not requefted his inte- 
 reft to introduce me to the fervice of fo 
 kind a matter. But, upon recollection, the 
 
 voice
 
 VANILLO GONZALtS. 49 
 
 voice of ambition wliifpcred in my ea:*, that 
 the Ton of a graduated phyfician ought to 
 entertain more elevated notion's, a conflict 
 between thofe comnron afibciates, pride and 
 poverty, fucceeded ; but, at length, the im- 
 pending mdigeace which threatened me, 
 determined my choice. I accordingly haf- 
 tened, the enfuing morning, to the epifcopal 
 pulace, and enquiring for MANSANO, in- 
 formed him of the motive of my vifit. 
 " Every department in the Bifliop's fer- 
 " vice,'* faid he, ' is at prefent filled ; but 
 " his nephew, DON CHRISTOVAL BE GA- 
 " VIRIA, who refides in the palace, is, 1 
 *' know, in want of a valet; and, if you 
 " pleafe, I will fpeak in your behalf to the 
 <s Major-domo, who, I think, on my recom- 
 ** mendation, will immediately place you 
 " in die fervice of the young Lord. Call 
 sc on me again to-morrow, and I will then 
 <( inform you whether you may expect this 
 ic promotion, which will be extremely ad- 
 '* vantageous ; for DON CHRISTOVAL is the 
 M mod generous young man exiftingi and it 
 ** will, I afi^ure you, contribute greatly to my 
 " happinefs to have the man my companion in 
 
 VOL. I. D " the
 
 5,o >T H E HISTORY Q F 
 
 " the palace who was my comrade at the 
 <. College." 
 
 .ALTHOUGH it was now 41 lotRg time fince 
 
 'X had feen 'SiGNioRA DALFA and her 
 
 niece, ,yet I -had profited fo much by their 
 
 examples, that,! .y/.as not Sparing in exprei- 
 
 fions of civility to MANSANO. An.xious-for 
 
 the event of tljis negociation, as the ob- 
 
 ject pf.jt was ; the .very fituation I widied 
 
 to obtaiji, I returned the enfuing day to 
 
 the palace; ancl my friend had conducted 
 
 ; this bufxnefs with fo much ability, that L 
 
 found the Major-dorno not only prepof- 
 
 fefled in my favour ; but eager to introduce 
 
 me to DON CHRIS.TOVAL, who, immediately 
 
 received m,e.into his.fervicQ. 
 
 CHAPTER
 
 CHAPTER THE -FIFTH. 
 
 T/'v Kind of Service which VANILLO followed 
 with DON CHRISTOVAL DE GAVIRIA, 
 and the Indi first ion that eaufed him' to be dlf- 
 charged. 
 
 BEHOLD me, after having fefved two 
 years as an apprentice to a furgeon, and 
 attended ten months as aStiident in theUni- 
 verfity, now acting as Valet to DON CHRIS- 
 TOVAL DE GAVIRIA ! 
 
 THIS young nobleman, who had juft at- 
 tained the twenty-fifth year of his age, pof- 
 fcffed fo elegant a perfon, a countenance fo 
 open, and fuch very conciliating manners, 
 that I felt an immediate attachment to him : 
 but perhaps the high degree of fatisfacftion 
 which he exprefled on the firft fight of me, 
 contributed rather more than his perfon and 
 manners to infpire me with favourable fen- 
 timents of his character. 
 
 THE Bimop, who enjoyed the fatif- 
 fadion of having educated him himfelf, 
 D z was
 
 5* THE HJSTOJRY OF 
 
 v/as extremely fond of his nephew, who 
 having been recently releaied from the re- 
 itraints of his Governor was now entirely 
 free, 1 and at liberty to follow his inclina- 
 tions, without rendering an account of his 
 conduct jto any perfon. This emancipation 
 from .all refponfibility or reftraint exac'tly 
 iuited DoNCHRiSTOVAL'sdifpofition ; and 
 lie made good ufe of the ineftimable privi- 
 lege ; or the fair fex being the objeds of his 
 Bonded pnrfuits, he feized, with an ar- 
 dent inclination, every opportunity which 
 xaifed a hope of gallantry or intrigue. An 
 old, grave, religious valet de chambre and 
 rnyfelf competed his houfehold eflablifh- 
 mem ; but as I appeared the better qua- 
 lified to ferve him as an agent in his amo- 
 rous purfuks, the honour of THE CA- 
 DUCEUS was beftowed upon me. He cer- 
 tainly required a more experienced ferret 
 than I was to hunt out beauties for him ; 
 but, as he chofe me for his confidant, li 
 without doubt concluded that I fhould foon 
 be as fit as any other for the fervice. 
 " VANILLO," faid he to me one day, " I 
 f( feel an affedion for you, and as an irre- 
 
 " fra gable
 
 w fragabte proof of it, liften to me while I 
 *' difclofe to you the fecrets of my heart." 
 I bowed with profound humility, to teftiiy 
 !:ow Icnfibly I felt the honour he conferred 
 on me. " Know," continued he, " that 
 c< by the mediation of one of thofe old wo- 
 ** men who go about counting THE Ros AR T 
 " in order the more commodiouffy to offer at 
 * the Ihrine of beauty the homages of Love, 
 " \ have formed an atqaaintance with f he mofE 
 fr< amiable woman in SALAMANCA ; and al- 
 ** though I have only feen'her once, I- burn' 
 ** with impatience to renew my vifits'. Go," 
 faid he, putting a paper into my hand, " goy 
 ** find out the old procurefs ; her name is 
 *' LA PEPFTA ; here h her addrefs; tell 
 " her from me that I langui'fli in the expec- 
 " tation of a fecond interview with the 
 (i charming idol to whom (he introduced 
 t( - me." This lad expredion convinced me 
 that DON CIIRISTOVAL was far gone in love, 
 and, toaffimilatemyzeahotheferv-encyofhi* 
 feelings, I flew with rapidity to the dwelling, 
 of LA PEPITA, vvhomlfoundather retreat in, 
 a fmall obfcure court clofe adjoining to the 
 sonvent of THE CORDELIER 5-. Toformatrue 
 D 3 idea-
 
 54 TUB HJ-STO-RY OF 
 
 ideaofthis antiquated forcerefs, figure to your 
 mind an ugly hag of feventy-two years of age, 
 aboutthreefeetfixincheshiglventirefkinand 
 bone, with eyes redder than fire, and a mouth 
 the lower lip of which protruded fo as en- 
 tirely, to conceal its companion, and 3-011 will, 
 form a faint portrait of LA Pi: PITA. She 
 received me in a room on the ground floor, 
 which, though dark and dirty, was, no 
 doubt, frequently the afylum of Love and 
 Beauty. Having opened my commiffion,. 
 the r.ccomir.odatmg old creature addrefTed 
 me in thefe words: " My young friend, 
 *' you may affure DON CHRISTOVAL that 
 " he may fee the lady he loves at this 
 " houfe to-night, although this cannot be 
 *' accomplished without great difficulty, as 
 *' (he will be obliged to efcape from the 
 " obfervation of a brother who fuperin- 
 " tends her conduct, and whole vigilance it 
 " will not be an eafy matter to elude." 
 <c Thefe are obfbcles which my mafrer 
 ** has fagaciouflyforefeen," replied I i * here 
 ** is fomething from him that will, enable 
 " you to remove them," putting a purfe 
 containing fifty piftoles into her hand. I 
 
 " would
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 55" 
 
 *' 7/oi;I.i reject this money with difdain," 
 replied the bag; " if I thought your mailer 
 " had any dilhonourable views ; but I am fa- 
 * 4 tistied he has too much virtue to enter- 
 * tain any bafedefigns ; and from the good 
 {i opinion I entertain of his character, 'I 
 " will do every thing in my power to ferve 
 " him. To-morrow I will promife him "a 
 44 certain interview with the object of his af- 
 * feclion. Go, acquaint him with this 
 * ; information, and leave me to count the 
 *' roiary which your interruption prevented 
 *' me from finilhing. Adieu, my chicken,'" 
 added (he, patting me under the chin Vith 
 her dry hand, " you appear a genteel youn^ 
 "** man, and by ST. AGNES, if I were Only 
 *' in my Teens, 1 fhould wifh to have you 
 *' for my hulband." 
 
 I HAD no Tooner difclofedthe fuccefs of 
 my embaffy, than DON CHRISTOVAL, with 
 a view no doubt tf> filence the voice of vir- 
 tue in thofe delicate duties which he was 
 likely to impofe on me, prefented me with 
 a dozen piftoles, affuring me, at the fame 
 time, that a proper attention to his affairs 
 (houl'd never injure my own ;. and on this 
 D 4 affu ranee
 
 & THE HISTORY OF 
 
 affurance I firmly refolved, whatever might 
 be the part I fhould afterwards be appointed 
 to perform, always to prefer the character of 
 CONFIDANT to that of LOVER,, fince RUIN 
 would in all probability be the conlequenee 
 of the one, and RICHES of the other. 
 
 THE hours palled tedioufly away, in th-e 
 mind of DON CHRISTOVAL, until the time 
 of affignation arrived, when under the 
 friendly covert of the night we glided un- 
 feen into the habitation of LA PEPITA. The 
 heroine of the fcene, who was already there, 
 I had no opportunity of feeing ; for in- 
 ftead of being allowed to follow Dos 
 CHRISTOVAL into- the parlour where flic 
 was waiting, I was detained by the old woman 
 in an adjoin ing chamber ; but the two rooms 
 being onlyfeparated by a thin wainfeot parti- 
 tion, I was enabled to overhear a great part of 
 the converfation, which, as will be eafily ima- 
 . gined^a^forded me for fometime high enter- 
 tainment. Bat haw (hall I defcribe my afto- 
 nimment when I thought I recollected the 
 vojce of the fair female, and, upon a more 
 attentive ear, no longer doubted that it 
 was the deceitful BERSARDINA ! I was 
 quite confounded, and fek my anger rifmg to 
 
 a height,
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 57 
 
 a height, which reafon, at any other time, 
 would not have fo eafily fubdued. " But lee 
 " the Coquette/' faid I to myfelf, "affedtco- 
 '* love DON CHRISTOVAL and a thousand; 
 ** other men, what is it to me ? I haye 
 " abandoned her ; and her behaviour ought 
 " to be no longer interefting to my heart."' 
 I could not, however, avoid feeling the 
 keeneft mortification on refieclingthatalady 
 who had always behaved towards- me with: 
 modefty and refer-ve, fhould at the fame time 
 be capable of acting in violation of all chafti- 
 ty ; it mortified my pride by the reflection it 
 caft on my diicernment ; and in the mo- 
 ment of fpleen and refentment I determined 
 fhe mould fee and recoiled! me before we 
 kft the houfe ; for I fancied the fhame-and 
 confulion flie would feel on difcovering, 
 .that I was privy to the wantonnefs and 
 Duplicity of her conduct, would afford me. 
 ample revenge : but, aJas \ I flattered myfeJf 
 with falfe hopes ; for when I prefented my- 
 felf to her obfervation, (he was fo far^from. 
 being difconcerted by my prefence, that 
 Ihe impudently flared me in the face,, and*, 
 affeding not to know me, went out with a 
 D 5 degree
 
 .$8 - THE HlSfdllY OF 
 
 degree of effrontery which fixed me to the 
 ground with equal aftonilhment and con- 
 cern. 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL, on our return home, 
 having exhaufted all his eloquence in boaft- 
 ing to me of his happy fortune, I continued 
 the conversation by affuring him that I re- 
 joiced extremely at the fatisfa&ion he 
 experienced ffoiii the company of BER- 
 NARPINA. -" How ! BERNAR'DINA !" ex- 
 claimed my mailer: " Who has informed 
 <( you that her name is BER^ARDIN-A ? Do 
 " you know her?" ' Perfectly, Sir," replied 
 I, " as well asSEGtfiofcA DALFA, her aunt> 
 <f who to all appearance is not better than 
 tc her niece. In fliorr, Sir, I know what 
 ct both of them are ; and if I had never feeri 
 *' them, I fhould not perhaps have had the 
 *' honour of being your valet." (l VANIL*- 
 ss LO 3 ^ faidE)oN CHRISTOVAL, " I defire 
 ** you would fpeak openly and without 
 c< enigma upon this fubjedV' " There is 
 " nothing enigmatical in it, I aflure you-, 
 (t Sir^ the matter is very clear. I recognized 
 *' in the perfonof the lady you have juilfeen, 
 *' my old acquaintance BERNARDJNA, the 
 
 " niece
 
 V A I\ I L L O r G O N 2 ALES. 59 
 
 e: niece of a deceafed Counfellor, whofe 
 <f widow has taken her under her care. I 
 * frequented the houfe of thefe harpies for 
 *^near three months, and they induced me 
 "''to eat away- a certain number of pif- 
 " toles which I hadreferved as the means of 
 *'* continuing my ftudies. But the moft mor 
 "'tifying circumftance to my feelings is, 
 *' that th-is vry BERNARDINA, this jilt, who 
 "finds her w-ay fcreafily to the houfe of LA 
 " PEPITA^ has impofed upon my inexperi- 
 '* ence for the fake of my money." I pro- 
 nounced thefe laft words with a degree of 
 agitation which made DON CKRISTOVAE" 
 laugh. P leafed with the rigours of which 1 
 complained, he affected to fympathife with- 
 my feelings. " Poor lad !" faid he with an air 
 of raillery, " in truth BERNARDINA fliould 
 " not have ufed a fond lover with fo miich 
 " cruelty. The next time I fee her, VA- 
 f< NILLO, reftaflured I will reproa'ch herwitlv 
 " her mifcondudl." Aslwas not able to pre- 
 vent this raillery, I left my mailer to enter- 
 tain hinifelf as much as he pleafed at my 
 expence, well convinced that the time vva^ 
 not far difta-nt when he would repent of his 
 & 6 attachment*
 
 6.o .THE HISTORY OF 
 
 attachment to fo perfidious a woman ; x 
 gratification. I mud infallibly have experi- 
 enced if I had coatin-ujed to ferve this young 
 Lord five or fix. months longer; but, by the 
 decrees of inevitable fate, or,, if you pleafe, 
 by my own mifconduft, I was, for reafons 
 which I fliall now relate, difmifTed from 
 the palace of the Bifhop two days after. 
 
 THE fumptuous table of the epifcopal pas- 
 lace was almofl daily frequented by nobL- 
 lity and gentry of all ranks and didinclions; 
 and in fuch a concourfe it is not furprizing 
 that many original characters fhould occar 
 iionally be feen. On the fatal day which 
 removed me from the fervice of my illuftri- 
 ous friend and mafter, there appeared at 
 this hofpitable board an old Knight, who was 
 afflicted with a diforder which is fometimcs 
 called fpouting Latin. He had formerly- 
 been at College, and had fo fluffed his head 
 by reading the Latin Poets, that it might 
 not unaptly be compared to a large library 
 very badly arranged. He cited incelTantlydi? 
 vers paflag.es which he had got by. heart from 
 the works of VIRGIL, HORACE, OVID, PER- 
 aius, TiBULLvSi and JUVENAL; and thefe 
 
 authors
 
 V A N I L L O G O N 2 A E-E S. 6 r 
 
 authors were fo confufedly intermingled i-a 
 his memory, that he frequently attributed 
 the lines of one author to another, and 
 fometimes mifquoted the author himfelf. 
 While I was waiting at table among the 
 other fcrvants of the palace, the old Knight's- 
 favourite topic was, unhappily both for him- 
 felf and me, accidentally introduced, and a- 
 mong many other miflakes, he quoted , as from 
 PERSIUS, a paflage in HORACE. The error 
 was too palpable to efcape my notice, and* 
 following my vain, and vivacious difpofi.- 
 tion, infteaxl of ufi-ng the needle and 
 thread which my friend at MOLINA had gt^ 
 ven me, ; I addreffed myfelf with youthful 
 folly to the Knight, intimating that the 
 paffhge he had juft quoted was not from 
 PERSIUS but from HORACE. Scarcely had 
 I finished th.e fentence when the enraged 
 Latinift darted his eyes upon me, and repli.- 
 ,ed in a furious tone,. " Silence, fellow ! I 
 " am not to be inftruded by a fervant." 
 This imperious and fcornful reply roufed 
 my feelings to an excefs* "Why not?" 
 replied I. s< It is not becaufe I ferve you 
 '* with wine, in the character of a fcrvan^ 
 
 " that
 
 62 THE HIST OR V OF 
 
 * c that I am not able to affift you' with Latin 
 " as a man of letters.'* The whole com- 
 pany, who had been long well difpofed to 
 laugh at the abfurdities of my adverfary, 
 now bnrft int6 a rear, and encreafed the 
 wrath of the enraged Knight, who called on 
 DON CHRISTOVAL to chaftife me for my 
 infolemce; and I was ordered immediately 
 to quit the room. Conceiving that my crime 
 would be expiated by not appearing any 
 more in the prefence of this learned retailer 
 of Roman authors,- I bowed and obeyed ; 
 but in the evening my matter, with much 
 regret, fa-id to me, " My good friend 
 " VANILI^O, I am extremely mortified by 
 "the circumftance which happened at table 
 "to-day. Silence would certainly have be- 
 " come you better than fo unfeafonable a j 
 ** difcovery of your knowledge; You have- 
 " banifhed yourfelf from the palace; for, 
 "'however deferving of fatire and correction 
 " the ridiculous propenfity of the Knight 
 * may be, I cannot after this indifcretion, 
 '* and the injunction he has laid upon me, 
 ' retain you any longer in my fervice. He 
 4< is clofely related to my uncle the Biihop, 
 
 " and,.
 
 VAtflLLO GONZA'LES. $ 
 
 " and, for a variety of reafons, we are un- 
 " willing to difobey his commands. The 
 "peculiar caft of his character renders- him 
 <: inexorable upon every occafion in, which 
 <( he thinks the honour of his erudition Fs- 
 tl impeached ; and if I were to fuffer this 
 " night to pafs without difcharging you, he 
 ** would never forgive me. I am reduced- 
 *' therefore to the painful ncceffity of deft- 
 " ring; you to leave the palace. I fhall* 
 ft however ftill retain my affection for you, 
 " and to afford you forne confolation," con- 
 tinued he,- " I beg you will accept thefe 
 tl thirty piftoles. With this affiftance you 
 will be enabled to liv-c until you find ano- 
 "*ther place." 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL, in pronouncing thefe 
 words, put a purfe containing thirty piitoles 
 into my hand. I thank-ed my kind matter 
 for thefe teftimonies of his affection, and, 
 knowing that I could only impute my lofs 
 of his fervice to my own indifcretion, I im- 
 mediately put off the livery of a fervant, 
 and, refuming once more the habit of a 
 Student, departed from the palace. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE SIXTH. 
 
 fyt Cffffduct of VANILLO after Its Difniijiw 
 from the Service of Dox CURISTOVAL, and' 
 ly what Accident be entered into the Service 
 of tbe Licentiate SALABLANGA, Dctntiof 
 the Cathedral of SALAMANCA. A Dt- 
 fcription of tbe fingiilar Cbar after of tlvs 
 Ecclefiajiic. 
 
 RETURNING", the fame evening, to 
 my old lodgings, I again hired then* 
 upon a new agreement, until an opportunity 
 fhould offer of entering into the fervice of 
 another matter; for, having hitherto only 
 experienced its pleafures, I had made up my 
 mind to continue in fervitude. la the 
 neighbourhood of my lodgings there was a 
 hotel, frequented by afuperior kind of com- 
 pany, particularly ecclefiaflics, where I ufu- 
 ally dined and fpent my evenings. Among 
 other perfons who reforted to this houfe 
 was a Chorifter belonging to the Ca- 
 thedral, named VAN EG AS, with whom I 
 
 formed
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 65 
 
 formed an intimate acquaintance. He was 
 a fat chubby man, about thirty years of 
 age, extremely lively in his converfaticm, 
 and of a difpofiiion fo congenial to my own 
 that \vc felt a pleafure in each, other's com- 
 pany from the firft moment. " May I ven- 
 f< ture to afk you/' faid he to me one day, 
 " what are the objeds of your purfuit at SA- 
 " LAMANCA ?" " I am at prefent y " replied 
 I, " totally out of employment. About 
 " eight days ago I was the valet of BON 
 " CHRISTOVAL, nephew to the Bifhop of thi-s 
 " city, but a mifquotation of a few lines in. 
 <c HOR ACE occafioned my being difcharged/' 
 tl Is it poffible 1" cried the Chorifter with 
 aftonifliment ; " tell me the particulars of 
 " this event." I related to him all the cir- 
 cumftances that had pafled ; and when I rev 
 peared the paffage which had raifed the an- 
 ger of the Knight, he (liook every table in 
 the room by the loudnefs of his laughter; 
 for his tones were naturally fo fonorous, 
 that whether he fung* cried, or laughed, his 
 voice refembled mare the bafs of an organ- 
 than a human found. Having indulged h>s 
 mirth for fome time, tie became ferious, and 
 
 alluring.
 
 C5 THE HFSTORY OF 
 
 afTuriflg me he would ufe his utmoft en- 
 deavours to procure me a good place, 
 was not long in performing his promife. 
 "My friend VANILLO," laid he the fuc- 
 ceeding day, " I have found our a fituation 
 *** for you, which, in my opinion, is prefera- 
 ""ble to that you have lefr. The Licentiate 
 ** SALABLANCA, Dean of our Cathedral, 
 " has occafion for a perfon who can ad in 
 *' the double capacity of fccretary ani fer- 
 "'vant ; and I think you will not acquit. 
 44 yourfelf' badly m vhcfc emplo}'ment5."" 
 
 ' ITRUST," replied!, " that! (ball be able 
 " to difcharge my duties with great fatisfac- 
 * c tion to the Dean, if you will only make- 
 1<v me acquainted with his character." 
 
 " HE is a man," replied VA-NEG AS, tc be- 
 " 'tween fifty and fixty years of age, of unaf- 
 " fedled piety;, not, like other devotees, aul- 
 <c terc in his manners, but mild, affable, and 
 " cheerful ; and inclined to repay a liacere. 
 "- attachment with unlimited confidence and 
 "efteem. After dinner," continued he, <l we 
 " will wait on him, for I would not lole a mo- 
 " meat's time in placing you with this ve- 
 
 '* ncrable
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A-L E S; 67 
 
 * r nerable ecclefiaftic, whofe preferments in 
 " the church amount to more than a thou-f 
 " fand crowns a-year." 
 
 VAMSGAS accordingly conducted me to a 
 imall.but elegant mantion, the refklence of. 
 the Licentiate SALABLANCA. " Sir," faid 
 he to the Dean, ."I beg; leave to introduce 
 " the young man I mentioned to> you, VAT 
 *' NILLO GONZALES, who is defcended from. 
 " a good family, but being left an orphan 
 " early in life, is reduced to the necefiky of- 
 " fcrvitude. tie has pafled through the 
 *' third Clafs of the Univerfity with fuccefs,, 
 " and poflefTes honour, good fenfe, and ia- 
 ** tegrity. I will anfvver for him, for he is 
 " my particular filend, and. I am pei'fuaded- 
 " you.will think him a treafure." ft And I 
 <c am fure, replied the Dean, he cannot have 
 " a better friend. A.good fervantis a valua- 
 " ble prefent: I am indebted to you.for-re-. 
 "commending him,, and I. receive him into- 
 " my . fervice the .more readily becaufe his 
 " appearance prepofleffes me in his favour." 
 
 THE Chorifter, who was extremely pleafed 
 at ,the fuccefs of his recommendation, took 
 his leave of. the Dean, and left me to obey 
 
 his
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 his commands. " Well, my young friend,** 
 fiiid my new patron immediately, " we are 
 " g om g> Heaven be praifed, to live toge- 
 " ther. I hope you are not ignorant of the 
 " duties which fervants-owe to their mafters. 
 " I am fenfible on my part of the attention 
 " which mafters fhould always- pay to their 
 " fervants. Let each of us rigidly perform wlrat 
 " is refpe&ively required of us, and we fhatl 
 tf grow in affection as our years advance : 
 " confider me in the character of a father, 
 *' and I (hall treat you as if you were my 
 " own Con." At thefe wards I threw myfeif 
 at his feet, with earneft proteftations that 
 every endeavour on my part fliould be ex- 
 erted to merit his kindnefs. He raifed me 
 up, when changing the fubjeft, " VANIL- 
 " LO," faid he, (C you are no longer in an 
 " epifcopal palace ; you have pafied from 
 " one extreme to the other. You will fee 
 " neither delicacies nor profufionac my table^ 
 " You are now in the fervice of an ecciefi- 
 " aftic of only the fecond order. At dinner 
 " 1 am contented with a fmgle difli, and my 
 " fupper confills o the lighted food." Tl^e 
 Licentiate* having fiaiihed his difcourfe, de- 
 fired
 
 VAN1LLO GONZALES. 69 
 
 fired me to pack up my necefTaries and bring 
 them to the Deanry ; an order which I exe- 
 cuted without delay. 
 
 THE DEAN, on my return home, was at 
 flipper in the parlour, entertaining himfelf 
 in familiar converfation with his two other 
 domeftics who were waiting on him. One 
 of them was his cook, very diminutive in 
 ftuture, antiquated in appearance, and de- 
 formed in perfon. The other was his 
 houfe- keeper, whofe appearance age and 
 uglinefs had rendered extremely canonical. 
 I mixed occafionallyin the converfation; and 
 to commence my functions went to the 
 fide-board, on which flood a bottle of port, 
 a decanter of water, and a large giafs, vvhich 
 I filled and preferred to my mailer every 
 time he called for it, in a way which 
 mewed that I had learned to perform the 
 office of cup-bearer from the hand of a maf- 
 ter. The light food on which the Dean 
 fupped that evening was a moulder of mut- 
 ton, of which indeed he eat very little ; and 
 i foon afterwards retired to his chamber, 
 leaving the cook, the houferkeeper, andmy- 
 fe.lf, to eat our fupper together uninterrupt- 
 edly
 
 7=> THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ed]y in the parlour. I foon rendered my- 
 felf familiar with my compan-ions, and did 
 not fail to afford them an opportunity, du- 
 ring our conversation., of e*:preffing their 
 fentiments of the Dean. " t( How happy are 
 <f we, my friends," faid I, t{ to have fuch 
 <f a mailer ; fo4:ind and benevolent ! Does 
 " he always converie with the fame affability 
 " as he did this evening ? Has he 'not occa- 
 xt fionally whims, caprices, and : ill-humoured 
 " moments ?" ' No," -replied the diftorted 
 ..cook, <<f his temper is always the fame. At 
 "certain periods indeed he appears quite 
 <f melancholy and dejecled, but it feldom 
 "' lafts long, and his fervants never fuffer by 
 **-ic. I have," continued the cook, *' ferv- 
 {t ed other pious men of a very different 
 *' character. God knows the fufferings I 
 <f endured in the 'fervice of a Canon of 
 <t TOLEDO, who, though a, man of great 
 " wealth, was by nature of^fo violent a tern- 
 c< per that he has frequently-thrown a whole 
 " fricafTee at my head when -it did not hap- 
 " pen to be feafoned to his palate." " Thank 
 '* Heaven/' -exclaimed LEONELLA, (which 
 was the name of the houfe-kecper) " our 
 
 '< mufter,
 
 VA'NILLO GONZALES. 71 
 
 * t mafter, the Dean, has no fault. Some 
 
 "people indeed accufe him of being avari-. 
 
 " cious, but, although he is a churchman,. 
 
 " they may perhaps bs miftaken. Inftead 
 
 '* of hoarding his money, as they imagine, 
 
 <( he perhaps diftributes it fecretly among. 
 
 tl the poor, which is the proper way of 
 
 fe being truly charitable; for it is 'better 
 
 C( to do good privately than to trumpet one's 
 
 " actions to. the world." To thefe obferva- 
 
 tions many others of a fimilai: kind were 
 
 added ; from which I concluded that I was 
 
 in the fervice of an Ifraelite 'indeed, with 
 
 <whjm I fhould pats my .days in comfort. 
 
 Asafhonlder ofmuttonhas notmuchabout 
 
 it to amufe and entertain for any length of 
 
 time three performs of excellent appetite^ 
 
 our 'fupper was foon over, and I repaired 
 
 to the chamber of theJDean, whom I found 
 
 kneeling on the floor before .a large ivory 
 
 crucifix, enmrined witLebony,, and lined with 
 
 black velvet. Having finillied his .prayer 
 
 'he rofe from the ground, and as I perceived 
 
 lie was difpofedto go to reft, I offered to afllft 
 
 him in undrefling, -begging, that as I had 
 
 not been long ufed to Jfervitude, he would 
 
 excufe
 
 72 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 cxcufe me if I did not acquit myfelf fo 
 adroitly as I could wiih. I was not however io 
 awkward as I pretended to be, for 1 had had 
 great opportunities of learning every thing 
 which my duty required in the fervice of 
 DON CHRISTOVAL. 
 
 WHILE I was performing this taik, the 
 Licentiate afked me many queftions re- 
 fpecting my family, and conceiving, from 
 my anfwers, that I was not born to be a va- 
 let, he feemed to lament my fate. " Un- 
 " fortunate VANILLO," faid he, " how 
 ft fincerely I regret that you loft at fo early 
 *' a period of your life the authors of your 
 xc exillcnce. If it had not been for this mif- 
 " fortune, you would not now perhaps have 
 xf been in this dependent condition. Butfince 
 e< Heaven has fo ordered it, my friend, you 
 * f mud fubmit without murmuring to its 
 * c decrees. I will endeavour," continued 
 he, " as far as it is in my power, to foften 
 " the rigours of fervitude, by treating you 
 11 in a way that lliall fcarcely render you 
 * s ienfible that you have a mafter." 
 
 CHARMED by thefe profelTions, I feit my 
 fcofom fuddenly infpired with fo much zeal 
 
 and
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 73 
 
 and affedion for my kind protedor, that I 
 could willingly have met death to ferve 
 him : a pregnant proof that it is always 
 in the power of a mailer to fecure the fide- 
 lity and affedion of his fervant ! His kind 
 promifes penetrated fo deeply into my heart, 
 that I addreffed myfelf to him in a fpeech, 
 the broken accents of which muft have 
 convinced him that, however deficient I 
 might be in eloquence, I was by no means 
 fo in feeling and moral fentiment. When 
 J had finifhed, he tapped me fofcly on the 
 (houlder, faying with a fmile, " Go, my 
 " young friend, go to your reft. I have 
 " every reafon to think that we fhall agree 
 u perfectly well with each other. Your 
 " predeceffor had only fifteen piftoles a 
 *' year ; but I will give you twenty, as a 
 *' teflimony of the fatisfadion with which 
 " I receive you into my fervice." 
 
 LEAVFNG the Dean to enjoy the com- 
 forts of repofe, I retired to an adjoining 
 chamber, which he ufed as his wardrobe, 
 where I found a bed nearly as uneafy as that 
 at DOCTOR CANIZARES, on which I pafled 
 the night in perturbed repofe. To mew, 
 however, that indolence was not among 
 VOL. i. E the
 
 74 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 the number of my faults, I rofe at the 
 break of day; fo that when the Dean, who 
 was a very early rifer, called me, I prefent- 
 ed myfelf before him drefTed and ready 
 to receive his commands. " I obferve," 
 faid he, " you are not difpofed to fleep long 
 <f in the morning ; I like you the better for 
 *' it. Here," continued he, putting a piece 
 of paper into my hand, " is an order for 
 " two hundred crowns, which, to convince 
 *' you of the confidence I repofe in you, you 
 *' will carry immediately to DON JUAN DE 
 " BARRos,rheReceiver-GeneraloftheChap- 
 " ter,and bring me the money for it." I went 
 accordingly to the houie of the Receiver - 
 Generaland executed my commiffioninaway 
 thai afforded great fatisfaction to the Dean, 
 and I became every day a greater favourite. 
 I HAD been near a month in this fervice, 
 when one evening, as I was waiting at fupper, 
 I perceived the Dean drop fuddenly into a 
 profound reverie. Inftead of converting and 
 laughing with his fervants with his ufual 
 affability, he was quite filent. I ventured 
 to fpeak to him two or three times, but he 
 anfwered me only with iighs, and appeared 
 
 fo
 
 VANILLO GONZALKS. 75 
 
 fo opprefled with forrow, that it was evident 
 a fecret torment was preying on his heart. 
 The fupper, of which he fcarcely eat a mor- 
 fel, being over, he retired to his chamber, 
 and, difpeniing with my attendance, locked 
 the door. " This is without doubt," faid I 
 to the little Cook, f< one of thofe defpond- 
 <( ing moments to which you alluded. 5 * 
 *' Yes," replied the Cook, t( you now fee 
 <f how different our Patron is from himfelf ; 
 " but thefe clouds of difcontent foon pafs 
 '* away, and to-morrow you will find himin- 
 * f poffeffion of his ufual gaiety." 
 
 SATISFIED that this prediction would be 
 verified, we continued our fupper in the par- 
 lour with accuflomed cheerfulnefs, and when 
 it was fini med retired to our beds ; but 
 while I lay extended upon mine, and fleep 
 was preparing to clofe my eyes, a voice 
 like that of my mafter -(truck upon my ear ; 
 and, liftening with all poffible attention, I 
 heard him walking with agitation acrofs his 
 chamber in forrowful foliloquy on the fub- 
 ject which depreffed his foul. Although I 
 endeavoured in vain to hear diftinftly what 
 hi? faid, I caught occafionally certain par- 
 2 ticular
 
 76 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ticular expreflions, from which I conjec- 
 tured that it was fome delicacy of con- 
 fcience which thus difturbed his repofe; 
 and I alfo heard the found of many blows 
 of difcipline which he inflided on his body, 
 and probably not without fufficient caufe : 
 in this manner he continued to walk, talk, 
 beat,and torment himfelf during the remain- 
 der of the night. 
 
 THE enfuing day, rifing at his ufual hour, 
 he went, without taking any notice of what 
 had paffed, into the city, from whence he 
 returned in about three hours, with an air of 
 gaiety and compofure, which aftonifhecl me 
 the more 'as I expected to fee him deep in 
 mortification, and defired me to attend 
 him to his chamber, when, locking the door 
 the moment I went in, " Oh ! VANILLO," 
 exclaimed he, " I muft make you the par- 
 " taker of my joy. I will depofit all the fe- 
 " crets of my foul in your faithful bofom. 
 t( Know then that I have jurt atchieved an 
 <c important and glorious victory." " You 
 require, Sir," faid I with gaiety equal to his 
 own, ff that I mould rejoice in your fuccefs, 
 " although lam yet ignorant of what itcon- 
 
 " fifts."
 
 VANILLO G ON Z ALES. 77 
 
 ff fifts." '* I have vanquimed and diflodg- 
 4< ed," laid he, " the dsemon of avarice ! I 
 " had amaffed, three hundred crowns, which 
 " I enclofed with anxious care in that cheft, 
 " and my foul was attached only to my 
 " treafure ; but it has pleafed the heavenly 
 *' Father to look with an eye of pity on his 
 " fervant; he has ftretched forth his hand 
 *' to fave me ; I have this morning poured 
 " all my money into the Poor Box of the 
 " HofpitaU and by this means have re- 
 " lieved my mind from the heavy burthen 
 " that opprefied it." 
 
 You may eafily conceive that this dif- 
 courfe, while it filled me with aftonimment, 
 gave me no very favourable opinion of my 
 matter's underftanding; and, difcovering by 
 my countenance the opinion I entertained, 
 he endeavoured to make me think more fa- 
 vourably of his conduft, by continuing his 
 difcourfe in the following manner : " Know, 
 " my good friend, that I was born A MI- 
 *' SER, and feel a paffion for gold which 
 " my morality is continually combating 
 '* without being able to deftroy. When 
 w I have no more money than is abfolurely 
 3 " necefTary
 
 7* THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " neceflary to buy food and defray the or- 
 " dinary expences of my houfehold, my 
 f< mind is tranquil and ferene ; but the mo- 
 " ment I acquire any fuperfluous wealth I 
 6C forget that it is the property of the poor. 
 " I lock it up ; I hide it ; it becomes the 
 " idol of my foul ; the lull of wealth fires 
 <c my mind ; I heap hoard upon hoard ; and, 
 " in fhort, furrender myfelf entirely to the 
 ** dominion of this furious paiTion. But 
 " although avarice is triumphant, it does 
 (S not long enjoy its victory. Charity foon 
 " interpofes to vindicate her injured claims, 
 '* and to difpute the prize that avarice hag 
 " obtained. Then it is that 1-feel my foul 
 tl torn by conflicting paffions, which plunge 
 "' me into deep dklrefs and melancholy ; and 
 " I am fearful that vice would on thefe oc- 
 ** cafions frequently prove completely viclo- 
 * l rious, if He.aven did not imerpofe its aid 
 *' to preferve my virtue : but, thanks to the 
 t( Divine Goodnefs ! I have aKvays liitherto 
 t( been able to bring my enemy to the 
 " ground." 
 
 THE confcientious Divine, charmed with 
 his recent victory, having in this manner un- 
 
 bunhened
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 79 
 
 burthened his mind, and exhibited new tranf- 
 ports at having fo happily relieved himfelf 
 of three hundred crowns, proftrated himfclf 
 before his crucifix, to return thanks to the. 
 Almighty for having given him ftrength 
 to perform this noble action ; where thi.s 
 pious man, for fo in truth he was, continued 
 a. quarter of an hour in fervent prayer. The 
 effufions of his grateful heart affected me-, 
 and I could not avoid efteeming his heroic 
 virtue. When he rofe, the frniles of joy 
 beamed on his countenance. " VANIL- 
 LO," faid he, " I am now more happy and 
 .'* contented than language can exprefs. If 
 ft you could conceive the fecret fatisfaction 
 " I feel in being releafed from the tyranny 
 " of avarice, 1 am perfuaded that from this 
 " moment you would follow my example. 
 4< Let me exhort you, my friend, to the 
 " glorious achievement ; and if you have 
 " more money than your immediate necefli- 
 " ties require, carry it, my good friend, to 
 " the Hofpital,and by this means check the 
 l< firft growth of that paffion which may in- 
 " fenfibly lead you to the love of riches." 
 
 E 4 I COULD
 
 So THE HISTORY OF 
 
 I COULD not help fmiling at the advice 
 which the Dean thus piouily gave me ; but, 
 although a good cafuift might have raifed 
 confiderable doubts as to my right of pot- 
 feflion, I was not eafily perfuaded to part 
 with my piftoles. " Sir," replied I to the 
 Licentiate, " if I were in pofleffion of a be- 
 " neiice which produced more than my ne- 
 " ceffities required, I ihould endeavour, ini- 
 " mitable as your conduct is, to follow your 
 " example -, but coniider for a moment, 
 " that I am only a poorfervant without pa- 
 " trimony, or any other provifion than about 
 *' twenty piftoles, which I faved in my for- 
 " mer fervice; and can I, without being 
 " guilty of imprudence, part with them ? It 
 ** is impoilible to forefce what may happen. 
 *'* If, for inftancp, fome misfortune mould 
 *' deprive me of my prefent fituation, and a 
 " long time mould intervene before I found 
 " a new matter, mould not Ifubjecl myfelf to 
 " the reproaches of my own confcience in 
 " having been io improvident]}' charita- 
 " ble ?" " Thefe fentiments," replied the 
 Dean, " would be founded in good fenfe, 
 *' if we were warranted in making provifion 
 
 " againft
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. Si 
 
 ft againft the exigencies of futurity ; but 
 " we mould take no thought of to-morr<xv 3 
 (t nor (hould the fear of want ferve as a pre- 
 " tence for depriving the poor of their right 
 " to our fuperfluous wealth." 
 
 THESE refined fentiments produced no 
 effect upon my mind ; I kept my piftoles, 
 and forgot the advice. 
 
 ABOUT two months fubfequent to this 
 converfation, which the Dean charged me 
 not to reveal to the other fervants, he again 
 fent me to the office of the Receiver-General 
 to touch another two hundred crowns, which I 
 brought and delivered to him as before. He 
 put them carefully into the fatal coffer, and 
 kept them during a period of three weeks 
 without appearing to be the leaft affected. 
 Soon afterwards however the tranquillity of 
 his mind was vifibly difturbed, and at length 
 by degrees he difcovered fymptoms of ap- 
 proaching melancholy. The moment I per- 
 ceived his fituation I addreffed him in thefc 
 words : " Sir, as I have the honour to be 
 " your confidant, I conceive it to be my 
 " duty to afford you affiftance, although 
 ** you have not fignified the want of it j for 
 E 5 " 1 am
 
 82 THE HiSTORV Of 
 
 " I am but too well informed of what is at 
 " prefent paffing in your mind. Avarice 
 tc and chanty are there at variance, and the 
 <c event of the conteft is uncertain. Permit 
 " therefore a faithful fervant, who is deeply 
 " interefted in your happinefs, to offer you 
 " a clue by which you may extricate your 
 * e mind from the painful labyrinth in which 
 " it is involved."-" Yes,my dearVANiLLo," 
 replied the afflicted Dean, " I druggie night 
 " and day againft this powerful fiend, which 
 " feems to acquire new ftrength in propor- 
 <l lion as mine diminifhes. Aid me, if it be 
 " in your power, to expel the monfter from 
 " my heart." Moftwilling]y,Sir," replied 
 I, <c and we will, if you pleafe, drag him di- 
 " reftly from his den." Alas," faid the 
 "Licentiate, * c by what means can this pofli- 
 " blybeaccomplimed?" "Nothing is more 
 <f eafy," replied I. " Deliver inftantly into 
 " my hands thefe formidable coins, which 
 *' otherwife will foon deftroy your peace of 
 " mind, and I will deliver you from the im- 
 *' pending danger, by cafting them into the 
 " charity box for the poor which is placed at 
 the portal of St. Bernard's Monaftery." 
 
 THI
 
 VAN1LLO GONZALES. 83 
 
 THE Dean d id not i mmediately acquiefce in 
 the propofed expedient; but by degrees the 
 reflection of THE MORALIST overcame the 
 emotions of THE MISER. <f I confent, my 
 " friend," faid he ; (( I inveft you with this 
 " commiffion ; you will fave me from feel- 
 " ing the pangs I mould endure in carrying 
 " and parting with the money myfelf." 
 
 THE Dean accordingly drew from his cof- 
 fer a large bag, and putting it into my 
 hands, " There," faid he, " there are the 
 " victims I mean to immolate. There, my 
 " good friend, run, fly, return immediately, 
 " and announce to me that the facrifice is 
 " performed.'* 
 
 1 INSTANTLY quitted the Dean, who 
 could not help venting a forrowful figh at 
 my departure from the room, or rather at 
 feeing his beloved victims carried to the al- 
 tar. I took the road which leads to St. Ber- 
 nard's Monaftery, with intention faithfully 
 to execute the commifiion I was intruded 
 with. It is impoffible for man to poflefs an 
 honefter mind than that with which I firfb 
 undertook this dangerous charge ; and cer- 
 tain it is that I mould have executed the 
 6 truft
 
 $1 THE HISTORY Of 
 
 truft with fidelity, if the dsmon of avarice 
 who, in malicious anger at having been de- 
 feated by the MASTER, was no doubt deter- 
 mined to be revenged on his MAN, had not 
 tempted me. Heftoppedmefuddenlyjuftas 
 I was entering into the church porch, and 
 whifpered in my ear, " VANILLO, where 
 " are you going, like a fimpleton as you 
 u are ? What ! carry water to a river that 
 f * already overflows ? Do you imagine that 
 " the members of THE HOSPITAL are in 
 (( want ? You are deceived, VANILLO. Its 
 ." coffers are ib amply filled by the charita- 
 ** ble donations of the rich, that the kettles 
 *' of the poor are always boiling. Their 
 " revenues daily increafe by the bequefts of 
 " dying fmners. Befides, their wealth, un- 
 " like the wealth of others, is in no danger 
 '* of being pillaged by the hands of greedy 
 " ftewards. Their revenues are preferved 
 " by men who take a pleafure in protecting 
 " their interefts for the love of God, with- 
 " out the hope or expectation of advantage 
 " or reward. Do not then throw away a ufe- 
 ** ful fum of money which good fortune has 
 " put into your hands. Rather keep it 
 
 ." yourfelf,
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. ?j 
 
 '* yourfelf. You will hereafter perhaps have 
 " occafion for it. Befides, as the Dean has 
 " devoted it to the ufe of the poor, a portion 
 " of itat lead is your right ; and if there were 
 " any fault in appropriating the whole to 
 " yourfelf, this confederation will render it 
 " lefs." 
 
 THE artful devil, by putting thefe wicked 
 notions into my mind in the ihape of found 
 reafons, corrupted my integrity. Inftead of 
 entering the church, I directed my fteps to- 
 wards THE GREAT SQUARE, where for a tri- 
 fling difcount a Banker foon converted the 
 filver into gold by changing the crowns into 
 doubloons and quadruples, which I conve- 
 niently concealed in my pocket, and return- 
 ed to the Dean, who was waiting for me 
 with impatient anxiety. " Congratulate 
 * c yourfelf, Sir," faid I, accofting him with a 
 lively air, f( the deed is done ; the nfh are 
 " in their proper element ; and your mind 
 *' may now refume its tranquillity." " I 
 tc am glad it is over," replied the Dean. 
 " I thank you for your afliftance : and you 
 " alfo, my friend, have occafion to rejoice, 
 '* fmce you have fo materially contributed 
 
 "to
 
 96 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " to the accomplimment of this great work.** 
 *' I feel great pleafure," replied I, " in the 
 " part I have taken ; and I flatter my felt' 
 " that if you mould hereafter have the mis- 
 " fortune to relapfe you will have recourfe 
 " to the fimple medicine which I have fo 
 " fuccefsfully prefcribed." The Dean af- 
 fured me that he had no other intention. 
 
 IN a few months afterwards however, find- 
 ing himfelf pofleffed of another fuperfluous 
 fum, and of courfe tormented by fimilar fcru- 
 ples of confcience, he had recourfe to ano- 
 ther mode of relief. He purchafed a large 
 number of learned works upon morals and 
 divinity, and hoped by this bargain entirely 
 to lull his perturbed fpirit. But, one day, 
 after having remained a long time in pro- 
 found meditation at the feet of his crucifix, 
 he called me to him. I ran with anxiety to- 
 wards him, and, obferving that he was more 
 agitated and troubled than ever, faid, " My 
 " dear Matter, how do you do ? Have you 
 '* again occafionto employ me in any pious 
 "undertaking?"''Ah!VANiLLo,'' replied 
 he, uttering a deep figh, " itisa fubtle, crafty 
 *' dxmon. I fondly hoped that I had eluded 
 
 " his
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 87 
 
 " his fnares; but, alas ! I find that he has 
 * f again entrapped me. I conceived that by 
 * e pur-chafing thefe books, CHARITY would 
 " have no reafon to be difcontente.d. Fatal 
 " illufion ! Thefe works, excellent as they 
 ic are, are ufelefs, for I have no time to read 
 " them ; my leifure hours are all employed 
 " in prayer. Why then, unhappy man, 
 " did I make fuch a purchafe ! How many 
 <f charitable deeds might I have performed 
 " with the money which thefe volumes coft 
 <( me, and which now only ferve to decorate 
 " my ftudy with ufelefs oftentation !" 
 
 THE mind of this too charitable Ecclefiaf- 
 tic was fo deeply affected in having made a 
 purchafe from motives which now appeared 
 to him to be criminal, that he was almoft 
 difconfolate. A confidential friend is fre- 
 quently enabled to afford ufeful advice. 
 *' The fault you have been guilty of, Sir," 
 faid I, " is not irreparable. Youmayflill, 
 " with deference to your better opinion, re- 
 <f turn thefe books to the bookfeller from 
 *' whom you purchafed them. He will 
 " take them back at a moderate deduction, 
 *' and then I can go immediately to the Hof-
 
 8 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " pital with the money they produce/' 
 " Your advice," exclaimed the Dean, " is 
 " like infpiration. I will follow it imme- 
 " diately." He accordingly ordered me to 
 fetch a number of porters, which I did 
 with an alacrity the caufe of which it is not 
 neceflary to explain. There was, however, 
 one circumftance in this tranfaftion which 
 vexed me extremely. My Patron refolved 
 to accompany me to the bookfeller, who, 
 as it happened, was the very Librarian who 
 knew fo well how to recommend boarding- 
 houfes of hofpitality. 
 
 ALTHOUGH traders in general are not very 
 well fatisfied to take back goods they have 
 once fold, the old Librarian very obligingly 
 received back the books, and repaid the 
 Dean one hundred and fifty crowns out of 
 the two hundred he had received for them, 
 contenting himfelf with the refidue, to re- 
 compence himfelf as well for certain oppor- 
 tunities he had loft of felling them to a great- 
 er advantage, as for intereft of his money 
 from the time the purchafe had been made. 
 .1 immediately laid hold of the money, and 
 tied it up in a bag which the Librarian gra- 
 
 tuitoufly
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 89 
 
 tuitoiiily lent on the occafion. As we were 
 walking along the ftreet I endeavoured to 
 induce the Dean to return home, where I pro- 
 mifed to rejoin him in a fhort time ; but he 
 ftill continued his intention to accompany 
 me to the Hofpital. " How, Sir," exclaim- 
 ed I, " do you doubt the integrity of your 
 " faithful fervant ?" ' Heaven forbid/'faid 
 he : " no, my good friend, I am convinced 
 " of your fidelity ; my only reafon for wifh- 
 " ing to accompany you is, that I may be 
 " an eye-witnefs of the victory I obtain ; 
 *' but, fmce my company may import a 
 " fufpicion, I will mew you that you mif- 
 " conceive my motives. Go, and atchieve 
 " alone an object fo pleafing in the fight of 
 " Heaven." In faying thefe words he turn- 
 ed immediately towards the Deanery, and I 
 turned foon after towards the dwelling of the 
 money-changer, where I again converted 
 my filver into double piftcles. 
 
 MY purfe, as you will imagine, became 
 plump and round, and, in the hope of 
 fweiling it to a larger fize by a longer 
 continuance at the Deanery, I felt myfelf the 
 happieil man in Spain, tyut, alas ! a for- 
 
 rowful
 
 9 THE HISTORY, &x. 
 
 rowful event difappointed my expectations, 
 The Dean, a few days after the books were 
 difpofed of, fell ill ; and the moft celebra- 
 ted phyficians of SALAMANCA being called 
 in to a ill ft him, he took their prefcrip- 
 tions, and i ditd! No fooner were his eyes 
 clofed than the numerous relations he had 
 in the cky flocked with eagerncfs to the 
 Deanery, confident of finding a hoard of 
 Avealth in the coffers of the deceafed ; and it 
 is impolfibls to defcribe their aftonifhment 
 on difcovenngonly the few crowns that had 
 been referved for the expences of the houfe. 
 In anfwer to their complaints I told them it 
 was no wonder the Licentiate mould leave 
 fo little behind him, fince he had, in purfu- 
 ance of his favourite creed, that all fttpetfit- 
 c:<s wealth belonged to the poor, regularly car- 
 ried his to the coffers of the Hofpital. The 
 relations, difTatisfied with the flender inhe- 
 ritance, divided what remained among them- 
 ielves, leaving me, by a fort of divination of 
 the prompt payment I had made to myfelf, 
 fcarcely fufficienttofatisfyone half of thewa- 
 gesthatwereduetome: this deficiency there- 
 fore mull be deducted from the portion I re- 
 ceived by the good works of my pious mailer. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 C 9i 5 
 
 CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. 
 
 VANILLO quits SALAMANCA, 
 
 DRID. The Adventure he met with on the 
 Road, and the Co/ifequences which it pro- 
 duced. 
 
 TH E city of MADRID had fo frequent- 
 ly been fpoken of in my hearing as 
 the wonder of the world, that I felt a great 
 defire to vifit this celebrated metropolis. 
 The prefent fituation of my affairs enabled 
 me not only to gratify my wiihes with eafe 
 and pleafure, but to appear in a higher and 
 more refpeftable character than that of a 
 valet. I flattered myfelf that a young man 
 who was tolerably well verfed in literary 
 compofitionSj and not deficient in under- 
 standing, could not fail of making his for- 
 tune at Court, either by attaching himfelf 
 to great men, or infinuating himfelf into con- 
 fidence among the Clerks of the Secretaries 
 of State. In Ihort, filled with a high opi- 
 
 nion
 
 92. THE HISTORY OF 
 
 nion of my own merit, I immediately pur- 
 chafed a fine mule in order to render my en- 
 try more graceful, and departed at the break 
 of the enfuing day for MADRID. 
 
 IDIRECTED my courfe to wardsPt N A R A K- 
 DA,where I arrived in frffety the fame evening: 
 but I was far,alasf from continuing in fafety on 
 the enfuing day. On enteringthe Province of 
 Old Caftile I obferved two roads, and not per- 
 ceiving any perfon of whom I could inquire 
 their courfe, I was obliged, after many fruit- 
 lefs conjectures and much embarraffmenti 
 to truft to chance. The one road led to the 
 city of AVILA, the other to SEGOVIA, and 
 as a punifhment for my manifold offences, 
 as you will find by the fequel, mifchance di- 
 rected me to take the laft. It conducted me 
 between two lofty mountains by a route which 
 was fufficient of itfelf to alarm a traveller 
 even with empty pockets. If I had poffeffed 
 a proper knowledge of the country I might 
 cafily have avoided, by a circuitous path, 
 this dangerous paflage, which was never at- 
 tempted to be travelled except by fuch as 
 were ignorant of its dangers ; for, exchifive 
 of the dreadful precipices by which it was 
 
 furrounded.
 
 VAtflLLO GONZALES. 93 
 
 furrounded, there appeared at the feet of the 
 mountains great excavations,one beyond ano- 
 ther, which it was impoffible to behold with- 
 out affright. Expecting every moment to fee 
 armed aflaffins ifTue from thefe frightful ca- 
 verns ; overpowered by the phantoms of 
 imagination ; and feeling that not only my 
 life, but the property of the poor was endan- 
 gered in this terrifying place, my limbs 
 trembled every ftep I went ; and I implored 
 theaid of Heaven, without once reflecting that 
 I merited rather dereliction than afliftance : 
 I was foon convinced of the juftice of 
 its decrees. Two men, vomited as it were 
 from one of the caverns, fuddenly appeared 
 before me, and, by their ferocious afpects, 
 and the tremendous fabres which they bran- 
 difhed in their hands, congealed the blood that 
 prefled around my heart : their bodies alto were 
 half naked ; and fear, which always enlarges 
 the fize of the objects that create it, made me 
 conceive them of enormous flature. Thefe 
 two new- born natives of the earth, by placing 
 themfelyes directly in front of my mule, ob- 
 ftructed my further progrefs, and, with their 
 hats intheir hands, afked charity, in a manner 
 
 which
 
 94 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 which rendered it impofiible to refufe their 
 requeft. The humility of their (application 
 however did not in any degree leffen the 
 horrors of their afpecls ; and I threw to 
 them a few pieces of iilver coin which I had 
 been advifed atPENERANDA, to carry loofe 
 in my pocket, in order to avoid the dangers 
 to which the exhibiting of gold in my jour- 
 ney might expofe me. But the two beggars, 
 far from being contented with this liberal 
 donation, feized the bridle of my mule, and 
 declared that I mould not get off at fo cheap 
 a rate. " Young gentleman," exclaimed 
 one of them, dragging me from the mule, 
 and throwing me violently to the ground, 
 *' we muft fee in what manner your purfc 
 " is lined." They accordingly rifled my 
 pockets, and took from my purfe above a 
 hundred piftoles ; but obferving that I appear- 
 ed more dead than alive, they protefted, by 
 way of comfort, that they did not mean to 
 do me any harm ; and this afiurance dif- 
 pelled at leaft one portion of my fears. This 
 ceremony was fcarcely ended before I ob 
 ierved, ifluing from the mouth of the fame 
 cave, a number confiding of at lead lixty 
 
 men
 
 VANJLLO GONZALES. jj 
 
 men and women, Tome on foot, and other* 
 on mules, or afles ; this honed group was 
 a banditti of Bohemian robbers. The mea 
 v?ore fhort cloaks with under garments fo 
 torn and ragged that they did not every 
 where conceal the fkin. Some of the women 
 were whimfically ornamented with gold col- 
 lars, filver medals, and rich bracelets-, the 
 others had only a fimple covering from the 
 Tvaift to the feet, the upper parts of their 
 bodies around the neck and flioulders re- 
 maining naked, in defiance of all modedy, 
 but perfectly in character with themfelves. 
 The two robbers who had fo completely 
 emptied my pockets ordered me, on pain 
 of death, immediately to join the cavalcade, 
 which filed off two by two. We defcend- 
 ed from the mountain at a didance of two or 
 three hundred paces from the cave, and, 
 eroding a large plain, entered a thick wood, 
 through the middle of which ran a dream of 
 clean water, where the troop halted ; and 
 I could have enjoyed the beauties of the 
 furroimding fcenery with pleafure, if I had 
 been in more agreeable company. The 
 men bufied themfclves in fpreading upon the 
 
 molty
 
 $S THE HISTORY OF 
 
 tnoffy turf various refrefhments, of food as 
 well as wine, which they carried in calabafhes 
 after the manner of the pilgrims of St. 
 James, and feemed to pofiefs in great abun- 
 dance. I was forced to eat and drink with 
 them in fpite of my want of appetite; for the 
 moment I mowed the lead repugnance 
 to conform to their manners, they clapped 
 their hands on their iabres,and by this means 
 rendered me as pliant as a glove. I became, 
 indeed, fo docile as to fuffer them to take 
 offmy clothes, which were -of excellent cloth 
 and quite new, and array me in one of the 
 habits of the order ; for they always carried 
 a certain number with them, which they for- 
 ced fuch young gentlemen as had the mif- 
 fortune to fall into their hands, to put on. 
 
 AFTER indulging themfelves in eating 
 and drinking for three or four hours, the 
 men and women began to dance in a ftylc 
 certainly more free than graceful. A fa- 
 vage mirth every where prevailed ; and it 
 was refolved to pafs the night under thofc 
 delightful fhades; when two of their com- 
 panions, who had been placed as centinels at 
 a certain diftance, arrived, and diflurbed the 
 
 feftivity
 
 VAN1LLO GO NZ ALES. $7 
 
 fefliv-ity of the troop by announcing that a 
 brigade of the holy brotherhood was at the 
 diftance of only thirty paces from the wood. 
 Relying upon their Superior numbers, this 
 information did not appear to create the lead 
 alarm; -but each, even of the lead coura- 
 geous, calmly prepared himfelf to receive 
 the enemy. A tingle brigade would, in all 
 probability, have been too feeble to conquer 
 4b large a band of robbers, the majority of 
 whom was both vigorous and valiant ; but 
 while the banditti were marching with 
 high contempt of the inferiority of their pur- 
 fuers, a fecond brigade of the holy brother- 
 hood having flirted the wood on the other 
 lide, clofed on their rear and placed them 
 between two fires ; and the robbers., rinding 
 rhemfelves thus homed, loft all hope of vic- 
 tory, and endeavoured to feek fafety by a 
 precipitate flight. The conflernation was 
 ib great, that, without reflecting on the con- 
 fcquences, I followed the fugitives with as 
 much alacrity as if I had had no occailcn to 
 rejoice in being thus delivered from their 
 }>o\*jer. The two brigades purfued us fo 
 ly, that we were aluioil entirely taken 
 'Q.L. i. F prifoners.
 
 $B THE HISTORY, OF 
 
 prifoners; and the conquerors tying us toge- 
 ther with cords they had brought with them 
 for the purpofe, divided us into two com- 
 panies, one of which was driven to Avi- 
 LA, and the other to SEGOVIA. It may be 
 neceffary to inform the reader, that thema- 
 giftrates of thefe cities, having been inform- 
 ed that a daring banditti infefted the neigh- 
 bouring country with impunity, had each of 
 them difpatched a brigade of archers of the 
 holy fraternity to apprehend them ; and fo 
 well was the meafure concerted, that each 
 of them arrived at the wood at the fame 
 time. 
 
 I WAS among thofe who were fent to Avi- 
 LA, where, on our arrival, we were imme- 
 diately fecured in dark and difmal dungeons 
 to await the approach of inexorable and 
 fpeedy juftice. The Corregidor, an expe- 
 ditious Judge, came to the prifon on the 
 following day to take our examinations, and 
 my lucky ftars directed him to begin with 
 me. Struck with the appearance of ~my 
 youth, " Unhappy young man," faid he, 
 " you have begun the career of vice at 
 " a very early age indeed."" Sir," repli- 
 ed
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 99 
 
 ed I calmly, " it is not the cowl that cre- 
 " ates the monk. It is true, I wear the garb 
 " of a robber; but I affure you moft fo- 
 f * lemnly I do not belong to the gang." 
 " Where is the next ?" faid the Corrcgi- 
 dor, without deigning to hear my defence. 
 Turning to the other prifoners who were 
 confined in the dungeon with me, he en- 
 quired whether they were among the troop 
 who were apprehended in the wood by the 
 holy brethren ; and they, rightly conceiving 
 that it would be of no fervice to affert the 
 contrary, anfwered in the affirmative. On 
 receiving this anfwer, the Magistrate eiofed 
 his enquiries, and ordered the Notary who 
 accompanied him to write down our names, 
 afiuring us as he quitted the prifon, that we 
 ihould not languish long in confinement, 
 for that in two hours at moft we mould 
 learn our fate. Perceiving that this minif- 
 ter of juftice intended to pronounce me 
 guilty, I called upon him loudly to hear 
 me. " Take care, Sir, I befeech you, what 
 t( you do. Do not confound the innocent 
 *' with the guilty. So far from being one 
 *' of this gang of robbers, I declare to you 
 F 2 " that
 
 too TH.-E HISTORY OF 
 
 *' that I am myfelf the victim of their de- 
 *' predations ; they robbed me of my money 
 " and my mule; forcibly took oflfmy clothes; 
 xc and, itvfpite of all refiflance, obliged n-,eto 
 '* put on the drefs I now -wear." The Corre- 
 gidor feemed to pay very little attention to 
 this addrefs ; and in about an hour after- 
 ! wards the Regiller returned to the prifon. 
 <4 Where is VANILLO G ON z ALES ?" faid he 
 \vich gaiety as he entered the dungeon. 
 ** Here,** exclaimed I, imagining he had 
 brought an order for my difcharge : u What 
 ft news have you for him ?" ct Very good 
 u news," replied theRegifter, "for which I 
 ** (hall not charge him any thing, any more 
 * ( than for theexpences of his trial, which is 
 tf juft finiQi^d ; he is condemned," added this 
 forry jefter, '* to die upon the fcaffbld, and 
 " make retribution with his feet dancing in 
 *' the air." 
 
 THE tone of raillery and the eafy manner 
 in which the Regifter communicated this 
 Sentence, made n:e conjefture that it was 
 not true ; but the words he afterwards ufed 
 to the companions of my captivity left me 
 no longer in doubt of the certainty of my 
 fate : my afflidion knew no bounds ; I 
 
 vented
 
 V A N r L L O ' GO X Z A L E' S. 
 
 vented a torrent of tears, and made the 
 ^un2;eon echo to my cries and lamentations, 
 w Why," fa id I, acid re fling myfelf to the 
 robbers, " wicked as you are, why will you 
 *' not Live the life of a man you know to be" 
 " innocent ? It is yet in your power by fo- 
 ** femnly decl'aririg ro the Corregidor that I 
 cr \vas not one of the gang : What ad vantage 
 *' will you gain by fuiTering me to perith ?"" 
 I hoped by thcfe reproaches to afFed the feel- 
 ings of the villains 1 addrefled, and induce 
 them to bear vvitnefs of my innocence ; but, 
 inftead of doing me thisjuftice, they burft 
 into loud laughter, and ridiculed my fears. 
 THE Regifter, who was prefent during 
 this fcene, but without appearing to liRen 
 to what I faid, took me by the hand, 
 and leading me into a. large frail prefented 
 me to a Monk of the order of St. FRAN- 
 CIS, who I concluded had not come there to 
 do nothing: {t Here, holy Father," faid the 
 Regifter, "you may begin your work with 
 " this youth ; induce him to confefs, and 
 * " prepare his mind fo-r an appro .iching jour- 
 <c ney to the- other world." Throwing my- 
 felf at the feet of the Cordelier, I implored his 
 protection with great energy, and related to 
 F 3 him
 
 103 THE HISTORY GF 
 
 him with, fidelity every thing that had patted 
 between the robbers and myfelf ; but theRe- 
 gifter, though he heard this account, went 
 a'.vay \vithout uttering a fyllable, and left 
 me with the ConfefTbr, and the executioner 
 ftanding by his fide. 
 
 " MY friend," replied the Cordelier, 
 f< fuppofe for a moment the adventure you 
 "have related be true, it proves, to my 
 " mind, thar your manifold iniquities have 
 ** drawn upon you the wrath of Hea T 
 " ven ; for divine juftice frequently ufcs 
 " human tribunals as the inflrumenrs to PU- 
 *' nifh incorrigible fmners. Inflead therefore 
 44 of murmuring at the fentence which has 
 " condemned you to die, and which feems 
 ' to you unjuft, you ought to regard it as 
 " the mean by which Heaven is about to 
 " chaftife your crimes. Let me perfuade 
 " you therefore to employ the few moments 
 " you have to live in fmcerely confefling 
 " your fins and imploring the forgivenefs of 
 "an offended Deity." 
 
 THE eloquence of the Cordelier, great as 
 it was, did not induce me quietly to re- 
 fign myfelf to the life to come, notwithftand- 
 
 ing
 
 VANILLO GONZALJtS. icj 
 
 ing the holy Father fpared no pains to pro- 
 cure me a happy exit, and exhorted me in 
 the moft pathetic and confolatory manner, 
 mixing with the tears which the idea of fuf- 
 fering drew from me, thole which he (lied 
 from the intereft he took in my heavenly 
 welfare ; but he perfifted fo (leadily, and ex- 
 erted himfelf infuch a variety of ways, that he 
 at length accomplilhed his purpofe.and I felt 
 my mind fuddenly touched with fincere con- 
 trition for all the faults I had committed. My 
 fpirit groaned withanguifh when 1 recoliecled 
 the fumsl had purloined at MURCI A and SA- 
 LAMANCA, and, nature yielding by degrees 
 to the awefulnefs of my fituadon, I began to 
 think I had merited the ignominious punim- 
 ment I was about to endure, and became re- 
 figned to my miferable fate. But while I was 
 preparing to take my departure to the place of 
 public punifliment, where I was doomed to be 
 fufpended in the air, the door of the hall fud- 
 denly opened, and the Corregidor, accom- 
 panied by the Regifter and one of the Bohe- 
 mian prifoners, entered the room. " Father," 
 faid he to the Monk, " difcontinue your 
 *' exhortation to that young man; he hasfuf- 
 F 4 " fered
 
 104 T K E HISTORY O F 
 
 " fired (Vifficientry by the terrors you hare 
 " infpired. i'.vety individual of the gang in 
 u which he was taken has confefted that he 
 " was not a member of the confederation, 
 " although he wears its uniform. It is not 
 44 juflthat his life fhouFd be forfeited for be- 
 *' ing involuntarily among them ; a circum- 
 *' (lance which it was out of his power to 
 " prevent : bur, as the inhabitants of Avi- 
 <c LA have made a grand fcftival wkh an 
 " intention to memorife the executioi of 
 " fome of thefc malefactors, here is one of 
 " them whom I deliver into your hands to 
 " fati^fy their expectations." 
 
 TiiKCorregidorhaving ipoken thefc word's 
 left the room, and ordered me to follow him, 
 \vhich I moft cheerfully obeyed, and fin-ren- 
 dered my place to the Bohemian, who was one 
 of the two men that had rifled me of mypif- 
 toles. This victim to juftice placed himfelf 
 on his knees before the holy Father, and af- 
 ter being brought toa confeffionof hiscri'.ne?, 
 was led to the place of punifliment, while 
 the Corregidor conducled me inro a-n ad- 
 joining chamber, where perceiving that tire 
 fudden tranfuion from defpair to joy had af- 
 fected
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 105^ 
 
 fueled my fenfes, he ordered the attendants 
 to bring me forne wine, and when L was a 
 litrle recovered told- me I was free-. 
 
 THE outer doors of the prifon. \vere ac- 
 cordingly by his orders immediately opened, 
 and I regained' my liberty, but not without 
 the lofs of my money, my clothes,., and my 
 mule, which had paffed from the poileffion 
 of the robbers into the hands of the officer- 
 [lice. 
 
 F 5 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE NINTH. 
 
 The Conjblatlon which VANILLO received on 
 being releafed from Prifon, and the happier 
 
 . Situation in. which he found hitnfelf on his 
 Arrival at MADRID. 
 
 TH E oddity of my drefs expofed me 
 to the derifion of the populace as I 
 paired along the ftreet ; but my mind was 
 too deeply imprefied by ideas of my happy 
 efcape from the clutches of the Bohemians 
 aud the Corregidor, to be fenfible of their 
 mockery. To return my thanks to the Al- 
 mighty for the deliverance he had voueh- 
 fafed to grant me, I entered a church, and, 
 retiring to an obfcure corner, kneeled down 
 to pray. A fenfe of the perils I had 
 efcaped rendered me fervently devout; and, 
 promiiing Heaven to amend my courfe of 
 Jife, I beat my breaft, in the ardour of con- 
 trition, with pious energy. 
 
 I HAD no idea that any perfon obferved 
 me; but an old citizen of AVILA, who was 
 
 counting
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 107 
 
 counting his rofary at a little diftance from 
 me, received at length fo much infpiration 
 from my fervour that he determined to fpeak 
 to me, and, waiting at the portal of the 
 church, joined company with me as I went 
 out. u Young man," faid he, te you feem 
 " to be a ftranger in this city; and if I may 
 " venture to judge by appearances, you are 
 f( not in a very happy fituation." At thefe 
 words, which drew from me a deep figh, I 
 caft a look of forrow on the old man, and, 
 being unable to anfvverhim, burft intoaflood 
 of tears. My affliction affedted him deeply, 
 and being anxious to learn the caufeof it 
 * f My child/' continued he, " you feem in 
 " great agitation ; let me know the occa- 
 " fion of it; do not be afraid of confiding 
 ts in me ; I love the feelings which ariie 
 " from a fenfe of virtue ; you appear to be 
 *' a good man ; and I am imerefted for 
 '* your happinefs." Revived by the ten- 
 dernefs of this addrefs, which feemed to of- 
 fer a refource to my mifery, " Sir,'* replied 
 I, " fince, without knowing who I am, you 
 u fo kindly intereft yourfelf in my fate, 
 * ( a fenfe of gratitude forbids me to conceal 
 F 6 any
 
 io8- THE HISTORY OF 
 
 f< any thing from you ; and when I (hall 
 *' have told you the (lory of my woes, you 
 *' will, I am fure, acknowledge that I have 
 <f reaibn to complain." 
 
 I ACCORDINGLY began to relate to him 
 thecaufe of ray diftrefs, by which he feenv 
 ed much affected; and when I had finiflied 
 my fbory he embraced me with great warmth-, 
 faying, with tears in his eyes, that he was fen* 
 llbly touched by the proof which Heaven had 
 made of my virtue. This charitable old ci- 
 tizen, perceiving that I had no afylum but 
 the poor-houfe, kindly carried me homewiili 
 him, gave me new clothes, kept me as his 
 inmate for eight days, and then, on finding 
 I wifhed to reach MADRID, fent me to tha-c 
 city by the muleteers with twenty pifloles 
 in my pocket, and a letter of recommenda^- 
 tion to a Banker of his acquaintance named 
 LEZCANO. This feafonable fuccour, for 
 which I did not fail to return my thanks to 
 Providence, afforded me great confolation ; 
 and the fight of the metropolis obliterated 
 all recollection of my late difafter with the 
 Bohemians. 
 
 MY
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. >op 
 
 Myfirfl care, on arriving at MADRID, was 
 to carry my recommendatory letter to th^ 
 Banker, who, after reading it with attention, 
 flic wed me every civility, and promifed to 
 promote my intereft by every means in h*s 
 power ; but I was difappointed that he nei- 
 -ther offered me a bed in his houfe nor 
 board at his table, which I acknowledge I 
 expected: happily, however, the generofity 
 of his friend had enabled me to fupport for 
 fome time the expences of the hotel, and I 
 hoped in a ihort time to meet with fome 
 uieful acquaintance. 
 
 A MONTH nearly elapfed, in vifitiag the 
 feveral parts of this beautiful city, and in 
 feeing all the curiofities it contains ; but 
 though I took great delight in thefe enter- 
 tainments v particularly in frequenting THE 
 PALACES, and in obferving . the different 
 noblemen who attended the royal levee, I 
 did not fuffer my curiofity to prevent me 
 from calling almoft daily on LEZCANO,that 
 he might keep me in remembrance; and he 
 always received me not only with great affa- 
 bility and politenefs, but continued to affure 
 me that he -would not negleft my interefls. 
 
 " Have
 
 no THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " Have patience a little longer,"faid he, "and 
 " I will place you in a fituation where you 
 " mall fvvim like a fifti in the water.'* Time 
 however pafled rapidly away, and my (lock 
 of piftoles was very nearly exhaufted ; but 
 inftead of yielding to defpair I inceffantly' 
 repeated thefe words of the Licentiate SA- 
 LABLANCA, " Take no thought of the mor- 
 " row" 1 had indeed received too many 
 inftances of the kindnefs of Providence 
 to dread the future ; and I experienced in 
 a fhort time that Providence had not aban- 
 doned me. 
 
 THE next vifit I paid to the Banker 
 " VANILLO," faid he, " you could not 
 " have come more opportunely. I was go- 
 " ing to fend information to you that I have 
 " at length found a fituation fuch as I pro- 
 " mifed you. To-morrow you will be ad- 
 " mitted into the fervice of DON HENRY of 
 " BOLOGNA, a perfect gentleman, middle 
 ft aged, extremely rich, and a Knight of the 
 " Order of ST. JAMES. He has, it is true, 
 " a tincture of the mifanthrope in his cha- 
 " rafter ; but his fentiments are in general 
 ff juft, and his manners affable. The good 
 
 " fenfe
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. in 
 
 " fenfe and fpirit you poflefs will fuit his 
 u temper exactly. He feldoni gives any 
 " entertainments, and only keeps one fer- 
 te vant, to whom he gives a hundred crowns 
 ff a-year, and fix rials a day for board wa- 
 " gcs. But, befide this, he is extremely ge- 
 " nerous. After a few years fervitude, he 
 " will reward your fidelity in a way which 
 " will make you very well contented with 
 his liberality." 
 
 I RENDERED fuitable acknowledgements 
 upon this occalion to LEZCANO, who intro- 
 duced me the enfuing morning to DON 
 HENRY. 
 
 THE Knight, who was about forty years of 
 age, of an open countenance, and a per- 
 fon finely made, poflefled a noble manfion, 
 of which he only occupied one apartment, 
 which was very elegantly furnimed. On 
 being introduced, he fixed his eyes upon me 
 with great attention, faying to my conduc- 
 tor, " The appearance of this youth agrees 
 " extremely well with the character you 
 *' gave me of him; but if it had not," added 
 he, " I mould not have helitated to receive 
 '* himimplicitly upon yourrecommendation. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE TENTH. 
 
 VANILLO gains the Friend/kip ^/DoN HEN- 
 
 RY, tvkojJx-ivs klm a fecret R-egiJhr- wine h tie 
 kept in bis 
 
 DON H E N R Y ofBoLOGXA, m V foil Ftll 
 mailer, devoted the morning to ftu- 
 dy, and went at noon into the city to din- 
 ner, from whence he leldom returned until 
 ten or eleven o'clock at night ; fothat my place 
 was very nearly a imecure ; for, as the brulh- 
 inp; of his clothes and keeping his.ftudy in 
 order were my fole employments, and all he 
 expected from me, I had of courfe the whole 
 afternoon tomyfelf, either to walk about, to 
 make acquaintances, or divert myfelf in any 
 other way. I took great care, however, to be 
 at home in the evening before he returned ; 
 anrl, as he always found me ready to wait on 
 him, he was extremely welLfatisfied with my 
 conduct. His actions indeed we re ex prefiive of 
 his content, for he condefcendcd toconverfe 
 with me in the mod familiar way, and as I 
 generally afforded him fome entertainment 
 
 by
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. irj 
 
 by the recital which he obliged me to make 
 of my obfervations during th-e courfe of ths 
 day, his familiarity improved by degrees into 
 a cordial friendfhip. 
 
 AMONG the books which generally en- 
 gaged hisattention, I obfervedalarge volume, 
 the leaves of which he turned over and over 
 every evening, and, after writing feveral 
 lines and effacing others in it, before he re- 
 tired to reft, locked it up until the fame hour 
 on the fucceeding evening. Feeling a great 
 defire to know what this book contained* 
 my curiofity became at lad fo eager, that 
 I ventured to aik DON HEN-RY what it was 
 that he fo regularly infpected, and affected 
 to preferve with fo much fecrecy and care. 
 
 FAR from being offended at the liberty 
 
 of this enquiry, he fmiled and replied, " I 
 
 " can eafily excufe the curiofity you feel to 
 
 " learn the contents of that myfterious vo- 
 
 " lumn, and I have no objection to- gratify 
 
 " it. It is a manufcript of my own \v.'d- 
 
 l< ting," continued he, " which, for my 
 
 " own private fatisfadion, I have for thefe 
 
 <c laft ten years taken the pains to com-
 
 1,4 THE HISTORY OK 
 
 IMMEDIATELY opening the book-cafe,and 
 reaching down the volume, he put it into 
 my hands. " There VAXILLO," continued 
 he, " in that volume you will difcover the 
 " catalogue of all my friends ; and, large as 
 " it is, it contains only their names and the 
 *' times w hen ouracquaintancecommenccd." 
 
 " OH Heavens!" exclaimed I, " isitpofli- 
 " ble, Sir, that you have the happinefs to 
 " poffefs fucli a number of friends ? But 
 " what is this that I perceive r" added I, on 
 opening the volume. " All tliefe names are 
 " erafed and obliterated. What is the 
 t{ meaning of this ?" 
 
 " I WILL explain its meaning to you," 
 replied my patron. " Your furprize is juft. 
 fi Know then, that I inferted all thofe names 
 " at the times when I thought myfelf belov- 
 <c ed by the perfons to whom they belong, 
 " and effaced them the moment I found 
 " myfelf deceived.'* 
 
 " Is it credible," faid I, " that you can 
 tc have been deceived, fo frequently ? The 
 fe proofs you required of their attachment 
 " were probably too fevere." 
 
 " NOT
 
 VAN1LLO GONZALES. 115 
 
 *' NOT at all," replied DON HENRY. 
 '" All thefe falfe friends unmaiked them- 
 " felves in the courfe of our acquaintance. 
 <( One, after having dazzled me by the 
 " warm eft profeflions of affection, eonvin- 
 " ced me foon afterwards that he, only pof- 
 " felled the exterior appearances.of friend- 
 " [hip, and that inwardly his mind was in- 
 4< capable of feeling fo refined a fentiment. 
 * 4 Another I difcovered fought my friend- 
 " fhip only with a view to flrengthen his 
 " intereft in obtaining a promotion he was 
 " then foliciting : a third endeavoured to 
 " rival me in the affection of my miftrefs ; 
 " and that man," faid he, pointing to a 
 name no longer legible, '" ufed every effort, 
 ** notwithftanding our intimacy, to feducc 
 <( the virtue of my fitter. In (hort, I no 
 " longer acknowledge among my friends 
 " all thofe whcfe names you obferve are now 
 " defaced, and which I originally enrolled 
 " upon the credit of their perfidious de- 
 " monflrations of friendfhip." 
 
 MY eyes ran with eager curiofity over 
 every page of this Regifter, and obferving 
 tint every name, except five or fix on the 
 
 iail
 
 n-6 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 kft page, were entirely obliterated, I fuLTta 
 my mailer, " In truth, Sir, the aftonifh- 
 " ment I felt at yoi;r having To many friends, 
 " is now mcrea-fed by perceiving you have 
 " Co few.'" 
 
 " IN rheeourfeof a few days," replied hey 
 " moft likely there will' not be one left : fur 
 ct thofe which ftill remain owe their diftinc- 
 '* don to the recency of our acquaintance* 
 " rather than to any proofs they have af- 
 " forded me of their fincerity." 
 
 " WHAT unpleafant reflections," faid I, 
 " take pofleflion of my mind on this fubjed t 
 " I am tempted to think that the world is in- 
 tl capable of affording a true friend/' 
 
 " No/*- replied DON HENRY, " true 
 u friends certainly exid, but I am afraid 
 fC they are rarely round ; and there are thou- 
 " lands of men who fondly fancy they have 
 " a large number, when in faft they have 
 " not, perhaps, one. L enrolled upon my 
 " Kegifter," continued he, c< ail my rela- 
 '* dons, coniidering them at lead as my fixed 
 " and undoubted friends; bur, you will per- 
 " haps fcarcely credit the fait, I have been 
 " obliged to crafc their names; for, of all my 
 
 " relations,
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 117 
 
 fl relations, my father alone continues his 
 ** attachment, notwithftanding all the mor- 
 ** tin* cation my mifconduct has given him." 
 THREE r four days after this converfa- 
 lion, my matter, on his return from the 
 city, laid to me, " VANILLO, bring me 
 xc the Regifter of Friendlhip ; I muft erafe 
 " two names from the record. I will dal'h 
 ""from my remembrance an Audi-tor of th-e 
 fi Council of Caftile, and a Knight of Al- 
 ** Cantara ; but before I proceed in this re- 
 " folution, I wifli to have you-r advice upon 
 " the fubject. Thefe two Gentlemen were, 
 11 the day before yefterday, in a mixed fo- 
 lt ciety, where a variety of calumnies were 
 " caft upon my characler. The Auditor 
 " filently liftened to the flander, without 
 " attempting to -contradict it, and the 
 41 Knight encouraged it by his applaufe 
 l( What is your opinion of fuch friends ?'* 
 11 I think, Sir," faid I, " that the name of 
 " the Auditor ought to be erafed, and that 
 *' of the Knight blotted from the Regifter." 
 11 I am of the fame opinion," faid Don 
 HENRY ; " and in expunging fuch names, 
 *' I fliall not be fufpected of doing it from 
 
 " notions
 
 nS THE HISTORY OF 
 
 *' notions of friendfhip too delicate and rc- 
 ** fined." " 1 have not the honour to 
 '** know,' 1 faid I, " the perfons whofe 
 *' names flill remain on the lift ; but I conjec- 
 *' ture, that fooner or later they alfo will be 
 <f expunged, fince in a fpace of four or five 
 ** hundred pages not one remains/*" You 
 " are miftaken," replied Don HENRY, 
 *' you have not examined the pages with 
 ** fnfficient care ; there are three names in 
 " the third page ftill uneffaced, and in all 
 " probability will ever be. The firft is 
 <f the name of an Old Gentleman whom I 
 <l have known for a period of thirty years ; 
 " I pafied the days of ftudy with him 
 " in my youth ; the one has no iecret which 
 " the other does not know ; his interefts 
 " are mine ; and we feel a mutual anxiety 
 *' for each other*s happinefs and concerns. 
 " I can command his purfe as if the firings 
 " were mine, and he has an equal controul 
 " over whatever I poffefs. In fhort, we 
 " are linked to each other by the clofeft 
 *' ties of friendmip, without the danger of 
 " diminifliing its force by our daily inter- 
 *' courfe. The fecond is the name of a 
 
 " German
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 119 
 
 *' German Officer, who attended me to the 
 * f field in an affair of honour, and who has 
 " more than once expofed his life to dan- 
 *' ger for my fake. The third is the name 
 *' of a noble-minded man to whom I have 
 *' long owed a large fum of money, without 
 " his having ever hinted at fccurity, or re- 
 *' quefted re-payment." 
 
 IN looking at the names of thefe friends 
 I perceived another that was not effaced ; 
 but my patron pointed out a mark at the 
 bottom of it which was fcarcely perceptible. 
 *' Permit me, Sir," faid I, " to enquire 
 " why this name is only half erafed ? there 
 " muft be fome fecret reafon for it. The 
 *' friendship of this man was perhaps equi- 
 *' vocal; and in the uncertainty you enter- 
 *' tained of his real fentiments, you was 
 " doubtful whether he ought to be in or out 
 "of this Regifter." No, no," replied 
 " Don HENRY, te I am completely fatis- 
 " fied with refpect to his character. He is 
 " an old Galician Licentiate, who left his 
 *' country at a very early age to feek his 
 t( fortunes at Madrid. I knew him at a 
 ** time when he fcarcely knew how to fub- 
 
 " fift.
 
 to THE HISTORY O F 
 
 ** fift. We were then intimate friends, and 
 u the pleafanteft moments of our lives were 
 " paflcd in each other's company. But of 
 ** late years he has been an active agent to 
 " the crown, and is at prefent in great 
 *' opulence. He avoids all thofe who knew 
 (f him before his profperity, and, in all 
 <c probability, we (hall never lee each other 
 44 again." 
 
 DEPLORABLE effect of worldly wealth ! 
 Philoiophers have well obfcrved, that if we 
 wiQi to preierve a friend, we ought conitant- 
 2y to pray to God that he may never become 
 rich.
 
 CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH. 
 
 VANILLO goes into the Service of another 
 Mafter ; and becomes a Page to the Duke of 
 OSSUXA. 
 
 I FORES AW to a moral certainty, that 
 the few names which flill remained ifi 
 xhe Regifter of Friendship would be obli- 
 terated : an event which took place in lefs 
 than a month. " The work is finished," 
 faid Don HENRY, as he drew the peri 
 acrofs the laft recorded name, " I will no 
 tf longer continue this Regifter. I only blot 
 " out one day what -I had written the day 
 " before. It is like the toil of the Danai- 
 *' des." - You are right, Sir,'*, faid I, 
 <l and I ihould now advife you to make the 
 <e fame trial with refpedt to Love, as you 
 c< have made refpefting Friendfliip, and fee 
 V whether you find your miftrcfles more 
 VOL, i, ft ** faithfol
 
 12* THE HISTORY OF 
 
 4i faithful than your friends."" Oh, hca- 
 ** vens," exclaimed he, burfling into a fit 
 of laughter, " I mould profit greatly by 
 cc the exchange. No, my friend, if you had 
 " had my experience of thefex, you would 
 " not have thought this proof necefTary." 
 " Good," replied I, laughing in my turn, 
 *' you imagine then that I am entirely ig- 
 " norant of the bafelefs foundation of fe- 
 te male friendfhip : alas ! young as I arfi, I 
 " know the fex but too well. The know- 
 " ledge, it is true, coft me a few piftoles^ 
 " but this is a fcience not to be acquired 
 " without expence." 
 
 DON HENRY feemed aflonifhed at my 
 obfervations. " How, VANILLO," inter- 
 rupted he, 4< you appear well informed for 
 * f your years. Pray tell me by what means 
 " you gained this extraordinary knowledge 
 e< of the fex." I accordingly related to 
 him the hiftory of my acquaintance with 
 BERNARDINA, which afforded him infinite 
 diverfion. But foon after, afluming a ferious 
 countenance, he ftrongly admoniihed me to 
 avoid with anxious care every tender at- 
 tachment. '! I have alfo," added he, 
 
 " made
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. #3 
 
 c < made facrifices upon the altar of Love, 
 e< and I have been a greater victim than 
 *' yourfelf ; but I am now fo much upon 
 " my guard, that I can gaze upon the moft 
 " dangerous beauties with impunity : a 
 ft proof that man need never become the 
 " flave of woman if he chufes to avoid it." 
 
 DON HENRY, although he was nowfatis- 
 fied that the men on whom he had beftowed 
 his friend fhip were incapable of returning it, 
 continued to mix in their company with the 
 lame teeming pleafiire as if' they had been 
 real friends ; he dining occafionally witk 
 them, and they more frequently dining or 
 tupping with him. 
 
 AMONG thole who mod frequently vifited 
 him was a gentleman named JOSEPH 
 QUIVILLO, a man of confiderable merit, 
 in the fervice of the Duke of OSSUNA: 
 Qt'ivi^LO feemed to take great pleafure 
 in converfing with me, which I indulged 
 the more willingly, as my mafter, far from 
 finding it difagreeable to him, would fre- 
 quently draw me into thefe difcourfes for 
 the entertainment of the company. 
 G 2,
 
 isj. T K E HI S TO R Y OF 
 
 ONE evening, among others, a number 
 of liitle Tallies efcaped me with which the 
 guefts were fo well pleafed, that they paid 
 nie the highefl compliments. Each of them 
 jefounckd my prai-fe, but particularly 
 QUIVILLO, who at length obferved, that 
 I ilio^ld prove a very valuable prefcnt to 
 jthe Duke of OSSUNA. " That nobleman," 
 -continued he, fl is fond of lively charac- 
 *' ters, and would be overjoyed to number 
 fl among his pages a young man of VA- 
 * f NILLO'S merit," Don HENRY, immedi- 
 ately addreffing himfelf to QUIVILLO, faid, 
 " Whatever affection I may feel for VA- 
 ** NILLO, I confent that you Qiall take him 
 (t from me, on condition of his being num- 
 41 bered among the pages of the Duke." 
 l That being the cafe," replied QUIVILLO, 
 *' only let him meet me to-morrow morn- 
 l< ing at the Duke's houfe, and I will un- 
 ' f dertake the reft." 
 
 ALTHOUGH I felt a great plcafure at 
 the profped of being a page to fo 
 great a man, I was fufficiently politic not 
 only to conceal my joy, but to affect fo 
 great an indifference upon the fubjedt, that 
 
 Don
 
 V A K 1 L L O G O N 2 A t E S. i *$ 
 
 Dbn HENRY alked me, if I had any objec- 
 tion ro the propofed promotion. I coldly 
 afcfvvered, that \ had not, but that my at- 
 tachment to* him would not permit me to 
 quit his fcrvice without regret. The 
 guefts univerfally applauded my anfwer, 
 iriui gave me credit for my honeli attach- 
 ment: ; and- my mailer, as well as his compa- 
 nions, was the dnpe of my affectation. 
 " VANMLLO," faid he, '* I fhould feel that 
 " 1 abufcd the fmcerity of your zeal, if I 
 " were to prevent you from entering into 
 " the fervice of the Duke ofOssuw.A, who, 
 (< I am fure, will foon enable you to make 
 *' a brilliant fortune." " I a;u not yet in 
 ** his ferviee, Sir," replied I ; " who can 
 ** tell ? perhaps I may not have the happi- 
 tf nefs topleafe him;" and, in fact, this was 
 the only danger of which I was apprehen- 
 five ; for, nonvithftanding my livelinefs and 
 fagacity, I doubted whether I mould be 
 found of fuiTicient ability to fill the ftatiori 
 they defigned for me. 
 
 THE- enfuing morning I wenr, by the 
 
 permifiion of Don HENRY, to the manjfion 
 
 c 3 of
 
 iz6 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 of the Duke, where I met QTIVILLO, who 
 had been waiting for me with all the im- 
 patience of a man eager to communicate 
 Agreeable news. " VANILLO," faid he, 
 *' you are upon the Duke's eftablilhment. 
 " From the dcfcription I have given to him 
 * f of your character, he has appointed you 
 **' one of his pages, and has authorifed 
 " me to provide you with the livery." Don 
 JOSEPH accordingly conducted me to the 
 Major-domo, who immediately fent for the 
 taylor to meafure me, and in two days I 
 was properly equipped to appear in the 
 prefence of my noble employer. 
 
 " My friend/' faid the Duke, on my 
 entering the room, tf do you think you will 
 " be able to difcharge the duties of a 
 page ? 
 
 " WHY not, my Lord?" replied I. " I 
 " have hirherto given fatisfaftion in the 
 c character of valet, and it does not feem 
 " to me that the orje is a more difficult of- 
 <c fice than the other." 
 
 " You are right,'* replied he, fmiling, 
 and turning to QUIVILLO. " I have a 
 
 14 good
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 127 
 
 u good opinion of this youth," added he ; 
 " I do not think he will prove the mod 
 " ftupid page in this houfe." 
 
 THREE or four Sicilian noblemen enter- 
 ing the room at this inftant, and prevent- 
 ing further converfation with the Duke, 
 I retired to join the number of my new 
 companions^ 
 
 G 4 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE TWELFTH. 
 
 1):e Duke tf/OssuNA ts appointed l^ics-roy of 
 Sicily ; he departs from Madrid to embark. 
 At the Port of Barcelona, from whence he 
 proceeds to Gtnoa, and from thence to 
 Naples. 
 
 THE Duke of OSSUNA had recently re- 
 turned from Flanders, where he had 
 rendered important fervices to the Stare, 
 The King had appointed him Gentleman 
 of the Chamber, and one of the four Mem- 
 bers of the Council for Portugal. But thefe 
 promotions were far from fatisfying his am- 
 bition. He fecretly fighed for the Govern- 
 ment of Sicily, which was on the point of 
 becoming vacant by theveturn of the Duke 
 of THAURISANO, the then governor; the 
 time of his appointment being nearly 
 expired. 
 
 THERE
 
 V A N I L.L O G O N Z A L E S. 129 
 
 THERE were two reafons which induced- 
 the Duke of OSSUNA to afpire to this 
 vice-royfhip ; the one was, that the ap- 
 pointment gave him a great opportunity of 
 carrying into execution his enterprizes 
 againft the Turks, and the other was a cer- 
 tainty of fucceeding to the Government of 
 Naples ; and his felicitations upon this fub u 
 ject were, at length, fuccefsful ; for the Duke, 
 of UZEDA, the favourite of PHILIP. THE 
 THIRD, being his friend, he- was ap* 
 .pointed,, in preference to all his rival can- 
 didates, to.this important poft, which he was 
 certainly better calculated to fill than any 
 other that could haw been felected. The 
 Duke, upon a remonftrance which he-made 
 to the Council of State, was enabled, by am 
 appropriation of a dated portion of the 
 revenues of the ifland, to keep a large fleet 
 continually ^equipped in the ports of Sicily 
 for the purpofe of annoying the Turkim 
 trade, and was entrufted with other very 
 extenfive powers for carrying his defigns. 
 into execution. 
 
 HAVING received his commifTion, and 
 
 made the proper preparations for his depar- 
 
 G 5
 
 4 50 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ture, he determined to proceed to Barce- 
 lona with Prince PHILIBERT of Savoy, who 
 had been lately appointed High Admiral 
 of Spain, and who had received orders to 
 convey him to Sicily ; but as the great 
 numbers of which their refpeilive fuites 
 iv ere compofed could not have been ac- 
 commodated on a road where there were 
 but few inns, not very plentifully fupplied 
 with provifions, the party was divided, and 
 while the Prince, the Duke, the Dutcheis, 
 Don JUAN TELLES their Ion, and 
 five-and-twenty domdlics, proceeded by 
 Und to Barcelona, the reft of the train, with 
 all the baggage, reached the neighbouring 
 per; of Allcant^ and there embarked to join 
 them. 
 
 I WAS among the number that was not 
 v.'ith the Duke. 
 
 GOING out of the gulph of Alicant, we 
 were clofely chaced and attacked by a Bar- 
 bary corfair, and I felt my portion of fear for 
 our fafety; for the enemy was greatly fupe- 
 nor to us in ilrength. Having made a vigor- 
 ous refinance for more than a quarter of an 
 hour, the corfair at lait boarded us, and 
 
 puc
 
 V A NIL EC GONZALES. 131 
 
 put us in chains. To men who were pro- 
 ceeding in a fort of triumph to Barcelona,, 
 with the faireft profpects of acquiring im- 
 tnenfe riches in Sicily, fuch a capture was 
 a fevere misfortune i it extinguifhed at 
 once in my mind all the gay and flattering 
 hopes I had for fome time fondly indulged* 
 BUT as the corfairs were proceeding with 
 their rich prize towards the Coaft of Bar- 
 bary, infulting our diftrefs, and deriding 
 the weaknefs of our oppofition,. they were,, 
 in the latitude of Carthagena, in their 
 turn, captured by Don ANTHONIO DE. 
 TERRACUSO, who was conducting ^ 
 fquadron of fix Spanifh frigates from Cadiz 
 to Barcelona, for the purpofe of conveying 
 the Prince and Vice-roy to Sicily. The 
 victorious TERRACUSO carried us, together 
 with two galleots rilled with flaves and 
 booty, which he had taken with the pirates,, 
 to the port of Barcelona, where, after con- 
 tinuing a few days, we reimbarked and 
 proceeded to Genoa, from whence Prince 
 PHI LI BERT departed to Turin, on a vifit to- 
 his father, the Duke of SAVOY, who was 
 waiting there in expectation of his arrival. 
 c 6 DURING
 
 V;2 THE HISTOIy OF 
 
 DURING our ftay at Genoa, the Genoefc 
 nobility, who pofleffbd eflates in the ifland 
 of Sicily, paid the higheft teftimonies of re- 
 fpefl to the Duke, He affo received prefents 
 to a very confiderable amount, not only 
 from the Senate, but from the merchants 
 who traded to the ifland. The Count de 
 LEMNOS, Vice-roy of Naples, alio dil- 
 patched two meflengers to requeft that the 
 Duke would take that city in his route, not 
 only to enjoy for a few days its charming 
 pleafures, but to afford him an opportunity 
 of confulting perfonally on the common in- 
 terefts of the two kingdoms. The Duke, 
 who really wifhed for this interview, im- 
 mediately accepted the invitation. We ac- 
 cordingly put to fea foon afterwards, and 
 coafting along the ecclefiaftical fhores. of 
 Italy, happily arrived in the port of 
 Naples. 
 
 THE Count de LEMNOS gave the Duke 
 and the Dutchefs, to whom he was related, a. 
 mod magnificent reception. An apartment 
 in the royal palace was prepared to receive 
 them, and every day prefented them with 
 new entertainments : there was a continued 
 
 fucceffion
 
 V A N I L #0 G O N Z A L E S. 133 
 
 fucccfiion of feafts, balls, and concerts, dur- 
 ing our rcfidence at Naples. The nobility 
 and gentry, feconding the inclination of 
 the Vice-roy, fpared neither time nor ex- 
 pence to certify to the Duke the fatisfac- 
 tian his prefence afforded them ; although 
 they might have recollected the rigorous 
 admi nitration of Don PEDRO GUION, 
 the Duke's grandfather, who was formerly 
 their Vice-roy. 
 
 ENGAGED, however, as the Duke ap- 
 peared to be in the pleafures which the 
 Neapolitans afforded him, he did not for- 
 get to hold many private conferences 
 with the Count, and to draw from him a 
 fund of information, which was extremely 
 ufeful. to him afterwards. At length we were 
 obliged to bid adieu to Naples ; and,, the 
 Sicilian navy being at that time employed in 
 conducting the Duke deTHAURisA.No, who 
 had embarked for Spain without wailing 
 the arrival of his fucceffor, we were con- 
 veyed to Palermo by a Neapolitan convoy. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 ( 134 > 
 
 CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH. 
 
 The Duke of OSSUNA arrives in Sicily : His 
 Entry into Palermo ; and the frjl Proceed' 
 ings of bis Adminijlration. 
 
 THE Duke on his arrival at Palermo,, 
 wiping to make his public entry 
 with lefs pomp than diligence, conti- 
 nued only three days incognito ; and the 
 cnfuing morning entered the great fea gate 
 of the city, mounted on a horfe finely ca- 
 parifoned, and furrounded by the principal 
 nobility and gentry. He was preceded 
 and followed by pages and ftafF-o-rficers, 
 who dazzled the fpectators by the brilliancy 
 of their rich and fuperb liveries,, which had 
 been provided at Genoa for this purpofe. 
 The Dutchefs followed in a magnificent 
 coach drawn by fix horfes, efcortcd by a 
 body of guards, and followed by a firing 
 
 of
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 1 3-5 
 
 f carriages and horfemen, which reached 
 from one end of the city to the other. 
 During the proceffion pieces of money were 
 thrown among the populace, and nothing 
 was feen for three days but public re- 
 joicing. 
 
 AT this period the moft uncontrolled 
 licentioufnefs reigned throughout Sicily. 
 Every perfon followed the dictates of incli- 
 nation alone, with no fear of puniihment 
 either from God or man. The magiftrates, 
 inftead of puniming the guilty, fo badly 
 difcharged their duties, that every fpecies 
 of outrage was committed with impunity, 
 and nothing was heard of but robbery and 
 murder ; which, according to the manners of 
 the country, was generally effected by fe- 
 cret aflaffinadon. 
 
 THE new Vice-roy, to flop the farther 
 progrefs of thefe diforders, and reftore 
 tranquility to civil fociety, iiTued a PRO- 
 CLAMATION, which was polled up at trie 
 corner of every ilreet, importing in fub- 
 flance, that his Catholic Majefty, informed 
 of the violences which prevailed throughout 
 the kingdom in contempt of ail law, was 
 
 anxious
 
 1-36 THE' HISTORY OF' 
 
 anxious to reftore peace and good govern* 
 ment ; that for this purpofe he had fup- 
 preffed the privilege of SANCTUARY to 
 offenders, who frequently availed them- 
 fdves thereof, though they had been guilty 
 of crimes that deferved death ; that in de^- 
 priving the churches of this privilege, he had 
 a right to expect that the Sicilian barons, 
 and other noblemen who had heretofore pro*- 
 tected malefactors, would ceafe any longer 
 to protect them, and efpecially refufe to 
 conceal them in their houfes, or fere en them 
 from the rigour of the laws;, and that his 
 faid Catholic Majefty had inverted Don 
 PEDRO GUION., third Duke of Ofiuna, ie- 
 cond Marquis of PennafieJ 3 feventh Count 
 of Urenna, Gentleman of the Chamber, 
 Knight of the Golden Fleece, Vice-roy 
 and Captain General of Sicily, with fpecial 
 powers to examine into and reform all mat- 
 ters, as well civil as criminal, and whether 
 adjudged or not adjudged under the two 
 former governments. I ought not to for- 
 get that by this edict it was alfo declared, 
 that all perfons who difcovcred to the Vice- 
 roy crimes committed in fecret, which 
 
 could
 
 VANTLLO GO NZ ALES. 137 
 
 could not be legally proved although the 
 authors of them were well known, might 
 be niT'ired that their difcoveries fhould not 
 be revealed, and that they fhould be amply- 
 rewarded, either from the forfeited pro- 
 perty of the convicts, or the coffers of the 
 King; but that, on the contrary, if any 
 perfon neglected to drfcover any offence 
 which he might know to have been com- 
 mitted, he fhould fnfFer the fevereft punifh- 
 ment ; and that informers who made known 
 the delinquency of magiftrates, whether 
 judges or governors of towns, (hoiild be- 
 doubly rewarded. The Duke alfo forbid 
 all perfons from carrying fhort daggers, 
 ftillettos, pocket piftols, or cutlaflfes ; and 
 the Proclamation concluded by exhorting 
 all perfons guilty of offences to furrender 
 themfelves pfifoners within a certain time, 
 and to merit by an open confeffion either 
 an entire pardon, or a partial remiffion of 
 the puniOiment inflicted by the laws ; or 
 oiherwife they were to be i proceeded 
 againO: with the utmoft rigour, and every 
 means taken to. apprehend their perfon . 
 
 THIS
 
 ij8 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 THIS Proclamation produced great con- 
 flcrnation in Palermo, as well as in the other 
 cities of the kingdom to which it was fent. 
 All perfons of wealth and virtue were well 
 pleafed with this fpirited meafure ; and cri- 
 minals, together with the nobles who gave 
 them protection, were the only perfons it af- 
 flicted. The Duke, who rightly judged that 
 the guilty would not quit their retreats to 
 furrender themfelves into the hands of juf- 
 tice, adopted fuch prompt and vigorous 
 meafures to detect and draw them from their 
 afylums, that in lefs than three months every 
 prifon in the iiland was filled. Juftly con- 
 ceiving that very ialutary effects might be 
 derived by fevere and rigorous examples, 
 during his firfl year he tried and beheaded 
 two noblemen for having concealed offen- 
 ders ; hanged feven robbers ; condemned 
 twelve others to the gallies ; and configned 
 a multitude of inferior offenders to other 
 punifhments. Thefe executions, which 
 were all performed at Palermo in one day, 
 where no execution of any kind had been 
 known for three or four years before, 
 fpread terror and conflernatiQn among the 
 
 other
 
 VANILLO GO NZ ALES. 139 
 
 other cities ; and the virtuous part of the 
 community, feeling their good effects, con- 
 fidered the Duke as an angel fent from, 
 heaven to reflore happinefs to Sicily. 
 
 THE Vice-roy, having given thefe proofs 
 of his activity and courage, immediately 
 departed from Palermo to make the circuit 
 of the kingdom, and to try thofe offenders 
 who had bean arreiled by his orders in 
 the feveral provinces. He proceeded firft 
 to the infant city of Mont Re al^ and from 
 thence to Cefalu, where, finding the caftle 
 totally defencelefs and almoft in ruins, he 
 put the Governor under an arreft : he alfo 
 fufpended the Governor of Catania from his 
 office ; and, it appearing that they had ne- 
 glected to apply to the preceding Vice-roy 
 for the neceflary military {lores, they were 
 difmiffed from their employments. The 
 Governor of Palli, however, experienced a. 
 very different treatment ; for, in reward for 
 the care and attention he had paid to the 
 duties of his ftation, his falary was conf?- 
 derably augmented. The principal object 
 of the Vice-roy was to put the maritime 
 towns into fucU a ftate of defence as might 
 
 enable
 
 r 4 o THE HISTORY OF 
 
 enable them to deter the Twks from mak- 
 ing a defcent on the ifland ; and according- 
 ly he ordered them all to be fortified.. 
 
 MESSINA, where he ordered a great num- 
 ber of prifoners to be executed, was a: place 
 to which he gave great attention, ami the 
 Sicilians perceiving the induftry with \vhicli 
 he caufed powder, ball, cannon, mu&cts, 
 and every other warlike inftrument to her 
 manufactured, rightly conjectured that he 
 had fecret projects of great importance in 
 contemplation. This conjecture was con- 
 firmed by his ordering a number of new 
 frigates and gallics to be immediately con* 
 ftiucted, and it was concluded that he in- 
 tended not only to render Sicily inacceffi- 
 bleto the TURKS, but that he meant even to 
 follow the enemy into their own ports, and' 
 make them feel the terror of the arms of 
 PHILIP THE THIRD. The Duke finidied 
 his circuit at SYRACUSE, and, after deliver- 
 ing the gaols of their malefactors, returned 
 to PALERMO, where he was received with 
 joyful acclamations, and every demonftra- 
 tion of grateful attachment.. The peaceable 
 inhabitants of Sicily had indeed great rea- 
 
 fon
 
 VANILLO G ON Z ALES. 141 
 
 Ton to be contented with his government, 
 for in lefs than fix months he had reduced 
 the number of daring and dangerous offen- 
 ders with which it abounded ; reftored the 
 tribunals of juftice to proper authority; and 
 given tranquillity and happinefs to the 
 people. 
 
 TflEDuke, having thus arranged the inter- 
 nal policy of the ftate, turned all his thoughts 
 to external operations againft THE TURKS, 
 \vho had infefted the coafts, and, as oppor- 
 tunity occurred, carried away the inhabi- 
 tants, after burning the adjacent villages, and 
 committing other daring outrages. He ac- 
 cordingly ordered Don OTTAVIO, of Arra- 
 gon, the commander of the Sicilian navy, to 
 .equip fix frigates and two gallies, and pro- 
 ,pofed to the Grand Duke of Tufcany to join 
 their forces. The Grand Duke replied, that 
 he mould fend a fquadron to fea at a certain 
 time with a view to attempt fome enterprize 
 againft Carmania; that the Duke of OSSUNA 
 had only to take his meafures accordingly, 
 fo that the joint forces might be ready at the 
 fame time toad in concert agamttthe com- 
 mon enemy. The Duke, pleafed with this 
 
 reply,
 
 U* THE HISTORY OF 
 
 reply, aftonimed a country which had long 
 indolently born the infults of the Turks, ra- 
 ther than take any meafures to oppofe them, 
 by the powerful armament he raifed. The 
 fleet, on board of which were many Sicilian 
 noblemen, was juft ready to fail under the 
 command of OTTAVIO, when information 
 arrived that the fleet of the Grand Duke had 
 quitted Leghorn. Each of the fquadrons, 
 as if jealous of the honour of firfl finding 
 and giving battle to the Turks, fleered in 
 different directions, and feparately ac'tui 
 with equal courage. The Tufcan admiral 
 laid fiege to the caftle of Agrimano, and 
 took it by florm, notwithstanding the 
 ftrength of its garrifon, and, after collect- 
 ing a confiderable booty, fet the place on 
 fire. On the other fide, Don OTTAVIO 
 furprifed twelve Turkifh gallics, and many 
 other veifels, in the port of Scio, and tox>k 
 them without refiflance. The victorious 
 Admiral,, on his return to Palermo, re- 
 ceived, by order of the Vice-roy, all ima- 
 ginable honour, and the Turkifh fpoils 
 were oftentatioufly difplayed to the eyes of 
 the aftonifhed Sicilians. The value of the 
 
 capture
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 143 
 
 capture was eftimated at fix hundred thou- 
 land crowns. 
 
 BUT the Sicilians were entertained with 
 a fpeclacle ftill more gratifying than all 
 the reft : they beheld, on the difembarka- 
 tion of the fhips, feven hundred Chriftians 
 who had been delivered from (la very, 
 and nearly three thoufand Mahometans 
 bound in chains. The Vice-roy divided 
 the captured property into four parts; 
 one of which he fent to the Court of Spain ; 
 distributed another among five of the 
 principal cities of Sicily ; gave a third 
 to the officers, foldiers, and failors of the 
 fquad-ron ; and the fourth, which was not 
 the Icaft, he kept himfelf. It is certain, 
 however, that he employed a great part of 
 the wealth he amafled in relieving the in- 
 digent, and in other good actions by which 
 he procured great popularity and applaufe. 
 
 BUT here, my friendly Reader, permit 
 me to paufe. I perceive that I am. begin- 
 ning to invade the province of THE HIS- 
 TORIAN. It will be conceived, perhaps, that 
 I intend to write all the tranfaclions of 
 Sicily during the government of OSSUNA, 
 
 whereas
 
 <44 THE HISTORY, Arc. 
 
 whereas it is my fole intention to relate to 
 you my own hiftory. Leaving, therefore, 
 -the exploits of this hero to abler pens than 
 mine, 1 will hereafter mention no circum- 
 ftance of his government in which I was 
 not myfelf concerned ; for I ought not to 
 forget, that it is by an account of my own 
 adventures that I expect to entertain you. 
 
 C H A P.
 
 CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH. 
 
 *J"be ufeful Fri'end'Kl:ich VANILLO mtwit'h, and 
 f.be forfuifous Cifcumflance which rendered kts 
 Services necefary to the Viceroy. 
 
 ALTHOUGH I had the honour to Ccrvc 
 his Excellency in the character of a 
 gentleman Page, I was not thereby render- 
 ed more rich. This poft, in the families of 
 great men, is not fo lucrative as that of ftew- 
 "ard, or makre d'hotel. It "is -true my brother 
 Pages and myfelf found excellent good 
 cheer ; we were extremely well kept ; but 
 we never touched a halfpenny. The 
 money of which the Viceroy ordered 
 charitable didributions to be made, did 
 not pafs through our hands, but was con- 
 figned to the care of higher orders in the 
 houfehold. A fituation fo unproductive 
 .frequently brought to my i-ecolle&ion my 
 lucrative ftation at the Deanery, and the 
 provifion I received from DON HENRY of 
 
 VOL. I. H BoiOGNA*
 
 Ti4.fi THE HI.STORY OF 
 
 BOLOGNA. A hundred crowns a year, and 
 fix rials a-day, appeared to me fo preferable 
 to the high and barren honour of attending 
 on a Viceroy, that I could not avoid com- 
 plaining of my condition toQuiviLLOjwho, 
 more happily fituated than I was, made his 
 way in the world with great rapidity, fmce 
 from the character of Gentleman to his Ex- 
 cellency he had already been promoted to a 
 Lieutenancy in the Guards. " I have no 
 ** doubt, DON JOSEPH," faid I, " that you 
 " intended to afford me great advantages 
 " when you introduced me to the fervice of 
 *' his Excellency, and I feel as much grati- 
 *' tude to you as if he had overwhelmed me 
 " with favours; but, between ourielves/is it 
 " not aftoni(hing, that iin.ce I have had the 
 *' honour to be his Page he has not once 
 " favoured me by any particular attention, 
 " notwithftanding you apprized him of my 
 *' talents, and the known fniendmip he en- 
 ^.tertainsforperfonsof lively converfation?" 
 41 1 AM not lefs furprized at this circum- 
 c< (lance than you are," replied QUIVILLO. 
 *' and have frequently thought of it even with 
 ** vexation i for you will eafily imagine, that 
 
 "my
 
 "VANILLO GON2ALES. t 4 ; 
 
 c * my mind cannot feel much content when 
 <c you are diffatisfied. As I "induced you to 
 " quit a comfortable and advantageous fitu- 
 41 ation, I am bound to attend to your inte- 
 il refts; and I allure you mod folemnly, that 
 " my mind is much oftener employed in 
 " contriving your promotion than my own. 
 <l As a proof of the truth of this afferdonj'* 
 continued QUIVILLO, " 1 have long medi- 
 c ' tated a fcheme, the fuccefs of which I 
 " think infallible, and from which you will 
 " derive important ad vantage. THOMAS, his 
 **' Excellency's old and confidential Valet, is 
 " my moft intimate and, I believe, fincere 
 {< friend ; for it was his imereft which pro- 
 *' cured me my late appointment. You are 
 ".not ignorant that this domeilic is the man 
 <( in whofe bofom the Duk-e repofes all the 
 *' fee rets of his heart, and by whom he is in 
 . * l fhort almoft entirely governed : do not 
 <c therefore omit any opportunity of gaining 
 " the good opinion of this man, whofe friend- 
 ** fliip may be extremely ufeful to you ; he 
 <c is capable of rendering you many fervicef; 
 *' with the Duke ; his bare word will fix you 
 '* firmly in the good opinion of his mafter, 
 H 2 " and
 
 i^S T H-E HISTORY OF 
 
 44 and afford you frequent opportunities of 
 " converting with him. This Icheme, which 
 " I have formed entirety for your benefit, (hall 
 **' foon b.e acco.nplifhed; and I think that, in 
 *' the ceuffe of eight days at fanheft, I Pnall 
 '"'hear -that you have obtained his sflec- 
 " tion-s." In mort, DON JOSEPH was To 
 certain of fuccefs, chat he only required one 
 anore converfation with THOMAS to effect 
 his purpofe. 
 
 THIS old and faithful fervant, who was a 
 man of approved merit, had not only been 
 born in the GIRON family, and fucceflrvely 
 icrved the two laft Dukes of OS*UNA, but 
 had been the companion of the prefent V.ic-e- 
 roy's infancy, whofe confidence Tie had gain- 
 ed by accommodating himfclf C<D kls -parti- 
 cular humours and inclinations, with which 
 indeed he was -better acquainted than any 
 other perfon exifting. 
 
 TKIS favoured domeflic piqued himfelf 
 ,on writing the 5panifh language with pecu- 
 liar elegance and corre&nefs, and I made my 
 court to Kirn, through the medium of his 
 ruling paflien, with fo much dexterity and 
 addrefs., that he began in a fliort time to ex- 
 hibit
 
 VA'NILLO GO^ZALES". 149 
 
 hihir towards me unequivocal Tymptoms of 
 efleem ami 'friendship. Authors in general 
 cannot be fo highly gratified asrby hearing 
 tiieir productions applauded ; but THOMAS 
 would, -I think, like iheDn>fns of HORACE, 
 have willingly forgiven* a debtor who had 
 liftened with the lead complacency to his 
 works. On the difccvery of this inRocen" 
 foible, fo common- to literary characters; 
 inceflantlj*. requefled of him to read -to me 
 pamculfar parts- of his various' works > for he 
 had not only completed the hittory of one of 
 the Duke's campaigns in FL-ANDERS* and a 
 panegj'ric of his^ooad uft while nefidentatithe 
 Court of the ArchduJse;- bar wus now com- 
 pofing -a Diary ofthe prefent-ViGeroy's tranf- 
 ajflions in Sicily ; and, although^his compo^- 
 (kions were far from being bad, his read- 
 ings were frequently fo tedious, that I fel- 
 dom found him-a--.very entertaining author, 
 and had frequently great difficulty in ren- 
 dering my patience equal to ^his vanity. I 
 always teftined, however, extreme plcafure 
 at what he read, and even imitated the deb- 
 tor of Drufus, by inclining my head in fuch 
 a manner as made me feem the more 
 H 3 anxious
 
 ISO THE HISTORY O & 
 
 anxious to hear. Delighted by the v 
 rent conftancy of my attention, heat leno-tb 
 feleded me for his confidential friend. " VA- 
 " NILLO," laid he one day to me, " You- 
 " mud have obierved that I have for fome 
 " time entertained a favour;!; 
 " you; but I will now cfpoufo your inte- 
 " refts, and condud the veflel of your for- 
 " tune into a fafe harbour. Confide the tafk 
 " of rendering you acceptable to his Ex- 
 " cellenry to my care, and be afiured that 
 *' I will feiz^ the eariieft opportunity to pro* 
 " cure your advancement/ 1 
 
 THIS declaration I carried with joyful 
 hiftc to DON JOSEPH, -who cocgrat^kced 
 me oa my fucceG. '* Ttank Heaven !** ex- 
 claimed b, " your affairs now begin to 
 .r a 3caore favourable afpcft. Your 
 .^'.ion will no longer tiifquiet my mind. 
 tf THOMAS has every thing in his own pow- 
 " er, and you may now entertain the higheft 
 64 hopes of fuccefs!" And QUIYILLO did 
 not congratulate me without rcaion on the 
 acquifition of this nev/ ^ieRdi, 
 tenvards convinced .. 
 wrong in relying or.
 
 V- A N 1 L L O GO N Z'A L : E S. i<t 
 
 ^tracked by a fevere fit of {he gent which 
 confined him to his chamber,, he Tent for 
 me, and faJd, " 1 promifed, VANiLt,o,-to- 
 ** embrace the firft opportunity to do you 
 " lervice, and one at prefent offers itfelf 
 " which I will nqt permit to. efcape : I 
 '* will inform you in what it confiils; Lit"- 
 " ten attentively to my difcourfe upon this 
 "TubjecV for your interefb are-- very- ma - 
 * 4 terialiy involved in it; The Viceroy .our 
 ** imfler, nGwkl^asd.mgiheMemifig, 1 
 " nefs of- his diipv>fition, tsnoraa enemy to- 
 *' Love; and although h^ aflTscts toiiye ia 
 ** ruch.a^y/ay &s to pretfera a 'uarof' 
 
 ** mSdeUty COTKE -DUTCJI^S, he i* rare'lf 
 l:outa fsvDiiJ'ire 1 c.r: . _ 'iic Bj.ro- 
 ** nefs of COKCA, who is only eighteen- 
 '* years of age,andis,wiihoutdoi-)bt > -ihe molt 
 *' ftriking beauty in SICILY., is, at prefentj:, 
 ** the objed of i. I- ier huiband,- 
 
 '* who is lately dead, and whofe leaft defecl: 
 " was -that of being fifty years of age, was fo 
 " extrernely^jealous,. violent, and capricious, 
 " that flie was not only immured from all 
 ** : the comforts of fociety, but frequently 
 " treated by him like the low eft Have. She 
 H 4 ' " refides
 
 I 5 * THE HTSTORV OP 
 
 " refides at prefent with her moiher, at whofe 
 '" home the Duke frequently vifits in order to 
 " enjoy the plcafure of feeing her ; but their 
 " interviews are conducted with fiich pro- 
 " found fecrecy and addrefs, that theDutcli- 
 " efs does not even fufpect (he has a rival. 
 " lam the Duke's confidential companion in 
 " thcfe nocturnal vifits, which it would not 
 " be convenient to him to make alone ; and, 
 ** as it will be impoflible for me to accom- 
 " pany him in my prefent filiation, I have 
 " chofen you as my fubftitute on thefe oc- 
 * c cafions. His Excellency is informed- of" 
 " my intention upon the fubjeft, and, upoa 
 " my undertaking to an-fwer for your fe- 
 " crecy, has confented tliat you mall fup- 
 " ply. nay place until the return of -health, 
 me again to difcharg,e this impor- 
 
 RETURNING unfeigned thanks to my be- 
 nefactor for the preference he had given me: 
 over fo. many other domeflics, who would 
 have been, pioud of. the honour of fo deli- 
 cate aa<employmem, Irequefted him to in- 
 form me of fuch particulars as might enable 
 me the better to execute m tafk to the fatiC
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 153 
 
 faction of my illuftrious employer; but he de- 
 fired me to go firft and prefent myfelf, in his 
 name, to his Excellency, and inform him that 
 I was ready, and anxious to receive his com- 
 mands, and then to return to him in order 
 to receive particular inftrudions for my con- 
 duct in this important embaify. 
 
 H 5 CHAP-
 
 .CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH. 
 
 jrtlcular Conversion V A N i L L o kd . 
 the Duke, and 7 t v//j n-hat Addrefs he afted- 
 
 to r:i/n. 
 
 UNWILLING to Icfc a moment upon- 
 fuch an occafion, and conceiving that 
 I mould meet with no unfavourable recep- 
 tion, I went immediately to his Excellency's 
 fludy, where he was alone, and, boldly open- 
 ing the door, entered the room. Nor was 
 I deceived in my conjectures upon this fub- 
 jeft, for the moment he perceived me - 
 ' Come forward, my friend VANiLLo,"faid 
 he with a fmiling countenance. " You are, 
 " I underftand, the perfon whom THOMAS 
 " has felected as his deputy ; and his good 
 " opinion is not only a fufficient teflimony 
 '* of your merit, but clear and unequivocal 
 ** evidence of the talents you poiiefs ; for I 
 " know that he is not eafily deceived in his 
 *' tftimation of character." 
 
 '* I CANN'Ct
 
 VANIL'LO G ON Z ALES. 155 
 
 fc I CANNOT flatter myfelf," replied I,. 
 f< that he might not have made a better 
 " choice; but it will be fome confolation to 
 " your Excellency to learn, that this ufeful 
 (< fervant will in all probability be in a fitu- 
 " ation to refmne his functions in the courfe 
 (f of a few days."' 
 
 " SHOULD he recover to-morrow, VA- 
 " NILLO," replied the Duke, " as he has 
 " once placed you in my confidence, you 
 " (hall continue to poffefs it. Befides, the-' 
 " poor fello'V begins to grow old and: 
 ** infirm, and is in svant of a coadjutor." 
 
 " PERMixme, my Lord," faid I, "to add" 
 "another reafon : a nobleman, burthened 
 " as you are with the weighty cares of go- 
 44 vernment, requires the affiftance of at 
 ** leaft two perfons to leflen your fatigues." 
 
 THE Viceroy, far from being offended 
 with my- freedom, replied with great good" 
 Humour, that he intended to find employ- 
 ment for both ofus ; and, in order to judge 
 of my talents, afked me what mafters : I 'had- 
 ferved. 
 
 ORATORS are fometimes lefs brilliant in 
 
 their fpecches irv proportion as they feel an 
 
 H 6 anxiety
 
 156 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 anxiety to excel ; but in the narration whkh; 
 thisqueflion obliged aietomake, Ifucceeded 
 fo happily that I afforded my noble auditor 
 complete- fatisfadlion by the ingenious re- 
 jrrefentation I gave him of. the Ceveral con- 
 dirions in life through which I had palled 
 
 "I AM peafectly. contented with you," 
 faid he, " you (hall accompany me this 
 "evening. Go, return to THOMAS, and' 
 '^tell him to have two Friars habits ready- 
 ** for the oceafion." 
 
 RLTURNIKG to the apartment of this fa- 
 vourite domeftic, I gave him fuch an ac- 
 count of my converfaiion with the Duke, 
 as convinced him that his Excellency- was 
 perfectly fatisfied with his choice. "The 
 bufmefs is- done," faid he. " His Excel- 
 *' lency has difcovered your abilities ; your 
 41 fortune is made ; and I rejoice with you 
 " moft heartily on the occafion ^ .but it will 
 " now be neceflary for me to inftruct you 
 "more particularly in the talk you have to 
 " perform. You will take care to be with 
 ** me this evening immediately after his Ex- 
 " cellency has fupped j he will.be here foon 
 'afterwards in order to difgoife hunfelf in 
 
 "the
 
 V A N* I L O G O N X A L E S. 157 
 
 ** the habit of a Friar ; for this is the con- 
 " cealment under which he ufually vifits the 
 " Baronefe. You muft alfo difguife yourfelf 
 ** in the fame manner, in order to efcape 
 " unobfer^ed from the palace ^ and muft 
 " be particularly careful to return before 
 " the break of day. Thefe are aJl the in- 
 " (Inactions I have to give you. You per- 
 *' ceive," continued he wkh a- fmile,. " that 
 *' nothing more is expected from you upon 
 u this occafion, than to act as the companion 
 " of a pious character." 
 
 I WAS not lefs punctual than the Duke in 
 returning at the appointed time to the apart- 
 ment of THOMAS,, where, without any cere- 
 mony, we each of us put on a Friar's habit,- 
 and being equipped in fuch a manner as to- 
 be eafily miftaken for Monks going their 
 nightly circuit ta confefs- the fick, we iffuecl- 
 from the garden of the palace through a pri- 
 vate door, of which my companion kept the 
 key, and he foon convinced me that he was 
 not unacquainted with the neareil way to the 
 widow's lioufe. The door was filently open- 
 ed to us, without any light, and every cir- 
 sumftancc of our reception was fo cautious 
 
 and
 
 ;}g THE HISTORY OF 
 
 and concealed, that I might have fancied 
 we were entering the manfion of a virgin, 
 \vho, wifhing to change her condition, had 
 admitted her lover without the penniffion of 
 the family ; but the Baronefs, although fhe 
 was naturally a coquet, and extremely vain 
 of the empire fhe had gained over the Vice- 
 roy's heart,\vas willing to conceal the intimacy 
 from the public eye, not indeed from any 
 anxiety to preferve her reputation ; but from 
 a fear of incurring the vengeance of the 
 Dutchefs. 
 
 P R E v i o u s to ou r d epartu re from th e palace, 
 THOMAS had given me a very high defcrip- 
 tion of the beauty of this adored charmer ; but 
 I found the original far fupcrior to the portrait" 
 be had drawn of it. My eyes never beheld a wo- 
 man of fuch tranfcendant beauty; but I muft 
 confefs the richncfs of her attire, as well as the 
 art with which fhe was decorated, contpired 
 \yitli the charms of nature to produce the plea- 
 iurel felt in admiring her. Brilliant, hovv*ver r 
 as both drefs and beauty had rendered this 
 earthly ftar,fhe was not theoflly object that at- 
 traded my attention ; for DONNA BLANCHE 
 SORJJA., her mother, although nearly thirty- 
 years .
 
 V A N I L L G O N Z A L E. S. 1.5 } 
 
 years of age,juftly difputed with her daughter 
 the palm of beauty, and divided my admira- 
 ti'on. BLANCHE was the widow of a Commit - 
 fioner of Royal accounts, and lived with her 
 daughter at PALERMO, in great credit and 
 refpedtability. 
 
 CONCEIVING it right to appear like a 
 younger brother accompanying his holy fa- 
 ther in fome charitable viiit, I remained 
 quite filent while we continued in the com- 
 pany of thefe ladies. But while I was me- 
 ditating how to play with propriety a fingle 
 character in thcfe nightly fcenes, I had un- 
 expectedly an opportunity of rcprefenting; a 
 double part. The lovely looking BLANCHT., 
 whole manners were infinitely more noble, 
 and whofe wit and vivacity were certainly not 
 inferior to thofe of SEGNIORA DAL FA, 
 while the Duke was engaged in clo.fe con- 
 verfation with her charming daughter, de- 
 fired me, under pretence of enjoying a con- 
 variation with me more uninterruptedly, to 
 walk whh her into another room, where 
 placing herfelf on a fofa, ihe dcfired me to 
 lie by her fide. Our converfation mud have 
 been highly ludierou?, if the lady had not 
 
 been
 
 B&>: THE HISTORY OF 
 
 been better acquainted with the Spanijb lan- 
 guage than I \vas with the Italian-, for we 
 ihould fcarcely have underftood each other's 
 meaning; but fortunately BLANCHE (poke 
 theCaftilian tongue tolerably wellj-and-com- 
 mencing by expreffions of ibrrow that THO- 
 MAS wa fo cruelly tormented with the gout, 
 difcovered as much- feeming feniibility for 
 his fufferings as if (lie had been the caufe of 
 them : then fuddenly changing both the tone 
 of her voice and the fubject of her conver- 
 fation, and addreffing me with a fprightly 
 air " My young friend," fa id (lie, '* per- 
 " mit me to be your confidante : tell me 
 " how many conqueits you have made at 
 "PALERMO.'* 
 
 " MADAM," replied I with great appear- 
 ance of modefty, " you llirely wi(h to laugh 
 lt at me. The ladies of SICILY have, I am 
 " fure, too refined a tafte to beftow a look 
 " upon a perfon fo undefcrving of, their 
 " attention." 
 
 " You ftiould entertain a more favour- 
 4< ableopinion ofyourfelf/'rejoinedBLANCHE. 
 " You enjoy the advantages of a good 
 " perfon, and your-merit is difcemible not- 
 
 *' withftanding
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. i c i 
 
 " withflandirrg your difguife.. Befides, you 
 '* are now of that happy age when men need 
 " only (hew thctnfelves to attract tneatten- 
 w tion of the fex. Perhaps, unconfcious of 
 " your power, you have already charmed 
 " the heart of fome amiable Sicilian, whofe 
 " bafhful modetly reftrainsher fi'om deelar- 
 * l ing her paffion.'* 
 
 *' WHY, if I could fbppofe this to be tire 
 " caie," replied I fmiling r " I (hould hum- 
 " bly hope the lady would pardon me, for 
 '* treating with ingratitude a happiaefs I was 
 *' ignorant of poffe fling." 
 
 44 OH, you will foon be made acquainted 
 "with it,** replied BLANCHE, " fhe will 
 ** break through reftraint, inform, you of 
 " your victory, and then it will remain with 
 * l yourfelf to take advantage of it.'* 
 
 BLANCHE pronounced thefe words in fuch 
 a foft tone of vo-ice > as convinced me that my 
 youth had made a ftrong impreffion on her 
 mind,, and that it only refted with me to per- 
 form the fame part with the mother, that 
 my mafler was performing with her dangle 
 ler. Inexperienced as I was, it was impofli- 
 bie to miiiakc her, and 1 felt an incUnation 
 
 ta
 
 >6z T H H I S T O R V, &c. 
 
 to purfuc the point ; but my courage failetl 
 me,, and the lady not chufing to go further 
 on the firft interview, the conclulion of the 
 icene was put oft' until another opporm*- 
 pity. 
 
 DURING' this rime the delightful moment: 
 of love, which his Excellency paiFed with his 
 young widow, rolled imperceptibly a 
 until the beams of Aurora began to twinkle 
 on the diflant horizon; when ,icoliect ing this 
 ip.oft important part ofm^dwty, I inltamiy an.- 
 nounccd the danger of approaching day, and 
 founded a retreat - The two lovers foon af- 
 terwards feparated, not without regret, al- 
 though they might have been very well con- 
 tented with the evening. 
 
 IN bidding adieu to BLANCHE I preffej 
 one of her fair hands with tranfport to my 
 lips, in order- to repair the affront my timi- 
 dity had given to her charms ; and filently 
 ifluing from the manfion of thefe lovely wi- 
 dows, we reached THE PALACE without be? 
 lag feca.
 
 \PTER THE SIXTEENTH, 
 
 b piffid tie enfubig Morn- 
 
 i tt&wn V A N i L L o a n d T H o M A s . The 
 
 ' VMS ffTccl by the 
 
 tick 
 
 'tint Sentence prct. j f j : Fo/- 
 
 VANILLO. 
 
 HAVING retired to the apartment of 
 THOMAS to unrobe, the Duke, went 
 immediately afterwards to his bed-chamber 
 to fleep ; and I alfo, although I had not fo 
 much occanon for repofc, fought mine with 
 the fame hiremion. 
 
 Ox the er.fuing day, my firfl: care was to 
 vilit my friend THOMAS, who, on feeing me, 
 difcovered great impatience to learn what had 
 paffe.d during our interview with the ladies 
 on the preceeding evening, and I gave hi rn^ 
 by his own d-eirre, a circumflanual account 
 of every thing. Being indeed by nature very 
 liftie given 'o refervc, feeling myfelf under 
 
 too
 
 iC 4 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 too many obligations to him to conceal any 
 thing from his knowledge, and urged by his- 
 particular anxiety to be- informed of the" 
 manner in which I was received by BLANCHE, 
 1 related to him not merely the converfarion- 
 that had patted between us, but expatiated 
 much more at large upon the fubjecb thaa I' 
 ihoufd have done,if 1 had been.acquainieil with* 
 the particular intereft he. bad in h ;.and, nor 
 finding iirtruih matter fufficienily fplendid 10 
 do honour to my merit, even added to my 
 narrations feveral fanciful decorations. 1" 
 was then ignorant that THOMAS was deeply- 
 enamoured with this lady. If will be eafily 
 conceived that under fuch circumftances my 
 new friend lifteaed. to my ftory with great 
 difpleafure. The ftrong terms indeed in. 
 which. Ldcfcribed BLANCHE'S tendernefs to- 
 wards me acted like deadly blows-upon the. 
 poor creatura's heart,; but I innocently at- 
 tributed the grimaces and contortions ha 
 exhibited during the recitaJ> to the pangs of 
 the gout ; rather thaai to what in.fcruth they 
 were, the pangs of jealoufy. Toavoiddifco- 
 very, however, he afle&ed^o feel the high* 
 eft delight and fatisfadion from thofe- cir- 
 cumftances
 
 V ANIL LO G ONZ ALES. 163 
 
 cumftances in my narrative by which he fuf- 
 fered in reality the keeneft pain. *' I con- 
 ^' gratulate you, VANILLO," faid he with a 
 tl forced fmile; " I give you joy on your 
 " having infpir-ed the heart of fo charming 
 c< a woman with love. BLANCHE, though 
 " fomewhat advanced in years, is ftill ex- 
 " tremely amiable, I am delighted to find 
 '** you pleafe ker. I exhort you to difmifs 
 "all timidity upon your next interview, 
 ** Women in general are not inclined to con- 
 *' denin a lover for haftily feizing an occa- 
 " fion to be happy." But the jealous lover, 
 while he was giving me this advice, well 
 knew that he was able to prevent me from 
 following it. 
 
 A FEW days afterwards I learned that he 
 was my rival; and when the Duke next vi- 
 fited his lovely Baronefs, THOMAS, although 
 his health was^fer from being reftored, chole 
 to be his Excellency's companion. 
 
 PERCEIVING the important miftake I had 
 committed, my mind foreboded every pofTi- 
 ble ill confequence. *' Miferable young 
 *' man," exclaimed I, " what have you 
 *' done ? What daemon, the enemy of your 
 
 " prosperity,
 
 *66 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 <f profperity, has thus, by one fatal error, 
 " funk you to perdition ? Think not th.-u 
 <c even a friend can pardon the crime of be- 
 ft ing beloved by his miftrefs. You muft 
 (( no longer expect \hc friendfhip of Tuo- 
 ** MAS, or fancy that he will continue 
 * c MECJENAS. Generous ientiment? may per- 
 tl haps prevent him from injuring you, but 
 *' they will never urge him to do you any fer- 
 " vice." 
 
 WHILE I reproached myfelf in this man- 
 ner for my youthful indifcretion, my rival, 
 although he obferved a profound filence re- 
 fpecting his recent interview with his adored 
 BLANCHE, and never afterwards mentioned 
 her name in my hearing, maintained, to all 
 outward appearance, the fame efteem and 
 friendship for me as before; for he not only 
 -always received me with great cordiality; but 
 profeffed, as ufual, the warmeft friendfliip; 
 and even promifed that Ifhould in his ftcadoc- 
 cafionally accompany his Excellency in cer- 
 tain nocturnal expeditions which he fre- 
 quently made, to learn the private fcnti- 
 ments of the inhabitants of PALERMO re- 
 fpecting his adminiftration of the govern- 
 ment ;
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 167 
 
 snent; for the Baronefs De COKCA was not 
 always the caufe of his nocturnal forties. 
 This practice, which no Viceroy had ever 
 before adopted, he performed by placing 
 himfelfin the ftreets under various difguifes, 
 fometimesasafoldier, at other times asafailor, 
 at other times as a beggar, and entering into 
 converfatlon with the populace, in which he 
 provoked them by every means in his power 
 -to exprefs their opinions, whether good or 
 bad, of the manner in which he concluded the 
 public affairs. Without enquiring whether 
 this conduct be blameable or praife-worthy, 
 it is fufficient for me to fay, that one night 
 when I accompanied the Duke, I fhould 
 have gladly reiigned the honour to my 
 friend THOMAS ; for, having joined a cluf- 
 ter of the lovveft order, who had aflembled 
 to entertain themfelves, the Duke thought 
 proper to cenfure a particular meafure of 
 hisownwhichhehad then recently enforced, 
 in order to hear what they would fay 
 on the fubject, when inftamly two or three 
 of them, who perhaps knew him, fell upon 
 us both and beat us about the head and fto- 
 mach as if we had been two feditious brawl- 
 ers
 
 <6I THE HISTORY O t 
 
 rs againft the (late ; and it was with the 
 greateft difficulty that we made our efcape. 
 Of fome of thefe adventures the Duke fre- 
 quently formed many entertaining (lories, 
 but I never heard him mention this, 
 . INDULGED however as I was in being per- 
 il ihted to accompany his Exce^ency on thefe 
 fecret and midnight expeditions, I was ne- 
 ver permitted to accompany him to his mif- 
 trefs's houfe ^ an office which his confi- 
 dant THOMAS, whom jealoufy feemed to 
 have cured completely of the gout, always 
 took fpccial care to execute in his own per- 
 fon. Havinghowevera much greater defvre to 
 preferve the friendfhip of the Valet =de : Cham- 
 bre than to increafe the good opinion of his 
 miftrefsjtke^xclufion gave me no uneafmefs ; 
 and attaching myfelf to him more than ever, 
 I was fo afliduous, that if I did not in fac\ ef- 
 face from his memory all ircollc<ftion of the 
 confidence I had Co foolimly repofed in him, I 
 found him at lead to feign forgetfulnefs of 
 it fo well, that he Itemed to increafe in 
 affeclion for me day after day; and at length 
 I fondly flattered myfelf, that, fatisfied with 
 having removed me from all opportunity 
 
 of
 
 V A N I L L O G O N 2 A L E S. 169 
 
 of feeing BLANCHE, he had nothing upon 
 his mind againft me. 
 
 WHILE I was contemplating my fecurity 
 on this fubject, a young citizen of PALER- 
 MO accofted me one day in the ftreet, fay- 
 ing, with a countenance of forrow, " I in- 
 " treat you, Sir, to pardon the liberty I take 
 " in fpeaking to you j but perceiving by 
 " your drefs that you are one of the Viceroy's 
 " pages, I wifh you to afford me, by a 
 ** quarter of an hour's converfation, an op- 
 *' portunity of communicating to you a mat- 
 " ter of great importance ; if you can feel a 
 *' difpofition to render a fervice to adeferv- 
 " ing man, you will do me the favour to 
 " follow me.'* Alluring him that he could 
 not apply to a perfon more difpofed than I 
 was to afford pleafure to others, he conduct- 
 ed me to a houfe of rather an elegant flruc- 
 ture, and introduced me into a chamber 
 where lay a bed-ridden old man. te Sir," 
 laid the youth, as we entered the room, 
 " there you behold an unfortunate father in 
 " a fituation that deferves your compaffion. 
 " Grief, which the treachery of a friend who 
 " bas robbed him of ten thoufand crowns, 
 
 VOL. i. i has
 
 170 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " has occafioned, is the caufe of his malady. 
 " We are both of us entirely ruined, unlels 
 *' \ve can make intereft with the Viceroy 10 
 " interfere in our behalf." 
 
 " You know very well," replied I, " that 
 " his Excellency iseafy ofaccefs ; that hers 
 " humane, affable, and extremely patient in 
 ** liftening to any complaints. Neverthe- 
 " lefs, although youhavenoneccffityforany 
 < recommendation to him, I fhall be happy 
 44 to afford you every good office in mypow- 
 '* er. I am, perhaps, the mod favoured 
 *' of his pages. Tell me therefore the 
 " particulars of this affair, and I will anfxve/ 
 " that his Excellency will do you complete 
 "juftice." 
 
 THE father and fon thanked me for my 
 kindnefs, and concluded their compliments 
 by promifing me a prefent of two hundred 
 piftoles. 
 
 " SOFTLY, gentlemen," faid I, " and 
 " permit me firft to inform you, that all the 
 " domeftics of the Viceroy are forbidden ta 
 " receive the fmallefl gratuity from perfons 
 " they may ferve, under the penalties of be- 
 " ing not only feverely punifhed, but im- 
 
 " mediately
 
 VANILLO GO NZ ALES. 471 
 
 " mediately driven from the palace in dif- 
 " grace." 
 
 " THIS is too rigorous a law," cried the 
 old man. " How then mall I (hew my gra- 
 * { titude ; for it is mortifying not to be able 
 " to acknowledge favours conferred, except 
 * f by vain expreiTions of the fentiments they 
 44 create." 
 
 " A SPANISH benefactor expects no other 
 '* reward," replied I haughtily. " Let us 
 (< quit this unnecelfary difcourfe, and re- 
 "* late to me the circumftances of the trea- 
 * c chery which has caufed your ruin." 
 
 THE old man began accordingly in the 
 following manner : 
 
 u MY name is G IAN NET i NO. I am the 
 f{ fon of aCounfellorat Law, who, after a la- 
 e * borious life patted in the practice of his 
 " profeffion, died rather poor than rich : a 
 <e circumftance which can only be attributed 
 tl to the exceflive difmtereftednefs and 
 " fcrupulous integrity of his conduct. Sub- 
 4< fequent to my father's deceafe, I had the 
 61 good fortune to marry a widow with a 
 " jointure of a thoufand crowns, and by this 
 '* union was enabled to live at PALERMO 
 i 2 " with
 
 *;* THE HISTORY OF 
 
 < with elegance and eafe. I have ftiii the 
 " reputation of being in good circum- 
 4f ftances, but I mall foon be clalfed among 
 " the moft miferable of its citizens ; and, if 
 <l I lofe the fuit which has been entered 
 *' againftme to-day, I (hall be truly wretched 
 4< indeed. The caufe of it is as follows : 
 f( About fix months ago CHARLES AZARI- 
 " NI, PETER ScANNATi,and JEROM AVEL- 
 " LiNo,threemerchants,allof themmyinti- 
 ' l mate friends,came to this houfe, accompa- 
 " nied by a public notary, and, bringing 
 ** with them the furr>of fix thoufand crowns 
 " in gold, informed me, that they had 
 " agreed t make me the depofitary of 
 " this money, which they intended to ex- 
 '* port whenever an advantageous opportu- 
 " nity happened. Delivering it into my 
 41 pofleflion, they defired me to give them 
 c< an undertaking in writing, that I would 
 " not deliver it, or any part of it, to any one 
 *' of them, except in the prefence of the 
 " other two; and I accordingly entered into 
 ({ this engagement by executing a document 
 <e which the notary prepared for this pur- 
 ." pofe. We carefully preferved the mo- 
 
 4< ney
 
 VAN1LLO GONZALES. 173 
 
 * l ney thus depofited for theparties concerned 
 " whenever its delivery mould be required. 
 u But a few nights ago JEROM AVELLIKO 
 '* knocked loudly atmydoor,and, on its being 
 '' opened, hailily entered my room in great 
 "agitation. * f Signior GIA-NNETINO," faid 
 <( he, ".if I break in upon the hours of 
 " repofe, you mud excufe the interruption 
 " from the importance of the bufmefs which 
 *-' occafions it. AZARINI, SCANNATI, and 
 ** myfelf, have learnt that a Genoefe veffel 
 '* richly laden isjuftarrivedatMEssiNA, from 
 ** which, if difpatch be ufed,we have an op- 
 <l portunity of deriving great ad vantage, and 
 " have therefore refolved to employ the tea 
 " thoufand crowns which are in your hands. 
 " Make hafte, if you pleafe, and deliver 
 " them to me ; my horfe is waiting at the 
 " door ; and I burn with impatience to 
 " reach MESSINA." *5Signior AVELLINO," 
 " faid I, " you feem to have forgot that 
 
 *' I cannot part with themunlefs" " Oh ! 
 
 " no, no," interrupted he, fC I very well re- 
 c ' collect that it is exprefted in the agree- 
 M ment, that you are not to deliver them 
 " unlefs the three parties be prefent ; but 
 
 I j (< AZARINI
 
 174 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " AZARINI and SCANNATI arc ill, and 
 " could not accompany me to yourhoufe ; 
 " they however abfolve you from that con- 
 " dition, and defire that you will deliver 
 " me the money immediately : every mo- 
 < ment is of conlequence: come, you have 
 "nothing to fear: you have long known 
 t- me : I have always maintained the cha- 
 <f rader of an honeft man, and I hope you 
 l< will not, by any unjuft fufpicion of my in- 
 c< cegrity,difturb the friendship which has fub- 
 " filled between us, and be the caufe of our 
 " lofmgtheprefentadvantageousopportunity. 
 " Do, do make hafte," continued he, "deliver 
 " me the money inftantly, or I am fearful I 
 " mall be too late at MESSINA." A fecret 
 " apprehenfion of danger, which Heaven, no 
 " doubt, infpired for my fafety,made me he- 
 " litate a long time; but AVELLINO, the 
 c< villain AVELLINO, fupplicated, preffed, 
 ft and tormented me in inch a way that my 
 ff refiftance at length failed, and I foolifhly 
 " delivered to him the depofit; with which 
 " he immediately difappeared." 
 
 THE old man, as he uttered thefe words, 
 recollecting his imprudence, burft.into a 
 
 flood
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z. A L E S> 175, 
 
 flood of tears. My heart m el led at his dif- 
 trefs. " Do not afflid yourfelf," faid I, en- 
 deavouring to confolc him; " his Excellen-- 
 " cy the Viceroy has much in his power.. 
 " AVELLINO will have great difficulty to= 
 " efcape his vengeance;" 
 
 '* /WILLING, alas!" faid tire Ton of the 
 old citizen, t is already at a great diftance;. 
 tf and what is more afflicting, no fooner 
 " were AZ.ARINI and SCANNATI informed 
 " of the trick their affociate had played, 
 " than they inftantly commenced a fuic 
 " againft my father for the money confided 
 " to his care. This caufe will be heard in.. 
 " the courfe of two days, and my poor fa- 
 " ther, in all probability, will be condemned 
 " to reftore ten thoufand crowns to the com.:- 
 '' plainants." 
 
 " THE caufe is not yetdecided, '"exclaim- 
 ed I; " and I have no doubt that the Vice- 
 *' roy, upon being informed of the fads and 
 " circumftances, which he fhall be this very 
 11 day, will chufe to try this caufe himfelf." 
 
 I MADE a faithful report of this cafe to his 
 
 Excellency, who, after great attention, faid to 
 
 me, fmiling, " I fhall give fuch a judgment 
 
 14 "in
 
 176 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 '* in this cafe as will make fome noife in the 
 " world." On the fucceeding day he fum- 
 moned the parties to appear before him ; 
 and when the plaintiffs had pleaded their 
 caufe, he addrefTed the defendant : <: Gi- 
 " ANNETINO," faid he, " what anfwer have 
 " you to make to this demand ?" " None, 
 " Sir," replied Gi ANNEXING, elevating his 
 ihoulders and reding his chin upon his bread. 
 4< He is right, Gentlemen," replied ths 
 Duke, addreffing himfelf to AZARINI and 
 SCANNATI ; ft he has no anf\ver to make 
 %< to your charge. He acknowledges all 
 -'* that you have faid, and is ready to pay 
 " you the ten thoufand crowns which were 
 " depofited in his hands ; but as he cannot, 
 <c by the terms of the agreement, deliver 
 " them unlefs the three parties be actually 
 " prefent, do you bring AVELLINO into 
 ** Court, and you fliall have the money." 
 
 THE numerous auditory which attended 
 this trial no fooner heard the judgment,, 
 than the Court refounded with peals of 
 applaule, and it became the fubjed of con- 
 verfation every \vhere throughout Italy. 
 
 GlANNETlNO
 
 VANILLO GONZALE5. 
 
 177 
 
 GIANNETINO and his fon, who thought 
 their ruin certain, overjoyed to find them- 
 felves delivered from their embarraflmenr, 
 gratefully invited me to dine with them. 
 Afterdinnertheyfpread upon the table the two 
 hundred piftoles which they had promifed to 
 give me, and which I had refufed to accept. 
 What a fight was this to me ! They preffed 
 me to accept of them, protefting that no 
 perfon whatever mould know it. Human 
 fortitude is extremely weak. They urged 
 my acceptance of them in fuch various ways, 
 and ufed fo many arguments on the fub- 
 jeft, that, at length, finding it impoffible to 
 refufe, I reconciled all difficulties, by put- 
 ting the purfe in which they were inclofed 
 into my pocket. Recollecting, however, 
 that the Duke was averfe to the fervants 
 of hishoule making a traffic of their favours, 
 I felt great uneafmefs. But I trufted that 
 this fmgle inftance of mifconduct would ne- 
 ver reach his ear, and I am perfuaded that 
 the twoGiANNETiNOs would never have di- 
 vulged the fecret, if his Excellency had not 
 fent for the father three days afterwards, and 
 alked him, in my hearing, whether he had 
 i 5 not
 
 178 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 not made me fome prefenr. The old man, 
 incapable of falfehood, and unwilling to dif- 
 cover the truth for fear of doing me an inju- 
 ry, was exceedingly embarrafled by the quef- 
 tion, while I felt the ground tremble under 
 my feet. " Conceal nothing from me," 
 faid the Duke with a fierce and menacing 
 afpect. " I command you, upon pain of my 
 '* difpleafure, to tell me what teftimony of 
 u gratitude VANILLO has received from 
 " your hands.** 
 
 THE citizen, well knowing that the Vice- 
 roy was a man before whom it was dan- 
 gerous to equivocate, acknowledged that he 
 had given me two hundred piftoles, adding, 
 by way of excufe for me, that they had been 
 forced upon me by himfelf and his fon. 
 
 " I do not blame you," replied the Duke, 
 " for having offered him the money ; but, 
 " knowing my delicacy and exprefs orders 
 " upon this fubject, he mould not have ta- 
 " ken it. It is an offence which I cannot 
 " forgive." Having expreffed himfelf to 
 this effect, he .turned towards me> and in- 
 quired what I had done with the money. 
 " It is," replied I, " in my chamber, in the 
 
 " fame
 
 VA.Nli.LOGO-NZA.LES. 17.9 
 
 fame ftate as when I received it."" Well, 
 " then," faid he, " fetch, it here immedi- 
 " ately." I obeyed, and when I returned 
 with my purfe, he delivered it to one of his 
 Gentlemen in waiting, faying, " Go and 
 "Miftribute thefe piftoles among the poor, 
 '* for they alone ought to benefit by the in- 
 " difcretion of GIANN-ETINO. But as for 
 " you, VAMLLO," continued he, "you may 
 <c retire whenever you pleafe ; you are no 
 " longer in my fervice ; and I forbid you 
 " for ever hereafter to enter the Palace 
 "gates." Throwing myfelf at the feet 
 of my offended matter, I endeavoured to 
 excite his companion. Ufelefs fervility ! 
 He darted a look of furious anger on me, 
 and walked away. 
 
 DROWNED in tears, I ran to the apartment 
 of THOMAS, and related to him the circum- 
 ftances of my difgrace.; and I mud do him 
 the juftice to fay,, that he not only feemcd 
 afBicled by my misfortune, but prornifed 
 me his endeavours to appeafe the anger of 
 the Viceroy, Certain it is, that no perfon 
 could have interpofed with greater probabi- 
 lity offuccefs, and peihaps I mould have 
 i 6 been
 
 i*a THE HfSTORV or 
 
 been reftored to favour if he had made the 
 attempt; but, more jealous than generous, 
 he felt a fecret pleafure in my expulfion, and 
 took good care that I mould derive no ad- 
 vantage from his interceffion, although he 
 pofitivelyaflured me that he had tifed ev^ry 
 effort to procure my pardon. <l I repre- 
 fented to his Excellency," faid he, " every 
 <c thing that fuggefted itfelf to me in your' 
 <<r favour. I fhewed as much anxiety for you 
 <f as if you had been my own fon. In fhort, 
 ** I neglected no means to re-eftablifh you 
 <c in his good opinion j but all my endea- 
 " vourswere fruitlefs : he is inexorable. He 
 ** even told me that he had been too indul- 
 * c gent in ordering only a fimple difmiffion 
 " from his fervice, for that your crime de- 
 " ferved a more rigorous chaftifement. 
 *' My dear VAN i LLO," added rhe perfidious 
 THOMAS, embracing me tenderly, " you" 1 
 * c cannot conceive the mortification I feel in 
 * f nothaving been able tomovehisExcellen- 
 * f cyupon this occafion, notwithftanding the 
 ** afcendancy whichlpoflefs overhismind." 
 And this artful old valet-de-chambre, the 
 better to infinuate that he was fpeaking fin- 
 
 cerely,
 
 VANILLO GON2ALES, jfj 
 
 eerely, and had always felt an affection for 
 me, offered me a purfe containing about 
 twenty piftoles, which I took without hefita- 
 tlofi, having loft every hope of being reftor- 
 ed to my ftation under the Viceroy. 
 
 PREVIOUS to my departure from the Pa- 
 lace, I went to bid adieu to QUIVELLO, who 
 was already acquainted with my difgrace. 
 " My friend VANiLLo,"faid he at adiftance, 
 the moment he faw me, " I know all. His 
 " Excellency, whom I have juft left, has 
 " himfelf related 19 me every thing that has 
 " pa(Ted. I have endeavoured in vain to per- 
 " fuadehim to forgive you. I could not even 
 *' prevail upon him to revoke the fentence 
 " he has pafied. I lament it mod fin- 
 " cerely !" 
 
 WE wept bitterly on taking leave of each 
 other. But I muft not forget that, to mode- 
 rate my affliction, he gave me at the fame 
 time from his Excellency, a mitigation of a 
 hundred piftoles, with which I returned from 
 the Palace more than half reconciled to the 
 adverfity of my fate. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 ( I** ) 
 
 CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH. 
 
 By what Accident and with what Dtfign VA- 
 KIL LO became an Apothecary, and the happy 
 Effeft which a quid pro quo produced on his 
 fortunes. 
 
 ON leaving the Palace of the Viceroy, 
 the firft perfon I met was the Ton of 
 GIANNETINO. " I was coming," laid he, 
 " to requeft of you to feek an afylum in my 
 " father's houfe ; juftice requires that we 
 " mould be fenfible to the misfortunes of a 
 " man who has ruined himfelf by his endea*- 
 " vours to render us fervice.'* 
 
 WITHOUT waiting for a fecond invita-- 
 tion, I fufFered the youth to conduct me to 
 his father's houfe, where I was received by 
 both the father and the fon with every tefiir 
 mony of gratitude and efteem. 
 
 I H AD lived almoft a fortnight with GIAM- 
 NETJNO, when the generous old man laid to 
 me, " My dear GONZALES, I confider you 
 " as my fecond fon, and am anxious to pro- 
 " cure you a permanent eftablimment in 
 
 " PALERMO.
 
 VANILLO G ON Z ALES. 183 
 
 <c PALERMO. There is in this city an old 
 tf Apothecary, who is not only my near re- 
 " lation, but, what is more important, my 
 " intimate friend ; and I have conceived the 
 lc idea of placing you under his care. Phar- 
 ft macy is a fcience of which you will foon 
 " acquire a complete knowledge, and you 
 " may then marry his only daughter Vio- 
 " LETTA, who will make you an excellent 
 " wife. She is certainly not the mod per- 
 " feet beauty; but me is fufficiently pleafing, 
 " and has the reputation of being the moft 
 " fenfible girl in PALERMO. Befides, (he 
 " will, at the death of her father, poflefs a 
 " good fortune. Con fid er of this propofal,'* 
 added he, " and if matrimony be not difa- 
 " greeable to you, and you have no objec- 
 " tion to the bufmefs of an Apothecary, I 
 <c will immediately make overtures to my 
 " friend in your favour." 
 
 REQUESTING GIANNETINO would allow 
 me four-and-twenty hours to reflecl: upon 
 this propofal, I carefully examined all its 
 advantages and difadvantages in the beft 
 manner I was able. The idea of making 
 juleps and decoctions fometimes difgufted 
 
 me.
 
 ill THE HIS TORT OF 
 
 me, but at others Pharmacy appeared to me* 
 to be far preferable toSurgety. ** The reafon 
 (f ofmydiflike to Surgery," faid I, "was the 
 *' neceffityl wasunderof bluntingallthefeel- 
 " ings oftheheart,inorderto perform its cruel 
 " operations; but that is not the cafe with an 
 " Apothecary ; he is under no neceffity of 
 " being cruel in making his falves and com- 
 " pounds. " Having examined the fubjeel 
 in every point of view, I at length determin- 
 ed to accede to GIANNETINO'S propofal. 
 This generous Sicilian, the moment he re- 
 ceived my anfwer, applied to the old Apo- 
 thecary, who made no objection to his fcheme, 
 and I was immediately received into his 
 houfe. 
 
 MY future father-in-law, whofe name was 
 ANDREW POTOSCHI, was a man profoundly 
 fkiiled in all the myfteries of his profeflion ; 
 an excellent chemift, and an accurate ob- 
 ferver of the phenomena of nature: he 
 had made many curious difcoveriesj and pof- 
 feffed fecrets in thefcience of Pharmacology 
 of extreme importance to the fairfex ; par- 
 ticularly a cofmetic of his awn invention, 
 which reftored a decayed ikin to its priftine 
 
 bloom ;
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 185 
 
 bloom; and a pomade which effectually dif- 
 pelled the wrinkles of old age. As he in- 
 tended torelinquifh his bufmefsin my favour 
 whenever I fhould efpoufe VIOLETTA, he 
 inftrufted me, with great diligence, in all the 
 myfleries of his art, and I foon learned tc* 
 compound drugs and adminifter clyfters 
 with great art and dexterity. 
 
 'POTOSCHI foon difcovered that I mould 
 make in a fhort time a fkilful Pharmacopo- 
 liffc ; and I muft fay that he fpared no pains 
 to teach me this profound art ; nor did I 
 neglect to profit by his fcientific inftruc- 
 
 tions. 
 
 I FANCY, in this place, that I hear the 
 jocofe reader fay, " Mafter VANILLO* you 
 " do not difclofe the whole truth. The real 
 " caufe of this zealous application to the bu- 
 " fmefs may however be eafily difcovered. 
 " Beauty was to be the reward, and it tm- 
 " pelled you to incluftrya" 
 
 I ACKNOWLEDGE it: the amiable Via- 
 I.ETTA appeared to me the richeft prize that 
 could be propofed to animate my labours in 
 the ftudy of Pharmacy. She was between 
 twenty-two and twenty-three years of age; 
 
 elegant
 
 i86 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 elegant in her perfon, accqmplimed in her 
 mind, and, what is very extraordinary in. 
 Sicily,, where women in general are boldly 
 coquetiih, extremely modeft and referved in 
 her manners. She had been educated, lince" 
 the death of her mother,, which happened 
 about ten years before, under the eye of an 
 otd Governefs who flill fuperintended her 
 conduct. But the terms on which I was intro- 
 dilced to the family afforded me the oppor- 
 tunity of converting with her whenever I 
 pleafed. Our behaviour however to each, 
 other never exceeded the bounds of diftant 
 refpect on my fide, and mod'eft timidity oa 
 hers; for, to fpeak the truth, I had too 
 much diffidence to afk the queftion, and me 
 had too much virtue to urge me to it. 
 
 THE merit of POTOSCHI was fo extenfive 
 that he was more reformed to than any other 
 Apothecary in PALERMO. Patients fent for 
 him from all parts ; but as it was impofli- 
 bk for him to attend.perfonally on them all, 
 he frequently fen* me in his (lead ; and I 
 was confidered in the families which I vihted 
 as his confidential affiftant. One day, while 
 I'QTOSCHI was abfentj a woman came into 
 
 the
 
 V A N I L L-0 G O N Z A L E S. 1 87 
 
 the mop and afked for the matter of the 
 houfe. " Madam," faid I, " he is gone into* 
 " the city ; but I am hisreprefentative ; and 
 " you may fafely entruftme with your com- 
 " mands." 
 
 *' iFthatbethe cafe, "replied me, "mymif- 
 " trefs the Baronefs DE CONCA defires the 
 " Doctor will call upon her this evening.'* 
 
 "VERY well," faid I, " you may depend 
 " upon it that he will not fail." 
 
 UPON which the girl dropped a low cur- 
 tefy, and without flaying to goffip a fingle 
 moment, ABIGAIL as flie was, lefc the 
 (hop. 
 
 THE Doclor, who had been to leave cer- 
 tain powders at the houfe of an old Judge, 
 who was to be married in two days to a 
 young lady of fifteen, returned home in a 
 few minutes afterwards. 
 
 <k SIR," faid I, " the Baronefs DE CON- 
 " c A defires your attendanceintheeveniiag." 
 
 POTOSCHL mailed at thefe words in a 
 way that feemed myfterious, and the terms 
 upon which-, we lived together were fo 
 familiar, that I did not hefitate a mo- 
 ment to afk him the reafon of his fmilingfo 
 
 fignificantly
 
 ifS THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fignificantly when the name of the Barorvefs 
 was memioned. 
 
 " MY dear fon-in-Iaw," faid he, for this 
 was my ufual appellation, " although you 
 " was one of the Viceroy's pages, I perceive 
 " you are ignorant that the Baronefs is his 
 " miftrefs. Take care/' continued he, " not 
 " to reveal this fecret. The fecrecy of an 
 " Apothecary, as well as that of a Surgeon, 
 " ought to be proof againft every tempta- 
 " tion; but between ourfelves, and for the 
 " fake of entertainment, there is no objec- 
 " tion to difclofe what we know." 
 
 To induce POTOSCHI to continue the con- 
 verfatioa, I affected an entire ignorance oir 
 the fubjecl:, and my future father-in-law- 
 went on thus: " I have knowathe Baronefs 
 " DE CONCA," faid he, u from her earlieft 
 <f infancy ,aswell as DONNA BLANCHE So RB A 
 ** her mother, and have attended them 
 " as their Apothecary for many years. It 
 " was I who furnifhed them with medicines- 
 " for the diforders of which their hufbands 
 (t died ; both of them rely upon me with. 
 cc implicit confidence;, and they have good 
 " reafon, for I afford both of them very ef- 
 
 " fentui
 
 ^VANILLO GONZALES. 189 
 
 tf feudal fervices. BLANCHE, who is by 
 " nature as black as a beetle, and covered 
 ** with pimples, poffeffes by art the com- 
 ** plexion of a cherub : thanks to the lo- 
 4t tion and pomade which I mall teach you 
 " to make! The labour of three hours at her 
 " toilet renders her perfon fo different in its 
 <{ appearance, that ihe is completely meta- 
 " morphofed. It is no wonder that Signior 
 " THOMAS, the Duke of OSSUNA'S fa- 
 " vourite, makes her his idol.*' 
 
 " It appears/' faid I, " that this lady is 
 *' under great obligations to you indeed." 
 
 " HERdaughter," replied he, " isnotun- 
 *' der lefs. The Baronefs, young as (he is, la- 
 *' bours under certain infirmities which 
 " oblige her to have a perpetual irTue in one 
 ** of her legs, and by my care it is kept fo 
 " clean as to fet the niceft fenfe of fmelling 
 *' completely at defiance. She alfo is equal- 
 " ly beholden to both my lotion and my 
 " pomade. In (hort, if the Baronefs has 
 " really charmed the Viceroy, (he is more 
 ** indebted to my art than to her own na- 
 ** ture fox her fuccefs," 
 
 THE
 
 *9<5 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 THE Doctor's difcourfe convinced me 
 that my friend THOMAS'S attachment was 
 not very enviable ; and while it reconciled 
 me to the indifcretion I had been guilty of 
 in difclofing my converfation, and extin- 
 guifhed in mybofom all defire of becoming 
 his rival, it filled my mind with malignant 
 joy. " If," faid I, ** I had concealed the par- 
 * ( ticulars of our nocturnal conference, I 
 w might, by the delufion ofvanity, have been 
 " at this moment defperately enamoured with 
 * l a black face under a maik of ointment, in- 
 " (lead of being, as at prefent, upon the 
 '* verge of matrimony with the charming 
 " VIOL ETTA, whofe beauty is not derived 
 " from her father's art." 
 
 THAT my deferts might enable me to gather 
 this faireft flowerinPALERMO,! worked night 
 and day in the (hop, and furprifed her father 
 by the rapid progrefs I made in a profeffion 
 v.'hich in reality has nothing to do with ma- 
 gic, however the barbarous and diabolical 
 names of the drugs and compounds may fa- 
 vour the idea. 
 
 I HAD already acquired the art of making 
 every fpecies of compofition, when two pre- 
 
 fcription?
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 191 
 
 'icriptions were fern in from DR. ARISCA- 
 uoR,a Navarrois Phyfician,\vho at that time 
 paffed for a fecond HIPPOCRATES in PA- 
 LERMO. There was not a Baron, a Count, 
 -or a Marquis, that would die contentedly 
 by any other hand. Thefe prefcriptions were 
 calculated to produce very oppofite effects ; 
 for the one of them v/a-s intended for a Coun- 
 fellor, who had acquired a deflu&ion of the 
 lungs by elaborate pleading; and the other 
 for aDi vine who had contracted a violent pleu- 
 rify by running too precipitately after church 
 preferment. -Having carefully mixed the 
 drugs and other articles, of which thefe re- 
 fpedtve medicines were ordered to be com- 
 pofed, I carried them to the houfes of the 
 two patients; but by a moll melancholy mif- 
 take, like a flupid fellow as I was, I acciden- 
 tally delivered the potion which was intend- 
 ed for THE ADVOCATE toTHEDiviNE; and 
 that which was intended for THE DIVINE 
 to THE ADVOCATE; and, ftill more unfortuv 
 nately, I did not recollecl: that I had made 
 this egregious blunder until the patients 
 had drained their refpeftive phials to the 
 iaft drop, 
 
 DEXTEROUS
 
 tpi THE HISTORY OF 
 
 DEXTEROUS as I may be at concealing 
 truth under a varnifh of falfehood, I could 
 not excufe this grofs and dangerous a<5t of 
 carelefsnefs even to mylelf ; and being cer- 
 tain that both thefe unfortunate men muft 
 foon unavoidably be, if they were not alrea- 
 dy, numbered among the dead, I returned 
 .home in the moft painful agitation, bitterly 
 lamenting the misfortune of their prefcrip- 
 tions having fallen into my hands. An old 
 and hackneyed practitioner would have con- 
 tinued calmly in the mop, without being 
 the leaft embarrafled by the miftake he had 
 made ; but I had not yet had fufficient ex- 
 perience in Pharmacy to indurate my heart. 
 
 I WAS fo perturbed by this dreadful event, 
 that POTOSCHI, obferving my chagrin, afked 
 me with great concern what was the matter 5 
 and, urged by the compunction I felt, 
 I candidly confeifed the crime into which my 
 negligence had betrayed me. Inftead how- 
 ever of expreffing forrow or commiferation 
 for this fatal difafter, he inftantly burft in- 
 to a fit of laughter, and told me that it was 
 cafy to be feen by the excefs of my affliction, 
 that I was yet a mere novice in the profef- 
 
 fion.
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 195 
 
 " iion. It is ridiculous, my dear child," 
 continued he, tc to feel fo fenfibly the com* 
 *' mon accidents of trade. You muft learn 
 <f not to take fuch misfortunes as thefe fo 
 * c much to heart. Are mankind, and efpe- 
 " dally the members of our profeffion, infaU 
 cf lible? Is it not a common faying, that 
 " fuch a one has blundered like an Apothecary ? 
 ct a faying which prefuppofes that we fre- 
 c< qnently make miftakes. Believe me truly," 
 added he, ft I have made many w'orfe mif- 
 <( takes in the conrfe of my life ; but 1 ne- 
 " ver thought it worth while to go to Rome 
 " to confels them." 
 
 ; * Bt'-r tell me SIG-NIOR POTOSCHI," faid 
 I, ;c you who know all the properties of 
 " the drugs, tell me whether you think, the 
 " two gentlemen I have caufed to take them 
 u be, in your opinion, alive or dead ?" 
 
 " I KNOW nothing about that," replied 
 POTOSCHI, ci I am not fo well acquainted 
 " with the properties of drugs as to be cer- 
 <c tainof the effects they may produce. But, at 
 * f all events, do not permit your f^ars to be- 
 ic tray your guilt ; we can boldly aflert that 
 ** we precifcly followed the direction of the 
 
 VOL. i. K " Phyfician
 
 194 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 *' Phyfician in making up the prefcriptions, 
 " and then, by concealing the change that 
 " has been made, if thefe patients mould 
 <c die, which I confefs is extremely proba- 
 " ble, DR. ARISCADOR will bear the whole 
 " blame; which indeed is but common juf- 
 " tice ; for if they mould miraculoufly live, 
 (< he will of courfe have all the honour." 
 
 WE refolved accordingly to place thefe 
 two victims to the account of the Phyfician, 
 whofe reputation, luckily for us, very much 
 favoured our defign. 
 
 THE enfuing day DR. ARISCADOR came 
 into the mop, with vifible emotion, to an- 
 nounce, as we conceived, the fudden death 
 of his unfortunate patients ; but en the con- 
 trary he brought us the moft agreeable news ! 
 
 " MY friends, 55 cried he, " I cannot con- 
 " tain my joy, or rather my tranfport ; 
 " the two laft prefcriptions I fent you ought 
 " to be confecrated in the temple of yEfcu- 
 <c lapius,as two grand fpecifics, for the f leu- 
 tf rify and a dffluEtion from the lungs. Can 
 you credit what I tell you ? Both the 
 " Lawyer and the Divine had no fooner 
 " taken their medicines than they were al- 
 
 "moft
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 195 
 
 " moft inftantly relieved. They flept pro- 
 " foundly the whole night, and found them- 
 ** felves, when they awoke this morning, 
 <( perfe&ly recovered. Oh unheard of pro- 
 <f digy ! The fame of thefe marvellous cures 
 <e already fpreads like wildfire through- 
 " out the city. What honours (hall I not 
 <c gain in having fo rapidly fubdued two fuch 
 " mortal difeafes? My dear friends," con- 
 " tinued he, " you ought alfo to rejoice 
 " in this new victory; for you have eontri- 
 " bnted towards h by the fidelity with 
 " which you prepared the medicines, and a 
 v portion of that glory which muft ihine 
 " with fo much hiftre upon me will be re- 
 4< fleded in fome degree upon yourfelves !" 
 THE Doctor was fo overjoyed at the idea 
 of his extraordinary fuccefs, that he could 
 not difcontinue his felf-congratulations upon 
 the occafion ; while we, who were in the fe- 
 cret, with difficulty refrained from laughing 
 in his face ; but the profound veneration 
 which Apothecaries owe to the more exalt- 
 ed characters of Phyficians, faved us at the 
 moment from the guilt of fuch irreverence. 
 
 K a CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH. 
 
 the tragical Accident which follanedtl is ludicrous. 
 Adventure , and the extreme Peril in 'which it. 
 involved both VANILLO and POTOSCHI. 
 
 THIS event, however, was foon after- 
 wards followed by another which did 
 not terminate fo happily. 
 
 THE Baronefs DzCoNCA, being fuddenly, 
 feized with a violent fit of .illneis, lent, as, 
 nfualjfor the celebrated POTOSCH i, who, not 
 being able to difcover the nature of her com- 
 plaint, called in DR. A RISC A DOR to heraf- 
 ilftance. The Phyikian, although he knew 
 as little of the caufe of her complaint as the 
 Apothecary, ventured to give a decided opi- 
 nion of it, and prefcribcd accordingly cer- 
 tain medicines which POTOSCHI carefully 
 prepared with his own hands, and gave them 
 to me to carry to the patient, whole appear- 
 ance, en entering her room, filled my mind 
 with apprchcnfions for her fafety ; but I 
 
 hoped
 
 VANILLO GO NZ ALES. <?; 
 
 hoped that thejudgment of a young Apothe- 
 cary might be lefs infallible than the prog- 
 noftics of an old Phyfician. 
 
 THE mother of the Baronefs was kneeling 
 at her bedfide in great agitation, and was fa 
 far from having an opportunity to recollect 
 me, that (he never once turned her eyes from 
 the objed of her attention. I am fure, on 
 my part, that if I had not known it was 
 BLANCHE, I mould never have difcoverc-1 
 her through the flovenly negligence of drds 
 in which (he appeared. Abandoned entire- 
 ly to the care which maternal tendernefs re- 
 quired her to take of her daughter, (he. had, 
 if I may be allowed the expreffion, let her 
 charms run fallow; and (hewed mod clear- 
 ly the want in which {he ftood of our po- 
 made. Approaching the patient, I adminif- 
 tered the medicine, and returned immediately 
 home, where we foon received information 
 that the patient having, almoft immediately 
 after the mixture was taken, fallen into a 
 deep fleep, awaked in a fhort time in fhrieks 
 of direful agony, and at length expired in 
 her mother's arms. 
 
 K 3 BOTH
 
 198 THE HISTORY O* 
 
 BOTH POTOSCHI and myfelf were much 
 afflicted by this event; not indeed at the lofs 
 of the patient, but at the nnplcafant confe- 
 quences that might poffibly refult from ic. 
 The public voice is always ready to decry 
 the profeffion, when a patient dies imme-> 
 diately upon the application of the medicine i 
 and we* were extremely apprehenilve for our 
 credit with the world. The firft arrow in- 
 deed is always aimed at the Phyfician, but 
 it is feldom that the Apothecary efcapes 
 unhurt. We fhould indeed have been hap- 
 py if the lofs of reputation had been all 
 which threatened us upon this occafion ; but 
 the tide of our misfortunes ran to a higher 
 mark, and on the enfuing day we were both 
 arrefted by order of the Viceroy, and con- 
 ducted tofeparate prifons, where we were in- 
 formed of the caufe of our arreft. 
 
 THE body of the Baronefs, it feems, had 
 been opened by order of the Viceroy, and it 
 clearly appeared that poifon had been the 
 caufe of her death. His Excellency, inform- 
 ed of this fad, and being anxious to difco- 
 ver the perpetrator of this horrid deed, had 
 thought it proper to fecure the perfons who 
 
 prepared
 
 VANlLLO GONZALES. 199 
 
 prepared and administered the potion. The 
 following day we were both examined. 
 However innocent a prifoner accufed of fo 
 diabolical a crime may be, the teflimony of 
 a clear confcience is fcarcely fufficient en- 
 tirely to quell the perturbations of his mind, 
 and enable him to appear in the prefence of 
 his Judge with tranquillity and indifference. 
 POTOSCHI, when under examination, proved 
 the truth of this obfervation ; for, inftead of 
 attefting my innocence while he was juftify- 
 ing his own, he allured the Court that he had 
 made up the prefcription with fidelity, but 
 that he could not anfwer for my having car- 
 ried the identical medicine to the patient. 
 It is true, that on my examination I return- 
 ed him the fame compliment, by affevera- 
 ting in the moft politive manner that I had 
 delivered the very fame medicine he had pre- 
 pared, but that I could not anfwer whether 
 he had ufed the drugs which the Phyfician 
 had prefcribed. Thus each of us endeavour- 
 ed to feek fafety by infinuating the other's 
 guilt. 
 
 THE Viceroy, who was very anxious to 
 
 develope the myflery of this affair, being dif- 
 
 K 4 fatisfied
 
 200 THE HISTORY OP 
 
 facisfied with our depofitions, and conceiving 
 that by taking an examination himfelf he 
 might, by the fubtlety of his queftions, draw 
 from us the fecret.he wifhed to know, came 
 to the prifon and ordered us to be brought 
 before him. Having never feen me iince 
 the day of my exile from the Palace, or even 
 heard what was become of me, his aftonifh- 
 menr when I appeared before him in the 
 Council Chamber is not to be exprefied. 
 
 " How ! is it you, VANILLO ?" he ex- 
 claimed. " Is it you, unhappy youth, "who 
 " have deprived the Baronefs of her life ?" 
 
 HE immediately ordered every perfon, 
 even the Apothecary himfelf, to retire from 
 the room , and when we were alone, he con- 
 tinued his difcourfe to me in thefe words : 
 *' You know the reafons which induce me to 
 " avenge the death of this lady ; and per- 
 <f haps are acquainted with the concealed 
 *' villain who has taken her life. Name 
 *' him inftantly, and a free pardon (liall be 
 " your reward." 
 
 I CALMLY replied, th.it if the Baronefc 
 had really been poifoned, fhe mi: ft 
 Uave been poifoned before I adminiftered
 
 VANILLO GON2ALES. -201 
 
 the medicine ; that I had not devoted my 
 time to the ftudy of Pharmacy for the pur- 
 pofe of poifoning people ; and that I was 
 totally ignorant of the caufe of her death." 
 " SINCE mercy will not induce you to re- 
 " veal this fecret," exclaimed the Viceroy, 
 " we will try whether feverity will not con- 
 " quer your filence." 
 
 ALARMED by this threat, and as if I had 
 been upon the point of receiving the tor- 
 ture, I threw myfelf at his knees. " Sire," 
 cried I in a flood of tears, " take pity on 
 " your unhappy Page. Can you, who are 
 " the protector of innocence-, condemn to 
 " cruel torments one who can give you no 
 " information ? If you were to cut me into 
 " pieces you would not be one ftep for- 
 " warder. Can I tell you what I do not 
 " know ?" 
 
 H A p p i L v for me I had a judge whofe pe- 
 netration was profound ; he fawthat I was not 
 guilty; and the converfation he afterwards 
 had with POTOSCHI convinced him, that al- 
 though the medicine we prepared might 
 have been the final caufe of her death, we 
 at leaft were not the poifoners : but, al- 
 K 5 though
 
 202 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 though he no longer threatened me with the 
 torture, he gave no orders for my enlarge- 
 ment; and I and the Apothecary were conti- 
 nued in prifon for the longer fpace of fifteen 
 days, at the end of which we were fet at 
 liberty. 
 
 RESUMING the bufmefs of the mop, our 
 attention was principally occupied by the la- 
 dies who reforted to this fountain of youth 
 and beauty, among whom BLANCHE was not 
 the leaft frequent ; for POTOSCHI continued 
 to adminifter to her his lotion and pomade in 
 great quantities. 
 
 THIS lady one day held a converfation 
 with him which muft not be filently pafied 
 over. u SIGN i OR POTOSCHI," faid me, 
 " you cannot conceive the mortification I 
 *' feel for the fufferings you endured on ac- 
 " count of my daughter's death. If the Vice- 
 " roy had followed my advice, you would 
 " have avoided the ignominy of fo odious 
 ** and unfounded an accufation. The Ba- 
 " ronefs, it is true, was poifoned ; but, what 
 " occafion had he to give himfelf fo much 
 " trouble to difcover the perpetrator of the 
 " crime ? He need only to have recollected 
 
 "the
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 203 
 
 " the young Circaffian, of whom he was 
 " once enamoured, and who died a violent 
 " death. Her murder was attributed to the 
 ** jealoufy of his wife, and he might have 
 " found at the fame fource the aflaflin of my 
 " daughter. The deed was perpetrated at 
 " the inftigation of the Dutchefs, by means 
 4< of a female domeftic, who left my fervice 
 <c three days afterwards. The Duke," con- 
 tinued BLANCHE, " is now fo completely 
 " convinced of this fact, that he has dropped 
 " all further enquiry, left he mould learn 
 <c more than he wifties to know." Certain 
 it is, that all inveftigation into this affair 
 funk very fuddenly to reft. 
 
 A MAN who is difcharged from prifon, al- 
 though completely purged of the crime he 
 was falfely accufed of, cannot avoid think- 
 ing that the world fquints at him with an 
 awkward eye. At leaft I imagined people 
 did fo- at me. The idea funk fo deeply into 
 my mind, that I could not live in PALERMO 
 with any pleafure. To complete my difguft, 
 it was only neceffary for me to lofe the af- 
 fection of VIOL ETTA, for whom I entertain- 
 ed a real regard -, and in a Ihort time I had 
 K 6 good
 
 204 THE HIS TOR Y, &e, 
 
 good reafon to be diilatisfied with her con- 
 duct. 
 
 A YOUNG officer of the Inquifitior, became 
 my rival, and, happily for me, rendered his 
 addrefles agreeable to VIOLETTA -; I fay 
 happily for me, for if flie had unfortunately 
 given me the preference, my rival, in re* 
 vengej might eafrly have procured me a 
 place in one of the dungeons of the Inquifi~ 
 tiori, where I might poffibly have remained 
 until this hour* 
 
 I SHEWED upon this occalion that I was 
 one of thofe pertinacious lovers who refolve 
 to furmount every obftacle. The moment I 
 difcovered that VIOLETTA was inclined to 
 facrifice me to. her new gallant^ I configned 
 her and all the drugs in her father's mop to 
 THE DEVIL ; and, without bidding adieu 
 to any perfon, I repaired to the Port ; where 
 finding a Genoefe veiTel ready to depart for 
 Leghorn, I took my paflage on board her, 
 and quitted PALERMO. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH. 
 
 VANILLO, on his Pajfage /o LEGHORN, gains 
 the Friendship of a young Gentleman who con- 
 dutts him to PISA. 1 "be. Union in 'which 
 they lived together, and the Caufe of their 
 Separation. 
 
 HAVING no particular reafon for going 
 to LEGHORN rather than to any other 
 place, but being unable, after the repeated 
 mortifications I had received, to refide .any 
 longer at PALERMO, my only object was a 
 change of fcene. During the voyage, I 
 formed an acquaintance with a young gen- 
 tleman from PISA, whofe name was FER- 
 RAIRI, and who was then returning home 
 from a vifit he had been making to his rela- 
 tions at MONTREAL, but particularly to an 
 aunt whofe wealth he expected to inherit. 
 
 As the honorary Page of a Viceroy might 
 fairly put himfelf upon an equality with a 
 private gentleman, I engaged in eafy and 
 familiar converfation with my new aflbciate, 
 
 who
 
 ao6 THEHIST6RYOP 
 
 who Toon convinced me that he poflefTed an 
 excellent underftanding. Mutually pleafed 
 with each other's manners, a warm attach- 
 ment immediately took place ; and, to ce- 
 ment our rifing friendfhip, we interchanged 
 afiurances of efteem and confidence, in 
 which it was impomble that he could be 
 more fincere on his part, than I was on mine. 
 Confcious, however, that gentlemen always 
 defpife perfons of low and vulgar extrac- 
 tion, it was not without reafon that I boldly 
 afTumed with FERRAIRI the character of a 
 man of family; for, had I acquainted him 
 with my real condition, he would probably 
 have difdained to converfe with me j but, 
 taking me for the defcendant of a noble 
 flock, he yielded without the lead reftraint 
 to the predilection he felt in my favour. 
 
 ON our arrival at LEGHORN, we found it 
 impoffible to quit each other's company. 
 ** We will not feparate," faid TERRAIHI; 
 " you mail go with me to PISA, where you 
 " mail continue as long as you pleafe :" and 
 he repeated the invitation with fuch prefling 
 importunity, that I found it impoflible to re-- 
 fufe his requeft. We accordingly proceeded 
 
 together
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 107 
 
 together toward PISA, where he adored me 
 I Ihould find a comfortable rcfidence, which 
 he would render as agreeable as poffible by 
 the variety of pleafures he propofed to pro- 
 cure ; and, to do him juftice, he took fo- 
 much pains to render my vifit pleafant and 
 fatisfactory, that I pafied a month at his 
 manfion with infinite delight. Fearful of 
 trefpaffing any longer on his time, I an- 
 nounced my intention to depart ; but, in- 
 ilead of fuffering me to leave him, he re- 
 proached me with impatience to abandon a 
 friend who, he hoped I was convinced, en- 
 tertained for me the mod unfeigned affection. 
 " Why /hould you quit me ?" faid he : 
 " You have frequently affured me that you 
 " are happy in my company ; I am equally 
 *' fo in yours ; and I pofiefs a fortune fuffi- 
 " ciently ample to maintain us both. Con- 
 " tinue therefore your abode in this houfe ^ 
 " and we will live together with fraternal 
 " fondnefs.'* 
 
 PENETRATED by thefe affectionate ex- 
 preffions, I determined, from feelings of 
 gratitude, to live entirely at his expence, 
 fmce he fa ardently requefted it. I was even 
 
 forced,
 
 toS THE. HIS TORY OF 
 
 forced, for the fake of quiet, to fuMer him to 
 clothe me from head to feet at his own cod. 
 In (hort, to accommodate myfelf to his dif- 
 pofuion, I had the complaifance to fubrnit to 
 all his- inclinations. The acquiiition ; of ,fo 
 firm a friend obliterated all recollection of 
 my misfortunes from my mind ; or rather, L 
 confidered, from the prefent fituation of my 
 .affairs,, my fortune made, although mature 
 .reflection, might have convinced me that a 
 . friendfhip fo warm and urgent is feldom of 
 long duration. 
 
 WHILE we were thus enjoying the plea- 
 fures of mutual friendihip, FERRAIRI be- 
 came deeply enamoured with a young hrty 
 of high birth, great beauty, and exempl.tpy 
 virtue, wl>d reiided in the neighbourhood : 
 and this paffion proved in the end fatal ro 
 our friendfhip. 
 
 THE lovely ENGRACIA, for that was the 
 name of the lady, had engaged his affections 
 in fo violent a degree, that all hi,s former 
 proteftations, though moft folemnly made, 
 of continuing in a ftate of celibacy, vanifhed 
 from his recollection ; and,. after paying his 
 addreffes tp'hw fo* a fhort tune, they were 
 
 married.
 
 VAN1LLO GONZALES. 209 
 
 married. This change of fituation, however, 
 was fo far from decreafing his attentions to 
 me, even from the mil moments of his mar- 
 riage, that, on the contrary, his affection, 
 ieemed to increafe, and he requeued his 
 wife to entertain the fame refpedt for me as 
 for himfelf. 
 
 " ENGRACIA," faid he to her in my p re- 
 fence, " GONZALES is my particular friend ; 
 " if I am dear to you, .(hew him, by the 
 " kinder! attention, that you are willing. 
 " to adopt the fame fentiments which I en- 
 {< tertain in his favour." 
 
 ENGRACIA, to pleafe her huiband, not 
 only promifed, but kept her word. She 
 omitted no occafion of faying .the handfotrt-* 
 eft things of me, and of giving me proofs of 
 her civility and attention. But ftill there ap- 
 peared to be fomething in her manners that 
 was not natural. Jealous of the confidence 
 her hufband repofed in me, ilie hated me fe j 
 cretly in her heart; and at length her Aver- 
 lion attained to fuch maturity that (he re- 
 folved, at all events, to drive me from 
 PISA. 
 
 THE
 
 ai-o THE HISTORY OF 
 
 THE fcheme me adopted to carry this re- 
 folution into effect is of too fingular a kind 
 to be omitted. 
 
 SIGNIOR GONZALES," faid fhe to me one 
 day when we were alone, " it is neccifary 
 f< that I mould confide to your good fenfe a 
 <f fecret in which you are materially intereft- 
 " ed and on which depends the future hap^ 
 *' pinefs of my life. I feel a growing incli- 
 " nation to love yon. It alarms me. I 
 ** have endeavoured in vain to conquer my 
 *' feelings. You fatally triumph over all 
 " the efforts which a fenfe of virtue and 
 " duty have induced me to make againft 
 *' them. It is from you alone that I can 
 '* hope for fafety. Fly inftantly from a 
 " houfe the tranquillity of which your pre- 
 " fence deftroys. I conjure you by the 
 et rights of hofpitality, and ftill more by the 
 c< obligationsofthatfriendfliip which you owe 
 ' to my hufband, fly from me. The avowal I 
 *' have made to you of my weaknefs com- 
 " mands you to quit PISA immediately ; for 
 " I am fure you have too much integrity to 
 " run any rifque of dilhonouring your 
 V friend." 
 
 DUPED
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. MI 
 
 DUPED by this artifice, I really fancied 
 that fhe was enamoured with my merit, and 
 that, to prevent the confequences of this too 
 tender paflion, fhe felt it her duty to requeft 
 me to retire. I fhould, however, if the af- 
 fection I felt for her hufband had not been as 
 iincere as it was ardent, moft probably have 
 followed the example of PARIS ; but,, in- 
 (lead of running away with my charming 
 hoftefs, I bid her an eternal adieu. 
 Efcaping unperceived from the houfe the en- 
 fuing morning, I left her to fabricate fuch a 
 (lory to FEURAIRI upon the fubjedl: of my 
 departure, as fhe mould think moft proper. 
 
 BUT I have fince been informed, that, in 
 order to afford him fome confolation, (he 
 told him that I had fallen in love with her ; 
 that I had declared to her my guilty paflion ; 
 and that, upon her refufing to comply with 
 my defires, and threatening to reveal the 
 matter to her hu(band, I had decamped in 
 the vexation of having made a fruitlefs at- 
 tempt upon her virtue. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH. 
 
 VANTLLO meets, three Miles from PISA, with 
 lu-o Genoefe tv.ko were going to FLORENCE. 
 He joins company -untb ibe/n, and is induced 
 by Citriofity to vlfil a celebrated Necromancer. 
 
 DIRECTING my. conrie towards FLO- 
 RENCE, mounted upon a fcurvy pack- 
 horfe, and extremely contented with my 
 perfon, when I reflected that women drove 
 me from their prefence, to avoid the danger 
 of loving me, I overtook, before I had pro- 
 ceeded three miles, two travellers much bet- 
 ter mounted than I was, with whom I en- 
 tered into converfation ; and being informed 
 that they were going to FLORENCE, I re- 
 quefled permiffiQii to accompany them ; to 
 which they acceded with the ufr.al expref- 
 fions of politenefs ; and we became, accord- 
 ingly, fellow-travellers on the road. 
 
 WE took up our abode for the nrght at 
 SAN MINIATO, at an inn extremely well 
 provided with every fpecies of accommoda- 
 tion ;
 
 VANILLO GO NZ ALES. zij, 
 
 lion ; .and the Landlord, who, having lived 
 for fometime at PARMA with a German Car- 
 dinal, was an excellent cook, providing us an 
 excellent fupper, we indulged ourfelves it^ 
 great gaiety and good humour during the 
 
 repaft v for, I was in fine fpirits, and ,my 
 
 ' : \ ' "' i ' 
 
 companions x)n their parts convinced . me 
 
 , , T , 
 
 that they were no enemies to mirth and 
 . * 
 
 pleafantry. They informed me that they 
 were Genoefe. 
 
 tf I AM a travelling Jeweller," faid one of 
 them, " and I have unfortunately a wife* 
 
 . 
 
 4i who giv.es me every reafpn to complain, 
 of hcrcondud:." 
 
 f{ I HAVE thehappinefs to be a batchelor," 
 faid the other ; tc but my father, who is ex-, 
 11 tremely old, extremely rich, and extreme-, 
 " ly avaricious, feems to have an objection 
 " to die; for he enjoys, notwithftanding his 
 "old age, iuch aftonifliing health, that. 
 
 ** when he leaves the world I mail have no, 
 
 , ; 
 
 " other occafion forliis money than to buy. 
 
 ** fpectacles and crutches." - 
 T 
 
 THE Landlord, who happenedrtobe pre- 
 fent during this converfation, addrefTed the 
 Genoefe. <c If you are anxious, Gentlemen, 

 
 H THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " to know when the one will be releafed 
 Ct from bis wife* and the other from his father^ 
 41 there is, in the vicinity of this place, a 
 " learned Necromancer who will inform 
 you." 
 
 ON our burfting into a fit of laughter at 
 this idea, the Landlord aflumed a very feri- 
 rious countenance, and gravely aflured us 
 that the magician he fpoke of was a very 
 profound cabalift, and he pledged himfelf to 
 name more than twenty Gentlemen who had 
 confulted him, and experienced the truth of 
 his extraordinary predictions. " For ex- 
 " ample," faid he : " Only fix months ago, 
 " an old Merchant, who had a young wife 
 " whom he thought barren, confulted this 
 " able man, whether he was doomed to die 
 '* without children ; the Necromancer affur- 
 '* ed him that his wife would be brought to 
 " bed within the year ; and, about eight 
 " days ago, (he actually produced him a 
 fon." 
 
 THIS ftory, the accomplifliment of which 
 was probably produced by fome young 
 friend to the old Gentleman, afforded us 
 great diversion. One of the Genoefe, 
 
 however,
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. tij 
 
 however, who was fond of the marvellous, 
 and very defirous to converfe with the Ca- 
 balift, afked the Landlord the place of his 
 refidence. 
 
 " SIR," replied the Landlord, " he re- 
 cc fides in a cave about two miles from this 
 " houfe, near the mountains, on the road to 
 V CASTELLINA." 
 
 " GENTLEMEN," replied the Genoefe, 
 ' although I have little faith in necroman- 
 " cy, I acknowledge I mould feel fome plea- 
 44 fure in vifiting this magician." 
 
 " I HAVE no objection," faid the other ; 
 ** fuppofe we gratify our inclinations." 
 
 " AND I will bear you company," ex- 
 claimed Ij " for I would not have you con- 
 '* ceive that I have no curiofity to fee fo fin- 
 " gular a perfonage.'* 
 
 WE accrdingly refolved to take a guide 
 the enfuing morning to the cell of the magi- 
 cian ; a refolution we did not fail to execute. 
 After travelling for fome time through ma- 
 ny devious ways, we arrived at a high and 
 broken rock, at the foot of which we difco- 
 vered the mouth of a cavern, clofely fecured 
 by an enormous door, againft which we 
 
 knocked
 
 *,6 THE HI'S TO RY OK- v 
 
 knocked loudly and- demanded entrance ; 
 and, having waited for fometime In Glent ex- 
 pe<5tation, heard at length from within a fe* 
 pulchral kind of voice exclaim, " Who is 
 st there ?" On replying that we came to con- 
 fult THE ORACLE, the door immediately 
 flew open, and the firft objed that prefented 
 itfelf to our fight was the pertbn of this fa- 
 mous Necromancer. Figure to yourfelf a 
 man at lead fix feet high, drefled in a white 
 robe, upon which were painted, in red co- 
 lours, all the figris of the zodiac. His head 
 Xvas covered with a large cap turned up with 
 the fkin of a wolf, and peaked, by way of" 
 creft, with a tiger's head , a clutter of arti- 
 ficial ' fnakes and vipers crawled around his 
 ihoulders inftead of hair. In flrorc, liis 
 whole drefs was calculated to give him a very 
 terrifying afpecl. 
 
 THE two Genoefe iddrefled him, fa^nng, 
 tlnat -upon- the fame he had acquired as a 
 profound Cabalift, they had come a long dif- 
 tance to confult him upon affairs of high 
 importance to their happinefs. 
 
 THE Necromancer replied that they were 
 miiinform'ed of his charader. But the-gen- 
 
 tlemen,
 
 VAtflLLO GONZALEZ. u 7 
 
 llemen, by means of entreaties mixed with 
 encomiums upon the known extent of his 
 capacity, forced him at length to confefs, 
 that he was deeply verfed in the occult fci- 
 ence of Cabalifm. The Genoefe, however, 
 feemed to have gained very little advanta-ge 
 by this acknowledgment; for he told- them, 
 that he never exercifed his art to gratify cu- 
 riofity, but only to ferve thofe who had a 
 real occafion for it. They accordingly 
 protefted, without the lead hefitation, that 
 they were not drawn to his abode for the 
 fake of indulging any curiofity ; and as thig 
 aiturance precluded the magician .from alt 
 further objection to exercife his art, he imme- 
 diately began by insinuating the van: extent 
 -of his po\vers v and by [hewing them manyricli 
 jewels which, he faid, had been given to hint 
 by perfons to whom he had communicated 
 the events of futurity. 
 
 WHILE my companions and the magi- 
 cian were entertaining themfelves with each 
 other, I examined, with critical attention, 
 the infide of the cavern, which was crammed 
 v/ith objecls that could fcarcely -be. looked 
 at without alarm. In one corner was a lion 
 
 VOL. i. L with
 
 sifi THE HISTORY OF 
 
 with fiery eyes and a tremendous mouth ; in 
 another a furious tiger with diftended claws, 
 as if ready to tear his prey ; in another u 
 winged dragon eager to pounce upon its be- 
 holders. All theie figures,, though made of 
 oilers covered with painted paftcboards, were 
 fo well executed, that even the live animals 
 they represented could not have infpired 
 greater terror. As it was impoflible to look 
 on them without trembling, they contributed 
 toimpofeabelief on the mind, that the matter 
 of the cavern was a great magician ; and con- 
 firmed my companions, whofe wonder he had 
 excited by a recital of many fupernatural 
 occurrences, in the truth of that opinion ; 
 but I fufpended my judgment upon this oc- 
 cafion, in order that I might profit by ex- 
 perience. 
 
 THE Necromancer, furprized at feefng 
 me examine the furrounding objects with 
 fuch cool attention, enquired of the Genoefe 
 \vhy I feemed to avoid his converlation : 
 they replied, that I had no particular reafon 
 for it, but was only indulging the common 
 curiolity of a Spaniard. 
 
 IT
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 219 
 
 IT was with great chagrin that theNecio- 
 mancer heard I was a Spaniard. " 1 do 
 4 ' not like," faid he, " to perform my 
 ff operations before people of that na- 
 " tion ; they are for the greater part infidels 
 ** and free-thinkers, who treat us as impof- 
 " tors." 
 
 <e THERE is no rule without an excep- 
 <c tion," replied one of the Genoefe ; " we 
 <( will anfwer that this Gentleman, real- Spa- 
 '* niard as he is, is a great admirer of thofe 
 " fuperior beings \vho poifcfs the art of 
 tf forcing inferior agents to obey their com- 
 '* mands. There is no defpifer of your a:t 
 ** here, we adure you ; and you may boldly 
 tc proceed in his prefence to perform your 
 *' feats." 
 
 THE magician, no longer hefitating to 
 exhibit before me, called loudly on an agent, 
 \vhofe affiftance was neceflary to him. 
 A figure tlill more horrible than his own 
 immediately appeared in vicv/. Thefe two 
 monfters obliged us to retire to an inner ex- 
 cavation more gloomy than the firft, in the 
 middle o-f which we obferved a large globe 
 of glafs fixed upon a marble table. On ^p- 
 L i preaching
 
 *23 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 preaching the table \ve obferved all the let- 
 ters of the alphabet painted in large cha- 
 racters on virgin parchment round the 
 globe ; but what particularly attracted our 
 attention was a kind of dwarf figure all on 
 fire within fide, and which the magician 
 told us was the fubtle fpirit he conlultcd. 
 The eyes of this infernal agent who held his 
 right arm exiended, refembled two burning 
 coals. 
 
 THE Necromancer addrefiinghisdifcourfe 
 to this figure in a folemn and elevated tone of 
 voice; " URIEL, proud fpirit," faid he, 
 " whom I have fubdued by the power of my 
 " enchantments,! command you inftantly to 
 " fatisfy thefe Gentlemen, and fulfil their 
 ff defires. Are you difpofed to obey me 
 te with alacrity, or muft I employ the terrible 
 e< incantation which you cannot refift ?" 
 URIEL remained filent. But the enchanter, 
 who without doubt read the thoughts of the 
 daemon from the increafing fire of his eyes, 
 faid to the Genoefe, " Gentlemen, your 
 f< defires will be gratified ; the proud fpirit 
 " fubmits to the power of my conjuration. 
 ft You have only to fay one after another 
 
 " whac
 
 VANILJLO GONZALES, * 2 
 
 ** what you with to know, and he will in- 
 *' form you." 
 
 " I HAVE an old father, extremely rich, 
 *' and extremely avaricious," laid one of 
 the Genoefe, " and I am impatient to be- 
 " come his heir ; therefore command your 
 " fpiric to tell me how much longer my iu- 
 *' clrnation will be difappointed." 
 
 " THIS queftion fnall be .inftandy ai*- 
 " five'red," replied the Cabaiiil, \vho ini- 
 Bftediately taking up a large glove, inta 
 which he put his right hand, and pafiing it 
 through the top of the globe, touched 
 the figure, faying, < Corne, . q.uick, make 
 '* hafle." URIEL moved obedient to the 
 touch, and pointed the finger of his ex- 
 tended arm to one of the letters. The ma- 
 gician immediately pulled off the glove to 
 infcribe the letter upon a fheet of paper 
 which lay on the table, and again put- 
 ting it on retouched the Dwarf, who 
 with great docility turned about and point- 
 ed to another letter. The Enchanter re- 
 peated this operation ten or twelve times, 
 and then examining the letters written on 
 the paper, aflured the Genoefe that his fa- 
 L q ther
 
 232 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 thcr had only three months to live : a dif- 
 covery which afforded excciTive joy to this 
 affectionate Ton. The fame ceremony was 
 performed with refpect to the queition pro- 
 pounded by the other Genotle, who 
 tered himfeif that he fhould not leave the 
 cavern with a prediction lefs favourable 
 than that of his companion ; and in effect 
 he had the Guisfaaion to hear that his 
 was at that moment at the point of death. 
 Bur, unhappily for the Gentlemen, the pre- 
 dictions which afforded them ib much plea- 
 fare were the production of an irnpofture, 
 which I discovered in the following man- 
 ner : 
 
 - THE Magician having Succeeded in. his 
 operations rather by the credulity of the 
 Genoeie, than the prefcience of his Dwarf, 
 was filently enjoying, like a prieft of DJ- 
 pboij the pleafure of his deceit, when it 
 came into my head, 1 knew not how or 
 why, to take up the glove with which he 
 had touched his fpirir U-IJKL ; and, on exa- 
 mination, I found at the end r-f the tore fin- 
 ger, an ext:aord.in:;ry kt.v.i of fubftancc.
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 2rj 
 
 *' What is this!'* cried I; " is there not a 
 '* loadftone in the end of this ftrrger ?" 
 
 THE Magician, who had not feen me' 
 take up the glove, appeared greatly trou- 
 bled at this queftion, and turning, with con* 
 fofion and difmay to my companions iaid,- 
 " Gentlemen, was it without reafon that I 
 " fufpeaed this Spaniard?"" We will 
 *' find out the truth of this matter-,*' faid 
 they, and accordingly, taking up- the glove, 
 they found a loadftone in one of the finger 3- 
 The forrowthey felt on being diiappointedUv 
 the truth of their predictions^ did nDt prevent 
 them from buFlting into a rk of laughter en., 
 this difcovery; and the pretended Cabalift, 
 perceivinghimfelfdetected, changed his tone, 
 and candidly acknowledged the deceit. 
 The proud fpirit URTEL we difcovered was 
 nothing more than an artificial figure formed 
 of oziers, with an arm covered with a plate of 
 ileel, which, being attracted by the load- 
 ftone in the glove, was made to point to any 
 of the letters round the globe. But he Tup- 
 plicated us not to divulge the fecret, faying r 
 in order to induce us to comply with his 
 requeit, that we ought to confider him in 
 L 4 the
 
 2*4 TH HISTORY, &c, 
 
 t ; he light of a common juggler, or fortune- 
 teller, who did AO real injury to mankind ; 
 that akhaugh, in truth, he deceived the 
 credulous, he onjy predicted to them the. 
 rood agreeable events; that in general they 
 were rxjrfeftly futisiied -with his conduct ; 
 that, in (Lprr, ; his oraqles were fometirnes 
 accomphihed, wiiich fupported his reputa-' 
 tion.j and enabled him 10 live. Fromifing" 
 the impoftor to keep the fecret, we left hini- 
 in his cavern, extremely mortified that he- 
 could not include us in the catalogue of 
 his dupes; then taking the road toEMpoii v 
 we entertained ourfelves with pleafant ob- 
 fervations on the fpirit URIEL, and the fools 
 rely on fuch prophets, and arrived the foi~ 
 lowing day at .FLORENCE* 
 
 CHAP.
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY- FIRST. 
 
 1'be Arrival of VANILLO at Florence; tie 
 Employment that ?9as offered tv him ; and the 
 Service ~he rendered Don CHRISTOVAL. 
 
 ON our arrival at FLORENCE, we hired 
 lodgings at a celebrated hotel in the 
 vicinity of the royal palace. In a few 
 idays afterwards, my two companions left 
 me to return home. We feparated in the 
 ufual way, by mutual exprefiions of regret, 
 and by mutually forgetting each other in 
 ten minutes afterwards. 
 
 THE hotel was, in general, frequented by 
 men of fathion and confequence; but it was 
 alfo occafionally vilited by characters of a 
 different defcription. 
 
 ONE day, juftas the fervants were bring;- 
 ing in the dinner, a perfon handfomely 
 dreffed entered the room,, and took his feat 
 at the table. During the repaft, I obferved 
 that he frequently fixed his eyes very at- 
 L 5 tentiveiy
 
 225 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 tcntively upon me ; and at length, on look- 
 ing at him attentively in return,. I recol- 
 lected that he was one of the paflengers who 
 had faired with me from PALERMO to LEG- 
 HORN. " I believe, Sir," faid he, to me, 
 when the cloth was drawn, " you and I 
 *' have travelled together upon the Teas." I 
 told him that I recollected it well; and we 
 entered, by degrees, into a long and inti- 
 mate converfation. He informed me, that 
 his name was ROGER MATADORI, a native 
 of the village of ADERNO, in the valley of 
 DEMONA, at the foot of MOUNT GTBEL, in 
 SICILY ; that he pafled his time in the de- 
 lights which FLORENCE afforded, with a few 
 ielect friends of his own difpofuion ; and 
 that it would make him extremely happy if 
 1 would partake of the pleafures of their 
 fociety. His manners were mild, and his 
 countenance fo engagingly open, that I 
 thought 1 could not do better than to join 
 his company. He accordingly introduced 
 me to two young gentlemen of faihionable 
 appearance, who received me with open 
 arms, and invited me to all their parties of 
 plcafure. They introduced me to fame oi' 
 
 ihe
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 227 
 
 rhe bed houfcs in the city; induced me to 
 vifit the moft beautiful women of their ac- 
 quaintance ; and drained me of my piftolcs 
 by a variety of expenfive pleafures, withouC 
 giving me the leail reafon to think they in- 
 fended to empty my purfe; for in- all our' 
 parties each of us paid our equal' fhares : 
 but they had refources, and I had none ^ 
 and my mind became dejected in propor- 
 tion as my funds decreafed.. 
 
 MA-TADORI, having obferved the depref- 
 fion of my fpirits, faid to me .one day : 
 " SIGNIO-R GONZAEES, you feem to be un^ 
 " eafy, and I think I carr conjecture the* 
 tc caufe of it; you begin to want money." 
 
 " You have guefied right," replied I; 
 " and what is ftill worfe, there is no quar- 
 " ter of the world from whence' t can ex.- 
 " pcd: any.'" 
 
 " THE means, r> faid MATADORI, tf are 
 44 in your own power whenever you plea'fe,. 
 M without being reduced to the painful ne 
 *' ceffity of applying to friends for affift'ance.- 
 " You have only to enter into the employ-- 
 < ment I follow, and I will undertake that 
 *' you lhall not only have a good appoint- 
 L. 6 <s ment,
 
 :zS THE .HIS TOR v O i*. 
 
 cs meat, but be enabled to live with 
 " and independence/ 1 
 
 I REQUESTED that he would inform me 
 of the nature of .the employment. 
 
 '*' I WAS juft going to teil you," faid he, 
 " You. know that there reticles in this city 
 tf an eld Catalonian, known by the name of 
 
 " Don PvODERIGO D CENTELLA. Ihis 
 
 " officer was formerly a leader of Miquehts, 
 " in Spain*, and he has alfo actually ferved 
 ff in the troops of the Grand Duke with 
 " honour. The character of this man is 
 " very extraordinary : his mind is entirely 
 <f occupied in caufing juftice to be admi- 
 " niftered in civil fociety. For this purpofe 
 " he has a number of fpies to., inform him 
 <e of the affronts and outrages that are com-' 
 " mitted in FLORENCE ; of thefc injuries he 
 " keeps an exact Regifter, and undertake* 
 '* to avenge them at a certain price. You 
 " will.eafily conceive," continued MATA- 
 DORI, fl that a man cannot be engaged in 
 " this kind of purfuit openly, as it might 
 
 * The Ivliquelots were a fort of banditti who infefled 
 tJie mountains of the Pyrenees, 
 
 " be
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E 3. * 2 
 
 " t>e 'con fide red as an ufurpation of the 
 " Rights of Government. Matters there- 
 " fore are conducted with the greatefl pof- 
 " (ible fecrefy. The moment A fpy difcovers 
 t( that any perfon has received an injury, he 
 * f communicates it to Don RODERIGO, 
 " who fends to the injured party, and of- 
 *' fers, for a certain fum of money, to 
 " revenge his caufe, either by the death of 
 " theaggreflbr, orbyfomeotherpuniQunent 
 (C proportioned to the enormity of the of- 
 *' fence. If the propofal is acceded to, 
 M which is alraoft always the cafe, the 
 " Captain pronounces the Sentence, and 
 " executes it immediately by means of his 
 f< fpies, among whom he divides one half 
 " of the money he received/* 
 
 I INTERRUPTED MATADORI haftilf. 
 
 '* You are then, I conjecture," faid I, 
 " one of thefe lecret executioners." 
 
 " You have conjeclured rightly," re- 
 plied he; '* 1 am one of Don RODERIGO'S 
 ** fpies, and fo arealfo the two young Gen- 
 V Uemen to whom I have introduced you, 
 " the one of whom is a Sicilian^ and the 
 * other a Venetian."
 
 230 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " THE devil take it,"" fold I, laughingly, 
 " but you are recommending me to a fervice 
 " of feme danger, which does not at all ac- 
 '* cord with my temper; and I am fearful 
 " that I mould not acquit myfelf in it with 
 " great dexterity ; for although I was bred 
 " to furgery, I am not of a fanguinary dil~ 
 " pofition ; and befides, I muft freely con- 
 " fefs that I do not think I poflefs fufficicnc 
 " courage for fuch perilous exploits." 
 
 " OH ! ignorant fimpleton," ex- 
 claimed MATADORI, tf " i pofiefs no more 
 " courage than you do. Valour is a gift 
 " which Heaven has beftowed upon very 
 '* few men. I declare to you, mod confi- 
 " dently, that if the employment ever 
 " obliged me -to attack a brave man, or 
 " any man fairly, or engage in any pe- 
 " rilous undertaking, I would, lucrative 
 4 ' as it is, renounce it to-morrow. Do nor, 
 " therefore, deceive yourfelf," continued 
 he, " by fuppofing that we nan any rifque. 
 *' Where can be the danger ? We rulh 
 " upon a man who is not upon his guard, 
 " then ftri-ke him inilantly to the heart with 
 
 " a poignard,
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. a s i 
 
 " a poignard, or blow out his brains with 
 " piftol, and our bufmefs is executed." 
 
 '* I ACKNOWLEDGE the truth of what 
 *' you fay," faid I ; " but all your elo- 
 " quence to excite a defire in my mind to 
 "augment the number of Don RODERI- 
 te GO'S fpies, will be fruitlefs. I do not like 
 " to raife money by thefe means ; the very 
 " idea of affafiination chills me with 
 *' horror.'* 
 
 " I DO- not wonder at it,* replied MA- 
 TADOR [ ; *' the prejudices of education un- 
 * 4 avoidably produce thefe fentiments : my 
 " mind like yours revolted at the idea of 
 " fheddiag the blood of. a fellow-creature, 
 ** or rather I was fearful of its confe- 
 *' quencis: the Captain appeared to me 
 <4 like an inhuman villain ; but I faw the 
 <c matter in a very different view, when I 
 *' was informed of the admirable fyilem he 
 *' purfucs in the condemnation of the of* 
 44 fender. His method is this : he exa- 
 " mines, by rules of the pur eft equity, all the 
 " circumftances of the cafe, and then con- 
 ** fults a Regider, in which he has collected 
 .'* a defcriptLoh of every fpecics of injury, 
 
 '* pardon-
 
 131 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 <f pardonable and -unpardonable, with the 
 ' { feveiral reparations which ought to be 
 " made according to the nicdl laws of 
 ." honour. This is his fyftem of jurifpru- 
 " dence; and by thefe unerring rules he 
 '* decides, with as fafe a conscience, and 
 " as much anxiety for juftice, as any crimi- 
 " nal judge in the country." 
 
 " HOLY Heavens !" exclaimed I, to the 
 Sicilian, " this impious and inhuman tri- 
 " bnnal is worthy of Spaniards ! They 
 " mod fondly wilh for vengeance. I no 
 " longer wonder that they are faicl to have 
 tl expunged from their decalogue the iixth 
 lf Commandment. Bur, though a Spaniard 
 -" myfelf, I am a faithful obferver of it. 
 " I wish that I had alfo power as flriclly to 
 tc o'oferve all the others." 
 . " FROM what I have related to you,* 7 faid 
 MATADOR i, "you muft perceive that 
 ** whatever is repugnant to rmmanky in the 
 ft fydem of this Catalonian Captain, muft 
 " be attributed .to the ftrict principles of 
 "jufuce on which it is founded; for fen- 
 " tence of death is only affixed to the mod 
 " atrocious injuries, as may be feen by the
 
 VAN1LLO GONZALES. 233. 
 
 <f Regifler, a copy of which each of his fpies 
 " carries in his pocket as his breviary." In. 
 faying this he pulled from his pocket a fmall 
 manufcript volume written in the Caflilian 
 language, and deli red me to read a few pa- 
 ges, which, among other things, contained 
 the following articles : 
 
 FIRST. Let the traitor, \vho> after fe- 
 ducing a man imo any difficult or danger- 
 ous enterprize, (hall deiert and leave him to 
 extricate himlelf, be STABBED. 
 
 SECONDLY.. If -a man of gallantry (hall 
 life any endeavour to debauch the wife of a 
 jealous hufband, he mall be SHOT. 
 
 THIRDLY. If a man return the favours 
 which a friend has conferred upon him with 
 ingratitude, he (hall fuffer the STILLETTO. 
 
 FOURTHLY. If any fatyrift, whether in 
 verfe or in profe, rafhly cenfures the works 
 of the illuftrious dead, whofe memories all 
 the world revere, he (hall be condemned to 
 that punifhment which the Romans called* 
 Fujlu&rium *.. 
 
 * Which was to be whipped to death with large rod 
 
 FIFTHLY.
 
 ?34 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 FIFTHLY. Every author who deilroys 
 the credit of any good citizen (hall receive 
 
 TWO GASHES IN THE FACE, 
 
 THE merit of the other articles which this- 
 Curious code of jurifprudence contained, 
 may be collected from thofe I have enume- 
 rated. I returned the volume to MATADO- 
 F. i, faying, that I mould prefer the duties of 
 fervitude to the performance of thofe which 
 the ofrlce of fpy to Don RODERIGO re- 
 quired. 
 
 " You are to blame,*' replied MATADO- 
 RI, ** for I nov.' exercife thefe duties with- 
 '* out feeling the lead compunction, and 
 " the large profits they produce render 
 ** my fituation perfectly agreeable : this is 
 ft the medium through which you ought to 
 " view the fervice ; and if you were only to 
 <f tafte the fweets of two or three expedi- 
 ft tions, you would find it a very agreeable 
 " and pleafant employment. We have Ire- 
 tf quendy- very valuable piizes. For in- 
 " ftance, to-morrow night, we have one 
 " which will produce to each of us, by an 
 " agreement already made, thirty pidoles. 
 " There is at prefer. c in ihis city a young 
 
 " and
 
 V A N 1 L L O G O N Z A L E o. -\K 
 
 il and noble Spaniard who is enamoured with 
 " the wife of an old but opulent Merchant : 
 ** the young ("park hovers every evening in 
 * ( the environs of his charmer's houfe : the 
 " huiband has engaged to pay a thoufand 
 " crowns for his punifhment ; one moiety 
 " of which he has paid in advance, and the 
 " remainder is to be paid the day after juf- 
 *' tice is executed on the offender." 
 *.' THIS Spanifh nobleman," faid I, ft per- 
 " haps may not permit himfelf to be ib eafily 
 " affaflinated as you feem to expect." 
 
 "EXCUSE me," faid MATADORI ; " as 
 " he always walks alone, his mind occu- 
 " pied with love, and totally unapprehen- 
 <l live of danger, he will fall an eafy vidim. 
 f< The attack," continued. MATADORI, 
 4< ought to have been made this evening; 
 4< but Don RODE RIG o, following with 
 " fcrupulous fidelity the principles of his 
 "fyftern, thought it wrong to depriv r ea man 
 ** of his life until he had acquired a perfect 
 4f knowledge of his character. The only 
 " information he has yet obtained is, that 
 11 he is by birth a Ccijlilian, and that he is 
 *' called Don CHRISTOVAL. In vain I en. 
 
 " deavoured
 
 2 jf> THE HISTORY O -F 
 
 '* deavoured to pcrfuade the Judge that this 
 "information was iuflicient." lt No, no,** 
 " replied be, tc it is neceffary firft to know 
 " his family and connections, and 1 charge 
 " you to make the difcovery this day, To that 
 *' nothing may impede the ftroke of juftice 
 (l to-morrow." 
 
 THE name of Don CHRISTOVAL alarmed 
 me. I conceived that the perfon to whom ic 
 was applied might be my former matter, who, 
 v iiiting FLORENCE, was willing to enter in- 
 to its gallantries ; and thefe fears were greatly 
 augmented by the knowledge I polkiled of 
 bis fondnefs for the lex.- 
 
 THE uneafmefs which this uncertainty 
 created in my mind* and the anxiety I fek 
 if he was really the man, to refcuehim from 
 the impending danger, induced me to feign 
 an inch'nation to be employed by the Cap- 
 tain as a fpy. " You have only," faid I to 
 MATADOR i, " to (Lew me the dwelling of 
 " this profcribed Spaniard, and be alTured I 
 " will obtain a complete account of him be- 
 " fore night." 
 
 MATADOR i, conceiving that I intended 
 iaithfully to affill him, was tranfported witlt
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 237 
 
 joy, and after praifing my good fenfe, and 
 (hewing me the dwelling of Don CHRISTO- 
 VAL, quitted me to inform his companions 
 that I was hereafter to (hare with them the 
 profits of their judicial enterprizes. 
 
 THE impatience I felt to fee this Caftilian 
 nobleman, whole days were d; awing fo 
 rapidly to an end, is greater than language 
 can exprcfs. The hotel at which he 
 lodged was at a diftant part of the city, and 
 generally frequented by Spaniards ; and 
 1 immediately reforted to it, determined 
 to apprize the perfon, whomfoever it 
 might be, of the danger which threatened 
 his life. I had no occafion to apply for 
 information to the Landlord, for the fiifl 
 perfon I faw, on entering the doors, was my 
 dear mailer, DonCnRisTOVALDEGAVARiA. 
 We recollected each other at the fame inftant. 
 Saluting him, and feizing one of his hands, 
 I kiffed it with fuch tranfport that I was unable 
 to utter a word. On his part alfo, whether his 
 former friendship for me revived, or whether 
 he was moved by the joy I exhibited at 
 feeing him, he was certainly afFe&ed to a 
 high degree, and, embracing me.with the 
 
 warmed
 
 2 3 3 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 warmed cordiality, cxprefled his joy at feeing 
 me again in the ftiongeil terms. " Yes, my 
 11 honeft friend," continued he, t I return 
 " my thanks to Heaven that we once more 
 44 meet again, after a feparation of fo many 
 *' years : 1 have been travelling, at thedefire 
 " of my Uncle, through Italy for the laft 
 tc fifteen months; and, iincc I have the hap- 
 tl pinefs to meet you here, I fhall find it my 
 c * inclination to flay much longer at FLO- 
 " RENCE than I at firft intended. But tell 
 u me, VANILLO, how do you pafs your time 
 44 in this city? Is your fituation comfortable? 
 " What have you been doing fmce the day 
 <f of our unhappy feparation ?" 
 
 I GAVE Don CHRISTOVAL an ample 
 detail of all my ad ventures, omit ting only my 
 acquaintance with M AT A DOR I ;"and when I 
 had concluded my narration, he relumed 
 his difcourfe. 
 
 " I AM happy, VANILLO, to find you in 
 *' a fituation which enables you again to en- 
 " ter into my fervice; but as it would be 
 *' painful to the feelings of a man who ha? 
 " been a Viceroy's Page, to be reduced to 
 44 the capacity of Valet to a private gentle- 
 
 4i man*
 
 VANJLLO GONZALES. 239 
 
 *' man, I will make you my Secretary : \Vili 
 " that be agreeable to you i" 
 
 "EXTREMELY agreeable," replied I; 
 " there is only one circumfiance that gives 
 " me pain : the old Knight, who has fo hap- 
 " py a talent at confounding the Latin poets^ 
 " will perhaps think it as improper that I 
 " mould be your Secretary as your Valet.'* 
 
 " THE Knight is no more," replied Don 
 CHRISTOVAL, " and there is no obftacie re- 
 *' maining to impede our re-union." 
 
 " WELL, Sir," replied I, " fmce it is 
 " your pleafure, I am at yourfervice. Place 
 " the fame confidence in me as you did 
 " before, and be aflured I (hall always pre- 
 *' icrve my fidelity to you. Permit me to 
 " enquire what employment Love has af- 
 *' forded you fince you have been at FLO- 
 l< RENCE; for I have no doubt but that fome 
 i{ new BERNARDINA entertains you with 
 " kindnefs." 
 
 " IT is true," replied he, " I am in pur- 
 " fuit of a Merchant's wife, young, beautU 
 " tiful, and amorous ; but, although (he has 
 " engrolfed my attention for this lad fort- 
 *' night, I have not yet reaped any fruit 
 
 " from
 
 #40 T H E HISTORY OF 
 
 " from my induftry. I muft not, however, 
 *' accufe her of ingratitude ; for fhe has juil 
 s( fent me word, that her hufband, who is 
 ft an old ink-merchant, is going to-morrow 
 *' to SIENNA, and will be abfent three days ; 
 " and I am to be introduced into the houfe 
 16 at night by means of a menial fervant 
 " whom I have engaged in my intereft." 
 
 " TAKE good care, my dear matter, 
 " what you do," exclaimed I; " inftead of 
 *' meeting with the pleafures-of love, you 
 *' will find perhaps a difaftrous death." 
 
 THESE words, which I pronounced in a 
 very ferious manner, aftonHhed DonCHR is- 
 TOVAL. 
 
 <4 VANILLO," laid he, " explain yourfclf. 
 4< Why is it that you fpeak in this way ? l<. 
 " it from mere conjecture that you ufe this 
 61 language, or is there in fact any danger of 
 4< which I am ignorant ?" 
 
 " Yes, Sir," replied I, " you are in moft 
 *' imminent danger." At the fame time I 
 related to him all that MATADORI had told 
 me, and that upon hearing the name of Don 
 CHRISTOVAL I had treacheroufly feigned 
 
 to
 
 XfANILLO GONZALES. * 4 i 
 
 to become one of the fpies of RODERIGO > 
 for the purpofe of protecting life. 
 
 e * You have conduced yourfelf in this 
 " bufinefs with admirable dexterity," faici 
 my matter, <s and I deeply feel the great ob- 
 " ligation I am under to you upon this occa- 
 " fion ; but do not think," continued he, 
 <f that the defigns of thefe miferable ruffians 
 <f fhall prevent me from keeping the ap- 
 " pointment. There are three brave Spa- 
 " niards who lodge in this hotel. I (hall 
 *' defire them to accompany me. They will 
 " I am fure be happy to aflift in purging 
 " FLORENCE of this nefl of villains.'* 
 
 ON my reprefenting to Don CHRISTOVAL 
 that it would be much more wife and pru- 
 dent to leave FLORENCE at day-break the 
 enfuing morning, he replied, <f My ho- 
 " nour will not fuffer it. It mall never be 
 " faid that the fear of death prompted my 
 " flight." 
 
 "AND muft not you fly for fear," re- 
 plied I, "if you fhould happen to kill 
 " MATADOR i and his companions ?*' 
 
 vot. i. M '*
 
 i 4 * THE HISTORY &c. 
 
 * e OH, my dear friend," faid he, " the 
 ee cafes are very different ; there is no 
 " Ihame in flying from juftice when her 
 41 arms are extended for your deftruo 
 " tion/' 
 
 CHAP-
 
 ( 4J > 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND. 
 
 Xke. Conclufion of this jfdventure ; tbe 4ppre- 
 kenjions VANILLO entertained; and his De- 
 parture from FLORENCE with DON CHRIS* 
 
 TOVA-L. 
 
 meafures which Don CHRISTOYAL 
 JL propofed to adopt did not in any way 
 meet with my approbation, and I again en- 
 devoured to diiTuade him from purfuing 
 them; but all my efforts were vain. He 
 immediately communicated his intentions 
 to the three Spaniard?, and they acceded 
 to the fcheme with as much alacrity as if 
 they had beeji engaging in a. party of plea- 
 fure. 
 
 WHILE the fe gentlemen were enjoying in 
 idea the fuccefs of their projeA, 1 returned 
 to my hotel, where, purfuant to the jnea- 
 fures I had .preconcerted with Don 
 GHRISTOVAL, I informed MATAORI that 
 the Cavalier, whqfe family he was fo anxious 
 
 M I tO
 
 H-ISTO&Y OF 
 
 to obtain fome account of, was Don CHRIS* 
 TOVAL of GAVARIA, a gentleman not only of 
 high rank, but of immenfe fortune, in the 
 province of ARRAGON, which was the place 
 of his nativity. 
 
 " THIS is fufficient," faid MATADORT. 
 <s To-morrow we will give this gentleman a 
 fg paflport to the other world, and he will 
 *' find that neither his nobility nor his for- 
 *' tune will impede his voyage." 
 
 ON the evening of the enfuing day each 
 of the three fpies, the better to enable them 
 to ftrike this blow of fummaryjuftice, armed 
 himfelf with a fword, a dagger, and a 
 piftol, and concealed themfelves in the 
 vicinity of the lady's houfe who was the 
 caufe of thefe dreadful preparations, where 
 they did not wait long before Don CHRIS- 
 TOVAL arrived; but, perceiving him fur- 
 rounded by three men with drawn fwords, 
 inftead of making the meditated attack, they 
 conceived it more prudent to difcharge their 
 piftols at them and retire. They fired, how- 
 ever, with fo much precipitation, that they 
 only wafted their powder in the air. In vain 
 did Don GAVARIA and his friends follow 
 
 the
 
 Y A N 1 L L O GONZALES. 245 
 
 the fugitives ; they purfued men greatly 
 their fuperiors in the race, efpecially MA- 
 TADOR i, whopoffefTed the talent of inflantly 
 placing a great diftaaee between himfelf and 
 his enemy. 
 
 THE coaft being now clear, Don CHRIS- 
 TOVAL was at full liberty to enter the houfe 
 of the- old Merchant, and take complete re- 
 venge for the price which jealoufy had let 
 upon his life; but chufing rather to re- 
 nounce his- vengeance than to continue an 
 amour which might flill produce unpleafant 
 confequenees, Ire returned to the hotel 
 with his three friends, and terminated 
 an adventure which,, if the fpies of Don 
 RODERIGO had not been arrant poltroons, 
 might have produced bloodfhed and death. 
 Poltroons however as they were, they made, 
 me tremble. 
 
 " SIGNIOR, VANiiLo," faid MATADOR* 
 to me the following day, "may I afk you what 
 " fum you received from Don CHRISTOVAL 
 *' for advifmg him to be upon his guard 
 " laft night ; for if you had not warned him 
 tc of his danger, I am perfuaded he would 
 *' have come alone to the rendezvous." 
 
 M 2 I AT-
 
 246 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 I ATTEMPTED to deny the fact ; but MA- 
 TADORI filenced me, faying, c< Deny it to 
 " others, my friend, but do not attempt to 
 " impofe upon me. Do not add the mean- 
 *' nefs of falfehood to the guilt of treafon. 
 ** There is not the leaft doubt exifting in the 
 " minds either of my companions or myfelf 
 " of your having rendered this kind office 
 <f to Don GATARIA. You have played us a 
 " Page's trick, and, as far as I am concerned, 
 " I freely forgive you ; but I cannot anfwer 
 <c for my Venetian and Sicilian confederates; 
 " and therefore if you mean to aft wifely 
 * ( you will take gopd care of yourfelf." 
 
 THE alarm which this infinuation of dan- 
 ger gave me, induced me to afiume the ap- 
 pearance of undaunted courage. " Ifthefe 
 " gentlemen fliall dare to attack me," faid F, 
 ** I fhall defend myfelf. If I am not natu- 
 " rally courageous, I am, to make amends^ 
 ** one of thofe rational bravos who fight like 
 " madmen when they are obliged to do 
 " it." 
 
 " So much the better for you," replied he, 
 4< for if they mould meet you accidentally 
 
 " in
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 247 
 
 * r in a convenient place, you will have oc- 
 ** cafion for all your bravery, of whatever 
 " kind it may be, to efcape, in a whole fkin, 
 " from their hands.'* 
 
 THIS difcourfe, which was only intended 
 60 terrify me, produced the defired efFec~l ; 
 and, conceiving that I was not fafe in ileep- 
 ing at my own hotel, I not only decamped to 
 take fhelter with Don CHRIST-OVAL, but I 
 conftantly avoided walking alone either iiv 
 the city or its environs and, left my rational 
 courage might be put to the teft, lived, as I 
 may fay, the life of a hare,, for the courfe of 
 eight days. I was however eafed of my alarm 
 by a letter which my mafter received 
 from the Bimop of SALAMANCA, in 
 which he defired his nephew to return in- 
 ftantly to SARAGOSSA, to efpoufe the only 
 daughter of the Count de VILLAMEDIANA, 
 Governor of that city, adding, that he 
 intended to perform the ceremony him- 
 felf. 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL, who paid implicit 
 obedience to all his Uncle's commands, im- 
 mediately departed from FLORENCE, ac- 
 6t 4 accompanied
 
 248 THE HISTORY, &c. 
 
 companied by his Secretary, a Valet de 
 Chambre, and a Lacquey, for LEGHORN, 
 in order to wait the firft opportunity of a 
 pafTage to Spain. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 ( 2+9 ) 
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD. 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL and his Suite embark at 
 LEGHORN and fail to BARCELONA, from 
 iv hence they proceed to SARAGOSSA. Tbe 
 Marriage of BON CHRISTOVAL, and the 
 Conferences of this Union. 
 
 ON our arrival at LEGHORN, we were 
 informed that a Spanifh veffel would 
 fail in the courfe of three days for BARCE- 
 LONA; and, taking advantage of this op- 
 portunity, \ve reached that port after a-prof^ 
 perous voyage, without experiencing the 
 leaft bad weather, or, what is more rairacu.- 
 lous in thofe feas, without meeting with a 
 Barbary Corlair. The moment we r et our 
 feet on more we hired mules to carry us to 
 SARAGOSSA. 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL, on our arrival at this 
 
 celebrated metropolis of ARRAGON, notchuf- 
 
 M 5 ing.
 
 25<? THE HISTORY OF 
 
 ing to vifit the Count de VILLAMEDIANA, 
 or to appear before a miftrefs whom he had 
 never feen, until he had changed his drefs, 
 alighted at the fkft hotel; but before we had 
 been there an hour, a fervant from the Bi- 
 fhop of SALAMANCA appeared. " Signer,'* 
 faid he to Don CHRISTOVAL, " I have been 
 feeking you from hotel to hotel, by order of 
 his Grace your Uncle, who has been at SA- 
 R AGOSSA thefe eight days paft. He is at the 
 Governor's houfe, where an apartment is 
 prepared for you ; and they are waiting for 
 your arrival with great impatience. I will 
 return and inform them of your approach,, 
 which I am fure they will be rejoiced to 
 hear. 
 
 THE fervant who communicated this in- 
 formation to Don CHRISTOVAL was my old 
 clafs-fellow at the Univerlity, the very MAN- 
 SANO whom I had left at the Epifcopal Palace 
 of SALAMANCA. He looked at meftedfaftl^ 
 for fome time, and at length recollecting his 
 former friend, exclaimed, " Ho\v, VANILL 
 " GONZALES returned !" 
 
 " YES, my good friend," replied I, "my 
 " kind flars have directed me to find my 
 
 ** former
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. a$t 
 
 " former matter, who has kindly reftored 
 " me to his fervice." 
 
 " I AM overwhelmed with joy," replied 
 MANSANO, " and I can affure you that the 
 *' reft of hisGrace's houfehold will be equally 
 <c pleafed to find you reinftated in your for- 
 " mer employ." 
 
 " MY friend," faid Don CHRISTOVAL, 
 turning to his Uncle's Valet, " perhaps you 
 ** have feen the lady who is deftined to be 
 *' my bride. Does her beauty juftify my 
 " eager hafie to receive her hand ?" 
 
 " SIGNIOR," replied MANSANO, sc Dcn- 
 f< na ANN A will gain but little by the portrait 
 " I can draw of her. She is one of thofe 
 tf brilliant beauties which it is impoffible 
 {e to eiefcribe ; nature has fpread around : - 
 " her fuch a dazzlmg luftre, that the eye is 
 '* incapable of perceiving the leaft defect. 
 " You mud behold her to have any idea o~f 
 " her charms. But I can truly fay that it 
 *' was impoffible for your Uncle to-make a 
 ^ better choice. 5 * 
 
 " UPON your reprefentation," replied 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL, with a fmile of fatisfac- 
 
 tion, " I can have no doubt of my future 
 
 M. 6 *'' happi-oefs.
 
 2~ 3 z T-HE HISTORY OF 
 
 ft happinefs. I rely with confidence on your 
 " dilcernment. Go, MANSANO," added he, 
 * { go, announce my arrival to your maftei\ 
 " and affure him that in a few minutes he 
 " will fee his nephew." 
 
 MANSANO returned accoi-dingly to the 
 Bimop ; and DON CHRISTOVAL made every 
 preparation which he thought might pre- 
 poflefs the mind of Donna ANNA in his fa? 
 your. The ftyle of his drefs was neatly ele* 
 ganr, and, when every decoration was per- 
 formed, he repaired to the Governor's houfev 
 TEE affedHonate Uncle burft into tears of 
 joy at feeing him again, and, embracing 
 him with great tendernefs, exclaimed, " My 
 " dear Nephew, your return will afford me 
 11 dill higher delight if you approve of my 
 " negociation for your felicity. The Count 
 " de VILLAMEDIANA, my ancient friend, 
 "' is willing, on my account, to prefer you 
 " to every other candidate for his daugh- 
 '* ter*s hand. The alliance appeared to me 
 " fo advantageous to you, that I have ven- 
 " tured, without confulting you, to promife 
 " your acquiefcence ; but do not conceive 
 "that I mean to tyrannize. You (hall fee. 
 
 " Donna
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. fjj 
 
 * f Donna ANNA immediately. ; if me meets 
 tf with your inclination, you may become 
 " her hufband in a fhort time ; but, on the 
 " contrary, if you feel the leaft obj.ed.ion, I 
 " will myfelfoppofe the match; and, on the 
 c ' other fide alfo, if you (liould not meet wiih 
 et the lady's approbation, the engagements I 
 " have made are void. Thefe are the terms 
 " upon which her father and I have agreed^ 
 " in order to avoid the mifery of uniting two 
 " perfonswhoare not deftined for each other." 
 
 *' SIR," replied Don CHRISTOVAL, "lam 
 " certainly under great obligations to you 
 " for the tender attachment you have al- 
 " ways fhewn, to my intereft ; but I doubt 
 " whether I ought to rejoice at thefe condi- 
 " tions, which, though extremely prudent, 
 *' are not without danger. The heart of 
 u Donna ANNA is perhaps pre-engaged ; 
 " and if it be not, I may be difagreeable to 
 * e her, however pleafing me may appear to 
 " me." 
 
 u IT is right to be modeft," replied the 
 Bilhop with a fmile ; l< but, conlidering 
 " your age and perfon, I cannot but enter- 
 t f tain ibme hopes. I may alfo fay to en- 
 
 ? courage
 
 254 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 <e courage you, that I cannot think your 
 f< figure will be any way difpleafing in the 
 * c eyes of the young lady. But,"" continued 
 he, " we will foon put it to the teft. I 
 *' muft firft introduce you to the Count de 
 " VILLAMEDIA-NA, and we will then pay our 
 '* refpects to the Countefs and her daugh- 
 " ter." 
 
 THE Bifhop accordingly conducted his 
 nephew to the apartment of the Governor. 
 The old Nobleman received DonCnRiSTO- 
 VAL with the moft engaging politenefs, and r 
 ftruck 'with his fine and open countenance, 
 involuntarily exclaimed, that Donna ANNA 
 would be very difficult if fhe did not ap- 
 prove of fuch a lover. The Prelate on his 
 part fpoke highly in praife of the lady, po- 
 litely faying, he was fure the heart of his 
 Nephew muft furrender at firft fight. The 
 Count and the Prelate, though fatisfied of 
 the truth of what they faid, were, however, 
 not without fear that fome hidden caprice, 
 might confound their project. To decide 
 the doubtful point they immediately con- 
 ducted the young man to the cabinet of the
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 25-5 
 
 Countefs, where they discovered ANNA in 
 all the brilliancy of drefs and beauty. 
 
 THIS firft interview was employed in the 
 interchanges of civility ; not a word tranf- 
 pired on the fubjeft of the intended alli- 
 ance ; for it was thought right ftrft to difco- 
 ~ver, whether the parties interefted appeared 
 to have any objection to the union. The 
 firft opportunity, therefore, which the Count 
 'had of fpeaking privately with his daughter,, 
 he afked her what (he thought of Don 
 CHRISTOVAL, and whether fhe had any ob- 
 jeclion to him as a hufband. She confeffed, 
 with modeft candour, that (he fhould, with- 
 -out murmuring, obey her father's orders to 
 receive his hand. 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL, on his part, did not 
 wait for his Uncle's queftion to declare the 
 viftory which Donna ANNA had gained 
 over his heart ; for, in truth, (he alone, from 
 the firft moment he faw her, occupied his 
 mind. " Oh ! VANILLO," faid he, I have 
 " feen Donna ANNA. MANSANO has truly 
 (t faid that it is impoffible to paint her with- 
 ** out doing injury to her charms. She has 
 V perhaps defeds, but her lovely eyes beam 
 
 with
 
 z$6 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " with fuch tranfcendant luftre that they 
 ff dazzle the beholder, and prevent him 
 " from examining her charms except with. 
 " admiration." 
 
 . " MY dear matter," replied I, " deeply 
 *' engaged as your heart appears to be by 
 " the beauties of your bride, I have no doubt 
 " but your merirs have made an equal irn- 
 " preilion on her mind." 
 
 "I DARE not flatter myfelf," faid he y 
 " with the hope of fo much happinefs." 
 
 c< FIE, Sir/' replied I, " you cannot be 
 *' ferious in that fentiment ; entertain a, 
 *' jufter opinion of nature ; if the heart of 
 " our fex palpitate with pleafure at the fight 
 * c of female charms, why (hould you think 
 *' their bofoms feel lefs emotion in our fa- 
 tf vour ? I fhould, in your fituation, enter- 
 tf tain a higher opinion of my merit, and 
 * f immediately conceive that I had warmed 
 <e the heart by which I felt my own fo much 
 " inflamed." 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL did not remain long 
 ignorant of the pafilon with which he had 
 infpired his intended bride] and the Count, 
 being informed by the Biihop of the tender 
 
 irhpreflion
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 257 
 
 impreffion which his daughter had made on 
 Don CHRISTOVAL'S heart, ordered prepara- 
 tion to be made, without lofs of time, for 
 their nuptials, which were celebrated a fev\r 
 days afterwards with a magnificence fuita- 
 ble to the rank of the parties. 
 
 THE event was accompanied by great re- 
 joicings, and a ball was given on the occa- 
 fion ar the Caftle, to which the principal No- 
 bility of ARRAGON were invited. 
 
 DURING the height of the feftivity, a Gen- 
 tleman mafked, and drefled in the French 
 ftile, approached Don CHRISTOVAL, and, 
 clafping his hand, whifpered foftly in his 
 ear, '* SIR, / injift on your meeting me to-wor~ 
 " row morning at break of day, an the plain in the 
 <( road to GALL EGO, there to receive, the com- 
 4 * fitments I have to make you upon your mar- 
 " riage, which I cannot do but in privacy" The 
 fpirited courage of Don CHRISTOVAL repli- 
 ed without hefitation to the unknown, 
 ** Whoever you may be^ be afj~ure.d that I will 
 " meet you, and take care that I am not the firft 
 t( at the place appointed." Don CHRISTOVAIJ 
 exprefled thefe words with fo much compo~
 
 a$f THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fure, that no perfon in the company fufpecV 
 cd what had palled, 
 
 TOWAR DS the conclufion ef the ball, which, 
 continued all night, he privately quitted the 
 ball room, and, under pretence of enjoying 
 the frefhnefs of the morning air, on the bor- 
 ders of the Ebro, ordered a horfe.of great 
 fpeed to be faddled, and reached the. plains 
 which lead to GALLEGO. The unknown 
 adverfary waited his approach at the en- 
 trance of the village. They perceived each 
 other at the fame inftant, and were foon to- 
 gether at the appointed fpot. Don CHRIS- 
 TOVAL addrefied his adverfary, whowasftill 
 mafked, "Sir, Before you offer me the threatened 
 ** 1 compliment on my marriage, inform me w/jo- 
 "you are, and why we thus me&l" 
 
 f( THAT is my intention/'" replied the un- 
 known. ts My name is Don MELCHIER DE. 
 " RIDA,. I am one of the difappointed lo- 
 (t vers of Donna ANNA, whom the Count 
 < her father has facrificed to you. I am too 
 ** jealous of your happinefs to endure it; and 
 a fmce I have not been fo fortunate as to 
 *' obtain the object of my love, I will at 
 ** leaft prevent any other from pofleffing 
 
 her."
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. *& 
 
 " her." In fpeaking thefe words he alighted 
 from his horfe, which he tied to- the bough 
 of a tree. Don CHRISTOVAL immediately 
 followed his example. They drew their 
 fwords at the fame inftant, and a violent 
 onfet immediately enfued. DonM&L.cHiER* 
 who was as adroit a fwordfman as his anta- 
 gonift, carried a thruft under his left breaft 
 but happily the point of the fword only glan- 
 ced the fide. Don CHRISTOVAL, to re- 
 venge this fuccefs, made a variety of thrufls 
 equally artful and vigorous, but they were 
 all parried with great dexterity and returned 
 by other thrufts which were avoided with 
 equal adroitnefs. The combatants continued 
 to fence with great fury for more than a 
 (quarter of an hour,, and victory hung ia 
 equal fcales. But at length Heaven, who wias. 
 pleafed to favour the right caufe, permitted 
 my mafter to give his adverfary the coup de- 
 grace, and he fell dead at his feet. The 
 victor immediately remounted his horfe, 
 and returned to Saragoifa, leaving the un- 
 fortunate Gentleman who had provoked this 
 appeal weltering in blood on the*, field of 
 battle.
 
 *6o THE HISTORY Q F 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL, on his return to the 
 Caftle, immediately communicated the par- 
 ticulars, of this event to* his Uncle and his Fa- 
 ther-ia-law, who-^ confcious that the family 
 ef the deceafed pofiefTed great intereft at 
 Court, refolved that it would be necefiary 
 for my mafter immediately to conceal him- 
 felf in fome fecret retreat, until the matter 
 could be accommodated ; and, after much 
 confederation, the Cattle of Rodenas, belong- 
 ing to the Bifhop of ALBARAZIN, an inti^ 
 mate friend of the Count's, was fixed upon 
 as the propereft place of refuge.. 
 
 THE day was occupied in making prepa- 
 rations for his departure, and in fettling the 
 means by which a mutual interconrfe might 
 be fafely preferred; after which he retired 
 to the apartment of his beloved wife, and 
 pafled two-thirds of the night in condoling 
 with her on the feparation which had thus 
 early interrupted their hymeneal joys. A 
 few moments before the approach of day 
 he departed, accompanied by his Valet de 
 Chambre, his Lacquey, and myfelf, mounted 
 n four of the fined horfes in the Gover- 
 nor's ilablesi and, in three day.% w<j 
 
 reached.
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 261 
 
 reached the village of LONGARES, from 
 whence we continued our route in the 
 fame way to DAROCA, where we paffed 
 the night. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH, 
 
 DON CHRISTOVAL and VANILLO arrive at 
 the Caftle of ROD EN AS. The Manner in 
 which they were received by tke Bffiop of 
 ALBARAZIN. 
 
 AT day-brealt the enfuing morning we 
 continued our journey ; and, by a 
 beaten track between the mountains, ar- 
 rived at VILLA FRANCA, where, flopping 
 to enquire the fituation of the Caftle of 
 ROD EN AS, we had the pleafure to find not 
 only that it was but a mile diftant, but that 
 the Bifhop was there. Don CHRISTOVAL 
 accordingly difpatched me with the letter 
 which the Count de VILLAMEDIANA had 
 written to the Prelate, requefting him to 
 afford a.n afymm to his new relation. 
 
 I REPAIRED immediately to the Caftle, 
 was extremely magnificent in its 
 ftrudure,
 
 VANTLLO GONZALES. 26} 
 
 ftructure, and the grounds by which it was 
 furrounded in fine order. 
 
 THE moment I announced my arrival 
 from the Governor of SARAGOSSA, I was 
 conducted to his Grace's apartment, who,, 
 being a lover of mufic, was then enjoying 
 a vocal and inftrumental concert in the 
 lajge hall. He rofe and met me as I en- 
 tered the room. I prefented the Count's 
 letter to him, which he opened, and, having 
 perufed its content^ defired me to follow 
 him to his ftudy, 
 
 " THE Count de VILLAMEDIANA," laid 
 he, " does me infinite honour to prefer this 
 ** Caftle to all the other afylums which he 
 <r might have commanded for his fon. I 
 *' feel with fo much fenfibility this new tefti- 
 " mony of his friendlhip, that I mall be 
 *' anxious to do every thing in my power to 
 *' (hew my gratitude. Return directly to 
 w SARAGOSSA," continued he, " and aflure 
 " the Governor, that I wait the arrival of 
 " Don CHRISTOVAL with impatience." 
 
 *' MY Lord," replied I, " you will not 
 44 long be deprived of the pleaiuro of his 
 *' company ;- he is now net far off, for I 
 
 "have
 
 *6 4 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 c *juft left him at the Hotel at VILLA 
 " FRANCA." 
 
 " So much the better," replied the Pre- 
 late, " return to him with all poflible expe- 
 " dition, and conduct him immediately to 
 *' the Caftle, where you may allure him he 
 " will be received by a fmcere friend of his 
 " worthy father-in-law." 
 
 I WAS not long in returning to my matter, 
 who, upon the report I made of the difpo- 
 fition of the Biftiop of ALBARAZIN to re- 
 ceive him, departed inftantly from VILLA 
 FRANCA for the Caftle of RODENAS. 
 
 THE conduct of the Prelate correfponded 
 with his promifes : he received Don 
 CHRISTOVAL with every mark of politenefs 
 and refpect ; and, after a long converfation 
 with him on the fubject of the duel, re- 
 galed him with a fupper and a concert. On 
 the conclufion of the evening, he conducted 
 him to the handfomeft apartment in the 
 Caftle, where he left him to repofe. 
 
 To do juftice to this hofpitable Prelate, I 
 mufl acknowledge, that he was one who 
 did the higheft honour to epifcopacy. 
 Defcended from the Houfe of OZORIO, he 
 
 joined
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 265 
 
 joined to the nobility of his family a for- 
 tune which enabled him to fupport a fpien- 
 did tabkj the mod fuperb equipages, and 
 a regular band of mufia. Befide this, he 
 \vas a man of benevolent and humane feel- 
 ings, who gave all his fuperfluous wealth 
 to the poor; but, unfortunately for them, 
 the ftyle in which he lived feldom left 
 much remaining for this purpofe. 
 
 THE .enfuing day his Grace walked with 
 his new gueft round the gardens and pie. - 
 fure grounds, which were certainly worthy 
 of admiration : on the one fide, beautiful 
 parterres, ornamented with a thoufand cu- 
 rious flowers, inter! perfed with aromatic 
 (hrubs, offered incenfe to the fight and 
 imell. Here fountains fed by the river 
 XILOA, which runs through the grounds, 
 elevated the water proudly into the air, 
 while its ftreams fell again with darning 
 noife into marble refervoirs beneath. There 
 aviaries of wide extent prefented to the eye 
 the varied plumage of every rare and curious 
 bird. Thefe delightful gardens appeared, 
 in Qiort, to be the work of fairies; for the 
 Prelate, who cultivated them with equal 
 
 YOL. i. N tafte
 
 2 6t> THE HISTORY, &c. 
 
 talle and expence, patted much more of 
 his time at the Caftle of RODE N AS, than at 
 the Epifcopal Palace of ALBAZARIN, 
 w.as Qjaly about eighteen miles dillant. 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH, 
 
 VA N i L LO departs from tie C&fle of ROD E N A $ 
 <?#;/ returns to SA-RAGOSSA. He lofes ^his 
 Way 9 and Jl&eps in a Hermitage. 
 
 TWO days after our arrival at RODE- 
 NAS, Don CHRIS TO VAL addreffed 
 me in the following terms : " We enjoy, 
 " you perceive VANILLO, a mod delightful 
 " retreat; and, what is Hill more pleafing 
 * f to me, live under the aufpices of a Grati- 
 ** dee who performs all the duties of hofpi* 
 <( tality with peculiar propriety. Of this 
 tc circumilance we ought immediately to 
 <e inform the Count de VILLAMEDIANA ; 
 '* he will be delighted to hear of the re- 
 <f fpedful attention the Bifhop pays to 
 " me ; and I have refolved to difpatch 
 <f yon to-morrow to give him the ac- 
 C count." 
 
 N 2 I PRE-
 
 .268 THE HI.STO&Y OF 
 
 I PREPARED accordingly to return to SA- 
 RAGOSSA, and fe: off the enfuing morning 
 with a long letter to the Governor, and an- 
 oth.er ftil.1 longer to Donna ANNA. I alfo 
 received one from the Palate, expreffing'his 
 gratitude to the Count for having fent him 
 fo amiable a gueil as Don CHRISTOVAL. 
 
 PASSING through VILLA FRANCA. I con- 
 tinued my road acrofs the mountains, -and 
 arrived at the fource of the river GUERVA, 
 where I loft my way by pursuing a path on the 
 .oppofite fide of this devious dream, inftead 
 yof keeping clofeio its banks on the fide of 
 DA ROC A. After travelling feveral hours I 
 arrived at a kind of hermitage, at the door 
 of w.hich .flood an old man, whofe venerable 
 .appearance infpired me with refptcl: : a long 
 .brown robe inclofed his body, a fimple net- 
 work bonnet covered his head, a white 
 beard flowed upon his bread, and the 
 facred rolary adorned his hand. " Holy 
 " Father," faid I, " do me the favour to in- 
 ** form me where I am, and whether there 
 * is any place of .accommodation near." 
 
 *' You are.," replied he, " fix miles 
 ** from BELC.HITE and nine from ROMANA } 
 
 f there
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 365 
 
 **" there is no place of accommodation until 
 ff you arrive at the one or the other ofthefe 
 ** villages, neither of which you can poffibly 
 "reach before night; but if you will ac- 
 " cept," added he r " the accommodation 
 " which my humble ce!I affords, I offer it 
 * to you with good will, and to-morrow 
 " morning you may purfue your journey. 
 
 SUSPICION, fays a Caftilian author, is the 
 parent of Security : I remained for feveral 
 -minutes uncertain how to determine, 
 
 THE kind reclufe divined the meaning 
 of my hefuaiion, and fmiling faid, tc Xouns^ 
 ^''Gcn'tieman, do not perran. :^y ircreiiv..; 
 ^appearance to alarm, you ;- this habit is 
 ** fometimes worn by honeft men." Thefc 
 words difpelled my fears ; and- 1 difmounted 
 from my mule, rendering thanks to Hea- 
 ven for having fo kindly provided for me this 
 accommodating interview.- 
 
 THIS- venerable old man immediately cort- 
 tlucted me into an inner court, where he 
 called to an attendant, who was alfo clothed 
 m the habit of a hermit, and ordered him 
 to take care of my mule. We then entered 
 into a hall,, in which were a range of 
 N 3 benches
 
 270 T H E H I S T O R V OF 
 
 .benches to fit on, and on tire walk pidarcs- 
 of St. ANTHONY, St. PACHOMJUS, and 
 other Anchorets. Adjoimncr to this hall 
 was a fmall chamber with two beds : " You 
 c< fee," faid the hermit, " the only oppor- 
 " Uinity 1 have of affording comfortable re- 
 " pofe to thofe whofe misfortunes direct 
 " their fteps to my ceil." From the cham- 
 ber we proceeded to- a kind of chapel, in 
 which this holy man generally offered up 
 his prayers to Heaven. From the chapel 
 he conducted me into a large garden,- rilled 
 in great abundance with every fpecies of 
 fruit trees. et Obferve thtfe trees with at- 
 <e tendon," faid he ; " they fupply the place 
 lt of butchers and bakers, and are the 
 * c fource of all njy nourilhment. My fcr- 
 " vane and myfclf live throughout the 
 *' whole year on the fruits they produce, 
 " without feeling the want of other pro- 
 <f vifions : Sheep and other animals, which 
 <c in the world are fiaxightered to gratify 
 vi the fenfuality of men, we permit to iced 
 <c in fafety on their native plains ; and in- 
 *' Head of treaclieroi'.ily entrapping the 
 ** winged .creation. f .ve delight to fee then;
 
 VAN-ILLO GONZALS, t~i 
 
 ** In the full enjoyment of their natural 
 " liberty. As we eat only fruits, fo our 
 '* only beverage is water. Our cellar is in- 
 14 this garden , it confifts of a fountain, whofe 
 "* foft and tranfparent water excels incom- 
 " parably the richeft winesi You would ac- 
 " knowledge this truth if you had lived 
 *' the life of an Anchoret in this delightful 
 " retreat for only a few months." 
 
 THE reclufe, perceiving a fmile- on my 
 countenance as he pronounced thefe wore!*, 
 told me that my tatle was vitiated. 
 
 " VITIATED as my tafte may be, my 
 '*' good Father," replied I, "there are cer- 
 ** tain wines which I have tafted, both in 
 f< Spain and Italy, which, notwithftand- 
 ** ing all your praifes, I muft confefs ap- 
 " pear to me more palatable than your 
 " water." 
 
 " THEN," replied he, " I can only 
 " lament your fituation ; for I have nothing 
 " to offer you but fruits and water." 
 
 '* OH ! do not lament it," replied I, (t for 
 
 " I am fond of fruits ; and as to water, one 
 
 *' night will foon be paffed." We walked 
 
 round the garden, and returned into a 
 
 s 4 fmall
 
 272 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 fmall room, which ferved as a refecloryv 
 and on the walls of which were infcribed 
 many moral fentences on the iubjedt of 
 temperance. 
 
 WE ihcn feated ourf elves at a table, at 
 which vere placed two earthen plates, 
 a large difli filled with various kinds of 
 fruits, a pitcher of water r and two gob- 
 lets; but we had neither table-cloth ncr 
 napkieu 
 
 THE repaft, of which I neither ate cr 
 drank to excefs, was feafoned with much 
 ferions and entertaining conveifatlon on 
 the neceflity of dcfpiflng the things of 
 the world. Charmed by the mild elo- 
 quence which flowed with irrefiftible per- 
 fuaiion from the lips of this amiable and 
 -happy man, " My good Father," faid I, 
 c< it appears from what you have faid, that 
 " you have played no. unimportant part on 
 " the theatre of the world; and, if it were 
 <f not taking too great a liberty, I would 
 " requeft of you to relate to me the ferics 
 " of adventures by which you were induced 
 ** t> feek this iolitary iciu 
 
 " MY
 
 VANILLO GONZALES; 273- 
 
 c< MY child/' replied he,. " I am willing 
 to fatisfy your curiofity, becaufe I hope 
 you will derive advantage from the recital- 
 
 " you require.'* 
 
 HE accordingly began as follows. 
 
 * f CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE T W ENTY-SIXTH, 
 
 Tie Hi/lory of tie Hermit. 
 
 I WAS born in the amient and celebrated 
 City of PAMPELUNA, the Capital of NA- 
 VARRE, and boaft a defcent from the illuf- 
 trioiis family of PER ALT A, with whom the 
 Kings of that country did not difdain to 
 form alliance. Don FR.ANCIS DE PE- 
 RALTA, iny father, no fooncr faw me able 
 to bear arms, than he fent me to ferve in 
 Italy, where I pafled the early days of 
 youth. I afterward went into Flanders ; 
 from whence, after a war of many years, I 
 returned, on the reftoration of peace, to my 
 native country. Engaged in a life of plea- 
 fure with young Officers of my own age, 
 hunting, gaming, plays, and gallantry were 
 my chief amufements ; but although I had 
 an opportunity of converfing with all the 
 celebrated beauties of the country, none of 
 
 then*
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 2;^ 
 
 them touched my heart. I wantoned (if I 
 1 may fo exprefs myfelf) for fome time 
 with impunity round the torch of love ; I 
 at length however differed feverely by its 
 flames. A grand tournament being proclaim- 
 ed atPAMPELUNA, to celebrate the nativity 
 of a Prince, molt of the young Officers en- 
 tered the lifts, to difputc v.ith each other the 
 fame of victory, and fpedators reforted to- 
 the City in crowds, from NAVARRE, CAS- 
 TILE, BISCAY, and ARRAGON, to behold 
 the conteft. Among others there came 
 an old Gentleman from BURGOS, named 
 DonGASPARD DE HfiNis, accompanied by 
 Donna INNES his daughter. The aunt of 
 this young lady, Donna JUANNA XIMENES, 
 a rich widow, who fupported a fplendid 
 cftablifhment in PAMPELUNA, and with 
 whom thcfe vifitors refidtd, \vas at this pe- 
 riod upon terms of particular intimacy with 
 a filler I then had, named LEONORA j and 
 as they felciom failed :o vifit each other 
 every day, LEONORA immediately became 
 -acquainted with Donna INNES, arid a con- 
 fidential friendlhip was cemented bety/ixt 
 them. 
 
 N 6 CHARMED
 
 276 THE HISTORY O F 
 
 CHARMED by the graces of her new- 
 friend, LEONORA was inceffantly refounding 
 the praifes of the lovely Caftilian, for fo 
 ihe always called the daughter of -Don 
 GASPARD : tc My dear brother," faid fliey 
 "is not Donna II*NES an amiable girl? 
 " The beauiies of her peribn are only 
 ** equalled by the excellencies of her mind. 
 ** She is all accomplifhed ! Ho v happy 
 " will be the youth who becomes her huf- 
 " band." 
 
 THIS language, which LEONORA fre<- 
 quently repeated with encreafing enthufiafnv, 
 was fo far from making any impreffion on 
 my mind, or even exciting any violent de- 
 fire to fee a Lady who was fo extolled by 
 her own fex, that I ridiculed the praifes (he 
 fo liberally beftowed, and told her, that in 
 all probability this object, much as (he ad- 
 mired her, poffefled a greater number erf 
 bad than good qualities. In fhort, the 
 more I heard in favour of the lovely Caf- 
 tilian, the lefs defire I had to fee her. 
 
 WHILST I enjoyed the pleafures of this 
 happy indifference, although I was ac- 
 quainted with many of the fex well qualified 
 
 to
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 277- 
 
 to deprive me of it, the day appointed for 
 the tournament arrived ; a day, more un- 
 fortunate to me than any other of my life; 
 and which I cannot now recoiled:, without 
 a remembrance of the misfortunes that fot- 
 lowed it. 
 
 ON entering the lifts with my lance 
 couched, waiting for the fignal of combat, 
 I cad my eyes towards a balcony, and per- 
 ceived my fifter in deep converfation with 
 a young- lady whofe appearance inftantly 
 caught my attention, and by a certain 
 charm, which- I cannot well explain, filled 
 me with emotion and delight. " It muft 
 44 be Donna INNES," faid I to myfelf. 
 The perturbation of my heart at that inftant 
 convinced me it was the lovely Caftilian, 
 and I felt that LOVE was now determined 
 to revenge the inattention I had paid to the 
 language in which LEONORA had expreffed 
 her praife. 
 
 A DESIRE to attract, by fbme fignal ex- 
 ploit, the obfervation of a Lady who had 
 thus touched my foul, called forth all 
 my efforts, and enabled me to gain the 
 higheft honours of the day. My fitter, 
 
 whofe
 
 7* THE HISTORY OP 
 
 whofe heart beat in unifon with my own 
 at the acclamations of applaufe which 
 the fpectators beftowed on me, was care- 
 ful to heighten the admiration of 'her 
 fair companion, by informing her who I 
 was. The lovely Caftilian, in polkenefs toher 
 friend, appeared to partake of her joy, and 
 congratulated her on having fuch a brother. 
 
 THE tournament being finifned, 1 fought 
 the earlieft opportunity to enquire of LEO- 
 HORA the name of her companion. " It is 
 " Donna INNES," replied the. " Well, 
 " Don FELIX, what do you fay now you 
 *' have feen her ? For, fhort as the time 
 " was which you had to contemplate her 
 *' peribn, you muft have been (truck with 
 " its beauty." 
 
 " I CONFESS," replied I, "the radiance 
 " of her charms has dazzled me, or rather 
 " made me feel the whole force of their 
 " power. Alas ! while I was applauded 
 <* in the lifts as a conqueror, I was con- 
 * quered." 
 
 41 MY dear brother," replied LEONORA, 
 " 1 am not furprifed that Donna INNES 
 " has infpired your heart with love, and 
 
 "the
 
 VANJLLO GONZALES. 
 
 <{ the friend lh ip which 
 " heart to LEONORA'S encourages my hope 
 " of being able to ferve you.'* I profited fo 
 much by thefe tender offers of afliftance, 
 that my fifter undertook to convey a letter 
 to the lovely Caftilian, in which I declared 
 my paffion in the warmeft terms. 
 
 I CONCLUDED, from the reliance which I 
 placed upon the ability of my mediatrefs, 
 and the good opinion which a young man 
 naturally indulges of his own merit, that 
 my billet would be favourably received ; 
 and my expectation was not difappointecl. 
 
 * c DON FELIX,'* faid my filter to me a 
 fc\v days after, " I have joyful tidings to 
 * c announce to you : the Lady refufed for 
 " fome time to open your letter; but I fpoke 
 " fo warmly in your favour, that at length 
 '* (he not only complied, but, expreffing a 
 " high elleem for your merits, confent- 
 " ed that you (hall folicit her in marriage 
 u - of her father when he returns from Bifcay, 
 *' where he is at prefent gone an bufinefs 
 ^ which may detain him two or three 
 " months. In the mean time me has no 
 $< objection to receive your addrefles, pro- 
 
 61 vided
 
 rrtS THE HISTORY OF 
 
 <{ rided they can be managed with fecrecy,* 
 " the care of her reputation obliging he*i 
 ** as me obferves, to conduct herfelf cau- 
 *' tioufly during his abfence : me therefore 
 "prohibits you from ferenading her with 
 *' the found of flutes, guitars, and, in one 
 " word, from every fpecies of clamorous 
 ** gallantr} 7 . This prohibition is, I ac- 
 " knowledge, extremely mortifying to a 
 ** Spanilh lover; but, in lieu of thefe plea*- 
 ** (ures, you are permitted to write to her, 
 * e and may flatter yourfelf with the hope 
 ** of receiving anfwers." 
 
 THE tranfports of joy with which this 
 converfation infpired me convinced LEO'- 
 NORA of the violence of my pafiion ; and 
 her affection for me was fuch, that I think 
 the idea me entertained of my approaching 
 felicity rendered her joy equal to my own. 
 The good offices of a fitter, to whom my 
 interefts were fo dear, was of infinite ad- 
 vantage. I enjoyed with the lovely Caf- 
 tilian, during a period of two months, not 
 only a literary correfpondence, but, by 
 means of a grated window which looked 
 into a folitary court at the back of her aunt's 
 
 houle,
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. sfli 
 
 houfe, was frequently admitted to a nocturnal 
 interview. Every thing fucceeded accord- 
 ing to my wimes, aad I entertained the 
 liigbeft hopes of happinefs ; but while 
 LOVE brightened my days, my evil Genius 
 was laying (hares to make me miferable. 
 
 DON GASPARD, on his return from Bis* 
 CAY, intimated his intention of returning 
 with his daughter to BURGOS; and while I 
 felt, on this occafion, all the alarm of a 
 lover fearful of loiing the object of his af- 
 fection, Donna INKES appeared equally 
 afflicted by this omen of ieparation. Hap- 
 pily however for me, Donna JUANNA,, 
 who adored her niece, would not content to 
 jier departure ; and her father, not daring 
 to difpleafe a relation \vhofe wealth he ex- 
 pected his children would inherit, at length 
 confented to leave her behind.. But no 
 fooner were my apprehenfions upon this 
 occafion quieted, than a new danger of a 
 fimilar kind occurred. 
 
 ONE day, while LEONORA with a nura- 
 ber of other Ladies were viilting Donna 
 JOANNA, a meilenger arrived and deli- 
 vered a letter to Donna INNES, who retired 
 
 to-
 
 iii* THE HISTORY OF 
 
 to the alcove and opened it. My fifter, 
 whofe eyes were attentively fixed upon her 
 while (lie was reading the letter, obfervecl 
 in her countenance uncommon marks of 
 joy, and that every word it contained af- 
 fected her with pleafure : (he alfo obferved, 
 that when Donna INNHS had read the 
 letter, (he called her fervant and whifpered 
 fomething foftly in her ear ; and that the 
 fervant, in a tone of voice fufhciently loud 
 to be overheard, advifed her to follow her 
 Inclinatioa. 
 
 ON thefe circumftances being mention^ 
 ed to me by my filler, we endeavoured 
 to divine the pofiibie meaning of thefe 
 Cgnificant geftures and cxpreflions ; and 
 after a variety of conjectures, by no means 
 favorable to my happinefs, we concluded 
 that the letter came from a rival, whofe ad- 
 drefles (he was difpofed to encourage. We 
 accordingly refolved upon certain meafures 
 to difcover who the perfon was that had thus 
 prefumptuouily dared to difpute with me 
 this lovely prize. 
 
 APPLYING to THEODORA, the confi- 
 dential fervant of my charmer, we drew 
 from her, by means of prefents, a can- 
 did
 
 VAN1LLO GONZALES. 2*3 
 
 did coiifeffion, that- her miftrefs was be- 
 hoved by Don MARTI** r>E TREVJGNO, one 
 of the richeft Gentlemen of BISCAY, and 
 that they frequently correfponded with each 
 other. " And to convince you of the 
 truth of what I fay," continued the faithful 
 girl, tf I will fhew you her anfwcr to the 
 " very letter fhe has juft received from. 
 " your rival ; for all her difpatches pafs 
 " through my hands in their way to the 
 " meffenger." 
 
 THEODORA inftantly performed her pro- 
 mife ; and the following is a copy of the 
 letter which Donna INNES had written to 
 her Bifcayan Lover. 
 
 " / rejoice to fad that you lave obi a':. -.id 
 <' th title of Knight of the Order of St. 
 u James, which you fo ardently defired, and 
 ft which has fo long deprived me of the plea- 
 ft Jure of feeing the only objetl of my tender 
 (f affttlicn. Doubt not that I JJhall be highly 
 " pleafcd with the fpeedy return with which 
 ft y u flatter me ; but remember that I forbid 
 f{ you to vifit PAMPELUNA. / have partku- 
 " lar reafons for this prohibition. Go to 
 ; BURGOS, and exert your utmojl endeavours
 
 284 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 *' lo perfuade my father to fend for me home, 
 " /* defiance of my aunt's reluftance to part 
 !< with me. I confefs Jhe forces me pure/safe 
 " my expe&ation of becoming her heirefs at a 
 t( high price. Adieu ; and may I find^ on 
 *' my return, your ajfeclicn equal to the tender- 
 " nefi and fidelity of 
 
 ' D. INNES." 
 
 MY fenfitions on reading a letter which 
 fo explicitly informed me of the perfidy 
 of Donna INNES no language can exprefs. 
 I had great occafion for the wife coun-fel cf 
 my amiable filter to prevent the total 
 traction of my mind ; and her prudent ad- 
 vice brought me fo completely to my fenfes, 
 that inftead of abandoning myfdf to my 
 fury, and overwhelming the coquette with 
 vain reproaches, I determined to diflfcmble. 
 LEONORA alfo followed my example with 
 fo much adroknefs, that Donna INNES, not 
 fufpecYtng we were acquainted- with her 
 perfidy, continued as ufual her feeming 
 confidence ; each of us driving who 
 fhould bed conceal their real fentiments. 
 I even prevailed on mylelf to continue my 
 
 correfpondence
 
 VANILLO GONZALEZ. 2 a s 
 
 correfpondence with this faithiefs fair one, 
 in the warmeft language of Love, and (he 
 continued to anfwer my letters in even 
 warmer expreflions than my o\vn. 
 
 WHILE we were living thus cordially 
 with each other, Do.n GASPARD arrived at 
 PAMPSLUNA, to recond.uct his daughter to 
 BURGOS, to which place Don MARTIN had 
 then returned. Bur "Donna JUANNA flill 
 oppofed ; atid, notwithftanding all the rea- 
 Jlbns which her brother offered to her, ab- 
 folutely refufed to confent to the departure 
 of her niece. Don GASPARD, not daring 
 ro thwart the inclination of a filler who 
 was likely to take revenge in her lad will, 
 not only quitted the conteft,but confented to 
 relinquHh his refidence at BURGOS and to live 
 entirely with his fitter at PAMPELUNA. The 
 perfidious niece would willingly have facri- 
 ficed the tender attachment of her aunt to 
 her own tender attachment for her lover, 
 who Ihe forefaw would foon repair to PAM- 
 PELUNA, and render by his prcfence the 
 further continuance of her double profef- 
 fions impradicable. Her mind, fruitful a^ 
 it was in ftratagems of deceit, was unequal 
 
 to
 
 2*6 T H E H I S T O R Y O i 
 
 to the difficulties of her fituation, .and ftic 
 difcovered a perturbation and anxiety, 
 \vhich nothing but a. knowledge of my 
 being acquainted with the fccre-t of her 
 guilt could pofTibly increafe. 
 
 THE gay rival of my former hopes did not 
 long difappoint her expectation, but ap- 
 peared at PAMPELUXA in a fplendid equi- 
 page, accompanied by a number of domcf- 
 tics clothed in rich liveries, and in a ftile 
 of fafhion fuitcd to the dignity of his Order 
 and the extent of his fortune. The firft 
 time I faw him was in a church where the 
 faithlefs daughter of Don GASPARD was 
 hearing mafs. I felt, without knowing why, 
 a great agitation the moment I beheld him, 
 or, to fay more truly, I had a prefentiment 
 that he was the redoubtable rival of whom 
 THEODORA had fpoken ; but, if 'a doubt 
 had exiiled, it would foon have been re- 
 moved ; for almoil immediately addrefling 
 himfelfto Donna INKES, with a fond and 
 familiar air, (he received him, notwith- 
 ftanding (he perceived that I obferved 
 them, in a manner which wounded me 
 with jeaioufy. Inftead of reftraining herfelf 
 
 to
 
 V.ANILLO GONZALES. ,zj 
 
 TO fpare me the mortification of feeing her 
 beftow her attention upon another, (lie 
 lavifhed upon him the fweerefl looks, and 
 pierced my heart by the tcilinionies Hie 
 gave him of her love. 
 
 ON quitting the Church, he accompa- 
 nied her to the door of her aunt's houfe, 
 which he catered like a man ivho had ob- 
 tained the permiiiion of Don GASPARD, 
 whilft I, filled wkh rage and defpair, re- 
 -turhed to my apartment, and furrendered 
 myfelf to the feverefl torments of wounded 
 pride. 
 
 THIS artful deceiver, however, having 
 rightly conjectured that I fnould not bear 
 the favorable reception me had beftovved 
 upon the Knight with perfect tranquillity, 
 took the trouble to write me a billet in the 
 evening, fignifying that the perfon I had 
 ieen at Church need not afford me the lead 
 alarm ; that he was an intimate. acquaint- 
 ance of her father's ; and that as uich me 
 could not well avoid returning his polite 
 attentions to her ; but that her behaviour 
 was the effed of mere civility, and nothing 
 more than good manners required, in which 
 
 the
 
 *S THE HISTORY OF 
 
 the heart had no concern. She exprefsly 
 declared, in fhort, that there was but one 
 man in the whole world Ihe was capable 
 of loving, and that that man was myfelf. 
 
 THIS deceitful letter ftung me to the 
 foul and urged me to revenge. On the 
 approach of evening I accordingly put 
 on a difguife, and concealed myielf in the 
 environs of the faithlefs creature's houfe, 
 with a determination to attack my rival 
 whenever chance (hould throw him in my 
 way. Scarcely had I approached the door 
 before it opened, and a young Page, ad- 
 vancing from it towards me, alked me if 
 my name was Signior Don MARTIN. On 
 my telling him in a low voice that it was, 
 he put a paper into my hands, faying 
 that Donna INNES his miftrefs defired me 
 immediately to perform the requeft it con- 
 tained. Alluring him I would, and giving 
 him a double piftole, with which the blun- 
 dering youth returned as well contented 
 as if he had difcharged his commiflion 
 without miftake, I haflily returned home, 
 impatient to learn the contents of the billet ; 
 in which, on opening it, I read the follow- 
 ing words :
 
 VANILLO G ONZAT/ES. zfy 
 
 <f TeSj Don MARTIN, 1 ivill perform fb 
 " promife 1 made to you this day. To-wcrrc~v 
 u at midnight I will be at tbe garden-gate " 
 
 THIS information increafed my fury $ and 
 you will eafily conceive that, with a bolbrh 
 alive only to revenge, I paffed a painful 
 night. The morning fun feemed loath to 
 r?fe, and the tedioufnefs of the fucceeding 
 day almoft exhaufted my patience 'before 
 the appointed hour arrived. The clock 
 flruck twelve as I approached the place of 
 alTignation, where 1 almoft inftantly difco- 
 vered my detefted rival advancing towards 
 the garden gate ; but before he entered, 
 " Stop, Don MARTIN," exclaimed I ; 
 " flop: It ts Don FELIX DE PF.RALTA 
 " who thus impedes your guilty pleafures. 
 " Liften to my words ; and learn that the 
 ** perfidious object of your love has not 
 *' N only encouraged my addrcffes, but has 
 <f avowed her paffion for me in a variety of 
 " letters, which will prove, at the fame 
 " time, the falfehood of her heart and the 
 " truth of my aiTertion. My feelings call 
 f< upon me to revenge her perfidy, and to 
 
 VOL. i. o tf deprive
 
 i9 o THE HISTORY OF 
 
 *' deprive her of the joy (he might receive 
 u from this expected interview with you." 
 
 MY favoured rival, ftruck with this me- 
 nacing addrefs, replied : " This interrup- 
 *' tion, Don FELIX, is as audacious as it is 
 u unjuft. On what right can you attempt 
 " to prevent my vifit to a lady whofe affec- 
 *' tions I have, for more than fix years, 
 " entirely poflefied. The regard which (he 
 " may have pretended for you, as a mere 
 *' entertainment to herfelf, I difapprove of; 
 " for a Gentleman of your rank ought 
 St not to have been treated with ib much 
 " levity ; but, Sir, however you may have 
 " been encouraged by her behaviour, 
 " you muft excufe me from believing that 
 " fhe has written to you. The Gentlemen of 
 " NAVARRE are celebrated for boafting of 
 te female favours which they have never re- 
 ' ceived." 
 
 " THIS afTertion, Don MARTIN," re- 
 plied I, '* is adding infult to injury. My 
 "veracity, Sir, fliall not beflandered with 
 " impunity. You muft anfwer immediately 
 " this daring affront. Come on, Sir, and 
 " let me teach you, that the Gentlemen of 
 
 " NAVARRE
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 291 
 
 " NAVARRE are as jealous of their honour, 
 " and of as high veracity, as thofe of 
 " BISCAY." 
 
 IN uttering thefe words I drew my fword : 
 my adverfary immediately followed my ex- 
 ample. We fought on both fides for fome 
 time with equal ardour and activity ; but 
 Don MARTIN, unfortunately for him, ia 
 endeavouring to parry a thrufl, acquitted 
 himfelf fo badly, that the point of my 
 fword went directly through his throat, and 
 inflantly deprived him of life. 
 
 LEAVING my antagonift extended on the 
 ground, I entered the garden, the gate of 
 which I found half open, and met Donna 
 INNES walking with THEODORA in ex- 
 pectation of her lover's arrival. " Per- 
 jured woman," exclaimed I, addreffing 
 her in the violence of paffion, <e you can no 
 " longer deceive me ; I am acquainted with 
 ''your perfidy; and I have, this jnftant, 
 " glorioufly revenged myfelf in the death 
 " of my rival. Oh ! that you loved him a 
 " thoufand times more than you do, that 
 " I might increafe your mifery while I 
 '* announce his death ; and punifh you, 
 o z " through
 
 pz* THE HI S.TORY OF 
 
 ** f through him, for deceiving me. It is 
 *'.true, I fhall be obliged to fly from 
 " my -country and my family ; feut I (hall 
 ''have the confelation of quitting for ever 
 * f ,the prefcnce of fo detefted a deceiver." 
 
 ,HAV;N,G uttered -thefe words with all the 
 indignation of a man who lifteoed only to 
 the dictates of revenge, I ruflied from the 
 garden, and Jeft Donna INNES, who had 
 fainted .away, reclining in the arms of her 
 .attendant. 
 
 RETURNING home with all poflible expe- 
 dition, I awakened uiy father from the 
 .comforts of repofe, and informed him of this 
 difaftrous event. The furprize it occa- 
 ifioned was great indeed ; for, until that 
 ,moment, he had not even heard of my par- 
 tiality for Donna IXNES ; but when he re- 
 jected, that the event would neceflarily 
 /orce me to fly from the arm of juftice, his 
 affliction was more poignant than language 
 can exprefs. Coniidering, however, that 
 it was a misfortune which could not now be 
 Avoided, he prefented me with a purfe 
 lled with gold and jewels; and, mounting 
 
 .me
 
 VAN1I/LO GONZALfiS. 353 
 
 me upon one of his fleeted horfcs, bid me 
 a fwrcrvrfuFacHeujoft as the fun was inhering . 
 in the day. 
 
 CROSSING NAVARRE, and, advancing tfy ' 
 long ftages through the Principality of 
 CATALONIA, I proceeded without refting'to 
 BARCELONA, where I fold my horfe and 
 embarkect, with alf poffible preopitp.t'ron, on- 
 Ixnrd a vefTel for the Pbrf of GEI/OA. 
 The fafety which Italy afforded reflored my- 
 mind to its- former tranquillity ; and as nly- 
 finances enabled me to travel, I formett a 
 tfefign of viewing the whole of that delight- 
 fur country. After vifiting whatever was 
 curious in GENOA*,, I purctafed a horfe ; 
 and, direclihg-m)r courfe towards Lom- 
 fctardy, arrived at MILAN, where I remained 
 fix months. 
 
 ON bidding my father adieu, it was 
 agreed, that I Ibould write to him fro:ii the 
 feveral places I might refide at, undercover 
 to one of his friends, a monk of PAMTE- 
 LUNA, who delivered the letters as he re- 
 ceived them with his own hands. By this 
 means we reciprocally communicated intel* 
 Hgence to- each other. This kind parenr; 
 3 in
 
 254 T -ft^E HISTORY OF 
 
 in one of his letters, informed me, that 
 the daughter of Don GASPARD was fo af- 
 fected by the circumftances of TREVIGNO'S 
 death, that (he had retired into a convent, 
 and that a rumour prevailed, that the bro- 
 ther of Don MARTIN had departed from 
 BISCAY with intention to. trace me from 
 place to place, and to avenge the death of 
 his filler's lover. This information, al- 
 though it gave me no uneaiinefs, induced 
 me to take fuch precautions as might pre- 
 vent iurorize. I accordingly concealed my 
 name, a)id never difclofed to any peifon 
 the place of my family refideoce in 
 Spaip. 
 
 TIRED of the pleafures which MILAN 
 afforded, I renewed my defign of traverfing 
 Italy j and for that purpofe directed my 
 ourfe, on horfeback, towards PAR M--\. 
 
 TOWARDS the evening of the fecond 
 day's journey, while I was deep in thought, 
 I inadvertently quitted the road, and fol- 
 lowed a path which conducted me into a 
 wide country covered with wood, and inter- 
 fecled with thickets of bramble. Perceiving 
 the miftalce, I endeavoured to return into the 
 
 A
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 295 
 
 road I had left, by retracing the path ; 
 but, instead of repairing my fault, I 
 found myfelf enveloped by a deep and 
 dreary glen, from which the darknefs 
 of the night, which now clofed faft around 
 me, prevented my return. Compelled 
 to remain in this fituation until the 
 break of day, I difmounted, and taking 
 the bridle from my horfe, that he mighc 
 graze more conveniently, threw myfelf on 
 the grafs, in expectation that a found ileep 
 would relieve me from the fatigues of rny 
 Tourney and the calls of hunger;, but as my 
 wearied eyelids were about to clbfe, I fad- 
 denly heard the diftant cries of ill-omened 
 birds, accompanied, at intervals, by the 
 plaintive founds of a human voice. Starting 
 'from the ground to difcover, if poffible, the 
 caufe of thefe extraordinary noifes; and, 
 walking towards the place from whence the 
 founds feemed to proceed, I difcovered, by the 
 favour of a feeble light, which the moon oc- 
 cafionally caft through the dark clouds in 
 which it was involved, the remains of an an- 
 cient EDIFICE. It appeared like a chapel 
 fallen, into ruins, and become the melancholy 
 o 4 abode
 
 296 THE HIS TO a Y OF 
 
 abode of bats and fcrcrch-owls. Ad- 
 vancing to examine ir, I heard more dif- 
 tindly every flep I took, the noifes which 
 refounded from within it The whole glen 
 fomerimes re-echoed to the hideous cries of 
 birds of prey, and at others I clearly difcerncd 
 fomeihing like the groansand lamentations oi 
 a female, who, by fome ftrange outrage, had 
 been inclofed, againft her will^ within this 
 place of horror. 
 
 THE defire I felt to develope this myftejy 
 induced ine to enter the ruins ; but I entered 
 them with; a degree of fear and trembling, 
 from which, the moft intrepid man could 
 not, in my fituation, have been free. Cu- 
 riofity however fup ported my courage, and 
 I walked, with a naked fword in my hand> 
 ilowly and cautloufly among the fcattered 
 fragments, of the edifice^ until I came to a 
 kind of tomb x from whence-a voice, inter- 
 rupted by fighs aad groans, fuddenly pro- 
 pounced thefe words : ^Qnnbappyvyoman! kow 
 <c hive I deferred to faffer fuck cruel treatment V* 
 A death-like terror firuck niy heart on hear- 
 ing thefe ?xpre(Tion> ; my in bid was dif- 
 
 m -\
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 297 
 
 mayed; and my imagination reprefented ic ; 
 as a foul configned to trouble. 
 
 ALARMED and agitated, however, as I wa:v 
 I ventured to fpeak to the voice I heard ; 
 but my addrefs was fuch as clearly marked 
 the difocdered ftate of my mind : " Im* 
 " mortal fpirit," exclaimed I, <f you, who,; 
 " difengaged from corporeal restraints, ex- 
 " piate in this monument the crimes corrr- 
 " mitted in your mortal ftate, fay, what 
 " would you have? I am ready to do whar- 
 " ever you command." 
 
 t( AH I traitor," replied the voice* " you 
 <( are not contented with having buried 'me- 
 " alive within this horrid grave, but you 
 " muft add infult to this cruel injury : the 
 " lingering and inhuman death which waits 
 *' me in this horrid fepulchre might fully fa- 
 " tisfy your mind. '* 
 
 ON receiving this reply, which -convinced 
 me that I was in converfation with a living 
 body, my apprehenfions vanimed. 
 
 " WHOEVER you are," faid I to the afflict- 
 ed female, tl know that I am not the au- 
 " thor of your misfortunes. I am a travel- 
 ' ler, who, having loft his way, v/as pre- 
 05 " paring
 
 .298 THE HISTORY OP 
 
 fc paring not far from hence to await the re- 
 cf turn of morn, when I heard your com- 
 " plaint, and have ventured into this retreat 
 " to learn its caufe : the fears which your eja- 
 <c culationsinfpired deprived me of my fenfes; 
 " I fancied you a departed fpirit; and under 
 f( that impreffion exorcifed you ; but I am 
 " now undeceived ; and if I fhall be enabled 
 ." to render you the lead fervice, it will con- 
 " fole me for having mitfed my way. Lofe 
 " DO time. Come forward from this 
 " frightful place and follow me. I have a 
 -." horfe not far hence, and will conduit you 
 .'* wherever you (hall direct." 
 
 " OH ! Sir," replied the voice, " I can- 
 ." not .without your affiftance releafe myfelf 
 " from this horrid dungeon, where I am 
 "tifd with cords j my tongue, which mail 
 *' ever hereafter pour forth my gratitude 
 " to Heaven for your affiftance, alone is 
 " free." 
 
 I ACCORDINGLY approached, and entered 
 the tomb, where I found a woman not only 
 fettered hands and feet, but, to render the 
 fcene ftill more horrible, clofely fattened to 
 the dead body of a man. The {hocking 
 
 fight
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 299 
 
 fight flruck terror to my foul, and I retreated 
 involuntarily from the object. 
 
 " GENEROUS ftranger !" faid the Lady, 
 " feparatc the living from the dead : releafe 
 " me immediately from the murdered body 
 " to which I am bound ; and defeat the 
 '" vindictive fury of an unjuftly jealous huf- 
 band." 
 
 I CONCLUDED from thefelaft words, that 
 the deplorable (late to which this unhappy 
 woman was reduced muft be a new Italian 
 method of punifhing conjugal infidelity. 
 
 GALLANTRY, however, when called upon 
 to aid a female in diftrefs, is never impeded 
 by a confideration of circumftances , and, 
 advancing immediately towards thf unhap- 
 py fufferer, I cut the cords with which (he 
 was tied with my fword j releafed her from 
 her dead companion ; and, conducted her 
 from the tomb through the furrounding 
 ruins, to the fpot where my horfe was 
 grazing, 
 
 THE light of day foon afterwards ap- 
 peared on the horizon ; and, placing the 
 young fufferer behind me on the horfe, we 
 followed the firft track without knowing to 
 o 6 what
 
 ^9 THE HIS TOR Y O 1- 
 
 what place it led, and arrived in a move 
 time at BETOLA. 
 
 THE Lady, who until this time had ob- 
 ferved a profound filence, on viewing the 
 village, joyfully exclaimed," I know where 
 fc we are ; and the place to which I with to 
 (C go is not more than two miles diftant. 
 " Go that road, if you pleafe, Sir," added 
 (lie, pointing to a, pith : ct go that road, 
 <f and we fliall in lefs than an hour arrive 
 ' r at a farm-houfe, where you will be re- 
 " ceived by perfons who will not be infen- 
 ct fible of the fervices you have rendered 
 ( me ; for you will then reftore me to the 
 te arms of my beloved parents, to a fond 
 * f father, to a tender and affectionate mo- 
 " ther. ' Oh ! ANSELMO ! Oh ! DORO- 
 <c THEA f" continued me, until interrupted 
 by her tears, " unhappy authors of my ex- 
 " iftence, what will you feel ? How will 
 " your kind hearts bleed with affliction 
 <c when you learn theunjuft and cruel trcat- 
 ** ment your daughter has received ?" 
 
 THIS apoftrophe was followed by fuch a 
 flood of tears, that although I ferioully 
 doubted whether I had refcued from death 
 
 a vie-
 
 VAN ILL O * ON Z ALES. 3^1 
 
 a vi&im perfectly innocent, I could not 
 avoid being deeply affected by her diilrefs. 
 
 ON our arrival at the farm-houfe, an 
 aged man and woman were (landing at the 
 door. It was ANSELMO and DOROTHEA. 
 AftonHhed and furprifed at perceiving their 
 daughter, " Juft Heaven," exclaimed the 
 old man, " itisLueRETiA ! Why are you 
 " here without your hufband ? Why is he 
 *' not with you ?'* 
 
 LUCRETIA could only anfwer with her 
 tears, which flowed in all the abundance of 
 real feeling and affliction. " Alas !" faid 
 the mother, " I am afraid that AURELIO^ 
 tf my fon-in-law, lias been guilty of fome 
 " grofs mifconduft.^ 
 
 At thefe words the fobs and tears of LU- 
 CRE TI A increafed fo violently* that ANSEL- 
 MO, perceiving there was no probability of 
 deriving any information from her, addrefled 
 himfelf to me, and requefted I would re- 
 late to them, if I knew it, the caufe of her 
 affliction. 
 
 I ACCORDINGLY informed them of the 
 fituation and place in which 1 had found 
 
 their
 
 302 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 their daughter, but that I was entirely igno- 
 rant of the caufe which had induced her 
 huiband to life fo much feverity. 
 
 WHILE I was giving this detail, which 
 they could not hear without horror, the an- 
 guifh of LUCRETIA by degrees abated ; and, 
 refuming the ufe of her voice, (he related 
 the following ftory in her juftification : 
 
 " AURELIO, the perfon to whom I was 
 <e efpoufed," faid (he, " is a man not only 
 ft more jealous, but more capable of per- 
 *' mitting his feelings to drive him into a 
 " violent excefs, than any other native of 
 * c Italy. Entertaining fufpicion, but upon 
 " what appearances I am totally ignorant, 
 ** that the youth and beauty of one of his 
 "dorreftics had attracted my attention, he 
 " ftabbed, in a frantic moment ' of un- 
 " founded jealoufy, the innocent and un- 
 " happy youth ; and, tying our bodies to- 
 '* gether with cords, carried us, by the af- 
 " fiftance of perfons devoted to his hu- 
 " mour, in that condition, to the place 
 '* from which this generous flranger has juft 
 * releafed me." 
 
 AN s ELMO
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 
 
 33 
 
 ANSELMO and DOROTHEA, who knew the 
 character of AURELIO, and had frequently 
 repented of having given him their daugh- 
 ter in marriage, were penetrated with the 
 keeneft anguim at this recital; and they 
 joined their tears to thofe which ftill con- 
 tinued to flow from the eyes of LUCRETIA, 
 who confirmed her innocence in the minds 
 of her parents by this appeal : " If," faid 
 -Ihe, " I had the leafz reafon to reproach 
 " myfelf, can you imagine that I mould 
 " thus prefumptuouily appear before you ? 
 " Oh ! no ; fo far from daring to- feek an 
 " afylum in your arms, I mould have flown 
 *' with horror from my paternal dwelling^ 
 <c and have endeavoured to hide the fhame 
 *' of difgracing the education you have 
 " given me in the remoteft corner of the 
 " earth." 
 
 THIS affedionate couple gave credit to 
 the afleveration of their lovely daughter, 
 and, fecretly reproaching themfelves for hav- 
 ing married her fo imprudently, locked her 
 alternately in their arms with every mark 
 of parental tendernefs and contrition. 
 
 THESE
 
 3P4 THE H LS-T O R Y OP 
 
 THESE tranfports- of fond forrow having 
 fublided, they bellowed upon me a thcu- 
 fand thanks for faving their innocent and 
 lovely child from impending death ; and 
 requeued me to continue in the farm with 
 them as long as I pleafed : but,- after 
 pairing a day with them, I enquired the 
 neareft road to PARMA, and proceeded on 
 my journey to a city, celebrated by its 
 being the ufual refidcnce of the illuilrious 
 Prince its Sovereign. 
 
 BEFORE I had been three days at PARMA 
 I was engaged in an adventure which had 
 nearly coft me my life. Curious to learn 
 whether the gallants of PARMA chanted 
 the pleafures and the pains of love under 
 the balconies of their miftrefies, 1 walked 
 one evening, after fupper, round the city. 
 The clock had already ftruck eleven without 
 the found of a fingle guitar having reached 
 my earj but no fooner did the midnight 
 hour arrive, than mufic of all kinds re- 
 founded through every ftreet. A concert, 
 feemingly in the Spaniih ftile of mufic, was 
 performing in one of the fquares, and, con- 
 ceiving;
 
 V A N 1 L L O G O N Z A L fc S. 305 
 
 ccvving it to be fome young lover of my 
 own country who was ferenading the object 
 of his affection, I advanced towards the 
 place. 
 
 THE mufic, while I liflened to it with 
 pleafure, fuddenly flopped ; the found of 
 the violins was fucceeded by the clalhing of 
 fwords; and I foon afterwards difcovered 
 a man who was retiring in a pofture of de- 
 fence againft three aiTailants who preffed 
 upon him all together with great violence. 
 Provoked by the inequality of the canted, 
 .1 drew my fword j and, ranging myfelf oa 
 the fide of the fingle combatant, who muft v 
 in the event, have fallen a victim to fupe- 
 rior numbers, gave him fuch ufeful fuccour., 
 that we obliged the aflailants to retire, not 
 without fome wounds, which, in all proba- 
 bility, they would not have received if I. 
 had not joined the affray* 
 
 THE Gentleman, in whofe favour I had' 
 thus feafonably interpofed, appeared fo ex-- 
 tremely fenfible of the fervkes I had ren- 
 dered him, that he knew not how to difcoi> 
 tinue his cxprdfions of gratitude... 
 
 " Sir,"
 
 306 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 "Sin," replied I, in the Caftilian lan- 
 guage, " the fetvices you have received do 
 " not merit fuch extraordinary commenda- 
 (l non. Could I calmly obferve one of my 
 " countrymen, for if I am not miflaken 
 "you are from SPAIN, in fuch imminent 
 (t danger, without affording him affifl- 
 " ance?" 
 
 " You are not mifhken," replied he; 
 e * I am a native of BISCAY, and my name 
 ft is Don GREGORIO DE TREVIGNO. May 
 " I requeft," added he, " to be informed 
 *' what province in SPAIN has the honour 
 '* of your birth. I beg you will let me 
 "" know to whom I am indebted for the fer- 
 *' vice I iave received." 
 
 *' You mud excufe me, Sir," replied f v 
 " from gratifying your cariofity, left you 
 * ( mould repent of having received the ob- 
 " ligation you exprefs from niy hands.'* 
 
 " OH Heavens!*' exclaimed the Bifcayan, 
 *' can you be Don FELIX DE PERALTA.*' 
 
 YES," replied I, ci I am. It was I 
 * c who killed your brother at PAMPELUNA. 
 " I am the fugitive whom you feek, and 
 " whom chance has thrown in fiich a man- 
 
 " ncr
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 307 
 
 " ner in your way, that fortune feems to 
 " have rendered the fuccour my arm has juft 
 ." afforded you a fcreen of delicacy to fhel- 
 " ter me from your vengeance. But I am 
 11 not inclined to accept a favour fo awk- 
 *' vvardiy bellowed, and I requeft that you 
 " will pay no regard to a fervice which I 
 " fliould liave rendered to any other man 
 *' as well as to yourfelf. Confult only your 
 " offended feelings, and vindicate your 
 " brother's death." 
 
 "WOULD you do fo," interrupted Don 
 GREGORIO, " if you were in my place? 
 " Speak : your fentiments fhall -guide my 
 " condud." 
 
 "You embarrafs me,*' replied 1; " if 
 
 .'" you hadfpilledmy brother's blood, and I 
 
 " had owed my life to you, the voice of gra- 
 
 , "" titude would, I think, have filenced my 
 
 -" refentment." 
 
 11 THEN why," replied he, " mould I 
 " adt in a different manner : do you con- 
 *' ceive that my notions upon this fubject 
 " are leis refined than your own ? No, 
 " no, Don FELIX, I knovv what honour 
 '* requires from you in this conjuncture; but, 
 
 <c however
 
 3 o* THE HISTORr OF 
 
 " however confanguinity may murmur, I 
 s * will no longer confider you-as my enemy. 
 " You have yourfelf repaired the injury- 
 " my family received ; fince the fame {"word 
 ** which extingftifhcd- the life of r)rfn ; _ 
 " MARTIN has prolonged that of GRE- 
 '* GORIO. Permit me farther, to allure yoo, 
 ^ that your generous and -galiant behavionr 
 " h.is banhhed all amm^fuy from my mind, 
 * and inclined me to feek that future 
 ** frienddiip from you whicb on my part'I 
 "am i:acora!y^ difpofed'to-beftow." 
 
 WE accordingly interchanged addreffes; 
 and, . after mutual .profeflions of refpedl and 
 efteem, parted, under promifes to rifit each 
 other early ti^e enfuing morning;, and each 
 of us was fo eager to honour the other wirh. 
 the firft vifit,.that we. met on the way-*. 
 
 THE ufual compliments- having pafled, 
 Don GREGORIO defired that he might have 
 the pleafure.of introducing me. to- -a friend 
 of his at Court i and, in compliance with 
 his deflre, I immediately- accompanied him 
 tothehoufeofCountGLJADAGNi,theDt;Kfc's 
 favourite, and Firft Gentleman of his Cham- 
 ber, to whom he. prefented me, faying, 
 
 Permit.-
 
 V A N i L L O G O N Z A L -E S. 39? 
 
 *' Permit me to introduce to you Don 
 tc F.ELIX DE PERALTA, the mortal enemy 
 <f whom I fought with f much induftry ; 
 *' for he is now one of my bcft friends," 
 
 tc WHAT miracle, "exclaimed the Count, 
 " lias produced this alteration in your fcnii- 
 " ments :" 
 
 PON GREGORIO then related to him the 
 recent adventure, candidly avowing, that 
 without my affiftance he mull have loft his 
 life. The Count, having -liftened to this 
 narrative with great attention, congratulated 
 us on an event which had thus happily ter- 
 minated an affair of honour, which, in ge- 
 neral, ends in the death of one, and forne^- 
 times of both of the parties. 
 
 jGuADAGNi conceived this to be fo fingu- 
 lar a circumftance, that he could not avoid 
 communicating it to the Duk.e his mafler, 
 -who, from mere curiofity, defired to fee 
 and converfe with me. The interview af- 
 forded fo much pleafure.to my Royal Audi- 
 tor., that -he refolved to detain me at the Court 
 of PARMA..; and, for .that purpofe, re- 
 quefted my acceptance of a Lieutenancy in 
 'he Guards; and as I alfo enjoyed the pa- 
 tronage
 
 3to THE HISTORY OF 
 
 tronage and friendfhip of his favourite, I en- 
 tertained the high hope of being able, in a 
 fhort time, to amafs a fplendid fortune. 
 
 I COMMUNICATED my reconciliation with 
 GREGORIO, and my advancement at the 
 Court of PARMA, to my fond and anxious 
 father ; and it is fcarcely neceffary for me 
 to fay, that his congratulations on both oc- 
 cafions were equally joyful and fincere. 
 
 MY endeavours to cultivate the friend- 
 fhip and good opinion of the Duke of PAR- 
 MA were fo fuccefsful, that in a period of 
 lefs than two years I was promoted to the 
 poft of Firft Chamberlain, which had be- 
 come vacant by GUADAGNI'S death. 
 
 NATIVES never fuffer a foreigner to oc- 
 cupy a place of fo much importance at 
 Court with any degree of quietude or fe- 
 curity ; and all the numerous individuals 
 who conceived their merit had been over- 
 looked or flighted by my promotion raifed 
 an envious outcry againft me, and endea- 
 voured, by all the arts of factious calumny, 
 to degrade me from the high confidence 
 and efteem in which I was held by my 
 Royal Benefactor. Combinations were 
 
 formed
 
 '* V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 311 
 
 formed amongft the leading Courtiers to 
 deftroy my power, and they employed all 
 the arts and ftratagems ingenuity could 
 fugged to effecl: their purpofe ; but all 
 .their exertions were fruitlefs, and only con- 
 tributed to fix me more firmly in my 
 exalted ftation ; for you may conceive 
 that it was no eafy tafk to rob me of the 
 favour of a Prince with whofe virtues and 
 vices I was equally well acquainted. The 
 fkilful GUADAGNI had, by means of this 
 knowledge, conftantly preferved his credit 
 with his mafler ; and treading with equal 
 adroitnefs in the fteps of my predeceflbr, I 
 had, in (hort, difcovered the fecret of ren- 
 dering myfelf fo neceflary to the Duke, 
 that he no longer viewed any object except 
 through my eyes. I am convinced that no 
 favourite ever gained a more abfolute af- 
 cendancy; fo great indeed was my power, 
 that I was called the Coadjutor of the 
 States of PARMA ; and the oppofiag 
 Courtiers, finding themfelves incapable of 
 making fuccefsful refiftance, fubmitted 
 to the predominating influence of my 
 brighter fortunes. But, alas ! the authority 
 
 which
 
 312 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 which hadwithtlood the attacks of a powerful 
 faction, yielded to the fuperior addrefs of a 
 Lady, for whom the Duke entertained a 
 mod extravagant affection. 
 
 THIS dangerous rival was the wife of 
 his principal Equerry, the Fvfarchioncfs 
 of ORIGO ; who, although fhe had paffedl 
 the meridian of life, was ftiil not only 
 the moil ftriking beauty, but the moft 
 artful intriguer of the Court. From the 
 firft moment (he faw the Prince within her 
 power, (he formed the refolution of re- 
 moving me from his confidence, in order 
 that (he might poflefs tht^entire adminif- 
 tration of affairs herfelf. Aware of her 
 defigns, I endeavoured, of courfe, by every 
 means ,n my power, to render them abor- 
 tive ; and, as is frequent between the Mi- 
 nifters and Miftrefles of Princes, a conteft 
 Commenced, in which we mutually en- 
 deavoured to ruin each other in the mind 
 of the Duke, by every ill office in our re- 
 fpcftive powers. When I was with the 
 Duke, I feized every occasion to degrade 
 her in his good opinion ; and when (he was 
 with him, my character alfo fuffered in its 
 
 turn,
 
 V A N I L L 3 G O N Z A L E S. 1 11 
 
 turn. The Prince, whofe greateft foibie 
 was an exceffivc good nature, liftened 
 Sometimes to the Marchionels, and (erne- 
 times to me, like a (hip which toffed about 
 by two oppofiflg winds yields alternately to 
 both. 
 
 THIS formidable rival, unfriendly as fhe 
 was to my interefts, \va i s no enemy, it ap- 
 peared, to the pleafures of the world : 
 Fame did not give her credit for a more 
 faithful attachment to the Prince her lover 
 ''han to the Marquis he: hull/and. It was 
 againft her infidelity that I directed all 
 rry batteries. Employing ceriam {pies, 
 whom I induced, by the liberality of my 
 bribes, to watch her conduct VPIU nn- 
 ccafmg vigilance, I was at length informed 
 that the Lady had lately fallen in love with 
 .1 Comedian of the name of OCTAVIO, 
 -*'ho generally played the principal cha- 
 racters at the Prince's The!. re ; that not 
 contented with admitting him almo.it daily 
 to ber toilette, (lie frequently went to hi? 
 houfc in a hired coach, difguifed as a common 
 M'oman ; in (hort, that there was no reafon 
 
 V'QL. I. i 10
 
 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 to doubt but that thefe interviews were in- 
 terviews of gallantry. 
 
 OVERJOYED as t was on receiving this 
 information, I thought it prudent to afcer- 
 rain its truth before I ventured to reap from 
 it the harveft it feemed to promiie ; and 
 with this view I fent to OCTAVIO, and re- 
 quefted that he would do me the favour 
 to fup with me alone in the evening, as 
 I had fomething of confequence to com- 
 municate to him. 
 
 THE Acl:or of courfe accepted the in- 
 vitation, and came to me at the appoint- 
 ed time : " OCTAVIO," laid I to him, 
 towards the concluhon of the evening, 
 (t 1 have a very unpleafant piece of 
 " news to communicate to you. The Duke 
 " has been made acquainted with the par- 
 " tiality which the Marchionefs of ORIGO 
 " has lately conceived for you, and that you 
 " frequently have fecret interviews with 
 " each other." 
 
 OCTAVIO, excellent a<5lor as he was, turn- 
 ed pale, and difcovered great confufion ac 
 this intelligence. Without iteming to notice 
 his diforder, I continued my difcourfe : 
 
 You
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 315 
 
 rt You know, OCTAVIO, that I am your 
 <c friend ; I have given you more than one 
 " teftimony of it -, and I think I mall not 
 g< prove myfelf very unkind in giving you 
 c * advice upon this occafion. If I were in 
 tf your fituation, I would throw myfelf at 
 f< the feet of the Prince, and make a candid 
 (( confeflion to him of all that has pafled. 
 " You are not ignorant of the goodnefs of 
 " his difpofhion ; a frank and fincere 
 " avowal will fubdue his anger. "I am fure 
 " he will forgive your inability to refill the 
 f< advances of fo fine a woman : and I will 
 " not only introduce you to his Highnefs, 
 {< but will ufe my intereft with him in your 
 " favour." 
 
 THE Actor had too much good fenfe not 
 to reject fuch advice from a man whom he' 
 well knew to be the mortal enemy of the 
 Marchionefs ; and concluding that my only 
 jeafon for advifing him to adopt fo delicate 
 a.mealure was to obtain proof of a fact, the 
 exigence of which only refted onTufpicion, 
 lie chofe to deny that he had ever been fo 
 pTcfumptuous as to raife even a thought in 
 favour of the Marchionefs. 
 
 P 2 THE
 
 u6 T H . H I S T O R Y O F 
 
 THK facl, however, was true, aud in t'.vo 
 days I was clearly convinced of it. 
 
 EARLY the enfuing morn-ing,, one of my 
 fpies informed me that the Marchionefs was 
 gone, in a hired carriage and in her ufuai 
 difguifc, to Oc TAVIO'S houfe ; and that I 
 might, if I pleafed, fee her return. Dref- 
 iing myfeif immediately, and following my 
 conductor, we concealed ourfelves a few 
 paces from the Comedian's houfe, from 
 \vhence the Lady, whom I recognifed by 
 her gait notwhhftanding her difguife, ibon 
 iifued ; but to make aflurance doubly fure, 
 I approached and lifted up the veil which 
 concealed her face. At the fight of me 
 fhe uttered an involuntary fcream : I apo- 
 logized for the liberty I had taken, by pre- 
 tending that 1 had miflaken her for .another 
 Lady ; but the ran from me without fpeak- 
 ing a word, and, jumping into the coach, 
 which was waiting at a fhort diflance, dii- 
 appeared in a moment. 
 
 CHARMED with the idea that I could tef- 
 tify, from my own view, .that (he had vilited 
 OCTAVIO, J ran to the Palace, with an air 
 of triumph, to recount what I had fecn ; but
 
 V A N 1 L L O G O N Z A L E S, $ff 
 
 unfortunately the Duke was gone our', 
 did not return until two hours afterwards, 
 when, obferving the emotion of my coun- 
 tenance, " What is- the matter with you r" 
 iaicl the Prince ; '* you appear aghated." 
 
 " SIR," replied I r " the character of your 
 f( Highnefs is too dear to me, not to be 
 ** affected by the bafe treachery which i& 
 " praaited againft you/ 7 
 
 "SPKAK mare explicitly," interrupted 
 the Duke. Cf Who is it that betrays me 
 '* What is the perfidy ?" 
 
 " THE Marchiohdb," replied 1, " is ^ 
 <4 fait-hlets woman - whom your ' Hi^hneis 
 * < ought to abandon. Ungratefully for- 
 <e getting the k>ve v\-kh which you honour 
 
 ** her " 
 
 " PKRALTA/' interrupted the Prrnce, 
 looking at me -with an angry eye, " Take 
 " care what you fay ; for I perceive your 
 "hatred to the Marchionefs difcolours ail 
 tf her aftions, and you condemn her, poi- 
 " libly, upon falfe appearance?.' What 
 " new crime can flie have committed that 
 *' you fliould bran'd her with the epitlkl' 
 *' of treacherous and ungrateful r" 
 
 r -2 "I SHOULD
 
 3 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " I SHOULD be juftified," replied I, " if 
 " I were to apply a term ftill more odious ; 
 " for fiie has this morning been with Oc- 
 " TAVIO the Comedian, in a hired carriage, 
 ** under the difguife of a common woman. 
 " I myfelf faw her iifue from the Ador's 
 " houfe, where her depraved pafiion has 
 " frequently before conducted her.'* 
 
 1 WHAT calumny ! " exclaimed the 
 Duke. ." Is it pofiible to impute to the 
 " Marchionefs fuch bale notions. Bur, 
 " happily for her, I am convinced of her 
 " innocence and of your malice. I have 
 " this moment returned from the company 
 ** of that Lady, who is fo unwell that (he 
 *' has not only been obliged to keep the 
 "houfe the whole morning, but to be 
 " bled ; and the Surgeon has taken from 
 " her .three porringers of blood, which are 
 *' now (landing on the table in her apart- 
 " menr. What would you fay, were I to 
 <f jfhew you this proof of her innocence?" 
 
 " I SHOULD fay,'* replied I, " that 
 *' the blood is not her own, but artfully 
 <<* placed there to fcreen her guilt." 
 
 THI
 
 ' V A N I,L L O GONZALEZ. 319 
 
 THE Duke cenfured my obftinacy, and, 
 notwithstanding all I faid to fupport my 
 charge againft the accufed, feeroed to itn 
 pate all the blame to the accufer. 
 
 THE three porringers of blood prefented 
 a myftery which I refolved immediately to 
 imravel , and, ordering my fpies to find one 
 the Marchionefs's Surgeon and bring him 
 inftantly before me, a fervice which they 
 Toon performed, 1 told him, by way of in- 
 timidation, " The Duke commands you, 
 " on pain of perpetual imprifonment, to in- 
 " form me whether"you have this morning 
 " bled the Marchionefs of OR i GO." 
 
 THE Surgeon turned .pale at thefe words, 
 and replied with a terrified afpect, " There 
 '* is no occafion for menaces to induce 
 " obedience to the commands of my So- 
 " vereign. In anfwer to your queftion, I 
 " was this morning fent for to the Mar- 
 " chionefs's houfe, to bleed one of her fe- 
 ft male attendants ; from whofe arm I took 
 " three porringers of blood, and came 
 " away.'* 
 
 <{ THEN it was not the Marchionefs that 
 " you bled?" faid I. 
 
 P 4 " No,
 
 3*o THE HISTORY OF 
 
 <% No, Sir/* replied the Surgeon ; " I did 
 " not even fee her Ladyfhin." 
 
 UPOX the Surgeon's report, I ventured 
 to aifitre the Duke that the blood was 
 not drawn from the vein of his miilrefs, 
 and that (be had artfully aflecled in- 
 difpofkion the better to conceal the fact of 
 her having been that morning v/ith Oc- 
 TAVIO. The Duke, bjinded by the vio- 
 lence of his paffion, warmly maintained that 
 (he was incapable of fuch grofs duplicity. 
 " I am convinced," faid he, '*' that the 
 " Marchionefs would difdain to rcfort to 
 " fo mean a fubterfuge ; but, to fatisfy 
 " my (elf more fully upon this fubjecl, I am 
 *' determined immediately to infpect h-er 
 " arm, and if I <lo not find a recent inciiloii 
 " on it with the lancet, I will give entire 
 <( credit to all you have told me, and aban- 
 '* don the perfidious coquette for ever : but 
 " VaiiALTA/* continued he, with a Hern, 
 and menacing afpcct, <c if there be the ap- 
 <c pearance of a recent puncture, you may 
 " be affured that 1 will revenge the ma- 
 
 Jkiive inmcled % 
 ^ bv
 
 VANJLLO GONZALES. 3 M 
 
 ts by your rafh afperfion, on her innocent 
 M character." 
 
 I^EING perfuaded that the whole of her 
 (lory to the Duke was a mere fabrication, 
 without any fupport except her own af- 
 fertion, I fubmitted cheerfully to-the penalty 
 he impofed : the Prince accordingly vi 
 the Marchionefs early in the evening, under 
 pretence of enquiring the (late of her health. 
 Of the conversation -which palled between 
 them during this important interview I am 
 totally ignorant ; but on the enfuing day, 
 when 1 prefented myieif before him, he re- 
 ceived me with an air of coldnefs and dit- 
 dain. " The Marchionefs/' laid he abrupt- 
 ly, "'was bled yetteixlay morning: it is a 
 * ( fact which' [ can attcil ; for I removed the 
 , 4< bandage from her -arm, and fa\v, with my 
 *' ov/n eyes, the incifiofi which the lancet 
 * l had made.' .Trouble my repofe no longer 
 " by fuch. unfounded accufadons. I -had 
 " rather be deceived by a mi (ire fs than owe 
 '." her fidelity merely to a vigilance on her 
 xc conduct." 
 
 CONFOUNDED and (truck dumb by this 
 
 peremptory -declaration, I could only con- 
 
 p 5 template
 
 32z THE HISTORY OF 
 
 template with aftonjfhment the falfehood of 
 the Surgeon or the artifice of the Marchio- 
 nefs, who, I concluded, had procured a 
 puncture to be made by fome other opera- 
 tor. My filence, however, was interpreted 
 by the Duke as unerring evidence of my 
 guilt ; and, confidering me in the character 
 of a lying informer, abailied by unexpected 
 .detection, turned his back upon me, and 
 ordered the Captain of his Guards to tell me 
 not to appear again at Court. 
 
 THE difgrace to which this fentence of 
 exile at once configned me afflicted me for 
 fome time with excruciating feverity ; and 
 my torments were not alleviated by the re- 
 flection, that I had fallen a victim to the 
 fuperior artifices of a woman, whofe influence 
 it was my fettled purpofe to deftroy : but, 
 at length, PHILOSOPHY came kindly to my 
 aid, and enabled me .to view the high and 
 comfoitlefs ftations of Ambition with very 
 -different fentiments ; and, RELIGION alfo 
 interpofing its affiftance, I adopted notions 
 which, by degrees, detached my mind com- 
 pletely from the world and its concerns. 
 I accordingly quitted the Court of PARMA, 
 
 and
 
 VANILLO GONZALE3. 323 
 
 and retired to GENOA ; from whence I 
 feized the earlieft opportunity of returning 
 to SPAIN; and, embarking on boardaveffel 
 for that purpofe, reached ALICANT, where 
 I purchafed a horfe and proceeded towards 
 PAMPELUNA ; but, like you, miffing my 
 road, I arrived towards evening at this Her- 
 mitage, the door of which was opened at 
 my requeft, and I was received by a vene- 
 rable old Man, who, though eighty y^ars 
 of age, was ftill able to walk without a 
 flick, and enjoyed the mod perfect health. 
 This hofpitable inhabitant treated me in the 
 fame manner as 1 have treated you ; and 
 the conventions which, he held with -me 
 perfected my refolution to- renounce all 
 future converfation with the world-. To 
 conclude my ftory in a few words, I im-- 
 plored the old Man to permit me to continue 
 with him in the enjoyment of this folitary 
 retreat: he granted my requeft; and I have. 
 refided from that moment in this -.Hermitage,, 
 occupied only by the hopes of Heaven.. 
 I did not even vifit PAMTELUNA :- tlie-plea- 
 iure of feeing my father and 1 my filler was 
 the firft facrificc I made to God. I paffed 
 P 6 cen
 
 T H I -\r. 
 
 ten years with the virtuous Hermit in this' 
 humble cell, and ten more have now elapied 
 iince his deceafe. 
 
 THE ^RECLUSE here concluded his nar- 
 rative ; and, returning him thanks for his 
 civility, 1 told him, with perhaps a (mile 
 on my countenance, that I was tempted to 
 follow his example. 
 
 "* YOTJ are yet too young," fa'id he, " to 
 xf embrace a mode of life which requires 
 tr that its Votaries mould be fatiatcd with 
 " the pleaiuresofthe world, andbethorough- 
 * ly fatisfied of its vanities ind vexations, 
 tc in order to quit it vrith propriety. It is the 
 *' want of this knowledge that fills the 
 * f cloifter with fo many unworthy inm-atesV 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH, 
 
 VANILLO takes bis Leave of THE HERMIT,- 
 and proceeds to SARAGOSSA ; from ivbinfs 
 loe re tttrns to ROD EN AS with good Ntivs for 
 "Don CHRISTOVAL, he ftmftq&ofa of 
 
 tbisNeivs. 
 
 RISING the enfuing morning before the 
 break of day^ and bidding adieu to 
 my Hoft, with repeated thanks for the kind 
 reception he had afforded me, I mounted 
 my horfe and jogged on towardsSAR AGOSSA^ 
 A- here I arrived before noon. 
 
 THE Governor and his daughter -were 
 converting in the parlour, with the Bitliop 
 of SALAMANCA, when I entered the room ; 
 but the moment they perceived me, they 
 all role from their feats^ and, crouding 
 round me, aiked me a thoufand queftions 
 c.;. the fame time ; " How is my fon-in- 
 
 " law's
 
 3t(S THE HISTORY OF 
 
 " law's health ? What news from my 
 "nephew? In what fituation have you 
 " left my hufband ?" 
 
 " MY Lords and my Lady/* replied I, 
 <c . I have left my matter in perfect health ; 
 ft and as to the treatment he receives from 
 "his Grace of ALEARAZIN, here are letters 
 ** which will afford you ample information.'* 
 I accordingly drew my papers from my 
 pocket, and delivered to each of them the 
 refpeclive difpatch. 
 
 I EXPECTED that the very long accounts 
 which Don CHRISTOVAL had given of die 
 fcveral iriftances of friend ihip and refpeft 
 lie received at RODENAS would have fatis- 
 fied their curiofity ; but I was miftaken ; for 
 they had no fooner read their letters than 
 they began a new courfe of interrogatories, 
 and obliged me to relate the moft minure 
 particulars, not only of our voyage, but even 
 of the Bifhop's Caftle. The performance 
 of theie taiks afforded me but little refpite ; 
 for dinner was no fooner over than Donna 
 ANNA, wifl'iing to make fome more parti- 
 cular enquiries, defired me to wait on her.
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 327 
 
 fe WELL, GONZALES," faid (lie, c< if you 
 " have given us, as I have HO doubt you 
 *' have, a faithful report, your matter muft 
 "'be extremely well fatisfied with fo de- 
 u lightful a place, where every perfon feems 
 tf fo anxious to make him happy. The affifr.- 
 " ance he derives from the delights of 
 <f RODENAS enables him, I conceive, to 
 '* endure my abfence with tolerable pa- 
 11 tience." 
 
 " OH, Madam !" replied I, Ct entertain 
 *' a more favourable opinion of the power 
 " of your charms, and render more juftic.e 
 (< to the fentiments of a hufband who adores 
 "you: it is not eafy for any amufemen-t 
 " to banifha lady of your merit and beauty 
 " from his mind ; he is for ever invoking 
 " his charming lovely Donna ANNA, who 
 " feems to accompany all his thoughts, and 
 11 mix in all his expreflions. <c VANILLO," 
 " faid he to me as I was coming away-, 
 " Oh, VAN [ LLO ! How I envy you the hap- 
 " pinefs of feeing my charming Donna 
 " ANNA, from whom Heaven in its wrath. 
 <c thus cruelly feparates me !" 
 
 A CK-
 
 : , zK . T H H I S T O R* Y OF 
 
 A CELF.STIAL fmile beamed from the 
 .features of Donna ANNA while I uttered 
 ihele words, " VANILLO," laid fhe, with 
 a foft and tender air, " tell me honeflly, 
 " don't deceive me, does Don CHRISTOVA& 
 c< really find the days of our leparation te- 
 " dious and unpleaiant ?" 
 
 " THE days, Madam ["' exclaimed I, 
 " ah ! rather lay the moments : he would 
 " fink under the pangs of abfence if Heaven 
 *' did not enable him to endure it." 
 
 I MUST confefs, however, that I did gild 
 the pill a little ; for, although Don CHRIS- 
 TOVAL was certainly extremely fond of his 
 wife, he was in no actual danger of dying 
 with grief on account of her abfence. 
 
 DONNA AMNA then informed me, that fhe 
 Entertained the mod flattering profpects of 
 her hufband's fpeedy return ; for that her 
 father had already had two conferences with 
 .the relations of the deceafed Don MKLC HI QRj 
 in which they candidly -confeiled that he 
 .'had been the fole aggrcflbr, and feemed 
 well difpofed to accommodation. The 
 Biihop, in mort, managed fo well, that the 
 matter was immediately concluded, and I 
 
 was
 
 V A N 1 L L O G O N Z A L E S. ^9 
 
 was difparched to bear the glad tidings to 
 the Caftle of RODENAS. 
 
 THIS accommodation procured to Don 
 CHRISTOVAL too many advantages to per- 
 mit him to flay anv longer at the Caftle; 
 iiid accordingly, taking leave of the good 
 Prelate \vith every teftimony of gratitude, 
 he returned gaily to SARAGOSSA; where a 
 (.harming vvite, equally loving and beloved) 
 .awaited ins return. 
 
 ON the arrival of Don CHRISTOVAL a^ 
 SARAGOSSA, joy and gladnefs animated 
 every bofom ; the hymeneal entertainments 
 were renewed ; and the young couple at 
 length tafled, in undifturbed tranquillity, 
 the fweet enjoyments of honourable love. 
 
 A PERIOD of two months was coniumed 
 in balls, conceits, and other amufements, 
 when his Grace of SALAMANCA returned 
 with his nephew and niece to his Diocefe. 
 Crofling, by fhort journeys, OLD CASTILE, 
 we flopped at the Catlle of RODE LI AN A, a 
 Palace belonging to the Bifhop, fituated on 
 the confines of the Province of LEON, 
 where we continued for three weeks to re- 
 ceive the vilits of the neighbouring Nobility 
 
 aud
 
 33 T H 3 H I S T O R V, &c. 
 
 and Gentry ; and, as bis Grace \vas 
 brated for his hofpitality and polite at- 
 tention to every defcription of vintors, the 
 meaner! HIDALGOS came every day to his 
 table, and, prefenting themfelves boldly to 
 his Grace, with high feathers in their caps 
 and long fwords by their fides, were re- 
 ceived in a way not likely to decreafe their 
 vanity. At length we returned to SALA- 
 MANCA, and took up our abode in the Epif- 
 copal Palace, 
 
 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. 
 
 '3'ke C0W##'0/VANiLLO on bis Re t urn to SA- 
 LAMANCA ; tie important Service he ren- 
 dered bis Friend VAN EGAS ; and ly what 
 Accident he received Intelligence of Signiora 
 DALFA and the Jilt BERNARDINA. 
 
 A PREDICTION, on being difcharged 
 :JLjL from my former fervice, that I mould 
 again return to SALAMANCA in the courfe 
 >f fix or feven years, in a better fituation 
 than before, would have been ridiculed ; 
 although, as it happened, it would certainly 
 have been true, 
 
 I WAS now Secretary to a young Noble- 
 inan who efteemed me, and Commenfal to 
 an Epifcopal Palace upon other terms than 
 before ; for I no longer dieted with the 
 liveried tribe, but, like the Almoners, 
 Equerries, Gentlemen, and Valet-de- 
 
 Chambres,
 
 33* THE HISTORY OF 
 
 Chambres, had my own cover at the Major- 
 Domo's table, which was ferved as plenti- 
 fully ut lead as that of his Grace. 
 
 VAN I;G AS, whom I found precilely in the 
 -fame fmuttion in which I had left him, that 
 is to lay, a Chorifler of the Cathedral, was 
 ilie firft perfon I went to fee. Having cor- 
 dially embraced each other,, he cafl his eyes 
 upon my drefs, which was both neat and 
 tathionable; and .observing my long iVord, 
 liik (lockings, tine ruffles, and feathered 
 beaver, flared at me with extreme fur- 
 prife, and congratulated me, poor foul L o-n. 
 khe great fortune I muft have made '(ince he 
 lail faw me. But 1 ibon undeceived him 
 by relating to him the particulars of my 
 Italian expediti^i, and informed him of 
 my prefent re-eilabiiftunent in the Bilhop's 
 family ; on which he rejoiced with unaf- 
 fected cordiality. *' Courage, my good 
 " friend," crifd he ; t J perceive, however,, 
 '* you are in the road of advancement : 
 ' you have wifely embarked your fortunes 
 " in the fervice of Don CHRISTOVAL, who 
 " is as liberal as he is accoaipliQied, and 
 " will certainly remunerate your attach- 
 
 " ment.
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E s. 533 
 
 Cf tnenc. I'am delighted to find that fortune 
 c ' favours you io highly." 
 
 ." BUT as to yourlclf, VAN KG AS," faid F, 
 t( do you always intend to. continue a Cho- 
 "ritler? An Ecclefiaftic of your merit 
 ** might fairly expect promotion. Have 
 ft you never made any application for a 
 " higher fituafion in the Cathedral f " 
 
 " NL\ i: R," replied VANKGAS. <( Priefts 
 44 in general fpend their whole lives in 
 " hunting after benefices, which, when ob- : 
 tf taincd, only excite new defines for fur- 
 f( ther promotion ; but, thank Heaven ! I 
 *',^m neither avaricious nor ambitious ; and 
 " being contented with my prelent ikuation, 
 * c bad as it is, have never ufed the lealt 
 " endeavour to procure a better. I can, 
 4< indeed, lay iiill more ; for there is a Stall 
 Cl in our Chapter now vacant by the death 
 " of the Licenciate BAPTISTE LEON, and 
 " I might with jultice afpire to fucceed 
 " him ; but, as I muft neceifanly undergo 
 " the pain of foliciting tiiends to apply to 
 if the Bifhop in my favour, and puriiie mea- 
 " fares whkh do not peifcclly coi- cidc 
 " with 'my temper and difpoliuon, I chufe 
 
 " rather
 
 334 THE HISTORY OF 
 
 <f rather to decline the conteft with a good 
 * f grace than undertake a trouble which 
 <( may probably end in difappointment. 
 <c Befides, I have enough to maintain me 
 <c with decency, and that is all a virtuous 
 * f Divine ought ever to require." 
 
 THE humble views and mild character of 
 my good old friend quite charmed me ; 
 and, while I openly applauded his noble 
 fentiments, I felt the warmeft inclination 
 to promote his intereds ; but, as I could 
 have no right to expect much influence 
 with his Grace, I was perfectly filent on the 
 fubjecV, to him, though I refolved not to 
 neglect any means in my power to ferve a 
 friend who was fo dear to my heart. I 
 accordingly applied immediately to Don 
 CHRISTOVAL; and, informing him of the 
 vacancy, requefted he would prevail upon 
 the Biihop his uncle to appoint my worthy 
 friend, to whom, I allured him, I was under 
 the greatefl obligations. 
 
 " THE difpofition which you (hew, VA- 
 <f NILLO, to ferve your friend affords me 
 " the higheft pleafure," replied Don CHRIS- 
 TOVAL. " Friendlhip is a facred duty, 
 
 " which
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E S. 335 
 
 cf which men in all ranks of life ought care- 
 * 4 fully to perform, and therefore 1 will 
 <c certainly make the application you defire ; 
 *' but," continued he, " why do you not 
 " rather make this requeft to my uncle 
 tc yourfelf ? I am fure he will be pleafed to 
 " grant it to you. I know he entertains a 
 c< great regard for you. Go, go to him, VA- 
 u NILLO ; you will have no occafion, I ani 
 " certain, for my affi (lance upon this oc- 
 " cafion." 
 
 THE Prelate and I were in truth upon 
 excellent terms with each other. Being 
 entertained by the gaiety of my anfwers, he 
 never failed to converfe with me whenever 
 we met. The good man indeed was not 
 one of thofe faftidious Gentlemen, whom 
 nothing can divert but pointed fayings and 
 feafoned repartees. A rifible blunder, or 
 any joke which tended to raife an innocent 
 laugh, was more acceptable to him than 
 the fineft points in Martial's Epigrams. 
 
 EARLY one morning, while he was alone 
 in his ftudy, I ventured to wait upon him 
 and requeft the vacant Prebend. " How, 
 " VANILLO ["exclaimed the Bifhop, fmiling, 
 
 "are
 
 3 j6. T"H E HISTORY OF 
 
 M are you inclined to become a member of 
 ** the Church ? Can you perform the la- 
 " borious duty of a Canon r" 
 
 " WHY not, Sir?" replied I. < f I can fay 
 ce my breviary, and eat my four meals a 
 ** day, as well as any man." 
 
 "YES," replied his Grace; (t and 1: 
 ** fcems that your modejh is equal to your 
 "fih-iely" 
 
 (t NEARLY fo, my Lord, "replied T, f and 
 " my learning a\(o in proportion; and therc- 
 f( fore your Grace perceives I am not i;n- 
 4< qualified to fill a Stall in your Cathedral.'- 5 
 
 *' WHY it does feem, indeed," replied 
 his Grace, kughing aloud, " that I cannot, 
 " without doing great injufticc to your 
 <f merit, refufe your requeft. But tell me, 
 " VANILLO," continued he, refuming a 
 fer'iQns air, " for whom is it that you ib- 
 '* licit foearneftly this vacant Stall ? Doc? 
 " your Candidate really clefcrve to pofiefs 
 ** it. You fliould be very certain upon this 
 " point ; for you will recollect, that by pro- 
 t( curing Church preferment for a friend, 
 '* you thereby become, in a certain degree, 
 " refponfible for his virtue." 
 
 OH !
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 35? 
 
 " OH ! Sir," replied I, " the Ecclefialtic 
 <c in whofe favour I am applying does not 
 c want fureties." 
 
 " WHO is this virtuous character r" faid 
 the Bilhop; " for there are but few of this 
 " defcription in my Cathedral," 
 
 No fooner however did I mention the 
 name of the Chorifter V A MEG AS, than the 
 Prelate replied with an air of fatisfaclion, 
 " You are right, VANILLO ; he is indeed 
 " a proper perfon. You could not name 
 " another man I mould fo well approve of 
 if He is an honeft man ; of correct manners 
 ct and noble fentiments ; and I wi-fh all my 
 i( Chorifters were half as wife as he is." 
 
 RETURNING my very humble thanks to 
 r.he Reverend Prelate for having granted 
 me this favour, I carried the glad tidings 
 immediately to my friend ; who, on per- 
 ceiving my emotion, exclaimed with alarm > 
 as I entered his apartment, " Good God, 
 " VANILLO, what is the matter with you ? 
 " : What does this violent aguation im- 
 " port ?" 
 
 * f IT imports," exclaimed I, " that you 
 a are appointed to fucceed the Licentiate 
 
 VOL. i. c^ fl BA?
 
 33* THE HISTORY OF. 
 
 " BAPTISTA LEON. The Bifhop has, at my 
 " rcqueft, conferred on you the vacant 
 ** prebend ; and I feize with eager joy thi-s 
 ** opportunity to convince you that I can 
 *' never forget the kind offices you haveren- 
 " dered me." 
 
 THE modeft Chorifter, Jefs delighted 
 v.'ith a promotion which rendered him eafy 
 and independent for life, than -with the 
 feelings of gratitude which had procured 
 it him, burft into tears of joy, and ciafping 
 me with rapture in his arms, exprefled fen- 
 ^iments which made me .feel, with exquifite 
 jCenfibility, that there is no pleafur.e equal 
 to that which refults from ferving a real 
 friend. 
 
 As I was returning -from this interefting 
 fcene, I accidentally met with that inge- 
 nious fcholar Don RAMIREZ DE PRADO, 
 the man who, while we lodged together 
 in friendly intercourfe at the houfe of 
 Doctor -;ANIZARES, taught me wit by 
 eafmg me of my money. Recollecting 
 .each other at the fame inftant, " What 
 " -pleafure I feel," cried he, " in meeting 
 " with Signior VANILLO GONZALES, my 
 "old companion and my worthy friend, 
 
 " after
 
 VATSILLO GON2ALES. 339 
 
 ** 'after a feparation of fix years. From 
 ** whence do you come"? What have you 
 ""been doing fmce the day you vanished 
 '* ib fuddenly from the Univerfity ?" 
 
 *' I HAVE been travelling for ibme years 
 "in Italy," faid I. 
 
 " AND!," faid he, " have been at Madrid, 
 " where I fhould have remained at this w 
 ** moment, if the death of my father, and my 
 <Q anxiety to poifefs myfeif of his fortune, 
 " had not recalled me to this country, 
 tl which you know is the place of my birth.'* 
 He was in fact an Hidalgo of COR IT A, a 
 populous town about three-and-twenty 
 miles from SALAMANCA. 
 
 DON RAMIREZ, of whom I enquired after 
 Signiora DALFA and her niece BERNAR- 
 DINA, informed me that although he had 
 not feen them lately, he was not ignorant 
 of their prefent fituation. ** The aunt," 
 faid he, " refides at TOLEDO, and kindly 
 il aflifts the Governor ofCASTiLE to confume 
 *' the emoluments of his office ; while her 
 <c niece riots at MADRID, where (lie is fup- 
 c< ported by CountMsDALUN, in the higheft 
 ** ftyle of fafliionable folly and extravagance." 
 0.2 " THESE
 
 340 .THE HISTORY, &c. 
 
 " THES.E good Ladies," faid I, " had no 
 el lovers in this ftyle when I laviflied on' 
 c< them my piftolcs : but women of intrigue 
 "frequently end where they ought to have 
 " begun. It feems however as if thefe 
 ct Gentlemen were fonder of tke bran than 
 *' the meal." 
 
 DON RAMIREZ, after this converfation, 
 informed me that he was obliged to return 
 almofl immediately to MADRID ; but that 
 he certainly would not go away without 
 feeing me again. 
 
 THE promife was voluntarily made; but: 
 . whether he really forgot it, or had reafons 
 -for not calling, his promife .was never per- 
 formed. 
 
 CHAF-
 
 CHAPTER THE TWENTY- NINTH. 
 
 7 be meldndvly Accldsn^ izlAcb happened tlree 
 Months afterwards at tie Epifcopal Palace ; 
 tie Revolution it produced'., and ike Courfc 
 vblch ^VANILLO fleered by the sldiice cf 
 VAN EG AS. - 
 
 THE mode of life we enjoyed in die 
 Epifcopal Palace was the happieft 
 imaginable , for, what is very extraordi- 
 nary in a Nobleman's lioufe, where envy 
 and malice generally prevail, no faction 
 or r.nimofity whatever exifted. But while 
 time flowed on in uninterrupted felicity, 
 a melancholy event took place, which 
 fpread difmay and confirmation through 
 every department in the Palace. The 
 Bilhop became dangerously ill; and his 
 doctors, who at firft affured us, that not- 
 witiiftanding his advanced age the dif- 
 order was not likely to bt- fatal, difpatched 
 him, in defiance of their own prognoftics, 
 CL 3 with
 
 34* XHE HISTORY OF 
 
 with fuch- prompt dexterity, that lie had not- 
 even time to make his will. 
 
 THIS circumftance. caufed great afflic- 
 tion, particularly to thofe domeftics whole 
 long fervices fairly entitled them to extra- 
 ordinary rccompence'; but Don CHRISTO- 
 VAL, finding himfelf the Bifhop's fole heir, 
 generoufly dried up their tears, by pro- 
 mifing to allow them penfions accordiog to 
 their deferts. Unfortunately for them, 
 however, DonCnRisTovAL was not allowed 
 time to perform his promife ; for only a 
 few days after he had attended his uncle 
 to the grave, Ive was thrown from his horf 
 while he was hunting, and received a con- 
 tufion, of which he died in two hours after 
 his full. The young widow indeed remem- 
 bered and rewarded their faithful fervices, 
 but it was by prefents of fuch mederate 
 value, as was fcarcely fufficient to raife a 
 fenfe of gratitude in their hearts. As for 
 myfelf, the lofs of my dear mailer affecled 
 my mind to fuch a degree, that in the ex- 
 cefs of my grief I was tempted to immure 
 myfelf in the great convent of Franciican 
 Friars for the remainder of my life. Happily 
 
 my
 
 V'A'NTLLO GONZALES. ^, 
 
 my friend VAN EG AS, whom I confulted 
 upon this extraordinary meafure, convinced 
 me, without much eloquence, that the 
 cloifter-was not my element, and prevented 
 me from executing this ram deiign. " I 
 ** am well acquainted with your character," 
 faid he: " you are by nature light and 
 " volatile ; you would fearr.e have- entered 
 '* your noviciate before you would be dif- 
 " gufted with monadic life ; and I am'fure- 
 '.' tbe exairpies of the monks would not be 
 ** {efficiently powerful to turn your difcon- 
 " tent into a vocation. Let me rather 
 " advife you," added he, " to go to MUR- 
 " CIA, and vifit your relations, particularly 
 " your uncleDAMiENCARNiCEROj the pro- 
 ** tecl:or of your infancy. From what you 
 *' have related to me- concerning him, it 
 " feems probable that he may have amafled 
 " by this time confiderable wealth, and 
 " perhaps you will not have long to wait 
 "before you enjoy the rich inheritance. 
 " Suppofe even that he mould be dead, you 
 " being, as you have allured me, his heir, 
 M you will be the better able to call to an 
 0_ u account
 
 344 -THE HISTORY OF 
 
 <c account rhofe relations Avho have pofTeiled 
 " thcmielves of his property. ** 
 
 As the Pr.ebend's advice coincided with 
 my own fentiment's on this fubjecl, I re- 
 folved to follow it; and bidding him adieu, 
 departed from SALAM-^CA, and arrived, 
 by the affiftance of the muleteers, at 
 MADRID ; from whence purfuing, by the 
 fame means, the road to CUENCA, I reached, 
 in eight days afterwards, the city of MUR- 
 CIA, which I could not behold again with- 
 out emotions of the higheft pleafure. 
 
 CONCEIVING it would be prudent to 
 make fome enquiries refpeding my uncle's 
 Situation before I ventured to his houlc, I 
 alighted at the firft hotel, where, without 
 making myfelf known, I entered into a 
 long converfation with the hoft, who ap- 
 peared to be die very man who could bed 
 inform me of every thing it was neceffary I 
 (hould know. " Pray," faid I, "is DAMIEN 
 <c CARNICERO ftill alive, and does he {till 
 f * continue Principal Surgeon to the City 
 " Hofpital ?" 
 
 l< Hi-: may be faid to be {till nlive," re- 
 '.he 1'oft, " if you can c.i'l an old
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 34- 
 
 " man, who is paralytic in every limb, a 
 " living animal. He has long been unable 
 " to follow his profcfiion, and is condemned 
 " to pafs his expiring days either in his bed 
 " or his arm chair." 
 
 " Is he fuppofed to be rich ?" faid I. 
 
 "RICH as a Jew/' replied the hoft ; 
 " and truly it would be wonderful if he 
 " were not, after having pradifed furgery 
 '*" with fucceis fo many years ; for this is 
 " now a very -lucrative profeliion, and CAR- 
 " NJCERO, being both a mifsr and a quack, 
 " contrived to turn both his money and 
 " his trade to greater advantage than any 
 " other man. But I pity the poor devil 
 " for having given himfelf fo much trou- 
 " bie to amafs wealth, when he has no 
 " children to enjoy it ; his only heirs are a- 
 " nephew and a niece, who left MURCIA 
 *' about nvelve or fifteen years ago, and 
 " hr.ve not fince been heard of. The 
 ft Members of the Hofpital however may 
 ** poffibly be benefited by their abfence." 
 
 THIS converfation convinced me that my 
 
 vifit to MURCIA was not a bad fpecularion ; 
 
 and in order to prevent the Members of 
 
 the
 
 30' 7 HE HIS V q R p . 
 
 the Flofpital from profiting by rr.y abi"ence r 
 I went early on the enfuing morning to 
 the manfion of my dying uncle, who was 
 now confined entirely to his bed, on one 
 fide of which fat, in elofe conference, & 
 venerable looking Monk of the order of St. 
 DOMINIC, and on the other a celebrated 
 Doctor of PhyfiG ; the firft to render all pof- 
 {Ible benefit to his Convent, and the laft 
 to increafethe quantity of. his fees. 
 
 THE old man recollecled me the moment 
 hecaft his eyes upon me. " By St. COMA. 
 " and by St. DAMIEN," cried he, " here 
 " is my nephew YANILI.O,. whom I never- 
 " expected to fee again.'* 
 
 APPROACHING the bed, and embracing 
 him wkHa- mingled tra-nfportof intereft and 
 affection, kalf 'fg, kalfrai/iti,. I endeavoured 
 to teftify that I felt extreme pain to find him 
 in fo dangerous a condition ; but he cut 
 me fhort, by faying, in a tone of ftoicifm, 
 r * Do not let us talk upon, that fubjec~t, my 
 " nephew ; we muft all, fooner or later^. 
 " end our days. Seventy -two long years 
 * f have the Fates fpun out my life, and it 
 (C is now quite time that their ihears mould 
 
 " cut
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 347 
 
 " cut the thread." Having pronounced 
 thefe words, he expreffed a defire to con- 
 verfe with me in private. The Doctor 
 and the Divine accordingly withdrew ; 
 .the countenance of the lad, as it ap- 
 peared to me, betraying ftrong fyinptoms 
 of mortification at the unexpected arrival 
 of an immediate heir. 
 
 0.6 CHAP-
 
 CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH. 
 
 Tbefrhate Confer fallen tvlicb 
 
 CARNICZRO had with bis Nepbt-w* 
 
 MY imcle perceiving we were alone, 
 " Well, VANILLO," faid he, "you 
 tf are once more in the houfe where you 
 <c v/ere reared. Tell me, my boy, from 
 '* whence did you come. Give me an ac- 
 *' count of what you have been doing fince 
 " yon quitted me. Recollecting youraver- 
 " fion to furgery, I conclude you have 
 *' embraced fome other profeflion ; and it 
 '* affords me great pleafure to perceive that 
 " you do not return to your family in the 
 " habit of the Prodigal Son ; for if ap- 
 " pearances may be relied on, Fortune has 
 Cf not been unfriendly to you.*' 
 
 " No, thank Heaven," replied I, "for- 
 " tune, which has always favoured me, has 
 tf placed me in a fituation with which I 
 *' am perfectly contented, and from which 
 
 4< nothing
 
 V A N I L L O G O N Z A L E 5. 
 
 349 
 
 "nothing but the defire I felt of feeing you 
 " could have induced me to return. The 
 " ties of confanguinity and gratitude have 
 *' impelled me to abandon the Court of the 
 tf Duke of OSSUNA, Viceroy of NAPLES, 
 * e to enjoy the felicity of living at MURCIA 
 " with an uncle to whom I am under fo 
 ce many obligations." 
 
 " WHY," laid Matter DAMI EN, l< what 
 * f employment then had you at the Court." 
 
 " 1 WAS formerly the Duke's Page," 
 replied I, " and am now one of his Equer- 
 " ries. His Excellency, to whom 1 applied 
 " for permiffion ro return to SPAIN for the 
 " purpofe of feeing you, commended my 
 " pious refolution, and granted me a leave 
 <; of abfence accordingly.*' 
 
 I fhall leave the reader to judge, from 
 this example of my veracity, how fteadily 
 I adhered to the truth when I afterwards 
 related to this good man the whole biftory 
 of my pafi life. I never indeed adhered 
 to it, except when it did me fome ho- 
 nour, which I confefs was not very fre- 
 quent, but detailed falfehood after falle- 
 hood, juft as it feemed bed to anfwer the pur- 
 pofe
 
 55 o THE HISTORY OF 
 
 pole of the moment. Anxious, in fhort* 
 to appear a man of probity in the opinion 
 of my good uncle DAMILX, or, in other 
 words, to make myfelf more fure of his 
 fortune, I did not fcruple to fortify and 
 adorn my ftory by mixing fallehood with- 
 fact; and it produced an admirable effedfc.- 
 " You are welcome home,, my dear 
 ce V'ANILLO,*' replied my uncle, when I 
 had finiihed my romance ; " the candid 
 " and ingenuous manner in which you have 
 *' related your voyage to ITALY, convinces 
 " me that you are not deficient in moral 
 * f fentiment ; and I rejoice more particu- 
 " larly at your return, becaufe, not kno\v- 
 " ing what was become of you, I was about 
 " to bequeath all my property to the Holy 
 fl Fathers of the Convent of St. DOMINIC 
 tl and the Members of the Hofpital. Yes, 
 t( my de.ar child, I was upon the very eve 
 " of pioufly committing this injuftice ; but 
 '* thanks to Heaven, who without doubt 
 " has fent you here to prevent it, you are 
 " returned to your family, and there is no 
 " longer any danger of the riches you have 
 " fo juft a right to being carried away by 
 " the hands of ftrangers." 
 
 COM-
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. 3 5 
 
 CONVINCED by this difcourfe that I had 
 bad a very narrow efcape, I feized the 
 palfied hand of my dying uncle, and, kiffin-g 
 it with an air of tendernefs and gratitude, 
 thanked him for his kind intention. A 
 teflator, however ftrongly he maybe preju- 
 diced againft hrs heir, muft always become 
 the dupe, if the heir is well verfed in difli- 
 mulation. The good man entertained no 
 doubt of my affection ; my profeffions of 
 forrow even touched his heart. ' f VANILLO,*' 
 continued he, <c it is therefore my intention 
 tc to leave you all the wealth which I have 
 
 * 'gained in MURCIA ; but you alone fhall 
 
 * * enjoy it. I w'il-1 not give a marvedis to your 
 ' ' filler IN ESI LLA, who had fcarcely attained 
 " her fourteenth year when me eloped with 
 " a young Officer in the Guards to CATA- 
 *' LONiA, and has not iince been heard 
 u of: but I have no doubt fhe is living, to 
 cc the fliame of herfelf and the dimonour 
 tc of her family, in a ftate of concubinage. 
 *' She is fo.far from being intitled to (hare 
 ft any part of my fortune, that Ihe does not 
 " even deferve to be remembered." 
 
 THUS
 
 352 TJ1E HISTORY OF 
 
 THUS fpoke her good uncle ; and I 
 confefs that, like a good brother, I was 
 ib far from attempting to defend my filler's 
 character, that I affected great indignation 
 at herbafe and unworthy conduct ; and the 
 old Gentleman a few days afterwards fealed, 
 figned,and delivered, his Lift will; in which 
 no mention whatever was made even of the 
 name of this unfortunate girl: I was ap- 
 pointed his whole and fole legatee. 
 
 THE only favour which my kind uncle 
 could now add to his bounty was to die; 
 and he foon afterwards conferred this laft 
 kindnefs on me, and thereby enabled me, 
 while he was paiTing into the other world, 
 to take poileifion of his effefts in this. 
 The property, which amounted to nearly 
 twenty thoufand ducats, had been fairly 
 and legally acquired by grilling people out 
 of their complaints ; for the reader will 
 fcarcely forget the mode which this able 
 operator followed, and the anodyne man- 
 ner by. which he cured the megraine and 
 dropfy. 
 
 PERCEIVING myfelf fo well provided 
 for, I experienced the ordinary efted of 
 
 riches.
 
 VANILLO GONZALES. $55 
 
 riches. I became as proud as a prieft, and 
 like the GRIPUS. of PLAUTTJS, when he 
 found a treafure, renounced philofophy, 
 and thought only of the means of pleafure. 
 'VANILLO," faid I to myfelf, "you 
 " are now in opulence, and what the world 
 " calls a happy man. You may now 
 ft aflume die deportment of a Gentleman. 
 " Thrice happy are young men of your 
 11 difpolition, whole fathers or uncles draw 
 " blood or drink water all their lives to 
 " leave them wherewith to enjoy them- 
 " felves Let me honour fuch parents and 
 " relations, rather than thofe who devour 
 " their fortunes, to the difappointment of 
 tc their heirs. Since you poiiefs wealth, it 
 " will be no longer neceilary to have 
 " mailers. Throw off the yoke of fervi- 
 " tude, and make a brilliant figure in the 
 " world." 
 
 JT will be unneceffary, I conjefturc, to tell 
 my friendly readers that I refolved fo to do; 
 and having difpofed of my real eftates, 
 and converted my dirty acres into fliining 
 piftolcs and brilliant doubloons, I quitted 
 MURCIA, attended by my fuite ; which 
 
 confined
 
 354- THE HI S.TORY,. &c. 
 
 confifted of a valet, mounted, like myfeifj 
 on a handfome mule, and a mule driver, 
 who had the care of a third mule, loaded 
 with a large MAIL, in which my riches were 
 inclofed, 
 
 THE City of MADRID appearing to me 
 better fuited than any other to an heir of 
 my difpofition, that is^ to a young man who 
 \vas inclined to ruin himfelf as fall as pofli- 
 ble, I directed my courfe with great expe- 
 dition towards that great and fplendid 
 METROPOLIS. 
 
 END OF THE FIRST VOLUME,
 
 R R A T A. 
 
 .Page j, Line 16,. tor fttnt read theatre. 
 
 3, *i, for tre fort lead tbtrtfore. 
 
 27, 23, for tngagtd read attrafied. 
 
 31, 4, dele the comma after tegitbe 
 
 4.9, 3, read <j(^ a conflift, &. 
 
 49, 4, tick l>ut. 
 iir, u, for iai* -HIM f.'f rea
 
 
 ;