UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORN AT LOS ANGELES THE DEVIL turnd HERMIT; OR, THE ADVENTURES ASTAROTH Baniih'd from Hell. A Satirical ROMANCE. EXPOSING, With great Variety of Humour, in a Series of Converfations between that Demon and I the Author, Tlie fcandalous Frauds, lewd Amour;, and i' T TT: **eckery .. of the Monks and Nuns; the Intrigues , in NeuiTttntl-Sircct. MDCCXLI. pa s, ADVERTISEMENT i i O F T H E TRANSLATOR. THE Author of this ingenious and diverting Piece, if we may guefs from fomePaffages interperfed in it, as well ^ as from a Similitude of Stile throughout the whole, is already well known to the World for Works of Imagination, and i has had the Happinefs to iucceed in them \ beyond moft others of hisAge. This, at | leaft, is my Opinion , but for fear I mould be Angular in it, I chufe not to po ;i c out - the Writer -, I mean becaufe I am ' convinced, that if my Conjecture be well founded, the particular Marks that led me into it will, have the lame Etrecl: on A. 2 others. 34 I [ iv ] The chief Defigo of this Advst- tifemenr, is only to inform the Reader, that I wifh I couki have obliged : him in one Thing, whick perhaps he may often think wanting : 1 mean, a compleat Key to the Characters drawn; in this Perfor- mance, the hole Satire of which, there is good reafon to imagine, is perfonal. I could eafily have done this to a great Num- ber of the Portraits, the Originals of which are public kly known , but, for the very Reafon that they are thus known, they want no Key at all , and I did not chuie to give one that would be imperfect, be- caufe I am in hopes the Author, whoever he be, will fhortly prefent us with one himfelf. Then we may be abie, as head- viles in the Perfon of AST A ROTH, to compare all along the Pictures and Ori- ginals together, which we now can do in iome Places , and be as well acquainted with his Capuchin Friar, as with his Sieur de TOLVA IRE. In the mean Time, there can be no Want of Entertainment in any Chapter of this Book ; and perhaps there will be fome Advantage in having one part of ourCuriofity fufpended, that when we we get this Piece of Information, we may return with new pleafure to the Converfa- tion of our good-natured communi -in e Devil, whofe Narratives are all feafon d with that Salt which is io pecujuriy ne- ccfiary in Works of this Nature. ,r n E The A U T H O R's PREFACE. DEAR Publick, I am extremely em- bar raffed. I am to give you an Idea of my Work, and know not how to go about it. Become an Author by the fpe- cial Favour of Deftiny, and, what is more, a diabolical Author , my Prefumption, no ways inferior to that of all my Bre- thren, would almoft incline me to give you aPanegyrick of this Book. If I fol- lowed this Inclination, which is ufually unfurrnountable among us Authors, per- haps, authorifed by Cuftom, I fhould find the moft pathetic Expreflions, to make you believe that, fince the Invention of Printing, the Prefs has never furnifhed a- ny thing fo fine. I fhould very naturally finiih this Matter-piece of Rhetorick by a fhort [v I fhort Period, to inform you, that this Production colt me but very little Pains, and, if I may be allowed the Expreflion, no more than the Trouble of letting down my Thoughts on Paper, in proportion as they arofe to my Imagination. Doubtlefs, friendly Reader, you would not have be- lieved me. Yet I had fallen into this- Fault, the favourite Vice of Writers, but for the Admonition of AST A ROTH, who> you may eafily perceive, is not a Devil of the worft Sort. " What are you ** thinking of?" faid he, when I had communicated to him my Project. " Learn that nothing is more infipid,. " nor more difagreeable to the Publick, *' than fuch kind of Prefaces where- " in an Author praifes himfelf : They " are often dictated by Vanity, but often- " er by a reafonableApprehenfion that no- " dy elfe will take the Pains of praifing. " them. Befides, who does not know '* that every Man has his particular Tafte, " and judges of things according to his " favourite Prejudice ? Do we not every, " Day fee the fame Book that pleafes one, ** tire another, and to a third feem utter- " ly r . ] " ly odious ? Such will be the fortune of " yours. Diverting to thofe who read ** only for Amufement, it will contract " the Brows of your Men of fcverc 4< Morals, who pretend that their Taftc '* ought to be univerfal, and that there is " nothing good which has not their Appro- '* bation. But above of all, added he at dif- " ferent reprifals, take care not to pre- " vent the Publick in your Favour. That " Cuflom, ulual as it is among the Au- *' thors of your Age, is abfolutely contrary 44 to Common Senfe, and favours more of " the Quack, than the Philofopher, or " the Man of good Senfe." From this Reflection, which is not very diabolical, tho' made by AST A ROTH, it refults, that the Attribute of Devil,which we give him in the Title of this Book, fignifies nothing more than a penetrating Genius, which, by long Experience of the World, has difcovered a great many Things without the Help of Magick. In a Word, what can be more natural than to fay what one knows, and relate what one has feen ? All the Difficulty then confifted in giving fuch a Style to this Narration, Narration, as is fuitable to Works of this Sort, and fufficiently merry to amufc the Reader. Hie 'labor ^ hoc opus eft ; and to this all the Work of the Author was re- duced. ERRATUM. P. 54 1. 1 1, for Plus voluif, read Detts voluit. A R s E T A T A R T H D T E E H R. PRejudice, Reader, is a ftrange Thing; r I fpeak it not at all to thy praife, but thou o) knoweft it to be true. A mere nothing, againft all the Pules of Equitv, chan. prevents thee, offends thee, raiftb thy Refcnt- metit. Thou decided often from Appearance .. only, and feldom on the fide of Truth. Me- thinks, already, I fee thee ftart upon viewing the frightful Title that my Hiftor. prefents, -$nd hear fchee cry oyt .with H'-for, Qh I the Tevil '-the Devil ! Tis aTreatifc ot the Black Art, a Book that ought to be burned. But have a little patience^Rf rider ; recover 'thy Spi- rits, and for once make life of th) Reaforv Upi-n tlic Honour of AST A ROT H, thy Terror is wthuef- tir. p. 138 CHAP. VI. Ititr'igues in the Grand Signior's Seraglio, p. 14^ CHAP VII. p. 157 [ iii ] BOOK III. CHAP. I. The Chevalier treats AST A ROTH ///, and for- what Reafon. p. iOO k CHAP. II. *fhe virtues of the Scapulary : Or, the Hljhrj--Qf Father CASiMiRE,fl bare- footed Carmelite. The Deliverance of ASTAROTH, who dif- enchants the Chevalier, ctfd lets him fee his Miftrefs in all her Deformity. p,. t76 CHAP. III. f T'he Author makes his Peace with ASTAROTH, who informs him of fame remarkable Fafts, and gives him a great deal of Advice. The Au- thor follows that of returning to his- native-, Country. p. 183 CHAP. IV. 77># Author is tranfported into the Capital of (he Univerfe . Changes that had happened during the time he was abfent. He meets with an Adventurer^ whom he knew formerly^ and who tricks him of a good part of his Jewels. P- 193 CHAP. V. Difficulties the Author is left in, through the Kmvery of the Marquis. "To get out of than he Be h obliged to fell tys Equipage. The Con* Jit ion he is reduced to+ ana bis Refslution to au'it Paris. p. 208 C H A P. VI. he Evening before his departare, the Author has a Ft/ion^ which obliges him to go the next Day to the Palace of Luxembourg. His Rencoun- 1r with AST A ROTH there: the fever al Converfations they have together , and their twcerting a neiy Rajnble. p. 2 1 2 CHAP. ^ Idea of the Author. By the Advice tf/"A<;. T A R o T H he deceives his counterfeit Friends ; fells his falfe Jewels for Vood' ones > and fets Holknd.4 defer iptiqn fffi t fffitffi.$$9. Sequel of the preeeding : Conventions of the Au- thor with AST A ROTH, concerning' federal Perfonsy whom they meet by ctiance. They pafs thro' divers Cities. AST A ROTH is forced to take 6is flight into another Country. p. 247 THE DEVI!. O R, T II E, ADVENTURES O F AST A ROT H, Banifhed from HELL: The FIRST BO O K. , _ CHAP. I. A Gentleman in Love* having loft himfelf in the Appenine Mountains, cbfcovers a HERMIT of a ftrange Specie. Who this HERMIT is, and the Beginning of his Adventures. EN G A GE D by an itch of travelling to ramble thro' the moft confiderable places in Europe, I came into Italy at the end of the year 1736. I had already for two years wandered from province to province, ni B from 2 The Devil Hermit. from city to city, when my poor delicate carcafe, fatigued by thefe long journies, was of a fudden feized with an acute fever, which, after many remedies taken, left me in a languid condition, and a very troublefome mifanthropy. My foul, clouded with forrow, looked wildly about her, without fixing to any object. I was then at Bologna, a city agreeable and voluptu- ous, where the fair fex is neither unhandfome nor unkind. One day lolling carelefly on a window, I beheld a young lady, whofe beauty and mag- nificent drefs equally ftruck me. The gallery in which (he walked was near the chamber I lodged in. This amiable object a akened all my fenfes, and made me affume fame foppifh airs, which fhe took notice of. A charming fmile, with which (he repayed my reverence, gave me the courage to enter into converfation with her. My politenefs pleafed her, as her wit charmed me : infenfibly I offered her my heart, and (he promifed me her efteem. Her very eafy behaviour, which however was nothing but the pure effect of her educa- tion, filled me with ideas, and thofe ideas led me a great length : in a word, I perfuaded my- ielf it"might be eafy to conduct this HELEN to Paphos, there to offer incenfe with her to VENUS. Such is almoft continually the error of young perfons : they perfuade themfelves that, the ci- vilities of a lady are the forerunners of ap- proaching victory ; they form projects upon her honour, without confidering that there is often found The Devil Hermit. 3 found in that fex a virtue and conftancy proof againft all the fnares of love. Deceived by ap- pearances, I built many caftles in Spain : But all thefe chimerical edifices vanifhed away, and nothing was left me, as the fruit of my pains, but a violent paffion that had like to turn my brain. Mean time the idea of my future happinefs made a prodigious change in my perfon. From that very moment my effeminate face refumed its former colour; my languor left me, and the inquietudes of love took place of my indiffe- rence. This metamorphofis gave me charms : but I admired thofe charms myfelf alone, while my miftrefs too* no notice of them. For two months together I had played the part of Don QUIXOT vvondroufly well; I had made ufe of prayers, tears, fighs, and all in vain. Amo- rous even to madnefs, I formed the noble refo- lution to throw myfelf headlong into the fea, and was mufing on the execution of this fine project, when I was diverted from it by the ar- rival of a monk, who came luckily to my afliftance. It was a fat mendicant, young and jolly, to whom I regularly gave charity every week. Perceiving the forrowful plight I was in, he, with continual teifing, and making a thoufand harlequinades, obliged me to difcover the caufe of my chagrin. Thefe fort of people in that country are very charitable ; it is with regret they fee a man burn with a fruitlefs paf- fion for an inhuman creature. Mediators of the fair fex, they know perfectly how to bring to- B 2 gether 4 The Devil Hermit, gether an amorous couple. As they love pro- pagation extremely, and are not alone fufficient for all the operations of that great work, they believe it is for the intereft of human kind not to let fo many lovely creatures remain ufelefs, and therefore furnifh them with means for a- voiding the fcandal and curfe of fterility. Their high employment gives them every where admit- tance, and they know all the corners and nooks of a city. Crafty to the laft degree, they fo d^xteroufly at their parts, that they are admi- red by all the female republic. But their la- bours are worthy of reward ; without paying them well, it is in vain to hope for good for- tune. This Mr SAN CTITY, informed of thefource of my illnefs, burft out into fuch a laugh, as at firfl put me in a pafilon, and fcarce could I for- bear making him feel ray refentment ! Gently, good Sir, (cried he fn a kind of fright, feeing ine ready to curry his h : de) a little patience if you pleafe ! I was never in love with thr.fe blows, and therefore pray com pbfe yourfelf! Thefe words had not been fufficient to appeafe my refentment, if the good father had not ad- ded, that he had an infallible way to make me beloved by her who was the caufe of my tor- ment. His whole quackery, however, confifted only in making my purfe fifty crowns lighter. Charmed with his promifes, I made him the pre- fent with infinite joy : the hopes of approach- ing happinefs were more dear to me than all the fbe Devi/ Hermit. 5 the riches in the world. Could any thing be more extravagant ? The forceries he was to employ to make me happy were mere trifles in themfelves : but the venerable and facred inquifition regaided then} with another eye. In the country where I was, one mufl not play with the ceremonies of religion. This fpecific philtre confifled of a little puppet, and fome confecrated wax, taken from the paf- cal taper, with a formulary of prayers almoft like that of St JULIAN. It is certain I was neither hypocritical nor fuperftitious j but the violence of my paflion had blinded me to that degree, that I executed literally all thefe mum- meries for more than five days together. What a fool does love make a man ! However, feeing that neither pagod nor prayers produced any thing favourable to my paflion, quite fick of the farce, I threw both idol and formulary into the flames. Tnis juft indignation preserved my liberty : two hours after came the emiffa- ries of the holy inquifition to fearch my cham- ber, when luckily they found me not at home. The rifque 1 had run could not cure the foolifh paffion that difturbed my underftanding. I gave way more than ever to its violence, and like a true madman took it in my head to range the forefts, without keeping to any direct way. All my nourimment confifled of herbs and wild> fruits, and the only confolation I had was that of carving the name and cypher of 'my miftrefs, - upon the bark of trees. This wandering life produced its effect. I relapfed into a more in- B 3 firm V Hermit. firm ftate of health than I had ever Been in be- fore, and my love diminifhed with my bodily vigour. By little and little my eyes were opened ; I acknowledged my error, tho' late, and refolved to employ the remainder of my ftrength to return into the country which my extravagance had made me leave. Bewildered in the midft of a dcfart foreft, I travelled many days without finding the path by which I had entered. The difficulties I met with drove me to defpair, Obliged to perch at night upon trees, I faw nothing m the day but wild beafls, which made me every moment in dread for my life. I know not why I was yet afraid of death, in a fituation that ought to have made it defirable. But that vveaknefs I h?.d, if it may be called a weaknefs in mortals. I came into the foreft j Why, faid I toniyfelf, cannot I go out? How many unhappy perfons, who have been caft a- way on defolate iflands by fhipwreck, have made their efcape ? A thoufand fuch reflexions as thefe revived my courage, and pofTefled my brain when I was awake. Sometimes indeed my thoughts were of a different nature. My lot appeared moil deplorable, and I curfed the paf- fion that had drawn me into a labyrinth from which I had no hopes of efcaping. One evening, when the heavens were wrapped in clouds, and my mind was agitated by cruel reflexions, I perceived a light of a fudden that ftruck my eyes, and appeared not to be far diftant. Im- mediately forgetting the hazard I ran, in tra- velling by night thro' a foieft, I defcended my tree, Devil Hermit. y tree, and, conduced by the light,"advanced to the place from whence it fhone. At laft, after much fatigue and labour, T got out of the fo- reft, and arrived in the midft of rocks, at the mouth of a deep cave. But how great was my terror ! I perceived (can it be imagined) a troop of infernal fpirits fitting round a great fire, and diverting them- felves with burning paper under the nofe of an old long-bearded HERMIT in chains. Pro- voked at the facrilege of thefe Demons, I made five or fix large figns of the crofs ; at which the infernal crew difappeared in a moment, bellowing out horrible cries. Elated at my victory I ven- tured on without dread, and drew near the holy- man. Ah, Sir, cried he, how many obligations have you laid on me ! had it not been for you thofe infolent fpirits had worried me foundly. But, my good brother, (aid I, why did you not have recourfe to the fame arms I made ufe of, to de- liver you from thofe impious creatures ? Are you ignorant that the fign of the crofs drives away evil fpirits? Alas! replied the HERMIT, I am abfolutely forbid the ufe of fuch means ; my birth and my profeflion will not permit it. I am a native of hell, and thofe gentry you faw are my fellow- citizens. If I had but once crofled myfelf, I mould be baniftied that king- dom for ever, whereas now my exile is only for a time. Ay, faid I, with extreme furprize, are you an inhabitant of hell ? Of what ufe then are thofe trappings of a HERMIT ? Is it thus that 8 The Devi/ Hermit. that you prophane the holy habit ? You muft be a ftrange devil indeed to ridicule the moft venerable thing in religion ! Ah, Sir, anfwered he all in confufion, pleafe to pardon this ad~b of my defpair. I choie this habit, and this defart, only to conceal myfelf from, the fu-y of my comerades. I fhould have h .d a miferable night with them, had it not been for your aflutance. I am banifhed from hell for a hundred years, and all for a mere trifle j nothing but fleeping while a fat canon died. HisToul, which had been intruded to me, efcaped, and this flight imprudence occauoned my difgrace. During the twenty five years fmce this misfortune has be- fel me, 1 have borrowed fucceffively many bodies, in order to withdraw myfelf from the refent- ment of my fellows. I have been a lady of qua- lity, an ecclefiaftic, a courtier, a duana to a girl of fifteen, a begging friar, and at laft chief of the grand fignior's eunuchs : but feeing that all thefe fantaftic bodies were inefficient to hide me, I came into thefe defarts in the habit of a HERMIT. Still nay deftiny owes me a fpite, and my ill-fortune purfues me. Going fome time ago to Bologna, at the requeft of a bro- ther mendicant my friend, who had prayed me to ferve a young lover driven to defpair by the cruelty of his miftrefs, I was known by my collegues, who purfued me into my retreat, and put me into the fituation you faw. A good action that I had refolved to do has brought upon me this difgrace, At The Devil Hermit. 9 At his mentioning this circumftance, which revived the idea of my charmer, love, like a fire half-extinguifhed, rekindled in my tender heart. What do you fay ? cried I with fur- prize. I am that individual wretch whom you had undertaken to ferve. Be perfuaded then, that if you can enable me to fucceed with that inhuman fair, I will be devoted to you entirely. If I can ? replied he : never doubt that, Sir j I have done many fuch good offices fince my exile. I am ravifhed to think I can ferve you. So fine a gentleman as you appear to be, un- doubtedly deferves the friendmip of the greateft. lord in our whole empire : judge then of the deference I muft have for you. But you muft unchain me; other wife I can do nothing. I will then ferve you, on the word of a devil, like a domeftic that never receives his wages. But how, faid T, fhall I break thofe chains of yours ? They feem to me of a different fpe- cics from all others. You need only go, he replied, into a chapel in the neighbourhood, and bring thence a fmall phial of holy water.. The moment you pour it on my chains, they will difappear. Touched with the captivity of this poor DE- VIL HERMIT, I haftened, as foon as it was day, to fetch the facred water, and fuddenly, without reflexion, came and fprinkled it on his body. But no fooner did he feel the ablution, than he fell a howling moft hideoufly. Ah, Sir, cried he, like one poflefs'd, what are you doing ? You give me a thoufand times more pain 10 The Dev it is true, w-is very Much like chofe libertine youni thofe co> -risers, or, if you pleafe, those in Jo- lent jniniiters, who are governed entirely by their val-ts ae J : ainbre; while the," receive more addreiTes than their mafters, and rnuft be addrefied too with a full hand, to make them procure you a (Ingle audience. Thefe rafcals a<3: the men of importance with effrontery, and are a fet of impudent bullies, th. a! out the good graces of their lords with an infupportable pride and prefumption. You fee that my Situation was not very unhappy j but I com- mitted fo many follies in my employment, that at laft I was turned out of place. My fortune had made me faucy by degrees. Before I was advanced to this comfortable poft, my bufmefs had been (and bufmefs I had enough) to tranfport to hell the fouls of falfe devotees. The degree of honour I afterwards held near Lu c i F E R'S perfon, rendered me fo infolent, that I was continually ridiculing his infernal majefty. I could laugh in his face, and even rob him with impunity. The pacific Lu c i FER fuffered all without complaining. If he had heartily curried my hide, poffibly it had made me wifer : but he diverted himfelf with my follies, and I took the lame liberty with his. When I gave him an anfwer, it was with an ironical arrogance. I had 12 The Devil Hermit. I had already fold above half his wardrobe, to make prefents to my miftrefles : for, Sir, beg- ging your pardon, miftrefles I had in abundance, notwithftanding my unpolifhed figure. I wore his clothes continually ; I borrowed his figure ; I copied his deportment j and by thofe means played his part with many beauties, who fuf- fered themfelves to be thus deceived. LUCIFER, mean time, fhut his eyes to all my extravagan- cies, and I had been yet near his perfon but for a pitiful young dog of a devil, who managed with ib much art as at laft to fupplant me. That in- ftant all thofe who had loaded me with carefles, and promifed me an eternal friendfliip, let loofe their tongues againft me. I had no enemies more cruel than thofe whom I had obliged. Well then, thought I, there is no probity in hell, and devils are altogether as wicked as men. My life was examined, and all agreed that I was one of the moft profligate valets de chambre of the whole infernal empire. My procefs was drawn up and got ready ; I was unanimoufly con- demned to drag into hell the fouls of all eccle- fiaftics. O the curfed office ! I could not go thro' it : for certainly there was bufinefs enough for an hundred affociates. My fatigues were ex- ceffive Overcome with labour, I had the un- happinefs to fall afleep juft when the old rogue of a canon was in his laft agony. His place had been a long time pitched on in the moft fa- mous apartment of all the infernal regions. His fcandalous life was known to mortals, as well as demons : a number of young and handfome devotees The Devil Hermit. 13 devotees, who came before him, cried out, like mad creatures, for vengeance. I Lad ex- prefs orders to bring him in great pomp : my droufinefs however made me neglect my duty. An old owl of a Capuchin, more rank than a he -goat, never quitted him till he expired ; and, by dint of exhortation, extorted from him a loud MEA CULPA ; which to be fure had never happened, if I had been awake, and near him. This, dear Sir, was the only cciufe of my banifhment ; and for this reafon I have been revenged on all the race of Capuchins, as you fhall fee in the lequel of my adventures. Banimed from hell, I was obliged to wander a confiderable time in the air; not knowing where to reft my feet, and dreading the hoots of my companions. Where, faid I tomjfelf, (hall I go to (hun them ? For this curfed race befieges almoft all the inhabitants of the globe. Whilft I waited for the fight of fome inhabited obje<5t, I formed vaft. defigns againft thofe long- bearded hypocrites, one of whom had played me fuch a rafcally trick. By way of beginning I fuddenly raifed a moft furious huricane, which blew down five of their convents. My design was at once to have crufhed all their {linking re- treats; but unluckily I met here with my match. All the reft, except thcfe five, were protected by fpirits more mighty than I : Befides, that ill fortune which now purfued me, had fo ordered it, that there were but two monks in each of thofe five monasteries^ the reft, accord- ing to their laudable cuftom, were all difperjed, C . 5on.e 14 7 'he Divil Hermit. 'Some' were engaged with their dear devotees; for, fince the cafe of the famous Father GIRARD, all the brethren of the habit have taken a relifh to that excellent man's way of devotion. Others amufed themfelves in emptying the cellars of ftupid citizens, whofe wives and daughters cannot withftand men of this fort, becaufe they look upon them to be difcreet. The wives hope that fuch holy horns will draw down a bleffing on their family affairs, and fettle the heads of their giddy debauched husbands : the daugh- ters do it to fave their future fpoufes a laborious task, and facilitate the bufmefs of marriage. Others roamed about the country, in order to junket at the expence of the fuperftitious peafant, In a word, this monkifh carrion, which loves retreat as little as zn author loves cenfure, had all taken wing except ten. I fwore like a hea- ' then at being difappointed. Fortunately, how- ever, I flew into a village, where I found three; but three of the moft fprightly and beft fed petit- rnaitres of all that baftard race of good St FRANCIS. They were only got into a tavern to refrefh their gullets, which they did moll furioufly every moment, by em- bracing a great pitcher of wine of between fix and feven quarts. I knew this tavern, and had often been there to fet the drunkards te- ther by the ears, and infpire the landlady with that fcurrility which fhe continually vomits out agninft her husband. Good, feid I to rnyfelf, I am at home here, and muft give the com- pany one caft of iny calling. As J am fer- tile The Devil Hermit. 15 tile enough in the invention of incidents, I pre- fently conceived a project which fucceeded to my wim . I perceived by the fire- fide a nafty drab of a fervant, whofe black and fnining skin was as fmooth as that of a fea-dog. A fhort flat nofe, a mouth enormoufly large, and little round eyes, compofed the phyfiognomy of GuiL- LEMETTE, (that was the name of this young laf's, who was turned of her twefth luftre). This homely huffey, faid I, is terribly forbid- ding ; devil as I am, I would have nothing to fay to her myfelf. But a hungry dog will eat dirty pudding : this morfel is ftill dainty enough for fellows of that ftamp. I will ffake my reputation that I fucceed in my project. The fequel proved my reafoning jufr. I went in and fat down by them, and whif- pered incontinence, a thing they were not a- vcrfe to, in their ears." Immediately their ruby faces perfuaded me the train had taken. Afiifted by the liquor, . with which they had copioufly fwelled their paunches, I fuddenly kindled an im- pure flame in their hearts. Such a fire makes more uproar in the breafts of thefe heteroclite wretches, than a thoufand devils unchained and banifhed. I knew their temper too well to think they would repel my temptation?. They gve ear, and began to finger the damfel. UILLEMETTE, who had no want of ap- petite, and ' had fafted a long time, eafily gave way to their perfuafions. I made her believe that (he fhould be thoroughly fanilified if fhe C 2 granted 1 6 The Devil Hermit. granted to fuch pious perfons an alms which they had more need of than of liquor. She re- ceived their carefies: infenfibly a furious itch feized them all four ; and, in a word, I had brought them well on. The ftable, where the bed of this nymph v;as, tho' filled with naftinefs, appeared to them nt that inftant a magnificent hall. Thither they repaired to fatiate their defires. But I took more care then to fleep in the happy moment ; I was too mindful of what my droufinefs had once coft me. Alert as a bird I fled to the country- man and liis wife, who were in the garden, and infituated that fomebody was robbing them. They ran full fpeed to feiz,e the thieves ; and, feeing nobody in the houfe, were inftantly at the ftable, where they beheld the merrieft farce in the world. A Capuchin in clofe quarters with fuch a lump of deformity, is a very diverting fpeclacle. The clown, who had no tafte of raillery, and his wife, jealous that her flat of a Servant had paffed her time fo agreeably, fet up fuch an outcry as brought together the neigh- tours. They fell upon thefe goats in human fhape, and gave them a hearty drubbing. E- very one of them made the beft of his way ; while I, tranfported with joy, and more fatis- fied with this fcene than an amorous young girl on her wedding day, took my flight towards the capital of a flourifhing kingdom, fully re- folved to purfue my vengeance whenever 1 found opportunity. I found it more than once in the fequel. The Devil Hermit. 17 fequel, and always made ufe of it to the beft ad- vantage. I was already within two leagues of the city, when I perceived a magnificent coach, drawn by fix ftately dun horfes, and carrying a lady of the firft quality. A fine opportunity this, faid I to myfelf, for me to be concealed ! This lady is not yet poflefled, and my com- panions muft be very crafty to difcover me under the figure of fuch a woman. In a mo- ment I afcended into the air, and formed a thick darknefs round about the coach, under covert of which I tranfported the lady to an in- chanted palace. I then aiTumed her figure, flipt fuddenly into her place, and arrived at her manfion. One difficulty gave me pain : the lady was married ; and, devil as 1 am, I could not fall in with certain points of complaifance which a husband requires of his wife. It'was with pleafure that I heard that her lord, not- withftanding the beauty of this young creature, never came near her but once in fix months : and all merely out of a capricious humour. They had their feparate beds, tables, and domefticks. A reafon in facT: he had, and a very courtly o: , for this procedure. The lady was not of equal quality with him, and he married her only for her riches. An actrefs, infinitely more amiable, captivated his heart. She v/as indeed but a cob- ler's daughter ; but the part of a theatrical prin- cefs had put her upon a level with the count uc****; C 3 This i8 The Devil Hermit. This fantaftic body was of great ufe in in- troducing me at court. The lady was efteemed there for her virtues, and adored on account of her charms. I had a violent inclination to be acquainted in that region, where I had never been. As we infernal valets are not admitted within its verge, but confined in our functions to poor median icks, it is a particular favour when we are fent to feme burgher. Thefe people we often drive tomadnefs, becaufe their virtue is proof a- gainft all our wiles ; one of them cofts us more fatigue than a thcufand courtiers. I liked my fituation perfectly well, and would .gladly have kept it during my exile, if LE- v i A T H A N, one of the chief princes of hell, had not ken my metamorphofis. Filled with in-' dign.Uien ?,t my afTurance, he drove me away from i;irn iir.c a fcotmdrcl. What can be done againft fuperiors? Their injuftice is always one's juih There is no demanding the reafon of their tyranny, nor withftanding their wills, without feeling ail the vyeight of their fuprcme power. Your plea, tho' ever fo well founded, muft give way to force. It was therefore my fceft expedient to decamp with all expedition. This lordly devil, not content with the infult he had put' on me, fent his bailiffs, I mean his footmen, after me. Thefe fellows, as great fcrubs on t'r.ofe on earth, leaded 'me with out- rages. I was obli'ied to fly into a remote pro- vince, where a courtly ecclefiaftic lent me his figure. But before I entertain you with this fecond The Devil Hermit. 19 fecond change, it is proper to relate what I did at court. Here the HERMIT Teemed to be in diforder, and his whole fantaftic figure was transformed : His eyes began to fparkle ; he fetched a deep figh, and the cave refounded with lamentable cries. I freely confefs, I was not then much at my eafe j for all this devilifm made me trem- ble. Any other man I believe would have done the fame j thefe infernal blades not being the moft honourable folks in the univerfe. Dear Lord ASTAROTH, fays I, in more confufion than a SPANISH virgin furprized with her lover, What is the meaning of all this ? Do you want to give me too a fpecimen of your trade ? Not in the leaft Chevalier, fays he, you need be in no apprehenfion of danger. Alas, unhappy me ! But have patience ; a few lafhes perhaps will excufe me. The fact is thus. BELPHEGOR, a prince of great power among us, has for three or four years paft worn the borrowed figure of a Chinefe mandarin, who was the emperor's prime minifter, in or- der to confront and bear down a covetous crew of hypocrites, more crafty than all hell united, i who, to enrich themfelves, have introduced the Romifh religion in that country. Lord BE L- FHE GOR, a mafter in politicks, perceiving that th-^fe cunning knaves were about to deftroy his power in that vaft country, refolved to make them pay dearly for this their rafh enterprize. Hs hns aimed accomplifhed his defign ; and, as he knows whatever pafles in the univerfe, he ha 3 20 he Devil Her mi f. has heard that you have releafed me from my chains, and that the author of THE JEWISH LETTERS has juft now publifhed THE CHI- NESE LETTERS. He knows that I love that writer ; I muft go and pay him a vifit, Sir. 'Tis a mere trifle, but I cannot refift his e- vocations. Reft yourfelf here, and be affbred I mail foon return. Have no thoughts of go- ing'to Bologna ; for the holy inquifition is in purfuit of you. At thefe words the devil difappcared like a flafh of lightening, and left me in a furprize that I did not foon recover. A mortal terror took pofTeflion of my fenfes : I knew not what courfe to take ; and I had been two hours re- flecting upon this adventure, when the return of AST A ROTH difembarafled me. What ails you ? fays he, appearing before me of a fudden, in the fame manner that he went away : Have you not fufficiently learned, from the victory you won over my companions, the full extent of your power on people of my fpecies ? The cu- ftoms of thofe we converfe with mould grow familiar to us. It is our way to leave our friends juft in the fame manner I difappeared from you. Be it fo then, faid I, recovering my courage at thefe words; I find myfelf already ufed to it. But I was afraid your journey would take, up more time, and I knew not where to retire. Befides, it is now two days fmce I have eat or drank, and there iecni^ to. be no nourifh- ment in thefe dcfarts, ' at Icaft unlefs I return into The Devil Hermit. 21 into the foreft, where I have run a thoufand hazards. I have provided for your wants, faid ASTA- ROTH, prefenting me a great piece of venifon, which he pulled out from under his hermit's garb. He had alfo furnifhed himfelf with bread and wine, which I accepted without ceremony, and without inquiring from whence he had them. Hunger never gives way to reflexion, and mine was fo great, that I kept fwallowing above an hour without fpeaking a fingle word. ASTA- ROTH ferved me with liquor as faft I wanted. This refrefhment, whkh I had great need of, put me again in gcod humour ; and then I per- ceived that the devil was not fo well pleafed as I, but feemed very uneafy. What ails you, fays I, Lord ASTAROTH? You appear as forrowful as a coquet without a lover. Cer- tainly you have had but an ill quarter of an hour with your devil Mandarin. Has he ordered you to quit your habit, and take poft near the foul of fome canon ? You feem in as bad humour as a monk retrenched of his pit- tance, or who is faft ing at eight o'clock in the morning. No, Sir, anfvvered the HE RM i T . It is true that I have been a little mifufed by my mafter : but he has not reduced,me to fuch a penance as that 5 he is not quite fo unjuft. He has con- demned me for four months to poflefs a nun in defpair. This is what grieves me ; for I have no liking to that fort of people. Befides, I have promifed to aflift you in all your undertakings, in 22 The Devs! Hermst. in return for the fervice you had done me. Yet the poor young creature has great need of my help : (he is juft at the end of her litany, and wants to recover her fickle lover, who, after having enjoyed her favours, laughs at her mis- fortune. Is that all, Lord ASTAROTH, faid I tq the DEVIL HERMIT, that puts you in fuch an ill humour ? Certainly you perplex yourfelt for a very trifle. Take comfort prithee ; you may eafily difcharge your office with me. Provided you favour me with forne hours of your fpare time, lam content. But give me the hiflory of that nun ; for without doubt you know her. It would be ftrange if I did not, faid he ; (he is my pupil : but mum for that ; I have my rea- fons for not faying a word. As he had told me all the extent of my power, I was refolved to put it to a trial. No refinance, faid I in a mafterly tone, either the hiftory or the holy water, for there is ftill fome left in the phial. Begin then, and this moment : I muft know who that fair nun is that you protect, and be informed of what pafles in thofe facred retreats. Then you fhall tell me what you have feen at court. Here Mr ASTAROTH began to reafon with me : but five or fix drops of that miraculous water, which I threw on his nofe, foon brought him to compliance. Ah, dear Sir ! faid he, gently (perceiving I was ready to warn him foundly) have a little mercy on my black skin. My carcafs is very fenfible ; it cannot bear the leaft injury. Give attention and I will T:he "Devil Hermit. 23 will fatisfy you : but hide that curfed bottle ; for I cannot look at it in cold blood. CHAP. II. Cupid mafaued -, or, 'Tfye Hiftory of Sifter Cornichon, and the Marquis de St Julian. *TP H E young nun that I mentioned, Mifs * CORNICHON, is of diftinguimed birth, tho* (he had a very moderate fortune. Her charms captivated a rich young gentleman, who promifed her a plentiful allowance. She loved him in good ea-rnefl: : but thinking him falfe, the imagination of his inconftancy made her re- tire into a cloifler. Too young to examine the intrigues of fuch places, (he blindly gave into the mares which the nuns had fpread to draw her from the world. High birth and a tolerable portion are bewitching cnarms to all nuns in ge- neral ; and as nothing can refift thofe holy fouls, it was not difficult for them to captivate CORN ic HON. The fame amorous indignation that occafion- ed her retreat, revenged her upon herfclf. She imagined this procedure would drive her incon- ftant to defpair ; and, deceived by thefe falfe ideas, fhe began and compleated her own fa- crifice. You muft think I had a great hand in this, and indeed I afcribe all the honour of it to myfelf. Scarce had flic pronounced her vows, but 24 The Devil Hermit. but I difpelled the clouds with which I had till then furrounded her. She faw, but too late, that, abufed by illufions, her meafures had been fomewhat precipitate. She learned that;* her lover could never have been capable of infide- lity, if her own ill-condu&ed jeakmfy had not compelled her to mifufe him. The falfe report of a perfidious confident, drew her into the fnares which had been fpread for her. She was eafily taken ; or, to fpeak more properly, it was impofiible for her to difcover the fprings which had been fet on work to deceive her. I forefaw that (he would be a virtuous woman, but a very bad nun ; and, as I loved her foul, it was neceflary I fhould ufe this ftratagem to preferve it. Her friend, very fufceptible of the foft paf- fion, could not withftand the gentleman's merit. Love took pofleffionof her heart, and determin- ed her to betray them both. As a girl thus def- perately amorous will omit nothing to accom- plifh her ends, fhe conceived the project of fet- ting them at variance, that the marquis might become fenfible of her own charms. PERET T E (that was the name of this beauty) had fome re- femblance of CORNICHON, but with difadvan- tage on her own fide ; fhe therefore deceived her- felf, while fhe difunited them. The gentleman, enrag'd at the coldnefs of his miftrefs, flies like a madman to his regiment ; and fhe, no lefs enraged at his inconftancy, fhuts herfclf up in a cloiiler. He knew 'nothing of her retreat, nor fhe of his flight. The falfe friend dextroufly avails herfelf of this feparation : (he informs the marques Devil Hermit. 25 Marquis, by letters full of artifice, that another had captivated the heart of his miftrefs, and that HYMEN would very foon unite them for ever. Rage takes pofleffion of his foul ; he marries without love j and CORNICHON turns nun without a fpiritual vocation. \Vhile he forges himfelf fetters for life, (he weaves for herfeif the bonds of a fevere flavery. The gentleman, upon his return to his pater- nal feat, hears with furprize the engagements of his miftrefs. He knows not what to think of her proceedings, and, defirous to be fatisfied c6n- cerning a point which gave him fomuch uneafi- nefs, fends one of his fifters to the parlour of the nunnery, who relates to CORNICHON her lover's diforder, and the motives that induced him to leave her fo abruptly. Struck with this dif- covery, her tears were the only interpreters of her foul. The gentleman, informed of the fitua- tion of his miftrefs, finds means to fpeak with her, and juftifies himfelf : fhe explains the caufe of her behaviour, and they jointly detect the bafenefs of their pernicious confident. The tears and fighsof the Marquis gave but too much proof that he was innocent, and made COR- NICHON but too fenfible of the lofs fhe had fuftained. Reflecting on her irretrievable mis- fortune, her foul is agitated by the moft cruel mnfports ; her fenfes are all confufed ; the lu- ftre of her eyes is at once eclipfed, and fhe falls down fpeechlefs in the mldft of" the parlour. The maid', hearing the nolle of her fall, runs to her with fyeed ; whiifr ha lover, fatisfied that D fomcbody 2.6 Ihe Divil Hermit. fomebody was coming to her afliftance, retires, both to Ihve his reputation and hide his dilbrder. The grates prevented his flying to fupport her. She, recovering from her fwoon, finds herfelf a- bcd in a burning fever, which keeps her fix months in a languifhing condition. During this rime ihe receives a great number of letters from her unhappy lover. Thefe letters, far from calming her grief, did but make it the more fe- \ ere ; every reflexion was more cruel than the former. I fwam all this time in delight, and felt my fpleen dilated with her pains : for I love extremely to fee diforder in a human foul. Her complaints irritated her defires, and her deftres augmented her pains ; while the fituation of her lover was almoft equally bad. The va- rious pleafures, however, in which his quality engaged him, by little and little abated his for- row. Infenfibly he forgets his miftrefs, but not till after a long courfeof intrigues. The Mar- quis had wit, and was as interprifing as a petit *:iaitre : I prompted him therefore 03 take advan- tage of the tendernefs Co R N i c H o N ftill retain- ed for him. In a word, he fo effectually urged his point, that he arrived at the fummit of his tlefires. All his love was then extinguifhed, and it was only in mere complaifance that he afterwards vifited her. It v/as quite otherwife with MifsCoRNiCHON : fhe had a true relifh for the fport, and when me obferved not the fame ragernefs in her dear St JULIAN, fhe wrote faim letters in the moft pathetic language. This The Devil Hermit. 27 This unhappy reclufe moved my compaflion : 1 fled to her relief, and infpired her with fuch gay thoughts, as afforded her lover a moft agree- able amufement. I have never abandoned her fince that time, but am every morning in her chamber, aiding her in the composition of her letters. The Marquisde St Ju LI AN will ftay yet two months in this city and he makes her a vifit once every week. Formerly, he was four hours every day at the parlour grate: but things are mutable in this world. Men furfeit in the greateft delight, when confined to the fame object, and it requires a moft difmterefted con- flancy to be bound to a nun. Befides, it is ufu rping tie property of the clergy. A huge lecherous friar began to grumble. This young pullet ap- peared to him a favoury bit, but unluckily ano- ther had got hold of it, and the fort was already poiMed. Within this fortnight indeed he has made himfelf amends for the difappaintment. Being in the confidence of fifter CORN I c H o N , and playing the Mercury for her, his mouth was obferved to water plentifully, every time he fpoke to her. He had leave already to lick her hand, which he improved by degrees to the enjoyment of other privileges. But he has gone to work like a great booby : certain fym- toms which the nun perceives make me tremble for her, and I think with good reafon. I will inform you hereafter how {he gets out of this confounded affair ; or rather, in what manner I help her out; for without me the poor girl would deferve to be lamented. She has abun- D 2 dance 28 The Devil Hermit. dance of enemies among her lifters, who all confpire her ruin. Her beauty and wit have drawn this envy upon her. Now envy in thofe retreats is much to be dreaded, and does infinite- ly more mifchief than abroad in the world. A nun tainted with this vice knows neither virtue nor religion. Is (he a friend, (he focrifices you j an indifferent perfon, (he hates you.; an enemy, (he calumniates your character : in a word, this paflion is the ruin of all your cloiftcrs. A jealous nun is more to be dreaded than a lionnefs inraged ; (he ufes a thoufand de- vilifms to betray and ruin you. Hence the ca- bals, intrigues, fpies on your conduct, to de- tect all your fteps, and poifon all your actions. The fmalleft faults are divulged ?.s fcandalous enormities, and 'the moft upright intentions are mvencmed. Her heart, corrupted by this pafiion, never lets her beeafy, and this fort of frenzy al- ays finds means to do you a mifchief. An in- uifcret word fhe treats as fcandalous, and a flight irreverence flic calls impiety. Are you in the parlour, {he will maintain that (he faw you grant favours to a man, and proceed to very b >ld and impudent familiarities ; that fhe heard tender and equivocal converfations, the fub~ {lance of which fhe whifpers from ear to ear. 'Tis a piece of confidence, {he will fay, that has been repofed in her, and {he intrufts it now as a great fecret, thoroughly fatisfied at the fame time that this fecret; will not be kept. This tells it to another, a third to a fourth, and thefe holy creatures always magnify their objects. Infenfibly tte Devil Hermit. 29 Infenfibly it comes to the ears of your fuperiors, and fets them againft you, while you are ignorant of the caufe of this prepofieflion ; for that they carefully conceal from you. They never con- cern themfelves to give you charitable advice ; that is a virtue unknown to thefe coquets in crape. Scandal to them is much fweeter, and the pleafure of furprifmg you in the leaft neglect. Thofe circumftances which give little room to fufpicion, grow ftronger by degrees. At laft they chaftife you, and the flighted fault is pu- nifhed with the utmoft rigour, merely out of re - fentment. Self-love then begins to work ; the heart revolts, and you cry out injuftice : in a word, you become the martyr of your own temper, while your fuperiours make you the viclim of their falfe prejudices. The mind, taken up with a thoufand imrer- pcrtinent cavils, which they daily raife again.t you, gives way to grief, and grows languid in the practice of virtue. Piety appears incommo- dious, and the duties of it are performed with extreme negligence : they give no relifh, no de- light, while the mind is deftitute of its natural tranquility. The fervour of your devc cooled by the daily mortifications that K ;} you. You pant after liberty ; every th : v Ju'pleafes j nothing relieves. Farewel to peace, -which the heart is no more capable of /eelh-g. Thefe ;:i2 the forts of fr'enfy with which we affecl: a foul that is virtuoufly inclined. You will tell me, perhaps, that thefe tricks arc mere trifles, incapable of reducing a perfon D 3 truly 30 The Devil Hermit. truly pious. I own they may appear fuch to you, becaufe you have never been expofed to them : but a foul that has particular fentiments, and a- certain manner of thinking, cannot di- geft thefe little matters. Frivolous as they may appear to you, they are capable of difturbing, vexing, afflicting, and of producing indifference and languor. The natural confequence of thefe is want of devotion. But we have introduced the following other maxims, which you will think of more weight. To make you apprehend me the better, I muft firft inform you, that among all the nuns which fill your cloifters, there is not a fourth part, I fay a fourth part, who embrace the mo- uaftic life from a pious impulfe. Some are compelled to it by inhuman parents, in order to wrich an eldeft fon : others are driven to it by cii (appointed love, when they have conceived that pailion for a man they are not permitted to marry ; and others take this ftep to be revenged of a faithlefs lover. Thefe retire to the nunnery out of necefliry, being unable to fupport their quality ; and thofe are allured to it by the nuns, who forever fpread their imperceptible nets : for you are to judge of thofe ladies as of us de- vils, that they are never fo pleafed as when they diaw numbers into their own misfortune. The greater their trocp, the more they hugthemfelves, as if the plurality of fufferers cauftd a diminu- tion of the mifery. Nuns of this later fort are generally young ladies of high rank, or they enter The Devil Hermit. 31 enter too young to penetrate the confequences of their engagements. Is the daughter of a rich family put to board in a nunnery ? The fifters, ever alert when in- tereft is in view, (and intereft is the printum mobile of all their actions) will be fure not to let her flip. Does the Abbefe deiire her company ? ( let us rather fay, her money ) all the fociety is informed of the plot, and every artifice is ufed to cajole the young innocent. She is diftin- guifhed from all her companions, and encomi- ums and compliments are laviflied on her : every thing me does is applauded, and nothing (he de- fires is refufed. All the little dainties, all the fweet-meats fly to her chamber. She is a party in all the diverfions of my lady Abbefs, and has a promife of fucceeding her when me dies ; for never, fure, can they have a fifter more worthy. Look, fays one of thefe female-quacks, what fweetnefs, what an afpect is there! She is an angel ! - Oh, yes Madam, you are one of the Stunned with their applications, poor Mifs perhaps utters a- few foolifli things. Who can help admiring, fays another, that delicate turn of mind, thofe fine fallies of wit ! Yes, my foul, my dear little fifter, you are the moft amiable creature alive. You muft never leave us ; I fhould die with grief to lofe you. In a word, they ufe fo many wiles, that at laft they triumph over the poor fimple girl. After this prelude the directors come in play. She is intrufted to a dextrous and fubtile father, to one of thofe . cunning 32 ^he Devil Hermit. cunning blades who are at the head of their pro- feflion, who perform their parts with greateft skill, and who feldom mifs carrying their point at the firft attack. A virgin of fourteen or fifteen is incapable of fage reflexions : her thoughts are all chimerical, and we devils infenfibly foment thefe chimeras, till {he engages, in fpite of parents and friends, to facrifice her liberty. Scarce has fhe pafled her noviciate, but the carefles and complaifance are at an end. Her fortune is theirs, and that was all they wanted. The young nun, furprized at this change, fays to herfelf, What have I done ? All the fociety ftiun me, and iaugh in my face. A lay-fifter, equally ftupid and unmannerly, fays an impertinent thing to her : me complains, but is only laughed at. The more (he advances in age, the more her underftanding encreafes, and the more mortifications fhe meets with. Her reafon by degrees difcovers her imprudence, and (he begins to perceive that a monaftic life is nothing lefs than religious. She fees in it the intrigue's, the gallantries, the envy, the jealoufy, in a word, all the diforders that reign in the ag. If they are lefs glaring than in the world, they are therefore more dangerous. They grow fami- liar, and (he gives herfelf up to them with fo much the more facility and ardor, as {he is un- acquainted with their confequences. She knows {he has been abufe ? and reftraint irritates her- defire. Spleen, indignation, and often defpiir itfelf drives her i^o irregularities, that confound all the good difpofitions of her foul. Pernicious examples The Devil Hermit. 33 examples are ever before her : thofe examples corrupt her mind ; (he follows the torrent, and the torrent foon .carries her to gallantry. Hav- ing never loved before, her tendernefs rifes to excefs, arjd fhe is unable to keep within the bounds of difcretion. Scandal foon follows, and after that correction, with an entire priva- tion of liberty. Here we take full pofleffion of her foul, and make it the victim of her thought- lefs facrifice. You will tell me, without doubt, that no examples are fufficient to make a prudent young woman trample under foot the duties of her pro- feifion. Be it fo : but can this young perfon, flefli and blood, always refift the feducing ob- jccls that are continually before her ? A nun, for example, that has no charms, or whole charms are decayed, has a generous good friend, who will make her ample acknowledgment for the favours (he fhall procure from this young fifler. She engages to ufe all her art and inte- reft. The men of this age have no great refpedl for a veil. A handfome young gallent, capable of infpiring love, infenfibly wins the heart of the young damfel, who fees it is the cuftom of the cloifler. They infinuate that thought till Ihe grows full of it. One of my good brethren flides imperceptibly under her petticoat. Could {he withftand many fuch conventions f No : when virtue is too mnch expofed, it always fuf- fers fhipwreck. On the other hand, if {lie re- bels againft thefe fine inftruftions, (he difpleafes that old friend, who never fails to crofs her on every 34 2"/&* Devil Her mi f. every occafion. The others all laugh at, and defert her. My fifter, fay they, in a way of irony, you make yotirfelf frightfully ridiculous ; you are going to difgrace our cloiftcr, and we (hall have no, man will come near it. At laft (he finds herfelf obliged to be vicious, to follow the fafhion of thofe charitable nuns. The reft, with much lefs inward vocation, are abundantly more happy. Their hearts, already practifed in gallantry, know how to reftrain themfelves within certain limits. Their flame indeed is fprightly, but they have the art of difii- mulation, and carefully conceal thofe fparklcs which might otherwife evaporate. This lefs active fire is obfcured by certain clouds which hide its materiality. Prudence, or, to fpeak more properly, fear prompts them to preferve thofe appearances, which the ignorance of others is unacquainted with. They fecurely commit the crimes without being expofcd to the danger, as they have impenetrable ftratagcms to avoid de- tection. In this confifts the cunning we exert in their behalf. If they have not love to make them complaifant, intereft will have the fame effect. A generous lover is more to their tafte than an amiable one, and prefents with them fupply the p'ace of merit. A rich old mifer, pro- vided he be not covetous, nor quite nafty, pre- vails beyond a fine young gentleman. A block- head is preferred to a man of defert, becaufe he is more difcreet, and preferves their reputa- tion. Sin, committed with fuch an one, always goes on with impunity : his reverence for the fifterhood Ihe Devil Hermit. 35 fifterhood will never fuffer him to blab. Thus, Sir, we poflefs the nuns in general, and this is the oeconomy of the cloifter. if a decrepid old fitter can make no captives, (he has other batteries, at leaft equally pernicious with thofe I have named. For example, when ihe hears that a young girl is cloiftered on ac- count of a gallantry which her parents did not approve, me prefently infmuates herfelf into her confidence. As /he knows that this damfel can have no accefs to the parlour, me "cajoles her till by degrees me gets miftrefs of her fecret. The poor innocent opens her heart tothisMEGAERA, who makes her a thoufand proffers of her fer- vice. By her the news of his miftrefs's retreat is conveyed to the deferted lover, letters pafs for- wards and backwards, and the fecret is pre- ferved, provided flie is well paid. This cou- ple by degrees find an opportunity to fpeak together, and they mutually take meafures to relieve their torment. The old hag engages in all their fchemes, and brings them to perfection. At laft the walls are fcaled to fet the damfel at liberty, who flies with her fpark, and marries againft her parents confent. Well, Sir, what do you think now of the nunneries ? Are not thefe proper receptacles for the infernal nation ? Indeed a cloifter is our conflant afylum, and we live better there than in any other place in the univerfe, becaufe we almoft ever play a fure game with thefe women. It is not till after he has won feveral fignal vi- &ories, that a devU obtains this province. The place, 36 The Devil Hermit. place, in a word, is a fort of reeompence, like a government to an old officer, who has worn out his life and fpent his eftate in the fervice of his prince. At another opportunity I will give you a circumftantial detail of the life of a monk ; but we muft go foftly on, and you mall have an account of my adventures in all my different metamorphofes. CHAP. III. Aftaroth at Court. PPhat he fees, and what he does there. A N hour after having borrowed the lady's fi- ^* gure, I arrived at her palace. I received a number of vifits from all the principal courtiers, my husband only excepted, ( for fo I muft call the Count de ***, ) during my abode there. His indifference for his wife was founded, as I told you before, merely upon the inequality of her birth : otherwife {he was infinitely worthy of efteem, as well for her beauty as for her virtue. Two months the lady had fpent in her journey, which was undertaken to vifit her parents, and engage them to give her a fum of money. Her husband, loaded with debts, hsd loft his very equipage in gaming, and now enjoyed it only on his word of honour. She brought enough to retrieve his circumftances ; and, not to wrong him, I muft own, that wkhin two days of my arrivaJ, The Devil Hermit. 37 arrival, meeting me by chance in a gallery, with two counte'Tes of his lady's acquaintance, after a thoufand civilities (hewn to them, he en- quired coldly concerning my health, and whe- ther my journey had fucceeded. Having an- ered him in the affirmative, he gave himfelf the trouble in the evening to come to my apart- ment, to take poffefiion of fifty thoufand livres which his lady had brought him. He had the extraordinary complaifhnce, moreover, to leave me two hundred livres for pocket-money : r but as to carefTes, he had more regard to his honour than to forget himfelr" fo far. His theatrical princefs would have taken it ill, and his own. quality would have been difgraced. I laughed heartily to myfelf at the extravagance of this nobleman; and at the fame time was charmed with his ridiculous deportment, This indiffe- rence put me out of danger : for, with all my cunning of a devil, had he come to clofe quar- ters with me, I fliould have been plaguily put to it to bring myfelf tolerably well off. But lucki- ly he made no offer of that kind, and left ine without ceremony, carrying off with him the ready fpecies. The next day I was obliged to pay my duty to the king, to make my viiits, and, in a word, to appear in public before the whole court. iVly nddrefs alone bore me thro' this ; for I was ah- lolutely unacquainted with the chart of that country. But, what a delightful climate for people of my fpecies ! I have feen in hell a great many devilifh tricks, and was myfelf, a s E I have 188134 3 8 'The Devil Hermit, i have told you, one of die moft arrant va- lets de chambre in the whole kingdom ; yet here I found myfelf a mere novice. The natural or- der of things is all reverfed in this region. They fleep in the day, riot in the night, and fhorten life by unheard-of excefies. The foul is a ftranger to all fincerity, and all companion. Double-dealing, impofture, fcandal, and oflen- tation, are the only virtues known to courtiers. A near relation betrays you, an enemy careffes you, a friend ruins and makes a facrifke of you. The husband is never feen with his wife, and the wife flies her husband as much as poffible. What meannefs, faid a nobleman one day to a lady that was his miftrefs, to have fo much re- gard for your husband! Fie upon fuch a beggarly tafte! you'll pafs f or the wife of a mechanic, a mere plebeian. As if the end of matrimony was mutual love ! You deceive yourfelf, madam, and run counter to all politenefs and good man- ners. Lord, madam, cried a dutchefs one day as fhe accofted me, I am fo fatigued with the civilities of the Duke de***, that he is become quite infupportable to me. It looks as if he had married me only to make me ridiculous at court by his fond behaviour. Do but behold that me- lancholic man ! Always the fame bed, the fame table, the fame coach. He actually kifies me, and talks tender things, till he runs himfelf out of breath, without giving me time to put in a word. How happy are you, madam, fhe goes on, to have a husband you fcarce ever fee ! It is now above four live-long days fmce I have had an opportunity The Devil Hermit. 39 opportunity to fpend one quarter of an hour with the Count de C ***, the man whom I love to diftra&ion. So, here comes the Princefs de L*** to join our company. How beautiful, how amiable (he appears ! Who can be more happy than that lady ? She has a croud of lo- vers, and fuffers not one to languim in defpair. Her husband, the Count de P ***, always gets out of the way when (he receives them. This is certainly the quinteflence of good manners, and what makes him, in his turn, adored by all the ladies. At this time the king, very much advanced in years, turned all his thoughts to the concerns of another world. In his youth the princes of hell had occafioned great diforders in his court ; but at the decline of his days he had baniflied them all. When this monarch, who died two months after my arrival, came to the banks of the river Styx, all the infernal people afcended together in a croud, and took pofleffion of mcfl of his courtiers. I now faw myfelf lucky in my choice of a tabernacle to dwell in, which ftill fecured me in a place where otherwife I muft not have dared to appear, as the fituation was fo coveted by all my fuperiours. The lady whofe figure I had borrowed pafled for a woman fo cruelly virtuous, that my very prefence ftruck an awe on the moft artful devil of them all, and not a fiend would venture to come near me. They wheeled about my perfon, but at a becoming diftance. I had a great inclination, thus dif- guifed, to have fome diverfion with one of our E 2 chief 40 tfhe Devil Hermit. chief lords, by giving him free accefs to my perfon. Infenfibly I engaged his regard, and by degrees we became familiar. This devil of quality was a very crafty one, and who tho- roughly kneAv the hearts of the courtiers : he therefore diverted me between whiles with re- lating their characters, and fome of their prin- cbal adventures. Take notice, fays he to me one day, .of that man in the red cap : he is an excellent fubjeft, and much relpected throughout our empire. He has acquired us an infinite number of proic- lytco, and is in fact the evil genius of the ftare, ;md of him that governs it. Indulgent to the laft degree, he has given that prince fuch an ad- iiiirab!-- education, that I have more hopes of him -than of the grand Sultan. This pre- ceptor, at prefent minifter of ftate, is indeed a mighty good fort of man : he reconciles to his niifcicnce whatever his mafbr requires of him. He often fcolo's ; fwears at every word he fpe.iks, and fometimes even cries : as witnefs la ft night at the reprefentatiori of AGNES DE CAST RO. Hah ! here comes tb.2 Marquis de ***, the rnoft affable r.nd obliging nobleman in the whole court. Every man, without exception, is ad- mitted into his converfation. He promifes to every one all his intereft : but the misfortune is, that he thinks for ever of his own affairs, and never of his promifes. He keeps two miftreffes, who ruin his fortune, and folicit:-: a government to fapply the extravagance of thefc heroines. Do Ibe Devil Hermit. 41 Do you fee that young prince ? He is themoft paffionate and violent man upon earth. When he knows any fellow whom I miftruft, and who is fubjecT: to certain fits of devotion, that may de- prive me of his foul, I prompt his highnefs to fend him into the other world, which he does the firft opportunity. I have already had a good number thro' his means, and indeed he is an in- exhauftible treafure for the nether regions. He has an alrefs for his miftrefs, whom he beats like a ftock-fi{h ; which however does not pre- vent the lady from diftributing her favours to many others. Take a view of that ugly old harradan who comes this way ! obferve her grotefque figure ! That marchionefs now has her lovers, and has run her husband above 100,000 crowns in debt to pay them. It is me that fupports that young gentleman who walks with her. The fellow is poor, and is he not in the right to live at the expence of fuch a baboon ? So, fays I, whence comes the Du-tchefs de *** ? She feems to me quite out of breath. A very pretty queftion, anfwers BELPHEGOR: (he comes from LA Si L L ION'S, and is running to , where (he has always one of the dcareit apartments. The moft miierable wretch, who is rich, may boaft of having a dutchefs for his money : but fo infatiable is (he on this head, that the moft bountiful gallant never comes often. Now obferve a little that ecclefiaftic and that duke, who laugh like a couple of ideots. Thofe are mafter and fcholar. And what, fays T, \ E 3 ' the 42 The Devil Htrnrit. the name of fenfe, can make them giggle fo immoderately ? Nothing, he replied, b^;t the conceit of fpending the night together at Madam COMMODE'S, where they lately made a moft fcandnlous difturbance. T he commiifary, with two of his archers, ran thither at hearing the outcry : but the poor honeft officer was obliged to return in confufion. Thefe two lords compelled him and his followers to kifs the lady'a pofieri- ors, by way of punimment for having inter- rupted their pleafures. This is the whole fub- je<5t of their extravagant mirth. The poor commifiary was fo mortified at the egregious affront, that he has lately quitted the city, and is gone to take up his refidence in the country. Do you obferve that couple who are now coming towards us ? The man is a notorious cheat, who will ruin the kingdom. He is a Jlricuh fugitive, and now meditates great de- fi.Tns. His pretended wife, with her red and white complexion, is not a jot better than him- folf. They have had accefs, by means of my compatriots, to the greateft men in the land . His projects, tho' extremely dangerous, will be put in execution, and they give me plea lure by way cf anticipation : for I hope to gain more by this game than in a raffib cf monks. It will impoverifil fo many families, that ra^e and Jefpsir (ball people a whole city of our kingdom, vvirch I had aiiott-d to new converts, who take refute in r oreign countr:c ; . H-'re BELPHET. a very fhrill cry. D^/r court tefi, faid lie, kc us inltantly efcape. 1 perceive The Devil Hermit. 43 I perceive a perfon at a diftance that comes this way : 'tis LYCOPHRON, that redoubtable phy- fician, who has fent an infinite number of in- habitants into the kingdom of PLUTO. The company of that gentleman poifoner will not fuit us, and is only proper ior thofe ladies who have jealous husbands ; or thofe husbands who want to get rid of their wives ; or to feme redu- ced heir, who pants after a rkh patrimony* and is quite out of patience. He kills with im- punity all that truft to his medicines. But the other day he gave a ftrong dofe of opium to the young monarch, inftead of a cordial. He is the mofr. ignorant quack in the whole world, and never knew what it is to fludy. All the morning he fcribbles over fome wafte paper, which a bookfeller has thecomplaifance to print, in order to fell the (beets afterwards to the wholefale gro- cers. After dinner he haunts the coffee- houies, to take in fome novice at gaming. If you fuf- fer him to enter your doors, truft me, 'tis all over with you : your husband will imitate a great many others, who -love poor miftrefles that they may enrich them, and rich wives that they may beggar them. Our ./EscULAPius was inti- mately acquainted with LA BR INVILLIERS, and there are very 'weighty reafons to let him go on quietly without panifhinent. All his know ledge lies in the pills of that M E G JE R A , which he fells very dear to thofe who are fo unhappy as to want them. In a word, he is a very bafilisk, who kills with his eyes, and poifons with his breath : let us fly him as a woman would fly an impotent 44 The Devil Hermit.' impotent lover. 1 am very much obliged to you for your advice, faid I toBELpHEGOR: but I know him, and have no inclination to make him an affignment. After this converfation my noble devil left me, without having once fufpe&ed my meta- morphofis. Immediately I fled home, where a young knight of Malta expected me with im- patience. He was very intimate with the lady whofe figure I had borrowed. BELPHEGOR had inflamed him with defires of enjoyment, and aflured him that he would make me fenfible of his torment, and mollify my virtue. I con- fefs that I have a hundred times repented my be- ing a devil, incapable of yielding to his paflion, and following the examples of the court ladies ; for certainly ADONIS had not more charms than this amiable Chevalier. His conftancy, for a courtier, was extraordinary: already, for more than four months, he had declared himfelf an adorer of the countefs, without obtaining the leaft favour ; which, on her part, (hewed an ad- mirable refolution for a lady of quality. I frankly own, that I had more regard to his paf- fion than the countefs ; which made me give him fome hopes of fuccefs. He pumed the point a little home upon me ; but it was out of my power to make him happy. I demanded time to confider the matter, and feemed to capitulate upon honourable conditions ; refolving all the while to infpire the lady with the fame fentiments, whenever (he came home. I have fucceeded to admiration ; and for fix and twenty years part, (for The Devil Hermit. 45 (for fo long they have had a right understanding together) their reciprocal paffion has not in the diminimed. The knight, as fatisfied as a nun who had juft received her new year's gift, conducted me to a pompous entertainment, that was given one evening at the Gobelins by a certain great prin- cefs. Every thing there was very fplendid j but nothing gave more pleafure than the fe- cond deficit. For that reafon it was very long, and the debauch of it was pumed to fc:rie excefs. Every female above twenty years oUl was prohibited this entertainment. When it was found that the liquor began to operate, all the lights were put out in a. mo- ment, that CUPID might have full liberty to rove without reftraint. My fprightly young lover did not deep on this occafion, and the fcene at firft put me in a fright : but I prefentljf affumed the fhape of a man, and fo the Cheva- lier miffed his fcent, when otherwife he would certainly have run me down. A confufed noife was at firft heard throughout the aflernbly. By degrees a profound filence came on, which was followed by fighs from contented hearts, and 3 few feeble exclamations. The foft and tender words that I heard fly about in whifpers, gave me to underrVand that this feaft was to the tafte of the guefts, and infinitely beyond all the di- verfions of the carnival ; and the confequences of it fhewed my opinion well grounded. A little while after feveral young virgins difap- peared, under pretence of illnefsj and at the end 46 The Devil Hermit. end of ten months they (hone forth again, with new vermilion in their checks. I had been now at court above three months, fo fully employed that I had not time to look round me. But one night finding myfclf at leifure in my apartment, it came into my head to examine my houfe, and vifit all the fervants while they were under the dominion of MOR- PHE us. My pretended husband had a chamber- maid, and I a valet de chambre ; for we both followed the fafliion of the court. There were thirty other domefticks in family, fifteen men, and fifteen maids ; or, if you pleafe, women ; or, to fpeak more juftly, neither maids nor women. I made my tour from chamber to chamber, paying the Count, as became me, the firft vifit. The poor gentleman, by miftake, was in the chamber-maid's bed, and I found them very faft aficep. All the reft were coupled in the fame manner, every JACK with his JOAN, down to the very fcullion-boy, who was fnoring in the garret with the hoftler's daugh- ter, a girl that had not yet entered in her teens. So, faid I to myfelf, this is like to beavery fruitful houfe. But the beft of it is, that not one creature can reproach another. A very regular gradation, from the meaneft fervant up to the mafter ! This phenomenon, which indeed was no mi- racle in that delightful climate, gave me the thought of paying a like vifit to the houfes of feveral courtiers. I found them all pretty near in the fame fituation. In one the husband was abfent 'The Devil Hermit. 47 abfent ; but a great booby of a footman occupied his place. * The fellow was not afleep, and the lady made good ufe of her time. In another houfe, Madam was fleeping by the fide of her chamberlain, while happy Monfieur regaled himfelf in the bed of an a&refs. In a third the husband was at reft in the arms of a bloated old governefs, and his lady lofmg her honour in a party at ombre. In a word, having gone thro' about a fcore of palaces, and perceiving that every thing went on much in the fame manner as in the houfe I inhabited, I refolved to play them a trick in my own natural way. With this view I went home, and muttered over certain charms, which buried them all in a pro- found lethargy, that I knew would continue till eight o'clock the next evening. I exempted not a foul from the effect of my magic power, but the por- ters, and a few leprous wretches that no woman would touch. At five o'clock in the afternoon I took my flight from houfe to houfe, making myfelf invifible to enhance the pleafure of the adventure. I opened all ,the doors to a great number of perfons of both fexes, who came to pay their cuftomary vifits. Surprized to fee no- body when they entered, the guefts went from room to room, and furveyed at leifure this hu- morous afiemblage of love. In one I waked the mafter from the fide of his chambermaid, and the good man burft out into a hearty laugh to fee his dear moiety in the arms of a valet. In another I took the charm from my lady, (that lady who had lodged with her chamber- lainj 48 The Devil Hermit. lain) and (he ftormed like a mad woman at her husband, becaufe fhe caught him with the go- vernefs of her children. The lord who had juft rifen from his aclrefs, threw out a thoufand invectives at his wife, whom he furprized in the flagrant acl: of infidelity. The hiftory of this affair, for a confiderablc time, gave a great deal of diverfion to the court. The Count my imaginary husband, and his domeftics, tho' guilty ot the fame crimes, were the firft to railly thofe who had been detected. As they were not like to be more referved for the future, I determined to make an example of them too, and put my de- fign in execution the very next night. After ha- ving lulled them all heartily to deep, I went to the enchanted caftle to fetch home the lady my original, and made her an eye witnefs of the diforders of her family. As fhe was virtuous at this time, fhe drove away all thefe fcandalous domefticks, not omitting ever her husband's chambermaid. Hislordfhip, who loved variety, was very well pleafed with this revolution. She who fucceeded took the place of her predeceffor ; as who could long refift the endearments of a Count ? Having again tranfported the lady back to her former habitation, the fame ceconomy be- gan again in the houfe ; whence I concluded them an incorrigible company, and that the de- vils had no need to tempt fuch people as thefe. An idle life, good eating and drinking, and above all the -mailer's example, inftruc~ted them The Devil Hermit. 49 better than hell itfelf could have done. It is not without reafon therefore that our diabolical princes are fond of the court, becaufe they live there in a fweet repofc, and have'fcarce any bufi- nefs on their hands. I pa fled my time, you fee, mod agreeably. Fortune, however, jealous of my happinefs, no longer continued me in her favour, but put a fudden end to my enjoyment. I have told you, that I had given fome hopes to the knight of Malta. BELPHEGOR, furprized at my refift- ance, (for he was entirely devoted to the Che- valier ) began to doubt that I was not a real woman, and fufpebd that my form was mere- ly fantaftical. Immediately he took his flight to hell, and convoked together all the inhabi- tants of that empire, who appeared to his fum- mons ; they appeared, I fay, all but yourhumbls fervant. Then he no longer doubted my ha- ving borrowed the lady's figure, and his rage drew from him the moft horrible imprecations againil my poor individual. I knew from ths firft the danger I was expofed to, and therefore went inftantly to the enchanted palace, releafed the Countefs, and tranfport'ed her to her cham- ber. I then took my flight into the middle re- gion of the air, where, alas ! he foon difcovere i me. I was obliged to confefs my crime ; for a crime it was to infmuate myfelf at court. Ail his rafcaliy followers, my mercilefs comeradcs, hunted me with fo much brutality, that I trem- bled left I fhould never get out of their clutches. By degrees however I made my efcape, and af .< r F havii g 50 7be Devil Hermit. having rambled thro' feveral provinces, I met by chance a canon or abbot of the court, who gave me an afylum in his body. CHAP. IV. Of the Occupations of Aftaroth, as an eccle- Jiaftical Chancellor, TT\ O not imagine, Sir, that my new hoft ^ was one of your common fort of abbots, your ccclefiaftics reduced to a fimple prebend, your zealous priefts who fet hell at defiance : fuch a thought as that would do me great injuftice ; I was too fond of courtiers to debafe myfelf fo egregioufly. Having tafted the pleafures of a court life, I was in no hafie to renounce them. For this reafon they gave me, by way of irony, the name of the courtly DJEMON, and fome writers have put me upon a level with BEL- PHEGOR and LEVIATHAN. It was in wandering from country to country, in order to cfcape the claws of my enemies, when I was juft ready, out of mere defpair, to take repofe under the frock of a father cordelier, that I found this holy man, who foon made me amends for the affront I had received, in being obliged to leave the Countefs BE L JSE. It is indeed very true, that the court I was now going to acl my part in could not be put m competition with the other. Nothing was feen The Devil Hermit. 51 feen in the firft but magnificence, riches, ban- quets, and balls : the fecand, on the contrary, was diftinguifhed only by rapine, niggardli- nefs, and fordid intereft. In the firft was an infinite number of fine gentlemen, witty, po- lite, and affable ; in the fecond a filthy troop of hypocrites, buried almoft for ever in drun- kennefs. Yet even here T tafted a great many pleafures, as the mummeries which pafTed were ieafoned with a certain fatirical fait, that made them extremely delightful. The perfon who had lodged me was the fe- cond man in the ftate, and inferior only to the prince. He held the two chief employments of that ecclefiaftical fovereignty ; which employ- ments, notwithftanding, were incompatible in themfelves, and could not be filled up by one and the fame perfon. But what cannot favour perform ? It gives capacity to thofe who have it not. I confefs that the figure of this man made me recoil at firft, and that it was with reluctance I fo debafed myfelf, juft after having quitted a beautiful lady, as to jump down the throat of a creature four foot and a half high, with broad round (boulders, the paunch of a SA N c H o, and a mean crabbed air, which at firft glance gave a full indication of his folly, and that his under- ftanding was altogether as fhort as his fight. Such was, in reality, this quibbling fophifticat- ing Monfieur 1' A B B E ', the Count de R o L L i N . The ftate has been divided from time immemorial between ASMODEUS the devil of luxury, and FAGEL the devil of chicanery. The firft F 2 prefides 52 The DeviT Hermit. prefides over the heads of the community, and the fecond influences the populace only : in a word, As MOD E us is as it were the prince, and FA GE t a6b as the chancellor. Happily for me I detected, in the form of fe- cretary to my new hoft, another difgraced devil whofe name was URIEL. He had already officiated for ten years in this character, and with the higheft applaufe from his worthy ma- iler. You know doubtlefs that Lord URIEL is the verrieft thief, and yet the moft arro- gant rafcal that ever hell produced. At my ar- rival, however, his credit began to diminim: he had committed fo many rogueries to enrich his patron, as to draw on himfelf a great number of enemies. The very imps of As MODE us, jealous of his glory, and becaufe he had gone even beyond them in promifes, were trying their i:t;r.oft to cut-reach him. I dextroufly took advantage of the remainder of his credit, to get myfelf acquainted with the intrigues of t'.iis petty court. As I had over him a fort of fuperiority, I commanded him to unmask the fo- vereign and his principal courtiers. I was obliged, in order to make him comply, to declare my name ; but it was upon oath firft given, that he would never betray me, nor di (cover my retreat to my perfecutors. The oath of a devil indeed is no very facred thing, as the fcoundrel taught me within four months after, when, to fupport himfelf, he impeached me. But if I am not reven- ged on him, never believe AST A ROTH again. Friend The Devil Hermit. 53 Friend ASTAROTH, fays URIEL to me one day, I am going to court, to get the depo- fition fiened of a gallant ecclefiaftic, who was lately deprived of his benefice for having lived too regularly. If thou wanteft to know the fovereign and his chief courtiers, come with me, and leave thy good mafter a few hours. He fpends the afternoon with Madam LECHER- .ous, and has no occafion for thee: for his own inclination will make him andiffereruij krved, and obliged to put up up with a ftrong gravy foop, and two pretty favoury courfes. Inftead of bisk he had no- thing but a fine Bruges capon, garnifhed with fix fnines. He had no appetite that day, and therefore could not eat above two thirds of what was brought before him ; but the frugal feafl was a little made up with a delicate c'eflerr, and a good quantity of wine. After his .two bottles of Burgundy, he Jwailowed a third, of the beft Chamra^n. Having well v;6h:alled his camp, he thought of taking a two hours fkep, and then waiting upon 7 The Devi! Hermit: upon Madam LECHEROUS, in order to pafs away the time till midnight : but this once my good chancellor reckoned without his hoft ; he had no afternoon's nap, and was very ill on ths occafion. U'RIEL, who faw his uneafineis concerning the price of the toilette, brought him in the news of a chapman. This perfon, having learned that a canonicate might pofiibly be vacant in two or three days, came to offer him 10,000 florins, to procure it forhisfon. The lad, fajs he, my Lord, is one of the moft wicked young rogues that ever lived. Wine and women are all his delight ; and, tho' not above fixtcen, he has already half a dozen mif- trefles, to whom he has given above 6oco fionns that he robbed me of. He is withal very lazy ; and, in a word, fit for a canon and no- thing elfe. Your excellence may depend upon what I fay, and that he has all thefe qualifica- tions. Mr V A i L L A N T , anfwers the chancellor, I am your friend, and you know I have for- merly ferved you. But are you an honeft man ? may I be fure of the io,coo florins ? My Lord, they are ready, and here is a bill in proper form for the whole fum. Very fuft, replies his excellence. Well, I will go directly to the Prince, and fecure the prebend for your ion. Take care that the fick man dies but within this month, and young Mr VAILLANT {hall certainly fucceed him. lam now once more at court,where my good tabernacle of fiefh lets forth his resell. Scarce had The D^vil Hermit. 79 had he dene {peaking, but the qanonicatc wag, granted, upon condition only that a thoufand; florins fhould be .given to the prime niini{ier-i The bargain being thus made and ratified, no- thing was now wanting' but to fend the prefent pcfteflbr into the other world ; and I took that part on myfelf, and dilpatched it with great expedition. But before I inform you of the ftratagem I made ufe of, I rauft fay a word or two more concerning the court we are now in. His highnefs was at that time engaged in a party of quadrille, with three diftinguiihed men of his court. The fir ft- that ftruck my imagination was a fat droll with a round face, whofe good cafe denoted him to be a canon. His foppifh airs would have impofed on any other but me, to conceive a great idea of his power. But he fmelt fo ftrong at the fame time of rhubard and drugs, that it was eafy to de- tect him by the nofe. This little country apo- thecary had found the means of rifing to the dignity of page to the prince ; and it was the cuftom of this fovereign to advance all his fer- vants to the canonicatc, in order to fave wages ; fo that laqueys, cooks, and turnfpits, with him wore the furred amefs. This fellow lived in the utmoft intimacy with his- matter ; drank fa- miliarly to his health ; took upon him the man of importance ; and fometimes thought himfelf worthy of the title of excellence. He had rea- fon indeed to fet much value on himfelf, becaufq the prince loved him, which was. an effect o, his good tafte. He repeated to. 'him an infinite number 8.o The Devil Hermit. number of ftale jokes, which he had learned by heart, and was enabled to (bine h ; me~e din 1 - of memoiy. The chapter he h: j intruded : nto was happy in having fuch a member, who kr.ew per- fectly well how, by frequent ciyfters, r: eva- cuate the riches of the church The fecond was a little meager man, who teemed to be fwelled with Infupper.:. r: arro- gance. It was credibly reported, that rre had contracted thefe two qualities of his wife, while the good woman was equally flup-d und mafcu- line. In fpite of nature and his ftars, re io deter- mined to rafs for a man of wit : dig- nity of burgomafter railed him a little above the rank of a common merchant, he thought to put himfelf upon a level with men of quality. He was chief indeed of about a fcore burghers, men who were fitter to make grooir? than ma- ' giftr'ates. This little fellow was rich, covetous, and prefumptuous.Becaufe he knew the two firft "rules of arithmetic, he would take upon himfelf to 'puzzle the greateft mathematicians. The cancn apothecary turned him to ridicule, and our witty citizen fwallowed all the ironical pills with a clownifh grin, crying out from time to time, O, Sir ! you flatter me too much. He lived in a pretty fort of a houfe, almoft over a- gainft the man who made the fourth of thi? party: but this houfe was not large enough to fatisfy the vanity of his wife, who was the greateft de- vil of a woman in the. whole city ; which is gi- ving her a very compleat character, when we obfeive The 'Devil Hermit. ,81 nbferve. that the women of this country furpafs even the men in debaucheries. Tlie.laft is a man of wit, valuable for fe- veral good qualities. His father was a coach- man, and the fon is now one of the richeft nobleman in the countiy. He owns fever al ca- ftles and lordfliips, and among others, a fine fertile eftate about two leagues from the palace of the fovereign, which makes him the lord of feveral noble fiefs. He holds a court of juftice, one of the mod magnificent in the fovereignty. Tho' the father had no higher title than Mailer JAMES, the fon is faluted Baron de ****. Here the harlequin capuchin, other wife called the ape of the court, enters without ceremony. No fooner did this ciiginal appear, tut the three dependants inftantly rife ; not out refpe6t to the rmn, but complaifance to the fovereign. Our buffoon laughs in their face, and runs en to the prince to ask him for a pinch of fnufF. Well, fays his highnefs to this oddity of a man, what news is there ftirring ? The dirty devil an- fwers laconically, Nothing: I come to ask your highnefs a (mail favour. There is a monk be- low, who promifed me ilx pouuds of (huff. His fuperiors have bar.iuVd him to a kind of fo- litude, on account of hit, bufy teirp^r, which fprcads diffeiihon wi crcvcr he tomes. His name is Father B***, and he begs to he permitted to live in the city. 1 have heard great complaints of that man, fays the prince, and know him to be a mere libertine. He traverfes the i Daylong, on purpo'fe to fpungc on the. inhabi- tants : 8z n.e Devil Hermit. tants : in fhort, he is a very par afire, and I can do nothing for him. Ah, Sir, but my fix pounds of frrjff! Thou art in the right my boy, fays his highnefs: I had quite forgot that. Write a letter" then from me to his fuperiors, that I will have him continue in my capit:-.]. Cut runs the mimick triumphantly, making Eve or fix capers ; and 'no fooner was he gone, but the prince cried out in rapture, What an ami- able fellow is that ! My folitude would be in- fupportable without his company ; and therefore lean deny him nothing. His excellence, my hoft, being returned to the city, fent for the merchant, to inform him that his fen mould be a canon. But you feern concerned, fays he, Mr VA ILL ANT; what is the caufe of that forrowful countenance ? The caufe, my lord, is very rational ; the fick man is like to recover, and feems not ready to leave his prebend fo foon as was expected. Patience, good friend, fays my tabernacle ; leave the matter to us, and all mall go well. Here, in order to fecure to him the 10,000 florins that he fo panted after, I infpired him with the fol- Jovving fuccefsful fttratagem. Our poor languifhing canon, tho' but fixty .years of age, was exceedingly worn ; thanks to three young governefTes, whom he had kept fuc- ceffively. A fon and a daughter, who owed their being to the two firft of thefe, had a long fime waited with impatience for the inheritance of his wealth. As they were the children of fuch a worthy father, and two fo amiable mothers, they followed The Devil Hermit. 83 followed their fteps with the utmoft exa&ncfs, and the 'daughter was at that time the miftrefs of our young canon expectant. I impioved the acceft fhe had to the good old man, and ordered URIEL to whifper in her ear that fhe. ought to get rid of him as foon as poflible, becaufe he had formed a defign to alter his will. The poor girl, very open to our infpirations, gave him a ftrong foup, which in twenty four hours fent him to officiate upon the banks of Styx j fo that the citizen's fon was put in pofleffion, and we cleared nine thoufand florins by the bargain. The daughter of the deceafed entered very readily into the fervice of the new canon: but the inconftancy of her lover, and his fcan- dalous life, obliged her foon after to feek her fortune elfewhere. Already had I tafted, for near four months, the fweetnefs of a life extremely voluptuous, among the perfons of firft quality of this country. I cannot fay but I was very well fatisfied with what I had enjoyed, and began to defire, by way of variety, a little recreation in the female cloifter, to which I inftantly took my flight. FAG E L, who made this place his ufual refidence, did not detect me. I faw, in thefe holy retreats, the moft charming adventures in the univerfe, and often patted a full half day in the parlour without being weary. Often I en- joyed the whole world in epitome, and there was no end of receiving vifits. Delicate colla- tions were here ferved up, to lovers who paid handfomely for them : there amorous addreffes were 84 The Devil Hermit. were made to the young and handfome who were enraged that thofe who made them did not proceed to action. Some exclaimed againft certain indecencies, and Teemed to be mighty angry at what was offered, when at the fame time they were making it all extremely fa- miliar. Meflengers were ringing every mo- ment, to deliver in their billet-doux : and the old procurefies came loaded with baskets of fweet- meats, bottles of wine, and other delicacies, to pleafe the voluptuous palates of the generous and good natured lifters. A fmall chaplet, or an agnus, was the whole return for all thefe obli- ging prefents, which were more agreeable to the fair prifoners than even money itfelf. The converfation of the old nuns was fprink- led with malicious fatire. They were all better newfmongers than the Dutch gazetteers, or the writer of the Hague letters in the Daily-adver- tifer. Thofe that were moft referved had al- ways fome piece of fcandalous hiftory ; and every day furniflied them with a new topic. I was very attentive to a ftory, which the mother ab- befs of one of thtfe nunneries related to an old ecclefiaftic, who had been formerly her gallant. As they were both then turned of their thirteenth luftre, they made the follies of their neighbours a fort of allevation for their own impotence ; and, incapable of finning themfelves, they (hew- ed no mercy to them who had yet ability. Thefe holv fouls, without queftion, were per- fuaded, that by thus aggravating the fact of ethers, they fhould ftifle the reproaches of their ewn The Devil Hermit. 8$ own conferences. As the hiftory that this lady related, and to which the charitable prieft, be- tween whiles, added a little fait of his own, is fufficiently amufing, I (hall give you the partn culars of it with great fmcerity. C H A P. VI. lloe unfortunate Lovers : 0r, 'The Pliftory of Don BERNARD end Madam URSULA; A Gentleman of diftin&ion, but the younger "^^ brother of a numerous family, having by chance got acquainted with a very amiable young lady, the heirefs of a confiderrile for- tune, fuffered himfelf to be carried away by the movements of his heart, in full perfuafion that his relations would be charmed that he could fo well fupply the defect of his own patrimony. The chevalier, who was a man of merit, and very handfome, eafily got the good graces of the lady. Their hearts, mutually inclined, foon found the means to lay themfelves open, and that explication was followed by an inviolable pro- mife of eternal love. The gentleman's father, who piqued him (I If much on his antiquated- deeds, being informed of the gallantry of his fon, took an opportunity to acM efs him with an air of authority. I am informed, faid he in a furly manner, that you are in love with Mifs Sop H i A. -But my deac I Sir. 86 77* 'Devil Hermit. Sir, pray what do you think to do with her? Do you imagine that a man of my quality will con- fent to fuch a defpicable alliance ? Is the daughter of a banker worthy to be admitted into my fa- mily ? I command you to leave her, young gentleman, or you may expe6t to feel all the weight of my juft indignation for your obfti- nacy. Never think to dazzle my eyes with her riches : they are no temptation to me, and to prevent their feducing you, I order you to get ready within two days, to go to your brother's regiment. The young gallant falls on his knees at his father's feet, and implores his mercy with all the tender language of a defpairing lover. His fighs, his tears iflue in abundance, to make the old gentleman fenfible of his violent paflion. But his humility, his grief, his defpair, were equally ufelefs. Far from foftening this inexo- rable parent, it only made him more vehement, and drove him to the utmoft extremity of rage, till at laft he even threatened the life of his fon. Our ftedfaft lover, grown mad at fuch treatment, fled to his miftrefs, and related to her all the particulars of this converfition with his father. Fair SOP H i A was Clocked at the unexpected ftorm, and felt all that could be defired from the moft fmcere lover. She advifed him to re- tire to the houfe of his nurfe, to avoid a father's refentment ; promifmg to fend him thither all he mould want ; which me accordingly did with infinite pleafure. The* The Devil Hermit. 87 Tho' the banker was ignorant of his cbugfi- ter's inclinations, yet as he was a man of good penetration, he took notice of her melancholy, and required to know the reafon of it. Mifa was perfuaJed that her father loved her fondly, and therefore ingenuoufly owned her paffion, together with the rife of it, and the obftacles that oppofed her happinefs : fhe only concealed the retreat of her lever, whom fhe faw every day. Her fre- quent vifits had but augmented her flames, fo that all the prudent advice of her father was of no ef- feet : neither his menaces nor his promiics were fufficient to conquer her pafiion. It is hard for two lovers, defperately fond, to keep within the bounds of decency. Whenever opportunity is at hand, CUPID ufually hides himfelf under clouds, in order to palliate what is due to honour. SOPHIA was too complai- fant, and could not long refift the eager warmth of her tender adorer. At laft they facrificed' to the Cytherean goddefs ; and it became requifite to find means for fecuring their mutual pofief- fion. Not many months pafled before fome f, mptoms appeared, which predicted a tempo- rary illnefs. The beautiful SOPHIA perilled her lover to fly into fome foreign country, Tluit they might put themfelves under the yoke of H Y- M E N : and as {he well knew where the wealth of her father lay, fhe took five or fix bags of gold, and eloped from her paternal houfe. The banker foon perceived the dimunition of his money, and had no fufpicion of nnv other thief than his daughter, whofe conduct, for fome I 2 oavs 88 the 104 The Devil Hermit. the poor thing has been idevilimly balked Dur- ing my abfcnce the whole affair has been difco- vered, and they have (hut her up in a dark prifon, from which I hope to releafe her to- morrow. I have done all in my power to give her confolation, by infpiring the means of re- venge; but the fimple creature was fo over- whelmed with grief, that (he would not hear- ken to my infpi rations. Her misfortune hap- pened in this manner. This young Sifter CORN ic HON, as I told you before, had admitted into clofe quarters a great booby of a monk, who went to work without any precaution. Hardly ha i three weeks pa/Ted over their heads, but fhe felt the f, mp- toms of a dangerous fort of cholic. He: di- ftemper was foon difcovered ; for thofe cbafte young virgins are very clear-fighted on that ar- ticle. As (he had many enemies, and che abbefs was already prejudiced againft her, {he was pre- fently locked up on fufpicion of incontinency, and condemned to live on bread and water a- lone. All her companions raifed mod horrible outcries againft her; yet there is not one of all the holy fifterhood, but who deferves at leaft, as much punimment as Co R N I c H o N . Do but think, Chevalier, of the unhappy fi- tuation of this poor nun. A captivity the nioft fevere and rigorous ; an old paflion but ill extinguifhed, which ftill gnaws her foul ; vows imprudently made, which condemn her to live all her life among implacable enemies, who breathe nothing but her ruin a and are withal very ingenious TV Devil-. Hermit. 105. . ingenious to invent a thoufand calumnies, in or- der to fatiate their vengeance. Are not thefe moft afflicting circumftances? Few fouls are ca- pable to bear up fteadily under fuch (hocks of fortune; and the nymph, in my opinion, was worthy of commiferation. By degrees (he liften- ed to my fuggeftions, and I infpired her with a noble invention for her own deliverance. She has learned how to open the prifon, and this night {he is to fet the nunnery on fire, and make her efcape with the monk, who has been the chief caufe of her difgrace. I muft be prefent at this performance, and can therefore ftay with you but two hours longer. As to the Marquis of St Julian, as foon as he had heard of his miftrefs's misfortune, he returned to his wife, and never in the leaft troubled his head to re- lieve his once dear CORNICHON ; yet it is not now fix months ago, that he would have facri- ficed a thoufand lives for her fervice. Such is the inconftancy of lovers! An amiable young virgin, who has the moft obliging things faid to her, meets with indifference, and at laft dif- dain, after the moft tender fcenes of love are once over. But let us leave off moralizing, which, indeed, is not my profefiion, and divert ourfelves with the guardian matron, who had now lodged me. I was fuch a little while in the bodv of this creature, that fcarce had I time to ki.ovv my- felf. But what could be the reafon of t. ;it 3 good Mr HERMIT ? faid I. A fine queftion m u xJ, replied my DEVJL, The reafon was, tiut&e knew io6 TZtf DeviJ Hermit. knew more than I, and that, b^fides, I had no inclination to be confined any longer. She had corrupted her young ward, a lady of great virtue,, and that was all that I wanted with her. No fooner had mifs and her duana -fallen into difgrace, but I left them to themfelves, in or- der that defpair might compleat what I had fo well begun : yet I cannot deny, but that, dur- ing the two months that I continued in the body of this fury, I performed my part very v^elt ; but when once {he was (hut up in a de- fart country caflle, I prefently left my habita- tion. To oblige you, however, I will give you an ample account of all that I performed in this- my old weather-beaten habitation. C II A P. II. 'The Stratagems of ~Duanas \ or, tbe Hifto- ry of the Count da BE LAIR, and JU- LIA de StFLORENZo! THE Marquis of St FLORENZO, a noble Venetian, united the moft ele- . vated fentiments with an auftere, and almoft favage virtue. The lofs of a wife whom he valued, made no alteration in his nature, unlefs that it rendered him more referved than before. Two children, a fon and a daughter, the precious remains of this marriage, were all his confolation : and young FteJRENso and his The Devil Hermit. 107 his fitter had received from their virtuous pa- rents a noble education, which directed them in the way of true glory. The old Marquis, who loved his children tenderly, was continually thinking how to procure them an advantageous fettlement. His fon was already poflefled of a conilderable employment ; and fuch confidence had the father in his prudent behaviour, that he left him intirely to himfelf, perfuadcd that he would ftill tread in the fteps he had marked out for him to follow. Ju L I A, who was but fifteen years old, join- ed a noble and generous heart, a heart uncapable of any thing^mean, to the moftexquiiite beau- ty. Love, with all his addrefs, had yet been unable to reach her, and his moft pointed darts were blunted againft the heart of this cherming creature. Yet her father, nofwithftanding her prudence, did not think fit to leave her miftrefs of her own conduit, but looked out for a dua- na of known probity. After much enquiry, he, found one, who was recommended to him as the paragon of all Italy. The Marquis, charm- ed with the reputation of this old woman, whofe name was FABRICIA, relied entirely upon her for the conduct of JULIA ; and the time of carnival being come, he would by no means deprive this dear daughter of the diverfions u- fually taken at Venice. Accompanied with her tluana, he fent her to the houfe of a noble Ve- netian lady, whofe condudr, he knew, was ir- repro'ichable. Donna THEODORA (that was her name) was fo pleafed with the company of her jo8 'The Devil Hermit. her lovely young gueft, that (he took her abroad into all the beft companies v where her charms began foon to make great havock. In a little time no converfation was heard, but what turned upon the graces of JULIA'S perfon ; and there was nothing fo complaifant and ob- liging, as what was faid of her. A young French gentleman, no lefs diftin- guifhed by his birth than by his amiable qua- lifications, had made a vifit to THEODORA. He caft his eyes upon JULIA; and to fee and to love were with him the fame thing. A vio- lent paflion foon took pofleffion of his foul, and determined him to omit nothing, in order to captivate the heart of this lovely creature. His aifiduity, his complaifance to JULIA, gave umbrage to Madam FABR ICIA, who told her fentiments to her young miftrefs, and asked her, if the Count had not made to her fome de- claration of love. JULIA fmcerely confefled to her guardian all the Count's proteftations of friendfhip and tendernefs; and declared, that (he never could be eafy for his felicitations : butfhe added, at the end of her narrative, that tho' this young nobleman had an infinite deal of merit, (he did not feel any thing in her heart, that gave her the leaft fufpicion of her being ever enamoured with him. Dame FABRICIA, whom I did not yet poflefs, was ravifhed with this declaration, and gave her frefh inftru&ions relating to her con- duel ; advifing her to defy all men in general, efpt daily the French, My dear JULIA, fays foe, 7 be Devil Hermit. 109 {he, they are a fet of deceitful, unconftant, in- difcreet people ; put no confidence in t'.em, for they are more dangerous than a violent fever ; all their careffes are only with a view to de- vour. In the mean time the Count, tormented in- ceflantly with his paifion, followed JULIA wherefoever (he went. Having overhsard this fine ledture of the duana, he refolved to engage her to his intereft, coflwhat it would. Here I ftepped in to his afliftance, and took pofTeffion of the old woman's heart ; for, as I always had a regard for the French petits maitres, I thought it a point of honour to ferve this amiable young gentleman. One day, when JULIA went with donna THEODORA to vifit fome of the fiftcrs in a nunnery, the Count came to her ap- partments, under the pretence of paying his refpe&s, and luckily found there dame FABRI- c I A alone. Ah ! Madam, fays he, I am over- joyed to find you here without witnefTes : I muft engage your friendfhip in my behalf with JU- LIA ; deign therefore to give one moment's at- tention. Juft at that time I filled her foul with my fuggeftions, and (he confentej to hear what the Count had to fay. Madam, he begins, I loveMifs JULIA to diftra&ion. Serve me in this particular, and de- pend upon the moft grateful acknowledgment. You are not ignorant, chafte FA ERIC IA, of my birth, my rank, my fortune. I do not aim to deceive your fair miftrefs; I only intreat you not to be againfl an honourable marriage, * L which no The Devi/ Hermit. which I intend topropofe to her. Her alliance with me will not difgrace her : endeavour there- fore to infpire her with favourable fentiments towards me. I know you have a daughter of your own, who has not fortune to recommend her to an advantageous match: bring the fair JULIA to condefcend to. my love, and I here give you a note of my hand for a thoufand pi- ftoles to add to your daughter's fortune, and a thoufand more for your own ufe, to be paid as icon as the bufmefs fuccceds. Be fo good as to accept this fmall prefent of two hundred louis it will.be time enough then to delibe- rate upon whatcourfe you are to take. My love and arFe'clion to you are fufficiently known; and the advice I {hall give you will always be ho- ned and rational. I have more experience of thefe matters than you : confult your own. heart therefore, my dear JULIA, and repofe on me the whole care of your happinefs. But, Madam FABRICIA, replied our love- ly young lady, how would you have a prudent and virtuous virgin explain herfelf? I am in- ceflantly purfued : all the aflembly is attentive to our actions, and the leaft nod, the leafl glance of the eye, cannot pafs unobferved. And what then JULIA, rejoined the good duana, cannot you give him an interview in your own appartment ? For my part, I will do what be- comes me; and you may be aflured, that no one living fiiall ever know any thing of the matter. What is this you advife me to, Madam !' ex- claimed the fair JULIA. Shall a young kdy of honour and birth expofe her reputaioii irt L that 114 The Devil Hermit. that manner? If I could- even fuppofe, that all the world would be ignorant of this clan- deftine vifit, who can be guarantee of the Count's honour ? You have told me, that all the French gentlemen are fprightly, enter- prizing, and of a temper not to be withftcod. When I am alone with him, who (hall f cure me from his lawlefs attempts ? Can I even be fure of my own fteadinefs and virtue ? Oh, FA B R i- CIA ! one that is too daring on the fea of life, runs a great rifque of being fhipwrecked. Not in the leaft, my dear child, anfwers the duana; you hazard nothing \ I {hall be always near you. I will do more, I will bring my daughter BEATRICE to pafs the night with you : thus (hail we have two witnefTes, who will put a damp to all the Count's vigorous attacks, even fuppofing that he mould be fo ram, as to attempt any thing againft your ho- nour. Not that there is the leaft probability of fuch a thing, all his views being as lawful, as his refpecl is real -and profound. Here I whif- pered an artifice into the ear of the duana, which the chafte young innocent could not w.ithihnd. Would you, fays me, have me try him ? I will know firft if he be in earneft. By no means, FABRICJA, replied the Mar- quis of FLORENZO'S daughter; I cannot con- fcnt to any fuch proceeding. But ; my dear child, you confefs, almoft whether you will or no, that you do not hate this young Lord : you will be entirely wanting therefore to your own happinefsand goodfortune.I have fomething come The Devil Hermit. 115 come into my bead, that will infallibly prevent your being J6K|>&fed : hear what it is. Yoii (hall take this evening one of your brother's ha- bits i and I too will transform myfelf into a man. The Carnival allows of fuch liberties', and no body will cenfure the action. We will, walk together upon St Mark's place, and en- deavour to join company with him. Your fe- verity has almoft driven him to defnair, and therefore we may be fure of his being alone. I will talk to you in the character you appear in ; and at the bare pronunciation of your name we {hall know the fincerity of his paflion. The Duana, after much converfation, af- ter many fair promifes to be faithful, and to conduit this affair fo dextroufly that no one {hould know of it, gained her point. Poor JULIA was taken in the fnare, and confented to have herfelf led as a victim to the flaughter. When FABP. ICIA had brought her fo far on, flie took care privately to inform the Count, who came punctually to the rendezvous. Our two adventurers appeared on the fpor, where they faw the Count extrerru ly folitary : they advanced up to him, and entered into converfa- tion. The matron, who knew her trade per- fectly well, and had me befides for an afliftant, faid to her counterfeit young Cavalier, Shall we go and take a glafs my lord Marquis of St FLORENZO ? This was the watch word : no fooner did the count hear it pronounced, but he fetched a deep figh 3 thiew off his apparent melancholy u6 The Devil Hermit. melancholy in a moment, and became the moft pfeafant dreature on eartft. Dear Marquis, fays he^ how happy am I to have the honour thus accidentally of feeing'you ! It is what I have a long while fought for in vain. In a word, he made him a thoufand proteftaticns of friendmip and eftefem ; and JULIA, who was a mere no- vice in love and intrigues, imagined that her face was not known to her lover under this bor- rowed habit. She had prepared an anfwer how- ever, in cafe the Count had known her. This triumvirate (if we may fo call it) went to the coffee houfe, where they were led into a private room. The duana, that (he might not give donna THEODORA any uneafinefs, had ?.d- vifed JCLIA to inform her of their metamor- phofis ; and as diverfions of this kind are much in ufe, the lady had no fufpicion of her conduct. She had indeed' fo high an opinion of the dua- na's virtue, that {he was fully perfuaded this lovely creature could pun no rifque with fuch a governefs. Here I interrupted the DEVIL HERMIT, to make him take notice of a troop of armed men, that rode with all fpeed towards a foreft, which was half a league diftant from the ca- vern ! Who are thofe People, faid I? Ah ! Che- valier, anfwers the Devil, they are archers, who are now in purfuif of fomebcdy. Wait here a moment, and I will let you know their bufmefs. With that he cleft: the air with an in- credible fwiftnefs, and was inftantly back quite out of breath. Come along Si>, fays he, theft- wrctchct Tht Devil Hermit. 117 wretches are going to your caftle ; they are emiflaries of the holy inquiiuion. Yet I cannot believe they have already difcovered your clan- tleftine marriage,and fudden retreat. By all means, however, let us fly to your houfe, and as we are both inviflble, you run no hazard. If the rafcals commit any outrage, I will punim them fo feverely, that they (hall remember it a long time. Scarce were we arrived at the caftle, but thefe imps of the facred office were upon the return. They had been eight days in fearch of the good father Queftor and being in- formed that he lodge 1 at my houfe, they came to feize his perfon : but as donna THERESA, for whom they had a great refpeft, aflured them that he went away the morning before at day- break, our gentlemen took their leave. The DEVIL HERMIT, who loved this mendicant brother, thought it his duty to in- form him of that terrible tribunal, and to put him in fome place of fafety. In fa&, within a quarter of an hour he brought him into the cavern. I could not divine, for my part, where he found the fellow : but however that was, I am fure he raifed fuch a tempeft upon the poor archers, who were coming back flowly, and forrowful at their difappointment, that I never faw the like in my life. The thunder and lightning fo terrified their horfes, that they took the bit in their teeth, and ran away fu- rioufly among the woods and rocks, where moft of the riders were utterly loft. OMr ii8 The Devil Hermit. O Mr AST A ROTH, faid I, what a ma- lignant devil art thou ! Not half fo bad, anfwer- he, as that infamous crew deferved. The in- quifi tor has nothing to do but to get more futh ; for thefe will now be of no ufe to him. Mean time the Friar, who was almoft dead with furprife, returned a thoufand thanks to the HERMIT. But as his compliments were te- dious and fulfome, and quite tired me, I in- terrupted him in the midft of them, to make ASTAROTH purfue the hiftory of the Mar- quis de St FLORENZO'S daughter. CHAP. III. Sequel to the Hiftory of the Count ^Bz L A i R , and Mifs JULIA DE FLORENZO. HP H E Count, who knew that he was fpeak- * ing to his miftrefs, and not to her brother, carried on the diflimulation with gre:.t dexte- rity. He uttered a thoufand fine things to the counterfeit Marquis, all in language extreme- ly flattering, and enlarged particularly on the praifes of a lifter of his, whom he faid he had feen at the lady THEODORA'S. At laft he delivered himfelf thus: Marquis, if I was but fo happy as to merit your efteem and friendfhip, I ihould prefer it to all that I poflefs. You feem. tfhe Devil Hermit. 1 1 9 Teem too much of a gentleman for me to be afraid of fpeaking my fentiments. I confefs then ingenuoufly, that jhe charms of donna JU- LIA, your fifter, have penetrated to the very bottom of my foul, and that I languifh for love of her ; while the cruel maid, infeniible of my torments, laughs at what I feel, and fcarce will daign fo much as to look on me. My family, notwithstanding, is fo well known, that you cannot but be convinc'd, that yours would fuf- fer no difgrace in an alliance with it. But alas ! adds he with a very deep figh, I am not fo hap- py as to engage the good graces of your adora- ble fifter. She is already prejudiced in favour of fome other gentleman, who without doubt has more merit than I. The lovely maid has in- deed too many perfections, for me to imagine (he would fix her eyes on any objeft unwor- thy of her ; and this fingle thought drives me to diftraition. As neither JULIA nor the duana made any anfwer, he went on in the fame ftrain. I be- lieve Sir, fays he to the counterfeit Cavalier, that you muft be convinced of the purity of my intentions, A houfe fo illuftrious as yours, is more the object of veneration, than that any one fhould attempt to tarnifh the fplendor of its glory. My views in this refpect are fo pure, that I would fooner facrifice my life, than you (hould call tl em in queftion. I am open, fin- cere, and incapable of diffimulation. Dear Marquis, give me an anfwer with the fame franknefs. May I hope to poflefs the adorable JULIA? i2o The Devil Hermit. JULIA ? Shall I be fo happy as to have a brother -in law of your extraordinary merit? If you refnPw me your affiftance, I will to-mor- row take my leaf* of tills place, and endea- vour by abfence to Idfcn the flames that now devour me. But alas ! wretch that I am, I too well perceive that my whole life will be only a tiflue of misfortunes and calamities, while I am abftnt fiom themoft lovrfyjv LI A .The thought of that tortures me to death. To leave a city that contains the only objeS on which my fe- licity depends ! this 5$ a martyrdom of the moft exquifite fort, and what mak'.s me trem- ble. For heaven's lake, Marquis, vouchfafe me a word. Can you be affefted with my mifery ? May I flatter myfelf that you will be fenfible of my pain ? Count, fays the feigned marquis, my After is a young lady who has never yet been in love : fo much I am fure of. That word, fays the Count v/ith a low voice, but loud enough to be underftood, makes me begin to take breath. The Marquis went on : I was ig- norant, till this moment, of your inclination for her. If (he has no objection to you, as I hope (he has not, I {hall take care to inform you of it. Depend upon me ; I will fpare no pains to difcover her fentiments, and aflift you in get- ting the victory over her tender heart. But I am afraid my father, who is a man of a very auftere temper, will not confent to this marriage. He is intimately acquainted with a young gen- tleman, whom he is willing to have for a fon- in- The Dm/ Hermit. 121 in/law. I am very certain, however^, tfca.t my fjfter does not love nijn ; and have too "good an opinion of my ; ^^r,'*n'blwith{landmg'his feverity, to thrnk' tl^at hif .wolfld force her**t wed a ; man for whdm l frre !( !Ta3'no value. Dear Maf&fns, tthfwers the Count, how.;a#t I, obliged to^yctur goodnefs? You promi?e"4iie your a/Hftartce, *a*n"?lgfforetell from then own happinefs. nfn^the fair' JULIA, fotJ much affe&e'd with the Count's merit, and the tendernefs of his paflib'n, betrayed herfelf, and could no longer funport thaTchara&er fhe had afTumed. The tears", in'fpite of her, ran down from her lovely eyes. Th% wary Count took the advantage of this rnornent, threw himfelf at her feet, and declared h6 now knew her. This difcovery at firft raifed a blufli in the cheeks of JULIA ; but love, by degrees, infmuated with fo much activity into her heart, that fhe fell into a fit. The care they took of her foon brought her to herfelf ; when (he confefled to her tender lover, that he was the only motive of her metamorphofis, and that fhe had not ex- pofed herfelf to this adventure, but in order to dive into his real fentiments. You ought to imagine that the Count made ufe of his eloquence, and endeavoured by the moft folemn proteftations to diflipate all her doubts. Here I let a little fpark of my breath fly intothe very foul of Ju L I A ; whofe heart, before too much inclined, furrendered in a mo- ment.They fworean eternal tendernefs,and con- trived the means of feeing one another privately; M to; 422 Tbt Devil Her mi f. for the carnival was almoft at an end. For fume days they had an intercourfe by letters, and the too charitable Duana was the Mer- cury between them ; but abfence, after a fort- nigb*-, became infupportable to them both. Midam FABRIC i A, with much addrefs, managed their nocturnal interviews. She intro- duced the Ccunt every night into JULIA'S apartment, and that charming maid, by little and little, forgot herduty. The Count, not only pro- irnfed, but rtfulved never to be unfaithful, and that he would try all pofTible means to obtain her of her father. With the confentofhis miftrefs he jnade the demand hhnfelf, and at the fame time employed feveral perfons of the firft rank to fe- cond his requeft. All was to no purpofe ; the old Marquis had given his word to the noble Vene- tian his friend, and would not be induced to go from it. His refufal plunged the fair Ju- LIA into an inexprefBble melancholy, and the good Duana was unable to moderate her lighs and complaints. All her moft fubtile lhatagems were effayed in vain. The time of JULIA'S marriage was at hand. But as it was for my intereft to prevent its accomplilh- ment, I whifpered certain fuipicious into the Marquis's ear : the marquis told them to his fon, and they both refolved to watch over the conduct of JULIA. One Night, perceiving the Duana to let down a filken ladder to a man, they with great attention obferved the adventure, and fuffered the ftranger to afcend withcut interruption. Then The Devi! Hermit. i?.j Then paffing into a contiguous. hall, which had communication with JULI A'S apartment, they heard enough to convince them of her ill cou- du<5l. Overcome with rage to fee their ho.ufe difhonoured, they rufhed in like two madmen, (word in hand. The Count, who he.ird a noife, put himfelf in a pofture of defence, pivfented two piftols that he always carried ,a- bout him, and fwore he would (hoot them both if they refufed to hear his ftory. Seeing them difpofed to give attention, M/ Lords, (kid he, you know me well enough to believe that my life will coft you dear.Tha ex- treme paffion I have conceived for J u L i A , is my whole crime, and you are not ignorant that my intention is to marry her. Your refufaJ, her friendmip for me, and hatred of the man for whom you defign her, have been the caufe of thefe nocturnal vifits. I am ready now to give her my hand. She is my wife by that re- ciprocal faith which we have fworn to each other. You cannot refufe her to me therefore any longer, without covering yourfelves witn eternal infamy. Ceafe to hate me ; calm your fury, and be allured that I will give you proofs of my probity and honour. The oldMarquis,more capable of reflection than his fon, ordered the latter toappeafe his wrath. JULIA and her dtiana fell at the father's feet, and the tears of that lovely daughter once more touched her tender parent. Though that charm- ing creature had never broke through the bounds of refpe and fubmiflion which {he owed to her M 2 father, 124 T&e Dtvil Hermit. father, yet {he now fpoke to him with a ge- nerous boltlnefs, and did not difiemble either her fault or her love. The father, melted into tr ndernefs by the tears and moving words of his child, pardoned what {he had done, and re- i'olved to beftow her en her lover. The Count, tranfported with an event fo happy, embraced the knees of the Marquis, and with repeated oaths, in the mcft folemn manner, declared him ready to execute his promife. In a word, the nuptial rites were concluded. Dame FA- BRIC I A alone was the victim of this happy union : they thut her up in prifbn for life ; and I, for my part, left .the oldM EG EAR A to her def- pair, took mv flight over the Alps, and thence towards the Rhine; where turning a little to the right, I came to a city famous for its waters, where I amuied myfelf for many days in con- templation of the people then afTembled. Ifaw there many fcenes of gallantry, which I may relate to you another time ; but one above the reft engaged my attention, the adlors in which were a very cdd fcrt of a couple. They were ro ether, (would you believe it ?) than a devout xichold woman of fixty, and a gouty father- recolleft who feemed yet in the prime of his years. This podagrical lump of debauchery I thought very proper to fucceed the duana, and I ftepped the more willingly into his foul, as the country he lived in was the very fame that AS- MOD E u s had before driven me from. CHAP. The Devil Hermit. 125 C H A P. IV. ASTAROTH a mendicant Friar. HP O make you underftand the part I acted in this new metaphorfis, I muft firft give you an idea ofthefe fellows in frock,and relate the hiftory of him I now occupied ; for I am per- fuaded you are not fo well acquainted with thefe people as I am. Thefe bigots, for the moft part, rife out of the dunghill ; and the meannefs of their extraction makes them run into all the moft {hameful diforders. Incapable of fine fen- timents, they deliver themfelves up to an in- famous courfe of debauchery. Drunkennefs, gluttony, and luxury, are their favourite vir- tues. Under the vail of a monftrous hypo- crify, they hide the moft filthy inclinations. They facrifice the moft facred myfteries of the religion they profefs to a fordid intereft ; they varnifh over the greatcft crimes of thofe, who know how to win them with fuitable prefents : there are no fecrets which they will not reveal, when they meet with a generous man, who pays them largely : in a word, they fell the graces of heaven annexed to their miniftry, witii as little fcruple, as a Jew would make merchan- dize of a Chriftian. A chara&er fo fcandafous,and fo unworthy of a good man, is indeed the true character of a Demon : I lived at large there- fore in the foul of this honeft monk, as if I M-3 had 126 T:he Devil Hermit, had been in the beft apartment of all the in- fernal ftate. In fail, he palTed, and I believe with juftice, for the moft crafty and the moft debauched fellow of his whole'order.He was born in Ireland ; and there could not be two better qualities, to make a perfect imp of ASMQ- DEUS, than thofe of IrHhman and mendicant friar. During the twenty years that he had wore the habit, he never once belied his charac- ter : and as a bad man always grow worfe and worfe, he was now funk to the loweft degree of libertinifm. An idea of his life will make this truth more apparent. tte remarkable Hiflory of a Recolkft Friar. 'T'H IS man was born at Cork, of a mother '* whofe gallantry had made as much noife as h^r beauty. As this cour.tezan had never fubmit- ted to the yoke of HYMEN, and always en- tertained a number of gallants at the fame time, it was impoffible to tell who was his father. However, a young merchant of that city, to whom the honour of owning him was given, took cere of him till he was ten years old, and then fent him over to Holland. Want and debauchery in time reduced him to herd .with a troop of banditti, who conducted him into Flanders, there he affociated with feme Bohe- mians, and lived among them two years: but juflicc having diffipated this gang, he efcaped into a Vilbge of the neighbouring country, where The Devil Hermit. 127 where he met with an honeft recollect,, wh introduced him into his convent. The good father, finding him a young man of hopeful in- clinations, taught him a few words of Latin, and in a little time after gave him the frock.Our fpark, naturally licentious arrived by degreesat the moft eminent pitch of wickednefs. It would take up too much time to relate all the infa- mous actions that blackened his character : a few examples muft fuffice to give you fome fpeci- cimen of it. In fpite of his crimes, he had learned to con- tract fuch a hypocritical air, that it enabled him to impofe on all the world. His grave deport- ment, his feemingly folk! turn of mind, ac- quired him the efteem of an infinite number of people of all ranks. A perfon of quality, who liv- ed in the neighbourhood, was fo fond of him, that he took him to be the director of his whole family. His power in the gentleman's houfe was quite defpotic. This lord had a handfome young wife : the friar fell in love with her, and refolved to enjoy her. As he was high in the good graces of madam's chambermaid,he made her the confidant of his paflion. JAN- NET ON, that was the damfei's name, com- paflionated the good man's fufrerings, and pro- mi fed to introduce him one night into her mif- trefs's apartment, while her maiter was bufy in anfwering fome letters that he had received by an extraordinary courier. No fooner did (he perceive madam to be in a profound fkep, but flie accordingly brought in the monk, who flipped 128 T^ Devil Hermit. flipped dexteroufly into her bed, and fatiated 1 his infamous defires. The dame, whom his brutality foon wakened, fearing her husband might do himfelf harm, begged him to abate a little of his vigour ; and the game being over, Ihe innocently dropt afleep again. The monk then retired highly fatisfied. About four hours after this fcene comes the nobleman to bed, when his lady awaking once more at the noife,and knowing him by the light, asked him if he was not well, and for what reafon he had got up. The husband told her (he certainly dreamed, for that he had not yet been in bed, having been kept up fo long a- bout his letters. How, fays {he, have not you been in my apartment fince fupper ? Indeed Madam, replied he, I have not. Here the un- happy lady fetched a deep figh, and began to fufpe& what had been done: (he diffembled the matter however till next day, in order the bet- ter to come at the truth. She had before en- tertain'd feme fufpicion of the monk. Certain amorous glances, certain equivocal difcourfes, had perfuaded her that this wretch was a very debauchee, who coloured over his crimes with an affe&ed hypocrify. She had feveral times communicated her fentiments to her husband : but he, far from giving attention to her prudent advice, rejected it as the effect of rafli judg- ment. Several times fhe made him take notice of the licentious manners of this friar, and his private converfation with her chambermaid : but the gentleman was fo prejudiced in his fa- vour, The Devil Hermit. 129 vour, that he conftrued every thing into an in- nocent amufement, and Teemed refolved to be the dupe of our fcoundrel Hiberian. Next day the poor lady, tho' perfe&ly inno- cent, was tortured with the moft gnawing re- morie. Having been informed that the friar went away betimes in the morning, {he took JANNETON afide, in order to extort the fecret from her. She thought that ftratagem would be the bcft way to come at it ; and accordingly flie deceived her by a falfe confidence. She asked her why father ANDREW (that was the friar's name) went away fo early without tak- ing his leave ? To which the fubtle wench rea- dily anfwered, that he had told her the evening before that he was obliged to go to the city be- times in the morning, about an affair of con- fequence. Alas ! faid the lady, with a pitiful tone, T am very forry for it ; I had fomething to communicate to him. But I know, JANNE- TON, that you are difcreet, and love me very much : May I run the hazard of trufting you with the fecrets of my heart ? Alas ! Madam, fays the damfel, can ydu doubt of my attachment to you ? Believe me when I fay, I would facrifice a thou- fand lives to ferve you. Never hefitate a moment therefore about opening your heart tome. Well then, JANNETON, I frank- ly confefs to thee that I am paflionately in love with father ANDREW : but he is fo holy a man, and fo perfectly pious, that I am afraid he would reject my ardor with indignation. I dare not give him any hint of my paflion : the 130 T'he Devil Hermit. remains of modefly hinder me. Oh, my dear JANNETON ' how (hall I be obliged to thee, if thou canft make him fenfible of my torment. The fcene ended with a few counterfeit tears which madam let fall to impofe upon her Abigail. This contrivance fucceeded to her wifh. The chambermaid, deceived by appearances, feii with- out reflection into the fnare, and cried out, In troth, madam, you may make your felf eafy : you are not fo well acquainted with the father as I am. I dare aflure you, he will not be un- fufceptible of love. For my part, I have no reafon to complain of him. He has a tender heart, I am fenfible of it, and it is not his fault that we have not****. My dear JANNETON, continues the lady, do not deceive me. I cannot perfuade myfelf that father ANDREW, who talks of nothing but the love of God, fafting, penitence, and difcipline, would forget his duty, to give ear to my foolim paflion. You miftake holy friendfhip for gallantry j and he only tried thee the better to found thy foul. I am not mif- taken Madam, replied JANNETON: take my word for it, he will think himfelf at the fummit of happinefs when he hears of your kind difpofitions towards him. Never tell me fo girl, the lady retorted ; I can by no means flatter myfelf with fuch hopes. Thou haft a mind to nourifti my flame, and thy tendernefs makes thee deceive thyfelf. Lord Madam, JA NN E T ON replies, how incredulous you are ! Well then, fmce I muft tell you all, know that Devil Hermit. 131 that laft night, while my matter was writing, I concluded father Andrew at his own requeft into your apartment, where, by taking the place of your husband, he obtained your favours. Scarce had {he fpoke thefe words when the lady, pierced to the very h art, (creamed out aloud, and fell into a fit. Her husband, hear- ing her, fled to her relief; but it was with the utmoft difficulty that he brought her again to her lei f. As he moft paflionately loved rier, her difmal fituation almoft drove him mad, and drew from him fuch outcries, as made the whole caftle ring. In the mean rime ma- dam began to recover, and looking upon her lord, who was difiblved in tears. My dear hus- band, fays me, ceafe your forrow, calm thofe tranfports, and leave a miferable woman, un- worthy of you, to die. A villain has deceived you, under a veil of the moft horrible hypo- crify : he has this night polluted your bed. Think no more of your wife, who is abfolute- ly loft to you. Alas ! Madam, replies the gentleman all in confufion, what is the meaning of this language? It has already thrown me into the moft violent diforder. For heaven's fake explain yourfelf, and tell me the fubjedt of your forrow. The lady, without hefitation, related the horrid ftra- tagem which the monk had made ufe of, to rob her of her honour. The waiting- woman, more than half dead with fear, was obliged to confefs her crime, and her own lafcivious com- merce with this unworthy father. Then the un- happy 132 The Devil Hermit. py gentlemen was fenfible of his whole misfor- tune: but refle&ing that his wife was entirely innocent, he endeavoured by carefles to comfort her, and mitigate her tranfport of grief. No- thing however was capable to calm her mind : a violent fever feized her, which in four or five days carried her off. The gentleman, though d^ftr-fted with anguiih, thought it pru- dent not to divulge this tragical ftorv, and con- tented him r elf with cloiftering up the waiting- woman, without making any noife. Since that time he Ian3;u fhes through a melancholy life, and rec.ives no confolation for the lofs of his dear ludy. The rronk had no mind to return to thecafirie; certain donaefticks having inform- ed him of the lad)'s dea*h, and what was the caufe of it. But, fp.r from being touched with remorfe, and living better for the future, he has followed the fame courfe ever fince. An adventure happened to him about a year ago, which is very remarkable. He preached during Lent in a country village, and lodged with a rich farmer who had a very handfome daughter. Already had he tried every wile to corrupt this young girl, without being able to fucceed. She had long been contracted to a youth of her own rank, and the marriage was to be celebrated in the Eafter holidays. Fa- ther ANDREW waited with impatience for this ceremony, in hopes it would prove favourable to him. He was not deceived. There was a great entertainment made on the wedding-day, when our hyyocrite refufed to come into fo much I34 The Devil Hermit. it is neccfTary that I (hould put it on you my- ^lf. 1 he poor fimple creature made no re- fiftance, but admitted him into her chamber to execute his own fentence. As the girl was pret- ty, (he tempted his flcmiy part j and he fo well fet forth his cafe, that he obtained his defire. This adventure was never known ; and well for him that it was not : for if the old devotee had been informed of it, fhe would have loaded him with reproaches, as he had fworn to her an invariable fidelity. While he continued at the waters, I infpired him to perform feveral legerdermain tricks. A- mong others he ftole the purfe of a German Count, who put the utmofr. confidence in him. His devotee was concerned in the plot, and concealed the theft. This affair having made fome noife, I advifed him to get away ; which he did very prudently : for after much enquiry it was found out that he was the thief. But the good German never attempted to profecute him, for fear of fcandalizing his order : an ex- ample that of the moft chriftian moderation ! Being return'd to his convent, he lodged in the hands of his guardian, the money he had got, and related to him the ftratagem he had put in practice to make it his own. The good fuperiour laughed at the adventure. You have done well, faid he ; this money might have been employed to profane purpofes, whereas now it will be confecrated to the fervice of god. An excellent facrifice ! faid I to myfelf. Without gueftion it will be very agreeable to the- fupreme being, The Devil Hermit. 135- being, who accepts no victims, but what ar 5 holy and innocent. Scarce had I been a fortnight in the monaftery, before I was furprized at the frightful diforders that reigned there. One may juftly call this re- treat a real cavern of vagabonds, who are all at- tentive to glut themfelves by preying on the publick. With infinite pleafure every morning I faw a croud of pretty young girls arrive there, who made no fcruple of facrificing their ho- nour to thefe wretched hypocrites. After din- ner every one took his flight, in order to go and gourmandife with fome bigot of a burgher, who regaled them with great pleafure, merely to have a (hare in their prayers. I laughed as if I had been mad, at thefe ridiculous mummuries. With regard to my flefhly tabernacle, he di- vided his day always between his devotee, and a pious ecclefiaftick, whom he was conducting a great pace towards perdition, by infpiring him with a thoufand fcruples capable of driving him to defpair. He talked to him of nothing but hair-hirts, macerations, fafts, and aufteritics: and, as it fignifies little to us devils in what manner we get human fouls, provided they come to us fafe, I infpired my monk with fuch moving difcourfes, that the unhappy prieft doubted of his falvation, and at laft ran to defpair in earneft. The afternoon he fpent with his old devotee, in making delicate collations, and fatbting his beaftly concupifcence. However, notwithftand- ing this voluptuous life, I began to be uiieafy N 2 in 136 The Devil Hermit. in the foul of this hypocrite ; fo that, having refolved to quit it, I only waited to be firft re- venged on that fcoundrel, fecretary URIEL. 1 had feen him feveral times, but without any inclination to make myfelf known. You have heard before how that devil fold and betray- ed me to ASMODEUS. I was not ignorant, that his principal fupport was that little bigot of a capuchin, the evil genius of the fovereign ; and having, befides, a mortal hatred againft all the people of that order, I was wholly de- termined on vengeance. I engaged my good hoft to debauch a pretty young girl who came to confefllon, and who was not able to refift the power of my temptation. In a word, he played his part with her fo well, that the poor wench found an alteration in her health ; and, upon the importunity of her parents, confefled, that Father ANDREW, her director, was the man that did it. Her father, who had accefs to the perfon of the prince, went thither with his complaints. Soon after Father ANDREW was cited, by the fovereign's command, before ti:e venerable confiftory, where the little capu- chin was to give him a fevere reprimand in his highnefc.'s name. My individual could not bear the admonition with good temper. He anfwered infolently, and 1 ini'l-nubly inspired him with a moft violent puffion. In his rage lie fell like a madman on t! e poor capuchin, and treated him in fuch a piteous manner, that he lay for dead. All the court, upon this, was alarmed. The prince, in- formed The Devil Hermit. 137 formed how the man he loved like another fl-lf, had been aflaulted, ran in perfon to the place, and ordered the good Father ANDREW to be locked up in a dark prifon. No (boner was he fecured, but I made my efcape out of his body, and took my flight towards the middle region of the air, where I wandered the fpace of two or three years, without knowing In what place to fix. I caufed abundance of havock in ; many countries ; but at lad, having vifitcd fe- veral remote kingdoms, I alighted upon the Grand Signior's Seraglio. I faw there the chief of the black eunuchs, walking in the gardens with the favourite fultana, and inftantly took up my lodging within him. How much pleafure foever I received in the converfatioa of my falfe HERMIT, I could not help thinking for ever of donna THERE- SA . I found in her charms which feemed to fee u re her from all danger of my inconftancy, and communicated my thoughts on that fub- ject to my good friend ASTAROTH. You are newly married, fiys he, with a fmilc, and your flame continues fierce: it would not be juft to reftrain it too much. Go home then to your dear moiety, whofe defires are not lefs ar- dent than yours ; but remember always, that I am ready to ferve you with fidelity, and with- out any felf-intereft ; which is more than can be faid of many of your own fpecies, wh6 think difintereftednefs afuperfluous virtue. When you defire to receive any farther inftructions, you need only repair again to this cave, v/i.cr-; I N:-3. will i 3 8 The Devil Hermit. will appear to you upon regular fummons. So let it be, faid I, taking my leave ; I will be with you again in eight days, at the fartheft ; depend upon my grateful acknowledgment, as I rely upon die fincerity of your promifes. CHAP. V. ASTAROTH Chief of the Grand Signior's Eunuchs. The tragical End of the Brother Queftor. I Need not relate here all that paflcd between my wife and I : let the reader imagine what two perfor.s, whofe love was tender and mutual, and who pofleffed one another without fear, would fay and do. Eight days palled over with rapidity. My felicity, howe- ver, could not make me forget my faithful ASTAROTH : according to thepromifel had inade him r I came to the cave, where I was very much furprized to find him employed in b;;ryii!gour dear brother the Queilor. Dur- j;>a; the abfcnce of AST A ROT H, a ferpent had gilded under his frock, as he flept, and bit him grieycfufiy. Ths poifon of this animal was ib I'iibti'c, that he died an hour after ; and the lifv. :\: IT juft came back time enough to find h.rn alive. You ;n: H. inve been bufy indeed, AsTAr T- c". \i , ' ' } to be thus ignorant of the mif- fortune T&e Devil Hermit. '39 fortune of your intimate friend. Neither bufy, anfwered he, nor ignorant of what had hap- pened: but the courfe of his holy life was at an end, and it was impoflible for me to preferve him from the (hears of the fatal fifter. Be fo good, Lord HERMIT, replied I, as to relate to me the adventures of this poor brother. I am very willing to do it, Chevalier, rejoined my trufty friend : but I inform you before hand, that they are not over-diverting. I will abridge them therefore, as much as poflibly I can. Father PANCRACIO, that was the name of this worthy brother, owes his being to a rope-dancer of the city of Naples, and a Tur- ki(h (lave, the daughter of a bafhaw of Ro- melia. His mother was taken captive by a Neapolitan galley, and given to the vice- roy's lady ; but falling in love with this rope- dancer, (he eloped from her miftrefs, fled with him into the village of Pugliai, where young PANCRACIO firft faw the light. He was brought up in his father's profeflion, and grew eminent, not only for his agility of body, but more for his dexterity in (bowing flight- of-hand tricks. The ignorant vulgar, who could not comprehend certain natural fecrets he was mafter of, foon began to look upon him as a dangerous perfon, who held corre- fpondence with infernal fpirits. Certain phil- tres that he gave having fucceeded, all the young rakes had recourfe to him, to enable them to triumph over the indifference of their cruel. 140 The Devil Hermit. cruel miftrefles. One among them having been accufed of the murder of a citizen's daughter, who had recourfe to law to make him marry her, was taken up, and condemned to an ig- nominious death. In his examination he ac- cufed Signior PANCRACIO, who, upon ad- vice thereof, made his efcape to Bologna, and got admiflion into a convent at Soccolanti. After his noviciate, he was employed in the quefture, that is, in going about to beg for the reft of the fraternity. His juggling talents got him accefs into the principal houfes of Bo- logna : but having abufed a young lady of di- ftinction, he wasarrefted by the hand of ju- ftice. His fuperior claimed him back, and they fet him again at liberty. He had an interview with his fair one, and gave her certain reme- dies, that caufed her dropfy to difappear. Her relations, who had proceeded only on fufpi- cions, were obliged, when the fymptoms va- nifhed, to make him reparation for the dif- grace. His credit by this was fo reftored, that he even pafled for a martyr of calumny ; and the affair, which made a great deal of noife, having turned to his advantage, he continued ta live in his former way. He got confiderable fums by providing for young virgins, who panted after the lofs of their honour. Not a ftranger ever efcaped him. He continually vi- fited all the inns, to fee who was newly arrived, in. order to become procurer to their diver- fions. But fome day sago, an old hag, his aflbciate The Devil Hermit. 141 aflbciate in the juggling art, having been taken up for a witch, by order of the inquifition, accufed this poor brother of pra&ifing the fame charms ; and, but for me, he had become the victim of that formidable tribunal. The reft of his life is very well known. At this inftant the good father PANCRACIO poffefles a high employment in our kingdom, and is more hap- py than I, who would gladly be in his place. But, as we were not now talking of what we wi(h for, let us proceed to fome other fubje&. After this difcourfe my faithful ASTA- ROTH requefted me to give him an account of my conduct towards donna THERESA. I loved him too well to diflemble with him ; but being more curious to learn the particulars of his life, than to relate how I had patted my own time, I foon engaged him to refume the thread of his adventures, which he continued almoft in thefe words. As I told you before, I roved in the air a- bout three years. During that time! ravaged many a province, and put many a poor fa- mily into confufion ; among which latter was that of laCADiERE. It was I that infpired them with all the proofs of that fcandalous profecution, which was fet on foot to deftroy Father GIRARD, and ruin his reputation with the publick. It was not my fault that he efcaped the hands of juftice ; for the proofs againft this good director were in appearance fo perfuafive, that I am ftill aftoniftied, they did not bear him down : yet I muft own to you, 142 The Devil Hermit. you, between friends, that he was only guilty of a few flight indifcretions, fuch as among other people would have paft for mere trifles. But as thofe of his order are mortal enemies to the Quefnelifts, and as I favour that fpeciesof fe&aries, I fet every engine to work to tarnifh the glory of that fociety, which, in reality, is the fcourge of hell. I fometimes infmuated myfelf into the com- pany of learned men, and thofe matter wits, who decide of all writings with an infuppor- table prefumption. I rambled thro' all the coffee- houfes, to prefide in the difputes there. One day I fomented fuch a furious quarrel between two authors, that they could not compromife it without a good number of blows, which they mutually interchanged with each other. One was a hiftorian of the firft rank, who maintained, by found arguments, that the Chi- nefe letters were well writ, and might be, ranked with the beft productions of the age. He praifed the author of them extremely, and put him in competition with the moft illu- ftrious writers. Thefe encomiums, I muft own, feemed a little extravagant. The other, on the contrary, who was only an infipid compiler, quite empty of all that is called erudition, was obftinately refolved to run him down. He threw out a thoufand in- vectives againft the author. Every one laughed in this fellow's face, and ridiculed his igno- rance. Seeing himfelf become the object of contempt, The Devil Hermit. 143 contempt, he leaps like a madman upon the Marquis d' AR c E N s's panegyrift. The latter returned the affront, and, I believe, if they had not been parted, they would have ftrangled each other. But tell me, faid I, dear Lord HERMIT, you who fet up for a wit, and a perfeft con- noiffeur in literary matters, tell me without prejudice, what is your opinion of that au- thor and his works ? As to my own fenti- ments, Sir, anfwers AST A ROTH, I own to you ingenuoufly, that it is juft the fame with his who made the encomium; and I believe, that all thofe who have any tafte of fcience, will ever allow that writer the praifes he de- ferves. He has talents worthy of the higheft efteem ; and one may fay of him, without injuflice, that he is an original. He thinks with great delicacy : it is only to be wifked, that he had more leifure to correct his writings ; but his productions are too numerous for him always to avoid fome repetitions : this defed, however, may claim pardon in a man, who is obliged to write two meets a- week : there are not many authors capable of doing fo much with fo few faults. Befides, his deficiency on this head is fo amp- ly made up, by his fine and delicate reflec- tions, that it will not be furprizing to fee the Chinefe letters meet with a general approba- tion. It is what, I am fure, I heartily wifh ; for the man is one I very highly refpecl: : his way of living pleafes me j and if he had any occafion 144 Tbe Devi! Hermit. occafion for my afiiftance, I would leave all to ferve him ; but as he is already under the pro- tection of As MODE us, I am not fuch a fool as to meddle with his perfon. I fhould have no thanks, I am fure, for my labour. Friend AST A ROTH, cried J, interrupting him, I beg you to have done with that author. He is a crack-brained fellow, that runs from fubject to fubject : he fpares neither heaven nor earth; and, as much a devil as you are, you would find it difficult to fecure yourfelf againft: fome ftrokes of his pen, if he did but hear you once mention his name. What a fimple- tonart thou ! fays AST A ROTH, and burft out in a laugh. Be fo good as to inform me, Che- valier, what he could have to fay againft the devil ? Are you unacquainted with our reputa- tion in your hemifphere ? All the civil things imaginable are fpoken of us. Befides, the mar- quis we are mentioning, is hand to glove with us infernals: we give him his infpira- tions ; and of all the inhabitants of the earth he is chief in PLUTO'S favour. All his fine fentiments againft the fathers, and other the moft learned men, which are fo much admired in his works, are fo many fmall marks of his gratitude to ASMODEUS, his protedlor, and embaflador from our fovereign to his noble perfon. AST A ROTH was going on: if I had given him ever fo little room, he would have en- tered upon a detail that might have lafted, per- haps, till this time. He had already begun the hi/bry *Ihe Devil Her ml f. 145 of the marquis and his heroine, when I intreated him to remit his narrative to ano- ther opportunity. Friend AST A ROTH, cried I again, I befeech you to let this author alone; a day will not be fufficient for me to hear half his adventures in: rather inform me of what pafled in the feraglio. Have patience a moment, Chevalier, and you ftiall be fatisfied. An affair is juft now come into my head, which is of no fmall importance. I will not be loag gone j but I muft by all means take a turn to the city. The inquifitor is upon the point of expiring, and I have not a moment to lofe. Thefe laft words were fcarce out of his mouth, but my DEVIL, HERMIT difappeared like a fiafh of lightening. He had not been abfent however above twenty minutes, before he came back capering like a mad creature. His joy proceeded, as he informed me, from his having learned, that four of his infernal brethren had already feized the old monk, and were carrying him in triumph down to the regions of damnation. The HERMIT was fo tranfported at the very news of this prize, that for above an hour he was ready to burft him- felf with laughter. At laft, when his rapture was a little abated, he told me, that, from the foundation of the inquifition till that time, they had never mifled one of thofe people. As I was not at all furprized to hear that, I could not but wonder at his immoderate joy ; but not daring to ask him any more queftions O 0* 146 The De-oil Hermit. on that head, for fear cf being f eftered with a long recital, which I already knew the ge- neral contents of, I chofe rather to let him alone to his own extravagancies. This com- plaifance had all the fuccefs I hoped for. He by degrees came quite to himfelf, and calmly proceeded to rehearfe to me the part he had per- formed in the Ottoman court. CHAP. VI. Intrigues in the Grand Signer's Seraglio. DOubtlefs you are not ignorant, the HERMIT began, that the chief of the black eunuchs is poffeffed of one of the principal employments of the Ottoman empire ; that he enjoys all the Grand Signior's confidence, and is refpeaed and feared, not only in the palace, but in all the dates de- pendant on the Porte : even the Sultanas take the utmoft pains to engage his good will, per- fuaded that his recommendation is of great weight to get them regarded by the Sultan, and procure them a (hare in his favours. As this is what they all pant after with the UN moft impatience, they fpare neither flatteries nor complaifance, to make a friend of this prime minifter of his pleafuresj who is, ma word, the arbiter of the happinefs or mifery of freer fo hundred_women, that arc_ fruit up rr* The Devi! Hermit* H7 in the palace. He alone governs them, and 1 procures them what 1'fttle liberty they enjoy j for without him they could have no hope of ever fleeping out of their apartment. They cannot even walk in the garden, unlefs they have his leave : when they have the misfor- tune therefore to difpleafe him, they muft fub- mit to a fevere flavery, which often plungea them in the moft fatal defpair. As your great beauties are ufually very much inclined to love, I had room here to exercife my charity. Very far from putting on a fe- vere and barbarous deportment, I dexteroufly infmuated, that I would do all in my power to affift them in carrying on, and concealing their intrigues. Surprized at this change, they thought at firft, that I was endeavouring to enfnare them : for before my entrance into the foul of this man, he treated them all with great rigour and inhumanity. By little and little, however, they banifhed al! fufpicion from their hearts. At one time I artfully con- veyed to them billet-doux, and carried back: their anfwers ; at another, I introduced in the night certain bold young fellows into the gar- dens, where I fecretly brought to each of them one of the Sultanas. This behaviour to them made me gradually the objecl of their adoration. I was under no apprehenflon of a furprize, becaufe I could render them invi- fible, or fafcinate the eyes of all overlookers. Many Jews, to whom I gave free ad million, under pretence of coming to fell their toys, O -L nt Tbe Devil Hermit. not only obliged the fair prifoners themfelves, but procured them other afllgnations. I was confulted on every occauon, and always ap- pointed to have time and place of rendezvouz. A young Greek of diftinguiftied merit, whofe name was ZAIDE, poflefled entirely the Sul- tan's heart; but this lady, who was but lately eome into the feraglio, could not bear the tranfports of his love. She thought of nothing, but the lofs of her liberty. About four or five months before, flie was taken prifoner by a eorfair of Algiers, who fold her to a Turkifh Aga. As her beauty was matchlefs, the Aga made a prafent of her ta the Grand Signior, who, at firft fight, became defperately in tove with the fair flave. But in vain did he purfue her with prefents and carefies ; (he feemed in- fenfible to them all. The captivity of the fe- raglio filled her with horror : her religion heightened her fear, and drove her into a de- ductive melancholy : her heart at the fame time burned with a violent paffion, which gave her no rcpofe. I refolved to affift this unhappy fair, and reftore her to her lover, who had. made a voyage to Conftantinople, in order to redeem her out of fervitude : I concealed my fentiments however, and tried every effort to- ga in her confidence,, by giving her from time to time fome news cf her dear IBRAHIM (that was the name of this unhappy young man.) I had anexprefs order from the Sultan to endea- vour gain her affections; but, far from ferving fcijjijlgave heca frightful idea of. his capricious and tyrannical. The DevU Hermit. 149 tyrannical humour. By thefe means I Infenfibly acquired her good- will. But before I proceed' with this narrative, I muft give you ibme ac- count of an event which made a great deal of noife all over Europe ; I mean the arrival of Count BONNEVAL at the Porte, Count BON N E v A L ? faid I ; I have heard' much talk of Him : he has fullied his reputa- tion, by fubmitting to be circumcifed. Pub- Jic fame indeed' reports, that the man mver had any religion ; the Mahometan Merely, there- fore, may be the fame thing to him, as tr.e pure dcbine of JESUS CHRIST. Ycu srs: mifinformed, Chevalier, anfwcred the hennir. Mr de BONNEVAL has never abandoned' chriftianity : that is only a calumny pubiifhcd by his enemies, in order to render him odious. Hear me with attention, and you (hail be con- vinced of what I fay : I will inform you of certain circumftances, which are unknown to' almoft all the world. A fortnight after my arrival at tlie ferr.glio,. it was publickly faid all over Confb.ntinoplc,. that the Count de BONNEVAL was come ro offer hisfervices to the Grand Sign'or. Trac;f- ported with the thought of being acquainted 1 with a man, of "whom fanie had publifhcd fa- many different' thins.', I waited w it h v impa- tience for the Sultan to give him an nixiitnce.. But the Porte as in no fuch {;iCot v hurry ; the policy of that court does not permit itto- grant favours of that" importance, without ma- ture deliberation. Jt was a full month', before- Q 3, be: ' ftevil Hermit. he could obtain any admiffion; they aligned him, however, in the meantime, a penfion fufficient to fupport him with credit. TheBafhaw of Scio, his particular friend, and who follicited this audience, had many in- terviews with the Grand Vizir and the Mufti. The point infifted on was, that the Count fhould fuffer himfelf to be circumcifed, to make him the more agreeable to the Emperor, and procure his favour; but M. deBoNNE- VAL conftantly oppofed this propofition, and never would linen to it with the Icaft counte- nance. It is even certain, that he was upon' the point of leaving the Ottoman court, and continuing his journey to Perfia, which obliged the Vizir to prefs the Grand Signior to grant the fo-much-defired audience. In the different converfations he' had with the principal officers of the Porte, the Count artfully gave them to underftand, that it was dangerous to require fuch a flep from a man of honour ; that' whoever is capable of facrificing his religion to court- favour and interefr, de- ferves no confidence ; and that therefore they ought: to excufe his refinance on this head, as that refinance was a proof that he was inca- pable o! forfeiting his integrity ; that his fide- lity to the Ottoman Emperor fhould not be in-* ferior to what he had fhcwn to other poten- tates, hofe crying injufKoe towards him, had obliged him to abandon their fervice. At la'l, after many delays, his highnefs de^ termined to give him a private audience 3 and, Tie Devil Hermit. 1 5 1 iin order to dazle the eyes of the people, it was publifhed all over Conftantinople, that the Count had embraced the Mahometan faith,- and fubmitted to be circurncifed. In the third- Volume of the memoirs. Which are fold under his name, you may read all the circumftances of this ceremony} his difputes with the Imam fent by the Mufti to inftrucl him ; his kind of exile into a remote province, of which he was dominated governor ; his retreat into an old caftle, fituate near Calcedon ; all which are mere forgeries, the inventions of the honeft author, either to give fome variety to his book, or to fully the Count's reputation,- Thofe wha s know the country he fpeaks of, will fee at firft glance, that the writer has given us gratis all thefe adventures, and that he was not even ac- quainted with the map of the country ; for the caftle he makes him inhabit fo long after, was demoliihed in the year 1719. The hiftory of the dcrvife is not in the leafl more probable. Thefe Turkifh monks never live in the houfes of great men ; nor is marriage at all prohi- bited among them. The author had made this novel r much more plauftble, if he had at- tributed it' to a fanton } for the fantons never marry, and are frequently received into the principal families of the Porte, in the quality of almoners. The arrival of his three miftrefles at Con- fiantinople is not lefs fabulous. The fame may be faid of all the inftru&ions that he gives to the divan, Hw EngUfli and German ladies both 152 7Joe Devil Hermit. both died in the year 1726: and it is Certain that if he had made thofe fine difcourfes before the divan, which we fee in his memoirs, there- would never have been a word' of them knowrr out of that arTembly. Everyone there, is o-- bliged to keep inviolably fecret all that pafTes, under the penalty of certain death. As I was prefent at all the audiences that were granted him, I may be the more depended upon for an account of them, than any man living. The Grand Signior received him in a gra- cious manner, vouchfafcd him his protection^ and ordered him to examine his troops. Somtf~ time after he had a cornmiffion to difciplir.e them after the manner of the Europeans, in which he fucceeded perfectly well. He pre- vailed on the Grand Vizir to receive all foreig- ners, who were skilled in the military art, with- out conftraining any man to altjer his religion; His reafons were well relifhed ; fo that he form- ed a body of troops, 20,000 flrong, who were able to make head againft the fame number of any nation in Chri/lendom. About three months after his arrival at the Porte, an adven- ture happened to him that had like to have been his deftru&ion ; out of which, however, he extricated himfelf with great dexterity. An Iman, very zealous for his feel:, hoping to tlo a meritorious work, and which would draw ttown on him the benediction of Mahomet, determined to lay a fnare for him, to oblige him to embrace the religion of the Ottomans. He- had a daughter- of great beauty, whom h engaged. The Devi! Hermit. 153 engaged in the project. Every one knows, that when a Chriftian has once had any com- merce with a Turkifh woman, he has no other way to fave his life but by turning Mahome- tan. This Iman was one of the two that had been fent by the Mufti. He had fince that time contracted a friendfhip with the Count, and engaged him on feveral occafions to come to his own houfe. He even gave him admif- fion into his Haram ; a very particular favour, which is feldom granted. ROXA (that was the name of the Iman's daughter) had orders to difplay all her charms before the Count. That lord admired and praifed her beauty ; but took not the lead ftep that might indicate he had any affection for her. This was the utmoft mortification to her father. One day, under a pretence of taking a walk, flie threw herfelf full in his way, attended with only one female flave. The Count had no fuf- picion : he received her with all the politenefs imaginable, and introduced her into his apart- ment without the flave. The Iman, well acquainted with what his daughter was doing, came in immediately upon them, as it were to pay a vifit ; and expreffing his aftonifhment to find her alone with the Count, he made a ter- rible outcry, andaflurcd BONNE VAL that if he did not turn Mahometan, and marry his daughter, he would facrifke him to his ven- geance. It was in vain that the Count pro- teftcd he had not infringed the bounds of decen- cy i all his alterations were disregarded. The Iman 154 tte Lti-H Her mi f. Iman carried his complaints to the Muft?. As the affair was ferious, and of great confe- quence, this chief of the muflulman law en* deavoured to win over the Count by a thoufand promifes, in cafe he would fubmit to circumfion : but finding him invincible, the Turk orde- red him to be arrefted. BONNE.VAL heard of this order, and fuddenly fecreted himfelf from the publick, taking refuge with a Greek that was his friend. He was above a month concealed in the houfe of this Chriftian. After many fruitlefs enquiries, theGrand Sig- nior, vexed at having loft a man of merit, or- dered a declaration to be publifhed, by which he promifed pardon to the Count, and fwore by his turban that no infult fhould be offered him. Immediately the 'Count appeared again, obtained a private audience, and fully juftified his own innocency. ROXA, being fum moned, was obliged to confefs the whole truth, and that her love for BONNEVAL was all her crime. In a word, {he wrought fo much on the Count by her amorous protection?, that fhe engaged him to marry her. The divan, in order to punilh her father, fixed her portica at twenty purfes of gold. It was at this time that he retired to a fine houfe, near Scutari, upon the Bofphorus, and not to an old caftle, as the author of his memoirs has falfely af- ferted. Let us return to ZAJDE, the fair Greek who had captivated the Sultan's heart. This un^ virgin fuffered the moft cruel perfccutions, not The Devil Hermit. 155 not only from the Grand Signer, but from the Sultanas, who, jealous at feeing them- ielves fupplanted by this ftranger, did all in their power to torment her. They left no ar- tifice untried, to make her lofe the affection of his Ottoman highnefs. They invented the black- eft calumnies to afperfe her conduct. Thefe fevere trials fo impaired her health, that fhe fell into a violent fever, which threatened her life. The fultan was extremely alarmed j he waited on her night and day. In fplte of all the prejudices the Sultan's women had endea- voured to fill him with, he appeared ftill to be defperately in love with ZAIDE: which fo irritated the Sultana Valide, that fhe refolved to poifon her ; and had effected it but for my picvention. I now difcovered myfelf to the fair unhappy Greek, and afTured her of her li- berty as foon as her ftrength was re-eftabliflbed. She gave credit to my words, and this good news abated the violence of her diftemper. In a little time fhe was able to go through the fatigues of a long and toilfome voyage : and as I had formed a refolution to quit the ferag- lio, becaufe one of the Sultan's wives, whom he had never touched, proved with child, I exe- cuted my project without delay. I fent inft-ructions to ZA IDE'S lover, who ftill continued at Conftantinople, touching the time and manner of carrying off his miftrefs. When all was ready, I conveyed the fair Greek into a felucca that waited for her, where IBRA- HIM received her with inexpreflible tranfpo rts 156 rfhe Devil Hermit. of joy. Without interruption they pa/Ted the Dardinel caftles, and arrived at Smyrna without the leaft accident ; and from thence embarked for Venice. Z A i D E 's elopement having driven theGrand Signer almoft to defpair, he formed a defign of putting part of the women, and all the black eunuchs, to the examination. At that very time the tidings was brought him of the infidelity of the pregnant Sultana. No longer did he defer his refentment, but that inftant ordered thirty of his wives to be fewed up in leathern bags, and thrown headlong into the canal. The chief eunuch, and twenty of his inferiors, were beheaded. As for me, when I faw my individual loaded with irons, I made my efcape out of his body, and patted over into Italy, where wandring through this defart, I faw an old hermit at the point of death. Loth to lofe fo fair an opportunity, he had no fooner breathed his laft, but I put on his habits, and took pofleifion of his hermitage. Such have been my adventures, Sir, down to this time. I will finifh my narrative with the hiftory of ZARA You will not, I believe, be forry to hear the misfortunes of that beautiful Greek. CHAP The Devil Hermit, 157 CHAP. VII. The Hiftory of Z A R. A , and JULIAN C O R N A R O. HP HE Family of CORNARO has ever been * greatly diftinguim'd among the Venetian no- bility. It has not only given many doges to the republick, but alfo brave commanders, and the moft confummate politicians. Of later years indeed, fmce it has been greatly multi- plied, there have iflued from it fome branches, that have found themfelves in a very middling fituation : fo that JULIAN CORNARO, de- fccnded from one of thefe branches, was much more eftimable for his merit than for his riches. To a very advantageous figure, he added a mind extremely well cultivated. As ftudy had been always his chief occupation, he arrived to a degree of fcience that made him admired by all his fellow citizens. An inclination to travel, fo natural to a young man, having got pofieffion of his foul, he had leave from his parents to pafs into Dalmatia, to an uncle of his that was there governor. Al- ready for three weeks had he enjoyed the fweet- nefs of that happy climate, when going one day a hunting, he heard the moft piercing cries, which iffued from a wood, fituate on the bor- ders of the fea. As he was accompanied by one 58 The Devil Hermit. of his friends, and fome domefticks, he fet fpurs to his horfe, and rode full fpeed that way ; where he perceived four Turks dragging three women towards the fea fide. He prefently ap- prehended them to be corfairs, who had made a defcent on the coaft. He attacked them fmartly, and killed two of them on the fpot : the other two in a fright quitted their prey, and faved themfelves by fwimming behind a rock, where they had hid their brigantine. One of the women being fallen- into a fit, CORNARO difmounted to affift her. Scarce had he beheld her charms but he was dazzled with them, and to fee and to love her were with him the fame thing. ZARA, recovered from her fwoon, and furprifcd at this happy deli- verance, teftified her grateful acknowledgment in fuch lively exprefiions, that he might eafily perceive her wit to be equal to her beauty. He offered to accompany her home. She lived in a. handfome country houfe, fituate on the de- clivity of a hill, about a mile from the fliore. The fair Greek having related to her father the danger (he had been in, and the generoi... afliftance CORNARO had lent her, the vene- rable old man, who knew him, returned him thanks proportioned to the fervice he had ren- dered his daughter ; and as he was exceflively rich, he offered to make him a prefent worthy his quality. But CORNARO refufed to accept it : The only thing I ask of you, faid he, is to rank me in the number of your friends, and permit me now and then to come a nd enjoy your The Devi/ Hermit. 159 your charming folitude. This was granted him, with tokens of the moft fenfible acknowledg- ment. After fome hours of converfation, CORN ARO went home, his mind full of the idea of the lovely ZARA. The fair Greek, on her fide, had not been infenfible of the young nobleman's merit. This firft interview, in reality, united their hearts by an indiflbluble bond. Five or fix days after this adventure, the noble Venetian, under pretence of hunting, went to pay a vifit to his Grecian friend : but perceiving ZARA walk- ing alone in a grove of orange trees, contiguous the houfe, he flew to meet her ; and as the opportunity feemed to be favourable, declared without hefitation the paffion he had conceived for her. ZARA, far from diflembling, or feeming angry at what he faid, frankly confef- fed that me felt the fame inclination for him : But, adds me, what will be the refult of this reciprocal paiHon ? You belong to one of the moft confiderable families of the repu fa- lick ; your parents will never confent to a marriage fo difproportionate. Inform my fa- ther of your defign, and perhaps you may to- gether find fome expedient to remove thofe dif- ficulties I forefee. I cannot, however, flatter myfelf with the hopes of our ever being happy, and this thought gives me the utmoftuneafinefs. feduced by yout merit, and your high birth, 1 could not guard my heart from the (hafts of love; and as I am incapable of diffimulation, I have thought that fuch a confeflion would do me no harm in your opinion. Great and generous P 2 foul* x'o ne Devil Hermit. fouls do not place the wifdom of our fex in thofe mean fubterfuges, by which no lover, that lias the leaft knowledge of the world, can ever Li duped. Befides, the cuftom of our country, and the maxims we always proceed on, give a f;inb'6n to the ftep I have now taken. I know you are too honeft a man to make an ill ufe of my fmcerity : I love you 'tis true, and per- ceive plainly that without you I can never be happy ; but I know at the fame time what is due to my reputation, which I will never fully by any unguarded meafure. CORNARO, ravimed with thefe fentiments of the lovely ZARA, (wore to her an eternal friendfhip, and prom i fed, with the moft folemn oaths, that he would never abufe the confidence fhe had repofed in him. This converfation would have continued lon- ger, if the father informed, that fignior COR- NAROwas with his daughter, had not come and interrupted them. Overjoy'd at the fi2;ht cf his child's deliverer, he loaded him with civilities. CoRNARolaid hold of this favou- rable moment, to propofe to him the marriage. My happinefs, fays the venerable old man, would be compleat, if I could flatter myfelf with the hopes of having a fon-in-law of your rank and merit. But what you aim at, Sir, would be attended with great difficulties. I am rich 'tis true ; my family is antient, and with- out blemiih : but at the fame time you know that the Venetian nobility have the utmoft con- tempt 5fifc Devil Hermit. 161 tempt for our nation, hich they hold, as one may call it, in a fort of flavery. All that I can do for you, is to give my daughter a confklerable for- tune. Endeavour therefore to prevail on your parents to confent to this marriage; and be af- fured that on the celebration' of it, you {hall re- ceive a hundred thoufand fequins from me. Above all, try every effort fo bring over your uncle to your interefts. He knows me perfectly well, and I am perfuaded that if he enters in- to this project, you will certainly fucceed. JULIAN CORNARO, being returned to the governor, informed him of his adventure with the beautiful ZARA, and his defign to marry her. His uncle, aftsr having maturely reflected upon the advantages that would refult to his nephew from this alliance, advifed him to proceed to Venice, in order to induce his parents to give their confent to it. He gave him all the inftrutions he thought requifitc, and wrote letters tp his father on the occafion. CORNARO, having informed his miftrefs and his future father-in-law of the governor's gor.d difpofitions, fet out forVenice. His parents, after many confutations, confented to the marriage, upon condition that it mould be celebrated pri- vately, and that the fair ZARA mould continue fome years in Dalmatia, without ufing the name of CORNARO till the nuptials had been publifhed and approved by the republick. Our lover communicated to his miftrefs, by letter, the reflrictions he was laid under by his parents, P 3 and 1 62 The Devi! Hermit and found her willing to acquiefce in them all, as fhe was perfuaded the family had too much honour to deceive her. No fooner had JU- LIAN received her confent, but he departed from Venice to complete his felicity : but how great was his diftradtion, upon his arrival in Dalmatia, when he was informed that an Al- gerine rover had carried her away a week be- fore. Coming to her father's houfe, to hear the de- tail of this melancholy affair, he found the good old man inconfolable for the lofs of his daugh- ter, and ready to give up the ghoft. Touched with the moil ienfible grief, CORNARO did all in his power to give him comfort, and af- fured him that he would either lofe his life, or bring back the fair ZAR A. And as the -mo- ments were precious, he with all expedition fitted out a felucca well armed, and failed in purfuit of the pyrate ; but could get no news of him till he came to Algiers, where they both arrived the fame day. Here the matter having informed him that ZAR A was fold to an aga, for the Grand Seignior's feraglio, he immediately fet fail for Constantinople. 7"he pyrate, obfeiving the matchlefs beauty of his fair captive, was afraid to carry her to Algiers, for fear the dey fhould deprive him of his lovely prize. He put in at Modon therefore, and offered her to the governor of that city. This aga was one of his friends, and accepted her with the more pleafure, as he flood in need of a pro- ttclrtis in the feraglio, Nor did he only re- ceive The Devil Hermit. 163 ceive her with great joy, but from the firft day treated her more like a queen than a flavc. The fair Greek, emboldened by thefe extra- ordinary tokens of refpeft, refolved to open herfelf freely to a man who had the appearance of fo much generofity. She was unacquainted with his defign ; and having one day demanded a private audience, (he fpoke to him in the fol- lowing terms : ZELIM, your kind behaviour to me gives me hope that you will not be in- fenfible to- my misfortunes. I am able to pay you a large ranfome : do but reftore me to my father, and be aflured that his generofity will furpafs your expectation. My captivity will be the occafion of his death ; and you have it in your power to do an adl of charity, that will render your name illuftrious throughout all Chriftendom. Madam, replied the aga, I make no doubt of the truth of your promifes ; but it is entirely out of my power to do as I could wifh : I have writ to the Porte, and you are defigned for the feraglio of his fublime highnefs. Ah ZELIM! cried the unfortunate ZARA, what have I done to you, that you mould condemn me to fuch a fevere flavery ? No, cruel man, if that be your intention, my death (hall deliver me from fo great an evil. Since there is no more hope for me, the fword or poifon (hall foon terminate my miferable life. With that, in an inftant, '(he fnatched the aga's poinard, and plunged it into her breaft. ZELIM, furprized at this action, was in the utmoft confufion : the fufpenfion of his fenfes made 164 The Devi/ Hermit. made him incapable of flying to her relief ; and in vain he opened his mouth to call for af- fiftance. At laft reflecting, that after this (he might poffible recover, he ran to the apartment of his women ; who perceiving his diforder,came with him to the fair captive's relief. They bound up her wound to flop the effufion of blood, and fent for an able furgeon to examine it, who foon perceived it was not mortal. The weapon had glanced befide all the noble parts, and only pafled through the flefh. But as it was forefeen that this unhappy creature might take off the drefling, they tied down her hands by way of prevention. As foon as they faw (he was out of danger, the aga put her on board for Conftantinople. Co R K A R o had already been there a fortnight j and as, notwithftanding all his enquiries, he heard no news of his miftrefs, he began to think the corfair had deceived him, and was accord- ingly prepared to leave the city, when I inform- ed him of her arrival. This tender lover was fo raviflied with the hope that I gave him of releafing her out of the feraglio, that he offered to make me a prefent of all he had in the world } but I would accept only a ring of pret- ty confiderable value ; and to fatisfy him of my fincerity, I aflured him, that when he received that ring again, he might get ready a felucca in a certain place that I mentioned, and I would deliver him his fair Greek. You have heard in what manner it was done. Here The Devil Hermit. 165 Here ASTAROTH finiftied his relation. I took my leave of him, after having defired the continuation of his friendfhip ; and he af- fured me that when I had any occafion of his afliftance, I might find him as ufual in his ca- vern. THE 1 66 The Devil Hermit. THE DEVIL HERMIT: OR, THE ADVENTURES O F A ST A ROT H BANISHED from HELL. The T H I R D BOOK. CHAP. I. fbe Chevalier treats AST A ROTH ///, and for what Reafon. T had been now fix months under the yoke of * HYMEN, when I began to perceive that my fpoufe had no longer the fame tender nefs for me as at firft. An affected devotion, more than commonly ftrong, made me fufpeft fome intrigue. I watched her narrowly for fome time : 1 68 The Devi/ Hermit. time : but all my attention, all my enquiries, ended only in this ; to let me fee that the in- trigues of a fpi ritual coquet are impenetrable to the moft jealous and quick-fighted husband. I loved her, and my love is now degenerated into jealoufy. That fatal paflion deprived me of all repofe. The uncertainty of my fufpicions, added ftill to my torments. I could not with- ftand a violent curiolity of knowing the whole fecret of her condndt ; and refolved at laft to get this myftery cleared up by my faithful ASTAROTH. Being arrived in the ufual place of our ren- dezvous, I was vaftly furprized at my entrance to fee his hermit's habit torn in pieces, and fcattcred all over the cave. The firft idea that this fpetacle gave me, was, that my fubalterri DEVIL had been again difcovered by fome of the infernal lords, who had confequently car- ried him away prifoner. I was confirmed in this opinion, when after I had evoked him fe- veral times, he did not appear. Truly fenfi- ble, as I was, of the lofs of fo valuable a friend, I had already bewailed him with tears, and was going to quit the cave, when I was hin- dered by the coming in of a very venerable perfonage. Form to your felf the idea of one of your courtly abbe's, who is naturally a pretty fellow, and now well fet off, after fome hours fpent at his toiltte : add to the figure of this 1 68 The Devil Her mi A this , AD ON is a red * calot and a -f- camail of crimfon velvet ; in all this you have fome re- femblance of the reverend perfon, whofe un- expe&ed approach made me fall back three paces. Yet who-fliould it beat laft, but AST A- ROTH himfelf ? My furprize threw him into fuch a fit of laughter, that I foon knew him for my old acquaintance. May it pleafe your emi- nence, I cried out, to inform me what is become of your monkifh humility ? --What is the man thinking of ? he anfwers. Do you imagine humility to be a virtue known among monks ? Is it not fufficient that they take the pains fome- times to preach it, without fatiguing them- felves about the practice ? They harangue you from the pulpit : it is their intereft, and con- fequently their duty fo to do. It is yours to humble yourfelves at their feet, to open your purfes, to confide in them as in people who have all power in heaven and on earth, and even in our empire. Very good, faid I, this doctrine is ftill more admirable than it is new. Your eminence feems perfectly well to under- ftand your bufinefs. But may one dare to ask you by what means you have rifen to the dig- nity of a cardinal ? By the moft merry means faid he, in the world. Upon the faith of a de- vil, the fubjedt is worthy of your curiofity ; and I will give you the contents of it in a few * A Cardinal's Cap. f A Bifhop's Robe. words The Devil Her mi f. 169 words. Have you never heard talk of prince FORTUNATUS, who, without any merit, has found the fecret of winning his mailer's heart, fo that the pontiff now does nothing but by his direction ? This wretch of a minifter, though already well ftricken in years, took it in his head to fall in love with a courtezan, whofe beauty made a great noife. Her name was DONNA STRETTA. She had all thofc graces from nature, which are the ufual or- naments of her fex ; and the character of her mind was not lefs admirable than the charms of her perfon. Never did courtezan fhow her felf fo difmterefted as DONNA STRETTA: her heart mufc be inclined to the man before be received any of her favours ; and neither gold nor diamonds could make the leaft im- preflion on her, unlefs {he liked the perfon who prefented them. Prince FORTUNATUS, whcfe immenfe riches were his only merit, could have here little hope, and he muft have died with grief but for my affiftance. The poor prince, who grew the more enamoured, the more he was repulfed, was at his wits end, when I arrived at Rome in the habit of a fim- ple ecclefiaftic. My figure and the fprightli- nefs of my wit, contributed equally to make me taken notice of by DON NA STRETTA. We foon became well acquainted, and I gave her fo much fatisf action, that (lie voluntarily- quitted all her amours, to admit only me. The pretty creature diverted me now and then ith. faying what was true, though flie neither knew Q. nor 170 The Devil Hermit. nor believed it to be fo when fhe fpoke. Cer- tainly, (he would cfren cry, you are no man ! Never had mortal fo much flrength and vigour ! You are either a devil or an angel ! This al- ternative would make me burft out in a laugh. I am apt to think I mould have lived for ever with this amiable fair, if my duty had not prevailed over my inclination : but there was 3 work to be done, which would be me- ritorious at the infernal court. What his ho- holinefs was with regard to his favourite FOR- T u N A T u s, DONN A ST RE T TA was to me. I pretended an ambition to become a cardinal, and made ufe of this pretence to her, to in- duce her to make the old minifter happy. The ftratagem had its effect : I obtained the hat, and was loaded with honours and riches; after which prince FORTUNATUS arrived at the Jummit of hisdefire. Juft in this manner, my .dear chevalier, go all the affairs of human life. Intrigue and vice are the fprings by which we move mankind, and by the pra&ice of which we enable them to arrive at honours, that all lead diredly to, and terminate at laft in a place in our empire. I agree with you,faidl,that theMercurial fcheme has produced many men of note, who had ever continued in deep oblivion, without this effica- cious means of advancing themfelves. But my Lord, if I am allowed the liberty to fpeak free- ly to your eminence, as I did to the good her- mit, I cannot help owning to you the repug- nance I Qiould have to the ufe of any fuch jnearis, The Devil Hermit. 171 means, in order to obtain the favours of for- tune. Think better of the matter, Chevalier, reply'd AST AROTH ; this is a track that has been beaten by more than one of my brethren ; it is a well known way to dignity. Look over all the moft mining clafles of mankind ; gentlemen of the fword, and gentlemen of the law ; even men of letters, whofe names are enrolled in the lift of your academies, where none mould be admitted but perfons of diftinguiflied merit j you will find in them all fomc who have ac- quired the honours they enjoy, by the very fame means I have mentioned. A:; ibr yoi-r part, chevalier, how loi>g have you been grow;* fo delicate ? Why did. you not make this re- monftance before I introduced you to DONNA THERE SA ? Alas! I faid, that I had done fo in fa&. You dered me happy, it is true, in being propitious to my defires : but that happinefs is pafled away like a dream. I am now the moft unfortunate of all mortals. What ails you now, chevalier ? faid AST AROTH with an air of irony. Are you no longer pleafcd withDoNN ATHERESA ? Well, if that be the cafe, you muft e'en leave her, and marry another. I have a long while, you know, referved for you a rich heirefs. The poor girl languifhes away life, and I dare not promife to give her to you fuch as you would wifli to have her, if you make her flay ever fo little longer. May (he and all her fex, faid I in the anguim of my heart, be for ever curfed! Women are all fickle, and incapablo Qj. 08 172 The Devil "Hermit. of conftancy. For my own part, I have re- fclved to quit mine, and never to think of ano- ther while I live. Ah, my lord ! would your eminence have thought that a perfon who has virtue painted in her countenance; that a per- fon, I fay, who has fweetnefs enough to charm the mofc infcnfible man ; in a word, that DONNA THERESA could be capable of in- fidelity? Softly, Ibftly, Sir, replied AST A - KOTH with his ufual tone of raillery, ought you not to have expected this misfortune ? Can a Frenchman be fo afFc&ed with fuch trifles as thefe ? How is that, A s T A R o T H ? Do you call by the name of trifles the infidelities of a wife to her husband ? What a diabolical manner of think- ing ! Men are very much of another opinion ; at leaft, for my own (hare, I muft confefs that the apprehenfion of this misfoi tune torments me to the foul. My wife is for ever befet by a certain ecclefiaftic, who comes to vifit her with impunity, and I dare not fay him nay. The perfidious woman feemsto have fomewhatmore for him than mere refpecl. For any thing that I Jcnow, my dear ASTAROTH, I am already become a member of that famous fociety, which makes more noife in the world than the free mafons. For any thing that you know ? faid he ; why fir, do you doubt it ? What right, I befeech you, have you to be exempt from it ? Have you not married a pretty woman, very rich, and pofleiTed of charms to engage every eye, and Devil Hermit. TJ$ and captivate every heart. And did you think- then, that fo many pei lections were for you alone ? Be informed, Sir, that a young lady of DONNA THERESA'* temper and conftitu- tion is deftined to give love and to receive it. As I have withheld nothing hitherto from you,, I dare truil you with the fecret, that it was I inyfelf who infpired her with a paffion; for the grand inquifitor. Your abfence makes their mo- ments now happy, and their mutual felicity at this inftant engages them both to wifh you- may never return. At the end of this jovial narrative, I, more terrified than a man who fhould actually feel horns fprcuting out of his head, fell into a fit of rage that had been fatal to his diabolical eminence, if the foul of this evil fpirit had not been fecure againft all my thrufts, In vain I endeavoured, time after time, to run myfword through his body, and was regretting;;. my im- prudence in breaking the bottle of holy water, when it carne to my mind that I had about me a fcapulary, which I accepted out of com- plaifance from a nun that I ufed now and then to viiit. The apprehefion that my DEVIL would make his efcapc', induced me at firft to- diflemble : but the idea of my faith!e(s fair returning, I clapp'd the piece of fanctified cloth; upon his face at once. It did wonders there : AST A ROTH fell fiat on the ground,, and ut- tered moil horrible cries. For my part, in- fenfible of his pain, I made ufe of my advan- tage to encreafe his torments, and wrr-ped it 174 Tbt Devi! Hermit. fo faft about him, that he had no power to help himfelf. Mercy ! good chevalier, he cried aloud. No quarter, anfwered I; I am inex- orable on that head. What! have the- impu- dence to feduce my wife ! Thou wretch, the moft horrible torments are not fufficient to expricate thy crime. Is it thus that thou pre- ferveft that fidelity which thou hadft promifed me ? Cruel man as thou art ! replied AST A- ROTH, howl ng in the moft frightful man- ner : fuffer thyfelf to be prevailed on, and at lead do me the favour to hear me, before thou inflicted on my body a punifhment fo inhu- man. His prayers, far from moving me, did but contribute to animate my fury the more. A jealous perfon is never capable of liftening to reafon, or fuffering his heart to relent. The torments of ASTAROTH feemed to alleviate: my own pains ; and I continued them without relaxation, till at laft, quite fatigued, I gave way to a fhort flumber ; which the thought of my misfortunes, however, foon banimed from my eyes. By good luck the fcapulary held my DEVIL all this while, as if he had been nailed to the bottom of the cave. I was tranfported to fee him again, and renewed his chaftifement afrefh, till the want of ftrength obliged me to fufpend my anger. I was now obliged to hear him. He endeavoured at fir ft to make con- ditions with me, and infifted upon being fct at liberty, by my taking off the fcapulary while he tcldhis ftory ; but I knew my gentleman: too Devil Hermit. 17 too well to truft him, and I would only con- fent to loofen it a little, and hold it all the while by the firings, that I might make it flacker or tighter as I faw occafion. What apleafant fight mud it then have been r to have feen a poor weak mortal lead in his hand one of the moft malignant and cunning de- vils in all hell, and that by a feeble piece 9f fer- ret of about half an inch broad ; at the end of which was a fmall bit of cloth cut fquare, and worked with a crofs! Shew me the heretic that would not have retracted at the fight of fuch a phcenomenon as this ! But that excommu- nication, which is fo juftly thundered againft them, has fhut their eyes both bodily and fpi- ritual. A great divine told me, that they would never comprehend even fuch a miracle as this, and that it was neceffary to give them up to their obftinate incredulity. This good man de- clared very ferioufly, that he had no opinion of thofe people who made ufe of their reafon. It had been herefy not to believe him upon his ipfe dixit : I had more wit therefore than to dif- pute the matter with him, though I then knew the following hiftory, which deferves to be the fubjec~l of a new chapter. C H A P.. I- 6 The Devi/ Hermit. CHAP. II. The virtues cf the Scapulary : Or, the Biftory of Father CASIMIRE, a bare-foe ted CdrntTite. I7ye Deliverance cf AST A- ROTH, who difenchants the Chevalier ', and lets him fa Us Miftrefs in all her de- formity. '"PHERE is a certain city on the Maefe, formerly pretty famous en account of its fituation, and for a very ftrcng caille that de- fended it. Wonders were here wrought by a bare-footed carmelite, by virtue of a fcapulary, upon which was embroidered a fort of medal, that he had brought from Rome, and which he aflured the people had been blefled by the fuc- cefibr of the greateft of all the apoftles. Father CA SIM i RE, that was the name of our pious miracle-monger, was a fellow that fcarce had his equal ; large of ftature, ftrong, crafty ; and whofe wanton eyes, added to his martial air, plainly indicated that he was not always em- ployed in repeating his rofary. This hypocrite in grain had found the gordian knot of a moft refined courfe of leachery. Not a tender young virgin, not a pretty wife, who did not fall into- his fnares. There was an emulation of piety among all the fair fex, which exceeded any thing that tver was known ; and every woman was- The Devi/ Hermit. \~ f j Xvas ea?,er to have Father CASIMIRE for her director. This wolf in fneep's clothing had infinuated to the ftupid populace, in the city and circumjacent places, that the medal which had been blefied by the fovcreign pontiff, and which was fattened to the fcapulary, had a won- derful fpecifick power in affairs of propagation ; that it gave fertility to wives, and to maids fuch charms, as made them capable to captivate the hearts of thofe young fellows they wifhed to mar- ry. Never was bookfcller more credulous in Jiis favourite author, than the fair fex were in hi.n : never did mountebank find a noflrum that produced fo many effects as our medal, which was emphatically firnamed the eighth wonder of the world. Imagine then," that the fair, enchant- ed by the numberlefs virtues of this medal, came in droves to good father CASIMIRE. There, thefe amiable creatures fell down devout- ly on their knees to kifs the precious reliclc, which hung two or three inches below his girdle. This ac~t of adoration, affifted by a certain ef- fctice that the father had taken care to get im- bibed in the fcapulary, fo tended to heat their imaginations, that they all went home highly fatisfied. In a little time a fpirit of enthufrafm took pofleflion of all their minds, and nothing was talked of among the fex, but the wonder- ful things which the monk every day perform- ed by virtue of his medal. Here a credulous husband was porting to the monaftery with his prcfent, and to render thanks to the venerable i 7 3 The Devi! Hermit. monk for having procured him an heir, of which he thought himfelf the father : there a tender mother, fenfible of the advantages her child had received, inceflantly fang the praifes of this divine treafure, to whom fhe ratified herfelf indebted for fome booby fon-in-law, who had married her daughter, notwithftand- ing her uglinefs and ill conduct But as there are no rofes without thorns, one may in like manner fay, that there is no felicity exempt from troubles. The good father CASI- M i R E was not long before he felt the effecla of tliis woful truth. The devil, who never fleeps, infpired him with a certain temerity that made him defpife all precaution. The chro- nicle of fcandal was not more favourable, than the father was careful j and report, in a little time, began to open the eyes of the leafl bi- gotted. It was rumoured, that the good father owed the effects of his medal purely to noclur- jial vifits; and fome faid boldly, that the city was indebted to him for a good number of its inhabitants. Things were in this ftate, when he compleated his own ruin in the opinion of mankind, by the following act of indifcretion, among others, that obliged him to abfcond. A girl of between twelve and thirteen made his mouth water. This young pullet, more crafty ftill than pretty, was an overmatch for his reverence. She had a heart too tender to confine herfelf to one man, and no longer vvithftood the father's felicitations, than fhe was allured from him, that his fcapulary would pro- tect The Devil Her mi f. 179 teft her from thofe accidents, which are the ufual confequences of the inexpreffible plea fu res of love. The lovely girl was already miftrcfs of the heart of a canon, who had hitherto thought it his duty to fpare her fine fliape ; but father CASIMIRE had not been ufed to fuch cautious proceedings. Trufting to his induftry and his reputation, the friar kept no medium; and his pretty young pupil foon found herfelf afflicted with a nine months dropfy, which it was impoffible to hide. A canon is feldom the dupe of any one, efpe- cially in the affairs of love. In vain his mi- flrefs endeavoured to perfuade him, that he was the author of her misfortune : he was too cer- tain of what he had done, and knew it could never be. The cunning prieit feemed however to be fatisfied, that (he might have no fufpi- cion of his defign ; but, fully convinced, that fome other had plucked the fruit of this young plant, he fet fpies about her, who difcovered his rival. It requires an ASTAROTH, or fome other of his fpecies, to reprefent the fury of this ecle- fiaftical minion, when he was fully fatisfied of what had befel him. Enraged to think he was over-reached by a mufhroom fellow of a men- dicant, he never fufpended the effects of his choler, but in order to render them the more terrible. He refolved, by way of vengeance, to make his rival undergo the fate of ABE- LAR: but the friar, more vigorous and ro- buft than the canon's emiffaries, defended himfclf i8o Ihe Devil Hermit. himfclf fo courageoufly, that they had reafon to repent them of their undertaking. As this affair however did not pafs without a great buftle, it made fo much noife in the city, that the good father, for fear worfe mould follow, was obliged to withdraw. The lefs happy canon, befides the mortification of having failed in his enterprize, faw himfelf expofed to the laughter of all the people of famion. In a little time after, his miftrefs,whomhe ftill loved, not with- ftanding her infidelity, underwent that pain- ful crifis, which made her the mother of a lovely creature, whom all the ill-natured cal- led a mixed animal. Perfonsof beft fenfe gave all the honour of it to the canon, who was much better able to provide for the poor infant than the Carmelite : for that father, fmce his relick had loft its credit, was become very poor. Perhaps the fcapulary that I was poileffed of, had not all the virtues that were for a long tims attributed to that of the celebrated father CA- ST M IP. E : it was fufficient for me that it had the power of charming any devil, that fliould have the malignant impudence to play tricks xvith a man that is fubje&to the holy inquifition, I made the mod of this power a long while, till at laft, relying on the promife that AST A- ROTH made me, of making reparation for all the injury he had done me, I delivered him from his (hackles. No fooner was he free, but he ad- dreflcd himfelf to me in v/ords to this effect: che- valier, if I did not begin to habituate myfelf to the injuftices. of people of your fpecies, I could have 'The Devil Hermit. 181 never pardon the punishment you have fo cru- elly inflicted on me. However, fince it was my franknefs that brought it on my head, I will live with you for the future like a famionable friend, that is, with a great deal of policy, and very little fincerity. How is that, my lord Cardinal ? cried 7. Is it in this manner thou beginneft to make me the promifed reparation ? Are the injuries thou complained of to be compared to the torments which thy malice has made me fuffer ? What have I done to thee, barbarian, that deferved thofe infidelities of which thou haft made Donna THERESA guilty? Why didft thou at firft lend me thy affiftance, if thy defign was afterwards, under pretence of doing me fervice, to make me the moft unhappy of mortals ? Ah, cruel ASTAROTH ! it is for me to com- plain ; and if thou reflecleft ever fo little on the condition thou haft reduced me to, thou muft agree that my vengeance, is not equal to the greatnefs of the infult. If that be the cafe, re- plied his diabolical eminence, and fince I per- ceive that you really think as you fpeak, I par- don you all the ill you have done me, upon condition that for the future you never proceed to fuch extremities with me, without firft having well confidered the matter : for I muft teU you, Chevalier, that if you are not guilty of cruelty, you are guilty at leaft of want of re- flexion. Ought you to have expected that I (hould undertake to render favourable a beauty truly chafte ? If I had undertaken fuch a thing, and fucceeded, know that it would not have R been 7 he Devil Hermit. been in my power to keep her faithful. We devils can do ill faft enough, and fuggeft it into the hearts of mortals } but as it is not in our power to do in reality any one good action, fo nei- ther can we prevent thofe diforders that we oc- cafion from increafing of themfelves. Befides, did rot I tell you that you would foon grow weary of DONNA THERESA ? Was it my duty then to foretell a misfortune, which, chimerical as it may be, would have corroded the pleafure of your moft happy days ? Ah, Chevalier, if I did not dread that choleric vivacity of yours, I could inform you of fome things that would foon give you confolation for the lofs of your miftrefs. What is it you mean ? faid I with precipitation. I mean, anfwered he, that be- ing defirousto put you in poffeflion of DONN A TH E R E s A'S wealth, I fafcinated your eyes in fuch a manner, that (he appeared to you young, and the moft charming creature in the world, though flie is in reality old, and the moft ugly of all beings that live on this fide our empire. The grand inquifitor is not lefs duped than you have been, and will be happy no longer than the charm endures. The difcourfe of his diabolical eminence feemed to me at firft an incomprehenfible myf- tery : but no fooner had he conducted me to my wife's apartment, and taken off the charm that made her fcem lovely, but I pereceived a creature more ugly than the picture that As- TAROTH had given me of her. My furpnfe made the fly devil laugh, who now opportunely hifpered m; to take poflefiion of a fmall cat ket, The Devil Heimit. 183. ket, that contained the moll valuable of DON- NA THERESA'S jewels. As I had long been accuftomed to put my hand often into a cer- tain ftrong coffer, the contents of which vifibly diminifhed, a natural inftinct carried me thither for the laft time, when I left nothing behind me that I thought myfelf able to carry cffclctn. Then returning with AST A ROT H to the cave, I made him all the reparation he could defire, for my paffionate u r age of his eminence. CHAP. III. ^he Author makes his Peace with AST A. ROTH, iff be informs him of fome remark, able Faffs, and gives- him a great deal of Advice. The Author follows that of re* turning to his native Country. T> E T T E R pleafed at feeing myfelf maf- ** ter of DONNA THERESA'S jewels, than a aiifer who receives a large intereft upon a fmall capital, I eafily forgot that hoi rid crea- ture, and thought of nothing but in what way to make ufe of my riches. ASTAROTH at lirft put on a face of anger, and feemed un- willing to vouchfafe me any advice. I had a great deal of pains to reconcile him to me, and all my excufes were infuffic:ent to give him fatisfaction. Never fure was there an in- fernal fpirit, that flood more upon the puncti- lio of honour. It was not the torment I had made him f>:Ter, that drew on me his indiffe- rence ; I had accufed him of perfidy j and he R 2 could 184 The Devil Hermit. could not, he faid, pardon me fo outrageous an affront. 7'o confefs the truth, I laughed in my fleeve to fee a devil fo jealous of his reputation ; but giving way to his capricious humour, I declared myfelf guilty, aggravated my crimes, and beg- ged pardon for it in fuch a moving manner, that he was at laft overcome by entreaty, re- newed his promife of affiftance, and vowed on the faith of a devil to keep it. This peace was not ratified without a formal treaty, which both parties fwore to : I, that I would never fufpec"t his fidelity and probity ; and he, that he would be fubmiflive and faithful to me, till the very moment he was called home to hell. This convention having brought him again in- to good humour, he offered me one of the fineft women in all Italy, in recompence for my lofs of DONNA THERESA; but feeing plainly by my anfwer, that I was not difpofed to enter again fo foon into the bonds of that faithlefs and deceitful fex, but on the contrary, rather inclined to augment my fortune, he advifed me to enter into the venerable company of tax- gatherers. You cannot imagine, fays he, Che- valier, all the advantages of that profeffion. I know them well, anfwered 1:1 am of a country where they are as much refpecled as hated : but, for my part, I love neither the flattery of great men, nor the hatred of the populace. Befides, I am a gentleman by birth, and would not degrade myfelf fo far as to aflb- ciate with a body of men, the very heads of whom were born in fervitude, or among the dregs '77* Devil Hermit-. 185 dregs of the common people. What a whim- fical turn of mind you mortals have ! replied his diabolical eminence with a loud laugh. The greateft part of you men of rank pique your- felves on a chimerical nobility, which ruins you, and leads you ki the direct road to beggary j whereas a man from among the ineaneft of the people endeavours to pufh hrmfelf by all forts of methods, andfeldom fails of fuccceJing. Mow many footmen has fortune in ycur time en- nobled, whofe children are now arrived to the fummit of dignity ? Witnefs the marquis de OR A c E, colonel of a regiment,who has a fiirc.' married to a count of an antient lineage. Their father was drawer to a tavern, and raifed him- ft-lf by iiotrigue to the degree of grandeur he now enjoys, and which has enabled him to make the fortune of his children. I know, faid I, the countcfs and the marquis you fpeak of perfect- ly well : I know that their father is farmer- general, and that he was of no higher dt-fcent ^tban the greater!: part of his brethren : but T am ignorant what means he made ufe of, to procure himfelf fuch a fplendid eftate as he now feems to be pofleiTed of. I can give you fat'sfi.fti- as to that, replied ASTAROTH, in very few words. P*** is the Ion of a miferable poor pea fan t in the province, of Burgundy. At the age of fourteen, he quitted his paternal cottage, and went to Pari:-, where he get rec-ption in a tavern, the mafter of which he hid ieen in his own country. The lad w::s the;i a good Uprightly youth, and we had very trreat hopes R 3 o 186 Ths Devil Hermit. of him in our empire. He had not been long in fervice, before he gave proofs of his mercu- rial ability. His firft prank was forgiven him ; but as they watched his conduit more narrow- ly after this, his mafter foon perceived that he was not fit for his purpofe, and turned him a- flray to feek his fortune. ?*** had luckily got acquainted, and was- linked in friendftiip with fome footmen, who. came to drink at his matter's houfe^ One of thefe party-eolour'd gentry recommended him to the wife of an under farmer of the revenue. He had the good fortune to pleafe her, and {he took him into her fervice, without enquiring af- ter his character. The good lady began to lofe- the bloom of her youth j and P*** } who was nick- named JASMIN, wasjuft in the flower of all hisdays. He was exceeding nice in hisdrefs, : and knew fo well how to feize OCCASION by the forelock, that he went fnacks with his m fter, who about the fame time was made far- mer general. By his miftrefs's order,, and at her expence, JASMIN was taught to read and write ; and foon after he had a place givcn h:m, the income of which, though very tolera- bie, was not fufficient to fatisfy his vanity. He as now in pofleflion cf the true key of his own fortune, and made ufe of it to all poflible advantage. In lefs than twelve years, he rofe f; om dc gree to degree, up to the very poft he is new in, and in which he has amafled wealth cnt ugh to maintain his family in that rank, h re it now fhines fo brilliantly. The Devil Hermit. 187 I was unacquainted with this hjftofy, faid I to my quondam HERMIT : but, upon my own knowledge, I fee in the revenue fo many other mining characters of the fame fpe- cies, that I can never refolve to incorporate my (elf among fuch people. Well, leave them to th.2:nfelves then, replied ASTAROTH, fince you fo diflike them. They are indeed protected by the principal lords of the infernal empire, for which their body is an inexhauftible fource of excellent fubje&s : there has never yet been one member of it that fared in the fealty he had fworn to us. But, continued my counfellor, fince this way of life, the beft indeed that can be chofen, is difagreeable to you, and you are afraid of derogating by it from your nobility ; why, fir, do you not take to the army ? You have riches enough to make a figure there for fome years ; and let the worft come to the worft, after you have fpent all your money, you may get in with fome rich widow, whom I will prevail upon to re-eftablifh your fortune. The army, faid J, would pleafe me Mfey well, if a man was not liable there to the difgrace of having others put over his head: but how often, after having fpent all he is worth in the fove- reign's fervice, has an officer the mortification to a fee a young beardlefs boy, who has no * other merit but that of high birth or powerful protection, get the ftart of him ? Well but, replied ASTAROTH, examine me then from head to foot ; would the fcarlet I am adorned with pleafe you better ?This profeffiorj,in my opinion, has i88 The Devil Hertrtit. has charms that may feduce the moft modelr. As merit, at this day, has no longer a place a- mcng us ecclefiafticks, there is nothing more eafy than to rife in the church. What cha- ra&er among men can be more brilliant than ours? We are moft of us rich ; all of us re- fpeted ; and we all enjoy privileges that raife vis even above princes. Our head is the fiii? of mankind, and there is no one, not the leaft individual of our fpecies, who has not a fhare of the boundlefs power of that fovereign of fo- vereigns. Ah, Chevalier, if you feel any in- clination for this happy profeffion, to what de- gree of grandeur may you not arife, having me for your friend and proteflor ? For I muft let you know, that nothing is done in this il- luftrious body but by cur direction. It is our fovereign that gives a fandiion to all decrees,, that always prefides over their venerable af- femblies, from which we take the utmoft care to banifh, and even to anafhamctife, every liv- ing man whofe virtue is fufpecled. Now,. Chevalier, what doft thou think of this? I adrmre, faid I, to AST A ROTH, this pompous fampie of a defcription, which how- ever is literally true. This makes me not wonder at one of our anticnt dcc~tcrs, for faying that your country is paved with eccle- fiafticks. For my part, however, I wculd not be one of them, tho' I were fure of obtainin^ the triple crown. Befides, as I feel in myfelf no inclination to become a cabalift, I fhould xnake a very fooiifi; figure among ycu, and ton The Devil Hermit. 189 run a great rifque of never being advanced. You only think fo, anfwered ASTAROTH : but that modefty of yours is owing merely to your want of knowing the world. Take this along with you, Chevalier, that as appetite comes by eating, the defire of rifing encreafes in proportion as a perfon rifes. Do you know the lord cardinal AMIR ONI ? Nothing could be more modeft than that famous prelate, when firft he embraced the life of an ecclefiaftic. The moft his birth could admit him to afpire after, was a fimple canonicate. Now he keeps a cha- pel equal to mine, and forms a defign no left than that of raifing himfelf to the fovereign hiearchy. If this great man mould obtain that eminent poft, I expect he would do more fer- vice to our empire, than a whole million of vulgar devils put together. One may juftly fay, that he is entirely devoted to LUCIFER, and that none of us all out-does him either in ma- lice or wiles. This prelate, though born of the meaneft parents, has preferved nothing of the bafenefe of his extraction. His bold and infmuating ge- nius, has enabled him to afcend to the higheft degree of fortune. He once governed defpoti- cally, or, to fay better, tyrannically, one of the principal monarchies in Europe. He was obliged, it is true, to leave that kingdom } yet did not leave off to conduct the affairs of it. Nothing is now done there but in purfuance of the max- ims he laid down, and all his refined policy is exactly put in practice. It was he that in- fpired I po The Devil Hermit. fpired the war that is lately broke out. H's biain teems nothing continually but great and unjuft projects, whofe fole tendency is to drive an illuftrious family from a certain throne, which he thinks it pofllfTes unlawfully. Long ago, through his intrigues, thoufands of emiflaries were fent into the dominions of the reigning prince, whom he called a ufurper, in order to lay the train of a fatal rebellion, which muft inevitably have broke out, but for the moft prudent precautions. AMIR ONI is the evil genius of the expelled and banifhed pre- tended king, whofe enemy at the fame time he would feem to appear. It is he that ftirs him up, that animates his caufe, that folicits all the powers of the fame communion to ena- ble him to recover a crown, which however he could not preferve even if he was peaceably poflefled of it, becaufe he wants all the talents jiecefiary to acquire the affe&ion of a people fo ftubborn, and fo jealous of their liberties. One of the moft flourifhing monarchies of our he*- mifphere enters into this vaft project, the exe- cution of which has been deemed fo eafy, that his eminence, wht puts all in motion, has dared to propofe an alienee in the name of the ou'd-be-king. In a word, he is the difturber of all Europe, and the inventer of all the confpiracies that have been hatched for more than twenty years paft. You may believe that all the fchemes he put in motion, that his continual hurry, which drives 'deep for ever from his eyes, are fug- gefted 7 'be Devil Her mi V. 191 gefted by intereft and ambition. He predicted that he fhould rife to the fovereign pontificate, and is refolved to omit no ftratagems, that his intriguing genius can furnim him with, to ve- rify his prediction, though, for the execution of his project, he {hould fucrifice three parts of humankind. Perfuaded that he fhall become neceflary in the midft of difcord, he endeavours to blow the fparks of it at every court. A de- ftructive rupture has already broke out be- tween two very considerable powers. He la- bours, with all his might, to fpread the fame fla ties in the greateft part of Chriftendom. If he fucceeds, it will be then his time to fifli in troubled waters, and at laft to feize the triple crown, the morfcl fo much defired by all the members of the facred college. ASTAROTH, who had refumed his good humour, diverted himfclf a long time in relat- ing all the juggling tricks of this moft eminent prelate. Better than a fecretary that has the largefr. (hare of his mafter's confidence, he was fully acquainted with all the correfpondences and numberlefs intrigues of our famous politician: but as he talked too freely cf the cabinet fecrets of fovereigns, and a little (hocked my naturai difcretion, I broke in upon his narrative, in order to communicate to him a project that was juft then come into my mind. I per- ceive, faid I, by reflecting on all the profeffions that you have propofed to me, that there is not one of them will fuit me. Without farther de- liberation .therefore, I am refolved to give way to 192 Ihe Devil Hermit. to my natural inclination, that is, to continue the life of a knight-errant, which I purfued before my marriage with DONNA THERESA. But, Lord ASTAROTH, to render my travels agreeable, I (hall have need of your company. I mould like to wander over both the hemif- pheres of our planet i and that I may never lofe the idea of the places I have made any ftay in , I would every where make collections of the moft curious anecdotes, for the diverfion of my friends on my days of repofe. ASTA- ROTH, my dear ASTAROTH, I know all the extent of your talents : your humour is gay ; your tattle amufing ; in a word, you poflefs all the qualities requifite to fatisfy my ruling pailion, and procure me new delights as the . days re- volve. If you will follow me, depend upon it I (hall not be ungrateful, and that you (hall have a powerful protector againft all the fub- jefts of your empire, who may be jealous of your reputation. What fay'ft thou Chevalier ? cried his dia- bolical eminence. One may eafily fee that you were bred up in a court : you are fuch a very courtier when you want to obtain any favour. If I was not devoted to you as I am, I could not withftand the charms of your politenefs. Rely on what I fay, Sir: I will accompany you wherefoever you (hall pleafe to go. CHAP. The Devil Hermit. 193 C H A P. IV. 'The Author is tranfported into the Capital of the Univerfe. Changes that had hap- pened during the time he was abftnt. He meets with an Adventurer, whom he knew formerly^ and who tricks him of good part of his Jewels. '"FHE natural tafte that I had for travel -* made me highly delighted with the good graces of my faithful ASTAROTH. I gave him a thoufand thanks ; and, as I was very fond of adventures, propofed to him immedi- ately the taking a trip to Paris, where I had fome little acquaintance. Very good, Cheva- lier, faid he ; I confent to it: but as I am fub- jet to the orders of my fuperiors, I ought to inform you that I mall now and then be obliged to be abfent. All I can promife you is, that I will execute as fpeedily as poffible whatever inftru&ions I may receive, and return to you as foon as I have done, in order to inform you of any thing you {hall wifh to know, aid to give you my advice in times of difficulty. Then pulling a fmall phial out of his pocket, Here, fays he, take and drink a few diops of this elixir, which has the virtue ofpreferving human nature from all tliofe .wants to which it is continually fubjeft. In fad, 1 had no S fooner 194 The Devil Hermit. fooner fwallowed five or fix drops of it, but 1 found myfclf almoft in the fame plight with a fat canon, who has fpent fome hours in fluf- fing his paunch with the moft nourishing difhes. This elixir has one property in which it ex* celled even the bed food j which was, that it refrefhed the fenfes, and yet preferved from all inclination to fleep. I was admiring the effect cf it to AST A ROTH, when he told me, that it was-compofed by the abbot CHIMJERIUS ho had found means to ftarve himfclf to death with this important fecret. This, he added^ ought not to furprife you. To fpeak the truth, the abbot, by his conduct, deftroys the reputa- tion of his drops. He publimes every where, that they have the virtue of making a man live three months without eating or drinking : but, at the fame time he fo boafts the virtue of his tincture, if any one invites him to dinner, he eats as if it had no other virtue but to whet the appetite, and famifh the perfon who ufes it. It was necefTary to the abbot's character that chefe drops fhould pafs through the hands of fome one of my fpecies. Bv that means all Vvho ufe them, will conceive the fame idea of them as you now do, and may very foon make his fortune. If you want to know this famous chymift, continued ASTA- &OTH, you (hail prefently have it in your power to fee him, without being perceived yourfjlf. My metamorphofed HER M i T had no fooner finilhed thefe words, but he truffcd njc up upon his The Devi! Hcrmt. his (boulders, almoft in the fame manner as ^ENEAS took his father ANCHISES. The aftoniming rapidity with which he cleft the air, put me into fuch a terrible fright, that I loft at once all the ufe of my fenfes. At laft, waking as from a found fleep, I found myfclf extended upon a grafly carpet, with which- nature had adorned the fummit of a high mountain. AST A ROTH, whom I did not at firft fee, appeared to me all of a fudden. Where do you think yourfelf now, Sir ? faid he with a laugh. Without doubt, faid I, I am juft where it has pleafed your eminence to bring me. But your world has been fo very indifferently defcribed to us, that I ought to be a devil myfelf to know what part of it I am In. Look you there,faid he, pointing with his finger; on that fide lies the native country of all po- lite people. We have been but three days onr our journey, and I could have brought you hi- ther in much lefe time, if I had not been de- tained a little at Lyons by a job, which was to infpire a very good man with the refolution to rob his brother, for the fervice of a pried whom I protect. I (hall have another opportunity here- after to give you a narrative of this affair, whicli was attended with variety of confequenccs, anil a great many curious and interefting fadb r that will afford you (bme diverfion. The joy I conceived at revifuing my native place, took fuch full polFeflion of my mind, that I was not fufceptible of any other pleafure. I did not infift upon the (lory ; and ASTA- S 2 ROTH- 196 We Devil Hermit. ROTH, who knew my inward fentfments, took leave of me ; telling me, that fmce I was in a country well known to me, I muft not take it amifs if he left me among my old acquaintance, for that he would come back to me after he had compleated the great work that was begun at Lyons. As I had in reality very ftrong engagements in this capital, and expected to find there many relations and friends, without running the rifque of being detected concerning my former frolicks, I gave a carte blanche to my guide, and even left the time of his return to his own difcretion. The moment he quitted me I took the road for Paris, and entered that city juft at the clofe of the day. My fir ft care, after providing myfelf with a lodging, was to clothe me in a manner fuitable to the figure I intended to make. I had plenty ofcafh upon me, and fo was furniihed with every thing I wanted in an inftant. An utter {hanger would have thought he had to do with conjurers, fo many workmen were ready to ex- ecute whatever I commanded. In lefs than a week I was compleatly equipped, as well with linnen as with every other part of drefs. My ambition however, was not fatisfied, till after I had formed my houfehold, which confifted of feven or eight fervants, three of whom were dreflld in the moft fplendid liveries. I was not then afraid of appearing among my rela- tions, who perhaps would have received me lfs couiteoufly if this magnificent equipage had not We Dev:/ ticrmif. not dazzled their eyes. My fur.d, great as it was at prefent, was far from being fufficient to fupport the luxury I lived in any long time ; but, as I always depended on the friend- (hip of ASTAROTH, I made no fcruple of going on, and had none of thofe anxieties, that the furprifing dimunition of my capital muft otherwife have given me. A continued fucceflion of pleafures, that were every day diverfified, made the moments pafs merrily a- way. Good eating and drinking, variety cf miftrefles, gaming, and the playhoufe, made up the whole of my employment. Both fexes were fond of my company ; all my friends feemed to contend among themfelves who fhould fet the higheft price on my favours, and I was regarded as the oracle of every affembly, that I deigned to honour with my prefence. I muft ferioufly own however, that, though open enough to flattery, I was not entirely the dupe of it. I had too much reafon net to perceive that all my merit, and all the praifes that were lavifhed on me, were owing to my generofity and luxury : yet fuch is the character of human pature in genera^ that it is fond of feeding on an imaginary good. Vinity is a kind of drunkennefs, fo much the more dangerous as it leads us into the rrroff fooHh extravagancies. Six months pafTcd'away in this manner, at the end of" which the lownefsof my (lock made me reflect on the ab fence of ASTAROTH. For many days I endeavoured to evoke him, and all to no purpc/c y but as his honcfly could not S 3 poffibly 198 The Devil Hermit. poflibly be now fufpe&ed by me, after all the fervices I had received from him, I concluded that fome devil of high rank, who had a right over him, was the occafion of this difappoint- ment. It, was lucky for me, that I had a good ffock of jewels ftill left. I refolved to dif- pofeof a part ofthefe, and began in fome mea- fure to retrench my expences. This deprived me of fome of my friends, the lofs of whom I no otherwife regretted, than as a mifer would the lofs of a parafite. The pleafures I received were now lefs noify, but more real and rational. I fpent my time in admiring the ornaments of the city, which are very nume- rous, and happily encreafing every day. A man of wit, of my acquaintance, who had free accefs to the provoft of the merchants, introduced me to that magiftrate. He was a man of merit, but infatuated with his o n projects, of which he talked eternally to all who came near him. One of the keys on the river fide, among other things, which he had caufed to be enlarged at his entrance on his of- fice, and to which he added a parapet wall, Avas in his own opinion a maflsrly performance, and the fubject of much difcourfe. One day, when my friend and I were in his company, he adJrelTed himfelf to us thus: it is furprifing that not one of the wits of the town has thought of making, at leaft one ftanza of fix lines in praife of that public work. We (hall fee if the folar quadrant, which I am going to ere&, will not roufe them from this lethargy. -As 1l:e Lciil Ferfr.it. ,559 As my friend was the man who patted for thebrighteft fellow in company, and did not do himfelf the injuftice to refufe the honour of that fine quality, he took this reflection as if levelled directly at him. What do you think, (faid he to me, as foon as we were by ourfeives) of the philofopher TURGO? Does not that mafter-piece of his deferve to be immortalized by an ode ? I think at the lead, fince he is fo modeft as to be content with one ftanza, one ought to oblige him fo far. Then taking out his memorandum book, without more meditation 3 he wrote thefe verfes : When provoft TURGO was in place. And noted here too little fpace, He .added this fame border. All you that come, and all who go, Render your thanks to good TURGO, The glory of his order. I had fucked in fomewhat ofAsTAROTH's character,and the character of my friend was not much lefs malignant than mine. I took him to fup with me, when he was eafily perfuaded to make me a prefent of this epigram. I had it imme- diately tranfcribed, and fent a fervant to pafte it up over the key. In a word, all Paris prefent- ly had it by heart ; every one diverted himfelf at the expence of the magiftrate, whofe vanity was well known." You may depend upon it we paid him no more vifits after this our paf- quinade. My friend, though known for the author 2roo Ike Devil Hermit. author of the verfes, loft nothing by them but a dinner now and then, which he ufed to get at the provoft's j a lofs which I fully made up to him, as I could never wear out that natural generofity of temper, that gradually reduced me to live by my wits. A good part of my Jewell were already fofd, ^nd the money difperfed. I could not prevail on myfelf to difcharge an equipage that I had been fome time ufed to : a gentleman, in my opinion, had much better be dead, than without this mark of diftin&ion. Full of this chime- rical idea, I durft not look forwards on the uncertainty of my future condition, but I felt my heart pierced with the moft fenfible grief. My recomfe was to AST A ROTH, whom I e- voked to no purpofe. The cruel DEMON, taken up with other adventures, laughed at my imaginary diftrefs : and indeed I fometimes looked upon my troubles in the fame light my- felf, in the confidence I had of his fidelity. In fine, the laft remedy to my uneafinefs was the frequenting of plays and public drverfions, or taking a walk in company. One evening, as I came from the opera, the xinskilfulnefs of the coachman made him run foul of a very fplendid equipage. Four fwinging pages, dreifed in gaudy liveries, fell to quarrelling with my fervants, and threatened them hard. As I was afraid the fellows might Belong to fome embaflador, or foreign prince, and being loth to have any difpute with a per- foa of fueh high quality, I immediately got out. The Devi! Her mi 'f. 20 r out of my coach to appeafe the fray. The pretended prince fhewed the fame politenefs : but fcarce were his feet on the ground before I knew him for the marquis CRAMOISI, an Italian by birth, and formerly my acquaintance. Our fituation with regard to each other, at leaft in appearance, was very different from that in which we had known each other formerly. E-v qually aftoniftred at this rencounter,our firlt fen- timents on both fides obliged us to teftify fomc furprife ; but the place not being proper for coming to an explanation together, our equi- pages were no fooner difentangled than the marquis made me get into his coach, in which we were driven, followed by mine, to a fu- perb hotel that he inhabited. The furniture of it, which I took for his own, made me judge, by its magnificence, that he was one of the richeft lords in Europe. Amazed at fo advantageous a change in his fortune, I conjectured that he muft have fome genius under his command cf the temper of As MODE us, and more punc- tual than the faithlefs ASTAROTH. He was indeed fo happy as to be in the good graces of the firft prince of the blood, who governed the whole kingdom, and at the fame time en- joyed the favours of madame the princefs of E**, whofe lover he openly profefled himfelf, and to whom he was the chief in regard among many. I had formerly heard fpeak of the lavifh bounty of this princefion the like occafions. As time had very much preyed on her charms, and the marquis was in all the vigour of his age, I confidered 202 fhe Devil Hermit. confidered this conqueft as the fweeteft morfel that could fall into the mouth of an adventu- rer. In effect, he confefled that within a little more than a year paft, which was the time he had been acquainted with her, he had drawn from her near eight hundred thoufand livres, without putting her to any other trouble than that of making him one of the bankers to the parties of gaming, that were held daily in her palace. Thefe games was baflet, pharaoh, and lanfqutnet. They began ufually about tea or eleven o'clock in the evening, and conti- nued till five or fix the next morning. The marquis offered to introduce me to them, and curiofity made me accept his propofition. We arrived there in very good time, while the company was yet thin : but in a few mi- nutes the afiembly became as numerous and brilliant as what I have fecn in an opera, with only this difference, that at the princefs's it was compofed of men only, drefled fome of them more richly than others. Several halls, in the midft of which ftood tables appointed for the different games, were illuminated in every par t. Scarce did they all feem fufficient to contain the numbers that crowded them. As the marquis was one of the bankers at baflet, he left me to aflume his poft, which muft cer- tainly be very lucrative, fmce it conftituted the principal part of his revenue. What furprifed jxe the moft, after viewing the company fome , was to fee a great number of eccle- fwfucks The Devil tierimif. feo j fiafticks among die cabals of the gameflers. My firft reflection made me look on them as a par- cel of dupes : yet I could not refift the caprice of fortune, who I faw was ruining fome, and fliowering down > her favours on others. I had fifty Lewis's left, which I always carried in my pocket. Seduced by ill ex- ample, I hazarded fome of them, which in Icfs than an hour were increafed to near an hundred times as many. The fortunate fuccefs of this firft attempt did not permit me to ftop {hort in fo delightful a road : I was animated by the defire of gain to purfue my point, and {laked my money with fo little prudenc, that in a few moments I loft not only what I had won, but the fifty pieces I had in my purfe, which was my whole ftock of ready cam. Such is the fatal paffion of gaming, that whether a man wins or lofes, he can never con- tain himfelf within reafonable bounds. For my part, diftracted to fee myfelf two hundred Lewis's worfe than I had thought myfelf juft before, without reflecting that three fourths of this number belonged .perhaps to thofe who had now won them from me, I could not take the refolution to become wife at my own expence. I went directly to the marquis, who was in another hall, and asked him to lend me twenty- five pieces upon a diamond of value that 1 had on my finger. He would not accept the pledge, but told me down in a moment the Aim I de- manded. Thefe twenty five Lewis's were in- iuflacient to recover my loft fortune : they laftea 204 < fl je Devil Hermit. lafted me however, with good management, to the end of the play when I had only three or four left. With thefe I retired full of cha- grin, as I faw myfelf obliged to a new fale of my jewels, in order to recruit my pockets,and make fatisfa&ion to a friend who had trufted me on my word. How prejudicial foever the meeting of the marquis had been to my fmall fortune, my acknowledgments to him were not the lefs warm. He had lent me money in the moil o- bliging manner, and hearing, as we came out, that I had loft it, he made me an offer of the like fum, which I accepted on the condition that he fhould come and dine with me. At this meet- ing, I confefs, I found him altogether worthy of the good fortune he enjoyed; and, grate- fully fenfible of this double proof of his friend- fhip, I thought I could not do better than lay open to him all my cricumftances. He did not feem to think them fo defperate as I did, efpecially after taking an inventory of my jewels, which he valued at above one hundred thoufand franks. My condition however feem- ed to affect him, and, in order to repay my freedom of fpeech, at leaft apparently, ;in the fame coin, he advifed me to turn my effects into money,and by making prefents to purchafe the place of gentlemen to the princefs, whofe bounty he lived on. Chevalier, faid he, in the moft infmuating tone, a man of your figure may have pretenfions enough at fuch a court as we are in, efpecially when reafon, more than love The Cevil Hermit. 205 love, engages him to a woman of the princefs's age and inclinations. For my part, who am no longer amorous, far from proving your ri- vaLon fuch nn occafion, I {hall fee with joy your fortune equal to my own, fince it may very well be fo without the leaft prejudice to me. If you had fome employment which gave you accefs to the princefs, it would not be long, I am certain, before you came in fnacks with us ; and your recompenfe, as well as mine now is, would be to become an eighth fharer in the profits which our gaming flock produces ; for the moft famous academy in Paris is kept in her palace. As all the prime nobility pun&aally attend there, and we bankers at baffet and pharaoh underftand the play perfe&ly well, our office brings us in an immenfe annual fund. In a word, chevalier, if you except only a few prefents which her royal highnefs now and then honours me with, it is this fund that fupports all my expences on the foot that you fee them. If I had a grateful fenfe of the marquis's firff civilities, I had a much greater of thofe offers, which gave me the profpeit of a fortune as brilliant as his, and to which all my ambi- tion tended. I was almoft befide myfelf with refpeft, and eould not tell how to exprefs my thanks in terms fufficiently ftrong. I am en-. tirely yours, cried I, my dear marquis : dif- pofe of me as you pleafe. From this time I will conform my conduit to your advice, which I will follow "with all the confidence that your T good 2o6 We Devil Hermit. good will deferves from an old friend who can never forget you. After having again allured me, that he had nothing more at heart than to oblige me, Were I, faid he, in your place, the firft thing I would cio mould be to fell my jewels, Money you well know is at this day the primum mobile of all things. One part will ferve to fupport you a little in the way of life you have taken up ; and the reft muft be employed in making pre- fents to the princefs's ladies of honour, to whom J will immediately introduce you. By this means you will foon become her highnefs's gen- tleman : you muft accept this poft at firft with- out any falaryj and that point being carried, your whole future fortune will be in your own hands. The marquis ended his enchanting dif- courfe by offering to take on himfelf the dif- pofal of my jewels, which he pretended he could nake as much of as any jeweller. If I had reflected, at that moment, on the marquis's former way of life, of which I knew a thoufand anecdotes not very favourable to his reputation, perhaps my diftruft had made rne efcape all his fnares: but, dazzled with a future profpedl that flattered my vanity, I received with joy an offer in which there feemed to be nothing but the moft obliging fmcerity 1 was even in hafte to put him in pofieffion of the remainder of my for- tune, and had fo little forefight or fufpicion of the misfortune that threatned me, that I flept fyith the fame tranquility as a man could who The D. r oil Hermit. 207 was in the full enjoyment of all his wifhes. My fecurity appeared fo much the better founded, as the marquis came to vifit me the next day, and brought me a thoufand crowns for a diamond which 1 had never valued at more than two thoufand livres, and which in my prefent necefilty I would have parted with for lefs. So great was his affection, that fcarce would he receive the fifty Louis's he had lent me. A month however paft, and he had not yet found an opportunity to difpofe of the reft of my effe&s, or to bring me before the princefs. A certain confufed air that I faw in him, every time I went to vifit him, bsgan to give birth to fome fufpicions in my breaft. Many par- ticular friends, to whom 1 communicated the affair, compleated my diflatisfa&ion ; for they told me that his reputation was not better in Paris than in the country where I had known him. At length, opening my eyes on my own misfortune, I hunted and tei zed him in fuch a manner, that, after having put me off from day to day, at the end of two months he gave me a parcel of falfe ftones, fo like thcfe 1 had trufted him with that I gave him a receipt in full, and utterly debarred myfelf from all fu- ture demands upon him. T 2 CHAP. 2o3 lie Devil Hermit. C H A P. V. D'Jpculties the Author is left in tiro' the I knavery of the Mr.rquis? tfo get cut cf 1 them he is cbliged to fell his equipage. I fhe condition he is reduced to t and his nfolution to qiilt Pans. T" O O happy in being got out of the claws * of a (harper, with whom I thought I had , now no farther bufinefs, 1 was determined, for the time to come, to aft with more cau- | tion, and not be the dupe of my own credu- ! lity. A friend, whom I had chofen with judgment, recommended me to a jeweller, a . man of great wealth and intereft, who bought, all that I was willing to fell, at a lefs confide- 1 rable price indeed than the marquis had taken them, but much more real, becaufe he told me down on the nail the fum he had agreed for. ^ It amounted to forty fivethoufand livres, which jj made then my whole capital, and was my laftl refource. At the rate I went on, this was not j more than fufficient for a fingle year. As I entertained however frefh hopes every day of AST A ROTH'S return, who I was aflured by a certain inward confidence had not abandoned} me, I could not find in my heart to retrench! any thing from my equipage, till I was forced" to The Devil Hermit. 209 to it by an event that I had been very far from expecting. About a fortnight after the fale of my jewels, one fine fun-fhiny morning, jufl as I rofe, came in the jeweller to whom I had fold them, the friend who had procured me his acquain- tance, and two other perfons whom I did not know, but who by their deportment feemed to be officers of juftice. As I had not the leaft apprehenfion of what was the occafion of this vifit, I received them in a frank manner, and defired them all to fit down. Scarce had they done fo when the jeweller, with an air of cold- nefs, gave me back the goods I had fold him, and asked me whether I knew them to be the fame that he had bought of me, Without quef- flr, fa id I, I do ; as in reality I did. We muft let you know then, added my friend*, that the whole cargo is merely counterfeit, and not worth a hundred crowns. The gentleman; is come therefore to bring them you again, and to demand back his money. The furprife this compliment threw me in- to, had like to have made me die away on th fpot. I was above a quarter of an hour before I was able to fpeak two intelligible words. At lad, being with fome affiftance brought to my- felf, I told the jeweller and my friend that they might have been fo kind as to come by them- felve, without bringing thcfe witnefles cf whathad paffed, whom I now perceived to l& a commiiTary and a notary : that if I had de- ceived them, I had much more to complain of T 3. 210 The Devil Hermit. than they, for that I had been firft deceived myfelf, and all the lofs, by what I could fee, was like to light upon me only. Jn a word, I owned to them in what manner I had truft- ed to the marquis DAMOISI, and asked their advice as to the proper method I muft take in order to bring him tojuftice. DAMOISI was fo well known in Paris, that no fooner had I pronounced his name, but the two officers declared they could do nothing but pity me. If you mould fue him, faid they, what would your pretenfions fignify without proofs, efpeciaily againft a {harper who has fuch powerful protectors ( The marquis will make it appear, by your receipts,, that he reftored to you the very individual jewels that you had entrufted him with. He will afterwards fue you for reparation of his injured honour, and you will find all the cofts, befides damages, fixed on yourfelf. In a word, the refult of their opinion came only to this, that my mis- fortune was entirely without remedy. Mean time I was obliged upon the nail to rcimburfe llie forty five thoufand livres which I had re- ceived ; after which the jeweller and his atten- .'endants went their ways, and left me a prey to the moft forrowful reflections. I was now unhappily in a fituation which 'equired me to act with the utmoft prudence : but the grief of feeing myfelf reduced to this extremity, .made me lofe all my wonted mode- ration. Defpair was the guide that conducted me to the marquis, when, without any refpecl to The Devil Hermit. 211 to fome perfons of quality that were then with him, I treated him like the worft of fcoun- drels, and challenged him to fight me. My rage had indeed made me like one dif* trailed, and the marquis very calmly pretended to confider me in that character, and to difre- gard all my threats* As he knew however all the tricks of the law, and had witnefles of my infults, the villain thought proper to prevent my fuing him, and begun a profecution againft me for injury done to his honour. Such a flagrant piece of impudence, made me lofe the little remainder of my fenfes. Thejuftice of my caufe feemed to me fo vifible, that I was refolved to pufh the affair with all imaginable vigour : and in order to be able to do this, I determined that moment to difpofe of all my plate, which I did even to the very ring I had on my finger. But the bufinefs became fb in- tricate, that the money I made of thefe, did but a very little advance it. I had even the mortification to hear that the caufe went fo much againft me, as to put my poor carcafe in no fmall danger. The dread of being ar- refted at laft opened my eyes ; I faw the ne- ceflity of fubmitting to my ill fortune, and came to the refolution to difcharge all my fervants, and fell my equipage. This was the final temporary remedy of my prefent extre- mity, and what threw me down at once from a man of rank and figure, to the condition of a private poor fellow, All 212 The Devil Hermit. All .my ftock did not amount to above a thoufand crowns, and I was more than two thoufand in debt. My creditors, informed of my fituation, dunned me inceflantly. My friends all forfook me ; and my fervants, who had certainly had one of the kindeft of matters, were the firft to publifh what they knew of my w retched nefs. My relations themfelves, who, dazzled with the luftre of my fplendid ap- pearance, had offered up their incenfe to my very faults, were my moft open and avowed enemies. In this extremity, I foon perceived that I had no remedy left but that of flying the country, and I was not long in refolving to quit a p'ace, where I had nothing before me but the moft melancholy profpecls. CHAP VI. The evening before his departure the Author has a vifion, which obliges him to go the next day to the palace of Luxembourg. His rencounter with AST A ROTH there :. The federal conventions they have toge- ther, and their concerting a new ramble. T IKE thofe who have no other guide but *-* their own inclinations, which they blindly purfue, I did not begin to reflect on all the ir- jegularities of my conduce, till I was no lon- ger. rbe Devil Hermit. 213 ger able to reform them. Dear felf-love would not permit me to lay all the blame of them on my own individual, and I bore very heavily on the infidelity of AST A ROTH, and his breach of thofe promifes I fo much relied on. As little likelihood as I had of feeing him a- gain, I could net prevail on myfelf to banim his idea from my mind, and to forget a friend by whofe afliftancc I had fupported myfelf ma- ny years. My only confolation was to feed my fancy with the hopes of his return, and I invoked him every day with the fame confi- dence that a Spaniard fupplicates fome good laint to be propitious to him in his amours. I was juft upon the point of taking my leave of Paris, when, agitated by fuch thoughts as thefe, a gentle {lumber at once took pofleffion of my fenfes. My heated imagination pre- fcnted AST A ROTH to ray Tight, under the form that he wore when he took his leave of me. Methought we were walking together in the Luxembourg garden, and that he heaped on me more riches than I had fquandered away during his abfence. But this felicity, to my great difappointment, was of (hort duration,; all my golden joys vanifhed with my fleep. This flattering dream however had made fo much impreffion on my mind, that I put off my de- parture for a few hours, in order to vifit the place awake which had given me fo much plea- fure in my fleep. In mort, this imprefllon, was of the fame kind with thofe which your emhufiafts call 214 We Devil Hermit, call irrefiftable : I have therefore relied much on fuch fort of vifions ever fince. Scarce was 1 arrive'd at the Luxembourg gar- den, hut I fled to the fpot which was ftill prefent to my imagination. There I perceived a little ill-fhaped man, who faluted me with a fmile. Surprifed at his complaifance, I went up to him, and defired to be informed if he had any knowledge of me. My name, which he had at his tongue's end, at the fame time in- forming me that he had feen me in Italy, re- doubled my aftoniftiment : but what appeared to me yet more incomprehenfible, was, that in a moment he gave me fuch a detail of a great number of anecdotes relating to my life, that I Could not queftion the reality of his pretended acquaintance with me. I could not reflect, however, on my having feen him in any place, Snd he diverted'himfelf along time before he made himfelf known. In mort, it was no other than AST A ROT H himfelf, who, in one of his diabolical whims, had chofen the very ugglieft body upon the face of the earth. Do not reproach me, cheva- lier, faid he, after he had declared who he was : the time of my abfence has been longer than I intended ; but you did me juftice in believing, when I did not appear to your evocations, that I was hindered by fome fuperior order. Be- fides, I could be of no fervice to you againft the marquis DA MOI si, who is protected by one of the greateft princes of our empire. But comfort yourfelf in refpeft of the lofs he has miuls The Devil Hermit. 21$ made you fuftain, and continue at Paris to be a fpectator of the fudden reverfe of his fortune. In a word, you will foon fee him lock'd up in a jail, from which he {hall efcape only to become a fugitive in a foreign country. Does your devilfhip banter me? faid I to the quondam HERMIT. How does what you fay hang together ? The marquis is protected by a Demon of the firft order, and yet will fink under the weight of his adverfe fortune. Indeed chevalier, anfwered he, both the one and the other are literally true. You mtrft know then that the marquis's protector has fomething elfe to do than to watch for ever o- ver one man. It is his way to engage himfelf on- ly for a limited time. The client that has got him in his intereft, muft take care to keep him by his own good conduct : for this prince is very much like thofe of your hemifphere. When he knows a fubjedt proper for our em- pire, he clofcly befets him. and ufes every itratagem to win him over ; but when he has once got hold of him, the man's whole bufinefs is done ; the Demon abandons him, and goes in fearch of fome other prey. Such will be the Jot of the marquis DA MOIST, who owes his wealth and advancement to the faid prince. In- capable of living within bounds, the moment he is left to his own conduit, he (hall run in, debt.and commit fo many {harping tricks as fhall deprive him of the many powerful friends that now fuppcrt him. You will fee him then act la character in another place, very different from that brilliant one which he has lately fuf- fained, Jf 2 1 6 7/; that I believe they will ncteafily agree in elect- ing a perfon to prefide over the church. Qur power, to fpeak the truth, docs not extend fo far as to flop the courfe of fate ; but it is great enough The Devil He rmft. 2 1 7 enough to difturb all human affairs, and I have juftnow made ufe of my right in a manner that will open a great many eyes. Upon my fmce- rity, my dear chevalier, I could have wifhed you had been my companion : you would have beheld a conclave of the moft humorous ortho- doxy. There would have been no occafion to give you an expofition of what they were about : you muft have underftood at once, that all the members could be animated by no other fpirits but thofe of my fpecies. At prefent, while things arejuft in the fituation that I would wifh to have them, I have an opportunity to with- draw in order to ferve you, well knowing the great need you have of my affiftance. I am very much obliged to your eminence, good lord AST A ROTH. The fight of you has difpelled all my uneaflnefs, and provided you never abandon me again, I am perfuaded that every thing will go well. But may I be fo bold as to ask you a (hort queftion ? How could your eminence prevail on yourfelf to quit a body of fuch high rank, and fubmit to take on you the miferable form you now appear in ? Thefe are reafons of ftatc, faid he, that I will give you an account of another time. My bu - fmefs was to withdraw from the enquiries of my fuperiours. As they knew me to be proudly inclined, I imagined they would never think of fearching for me in fuch a body as'this. De- formed however as I am, you ought not to have a bit the worfe opinion of me. Tell me U only 2i8 The Devil Hermit. only what you would wifh to be, and I will give you proof that I am always your .friend. { l-f the different fituations of life were in the choice of mankind, I anfwered, I fhould be glad to be reftored to that which I was lately in ; or if it was more brilliant, fo much the better. Plague on your fine tafte, cried ASTAROTH ; do you think me maftcr of all the riches in the univerfe? I beg of you to be a little more mc- deft, and have fame regard to the pockets of your friends. You mould confider that one who demands more than can be given him, may be fure of obtaining nothing. Very true, anfwe- red I i but I ask for no more than the means of jriumphing for a fhort time,over thofe who have turned their backs on me during my misfortunes : ivhen this is done we will leave Paris, and make -what figure you plcafe in another place. Your propofal is very reafonable, reply'd ASTAROTH, and fuits my humour : this very evening you {hall go to the princefs d'E**'s, and as I know a little more of play than even the bankers themfelves, you may depend upon bringing off a fum fufficient to content your wiraes. I have along while owed thofe gentle- men fuch.a caft of my skill. They have made fo many dupes, that I cannot but think it equi- table that they fhould be, for once, made fo ..themfelves. BcTides^ we are in a country where it is the eftablifhed cuftom for the greateft (harper to trick the reft. This city, in fat is The Dtvil Hermit. 19- rs the chief academy of the beft fubjecls of our empire. Turn your head a little on the right fide, added the metamorphofed hermit, and obferve thofe two perfons whp are talking warmly together. That large lubbard, with a buttery phiz, is a Provencial : his name is DA- MAT, r.nd all his bufmefs is to look out for novices in the art of gaming. Wherever he goes, he fets up for fale both his wife and Jus religion : but as neither of them 1*3 of any great value, he does not difdain to be the Mercury of thofe who are willing to employ him. His capacity, though pretty extenfive in the art of intrigues, is yet nothing in comparifon of that of the young man who is with him. Their friendmip began in Holland. Obferve with what heat they talk together. The fubjecl: of their converfation is a certain mantua-maker^ who has heaped tog. ther a great deal of riches ^ and whom they are refolved to have the pick- ing of. The meafures they take are in- fallible : the poor girl will at once lofe both her honour and her fortune, after which death will foon fend her into our dominions. But how is itpoflible, cried I, that a young woman fhould be fo weak as not to diftruft a phyfiognomy fo fufpiciousas that of ourProven- cial ? It will not be he, anfweredAsT A ROTH, that {hall do the bufinck; all his prefent em- pldyment is to go in queft of new game. .His wifeaffifts him with a great deal of art j and the young man, who takes the reft on himfelf, will perform his part with wonderful addrefs. U 2 His 220 Tfo Devil Hermit. His deceitful countenance, his infmuating air, his enchanting prattle, make him fure of his prey. Indeed he very felilom fails of fuccefs. His trains fometimcs are fo well laid, that I fhould not blufh to own myfelf the author of them even in hell. But very lately he found the fecret of getting into the confidence of a no- bleman of Geneva, whom he ruined with fo much cunning, that the poor gentleman, afham- cd of hat had patted, thought it his beft way to kave Paris without giving notice of it even to his fervants. The affair happened in this manner. The nobleman we fpeak of, whofe name is the baron de PL ANT AMOUR, is a very rich and amiable young fellow. He came to vifit this city, and fpent his time in admiring all the rarieties worthy the curiofity of a man of pleafure. As he quartered in one of the meft creditable inns, where nobody ufually came but perfons who were unfufpecled, he was not long in getting a great number of acquain- tance. Among others, he entered into a fr,rict frendfhip with a rich merchant of Languedoc, who was in high credit with the bankers of Pa- ris, and very well known in this inn, where he had lodged feveral times. This merchant, tv a very open and engag- ing behaviour, added a thcufand valuable quali- ties, which made his company fought after. As he had travelled overall Europe, and been feveral times in Holland, fortune had thrown him, on different occaiions, into the converfa- tion *Fbe Devi! Hermit* 221 tfon of the young man, whom you fee difcour- fi-ng with DA MAT. API, that is the fellow^ name, was ever ready to th'ruft himfeli for- wards, and took the fir ft opportunity to meet our merchant abroad. Tho' he was in company with the baron de P L A NT A M o u R , and many- other gentlemen, our young adventurer, who has a very happy memory, Tingled him out by* name, remembred. he had feen him at his fa- ther's houfe, and faluted him wilh all the im- pudence imaginable. When, he mentioned his own name, the merchant, who knew nothing of his wicked life, nor the bad circumstances his father was in, received. him with great po- litenefs. API never lets flip fo favourable aa opportunity : he perceived the neceftlty of paf- fing now for a man of importance, act! toki the merchant that he was private feeretary to a minifter of ftate : then, by coldly inviting him and the baron his friend to come ar.d fup -with. him, he got himfelf engaged to go and fperick. the evening with them.. The Genevan and Languedoc'an were both of a fprightly temper. 7 ?.ridno enemies to gaUontry. API, more fubtUe titan many fubjects cf oi:r empire, .took them by their foilsk, bwaft:d that he enjoyed the favour, of a certain^ cuchefs, and offered to make them know-n- to- heiv E- very night, fays he, .towards- -twelve .o'clock, I go to the garden of the palace royal; . As they ihut the gates about that time, when all the company is gone out, the duchefs, who has -a private. daoi from, her houfe into this gart'em, U 3 222 The Devi! Hermit. always putt&ually comes there, with one of her fitters and a chambermaid, who are both yet more beautiful than hsrfelf, but pafs away their moments very poorly together, while madam snd I are in the moft exquifite tranfports. Ei- ther I am very much miftaken, continued he, or I can dare aflure you that they will receive with joy the proportion that I {hall make them, . of helping each of them to an amiable lover, and a lover by fo much the more fecret as he will not know them, for fo you muft pretend not to do.This night, with your confent, I will fet the negociation on foot, and if it fucceeds,as I make no queftion it will, you may accompany me thither to-morrow night. The propofed adventure was too fingular, not to excite the curiofity of our itrangers. They declared their acceptance of it ; and the next night young AP ; I did not fail to wait on them, and let them know that they fhould ve- ry foon be as happy as himfelf. Imagine what preparations the amorous baron, and his friend the merchant, made for this meeting. All that art could furnifh them with, to fet off their perfons to advantage, was employed in their drefs. The baron, as the richeft of the three, and the beft flocked with jewels, made the moft brilliant figure. At the appointed hour they all came together to the place of rendezvous ; the gates were ihut, and three ladies in rich difhabille immediately appeared. ' API'S apple' was the watch word, which was no fooner given by one of thefe nocturnal beauties, but our three TZtf Devil Hermit. 223 three cavaliers came up to them. Every cou- ple foon grew familiar ; one to one was an equal match, and they pa fled away fome hours with the utmoft fatisfa&ion. At laft, when day be- gan to peep, the ladies thought it time to retire, and the hopes of renewing their pleafures the following night, feemed to leave a delightful impreflion on all the parties. The galants were led filently out of the palace, and about three o'clock in the morning they found themfelves in the Rue de Richelieu. As young API could not, at this unleafona- ble hour, go home to the minifter's whofe fe- cretary he called himfelf, he prcpofed to the ba- ron and his friend to fpend a few hours at a cof- fee-houfe he knew, and where he was certain, he told them, of getting in when he pleafed. They refufed to comply, and invited him, on the contrary, to give them his company to their inn, where their fervants fat up for them. API, who had projected his whole plan, made fome objections to retard the time, and kept them {landing in the ftreet, to relate leve- ral particulars of his amours with his duchefs. They were at laft juft upon the point of parting, when three well dreffed gentlemen came along the fame ftreet, whom the young impoftor pre- tended to know, and faid one was a Count, the other a Marquis, and the third a Knight. He added to thefe titles, the names of families well known, in order to prevent all fufpicion. By heavens ! cried he, with a foppifh tone, I rauft enquire where the/e i?.ke? have been. As 224 ttc Devil Hermit. As theycame nearer, he> advanced towards them, and addreffing himfelf direclly to him that made the beft. appearance, Marquis, fays he, may cne make bold to ask you what gallant adventure-has made you ramble the ftreets at this time of night ? This queftion was followed by many others, till the three accidental gen- tlemen joined in company with API and his two friends. It was then quickly known that the chevalier dwelt juft by, and a propofition was made to go to his houfe, in. order to give one another an account how they had all patted their time. It was in vain for the baron and the merchant to oppofe the motion : they had to do with people. who had too. much intereft in fecuring. their company, and. they were o bliged to fuhmit to their importunity. It was happy for the Languedocian, that he did not want for prefence of mind. Under pretence of flopping a moment at the corner of aftreet, he found means to get off, and retire to his lodging, where .he informed the baron'-s domefticks that he had left their matter in good company. The honeft merchant was very fin- cere in what he faid : far t from fufpe&ing the danger his friend was in, his only reafon for leaving him, was to write fome letters which his bufmefs made neceflary. The baron, for his part, who knew the merchant to be a man of fmcerity, and was acquainted .with his af- fairs, was lefc furprixed at his.quitting the com- pany, than at the manner in which he got a- way. Perfwaded that he was in the hands of gentle*.. - The Devil Hermit. 22$ fentlemen, he thought it his duty to excufe his riend, and alledge in his favour all the reafons that he thought the moft plaufible, to reconcile them to his defer ti on. Though the {harpers were really mortified at having loft a part of their prey, they yet pretended to take the thing well, and in a man- ner fuitable to the characters they reprefented. The chevalier, to fupport the honours of his houfe, ordered a cold collation to be fet before his guefts, and called for flasks of wine in abun- dance ; in emptying of which they all heartily joined, and no man more fo than our baron. After they had eat and drank their fill, cards were brought on the table, and one f the company propofed a game at lanfquenet. The baron de PLANTAMOU-R, whofe head was warmed with the wine, came into the propo- fition without the leaft demur. In a word, the artifice of the four impoftors, aflifted by their good fortune, made him lofe, in lefs than two hours, all his ready money and all his jewels, without excepting even his watch, his cane, his fword, and a gold tweezer that had his amis engraved on it. Our too credulous baron coming to himfelf, after this great lofs, could perceive eafily that there was fomething more than good luck in the manner of play which the pretended noblemen he was with >:ad made ufe of. But all the mifchief was cone, and his fword, which he knew well how to ufe, was no longer in his power, Jn vain did he offer to redeem that, and 226 The Devil Hermit. and his other principal moveables, by a note of hand, payable in twenty four hours - y they on- ly laughed at him, and obliged him to be gone, unlefs he would run a greater rifque than that of being dripped of his all. Enraged and a- fhamcd to fee himfelf the dupe of fuch defpl- cable fcoundrels, he had not refolution to take the neceflary means of bringing them to fignal and exemplary juftice. This experiment h;:d made him wife, and he chofe rather to fupprefs his choler, than to communicate it to perfons who perhaps would have made it publick, and have taken the liberty moreover of diverting felves at his expence. He refolved to fet out the fame day for Geneva, his native place, and with that view applied himfelf to a friend he could confide in, who furniflied him with what money he wanted for his journey, and took on himfelf the charge of fending after him his baggage and his fervarrts. Yet all thefe precautions were not fufficient to prevent the publication of this affair. The merchant, who thought his honour in fome meafure concerned in it, took it in hand, and profecuted it vigo- roufly : but the officers of juftice pay no regard to his remonftrances, except when he delivers them with money in hand. As he has no proof againft API and his accomplices, and founds his prosecution merely on report, the only effect of his complaints will be, to make bis purfe fomewhat the lighter. In the mean time AP i, hardened as he is, dreads the. confequence of this affair, He is con- certing -Devil Hermit. 227 Ing with DAM AT in what manner to deceive the rich mantua-maker I mentioned, in order to make off with her fpoils. They will bring the matter to bear before a week is at an end, and the fellow now before us takes it for grant- ed, that he fhall get a hundred piftoles clear by this fpecimen of his art. How it will pleafeme, cried I,if the ill-look- ing rafcal fhould at laft fall fhort of his recko- ning ! As to that matter, replied ASTAROTH, you may make your felf as merry with him as you pleafe beforehand ; for the poor dog will not get a half- penny by the bargain. API, who has ten times the cunning of him, will lull him to fleep with his different fchemes, while he carries off the girl, and all her effects, without letting him know a word of the matter. So much the better, faid I. API then will play the part of a fox, and DA MAT that of the cat, who with her paw takes the chefnuts out of the fire. The rogue deferves well to be bit of a falary, which is the wages of fo much fin: but I pity the poor girl without knowing her, and, if it was in my power, I would glad- ly avert from her the misfortunes that hang over her head. Fie upon you, chevalier ! an/wered ASTA* ROTH : you muft divert yourfelf of all fuch. fentiments of humanity. Take my word for it, fir, you muft have a very good (lock of compafiion, to exert it in behalf of all who feem to deferve it. Look a little before you -there, and note well that company of citizens. Obferve 228 Ihe Devil Hermit. Obferve the tall man that walks in the midft of them, with a black coat and perruque. That is an ecclefiaftic metamorphofed to a bookfeller, who keeps the famous (hop over-againft StBfi- N E D i c T'S cloifter. If I was to give you an account of all the families he has ruined, by pre- tending to ferve them, I fhould furnifh matter for a volume in folio. Tho' he has taken in a great many of his brethren in foreign countries, by felling them old books under new titles, he has never got near fo much by bookfellingas by lending on mortgages or pledges at an exorbi- tant intereft. All this while you would take him, by his looks and convention, to be one of the moft formidable enemies of our empire. No man, in outward appearance, has moreftricl: honour: yet no man knows better the art of picking your feathers, without permitting you to make any noife. By this means he has amafled very large fums, a part of which only brings him an income of thirty thoufand livres per annum. As he is very covetous, and Would never marry for fear of charges, all his wealth will defcend to nephews, who wait impatiently for his deceafe, in order to make another ufe of it than he has done. Carry your eye a little farther, and obferve that large company, compofed of men and wo- men, and fome who look neither like the one nor the other. That abbe, whole hairs begin to grow grev, is well received in the beft houfes in Paris, tho' he is publickly known for the father of two children, which his own fitter has taken the The Devil Hermit. 229 the pains to bring into the world. The poor girl, who Is run mad with remorfe of con- fcience, is kept clofely confined, and paffes away her time in the moft deplorable manner ; while the good brother, by way of confolation for his lofs, regales himfelf with that little brown bit that you fee there by his fide. That other abbe, who is fo fprucely pow- dered out, and whofe gallantries are 'fhocking to all that hear of them, is a prieft without religion, who has tried every trade he knew of for forty years paft, which is the time he hm been in the world. Like a true cameleon, he firft quitted the band for the fword and the cockade, and then abandoned that for the habit of a benedicline, and the religion of a monk. He vifitedTeveral countries, and behaved in them all with fo little prudence, that, if it had not been for the help of my brethren, he had died ignominioufly on a gallows. Having 'efcaped a public execution, he returned into France, here the protection of an illuftrious princefe, who values merit wherever {he fees it, at pre- fent fecures him from all profecutions. He has now refumed his religion, found the fecret of changing his order, of battening at his ea(c, and even of making his company coveted by per- fons of quality; tho' not one of them "is ig- norant that he lives with a creature, who has 'been the outcaft of a -number of worthlefs fel- lows of his own profeflion. I know the man well AST A ROTH, anfwe- Ted I, of -whom you are fpeaking. He has ac- X quired 2 jo. Ybe Devil Hermit. quired fome reputation by his well-digcrt and very amufmg writings. His faults are de- tefted, I acknowledge it; but his converfation is admired, for the fake of which all his little irregularities are eafily over-looked. For my part, I cannot but think he has fuftered fuffi- ciently for what he has done, and that the perfon who preferved him from a halter, would have rendered him a much more confide- rable fervice, if he could have fecured him from ever falling again in the fame unhappy and fcandalous manner. It ought by no means to furprife you that he could not, replied my quondam HERMIT. Tho 1 our power be pretty extenfive, yet it is ot fufficient to make us the matters of future events. Ever fince the world has exifted, there has reigned a perpetual war between you men, .and the people of iny fpecies, in which, tho* we are moft commonly victors, yet are we fometimes vanquifhed. If we could forefee every thing, chevalier, you mortals would all wifh to be in our condition j whereas there is nothing that men now fo much dread, as a rranfition from their ftate to ours, tho' indeed they all a& in fuch a manner, as that very few of them go any other way. But who, faid I, is that effeminate young fellow with reddifh hair, that feems to carry himfelf fo haughtily ? That, anfwers ASTA- ROTH, is Don I. B. A. P. VASQJUES DE HERMlLLOSAS,efq; lord of Herbencour, &c. Hold! cried 1^ what a number of names and titles Devil Hermit. 13 1 titles you are giving indeed. Without queftion he is a true-born Spaniard. Verily, chevalier, rot he : but it was in Spain, where he lived miferahly for many years, that he aflumed thefe titles, fpaniolized his name, put the Don be- fore it, and took on him the lofty air fo natu- ral to that nation : Paris however is the place of his nativity. He is the fon of a woman who had wit enough to procure him feveral fathers. Befides the commonly reputed one, two gen- tlemen of fortune took that honour on them- felves. The good lady knew how to make the moft of their foolifh credulity, and found means to draw from each of them pretty large fums, part of which fhe fpent herfelf, and the remainder the fon is lately come into pofleflion ofj his mother dying very a propos to raife hirn. from the loweft degree of poverty. As he has been ufed to live by his wits, and is now re- folved never to pay one of his debts, his de- fign.is to travel in the character of a gentleman : but I give him only two years to make a figure in, after which he will plunge again into great- er mifery than that which furrounded him be- fore his mother's death; Do you fee that dapper ecclcfiaftic, who is going in at the Carmelite's gate ? Is it not, fa^d J, the celebrated preceptor - general of the publick ? The very man, anfwered my guide ; the very individual abbe depRE, the moft intriguing of mankind, and who furpafles all for a fubtle imagination. He has made fo many dupes in his life, that he now paifes for X 2 a Tfa Dtvil Hermit: a magician among thofe of his own habit. It is a thoufand pities he is not always fuccefsful. Some time ago he failed in a very mafterly at- tempt, thro' the addrefs of a famous merchant, who proved more cunning than he. This ce- lebrated author,, in lave with certain notes that he had made upon fome antient writer, and more in love, with a coarfe fatirical dedica- tion that he had prefixed to them, addrefled to the prince of modern, poets under a borrowed name, found the art of getting his work fo well off to a very rich, man, that he obtained from him a letter of credit into Holland, whither l.e.waa going, to receive fuch money there as he fhculd want for the beautifi impreflion of this extraordinary book.. He was at firft very well received there, till the merchant, to whom he v/as recommended, having difcovered that the abbe's intention was to appropriate to him- felf the whole etlition, and fend it privately a- broad for his own advantage, he took fuch ef- fectual meafures, and put them in execution with fo much prudence, that Monfieur found hirrifelf grievoufly out in his reckoning, at the very moment when he. thought his ftratagem infallible; and thus taught mankind, at his own expence, how dangerous it is to attempt the circumvention of thofe who were more fub- tle than themfelves. He has fmce indeed pretty well revenged his ill fuccefs upon a great number of others ; but as all his tricks would take up too much time in the relation, I chufe rather to tuui Devil Hermit. 233 torn to fome of thofe other perfons who fland a- round us. Obferve that fine gentleman there, who ap- pears fo richly drafted. He is a riding- mafter of great reputation, whofe generous foul in- clines him to fpend another's fortune as if it was his own. The gaiety which you fee ex- panded all over his face, proceeds from his hav- ing lately made a conveyance of certain effects- he was never poflfefled of, by which means he has got a difcharge for above a hundred thoufand crowns. His wife, who is very rich, but would never pay any of his debts, has juft now fet him upon his legs. Now he is in better circumftances than ever, he begins again to run in debt, as knowing he has nothing more to do, when he comes to a frefh pinch, but to de- clare himfelf a fecond timeinfolvent, and make a new ceflion of his goods. That lady, all be- plaiftered with red and white, to whom he ad- vances with fo much refper., is a woman of pteafure, who will this night furrender to his defires for a bill -of two thoufand crowns. The tall man whom you fee at a little diftance from them, and who feems fo very poor, had never been in that miferable condition, had not fortune too rapidly favoured him. Drunk with the overflowing cup, which he has thought could never be exhausted, he gave himfelf up to a courfe of luxury which has reduced him to die neceflity of asking alms of thofe who pafe by. Amongft the many numbers who had felt the good effects of his affluence, fcarce does X 3 he 234 The Devil Hermit. h: find one that now extends to him the cha- ritable hand. Thoy fly him like a man infe&ed with fome contagious diftemper ; and good rea- fon have they for fo doing, beeaufe in a nation where all men's thoughts are employed about pleafures and good living,, there is no vice fo horrible . as mifery, there is no evil fo much to be dreaded as want of money. ASTAROTH now fcemed to ogle a great great many other perfons, with whofe adven- tures doubtlefs he was going to entertain me, when I -fuddervly interrupted him-, to put him in mind of his promife. The evening, fays P, comes on apace : I am in great want of feme*- thing to eat, and^no* lefs impatient to be at the hotel d'E**. Notwithftanding my importu- nity, he was very loth to comply with my re- tjueft. What a pity is it, fays he, to leave this charming walk, juft at the time when it begins to be full of company ! What an adven- ture could I now relate to you, would you but lend me your ear a little! Every thing round us is exquifite and^ charmwig! Look at that lady all covered with diamonds, who paf- fcs along by us : mould not you take her for a p; incefs of the-blood royal ? But alas ! (he is no- thing lefs than -that. Her husband, from a pe- riwig maker, is become a farmer of theexcife, which has made him fo immenfcly rich, that he jiow vies with the firft men in the kingdom. The gentleman at her left, is a perfon of high birth, but very fmall fortune. All his aim is to mend the latter, by marrying that- young lady Devil Hermit. lady which is on the other fide, and who is the daughter and only heirefs of the farmer's wife. This affair has been a long while in his head, and he perfe&ly doats with ruminat- ing on it. Madam, who has a refpect for him, takes the utmoft pains to difcover the caufeof his melancholy : but the cavalier has not yet trufted the fecret with any body, except mifs herfelf, (who is very prudent,) and one chambermaid, whom he bribes beyond his ability, to engage her to keep alive the facred fire of love in the heart of her miftrefs. Mifs, who has not a bit lefe inclination than her mother had at the fame age, is refolved- to tread exactly in herfteps. In a very little while her lover fhall carry her off, at the mother's expence, and agreeable to her advice, who (hall furniflb her with what mo- ney me wants, without knowing it is to be employed againft herfelf. But the young, gen- tleman's fidelity will be of fhort duration : a clandeftine marriige -will utterly ruinhinvand all who have any hand in it. This affair will even become fo important, , that all Europe {hall take part in it. Let us now turn, .and examine that pretty young lady who walks towards the parterre, in company with a knight of Malta. She is a fe- male Dutch merchant, immenfcly rich- A di- minutive little fellow, without a farthing of money, found the fecret ot charming her, with verfes that he bought upon truft ; but not with- out a promife of paying generoufly for them, m cafe he fucceeded, His marriage having. been celebrated, We Devil Hermit. celebrated, the mean-fpirited rafcal, dazzled with his wealth, forgot the poet who was au- thor both of his verfes and his fortune : but the latter, whom no man could ever injuie without reeling his revenge, found means to decoy his debtor to his own houfe, and there, with a knife held to his throat, extorted from him a bond for the fum he demanded. The new-married man, who had been influenced by fear only, was no (boner out of danger, than he commenced a fuit, and had the poet arrefted. Unhappily he was in a country where nothing could be done without proof: the plaintiff could produce none, and the defendant fet forth his caufe with fo much prefence of mind, that he came off with triumph, and got of the merchant very large expences, befides fuch confiderable damages, that he was obliged to break, and fly the country. The young lady, who repented her having taken a husband of fo little prudence, ufed him with the con- tempt he deferved, and fupplies her lofs of him with the company of that gentleman who is by her, and whom fhe amply furnimes with all the means of luxury. As the husband too fpends very freely, their ftcck vibly diminifties eve- rv day: fo that if death does not prevent them in time, they will be reduced to the fame con- dition they were once in. But, good lord ASTAROTH, faid I again, I am in a wcrfe fituation than you imagine ; I am really fo very weak, that I doubt I have not ftrcngth enough to go home to my ffo Devil Hermit. 237 own lodging, Well, anfwered he, let us go into the firft public-houfe we come to then, and never mind the expence we ran to, becaufe we know how to make it up by- and-bye. He had no fooner done fpeaking, but we went towards the gate, juft by which we entered into a famous houfe of entertainment, where we called about us like perfons of great importance. I had lived fo very indifferently for fome time pafs'd, and all they brought up- on table was fo well drefled, that 1 could not fatisfy my appetite. AST A ROTH ftared at me with admiration. What a pity is itj faid he, that we are obliged to leave this place ! What can we do, anfwered I ? When one has no cer- tain income, one muft refolve to get a living in any way whatfoever. Let us go then, fince fortune calls us, and neglect nothing that may render her propitious to our- wiflies. This fhort heroic fally was occafioned by the exquifite meats and rich wines, which we had not fpared in the leaft. As we had hired a coach for all the evening, we, were very foon at the hotel d'E**, where AST A ROTH played with fo much fuccefs, that when the gamefters broke up, we found ourfelves near a hundred Louis's in pocket. This was a very confiderable fum for a. trial ; and the bankers, who thought they knew what they were about, feemed fur- prized at it. Perhaps they fufpedted my faith- ful AST A ROTH to be a /dealer in the black art : but, however that might be, they earneftly pegged of him never to fet foot within -their li- berties 23 8 *fbe Devil Hermit. berties again, and marked him out to the Swifs, who kept the door, as a very dangerous member to their academy. When we came to my lodg* ings, I was going to enter into difcourfe with him about what had pafled ; but the DEMON flopped me, What, faid he, do you think 1 have nothing elfe to do every night, but to employ myfelf in this manner ? You are ignorant, che- valier, what a dangerous place that gaming ta- ble is to me, and how I have expofed my felf to ferve you. Above three parts in four of the men who compofe that numerous aflembly, are inhabited by fpirits of my fpecies. I was in the utmoft danger of being difcovered, and there- fore I pumed my fortune all at once. Have you not enough to fatisfy your prefent defires ? Is there not left in your power another confide- fable refource? Why do you notdifpofe of your jewels? Of my jewels? cried I, with furprife. Did not I inform you in what manner I was tricked of them by the Marquis DAMOISI ? that what I now have in my hands are unfale- able ? and what dangers I was expofed to after having fold them to a jeweller ? All that fignifies nothing, replied my quondam HERMIT. It was your own fault that you ran any hazard at all. If you had quitted the city in time, the jew- eller muft have put up with his lofs, and you would have had no room to complain of the Marquis. But a propos to that (harper ; Do you know that he was arrefted yefterday for debt, while we were walking together ?' The prin- ccfs *Ihe Devil Hermit. cefs, who found in him at firft a plcafing lover, has lately expelled him her bank, and will no longer bear the mention of his name. It is lucky for him that his chymiftry, which is the fcience he profefles, has acquired him the protection of the chief prince of our empire. It will be thro* this refource that he mall regain his liberty ; but fo far from being able to fupport i the figure he has hitherto made, he (hall leave his prifon only to become a fugitive among the .antient Batavians, where his tricks being un- known, his chymical skill may get him a living. I intend to conduct you, into the fame country, this we are in not being fufficiently fafe for my poor particular, becaufe it is pefte- red with more devils errant than any other land in the univerfe. CHAP. VII. Idea of fbt Author. By the Advice of As- T A R. o T H be deceives his counterfeit Friend, fells his falfe Jewels for good ones^ and fets out for Holland. A De- fcrtytion of that Country. VT Y ftrong paffion for travel has always * * made me receive with a fort of tranfport every proportion that had any tendency that way. AST A ROTH fpoke to me of a coun- try Devtl Uenmt. try which I knew by reading only ; I was overjoyed to think of vifiting it myfelf, and only asked of him a few days delay to fatisfy my vanity. Though my ftock was nt very confiderable, and amounted to no more than ten thoufand franks, I yet ventured to hire a very fplendid equipage, and took into my ferviceas ma- ny domefticks as if I had had a hundred thoufand franks per annum to expend. Tins pompous appearance very foon produced the defired ef- fect I wiftied for ; my friends, that had been cclipfed to me, became vifible again in an in- ftant, and I was propofing to give myfelf the fatisfaction of reproaching their ingratitude and inconftancy, when AST A ROTH prevented me by a piece of advice worthy of himfclf. All thefe fellows that make their court to vou, faid he, are no better than fo many down- right thieves, whofe only aim is at your poc- ket. You have experienced how much you have been hurt by your generoftty towards them, and therefore ought now to look upon them as your debtors, and to find -means to pay yourfelf with intereft all the long fums they -owe -you. It is a very common thing among them to of- fer to thofe they imagine have no need of it : you muft pretend therefore that you have a mind to try them, and borrow of them all you can, without any other engagement than your word for repaying them again in a few days. ASTAROTH had too much dominion over my mind not to anakc all -the impreflion there he The Devil Hermit. 241 he defired : I came readily into his project, and promifed to put it in execution ; and as I had him continually for my counfellor, I acquitted myfelf with fo much addrefs, that in lefs than a month I redoubled my capital, without includ- ing my expences, which ran very high. This ftep being taken; I made no fcruple of cheating an honeft ufurer, who lent me twenty five thoufand livres upon my counterfeit jewels, which he took for real ones. We then fet out immediately for Batavia, without lofing any more time,and were both extremely well fatisfied ; I, that I had duped my relations, and all my friends and ac- quaintance,with fo much art jand AST A RO T H for the good fuccefs of his diabolical counfels. To prevent my being difcovered by any one, I had the precaution to difcharge all my do- mefticks. My unfrocked HERMIT would not even permit me to take any others, offering to wait upon me himfelf on the road', and in all the towns where we made any flay. In this condition we advanced by large ftages, and the fecond day we alighted on a high 'tower, on the borders of the country we were bound for. The prudent As T A R o T H had furnifhed himfelf with an excellent te'lefcope, which he ftole fomewhere unknown to me. Here, fays he, putting it into my hand, is fomewhat to amufe you with. Take a view of all the places that are within the reach of this glafs, and give me your opinion of them. I perceive, faid T, after having looked through it, a very fine level cqyntrv, all the lands of which are culti- Y rated 242 The Devi! Hermit. vated with a care that Teems to produce an abundance. So many beautiful and large cities, hich look as if they touched each other, the lately houfes that compofe them, the vafl and magnificent edifices with which they are adorn- ed, all thefe give me the idea of a happy and benevolent people, who have enriched themfelves by labour, and v.'ho now eather in peace the fruits of all their toils. Such a country, in my opinion, deferves our utmoft attention ; and I am very much inclined to make feme ftay there, before we proceed. Never think of any fuch thing, replied my quondam HERMITJ be fatibfied with what you have already feen, hich is all indeed worth feeing. The country is in fact what it appears, extenfive, fertile, a- bounding with all things neceflary for the pre- fervation of mortals, and filled with fine cities at a fmall diftance from each other ; but thefe cities, formerly fo flourifhing, are become defait, through the bad policy of thofe who have been entrufttd with the government of them. All the men of fortune, who had it in their power to make money circulate, have abandoned thefe parts, and there is now little to be feen in the country but juft the tillage of the earth. Thofe who live in the cities fpend their days in luxurious indolence, which not only makes them ufelefs to fociety, but fo ve- ry proud withal as to think themfelves fupenor to the reft of mankind. This fovereign con- tempt which they have for all ftrangers, and very The Devil Hermit. 143 very high opinion of themfelves, have made all commerce with them infupportable. But turn your teilefcope towards the north, and behold a fptclacle worthy of your curiofity. I did fo, and, deceived by $he we..l:iu-;j of my fight, cried out with aftoniiliment, what do I fee there ! Oh fatal defclation ! A city larger than all I have ever feen, fwallowed up by the waves ! What immenfe riches are there funk to the bottom ! Flow many miferable mortals have paid dearly for their rafhnefs, in venturing to inhabit fuch a country as this ! Did I not tell you, interrupted ASTAP.OTH, that I would fhow you fomething worthy of your curiodty ? But what augments the beauty of the profpect is this, that all you behold is nothing lefs real than what you imagine it to be. That city, which feems fo enormoufly large, is only a col- lection of many cities that frand near each other, .and which their vicinity, through the optic glafs, makes you take for one continued feries of building. The country, by its low fi- tuation, in many places lower than the furfrce of the water, looks at a diftance as if" it was drowned ; yet it is in fact very far from being fo. Before night comes I will carry you into this country, and give you fome idea of the people who inhabit it. I have only one re- mark to make before we proceed on our jour- ney. Direct your eye along the large flreet there, which faces this tower. Obferve the great number of foreigners that are flattening towards the poll office. He in the middle, Y 2 whofe 244 Me Dwil Hermit. whofe garments glitter with gold, is a marquis who has lately had the addrefs to make himfelf mafter of near a million, which he is now go- ing to fecure in a privileged city, very com- modious for thofe whom we devils protect. By only paying a very moderate fine, a public cheat may make a figure there at the ex- pence of thofe he has duped through their cre- dulity. There are two of thefe privileged cities in the country we are juft ready to enter. The diverting hiftories they furnim us with are fo very numerous, that I could have where- withal to entertain you with them as long as you had the patience to hear me : but there are many things to be previoufly confidered, and we have at prefent no time to lofe. My infernal guide had no fooner finifhed thefe words, but he took me up like a pack upon his fhoulders, and cleft the air with fuch velocity, that in lefs than two minutes he fat me down in a large city, which he told me was the capital of feveral provinces, now united into one community. The prodigious hurry that feemed to reign throughout this flou riming city was to me the more furprifing, as I had been taught, by the account of travellers, to look upon the natives of the whole country in no better light than the camels of Afia. For- fake, faid AST A ROTH, that error of yours j Wvi are now in that little fpot of the globe, where induftry is employed to the greatefi advantage. Its inhabitants, a fort of amphi- bious people, are as much in their element by fea We Dev:I Hermit. 245 fea as by land. They regard no hazard wher? they have a profpedt of getting riches, or of improving thofe they already enjoy. Every thing here is in motion ; people of the higheir, as well as of the loweft ran 1 :, are all equally ad- dicted to labour: even the greateft part of the women are capable of carrying on large negotia- tions. Do you not perceive, in every indivi- dual of both fexes, an alnioft incredible acti- vity ? Look at that building, on the back fide cf which is a representation of the divinity that prefides there. It is the moil frequented of all their temples ; the place h?re they moft rc^.n- hrly afiemble, and where they aifiil with the greateft devotion. There are none of your men in black to be ever feen, who receive agestoteachpeople their duty: the divinity itfelf is their inftru&or, and th y truft their own falvation entirely in their own hands. Every one ac~b according as he feels hivnfrlrin- fpired. Let us enter into the fancluary^ and, if pofiible,make our vvayacrcfs this innumerable multitude of devotees. They are all fo very bufy that they will take no notice of us. Ob- ferve in what manner they behave, juft as the- 1'ove of intercft animates all their actions. No- thing is capable of diverting them from this grand point. But AST A ROTH, cried I, met hints the- seal of thefe fanaticks is like to coft me dear, unlefs you deliver me out of their hands. I' fcel myfelf elbowed on every fide, and during- the moment I have been here, am almoft ! Y 3 fqneezed 246 Tfo Devil' Hermit. Squeezed to death. I feem as if I was in the midft of a mob of demoniacks, and I much queftion whether a mortal can fuffer more in the place you are banifhed from. Let us fly then, anfwered my guide, with all my heart ; for really I am fick of being among people who are more turbulent than myfelf. We will take a turn in the chief parts of the city, where every thing looks with a fmiling afpe but believe that the actions of mortals are weighed in our empire with the moil Scrupulous equity. Every one there is treated according to his deferts, and fuch a man as that, whofe picture I have now given a sketch of, will undoubtedly be employed to to- ,nent the fbu h of others. We hate him as much there, as you do here, and his ."ate will be to continue bufv and miferable, without intermifHon. Let us turn our eyes from fi'ch an objecl. I fee a little deformed man, whofe character I want to make you acquainted with. Do you not psrceive feme refemblance between his perfon and mine ? There is yet more affinity between our characters. He is a ferpent in human form, whofe venemous tongue fparcs no mortal. It is true indeed that he is grown fomewhat more difcreet of late, fmce a certain adventure t ; iut happened to him, and which he will never forget as long as he lives. He was on a journey, in puriuit of his own mer- cantile a (Fairs, when coming one day to an Z inn. 254 The Devil Hcrwt. inn, where the convention of the company turned upon the genius of different nations, he took it in his head to fpeak of the Swifs in the moft injurious terms. A Grifon officer, who fat at the fame table with him, had the patience to hear him for above two hours, with- o-it making a word of anfwer. It was now late at night : the company feparated, and our little man , entirely fatisfied with his own elo- quence, went to bed as well as the reft. Far from thinking he had brought an enfeiny upon );is back, he was fletping with great tranquility, when juft at day-break, he was awaked by certain taps at hjs chamber door. He got up, i-.nd opened it :." Uut {row great was his furprife, tc. fee the officer .ftanding without, who told him very politely, and in extreme good French, that he looked upon him to be y ^cn- < told, with all its circumftanccs. There was ttoih-ingmore wr.nting to flrike him with con- tuiujn. He remained dumb and motienlefs : -and having, in this 'manner, fuffain'd the laugh- ter'ofthe v;hele company a ful 1 quarter of a nhc.ur, he retired with the utrrvoft diforder, end at : the very brir.k of diftra&ion. Since this time, tho' his real character be the fame, it is ob- . fcrved that he takes more care whom he fpeaks before, as well as what he fays. Ho many rr.cn are there, who might receive great gocd from &ch a whclfome correction. Look at that man who now falutes him : ', cu rray call him the fecond tome of the fame bock. As he had his education under a woman, his chief occupation is calumny, and he has ufcfca ii.fed from his infancy to (peak Ul of all jnankir.ci, as eD thofe whcm he knows, as .tfccfe he does not .know. Some days ago, be- .ir.g at the pky, he pointed out a young laxly - itlv-bis: fioger, a^d a m u fed hi m lei f with a friend who was very much like him, at her .Sixpences. Unhappily he was overheard by a gentleman who had a love for the lady, and had withal no tnfie of raillery. He made our laugher ccnre to him between the feats- of the theatre, under pretence of having femething t.f 'importance to whifper in his ear. The compliment, he made him was juft the fame ?.s the Swifs cfrkci had made in Germany ; arid it was itceived in inuch the fame manner, with very mean excufes. But his enemy prefently Jen:. all patience, and attacked him fiercely v/ith tandy -cuffs in the facCjUll h laid him fprawJing The Devil Hermit. 257- at his feet, and fo diverted the whole audience with a very tragi-comical fcene. But what, faid I, became of the young man after ftich sn affront ? Did he leave the city ; or was the honour of the other repaired by fome fatisfaclion proportionable to the infult ? Neither one nor the other, Sir, replied ASTAROTH ; the matter pafied off in filence with regard to him ; only feme perfons, who had no concern in the affair, made themfelves merry with it a long time after, at the expence of the poor fuffefer. It has been fa id -however fmce, that this correlation was not fufficient to fupprefs the venom of his tongue ; for that having lucked in flander with his milk", his malady- WES become incurable. If we had time to traverse the whole city, and examine every individual, with whofe character I could entertain you, it would find us a good deal of employment.- Remark that chariot which is driven on a full tret, and comes along by the ftde of us. The nymph within it is a good-natured beauty, who has " given up her honour, wiirhvery little difcretion, to the gentleman who fits- by her. He is go- ing into a country he is acquainted with, hece (he will very foon be-relicved from a periodical tympany, that . begins to make fome noife in the city. Six weeks abfence will make her .a thorough virgin again* when {he will return. to her lodging with as much innocent confidence as the moft chafte veftal in the wcrJd could ba miftrefs of. Very few perfons however will be de- ceived I -y this deportment : a jealous old maid ha', '/.. 3 discovered 258 73fe Devil Hermit. difcovered the fecret, and deals it about to all her neighbours: the affair will foon become public ; but mifs, who has a good deal of wit, will laugh it off, and go on in her old way. Let us ftand on one fide, and make room for that roach. The perfon it carries is an officer of diftirxSlion, who is haftening to difhonour himfelf for ever, by a proceeding that will be altogether as prejudicial to him as inconfiderate. Diftra&ed at the infidelity of a very rich wife, whom he married only for her fortune, he gives himfelf up entirely to his patlion, and is refolved to cxpofe his difgrace to the e^e of the public. Let is follow him with all fpeed : and fee ! we are come to the end of our journey. The Ma- giftrates are here within, and the lady ftands aecufcd ot beftowing part of her favours on one of her foctmen. Now they enter her chamber, and have fufficient evidence of the crime : but madam, you hear, brazens it out. Pleafed that iher rafcally lover has found means to efcape, the kncws, that for her own part, a few months imprifonment is the worft they can inflift on her. Thus ail the difhonour will fall on her huiband, who will have time to repent at leifure the irc prudent ftep he now takes in fuch a hurry. AST A ROTH, laid I, you fpeak of this af- fair- in a mighty ludicrous m-anner. What, becaufe ?.n hone ft man has the misfortune to marry a debauched woman, is he to be dif- graced for the ill conduct of his wife ? Does equity countenance fuch, a fenfelefs cuftom as this? *Tbe Devil Hermit. 259 his ? -What can equity do ? anfwered my quon- dam HERMIT; It is an eftablifhed rule in moft countries of the world j and winch neither juflice nor reafon has force enough to abolifti. There is only one way of avoiding a difgrace of this nature, and that your country-men are the only people who know, or at leaft who pradlife. They have eyes and fee not, or pre- tend however not to fee, and thus prevent the publication of their difgrace by never complain- ing of their misfortune. Take a view of that rich burgher, who is now entering his houie. He is a venerable member of an affembly that was inftituted with the higheft wifdom ; but, thanks to my diabo- lical brethren, he is now entirely fallen from all that once made him the object -of refpedl. Not many years ago he got his bread by his hammer j fince when, having found an opportunity to get into the mercantile way, fortune has fa- voured him infuch a manner, that he is become one of the richeft men in the whole republic. His felicity, I muft own, has not been uninter- rupted. His wife, a coquet of the firft rate, has made him fwallow many a bitter pill ; but lie, like a prudent man, always took the moft probable meafures for hiding his misfortune from the eyes of the world. He had even fuc- cecded, if his wife, more crafty than himfelf, .had not feigned a dreadful cholick, juft at the very moment when they were to iet out on a long country journey. The fatal fitters, fince that, have cut the thread of her debauche* ri without 'taking the copy aw^y. .His petulant genius, which docs .not give him time to think, makes him accept the pro- pofition. See him at work there : but what do you think he is doing? He erafcs all the beft parts of the book, and fupplies them wish a few puerilities that hwe -neither fenfe nor connexion. He has finimed his c. i ;,i, and obferve how pleafed he fecms. Now he jckes with his bookfeller, and has the indifcretion to confefs what he has done. Do but obferve thofe two ironical faces! Whoever beheld fuch a hook- ieller? He returns his thanks to the impertinent author with as much complaifance, as if he had writ the fineft things in the world. He fo- lemnly protefts, that whatever he may be pleasM to. fav, for his own part he is fo very feniible of the excellence of his alterations, that he will put the cepy to prefs directly, and print it with them as foon as poiTible. The poet goes out: but fee, he has not got ten yards before a fudden reflection makes him flop. He perceives his own blunder, and confiders . thst v/aat he has done is as contrary to his reputation, as to his honour. He turns back obferve j but it is nojw too late. The fault is committed, and the mercilefs bookfeller will not liften to any accommodation. Several perfonsof didmclion (hall for a long while ufe their intereft in vain : the author will ftoop to any thing to obtain his defire ; but all will end only in his own coafufion, aud the triumph of his bookieiler. But Tfo Devil Hermit. 265 But whether is he now going ? He fee ns, inethinks, to meditate fome fecret journey. I have it now. He is to fet out incognito this evening for a neighbouring province, in order to engage the gazette printer to infert in his news a Itanza of a piece that he is himtelr' ex- tremely fond of, but which the critxks will univcrfally condemn. Let us keep all the way at his heels ; and fee, we are already at the printing-houfe, where our author addref- fes himfelf in the moft obliging terms, to his very good friend the gazetteer. He tells him, that he enjoys a fenfible pleafure in his corref- pondence, that his letters are the moft fpirited he receives from any body, and that his paper is the beft digefted of any now in vogue : in a word, well knowing the man he hus to deal with, he honours him at laft with the title of learned, though he does not even know what the belles-lettres mean, and is ignorant of the very fituation of thofe places he is obliged to mention in his hebdomadal fheet Obferve the fawning fycophant ! Why does he not tell him, in the lame breath, that he is a very hand fome fellow, and quite genteel ? But, fuch a plain truth as that will give the gazetteer no extraor- dinary pleafure. He loves flattery, efpecially from a wit, and upon the fubjeft of his own parts. Now hepromifes all that the author re- quires of him; and to-morrow he will adver- tife, that this ftanza is the laft of many which have been fent to the court of a young king, and me ft gracoufly received by the hopeft \ A a monarc!. 2 66 'The Devil Hermit. monarch.- But what, fays I, fignifies a. news- paper puff? Will the public, do you think, give credit to it? The public! anfwered my guide; a very pretty jeft indeed! Do you not know the public to be a fubtile old fox, that is not fo eafily taken ? The connifleurs.wi.il pene- ,-trate the whole fecret, as well as if I, had fpread it myfelf : and no more will be gathered from it, than that the 'gazetteer is the poet's friend ; hut as to the goodnefs of the piece, that time ..rnuft determine. You and. I however may pro- nounce the mean while, that the printed itan- za is not worth a farthing, and that if the reft of the ode be no better, it will appear that, from an excellent poet, the fieur TOLVAJRE is become a mere verfifier. By what I perceive, faid I to AST A ROTH, the poet }ou fpeak of is not much in your favour. But happily for h;m, you lie under the imputation of having a very depraved tafte. Your judgment will never prevail againft -that of a monarch, who is celebrated all over Chri- flendom for an exquifite judgment, and who, they fay, has lately honoured our author with a letter under -his own hand, full of the moft obliging teflimonies of efteem and good-will. 1- lave you read the epiftle which the fieur ' ' A a 3 fir, 268 Ibe Devil fir, faid he : at the fame time giving me a paper, upon which the following verfes were writ- Why, faith, TOLYAIRE is a great man : Roman or Greek, deny't who can ! For talents, none will find his equal, In times elaps'd, or in the fequel. Infpir'd he raves in lofty metre, And feems all wild-fire and falt-petre : Nor epigram, nor epick drain, Can tire his mufe, or give her pain. For hift'ry he was ne'er to feek : He writes a tr&gedy per week. With heaps of philosophic letters, Sent in all countries to his betters, All vaftly learn'd and writ in verfe, He tricks up fcience, trite and terfej Poet, hiftorian, politician, Merchant, bookfeller, and phyfician, Comedian, ufurer, and wit, What is there but TOLVAIRE can hit? In NEWTON deep, he knows not why, He meafures light, defines the eye : Of every thing the undertaker, . Turns delft, empirick, and quaker. His new poetique we expect, Ckar, comprehenfive, and correct. Great judge of tafte, for public profit, He lately tbrm'd a goddefs of it, And clapp'd her in a ftirine more odd 1 han ever held a heathen god. Religion, 2% 'Religion, government, rcfnccV He Treats with' fcorri, and great rieglccV Lock'd up for his poetic licence, (The Regent could not bear, his fly fenfe) Suftain'd, expos'd to footmen's laughter,' A baftinading thefis after.'' Puff'd up with thefe ftrong cauftic lawrels^ For greater honours now he quarrels j A new CAPENEUS, 'ere his time. Attacks a mortal god in rhyme. With fuch a prince to make a' rout, Whofe elogy will live without, And wants no founding Hebrew name f ' But I have quife worn out my theme, And muft conclude, fay all we can, That, Faith, TOLVAIRE is a great man. Well, faid AST A ROTH, after having given me time to examine this piece of fatire, what do you think of 'our panegyrick ? Who do , on imagine to be the author of it? If it be' not AST A ROTH himfelf v faid I, lam really in- capable of judging. Your panegyrick, as you call it, is a very mafter-piece of ill-nature, and could be dictated only from fomc very 'ju ft oc- cafion of refentment, or by a malignant turn of temper that would not be pardonable in a moitaU But, what, added I, is the meaning of your baftinading.lhcfis, that To L v A is. i; fuftained, expofed to .die laughter of footmen ? It is only, faid he, an allufion to a trifling ijd- venture,.. -which is common enough" among 7>o- the mufes never infpire with pru- A a 3 dence. 270 The Devil Hermit. tic nee. He was obliged to pay a fmall penalty for a fine fatirical ftroke on the chevalier de R .1 H A N ; that was all. The chevalier had no tufle of raillery, and did not think it would be- come him to fight a duel with a poet, whom he had fee n a page not many years before : fo he contented himfelf with giving up TOL- VAIRE to a good liberal drubbing, which his footmen ir.fi idled, himfclf (landing by to fee the operation. This hiftorical anecdote, tho' of long franding, could- not, you fee, efcape the memory of an animated enemy. I am even f'.irprifid that hs did not add to the qualities of mr de TOL VA IRE the title of fmuggler ; for you cannot but know the accident that happe- ned to h;m a little while ago, with regard to Jbrne pictures that he was going to fend out of one country into another without paying the duties. Certainly, anfwered I, that adventure is -known to all the world : but it no otherwife concerns the public than juft to expofe the ava- rice of the poet. Obferve him now fifing, and paying his refpe&s to the company. What is the meaning of that precipitation? Is any important affair come into his head, which obliges him to run away fo abruptly ? Ah I Chevalier, replied my inftruclor, one jnav eaiily perceive you are no poet, and that you do not fo much as know what a poet is. A poet, fir, is a kind of heteroclite animal, a vtry odd machine, compofed of enthufiafms, ;=nd which moves almoft always by fits and flans. He comes and goes, is in a Lurry, The ZX'-ivV HerMt. or quite indolent, often without knowing for what reafon, or without thinking of what he is about. He before you, pleaftd with having obtained his defire, is irr.patent to be gone into another place. His bookfelier's trick frill runs in his head : for tho' he had been ufed himfelf to deceive others, the ftratagem of this citizen furpaffes his fubtle imagination. He defigns to pav him another vifit, and make ufe ot frefli artifices: let him go by himfelf. We may find him again when we have a mind to it; that is, after I have made you acquainted with ieveral other perfons that I perceive in this city. He who pafles along before us, and whole white hair gives him a venerable afpec"t, is a philofophical merchant, who gilds over all his actions with an affedted fandttty,. which has ac- quired him much reputation among a certain fpecies of men. To hear him talk, one would fay that charity to his neighbour was the pri- mum mobile of all his aftions : yet he never lends a halfpenny but upon good pledges, which he ufually keeps ; and fometimes his zeal carries him fo far, that he writes againfV the reputa- tion of perfons, whom he knows only upon the- uftimony of certain hypocrites, who impofe on his pious credulity. Blinded by intercft, his governing paflion, he lately took it in his head- to write a panegyrick on ufury. According- to his fentimcnts, grinding the face of the poor is become a holy work, meritorious in the man who does it, and what will the moft infallibly coududl him to heaven. This fyftern of 2 ;2 Ti, Devil Hen, of his has indeed drawn on his back all the honeft rnen that know him : .but, too proud to acknowledge his fault, and too much under our direction even to fee it, he obfti irately, per- fifts to maintain his enormous proportion,, and fpends whole days and nights in collecting to-' gether authorities to infert in his writings, 'that' may at leaft render it probable.Thatfhining coun- tenance that now approaches him with refpeft, is a mere fpendthrift,vyho impofes on our udirer, and all his fet. Forced to fly his .country for having wafted the revenue of the prince who employed him, he had the good luck to take refuge in thcfe provinces, where he found the. fecret of getting in with the heads of thefs : dealers in money, and intercfting them in his misfortune. It is a p-leafurc, Chevalier, to fee with what addrefs he plucks them. 1 inufl: own indeed, at the fame time, that lie is very fcrviceable to their whole cabal, as well by h.s intereft in his own country, as by fome ftcret correfpondencies, which enable him to intro- duce prohibited books into foreign parts. Of all difguifes, there is none more advantageous, than the mask of devotion. A cheat that makes, a judicious ufe of it, may reprefent all forts of characters, and be fare of as many dupes as he converfes with honeft people. Look at that troop of humble prim phyfiog- nomies : it is a collection of monks and friars, of ecclefufticks and kvuhrs, who all together compofe a bod,; of mountebanks, that formerly cux out work enough for Bieu mafferl cannot The Devil Hermit. 273 cannot at prefent tell what courfe to take. Would one not imagine from their affable af- pects, that they were a very docile fort of people ? Yet is there nothing more arrogant than thefe cabalifts. Oftentation is the very^ rule they' go by. Under the affe&ed outfide of a matchleTs modefly, they conceal a pride which perfuades them that they are infallible in their decisions, and much more able men than their fuperiors. Beyond thefe defamatory libels, are a fet of malignant capmen, who inveigh againft the moft venerable perfons. Happy in being born with brilliant and fubtile genius's, they had well nigh carried on their point a- gainft their antagonifts. Thefe latter could fly only with one wing, when the death of a pious man, of the fociety of mountebanks, made them commit fuch extravagancies' that have at laft unmasked them. Look at that full-chefted young man, and obferve how pale, meagre, and disfigured he appears. Scarce has he ftrength to fet one foot before the other. But a few years ago he was one of the fineft genius's in Europe, and the moft familiarly acquainted with polite literature. He was, in a word, the delight of all men of tafte : but being unhappily the fon of an enthu- fiaft, he has taken it in his head to follow his father's precepts of divinity. Fafts and other aufterities have fo impaired his health, that he is little left than guilty of voluntary felf-mur- der. Yet, weak as he is, if you were to fee him upon the ftage of our mountebanks, you would W&evil 'Hermit: ' wo'Ai be equally fjrpnfcd'at his agility and hi* fhength. He will leap you fix foot high, and four of the ftrongeft men are not capable pf holding him down, O .wonder of wonders ! the iitmoft effort of his diabolical majefty's ut- rnoft art. How many foolifn fouls fwallow the hook every day, and take for a divine work a mere tragical operation, a mere illufion of the prince of devils f This is one of the fubjecls that I propose in time to let vou thoroughly into, and concerning which I nave many fur- prifing particulars to tell you. But how, faid I, fhall we find any agree- rrent between fafts and aufterities, and tragi- cal operations ? Will you be always thus fim- ple ? replied AST A ROTH. Do you not know that there muft be a femblance of virtue to gain the populace, ?.nd fecure the confidence of honeft citizens ? Be fides, fanatifm is a diftemper that makes mere ravage than the plague. T'ho' there are a great many hy- pocrites amongft thofe mountebanks, there may be alfo fome found, who, fcu'uced by enthufi- afm, aft with fincerity, and from an involun- tary impulfe. That large lean fellow is one of this number. He has faorificed riches, ho- nours,- friends, and even reafon itfeif, for the glory of the fed. But it is quite otherwife with that plump red-faced lad, with a demure countenance. That is our faithful and dear friend Le GILOTIN. Prompted too far by his turbulent fpijit, he was. obliged fome years s^o. to .leave France, in order to efcape the'pu^ nilhment lac Devil Hermit. 2 ; 5 ttifhrr.ent.due to his intrigues, which were more mercenary than cabaliftic. He was then the very humfcle factor of the mountebanks, a calling the profits of which were not equi- valent to the hazards. All that he. acquired therefore 'was poverty ; and at his arrival in this country he looked like a very skeleton: his ragged robes declared his mifery to be moll deplorable ; he had not even flioes to his feet. In this plight he moved the companion of fome tender- hearted people. Certain devout fouls, who go to heaven for printing inveflives agair.il others, admitted "him into the number of their domefticks ; and his intriguing genius foon advanced him. He became the head fervant of the printing-houfe, and kqesv fo well how to make a good ufe of his poft, that he printed numbers of books ,for- himfelf at his mailer's expcnce. The mask of hypocrify for a long time protected him : but at laft, the' eyes of his fuperiors were opened, the fraud was attefted, and poor.GrLOT IN was turned out of doors, tho' with more indulgence than was due to his ungrateful crimes. Happily for him, he had already got together a good fum of money ; and, little concerned at what the world fay of him, he purfued at his own charge what lie had be- gun at the charge of his matters : fet up a print- ing houfe for himfelf, and gradually rofe upon their ruin. His intriguing genius carries him tnfo' every thing : he begins already to grow rich ;' and there is no doubt but in a little time be will be one of the firft men of his pro- fdBon 276 Ike Devil Hermit. feffion. I have many things to to tell you corr- cerninghim: but a fuperior power obliges me to leave you. I cannot ftay a moment. Fare- well ! You (hall fee me again foon, when per- haps you may find me more diverting than you have hitherto done. As he fpoke thefe words, ASTAROTH dif- appeared, without giving me time to make him any anfwer, or letting me know how long it would be before he returned. FINIS. Printed by CHARLES TEPHSON in Wint- Office Court, Fltttftreet. BOOKS printed for JAMES Ho D G s s, at the Looking-Glafs on London- Bridge, i I. J\ Philofophical Account of the Works of y^-\ Nature, as founded in a Plan laid down Ji JL by the late Mr. Addifon. Containing the feveral Gradations remarkable in the Mineral, Vegetable and Animal Parts of the Creation, tend- ing to the Competition of a Scale of Life, a Re- prefentation of the prefent State of Gardening throughout Europe in general, and Great-Britain in particular. New Experiments relating to the Im- provement of barren Grounds, Timber, Fruit-trees, Vines, Snihds-, Falfe, and all Kinds ofG.-sia; Oh-, fervations on the Hufbindry of Flanders in lowing Flax ; whereby Land may be advanced Cent, per Cent, adorned with Variety of curious Cuts, drawn, and epgraven by the beft Matters. The Second E- ditbn Revifed and greatly Augmented. Price bound in Calf 6 s. II. The Gentleman and Farmer's Guije for the Increafe and Improvement of Cattle, viz. Lambs, Sheep, Hogs, Calves, Cows, Oxen. Alfo the beft Manner of Breeding and Breaking Horfes, both for Sport and Burden : With an Account of their re- fpedive Diftempers, and the moll approved Medi- cines for the Cure of them. Alfo fome Obferya- tions on the many Benefits of the Woollen Mana- fa&ures of Great Britain, and the great Advantages arifmg from Hides, Tallow, &V. llluflrated with Copper Plates. The Third Edition. Price bound in Calf, 4 s. IIL Hiftory of Succulent Plants; containing the Aloes, Ficoids (or Fig Marygoldi)Torch-ThiiMev Melon-Thirties, and fuch others as are not capable of an Hortus Siccus. Engraven from the Originals, on Copper Plates. With their Defcriptioiis ana Man- ner of Culture, P 2, TV. Conv reeks inicd fcr James Hodges. IV. Complcat Seedfman ; {hewing the beft and enfieit Method for Knifing and Cultivating every Sort of Seed belonging to a Kitchen and Flower Garden ; with neceifary Inftruclions for Sowing of Berries, Maft, and Seeds of Ever- Greens, Foreft- Trees, and fuch others as are proper for Improving of Land. Price i s. All the above Books by Richard Bradley, ProfefTor of Botany in the Univer- fity of Cambridge, and F. R. S. . V. AnewTreatifeof Hufbandry, Gardening, and other curious Matters relating to Country Affairs : Comair.irg a plain and practical Method of Improv- ing all Sorts of Meadow, Failure and Arable Land, &c. r.nd making them produce greater Crops of all Kinds, and a; much lil Uu2, ) pi'cic^t Eipsnce ; linuer tl.e following Heads: i. Of Wheat, Rye, Oats, Ea.rley, pe?.s, Beans, and all other Sorts of Grain. 2. Turnip?, Carrots, Buckwheat, Clover, Hemp, Rape, Flax and Colefeed, cjrV. 3. Weld or Would, Woad or Wade, Madder, Saffro^p, &V. 4. Meadow, Failure Grounds, and the different Manner of Feeding Cattle, and making other Im- provements agreeable to the Soil of the feveral Coun- ties in Great Britain. 5. Hops, Forcft and Fruit- Trees, Vine and Garden Plants of all Sorts. 6. All Kinds of Flowers, Shrubs in general, and Green- houfe Plants. 7. A curious Scheme of a Farm, the Annual Expence of it, and its Produce. With mn- rsy New, Uieful, and Curious Improvements, ne- ver before publifhed. The Whole founded upon rmny Years Experience. By Samuel Trowel, Gent. To which are added, Severai Letters to Mr. Thomas Liveings, concerning hisCompound Manure of Land, with fome practical Obfervations thereon. VI. The Britifli Angler: Or, a Pocket Com- panion for Gentlemen I'ifhers. Being a New and Methodical Treitife of the Art of Angling : Com- prehending all that is Curious and Ufeful in the Knowledge of that Polite Diverfi on. As, i. an In- troduftion; containing an Encomium on Rivers and the Books printed for James Hodges. the Art of Angling, with general Obfervations on the Nature of Fifh. 2. The Angler's Apparatus : Or, Direftions concerning Rods, Lines, Hooks, Floats, and the reft of the Tackle : Alfo, of Baits, natural and artificial. 3. An exaft Defcription of the feveral Kinds of Fifh that are found in the Ri- vers, and on the Sea-Coafts of Great Britain ; their Size, Shape, Qualities, Seafons, Feeding, Haunts, &c. 4 The whole Practice of Angling : Teaching the Choice and Preparation of proper Stands ; the Method of talcing every Species, more particularly the fportive Trout, the voracious Pike, and other Capital Game. With Defcriptions of our principal Rivers, Obfervations relating to the Weather, and other necefTary Remarks. Together with fuppli- inental Difcourfes, i. on Fifh-ponds and Referva- tories. 2. On the Laws againft Poachers, and in Fa- vour of the Fair Angler. Alfo, Excellent Receipts for dreffing Fifh, and a Complete Index, in which the Terms in Ufe among Anglers are occafionally explained. The Whole compiled from approved Authors, and above Thirty Years Experience. By John Williamfon, Gent, who has added a Verfifi- cation of the principal Heads, at the End of each Chapter, for the Help of Memory. VII. Bibliotheca Technoiogica Or, a Philolo- gical Library of Literary Arts and Sciences ;