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 <K Gr-rtsj the 
 
 '- Ambition, Avarice, and Cruelty of viniuci-si the In- 
 
 /ir.cerity, Luxury ,Pro{lituti9n, and Ingratitude of ma pri- 
 
 yate Characters ; with other Capital Vices of the pivien: 
 
 Agr. 
 
 Fcarded chiefiy on real Fafb, and interfperfed with the 
 Portraitj and fecrer Hiftry of mott of the confiderable 
 pcrfons that: have lived in Europe within thefe thirty 
 Years paft. 
 
 Tran/lated from lire Original French of Mr 
 de M*. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed and Sold by J. HonoEs,at the Lotting G//I/X, over. 
 againft St Afa*nfis's Church. Ltndan-'Erid^e ;" J. Ro- 
 i K;oN,at the fed Lym, in Lttd^att-Strc<t J. WILCOX, 
 i. ihe Sirand - } and j. uiU'. OL>, 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 wth<?ut Foundation, and will blind'ly throw 
 thee upon the Rock of Miftakfe. I know very 
 
 well



 
 [xii ] 
 
 well that you Men paint us under horrible Co- 
 lours, as Fire-Brands of Hell, Spirits inclined 
 to Mifchief only, terrible Perfecutors of all 
 Virtue, profefled Enemies to all human Hap- 
 pinefs. Admit that we are fo, and that we 
 are fometimes defcribed like ourfelves ; it muft 
 be owned, at the fameTime that we often look 
 lefs like Devils in thofe Pictures than like 
 Men. You would fain caft on us all the Ini- 
 quity of human Frailty : Man, to excufe his 
 own Crime, pretends, from a fond illufion, 
 to find in us the genuine Source of his blackeft 
 Actions. But this is a poor unprofitable Fiction ! 
 The true Devil that hurts him is his own 
 Paflio'n. However you may think of that, As- 
 T A ROTH aflures thee, that for his part, far 
 from attempting to feduce, he aims only to 
 inftrua thee. His Projeft is laudable and full 
 of Charity. If it appears to thee an abfurd 
 Problem, that a Spirit of Falfehood fhould 
 fpeak the Truth, read this Work, and judge 
 of it for thyfelf j look at his Sketches, his va- 
 rious Pictures ; compare them with their Ori- 
 ginals, and thou {halt know them. All the 
 World fwarms with Crimes; but thou wilt 
 find here more efpecially thofe of the Grate, 
 the Diforders of the Cloifter traced" to the Life. 
 That is not all : It is the defign of this Work 
 that the Errors of another fhould mke thee 
 
 famewhat 



 
 v 
 
 toe what the wifei*~g*4-rOT elude this Ad- 
 
 drefb, which is long enough already : for after 
 
 ha v frig given t'Ue this charit .ble Advice, thou 
 
 ;!t own that t muft. needs be a good fo^t of 



 
 T H E~ " 
 
 CONTENTS* 
 B 6 6 K I. 
 
 CHAP I. 
 
 A Gentleman in Love having loj! himfelf m 
 *** the Appehine Mountains^ difcovers a Her- 
 mit of a Jlrange Specie. Why this Hermit is 9 
 and the beginning of his Adventures. Page i 
 
 CHAP JI. 
 
 Cuptt Majqued: Or, the Hijlory cfSiJler COR- 
 N I C H o N ,and the Marquis de Stjv L I N . p. 23 
 
 CHAP III. 
 
 ASTAROTH *at Court. JVhat he fees, and 
 what he does there* P 3*3 
 
 C HAP. IV. 
 
 Of the Occupations tffAsTAROTH, as an EC- 
 clefiaflieal Chancellor. p. 50 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 New Sights which the DEVIL HERMIT way 
 tnttrtained with at thf Court of*** p. 62 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 The unfortunate Lovers: Or the tfijlorj cfDw 
 , ^and Madam URSULA. 0.85 
 b CHAP,



 
 , ij J: 
 
 BOO K II. 
 
 C H A P I. 
 
 the Hi/lory ef Sijler 
 As T A R o T H the Duana of, a young Lady of 
 Fifteen* p. 101 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 1'he Stratagems ofDuanas: Or, the Hi/lory f 
 the Count de BEL AIR, and JULIA de / 
 
 FLORENZO. p. i , 
 
 oo 
 
 CHAP III. 
 
 Scfft'e! to the HiJJory of the Count 
 and A4ifs JULIA de FLORENZO. p. 118 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 AST A ROTH, a Mendicant Friar. p, 125 
 C H A P. V. 
 
 A s T A R o T H , chief of the Grand Sign'tor's Eu 
 nucbs. 'The Tragical end of the Brother >uef- 
 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 aakened 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<t Hermit. 
 
 pain and torment than my fcurvy compa- 
 nions. Pour on the chains, and not on me : 
 I burn with a devouring fire. Alas ! do you not 
 Jcnow that Demons fear nothing ib much as 
 that water ? 
 
 Pardon the miftake, fhid I to the devil 3 I 
 did it without thought. My eager defire to re- 
 leafe you made me commit this blunder. Come, 
 come, don't be in a paflion ; you fee your 
 chains are gone ; you are at liberty, and a little 
 fcalding will do you no great harm. Befides, 
 'tis proper you fhould pay fomething for all 
 the frolicks you have committed fince you have 
 roamed about the world. 
 
 After five or fix hours fpent in frightful con- 
 torfions, the poor DEVIL HERMIT feemed to 
 be quiet ; his pains abated infenfibly, and he 
 thought no more of his misfortunes. His liberty 
 lay neareft his heart, which made him aflure 
 ine of all his beft good-will. Curious to learn 
 the adventures of a devil of this (lamp, I pray- 
 ed him to- give me an exact account of them. 
 They follow precifely according to his relation, 
 and undoubtedly they are very true : for he 
 ould not have dared to impofe on me ; on me 
 who would have punifhed him in fuch a ter- 
 rible manner, and who knew he dreaded holy 
 vvater more than a fchool-boy the ferula. 
 
 My name, faid he, isAsTARoTH. lam 
 none of your devils of the firft clafs : a lefs 
 honeft devil might have made you believe fo, 
 but I chufe to be fincere with you. I own then 
 ingenuoufly that I am but of an inferior race. 
 
 I have



 
 The Devil Hermit. ,n 
 
 I have been almoft all my time L u c i F E R'S valet 
 de chambre ; and you know, Sir, that a viet 
 de cbambre is ufually a-feJlow irom among the 
 dregs of the people, "JJd .very often a great 
 fcoundrel. My good patron > 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 a<St more brutalities 
 than thou art able to fuggeft. Let \% go then, 
 my dear UR i E L ; I am ready, faid I, to bear 
 thee company. Scarce were we a league from 
 the city when we met a fmali company of 
 people, who were taking the air in a fpacious 
 avenue (haded with poplars, and watered by a 
 fine large river. 
 
 The firfl thing I enquired was, who thofe 
 men were. They are, anfwered he, the prince 
 and his courtiers. Doft thou note that great old 
 fhark of a man, who walks with the help of a 
 crutch- ftick? That is BARNABAS, the great 
 BA R N A B A s. What, faid I, the prince ? Ay 
 friend, the prince, replies URIEL. He ha.}, 
 in my opinion, a very mean afpedl and air : that 
 gray head of his gives me .but an indifferent idea 
 f his wifdom, and capacity for government. 
 What a fool art thou, fays he, for a devil of 
 thy experience! Thou oughteft to know, that 
 they are not always men of merit who are raifed 
 to fuch dignities as thefe. A lazy difregard to 
 all the exceffes of the nobility is preferable to 
 any other quality. Befides, intrigue a.n.ji 
 F 3 ~ fiajony



 
 54 97^ Devil Hermit. 
 
 mony are engines that feldom here fail of, fuc- 
 cefs. It was merely to cabal, and the interefc 
 of a few particular men, that this fellow owed 
 his high elevation. They thought, by electing 
 a man without genius, to engrofs the govern- 
 ment in their own hands. But BARNABAS 
 has bit them all : tho* a wretch that formerly 
 often wanted bread, he has violated his probity, 
 and all the ties of friendship, to maintain the au- 
 thority they gave him, and has aptly enough taken 
 for his motto, E^rffvohtit. .n&uutA 
 
 Say ft thou fo, friend URIEL? replied I. 
 The fellow then is not fuch a fool as I thought 
 him. They prefent him with a liquorifh bit, 
 and he keeps it : I think he is very much in the 
 right. But favour me with a particular account 
 of the manner of this his extraordinary eleva- 
 tion. Give attention then ASTAROTH, and 
 you {hall be obliged. But firft I muft let you 
 into fome efiential circumftances : for only we 
 princely devils are capable of kncAving the in- 
 trigues carried on at thefe elections, and I mould 
 be as ignorant as thou art upon this head, if I 
 had net been ten years in the adminiftraticn. 
 
 You muft know, in the- firft place, that this 
 ftate is dependent on the great JUPITER of the 
 tiara ; that the nomination can be made only by 
 a certain number of perfons, who are all poffef- 
 fed by the imps of ASMODEUS ; and that a man 
 muft be of this body to have any hand in 
 the affair. For this reafon many noblemen of 
 h;eh quality enter themfelves in this fraternity, 
 whenever the fovereignty is vacant. LEVIA- 
 THAN



 
 Ike Devil Hermit. 55 
 
 THAN and BELPHEGOR order FAG EL to 
 fet all the electors together by the ears, and di- 
 vide them into feveral factions. He afterwards 
 infpires every one to give his voice to him that 
 bkls moft ; and as many are gaping after this 
 lucrative dignity, it always fells high, there be* 
 ing ufually four or five competitors, who all 
 have their partisans. Thefe divided parties, 
 after a thoufand diabolical tricks, are gradually 
 united by dint of money, and reduced to two. 
 If thefe two factions are equal, a very large 
 fum goes to get over one or two electors, and 
 then the nomination is made. It cofts his new 
 highnefs indeed, fometimes, about an hundred 
 thoufand crowns : but as he is fure to reimburfe 
 his capital with large intereft, by felling all 
 offices that depend on his fovereignty, the ad- 
 vancing the money gives him little concern. 
 He enters up'on a certain fund, that brings in at 
 leaft four hundred thoufand crowns per annum. 
 Thefe people, however, are obliged to act cer- 
 tain grimaces. They celebrate public prayers, 
 and call down the holy ghoft to their affiftance. 
 But all that is only a finelTeof Mafter FA GEL'S, 
 that by fafcinating the eyes of an ignorant po- 
 pulace, he may the better fi(h in troubled water. 
 In a word, there pafles fo many apiih, not to 
 fay devilifh. tricks at thefe elections, that I 
 fhould never finifli the irkfome relation. Be- 
 fides, you will become acquainted with thefe 
 things yourfelf, if you ftay here any time : for 
 yon old fellow is juft at the end of his career, 
 and muft very foon go to receive the puniihment 
 
 due



 
 56 The Devil Hermit: 
 
 due to his avarice and ingratitude. His apart- 
 ment is already prepared among us : we wait his 
 coming with impatience, in order to exact from 
 him a fevere retribution for all the goods that he 
 has ravifhed from the poor, to fupport the lux- 
 ury of his family. But let us return to his 
 election. 
 
 This righteous ecclefiaftic was very poor, 
 and fubfifted upon the benevolence of a generous 
 nobleman, who had undertaken to maintain a 
 certain party. But perceiving that all his in- 
 trigue and cabal, in fpite of the money he la- 
 viflied away, was unable to triumph over the 
 other factions, he was infpired by FA GEL to 
 aim at the fovereignty. For this purpofe he 
 had recourfe to certain ftratagems, which are 
 Jcnown only in our empire. He imagined 
 that our ecclefiaftic, whom he loaded with fo 
 many favours, and who looked with fuch a 
 fanctified demure countenance, would refign to 
 him the fovereignty, if he could caufe the election 
 to fall upon his head. Vainly he thought with- 
 in himfelf, that a faint of this fpecies would ne- 
 ver be able to bear the weight/ burden of govern- 
 ment. He bound him therefore by a fee ret 
 oath. But no foener was our good man elected 
 than he forgot his oath, and his friendflaip, and 
 was fully perfuaded that a perjury of this nature 
 is a mere peccadillo, that a few years of purga- 
 tory hereafter will amply atone for. The 
 nobleman, feeing himfelf fo bafely duped, took 
 a fudden trip into our kingdom, to carry thither 
 his complaints, where he waits the coming of 
 
 thL



 
 The Devil Hermit. 57 
 
 this falfe friend, in order to make him fenfible 
 that the laws of friendmip and gratitude are not 
 violated with impunity. I am of opinion, 
 however, that the match will be very unequal ; 
 for the good man, during his reign, has acqui~ 
 red a number of partifans among us, who in 
 all likelihood will be too powerful for his anta- 
 gonift. 
 
 Doft thou fee that lubbardly greafy-guts, who 
 diverts himfelf with a foolifh thing he has juft 
 uttered ? That is a pitiful fellow of a verger, 
 whom his highnefs has raifed out of the dirt to 
 make him his prime minifter ; an arrant varlet, 
 born under a lucky conftellation, who, with 
 every bad quality that goes to compofe a per- 
 fect knave, hath made himfelf rich at the pu- 
 blic expence, by felling all the good graces of 
 his mailer : formerly he was a mercury, now a 
 fole privy counfellor. 
 
 Hah ! what kind of a man is that, who dif- 
 torts himfelf yonder like one poffefTed ? How, 
 faid he, friend ASTAROTH, doft thou not 
 know that fcoundrel ? I am furprized at it. 
 And yet he is one of that fpecies who caufed 
 thy banimment. He is ape and buffoon to the 
 prince, who delights in his low witticifms, and 
 ridiculous capuchinades ; and has therefore made 
 him the fecond perfon in his council. Ay, faid 
 I, is he one of thofe miferable hypocrites ? But 
 he has no beard, and that prevented my know- 
 ing him. Let it not furprize you, continued 
 URIEL, that he wants the tokens of virility : 
 it is becaufe the unlucky poor dog has undergone 
 
 the



 
 58 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 the fate of ABE LARD, for having made too 
 free ufe of what nature had given him. Well 
 URIEL, cried I, I muft take vengeance on this 
 great booby, for the fcurvy trick played me by 
 his brother. By your leave, neighbour AST A- 
 ROTH, faid my guide very fmartly, he is under 
 my dominion, and we fhall quarrel if you 
 touch him. It is he that procures the ratifica- 
 tion of all my infamies. If I lofe his reve 
 rence, I muft foon pack up and be gone. He is 
 my protector, friend, and it behoves me to take 
 care of him. The other day he obliged the 
 prince, upon my recommendation, to fign the 
 pardon of a young canon, who had got two fitters 
 with child. It had been all over with my fpark 
 but for his interpofition. The very next day, 
 out of mere friendfhip to me, he procured 
 mercy for the curate of a fmall city about two 
 leagues and a half from the capital, who had 
 debauched the four prettieft young girls of all 
 his flock. In fhort, I could not poffibly en- 
 rich my matter, if this bon companion did not 
 palliate all my legerdemain tricks. Such a bro- 
 ther as this is a real acquifition, which hell may 
 be proud of. 
 
 Very well, URIEL, I forgive him then ; but 
 here comes another that mall not efcape fo eafily. 
 That end of a man there, is it not a capuchin ? 
 Upon the faith of a devil, I (hould think it a 
 tall Pruffian grenadier cut in two. Be what it 
 will, here goes at him. Hold, hold, no quar- 
 rels among friends, faid URI E L again ; I pro- 
 tect him no lefs than the other, for he is the 
 
 prince's



 
 Devil Hermit. 
 
 59 
 
 prince's director. I infinuate to his highnefs, 
 thro' his means, whatever I pleafe j for ex- 
 ample, to fell all benefices, or at leaft to con- 
 fer them only on infants, incapable of knowing 
 the function they embrace j or on blockheads, 
 without the leaft tincture of literature j or on 
 debauchees, who fpend all the revenues in grati- 
 fying their irregular paflions ; or, in a word, 
 on footmen, who, grown haughty by prefer- 
 ment, treat with contempt all others who rely 
 on their protection. Hence proceed fo many 
 excellent meji, who come in crouds to people 
 our empire ; hence thofe debaucheries, thofe 
 fcandalous amours, which call the blulh into 
 every modeft check ; hence proceed ignorance, 
 drunkennefs, injuftice, ailalfinations, and thofe 
 other (hameful vices which reign with a dread- 
 ful tyranny among the populace; hence, in a 
 word, that unruly race of men, who know nei- 
 ther probity nor honour. The example of 
 thefe guides leads them blindly into fuch crying 
 diforders, that all ftrangers look upon this coun- 
 try, not as a place inhabited by men, but as an 
 infernal colony ; fo that As MODE us lives here 
 in mere idlenefs, and FAG EL has very little 
 to do. 
 
 But tell me, friend URIEL, who is that 
 little original with an Italian phiz, and a mali- 
 cious fmile in his countenance ? That, fays he, 
 is a cunning (harper, who has made his efcape 
 from the court of the great JUPITER of the 
 triple crown. His avarice had led him thither, 
 and he had amafled there abundance of money, 
 
 by



 
 60 ^he Devil Hermit. 
 
 by felling difpenfations at random to all comers. 
 Tho' born in the loweft obfcurity, that dwarf ? 
 of a fellow afpired at the purple, which un- 
 doubtedly he had merited by his knaveries ; 
 but, unluckily for hell, he was fupplanted, and 
 obliged to return from whence he came. He 
 then got to be fubftitute to the prince, in order 
 to perform the functions of his miniftry. It 
 was wifely done to chufe fuch an accomplifhed 
 cheat, fuch a worm, that will eat out the re^ 
 maining intrails of the people. His pale coun- 
 tenance, without difpute, denotes his Italian in- 
 clinations ; and indeed he takes little pains to 
 mortify his outward man by a life agreeable to 
 his calling. He pafles for a faint however here ; 
 but for an abandoned fellow in the country he 
 left. He is a true imp of hell, and has acquired us 
 more fouls than a dozen of our own emifTaries. 
 He had enriched a niece by his monopolies, 
 whofe husband, fince her death, enjoys with 
 impunity the revenues of the church. 
 
 And whofe is that fuperb equipage, which ad- 
 vances this way ? Certainly it muft be fome 
 ambaflador, coming to obtain an audience of 
 the prince ? AST A ROTH, thou art a mere 
 novice here, faid UR.IEL : all that gaudy train 
 is the trapping of a monk. Don NICAISE, 
 who owns it, has found means, by favour of his 
 habit, to overtop all the prime miniflers of this 
 country. Born among the dregs of the people, 
 he renounced, out of humility, a chimerical 
 fucceffion, to catch one more real, as well as 
 more confiderable. The vows of poverty, 
 
 anJ



 
 The Devil Hermit. 61 
 
 and renunciation of the world, which he 
 took at the feet of altars, were the means of 
 luxury and ambition. He quitted for God a 
 vile and contemptible condition, in order to 
 embrace one of high diftincYion. A man mull 
 have a very . difintcrefled virtue to take fuch a 
 ep as this. Scarce was he richer than the Savi- 
 our of mankind, having only a, cottage for his 
 habitation, and a waiting-woman for his wife. 
 But now, in a cloifter, he has fplendid coache;;, 
 magnificent palaces, a levee like a prince, and 
 ladies of the firft quality for his miftreiies. With 
 them he devours the fubftance of an infinite 
 number of unhappy farmers, whom he and 
 his predeceflbrs have reduced to beggary. A's- 
 M ODE us, I fee, is whifpering in his ear: let 
 us hide ourfelves for fear of being known. 
 
 But this great man, fatd I, feems uneafy and 
 melancholic : What can dlfturb a perfon of his 
 diftinilion ? Ah, my dear AST AROT H, he 
 has very good caufe. Yefterday a gentleman 
 of the firft rank, both for birth and merit, dif- 
 puted with him the precedence, and treated hint 
 with a little uncivil language, but fuch as his 
 pride deferved. How could he brook fuch a 
 heinous offence ? ASM ODE us now prompts 
 him to complain to the fovereign, and to-mor- 
 row he will put it in his head to commence a 
 law-fuit with the nobleman, to difpute with 
 him an eftate that joins to the abbey lands ; 
 and, tho' the nobleman's family has porTefTed it 
 above two hundred years, it will be proved, as 
 clear as the day, that he has no manner of title 
 G to



 
 6 2 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 to it. The fuit will laft twelve or fourteen 
 years, and then the nobleman, having fpent half 
 his fortune, {hall pay all certs, and lofe his 
 eitate. This will be the ifTue of the quarrel 
 that now begins ; and I muft fay the gentleman 
 well deferves it. What ! a mr.n of his rank 
 not to give way, and to be wanting in refpeft 
 to the fon of a baker ! Indeed, his lordmip is an 
 impertinent coxcomb. But let us conclude 
 this dialogue, for it is time to go back to the 
 city. As foon as URIEL had prefented his 
 petition, and the prince had figned it without 
 leading, we returned with all expedition to the 
 hotel. ~ 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 - New Sights which the DEVIL HERMIT 
 was entertained with at the Court cf '***. 
 
 HEN I came to the palace I was quite 
 at liberty ; for my carnal habitation was 
 not yet returned from Madam LECHEROUS. 
 After having rambled from room to room, I 
 fat myfelf down among the don cftics. An im- 
 pertinent valet de chambre, lolling negligently 
 upon a couch, afllimed the man of importance, 
 and ccndefcended to talk with five or fix foot- 
 men, ho flood round him :th abundance of 
 refpecl. He preached morality to one ; turned 
 ajicther into ridicule; called a third unmanner- 
 ly



 
 The Devil Hermit. 63 
 
 ly dog, for being covered in his prefence. 
 Learn my friend, fays he, that when his excel- 
 lency is not at home, I reprefent his perfon ; 
 and it docs not become a pimp of a skip- kennel 
 to anfwer me with his hat on. But a prcpos, 
 Sirs ; my mailer flays out long to-night. By hea- 
 vens ! he ufes me ill. It is pafs one o'clock in 
 the morning. Does he think I will break my 
 reft in this manner ? Faith, gentlemen, he is 
 deceived, he is miftaken in his man, I am none 
 of thofe vulgar valets de chambre but as good a 
 man, tho* I fay it, as my matter hirnfeif. 
 Then addrefiing himfclf to a chambermaid, 
 whom lie wantonly ogled, My father, fays he, 
 was the beft perricvig- maker in our village ; and 
 who is his excellence pray ? \Vithout favour he 
 had been inferior to me. O ! here he comes, 
 and faith in a pretty pickle too ; I fancy he 
 wants no fupper : his miftrefs has not ufed him 
 fo ill to-day. What a life is this for an ecclefj- 
 aft;c ! What injuftice there is in the world ! 
 Well, fortune was fadly miftaken ; fhc had 
 better have raifed me to his poft. 
 Next day the chambermaid, who had no ref- 
 
 rft for him, related all this to my landlord. 
 prompted him to turn away the fcoundiel, 
 which was accordingly dene. My chap then 
 lofes in an inftant all his French air, and runs 
 to the footman whom he had infulted the even- 
 ing before. My friend FRAMBOISE, fhid the 
 vark-t in a fubmiffive tone, you know the defe- 
 rence and refpecl: I have for your psrfon. AIv' 
 dear mafter loves you; oblige me, and obtain 
 G 2 na/



 
 64 he .Devil Hermit. 
 
 rny favour, and upon the faith of a gentleman 
 of the chamber I will not be ungrateful. 
 FR A M E , : . E , like a cunning fellow, laughed 
 in his face, Lnd thruft him out neck and {hour- 
 tiers. 
 
 My charitable hoft had a magnificent palace, 
 
 adorned throughout with the fpoils of the church 
 
 and the people. His fervahfs were numerous, 
 
 and almoft as regular as hirnfelf. The maids 
 
 lived in perfect harmony with the footmen ; but 
 
 as they were not enough to make equal ccuples, 
 
 one of them fen ed two or three. It is true that 
 
 jealoufy fornetimes occafioned family broils ; 
 
 but the matter, like a- prudent man, always ap- 
 
 , .hem, and laid the blame on the wx-akcfl. 
 
 AROTH, iaid UP. I EL, this is a con- 
 
 e hi? excellence will not 
 
 r i.c is oWiged, to prefide in another 
 
 -re he will determine a caufe in fa- 
 
 v our .of a perfon whom lie condemned as guilty 
 
 I confefs, he does not do it 
 
 My mafter did not know him, 
 
 Nad made him a prefent of a 
 
 line colden fnuff-box. But our man has fince 
 
 d his fault,' and the day before 
 
 ' .7 fcnt him two ftately horfes, with fifty 
 
 'or. This procured him thepromife of a 
 
 ring will go much in 
 
 his favour.' Sev.: .1 depofitions had 
 
 been emitted. The fecrctary of the tribunal, 
 an infatiable blood-fucker, was not greaf- 
 ed in the hand, . and had therefore laid them 
 a'fide by'iny 'mafle r's order. But when the horfes 
 
 and



 
 ^he Devil Hermit. 65 
 
 and the golden lou is arrived, it was refolved to 
 join thefe papers to the reft ; fo that the honeft 
 man is now fure of victory. I am ravilhed at 
 the thought ; for he is an excellent chapman, 
 who has always abundantly fupplied my neceffi- 
 ties with money. Two fraudulent bankrupt- 
 cies have put upon him a level with the heft 
 men in the whole city. The villain that fues 
 him never gave me a fous, and therefore his 
 claim is ill-founded. He requires that honeft 
 merchant to re-imburfe him twenty thoufand 
 florins, which he lent him before his fecond 
 bankruptcy. Now this demand cannot but be 
 unjuft, becaufe the other proves evidently that 
 he has loft above a hundred thoufand florins, 
 which he gave in wedlock with his daughter, 
 who without that could not have married a 
 petty lord of a parifh. What an unfair thing it 
 would be to make him repay fuch a debt ! My 
 equitable mafter therefore has taken the noble re- 
 folution to give him large damages, and all cofts 
 of fuit : fo that, friend As T A R o T H , you have 
 abfolutely no occafion to be with him to-day. If 
 you care then to accompany me, you (hall fee a 
 pleafant conclave, in truth as grotefque an one as 
 ever was feen in our kingdom. 1 will give you an 
 idea of thofe who compofe it, when once you 
 have been a witnefs of their deciftons. You will 
 find yoarfclf in a land of great knowledge. 
 Yefterday you faw at court the two principal 
 buttreffes of this fenfelefs Areopagus; I mean, 
 the fubflitute and th- dire&cr of his high- 
 nefs. 
 
 G 3 /.bout



 
 66 *Ihe Devil Hermit. 
 
 About nine o'clock the fecretary URIEL, 
 for fear of fainting, flowed in his paunch five 
 or fix large flices of ham, and two fwinging 
 bottles of wine. So my good friend, faid I mer- 
 rily, you are not over fober now for an ecclefia- 
 itic. His excellence really is much more regular 
 than you. He has taken nothing this morning 
 but a dim of chocolate, and about half a par- 
 tridge, with one fmall bottle of Tockay wine. 
 Poor gentleman, I pity him ; it is almoft ten 
 o'clock, and he has already been up at leaft an 
 hour. He never dines till half an hour after 
 twelve : judge then, I befeech you, the fobriety 
 of this good man. Two long hours without ta- 
 king the leaft nourifhment ! This is indeed carry- 
 ing his mortification to a very great length. He 
 makes amends for if, Town, in the remaining part 
 of the day. He allows himfelf two bottles at din- 
 ner, four more before fupper, and one ar.d an 
 half after ; which to be fure is a quanlum fujj cit 
 for a corporation of thofe dimenfions : for I am 
 .certain, 'hat if what he eats and drinks in one 
 day could be colleded together, it would make 
 a body conliderably larger than that which re- 
 ceives it. 
 
 In troth, AST A ROTH, thou art a merry 
 wag, to preach up abftinence here. Kncn ? , my 
 friend, continues URIEL, that the corps which 
 I inhabit is the leaft intemperate of all the 
 courtlv fraternity. Poor devil, thou art little 
 acquainted, I perceive, with canons yet: but 
 have patience, and thou fhalt fee many other 
 cxceffes in this country. As M ODE us, from 
 
 their



 
 The Devil Hermit. 67 
 
 their very birth, accuftoms them infenfibly to 
 this kind of mortification. It is by this that 
 they diftinguifli themfelves from the common 
 burghers, from whom they could not elfe be 
 poflibljr known. They wear the fame drefs, 
 except at church : they have their wives, like 
 your married men ; their concubines, like your 
 petit maitres : they cheat like (hop-keepers, are 
 as covetous as ufurers, as treacherous as artifi- 
 cers, without faith and without honour like the 
 populace. 
 
 Very good, faid I, this country pleafes me 
 much ; the people juft hit my tafte, and I fancy 
 I mail ftay among them a long while : but let 
 us go to the conclave ; it is almoft high time. 
 With all my heart, anfwered URIEL, and 
 immediately mounts into his coach ; for his in- 
 dividual, who was the fon of a journeyman 
 blackfmith, and had never in his youth enjoyed 
 one quarter of an hour's pleafure, but fpent his 
 days in the moft laborious indigence, was now 
 refolved to make himfelf amends for his paft 
 fufferings, by all the ways that effeminacy, and 
 the moft refined luxury could dictate. 
 
 Being arrived at the court- houfe, we went 
 up together into a long gallery crouded with 
 people. Monks there were of all colours, eccle- 
 fiaftics of every age, women and girls, men and 
 boys ; and upon the vifage of each might be 
 fcen certain fvmptoms, which gave fome infight 
 into their affairs. Here a troop of young bi- 
 gots, with the moft timorous and humble air, 
 imeafiiy waited for their examination, in hopes to 
 
 be



 
 68 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 be admitted into orders : there a company of 
 priefts, venerable for age and fan&ity, flood ac- 
 cufed of praftifmg too much feverity. Here 
 young men and maids, with a gay and wanton 
 air, were eagerly ready to part with their money, 
 for leave to put themfelves under the yoke of 
 HYMEN: there fome of both fexes, more ad- 
 vanced in years, were come to make complaints 
 againft their refpe& moieties, in order to obtain 
 a divorce, or leave to fliut up the delinquent 
 party in a cloifter. 
 
 At the fight of fecretary URIEL, they all 
 approached with the utmoft fubmiflion to crave 
 his protection j while he fcarce deigned to 
 vouchfafe them a look. I was a little difgufted, 
 I muft own, at the arrogance of this black- 
 guard devil- fecretary. He pafTed thro' the midft 
 of the multitude with the haughty air of an AR- 
 TABAN, and without returning any falute. 
 What ftupid wretches, fa id I to myfelf, are thefe 
 people ! they all know the origin of this fellow, 
 his extortions, his thefts, and his fcandalous life, 
 and yet they fhew him fo much refpedl ! Well, 
 it is certain that favour covers abuncance of 
 filth, fince it is capable to impofe in this manner. 
 But I met with many ether fubjefts of afto- 
 nifhment, after I had been an hour in this dia- 
 bolical conclave. 
 
 The young monks were the firft who advan- 
 ced. An humble phyfiognomy, and a fervile 
 outfide, conftituted all their merit ; for as to 
 learning, they had little enough of that ; one 
 only excepted. He indeed had good natural part?, 
 
 and



 
 The Devil Hermit. 6; 
 
 and loved ftudy ; and he alone was refufed ad- 
 miflion. He happened to anfwer the bully of * 
 profeflbr with a little modeft confidence, but 
 the molt pertinently that could be. This raifed 
 the chcler of our pedantick theologue, who im- 
 mediately cried out, What an impudent block- 
 head is here ! Go, my friend, go and ftudy a 
 few years longer. At the fame time I was mo- 
 rally allured, that he knew more already than 
 the profeflbr. 
 
 But here comes a good prieft, whofe gray 
 hairs and venerable afpecl are indications of his 
 real virtue and merit. What, fays my fecrer 
 tary, the parfon of St Fiacre ? Ah, my good 
 friend, you are a very odd fort of a man. 
 Ihear you had the rafhnefs to lefufe the Eafter 
 communion to Mr JOUFFLU, bccaufe he 
 keeps a concubine under his wife's nofe. It be- 
 comes you much, Sir, to give yqurfelf fuch 
 airs as thcfe. People report too, that you read 
 the holy fcriptures without permiilion ; which is 
 forbid in this diocefe, and which I now forbid 
 you ag;ain. The curate modcftly anfwered. 
 Sir, I have pofTefled my benefice now forty 
 years, and my life has been irreproachable during 
 that time. Heaven be thanked I- have always 
 done my duty like an honeft man, and am 
 therefore extremely fuiprized at being cited to, 
 come here above ten leagues, in order to be 
 cenfurpd for having excluded a man from the 
 communion, who is not only an adulterer, but. 
 a thief, a murderer, and, in a word, a villain 
 of the firft rate. 
 
 You



 
 70 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 . ".;;, '.I 
 
 You are to know, my friend, replied the fe- 
 cretary, that it is fufficient that we look upon 
 Mr JOUFFLU to be an honeft man. It does 
 not belong to fuch a doating old fellow as thou 
 art to take liberties contrary to our orders. The 
 curate anfwereH, I am aftonifhed that fuch a 
 boy (hould pretend to teach me my duty. Who, 
 pray, gave you authority to fpeak here ? You 
 are no member of the court : it is for other men 
 than an upftart fecretary to reprove me, fuppo 
 fing that I have offended againft my duty. 
 
 Scarce had the old man uttered thefe words, 
 but a confufed murmur was heard thro' all the 
 affembly. A young fop of a canon, who pafled 
 for a gentleman, bccaufe he had aflumed the 
 name of the Count de G**** ; this beardlefs 
 brat, I fay, who is entirely deftitute of common 
 fenfe, broke into a furious paflion againft the 
 poor curate, and vomited out a thoufand im- 
 pertinences. After this fit of choler was over, 
 it was refolved, by the general voice of the 
 Areopagus, to fufpend the honeft parfon a whole 
 year from all the functions of his office, and 
 confine him in a feminary. A very equitable, 
 fentence this, faid I to myfelf, and worthy to 
 be writ in letters of gold : ASMODE us him- 
 felf could not have dictated a better. Cardinal 
 MAN QJJE fneered ; the hypocritical capuchin 
 hung down his head j while another great fan- 
 torn of a fecretary, who for twenty years had 
 been ftudying all the crafty fub.terfugcs of the 
 Italians, dropped a few obliging expreffions to 
 comfort the poor curate j but as he was known 
 
 for



 
 Devil Hermit. 71 
 
 for a moft refined diflembler, fcarce would the 
 old man vouchfafe him an anfwer. I believe he 
 had very good reafbn for what he did : it is dan- 
 gerous to give ear to men of that equivocal 
 character. 
 
 See gentlemen, cries URI E L fuddenly (aflum- 
 ing another air) yonder comes Mifs MAN ON. 
 That big-bellied maid wants to be married, and 
 indeed it is high time fhe was. The parfon of 
 her parifh, apprehenfive of fcandal, has defired 
 me by letter to do her the favour of difpenfing 
 with all the three times of asking. The man 
 you know is my friend, and it is for his intereft 
 that the affair be brought to a conclufion. By 
 all means, fays the Count de G****, and with a 
 great deal of juftice in my opinion: What think 
 you of it, gentlemen ? All the reft remaining 
 in profound filence, the girl had her bufmefs 
 done for a fmall matter. 
 
 Come in, Madam, (ays the fecretary to ano- 
 ther woman. This is MrsLAiDRON, who 
 has been a widow three months already. Her 
 gallant has Iain with her all that time ; for the 
 poor woman cannot live without a little of 
 man. Shealfo wants a difpenfation, and pro- 
 rnifes an hundred crowns to have her marriage 
 kept fecret, becaufe fhe has entered into con- 
 tracl: with two others, who may impede her 
 lawful intention. Has {he the hundred crowns 
 here ? fays the Count. Yes, my Lord, the 
 woman modefHy anfwers. Difpatch her affair 
 then, adds our bleffed Count: it is proper fome- 
 
 times



 
 fz We Devi! Hermit. 
 
 times to grant favours, in violation of the efta- 
 bliflied forms. 
 
 Mifc CHRIST IN A too, who comes next, is 
 in hafte to be married. She wants to have one 
 ban only difpsnfed with. And who, my girl, 
 fays the Count, is your intended husband ? It 
 is fuch an one, my Lord. Hereupon the dif- 
 penfator grew fevere, and repeating the name 
 with contempt ; O child, you muft publifh your 
 third ban ; v/e grant no fuch kind of difpenfa- 
 tions. But, anfwers the damfel, you never re- 
 fufe them to other people. * You are miftaken, 
 wench, we grant them only to whom we think 
 proper. But tell me now the truth, haftthou 
 let the cat come at the cheefe before it had re- 
 ceived the blefling? Haft thou been playing with 
 that blockhead ? No, my Lord, faysCHRis- 
 T i N A very deliberately ; but with a 
 young ecclefiaftic of your relations. Out of re- 
 gard therefore to the blood, I hope you will fa- 
 vour me with that little indulgence. O yes, 
 coufin, if it be fo, to be fure the affair fhall be 
 difpatched. 
 
 Come in Meflieurs CORNU and COLO us ; 
 what is your pleafure ? Mr CORNU fpoke 
 firft, demanding a divorce, and that his wife 
 fhould be (hut up in a nunnery. For what rea- 
 fjn, Sir, fays the Count. My Lord, becaufe 
 my wife is run away with the brother Mendi- 
 cant of the Cordeliers-: they have lived toeg- 
 ther this month, and the wicked Woman has 
 robbed me of all my money. The thing cannot 
 be done Mr CORNU j thiit friar is a very good



 
 The Devil Hermit. 73 
 
 man, and without doubt has taken her away 
 only to correct her. But, my good Lord, they 
 have been Teen in bed together. You are an 
 impoftor, firrah, replied the Count, and fcan- 
 dahze a member of the hob/ religion : begone. 
 Well, Mr COLO us, now for your bufin.-fc. I 
 have the fame complaints to make concerning 
 my wife ; only her gallant is a lay young fel- 
 low in our neighbourhood. O the vile action ! 
 cries our impartial judge, to ufe an honeft man 
 at this rate. Let him not only have a divorce, 
 but an entire difiblution of the marriage, and 
 fhut up the adulterefsall the days of her life. 
 
 Yonder are Madam IASQJJELINE and 
 Madam PERELLE ; what would they have ? 
 To cloifter our husbands ! they bawled out like 
 a couple of dcmonLcks. The villains have ufed 
 us ill, becaufe we were caught in bed with two 
 canons. Difpatch the orders immediately, fays 
 the Count, and fee them well fecured. This 
 ended the feflion. 
 
 Well, what doft think now, AsTAROTH, 
 of this famous conclave ? Think fays I, why 
 that thefe wretches are lefs honeft, and moie 
 corrupt than we. Hell itfelf would never have 
 thought of pronouncing fuch iniquitous and 
 partial judgments. Innocent poor devil ! cries 
 out my comerade, all this is but a mere trifle. 
 Thou hall feen nothing yet, in comparifon of 
 what they fometimes do. The other day, for 
 example, a moft amiable, young ladv, defirous 
 to marry a worthy gentleman whom fhe loved, 
 could never obtain her lequeft, b^caufe fhe had 
 H refufeJ



 
 74 7/&<? JDevtt Hermit. 
 
 refufed her favours to the parfon of her parifh, 
 who is an open profligate. They even proceed- 
 ed to invent fo many calumnies againft her lo- 
 ver, that he was obliged to quit the couritry. 
 But he will be feverely revenged on them, and 
 is at this time almoft ready to make them feel 
 that exemplary punifhment, which their horrid 
 villainy fo well dtferves. 
 
 Let us quit thefe wretches then, dear UR I E L, 
 cried I with fome emotion. As much a devil 
 as I am, it is impoflible for me to hear thefe 
 abominations without being enraged againft fuch 
 abandoned monfters. But give me fome idea 
 of thefe unjuft judges ; for I imagine their man- 
 ners muft be yet more perverfe than their judg- 
 ments. Thou are much in the right, fays he. 
 The two firft you already know. As to the 
 Count, he is a pert little coxcomb, immerfed 
 in the moft fcandalous debaucheries. He keeps 
 a brace of whores at a time, who fo drain 
 his finances, that he is every where in debt, and 
 pays nobody. The gigantic pedant, who ex- 
 amined and rejected the young monk, is the 
 moft conceited animal of the age he lives in. 
 He believes his own noddle includes all the fci- 
 cnce of the univerfe. Obftinate and pofitive as 
 a mule, he is mortally hated by all mankind ; 
 and at the fame time that, thro' an excefs of am- 
 bition, he has ruined himfelf to ufurp a dig-^ 
 nity, and fupplant the lawful proprietor, the 
 chief honour he has obtained is to become fright- 
 fully ridiculous. 
 
 His 



 
 Tfa-.-DevjI Hermit. 75 
 
 His collegue. is what we call a good compa- 
 nion, one. who loves his bottle more than his 
 bible. His ruby pimpled free gives a perfect idea 
 oi his life and manners. The fwaggt-ring little 
 blade, with an effeminate face, who fat at the 
 end of the table, is the fultan of a numerous 
 ftraglio, of which he .is unable to do half the 
 drudgery. The liquorifh young pullets, under 
 fiich an impotent director, lie and languifh 
 with defire ; and now and then fome of them 
 take their flight from the nunnery, to feek their 
 jortune elfewhere. 
 
 As the next day was a fo'emn feftival, I could 
 not be excufed from the duties of my office. 
 Befides, it was pay-day, and it is not cuftomary 
 to be abfent on fuch occafions. Every canon 
 fcores thofe days down the margin of his al- 
 manack, which he turns over fix or feven times 
 a week, inftead of a breviary, to get them all 
 by heart. , 
 
 When I came in to the church, I was charmed 
 with the modefty of all the ecclefiafticks, and 
 the fimplicity .of their drefs. Form to yourfelf 
 the idea of a company of odd mimicks, whofe 
 attitude and geftures would force a laugh even 
 from the originals they affecled to copy. Some 
 negligently lolled in their feats, with one knee 
 crofs the other, lifting up the leg in a horizontal 
 line, in order to {hew the fine clock of a pair of 
 filk hofe, or the neat flitches of a long-quarter- 
 ed pump. Or leaning on one elbow, with inuff- 
 box in hand^. they were feen to leer at certain 
 young coquets, who, charmed at being taken 
 H, ^ notice



 
 76 Tie Devil Hermit. 
 
 notice of by thefe A DON is's, put on a thoufand 
 aficcled airs to captivate their hearts, vvhilft .they 
 were a flitting at divine fervice. 
 
 Others, equally attentive as the former to the 
 duties of the place, talked alternately to all 
 who furrounded them, criticiftng with a fcorn- 
 ful frnile the behaviour of certain ladies, and 
 pointing them out with the finger, who threw 
 out amorous glances on fome of the fraternity. 
 Others again were every moment patting down 
 their periwigs, and brufhing their cravats all be- 
 yellowtd with Spanilh fnuff, in order to whif- 
 per feme ftupid thing in the ear of a pretty wo- 
 man who fat near them. In a word, not one 
 was employed in devotion ; the performance of 
 that they left to their underling curates, who 
 received pay only that their lords might be at li- 
 berty to play the fool. 
 
 My tabernacle, not quite fo foppifli as the 
 reft, was in more ferious cogitation. But in- 
 ffead of meditating on the myfteries of religion, 
 he was confulting who fhould pay fora fine toi- 
 lette, of 2000 livres price, which he had pre- 
 fVnted to h;s miftrefs. He met with a man in 
 the afternoon, who was very ready to take the 
 charge on himfelf. 
 
 Here I broke in upon my DEVIL HERMIT. 
 But Lord ASTAROTH, laid I, How did you 
 do to avoid the holy water ? Did not your ex- 
 cellence run a very great hazard, and expo r e 
 yourfelf to the rieceffity of ufing what you fo 
 
 muchftar? O dear Sir, do you think 
 
 the'e p.ople aiRufe'tlitmfelvcs with fuch trifles? 
 
 They



 
 he -Devi! Hermit. , 77 
 
 They enter the church much in the fame man- 
 ner as a foldier enters the trenches, and feldoiu 
 think of the holy water- pot. Scarce are their 
 heads within the door, but their eyes wander 
 all over the place, and their wanton glance* 
 are darted to every corner, that they may 
 reach thofe of their miftrefles. If they perceive 
 a well-drefTed woman, they move that way on 
 purpofe to ftare her in the face ; which they do 
 with fo much impudence, that they put to the 
 blum even the moft arrant coquet. If they per- 
 ceive \.t-. r to be ' andfome, they immediately 
 olr F box, and endeavour to fcrape ac- 
 
 quain: , : , her. 
 
 After (JrViqe we returned home, and foun-1 
 our dinner prepared. It was high time, indeed, 
 to take fome refrefhment, having been fo fati- 
 gued at church j and accordingly my outward 
 man in lulled itfelf at table. But as the cook 
 was abfent, the poor temperate chancellor was 
 very >ndiffereruij 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 <Tv Devtl Her mi f. 
 
 clays before, had give room for jealoufy. He 
 puiTuecl her clofely, and cat'ght the amorous 
 'couple in a fmall village not a gn-at way diftant. 
 At the fight of the old gentleman our fpark 
 made his efcape, and carried off the pieces : and 
 the banker conducted back ' his daughter, and 
 fhut her up in a nunnery. On the other hand, 
 the young gentleman's father, having heard of 
 this adventure, made fuch enquiry after his fon, 
 that, by means of his treacherous director, he 
 ibon got him into his hands. This inhuman 
 father, after having cruelly abufed him, had his 
 fon confined in a houfe of correction, where he 
 lauguifhed a full 'year in the moft deplorable 
 condition. At laft, finding means to efcape, 
 he took refuge at the hcufe of an hor.eft prieft, 
 with whom he trufted all his money, and who, 
 f. r on!v fifty louis reward, e;ave him a faithful 
 j-.t count of it, and ofHcioufly found out the nun- 
 r^rv.in which the fair SOPHIA was cloiftered. 
 The nuns in that country are the moft tra- 
 i.v .b'c thingson earth, and extremely compaflio- 
 n. te,to the wtakneffes of young people. This 
 
 i. indeed the only charity they literally pra&ife ; 
 j;-r do they this but after fuitable prefents, with- 
 c.F which their hearts are as hard as a rock. 
 
 As our lover had ftill a good round fum, he dif- 
 pcnfed it with great prodigality; and the covetous 
 nuns readily opened their eyes at the appearance 
 of gold. They not only admitted him to inter- 
 views with his miftrefs, but even fuffered her to 
 retire with him in a hall adjoining to the par- 
 kur. As that is a place faqred to fcenes of this 
 
 nature*



 
 Ike Devil Hermit. 89- 
 
 nature, none but the moft generous perfons are 
 admitted into it. SOPH I A had been cured of 
 her former cholic, by a crifis that is common 
 to fuch fort of difeafes ; and {he no loncer re- 
 membered the many ills it had expofed her to, 
 nor the folemn oaths which her pains had ex- 
 torted from her. She ventured afrefh to face 
 all the dangers of the fame woful diftemper, 
 and was determined to undergo a fecond ech'pfe. 
 She was more lucky however than to fall into 
 it.; no obftacle oppofed their defigns, and the 
 two lovers were lawfully married in the country 
 they fled to. A few months after the flock be- 
 gan to decay, and meagre want, with-her rueful 
 countenance, began to appear : in a word, ex- 
 treme neceflity obliged them to return to the 
 place of their nativity. SOPHIA implored the 
 clemency of her father ; and the good man, 
 pverjoyed to fee her, forgave all that was paft. 
 The gentleman's father was dead with rage and 
 indignation. His fon's marriage had caufed 
 fuch a cruel diforder in his mind, that he uttered 
 againft him a thoufarid maledictions at the very 
 time of giving up the ghoft. 
 
 No fooner was that learned AREOPAGUS, 
 of which I have before given you fome faint 
 idea, informed of the arrival of our young, 
 couple, but they difannulled their marriage, 
 and thundered againft them the fentence of ex- 
 communication. Infenfibly the banker pcrfua- 
 ded his daughter into an indifferency for her 
 husband, and made a mere fantom of her mar- 
 riage, which at beft he infmuated wus very 
 I 2 fcanduloiu..



 
 9Q ffie, -Devil Hermit. 
 
 fcandalous, SOPHIA, either thro'- her own 
 ficklenefs, or out of complaifance to her father, 
 would have nothing more to fay to the Cheva- 
 lier ; who, half mad at the inconftancy of his 
 wife, retired into a monaftery. As rnadam 
 had been ufed to the comforts of matrimony, 
 {he could not long do without them, and a 
 fprightly young canon found the means to be- 
 ccme matter of her heart. Men of this kind 
 come at once to the point, and have very little 
 regard to a woman's reputation ; and he we are 
 fpeaking of was fo very indifcreet, as to make a 
 parade of his gallantry, fo that their intrigues 
 became publickly known. 
 
 The difcarded young husband, who had taken 
 the vows, and afTumed the name of DOM 
 BERNARD, was ready to die with grief when 
 he heard of the conduct of his wife, whom he 
 very tenderly loved. He refolved on a terrible 
 revenge, and having obtained from his fupe- 
 riors thelibertv of a few daysabfence, he tranf- 
 ftrme himfelf into a footman, and found means to 
 getint - fhe ferviceof the canon, who had no ac- 
 quaintance with him. It is even faid, that per- 
 ions of virtue and reputation afiifted him in pro- 
 curing this place, which he held three days 
 without being able to effe& his defigns. The 
 fourth day he learned that his faithlefs SOPH I A 
 was to wait upon the canon. He took his op- 
 portunity, and hid himfelf in a place proper to 
 furprize them. At the fight of his wife's infi- 
 delity, rage took poflefSon of his heart. He 
 bad arms at hand, with which like a madman 
 
 he



 
 The Devil Hermit. 91 
 
 he rufhed 'on 'the canon, and with two plunges 
 of a poinard left him dead on the place. So- 
 PHIA falling into a fit, DOM BERNARD 
 went out, and returned to his monaftery with 
 all the calmnefs. imaginable. 
 
 Madam SOP H J A , being recovered, wa<= car- 
 ried to her own habitation. A few reflexions 
 difcovered to her, in the murderer of hei lover, 
 her injured husband, whom {he row refolved to 
 imitate. In amort time me entered into a cloift- 
 crof the fame order with DOM BERNARD, for 
 whom her paffion began to revive. After fuch 
 a conduct as (he had been guilty of, ihe imagined 
 it impoffible ever to meet with a pardon j and 
 therefore refolved to follow him into his retreat, 
 that at leaft fhe might give him no further uneafv 
 nefs. URSULA was the name {he aflumed, in 
 the room of SOPHIA. 
 
 A year n' : or pronouncing her lad vows, (he 
 was obliged, for the fake of health, to go and 
 take the air. She chofe for thatpurpofe the houfe 
 of a neighbouring gentleman her friend, whom 
 DOM BERNARD knew to be a man of great 
 virtue. Hearing that his dear SOPHIA was 
 there, he went to pay her a vifit. His heart 
 leaped at the fight of her, and he could net 
 withftand his violent inclination to come to a 
 defer conference. In a word, they mutually 
 opened their minds, and came to a, reconcilia- 
 tion. Forgetting all that was pafTed, they re- 
 folved to live once more together ; and with 
 that view, inftead gf returning to their refpec- 
 
 tive



 
 92 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 tive monafteries, they made their efcape within 
 a fortnight into Holland. 
 
 The old governefs, who related this hiftpry, 
 fpoke of the lady with great indignation, and 
 treated her as an infamous libertine ; but the 
 good woman had forgot her own youth, when 
 fhe entertained four lovers at a time, and was 
 not cruel to either of them. Her conduct cer- 
 tainly was more worthy of cenfure than that 
 of our married couple, whcfe religious vows 
 were abfolutely void in themfelves, and whofe 
 -conjugal obligation flrill fubfifted, in fpite of the 
 ignorance of thofe who had fet it afide. But 
 this wife fynod makes no fcruple of treading un- 
 der foot all the laws, both human and divine. 
 I will take another opportunity to relate the 
 conclufion of this hiftory : for our unhappy 
 pair, after all that has pafled, are ftill threatened 
 with a tragical cataftrophe. 
 
 Scarce were four months gone over out 
 heads, before URIE L, the moft rafcally of aM 
 the fubalterri devils, was terribly threatened by 
 ASMODEUS for having revealed the fecret of 
 the canon's death ; when, to clear himfelf, he 
 threw the blame of that difcovery on me. 
 What, fays ASMODEUS, is that poor dog 
 among us ? Is it he that takes the liberty to in- 
 termeddle in my affairs ? It is true indeed that 
 I have been abfent from the body of his excel- 
 lence, being fully fatisned that he would make 
 good ufe of my advice, and that thou FLAG EL 
 wouldft fupply my place on occafion ; but this 
 iccundrel valet de chambre of his luciferiart



 
 The Devi! Hermit. 93 
 
 majefty, (hall behave the temerity to come into 
 a country that is entirely devoted to me? I 
 fhall make him remember this, with a ven- 
 geance to him ! He then begr.n with his incan- 
 tations, and fummoneu me to appear. I found 
 he was in earneft, and that it would be but 3 
 word and a blow: therefore I made ufe of my 
 cunning, which indeed I had plenty of, and 
 got off with all expedition. My next recep- 
 tacle was the body of a Duana, into which I 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Aftaroth avenges the Knight for the Cruet- 
 ties of his Mifirefs. 
 
 BUT, my dear DEVIL HERMIT, cried 
 I, with fome emotion, methinks you may 
 now very well interrupt the thread of your 
 narration, in order to ferve me according to 
 your promife. Here have you amufed me, 
 from day to day, with your diabolical conver- 
 fation ; and never once feem to have thought 
 of my inhuman (air, whom you promifed to 
 make flexible. Can you not rely on my word 
 then? faid ASTAROTH in a furly tone. I 
 beg of you, Sir, to inform yourfelf better con- 
 cerning us devils, and not meafure our probity 
 by that of mankind. Be aflured friend that I 
 think of you, and wait only for a favourable 
 
 opportunity



 
 94 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 opportunity to do what 1 have promifed. T'ex- 
 per, the fair creature to come out of the city. 
 He then went on in a fofter tone : The time of 
 your felicity is at hand ; your charmer is juft 
 now fet out, in company with ; Duana, 
 for her country-feat. Let us tranfp,,: : ourfelves 
 into her apartment, and you {hall fee what I am 
 able to do. 
 
 But (he will know me, fays I, as foon as I 
 enter. Not in the leaft, anfwered my faithful 
 AST A ROTH : you (hall enjoy the privilege of 
 invifibility, which is in my power to confer. 
 No fooner fhall I whifper in her car, but your 
 affair will be in a good forwardnefs. You (hall 
 make yourfelf vifible in the evening, under a 
 low lattice that is in the court-yard, "and there 
 have an opportunity of holding fuch convetfa- 
 tion with her as I {hall fuggeft on this_occafion. 
 The fair will foon capitulate, and you may 
 inarryher; which indeed is the only thing I 
 can do for your worftiip. Nothing but HY- 
 MEN can make you happy, fuppofmg you will 
 never be fufceptible of jealoufy ; for ' indeed, 
 Madam will not always be fo fcrupulous as {he 
 is at prefent. 
 
 Your humble fervant, Mr DEVIL, faid I : 
 you are going to do me a great piece of fervice 
 indeed, by what I perceive. Does all your de - 
 vilfhip's skill then confift in the planting of horns 
 on my poor head ? Well, this makes it evi- 
 dent that all the devils are impoftors and cheats, 
 and that their greateft performances are mere 
 juggling. Patience, Sir, patience, my demon re- 
 plies ,



 
 T/oe Devil Hermit. 
 
 95 
 
 plies : dear me, you are fo hafty. When I 
 propofe marriage to you, I mean the marriage 
 of a French petit maitre, that is, only a trick 
 to impofe on the young creature's confcience. 
 I will place your friendj the Father Queftor, 
 juft in your way this evening, and he mail give 
 you a {hort benediction. Are you frightened 
 at the name of a blcffing man ? This monk is 
 no prieft : confequently your marriage will 
 not be legitimate j and when you grow weary 
 of your bargain, I will inform you how to get 
 rid of it. Make yourfelf eafy then en this ar- 
 ticle : rely on me, and you fliall find me a devil 
 of my word. 
 
 When we arrived at the apartment of 
 DONNA THERESA, we found her at her 
 looking- glafs, adjufting her head-drefs, which 
 had been rumpled by the jolting of the coach. 
 How lovely fhe appeared ! The HE R M i T 
 went up near her perfon, and blew a purple- 
 coloured vapour into her ear, which in a mo- 
 ment expanded to her heart. Soon after {he 
 began to figh, and to cry out, aloud, Heavens ! 
 What is become of him ? Shall I never fee him 
 again ? What a fool was I to repulfe fuch an 
 amiable young fellow ! Alas ! my feverity 
 drove him to defpair. Oh that he would come 
 again to himfelf ! that I could have the happi- 
 ncfs to fee him once more ! What would I not 
 do to engage him? As fhe fpoke thefe words, 
 the tears were feen to trickle down her lovely 
 eyes. 
 
 I was



 
 96 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 I was fo touched with this tender fcene, that 
 I was going, like a madman, to throw myielf 
 at her feet, if the HER MIT, who knew my 
 fentiments, had not fnatched me that mo- 
 ment out of the chamber, reproving me fmart- 
 ly, with a What now? You Frenchmen., he con- 
 tinued, are the moft hot-headed hair - brained 
 creatures in the univerfe. Why man, you had 
 juft fpoiled all. What, in the name of won- 
 der, could DONNA THERESA have thought, 
 to have heard your voice without feeing you ? 
 She muft have taken you for a mere phantom 
 of a lover. Btfides, no young lady is willing 
 to have it known that fhe is in love. At a time 
 when fhe profefies the utmoft indifference for 
 your perfon, fhe burns with the greateft ardor to 
 enjoy it. What a blunder for a man of wit, 
 who aims at deceiving a woman ! Are the ycung 
 fellows in your country capable of committing 
 foch abfurdities in love ? Only have patience 
 till the evening? You are already convinced 
 of my little fhare of power ; and you may be 
 fure, this very night, of being happy, and ta- 
 king poffeffion of the caftle. The lady, you 
 know, is an only daughter, and has neither 
 father nor mother living : her tutor may foon 
 be brought to reafon, and I will do your bufi- 
 nefs effeaually. 
 
 It muft be imagined that I expected the happy 
 moment with the utmoft impatience. At laft 
 the hour came which I had fo much defired, 
 when I perceived DONNA THERESA leaning 
 on a window, and venting the moft profound 
 
 fighs.



 
 The Devil Hermit. 97 
 
 fighs, I fprung nimbly up towards her, and 
 fhe knew meat firft fight. Whence come you, 
 Sir ? (he cried out with furprize ; and who in- 
 formed you that I was in this place ? My love, 
 Madam, anfwercd I. The defpair to which 
 your cruelty reduced me, has made me wander 
 the fields for a long time pad ; and night ha- 
 ving overtaken me juft at the gate of this cattle, 
 I got information to whom it belonged. My 
 joys were inexprefiible when I heard your lady- 
 fhip named for the owner, and that you was 
 j.uft now arrived here. I inftantly determined 
 to try once more, if you ftill perfift in your 
 inclination to occafion my death. My tor- 
 ments are fo very (harp, that I can no longer 
 fupport them. My tears, my declining condi- 
 tion, have fuincicr.tly informed you, that you 
 are the only dignity I adore. The flame that 
 con fumes me is too fierce to be any longer 
 borne. You know my family, my birth, my 
 fortune, in a word, 1 have concealed nothing 
 from you : Why then do you refufe my love ? 
 Is it fo very unworthy of you, O divine TH E- 
 RESA ? Cruel woman! See me then, pierce 
 this wretched breaft, and fall a vi&im at your 
 feet. Here I performed all the fooleries that 
 are ufual on fuch occafions. I drew my fword, 
 which to be fure I had no great inclination to 
 ftain with my blood. DONNA TH ERE s A, 
 perceiving my tranfports, cried out aloud : For 
 heaven's fake, dear knight, hold your hand a 
 moment ! Compofe your mind, Sir, and hear 
 me with attention, 
 
 K T i



 
 9 3 Ihe Devil Hermit. 
 
 I ingf-nuoufly confefs to you then, that I 
 rave conceived a finccre refpeft for your perfon 
 f/er fince I fn ft beheld you : but hearing that 
 the French are often impoftors, inconftanf, 
 and enterprifing in love, I imagined that all 
 your a&ions were feigned, and that you had no 
 other defign than to dimonour me. Remem- 
 ber, Sir, that you never once fpoke to me of 
 marriage; which indeed was what put me on 
 my guard. I know your family. The banker 
 l;o remits your money has informed me of 
 that,'and of your own particular birth and per* 
 fonal merit : I freely accept your hand there- 
 fore, and mall think myfelf honoured in being 
 'your wife. 
 
 You ravifh me, Madam, anfwered I with 
 the utmoft extafy. What a happy moment is 
 rhis for me ! and how am I at a lofs for expref- 
 fions ftrong enough to fet forth my tender 
 love and lafting gratitude ! Be aflured, Madam, 
 that all rny felicity confifts in our union, and 
 that I will not a moment defer that happine/s 
 which I prize beyond all the riches in the 
 tmiverfe. But, dear Madam, tell me, how 
 fhall we bring about this marriage ? I have re- 
 ceived orders frpm my parents to leave this 
 place immediately, and can alletigeno plaufible 
 "reafon for not obeying their commands. 
 Doubtlefs you would be glad of their confent : 
 but the procuring it would take up fo much 
 time, that I mould certainly die in the interval. 
 I am not fo rigorous, Sir, as you imagine, 
 replied the charming THERESA. I believe 
 
 you



 
 The -Devil Hermit. 99 
 
 you to be a man of honour, and will entirely 
 confide in your fmcericy. Here is a good old 
 friar juft come to the houfe, in order to crayc 
 an alms. If he is willing to marry us, I (hall 
 be fatisfied without any more formality. Pleafe 
 to come in. Sir, and we will fpeak to him to- 
 gether. 
 
 Here the DEVIL HERMIT took his leave 
 of me, and told me he was going to vifit his 
 nun. You perceive, fays he, that every thing; 
 goes well. It is I that have brought hither the 
 good brother, and inftrudted him in what he is 
 to perform. You muft not feem to know 
 him. Farewell, happy chevalier; this night 
 puts you in pofleffion of the queen of all your 
 thoughts. I will meet you in the cave tw 
 days hence. 
 
 Scarce was I entered but I threw myfelf at 
 the feet of the fair THERESA. The honeft 
 monk was immediately called. We gave him, 
 on this occafion, the title of father; and tho* 
 not in orders, I cannot help thinking he de- 
 ferved it well ; for all fathers are not priefis. 
 We opened the cafe to him without ceremony* 
 The impoftor difiembled moft dextroufly, and 
 performed his part to admiration. The hopes 
 of a good reward made him conceal his being 
 unqualified, and undertake with alacrity to 
 blefs our bed. He did not fpin out the cere- 
 mony to any great length. Supper was foon 
 ready, and we had no want of appetite. After 
 it was over, I took my full revenge on the fair 
 THERESA for. all the pangs that fhe had 
 1C 2



 
 ioo be Devil Hermit. 
 
 made me fuffer. Well, faid I to myfelf, there 
 is nothing like having a devil for one's friend. 
 They do a man's btsfmefs at once, without 
 much fatigue or expen.ce. Without prefents, 
 without ferenades, the moft hard-hearted mif- 
 trefs melts in a moment. Enjoyment goes 
 hand in hand with a declaration of love, and 
 no obfhicles arife in the way. 
 
 I was fo charmed with the good offices of my 
 DEVIL HERMIT, that finding the phial of 
 holy water in my pocket, 1 inftantly broke it 
 with indignation, refolving never more to 
 m.-ke ufe of it againft any fubjeft of his infer- 
 r ai majefly. The devils, faid I, are people of 
 1" iuW, and it wetild b$ hjvi^rvus to torment 
 
 T H E



 
 The Devil Hermit. 101 
 T H E 
 
 DEVIL HERMIT: 
 
 O R, T H E 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 AST A RO T H 
 
 BANISH ED from HELL. 
 The SECOND BOO 1C 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Siquel of the Hifyory of S'fitr Cornkhon, 
 Aitaroth the Duana of a young Lady cf 
 Fifteen. 
 
 TH E delights I tafled with Donna 
 THERESA, did not make me forget 
 my friend the TI E R M i T . Two days 
 after my playing at marriage, under a prcr. : ce 
 of: going a'huiuingjl fled to the cavern, where 
 
 th



 
 102 ?be Devil Hermit: 
 
 the good ASTAROTH expected me with im- 
 patience. So, Chevalier, fays he, as foon as he 
 "-faw me ; are not you a happy rogue now ? 
 The moft happy dog in the univerfe, anfwered 
 1 ; fl.iwing fu'ch tranfport of joy, as gave him 
 a full idea of my felicity. My dear fpoufe is 
 the moft obliging creature alive; and all her 
 concern is to pleafe me : in a word, there is no 
 man upon earth, but might envy the felicity I 
 ei-j ''. 
 
 Here the HERMIT flopped me (hort: I 
 could wifh, faid he, that this fatisfaction of 
 yours might be lafting ; but I forefee it will not. 
 I have other things in view for you, and have 
 chofen for your wife the daughter of a church- 
 warden. You do not think of fuch a thing 
 fure, faid I fmartly. What ! abandon an ami- 
 able and rich lady, to marry a church-warden's 
 d ughter ? Ay, Chevalier, the daughter of a 
 church- warden; but a church- warden of the firft 
 rank ; one, whofe daughter (hall bring to her 
 portion a rich lordfhip of 300,000 livres annual 
 rent. Well, faid I, if that be the cafe, let us 
 go i nd fee her this moment. 
 
 At this ASTAROTH fell a laughing hearti- 
 ly: What then, faid he, Donna THERESA 
 is no longer the miftrefs of your heart ? You 
 are a mere Frenchman, I fee, and that is fay- 
 ing ail at once. Your countrymen never love 
 be oncl enioyment. But have a little patience, 
 goo: Monfteuf] you are condemned to live a 
 year with Donna THERESA. For three 
 whole months foe will love you ; but after that, 
 
 Sir,



 
 The Devil Hermit. 303 
 
 Sir, expect to fwallow many a barter pill of her 
 preparing. 'Tis but juft, that a fuifick-ut quan- 
 tity of vexation (hould follow the fwects of 
 love, and that you fhould fuff r a little for the 
 infmcerity you have made ufe of towards her, 
 as well as for the many other amorous frolicks 
 you have been guilty of from your birth to 
 this hour. Some of your tricks I have heard in 
 the cloifter I came from, where, mt long a^o, 
 there was a pretty young girl confined, who 
 bad been feduced by you. Come, make a frank 
 confeflion of that intrigue J was it not true? 
 Dear Mr HERMIT, fa id I, let mv old amours 
 alone. It makes me mad to think of the malice 
 and artifices of thofe nuns. Well, well, the 
 DEVIL replied, fince you defire it, we will 
 drop the fubject : but let me tell you, that 
 thofe ladies are no better pleafed with you, than 
 you with them. Your worfhip prom i frd them 
 certain little prefents, fuch as fu^ar, cofitia and 
 tea, but not a grain of either ever came: it is 
 in revenge for this that they have difpofed of 
 your miftrefs's heart elfewhere, and fet her a- 
 gainft you. Her prefent gallant has bc-.-a much 
 more generous, and you know that nuns 
 never do any thing but for intoreft, but will 
 facrifke honour and conference for ready mo- 
 ney. 
 
 Well, have done with my affairs, however, 
 anfwered I, and entertain me with the fortune* 
 of that pretty nun who is under your protec- 
 tion, and whofe hiftory you went partly thro* 
 before. Alas! Sir, replied my falfe Hi RMIT> 
 
 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 
 <i'or. This he fpoke with that grace, which 
 is fo natural to the French. Madam, he adds, 
 I do not include this trifle in the fum promifed 
 by note, and beg you would look upon it only 
 as the earneft of what I intend to do for you. 
 Dame FA B R I c i A , v/ho already wept for joy 
 at the receipt of fo considerable a Sum, forgot 
 at once all her feverity, and promifed the Count 
 more than he required of her. She pocketed 
 up the two hundred louifes without much ce- 
 remony, and aflu'red her benefactor, that he 
 fhould hear from her in two days at fartheft. 
 |Ju L i A , at her return, found the Count wait- 
 ing for her with impatience; but fcarce would 
 flic vouchfafe to look on him : a cold compli- 
 ment, that barely (hewed her breeding, was 
 the utmoft our poor lover could extort from 
 her. All his cringes, all his proteftations of 
 love, conftancy, and fidelity, were to no pur- 
 pofe this evening, and could not obtain the 
 Jcaft anfwer. The impreflion which her duana's 
 
 lectures



 
 The Devil Hermit. 1 1 1 
 
 le&urcs had left in her mind, was too ftrongfor 
 her to be impofed upon with flattering clif- 
 courfe, which {he now regarded as made up of 
 artifice, falfehood, and deceit. The Count had 
 fallen into defpair, but for the promitcs of 
 dame FA B R I c I A . Thefe revived his hope:, 
 and enabled him to refume his natural gaiety, 
 which was adorned with fo much fprighdinds 
 and wit, as drew on him the admiration of a 
 whole aflembly, He had indeed moil excellent 
 qualities; was a man of probity and honour ; 
 but of a very amorous temper, and who 
 facrifice all to accomplifh his defigns. 
 
 At night the duana, being alone with her 
 'ward, in a carelefs manner enquired, What 
 news of the Count de BE L A I R ? O! fays his 
 fair miftrefs, that man teazes me to death with 
 his addrefles, and the ardor of his paflion ; but 
 fmce you have told me, Madam, that the French 
 are very perfidious and inconftant, I have fcarce 
 ever taken any notice of him. Well, but my 
 dear JULIA, replied the matron, I have fince 
 informed myfelf exactly of the Count's charac- 
 ter : his valet de chambre, who is a young fel- 
 low of good fenfe, has allured me, that his in- 
 tentions towards you are only honourable ma- 
 trimony. Now if we were fure, child, of the 
 purity of his intentions, an alliance of that na- 
 ture would raifeyou to a rank of high diftinc- 
 tion. His lordfhip enjoys the favour of his fo- 
 vereign, and pofleffes fome of the moft confule- 
 rable pofts in the kingdom : I believe fuch a 
 husband would make you perfectly happy j for 
 L 2 the



 
 1 12 The Devil Hermit. 
 
 the manner of living in France, my dear, is 
 much more agreeable than that in Italy. Wo- 
 men there enjoy perfect and full liberty : jea- 
 loufy is entirely banifhed from that happy cli- 
 mate : that ftupid paflion, which here makes 
 many a wife unhappy, is there unknown. If 
 the Count then dees love you fincerely, and I 
 think you have no room to doubt it, your beft 
 way, in my opinion, is to liften to hispropofal, 
 and not lofe fuch an offer thro' an obftinate and 
 ill grounded refervc. 
 
 But my good dire&refs, anfwered JULIA, 
 ivhat courfe wculd you advife me to take ? Shall 
 I expofe myfelf to the hearing of an equivocal 
 r afiion, which will tarniih my reputation ? He 
 tells me, he loves mej but may 1 rely on fuch 
 a declaration ? Bcfides, fuppofe he is really in 
 that mind at prefent, and that he feels all the 
 tendernefs he would make me believe, is it im- 
 pofiible for him to change? 
 
 My dear daughter, replied the duana, you 
 reafon like a perfon of good fenfe: But have 
 you not the fame to fear from a husband of 
 this country? Difclofe to me freely the fenti- 
 rr.cntsof your heart; do you not love the Count, 
 or, at leaft, do you not feala fort of favourable 
 inclination towards him? I cannot but own 
 inger.uouflv, governefs, that this nobleman is 
 not difagreeabie to me : but I depend upon a 
 father ; we muft confult him, and take his in- 
 ftruclions concerning my reception of the 
 Count's addreiTes. Alas ! my dear Ju L i A, the 
 Count will not be forward to open his mind to 
 
 the



 
 The Devil Hermit. r 1 3 
 
 the Marquis your father, before he is informed 
 whether your heart feels itfelf difpofed to fa- 
 vour him. A marl of fine tafte ought to be be- 
 holden to his own merit, and not to the or- 
 ders of a father, for the gobd graces of his mi- 
 ftrefs. The yoke of HYMEN cannot be'eafy 
 without mutual tendernefs : therefore, child, if 
 his love is not difpleaflng to you, and your 
 heart perceives any inclination towards him, 
 give an ear to what he has to fay, and w-ighhis 
 reafons > 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



 
 <The Devil Hermit. 133 
 
 much merry company, and chofe rather to Tup 
 alone in his chamber. 
 
 While they were dancing after (upper, the 
 good father examined carefully the bridal cham- 
 ber, which, luckily for him, was feparated 
 from his only by athin fir-tree partition. Fie 
 very dextroufly took out a board, that he might 
 get in after the bride. No fooner had they 
 conveyed her to the nuptial bed, but the monk, 
 who liftened all the while, underftood that the 
 bridegroom continued longer with the compa- 
 ny. Upon this the good father crept into the 
 chamber, and fairly took his place by the fide 
 of his young wife : but fcarce had he attempted 
 to execute his defign, before fhe perceived he was 
 not the man fhe had married, and fcreamed 
 out fo loud, that all the company ran to her 
 afliftance. The audacious monk, who did not 
 expect this difcovery, had no time to efcape. 
 The husband, a ftrong vigorous young fel- 
 low, flew at him like a fury, and gave him 
 fuch a hearty drubbing, that he was obliged to 
 be carried home to his monaftery, where he 
 lay two months before he got cured of the 
 blows he received. 
 
 It was not eight days before I took pofTeflion 
 of him, that he had corrupted a youno; g'rl, 
 who waited on a countefs that was taking the 
 waters in this city. Impofed upon by his hy- 
 pocrify, the wench addrefled herfclf to him 
 for her confeflbr. After a fevere. reprimand, 
 he ordered her, byway of penitence, to wear a 
 cord upon her naked skin. Nay more, foyb he, 
 N it



 
 >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 on 
 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/;<? Devil Hermit. 
 
 If that be the cafe, faid I, I fhall have the 
 fatisfa&ion of feeing him as wretched as myfelf, 
 with only this difference, that he is pofTeffed of 
 talents which I want, and has the art of ex- 
 changing counterfeit jewels for real ones. 
 What then, cried he, do you no longer number 
 me among your friends, that you think your- 
 felf in fuch a miferable fituation I Satisfy your- 
 felf, chevalier, that I am a devil of ftril honour, 
 and incapable of being worfe than my word. 
 Have not I promifed to aflift you in all your 
 dfiftculties I But youi honour, faid I, had 
 forgot me for fome time ; or at leaft, if you 
 did not abandon me voluntarily, the power that 
 detained you elfewhere, left me in the neceility 
 of making my ov/n way out of my late tribula- 
 tion, without your affiftance. 
 
 You ought to confider, faid ASTAROTH, 
 that one can enter into no engagement beyond 
 one's power ; nor can one be refponfible for 
 crofs accidents that may now and then happen. 
 When I left you juft without Paris, my defign 
 was only to fupport the intereft of an enterprif- 
 ing young lord, who has put himfelf under my 
 protection. But fcarce had I done with him, 
 before the rank I then held obliged me to pay 
 my attendance at the ^conclave, which nowr 
 makes fo much noife. Thanks to my genius, 
 I have fo embarraiTed the minds of my collegues > 
 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<Sl. 
 Obferve thofe avenues, thofe canals, thofe cu- 
 rious buildings, and that univerfal propriety of 
 all : thefe are entirely but fo many fruits of the 
 people's induftry. This has carried them fo- 
 far, that they may be faid to have made an in- 
 chanted country of a place that was uninhabita- 
 ble. They have even clone more, chevalier. 
 Weary of the yoke under which they lived, 
 r.nd which grew every day more infuppor table, 
 they found the fecret, contrary to all human 
 probability, to (hake it off their moulders, and 
 arofe to the higheft degree of power, by means 
 which feemed inevitably to threaten their de- 
 flection. But the perfons who undertook, and 
 accomplimed fuch great actions, were not the 
 very individual men you now ice. The glory 
 of fuch exploits is due only to a fimple race of 
 people, a people conftant in their purpofes, with- 
 out luxury, enured to live on little, and to 
 bear fatigues. They were the anceftors of a 
 fmall part of thofe who now inhabit the coun- 
 try. But things are very much changed here 
 within half a century paft. The equitable laws 
 introduced by the government^ having drawn 
 
 hi they



 
 T6e Devi! Hermit. 247 
 
 hither an infinite number of foreigners, luxury- 
 has likewife been brought in with them, and, 
 thanks to our infernal fovereign, vice has now 
 the predominancy here over virtue. Not but 
 that there are ftill many men in the country truly 
 great ; but virtue being no longer honoured, 
 here, any more than in moft other parts of the 
 world, their merit mines with no luftre, and. 
 is difficult to be difcovered. 
 
 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 Sequel of the preceding : Comer fat ions of the 
 Author with AST A ROTH, concerning 
 federal per fans, ivhom they meet by chance* 
 fbey pafs thro* divers cities. ASTA- 
 ROTH is forced to take his fight into a- 
 mther country . 
 
 T" 1 H E beauty of the place I was in, could 
 * not for fome time fatiate my eyes. How* 
 ever, as one grows weary by degrees of looking 
 always on the fame objedb, AST A ROTH, who 
 difcovered my fentiments, informed me that I 
 had feen every thing, for that there was no o- 
 ther difference among the cities but in their 
 magnitude. \Vhat remains for me to give you 1 
 an idea, of faid he, and which will appear 
 to you furprifing, is the indolence of thefe very 
 
 people,



 
 248 T/:e Devil Hermit. 
 
 pie, who at firft fight appeared to you fo ac- 
 tive. One would be apt to think, by going 
 to vifit them at 'different times, that they hud 
 two fouls, one of which was deftgned to mo- 
 derate the turbulence of the other. You have 
 feen the men in the place of their daily devo- 
 tions: 1st us now enter the circles of their af- 
 femblies. Obferve thofe two merchants who 
 accoft one another upon the bridge there. By 
 the coldnefs with which they receive each other, 
 would not you imagine that they were utter 
 {Grangers, and that this is their firft interview?" 
 All this while they are own brothers, who love 
 one another fincerely, and mutually pay their 
 vifits every day. They are both invited into a 
 circle of ladles, where they will pafs away their 
 irkfome moments with incredible pleafure. 
 Let us follow them without being feen. We 
 are now in the hall r where you obferve there 
 are yet but few people. She who prefides-as 
 miftrefs of the place, is a countrywoman of 
 yours by birth ; but having been educated nere, 
 ihe has acquired that infolent and formal gravity 
 with which (he falutes all that come to her af 
 feinbly. But look at thofe four nymphs who 
 are now corning up the fteps. One would take 
 them by their drefs and manner to be a<Strefles. 
 Obferve how all the gentlemen range them- 
 felves around their perfons. Their beauty and 
 lofty carriage enable them every day to make 
 new conquefts ; yet the eldefr of the four is 
 now far advanced in her eighth luflre. The 
 fecond follows clofely at her heels 5 and neither- 
 
 o 



 
 The Devil Hermit. 249 
 
 of them all has found the fecret to fix one admi- 
 rer. Their too haughty behaviour, even towards 
 their equals, has drawn down on them a great 
 number of enemies, who fpare no pains to 
 expofe their faults, and fully their reputa- 
 tion. 
 
 See there comes up a frefh company. Re- 
 mark that beauty richly clad, whom love has 
 reduced to a very wan completion. The gen- 
 tleman who leads her is one of her brothers, 
 and he to whom the father has entrufted the 
 care of her conduct. The fprightly young pul- 
 let, who enjoys an elegant tafte, has fuffered 
 herfclf to be charmed by the eloquence of a 
 handfome young fellow, who wants neither 
 learning nor merit. This modim lover is very 
 affiduous in purfuit of his miflrefs, though he 
 pants after her wealth more than her perfon -: 
 but the father of the fair, whofe good for- 
 tune has made him forget his original, does 
 not think fit to approve of this match. With- 
 out compaffion he rigidly withftands the defires 
 of his" daughter, and by his invincible obfti- 
 nacy makes her live a martyr to her pafllon; 
 Yet all his precautions cannot hinder thefe ten- 
 der lovers from holding a very ftrict correfpon- 
 dence together. There are fome good fouls 
 who charitably lend an ear to their love, and 
 ferve them with great zeal. They fee one a- 
 nother, they have an intercourfe by letters; 
 and the difficulties fhe meets with, far from 
 difcouraging the fair, do but help to heighten 
 her flame. It is not, I muft own, quite the 
 
 fame



 
 7/v Devil Hermit. 
 
 fame with the young man : perfar.ded that he 
 is altogether as good as his miftrefs, and that 
 his birth and merit make fufficient amends for 
 his want of riches, the contemptuous carriage 
 of his future father-in-law begins already to 
 make him cool, and he is in doubt whether to 
 proceed or retire. Ere long he will abandon 
 this fortune for an amiable young lady, who has 
 more beauty, tho' lefs wealth, and v/hofe fa- 
 mily is more honourable and lefs haughty. 
 
 What ! more new faces ? cried I, feeing two 
 beauties enter of an extraordinary figure, whofe 
 skin neither white, nor black, nor red, was of a 
 colour that cannot be defined. Do they come to 
 ferve as foils to thofe lovely creatures they are 
 placed by ? You are, very right, replied As- 
 T A ROTH : it is purely an effecl: of malice that 
 they are placed where you fee them. They 
 are countrymen of yours. They had for 
 fome years lived in their own province in 
 very indifferent circumftances, when one of 
 their neareft relations, who had heaped toge- 
 ther a great deal of wealth under the protection 
 of a rich uncle, had the generofity to fend for 
 them hither, and to put them into the plight 
 which they now appear in. Like all other per- 
 fons who are deftitute of education, the change 
 of their condition has almoft turned their brains. 
 Their behaviour is fo very haughty, that they 
 are grown infupportable to all about them. 
 Not a foul in the world loves them, and they 
 are admitted into fomepublick affemb'lie.s, mere- 
 ly out of regard to their relations. 
 
 Now



 
 The Devil Hermit. 251 
 
 Now they bring in the hot water for the 
 ladies, and pipes for the gentlemen This fcene 
 deferves ycur attention. The order the ladies 
 are ranged in round the table, is worthy to be 
 admired, while the gentlemen ftand behind 
 them, and blow the fmoke into their faces with 
 a coiriic gravity. What is the meaning of this 
 profound filence ? faid I to AST A ROTH : Are 
 they going to celebrate fome myftery? Not 
 in the leaft, anfwered he ; they are filent for 
 PO other reafon but becaufe they have nothing 
 to fay. But this filence will not be of long 
 duration. That fuperannuated beauty, who 
 is the miftrefs of the houfe, is terribly enraged 
 ith her fervants, and is going to open the con- 
 verfation with moft bitter complaints ; after 
 which every one will pity her without know- 
 ing what (he has faid. Here come the cards, 
 and the tables are ready for the players : they will 
 be all fixed till nine o'clock at night ; fo let us 
 retire, to avoid the irkfome task of being obliged 
 to keep them company. 
 
 Have you any curiofity, faid he, as xve came 
 cut of this place, to fee fome of the aflemblies 
 of men ? You muft firft inform me, replied I, 
 whether they are any better worth feeing than 
 the aflembly we have been in ; for till then 
 I can give you no direct anfwer. I can aflure 
 you, faid he, that they are much worfe. You 
 will fee nothing there, properly fpeaking, but 
 a parcel of joint ftools, with creatures fitting 
 on them, fome at play, others fmoaking, o- 
 thers drinking, others quarrelling together, or 
 
 calumniating



 
 252 ^he Devil Hermit. 
 
 calumniating the abfent, or arguing without 
 a grain of common fenfe. I know enough 
 of thefe matters, faid I, already, not to expofe 
 myfelf to the mortification of being an ocular 
 witnefs of fuch ftupicihies. A walk will be 
 much more agreeable and amufing : let us take 
 a turn this way. I fee a fallow complexion 
 coming towards us at a diftance, and would 
 gladly know who it is. The penfive air of 
 the man denotes him full of proje&s. Whi- 
 ther is he running in fuch a monftrous hurry ? 
 He is running, anfwered AST A ROTH, to an 
 audtion juft by, in order to buy cheap what he 
 will fell afterwards at an exorbitant price. 
 That fellow would facrifice father and mother 
 for a fmgle ducat. Intriguing to the laft de- 
 gree, he knows how to make fomewhat of 
 every thing. As he is but a bad mufician, he 
 tries every means to make amends for this want 
 of skill in his calling. He is become a broker, 
 a ufurer, a {harping gamefler, and has a thou- 
 fand other different trades, aflbciated with a 
 woman as crafty as himfelf, both their aims 
 are directed to the fame end. He has found 
 the fecret however to get five hundred ducats 
 out of this woman, who has made him give 
 her a bond for it, with which (he keeps him 
 in awe. Being thus obliged to treat her with 
 refpet, he flavifhly fubmits to all fhe requires 
 of him. It is not long ago that the old hag, 
 having; determined to arreft a man who owed 
 her money, made our mufician fubmit to the 
 mean employment of a fetter. By h:r order 
 
 he



 
 he Devil Hermit. 253 
 
 he went to the man that was to be enfnared, 
 and learned from him the precife time in which 
 he intended to go abroad. He was not in the leaft 
 fulpedled, and therefore executed his coin- 
 mimon with eafe and addrefs, fecu:ing their 
 prey to the bailiffs, who were in purfuit cf 
 him. Such a man as this, faid I, without 
 
 rjftion, js doomed fer an inhabitant of one of 
 moft gloomy regions in all Tartarus. L'o 
 not deceive yourfelf, Chevalier, replied As- 
 T A ROT H> 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- 
 <bman, and that he was come, as a. ''jnerr.ber 
 of the o wife's repub.lick, to demand* -fa'tisfac- 
 tion fo rhc . ,r words which,. !he had 
 
 uttered the evening tefcfCj againft th. 
 body of his nation ? } In vaiii did the merchant 
 make ufe of all hij elgc[ueacd to, get himftlf 
 out of this fcrapc: the officer would liften'tq 
 no other fort of reparation, but that which 
 he demanded as a gentleman. Neither praye;s 
 nor tears, tho' vented on his knees, could' 
 abate the juft anger of this military patriot ^ 
 who ftill perfifted in his fir ft demand, till at laft, 
 longer any having no other room to doubt that 
 he. had to deal with tlje moft cowardly of man- 
 kind, he faw he had no remedy but the chaf- 
 
 tifcment



 
 The Devi' I Hermit. 
 
 tifement of the cane, which he inflicted with the 
 greateft feverjty. The vigorous application of 
 this instrument of revenge, made the other 
 cry out in a very pleafant manner. All the 
 gu eft's that lodged that night in the fame inn, 
 wakened by the fhrill found of his' voice, cante 
 running to the place, and arrived time enough 
 to be witneiies of the diverting fpecla- 
 cle, the punifhment which his laft night's im- 
 pertinence had brought on him. pity at l;vft 
 relieved h-im Out of the hands of the enemv,. 
 and he thought himfelf happy in getting fo 
 well off, without pretending to any retaliation, 
 The {hameoffucha cudgelling, prevented I/* 
 doing any more bufinefs in this country, and 
 he took the prudent itep to quit it without de- 
 lay. He rode poft home, perfuaded that the 
 adventure could not have blown thither before 
 his arrival, and that then he might conteir. the 
 truth of it when it came to be reported. Full 
 of this thought, fcarce had he been an hour 
 come to town, but he made his appearance 
 at a coffee-houie, the raoft frequented of any 
 in this country. Without obferving that every 
 one was furprifed at his entrance, . and more 
 fo at his gay and tranquil air; What n w,3 
 have you, gentlemen ? faid he ; addrefling h:nr- 
 felf to feveral perfons that he had jnft pa t d 
 his refpecis to. Here is the gazette, Sir, 'an- 
 fwered one of the company ; take it and read. 
 In the article from Frankfoit, ycu  ; !l find 
 a piece oi 'a litfle - 01 filft. 
 
 In a woio, thtiiw. ; v. - :: JC re admirably well 
 Z 2.



 
 256 We Devil Ueri:, 
 
 >< 
 
 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<?s, and her wealthy widower lives perfectly 
 
 at



 
 peo 
 Thi 
 
 '/ Hermit* 
 
 at cafe, and refpe&ed by all thofe who pay their- 
 worfliip to fortune. 
 
 But tell me, faid T, what is this body of 
 ple, of which I now make one myfelfr 
 is, anfwered ASTAROTH, is called a very 
 wifeaflembly,tho'rhoft of the members of it have 
 neither wit nor judgment, but are blinded by 
 their paffions, and aft only with a view to their 
 intereft, or from caprice, or fometimes agree- 
 ably to the felicitation of their wives. He who 
 prefides among them is ufually a very venerable 
 man, but one who is refpefted only in appear- 
 ance, and no farther attended to than his opi- 
 nions are conformable to thofe of the ignorant 
 wretches he is obliged to propofe them to, who 
 even a&ed as if they vied with ezch other who 
 fhould thwart him the moft: fo much does 
 pride predominate in this, auguft body. For the 
 moft part, indeed, it is compofed of men who 
 underftand commerce, but whofe - knowledge 
 leads them no farther. As they know 
 the whole knot of them to be chofen only out 
 of regard to their fortune-, they think of no- 
 thing but aggrandizing themfelves, without tak* 
 ing any trouble to acquire thofe qualities that 
 are requiiite, in order to fill up with dignity the 
 function of their high officer, which requires 
 great capacity and penetration. 
 
 My dear AST A ROTH, faid I, will you 
 pleafe to let me have a view of fome of theie 
 afTemblies. I fhould take a delight in hearing 
 fome cafes of confcience decided by men who 
 know nothing more than the current value of 
 foreign coin. Their fentimeats, t imagine,



 
 Devil Hrtmit. 26*1 
 
 muft vary, like the public flocks among brokers. 
 What you delire, faid AST A ROTH, is in- 
 deed a very humourous piece of diverfion ; but I 
 refuve it for another opportunity. .At prefent 
 we have not a minute to lofe, bec^ufe it is high 
 time we v/ere at ,the moft famous place of the 
 whole country. I would have you prefent at 
 the funeral folefnnity of one of the moft amia- 
 ble fubje&s that has for a long time arrived in 
 cur empire. I made him no reply, but followed 
 him with all expedition, and we made fuch 
 hade as to be at our journey's end time enough 
 to fatisfy cur curiofuy. 
 
 The firft thing my Devil did, was to lead 
 me into a houfe fo infe&ed, that the very fmell 
 ftruck me dovrn on the floor. Even AST A- 
 ROTH, for his part, little delicate as he was, 
 owned himfelf unable to bear the ftench. This 
 houfe held the dead carcafe of the pcrfon who 
 had brought us hither. "Whoever the fubjecl: 
 be, cried 1,-jjJ had much rather leave my os- 
 riofity ungratified, than run the rifque of getting 
 any contagious diflemper. This infection, 
 anfwered ASTAROTH, proceeds only from 
 their haying, by dire&ion from a.Jew,opened the 
 xroi'pfeto embalm it. Tho* the wretch was rotting 
 to pieces even before the departure of her foul, the 
 perfon who now takes fo much care of her fune- 
 ral doatcd on her. Let us go to this houfe, which 
 Js : juil by, and I will conduct you quite to 
 his owoi apartment.. Would you not think, 
 by the grief you fee him in, that his lofs was 
 irrepajabte r Yet all this lamentation is only 
 
 for



 
 262 Tbt .Drill Hermit. ' 
 
 for a- paultry aftrefs, who play'd her part indeed 
 effectually with him, abridged him of his do- 
 mefHcksat pleafure, and fold him her favouis 
 only for ready money. Now he is deprived of 
 her, his riches feem to be a burthen to him, 
 and his life, for the future, will be one con- 
 tinued fcene of uneafinefs. All his enjoyments 
 are utterly blafted, and he permits nobody to 
 fee him but flatterers, who have the complaifance 
 to bewail his misfortune3',and dwell on the virtues 
 of his lafcivious miftrefs. See that old man that 
 comes in this moment : he is the moft cele- 
 brated poet of your nation, and has been enticed 
 hither by the bounties of our wealthy mourner. 
 His bufinefs is to pay the compliment of conda- 
 lance, which he accompanies with an elegy, that, 
 tho' it be very languid and jejune, ami much 
 below his other writings, will be better paid 
 for than his beft pieces. He who follows him 
 is a mufician no Jefs famous, who comes to raife 
 contribution on the Ifraelite, for the prefent 
 of a Madrigal, that he has got writ for him, 
 and to which he himfelf has compofed an air. 
 As this little piece is extremely fuitable to the 
 circumftance? the Jew is now in, he is not 
 afhamed to fet a price on it himfelf, and will 
 really get the whole fum he demands. 
 
 But who is he that comes in with fo gay an air, 
 that one would be apt to think his only bufinefs 
 wastoinfult the affliction of the good-natured 
 Ifraelite? Tr-a% faid ASTAROTH, is another 
 poet, a mm of w-eat reputation, but of fo 
 frank and open a deportment, that 'he cnnnot 
 
 dUTemble,



 
 *Tbe 'Devi! Hermtt. 26$ 
 
 dbTernble, He could not fubmit to make any 
 advantage of this opportunity, and his natural' 
 politenels is the only motive of his coming 'hi- 
 ther, where he will receive nothing but empty 
 thanks for his candid compliment. Hah, re-i 
 plied I, I know that charming poet: he is die- 
 very flower of all our wits, and we want no- 
 body now here but the hero of Parnaflus, that 
 univerfal genius, and mode of good tafte." 
 I eafily comprehend, faid my very good .guide, 
 whom you fpeak of. He has juft been to get- 
 him elf puffed in the gazette, and is this mo- 
 ment, you fLall fee, coming into the city : 
 let us go and rneet him. But, adds my meta- 
 morpliofed devil, as he came out of the Ifrae- 
 lite's houfe, it were to be wifhed, for his 
 fake, that all perfons of underftanding were of 
 your opinion. They would not then lefien 
 his good qualities, by attributing .to him certain 
 bad ones, that are uiually found only in folks 
 of my fpecies, Ibr in thofe who are thought 
 the moft to refemble us. What do you imagine 
 he is coming here to do ? His bufmefs is, with- 
 out well concerting his fcheme, to bite a book- 
 fUler more crafty than himfelf, to whom he 
 has fold a niaiiufcript that he wants to get out 
 of his hands again. Obferve how he proceeds. 
 I perceive already, faid I, that the bookfeller 
 refufes him. His pretended delign, conti- 
 nued AST A ROTH, Is to make fome correc- 
 tions to the advantage of the work : yet the 
 fufpicious fhopkeeper is afraid to truft him, and 
 dos it only on the condition that he ftiall \yrite 
 
 them



 
 l JL 
 
 them, on the fpO|> 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 <je 
 TOLVAIRE has juft now addrefled to his 
 rrtajefty in return ? Can any one fay with juf- 
 ticc, that it degenerates from the beauty of.hjs 
 other poems? Yet this was his laft work ; arid 
 all impartial perfons mufi therefore conclude 
 
 - from



 
 Kvil 'Hertntf: 267 
 
 fronV'it, that his mufe -Has not &&Tdbffeft hiriH 
 as- his' antagonifts would fain make us believe. 
 
 Where are your thoughts now, my dear 
 Chevalier r replied As T A k o T H ." " The piert. 
 you' talk of is the moft bunglihgly- conceived 
 that can poilibly be imagined : the poet, when 
 he compofed it, muft have been deftitute of all 
 common fenfe. Who but he ever undertook 
 to praife'a fon at the expence of a father's re- 
 putation' whom he loved, and whofe memory 
 is yet dear in his eyes ? What idea muft Ton- 
 v A i R E have of the prince whom he flatters^ in 
 this manner ? Does he think to enhance the 
 virtues of the new monarch by treating his fa- 
 ther as avaritious, unjuft, and cruel? It is not 
 my private judgment, Chevalier, that can do 
 any prejudice to the reputation of the poet you 
 fpeak of : but the opinion of all people of tafte 
 muft weigh fomething, and they confpire to 
 regard this epiftle as the very tomb of common 
 fenfe. It has accordingly been treated witli 
 the c'onterript if deferves : his inconfiderate zeal 
 has made him at onCe lofe all the monarch's ef- 
 teem. He now owns the blun'der that has for 
 ever precluded him from the prefence of this 
 prince : but what grieves him the moft, is to 
 lee himfelf fruftrat'ed of a very con fiderable gra- 
 tuity, which 'he depended on receiving.. His 
 enemies triumph on this bccjfion : I will (hew 
 you one little' piece, writ by a poet, remarka- 
 o'e orhs natural vein of humour, whom per- 
 haps you will -know by his ftile. Read here, 
 > ' ' 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 ; <vix. 
 i . Theology ; or the fir it Principles of Natural Re- 
 ligion! 2. Ethics, or Morality ; the Doftrine of 
 Moral Virtues. 3. Chriftianity ; or the Subjeft of 
 the Chriftian Religion. 4. Judaifm ; or the Reli- 
 gion and State of the Jews. 5. Mahometanifm ; 
 or the Life, Religion, and Polity of Mahomet. 6. 
 Gentilifm ; or the Deities and Religion of the Hea- 
 then. 7. Mythology ; or an Explanation of Fa- 
 bulous Hiitories. 8. Grammar and Language ; par- 
 ticularly of the Englifh Tongue. 9. Rhetoric and ; 
 Oratory; or the Art of fpcakir.g eloquently. 10. 
 Logic ; or the Art of Reafoning and Perfi^fion. 1 1 . 
 Ontology 5 or the Science of B.'ing abftra&edly con- 
 I* i fidered.



 
 Books printed for James Hodge?. 
 
 iidercd. 12. Poetry ; or the Art of making Verfes 
 or Poems. 13. Criticifm ; or Art of judging well of 
 Men and Things. 14. Geography; or a JDefcrip- 
 tion of the World. 15. Chronology ; or the Doc- 
 trine of Time. 1 6. Hiitory ; with the Original of 
 Nations and Kingdoms. 17. Phyfio!ogy ; or Sci- 
 ence of Natural Philofophy. 1 8. Botany ; or the 
 Dottrineof Plants and Vegetables. 19. Anatomy; 
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 22. Polity and Oeconomics ; or the Doctrine of So- 
 ciety ar.d Government. 23. Jurifprudcnce ; or 
 the Knowledge of Law or Right. 24. Heraldry ; 
 or Art of Blazoning Ccat Armcur. 25. Mif- 
 ccllanies ; an Account of the Mathematical Arts and 
 Sciences. 
 
 VIII. Logsrithmolcgia : Or, the whole Doc- 
 trine of Logarithms, Common and Lcgiftical, in 
 Theory and Practice. In Three F;rts. Part I. 
 The Theory of Logarithms ; (hewing their Nature, 
 Origin, Conftruclicn, and Properties, demonftrated 
 in various Methods, fix. i. By plain Arithmetic. 
 2. By the Logarithmic Curve. 3. By Dr. Halley's 
 Infinite Series. 4. By Fluxions. 5. By the Pro- 
 perties of the Hyperbola. 6. By the Equiangular 
 Spiral. 7. By a Logarithms infpeclional Scale of 
 twenty-two Inches Length. With the Conflruftion 
 of the' artificial Lines ot Numbers, Signs, and Tan- 
 gent?. Al.b the Nature and Conftruclion of I.o- 
 $;iflical Logarithms. The whole illuftrated and 
 made c,ify by many and fuitable Examples. Part 
 .IF. The Praxis of Logr.rithms ; wherein all the 
 Rules and Operations of Logarithmical Arithmetic, 
 both Common and Logiftical, by Numbers snd In- 
 IrrjTr.cnts, are ccpicully exemplified. Together 
 with the Application thereof to the feveral Branches 
 of Mathematical Learning. Part III. A Three- 
 fold Cr.non of Logarithms, in a new and mere com- 
 pendious Method than any extant ; I'ix. i . A Ca- 
 non



 
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 non of Logarithms of Natural Numbers. 2. A Ca- 
 non of Logarithms of Sines and Tangents. 3. A 
 Table of Logiftical Logarithms. The whole being 
 a Compleat Syftem of this mod ufeful Art ; and 
 enriched with all the Improvements therein from its 
 Original to the prefent Time. 
 
 IX. A new and compendious Syilem of Optics. 
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 reflecting Sort. The whole explained, exemplified, 
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 and Sciences ; and a Treatife of Logarithms, com- 
 mon and logiftical, in Theory and Practice. 
 
 X. A Treatife of the Powers of Medicines, by 
 the late learned Herman Boerhaave, Doftor of Phi- 
 lofophy and Phyfic, and Prcfeflor of Phyfic, Ba- 
 tany, and Chemiftry in the Univerfity of Leyden. 
 Tranflated from the moft correct Latin Edition, by 
 John Martin, Fellow of the Royal Society, and 
 Profeflbr of Botany in the Univerfity of Cambridge. 
 Price bound in Calf 5 s. 
 
 XI. Obfervations in Surgery : Containing One 
 hundred and fifteen different Cafes, with particular 
 Remarks on each, for the Improvement of young 
 Students. Written originilly in French by Henry - 
 Francis le Dran, of the Academy of Arts, fworn 
 Surgeon at Paris, fenior Mafter of that Company, 
 eldeft Surgebn and Demonftrator of Anatomy at the 
 
 for



 
 Books printed for James Hodges. 
 
 Hofpital La Charite. Tranflated by J. S. Surgeon. 
 To which is added, a new Chirurgical Dictionary, 
 for the Ufe of young Practitioners, and Gentlemen 
 refiding in the Country ; explaining the Terms of 
 Art contained in the Body of the Book, and like- 
 wife all fuch as properly belong to Phyfick and Sur- 
 gery. 
 
 XII. A Collection of One hundred and twenty- 
 eight fekct Obfervations in Surgery,made by Mr. Sa- 
 viard, chief Surgeon and Operator in Midwifery, at 
 the Hofpital Hotel Dieu at Paris ; with the parti- 
 cular Remedies ufed in each Cafe. Wherein the 
 Diftempers incident to the Female Sex are copioufly 
 enlarged on ; among others, that of the Defcent of 
 the Womb, clearly proving the Reality of fuch a 
 Difeafe, in Oppofition to Mr. Verduc. 
 
 XIII. A Collection of fcarce and valuable Trea- 
 tifes upon Metals, Mines, and Minerals. Con- 
 taining, i . Curious Obfervations on Mines, and the 
 feveral Minerals produced ; with plain Directions 
 and Rules for finding them in all Countries. 2. The 
 Art of Melting, Refining, and Affaying all Sorts 
 of Metals ; whereby any Perfon, at a fmall Charge, 
 may try the Value of fuch Oars as {hall be found, 
 either by Rule or Accident. With Inflections for 
 forting of Oar. 3 . Real Experiments, to try whe- 
 ther any Piece offer'd for Gold be true or counter- 
 feit, what Colour any Berry, Leaf, Flower, Stalk, 
 Root, Fruit, Seed, Bark or Wood will give. With 
 an infallible Method of preparing Colours, which 
 mall neither flain nor fade like ordinary Colours. 
 4. The common Way of Refining Silver by Quick- 
 filver. With fome new Rules added for the better 
 Performance. 5. An invaluable Difcovery of all 
 Sorts of Mines, from Gold to Coal. Alfo the com- 
 pleat Miner, with the Liberties, Laws, and Cuftoms 
 of the Lead-Mines within the V/apentake of Workc- 
 worth in Derbyshire, in Fifty-nine Articles, being 
 all that ever were made. 6. The Art of Dialling, 
 or Levelling Grooves, greatly defired by all Miners -. 
 
 Being



 
 Books printed for James Hodges. 
 Being a Subjeft never wrote on before, with an Ex- 
 planation of the Miners Terms of Art, and feveral 
 other curious Particulars. Being a Tranflation from 
 the learned Albaro Alonfo Barba, Director of the 
 Mines at Potofi, in the Spaniih Weft-Indies, and 
 the Obfervations of feveral ingenious Perfons of our 
 own Country, founded on many Years Experi- 
 ence. 
 
 XIV. The Laboratory, or School of Arts : In 
 which are faithfully exhibited, and fully explain'd, 
 r. A Variety of curious and valuable Experiments in 
 Refining, Calcining, Melting, A (laying, Calling, 
 Allaying, and Toughening of Gold : With feveral 
 other Curiofities relating to Gold and Silver. 
 2. Choice Secrets for Jewellers in the Management 
 r.f Gol-i ii Hn-rnelling, and the Preparation of en- 
 amel Colours, with the Art of copying Precious 
 Stones : of preparing Colours for Doublets ; of co- 
 louring Fovles for Jewels, together with other rare 
 Secrets. 3. Several uncommon Experiments for 
 cafting in Silver, Copper, Brafs, Tin, Steel, and 
 other Metals ; likewife in \Vax, Plaifler of Paris, 
 Wood, Horn, &c. With the Management of the 
 refpeftive Moulds. 4. The Art of making Glafs : 
 Exhibiting withal the Art of Painting and making 
 Impreffions upon Glafs ; and of laying thereon Gold 
 or Silver ; together with the Method of preparing 
 the Colours for Potters- work, or Delft- ware. 5. A 
 Collection of very valuable Secrets for the Ufe of Cut- 
 lers, Pewterers, Brafiers, Joiners, Turners, Japan- 
 ners, Bookbinders, Diftillers, Lapidaries, Limners, &c. 
 6. A Diflertation on the Nature and Growth of Salt- 
 petre : Alfo feveral other choice and uncommon Ex- 
 periments. To which is added, an Appendix; teach- 
 ing i. The Art and Management of dying Silks, 
 Worded, Cottons, &c. in various Colours. 2. The 
 Art of preparing Rockets, Crackers, Fire-globes, 
 Stars, Sp'arks, &c. for recreative Fire-works. Tranf- 
 Jated from the High-Dutch. The Second Edition. 
 Price bound in Cilf Fiv2 Shillings. 
 
 XV. The



 
 Books printed for James Hodges. 
 
 XV. The Curiofity : or, Gentleman and Lady's Li- 
 brary. Containing, i. A DifTertation on Poetry, 
 Muiic, Dancing, Balls, Aflemblies, Mafquerades, po- 
 lite Ccnverfation, Italian Strollers, &c. 2. A Dra- 
 matic Dialogue Song, written and performed for the 
 Entertainment of his Royal Highnefs the Prince of 
 Wales. 3. Forlorn Hope, or the old Maid's Sighs j 
 in Imitation of Sternhold and Hopkins. 4. The 
 Afiembly, or York Beauties. 5. A Poem on Ri- 
 dicule, and the Means to avoid it. Imitated from 
 Horace. 6. The Progrefs of a Female Rake. An 
 Epiftle from Libertina to Silvia ; in which is con- 
 tained the A-la-mode Syftem. 7. The accomplifh'd 
 Rake. 8. The Woman of Tafte; or the York- 
 fhire Lady. A Ballad Opera. 9. A new and ac- 
 curate Translation of Bafia, or the Pictures of Kif- 
 fing. 10. Remarks on the Farce call'd, The Ho- 
 ned Yorkfiiire Man. n. The Reformed Rake. 
 An Epiftle from Townly and Rakifh. Wrote in 
 Honour of the Fair Sex. 12. Verfes on a young 
 Student at Cambridge, on his cutting the Ears of a 
 
 Setting Dog belonging to Dr. B of T y 
 
 College. 13. Some Memoirs of the fecret Hiftory 
 of Sig. Farinelli. 14. Mac Dermot, or the Irifli 
 Fortune-hunter. A Satyr in fix Canto's, ic. The 
 Parfon's Daughter. A Tale for the ufe of pretty 
 Girls with fmall Fortunes. 16. The Lady's Tu- 
 tor ; or Inftruftions for making Hexameter and Pen- 
 tameter Verfes. Price 2 s. 6 d. 
 
 XVI. The Hiftory of the Life and Reign of the 
 Czar Peter the Great, Emperor of all Ruflia, and 
 Father of his Country. Containing, i . His Tra- 
 vels, Studies, and perfonal Fatigues, for the attain- 
 ing of Knowledge in Civil and Military Affairs, and 
 the Improvement of his Subjects. 2. His Introduc- 
 tion of Arts and Sciences, Naval Force, and Com- 
 merce with Foreign Nations . Alfo his many Refor- 
 mations in Church and State, the Army, and the 
 Cuftoms and Manners of his People. 3 . His Wars 
 with the Swedes, Turks, Tartars, and Perfians j 
 
 Vic-



 
 Books printed for James Hodges. 
 
 Victories by Sea and Land ; Acquifitions of Terri- 
 tory, and Increafe of Power. 4. His Regard to 
 Genius and Merit, with the furprizing Inflances of 
 his Favour to General Le Fort, Prince Menzikoff, 
 and the Emprefs Catherine : And his fevere Juftice 
 on Offenders, particularly in the Proceedings againft 
 the rebellious Czarewitz. 
 
 XVII. Mifcellanies in Profe and Verfe, confid- 
 ing of Dramatic Pieces, humorous Tales, Fables, 
 &c. by D. Bellamy, late of St. John's College, 
 Oxford, and D. Bellamy, jun. of Trinity College, 
 Cambridge. 
 
 XVIII. Peruvian Tales, related in OneThoufand 
 and one Hours, interfperfed with curious and hifto- 
 rical Remarks on the Cuftoms, Inhabitants, sV. of 
 that Great Empire, in 3 Vols. 12010. 
 
 XIX. The Compleat Gamefter, by Richard Sey- 
 mour, Efq; 
 
 XX. A ftiort View ; or Hiftory of the Inquifi- 
 tion of the Kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, &c . to 
 this Day ; under the following Heads j 
 
 Its Rife, Progrefs, and Eftablifhment. 
 
 Its boundlefs Jurifdicliion. 
 
 Its Officers, Laws, Cuftoms. 
 
 Their Judgments, Tortures, Penances, &c. 
 Interfperfed with many curious Relations of Perfons 
 who have fuffer'd under their Arbitrary Power ; 
 particularly that of Ifaac Martin, an Englimman, 
 who lay long in Prifon at Granada, and was releaf- 
 ed by the Interpolation of his late Majefty King 
 GEORGE, whofe Account has the Sanction of a 
 Certificate figned by thirteen Bifhops, at the Inftance 
 of Mr. Secretary Craggs. Price ftitch'd Two Shil- 
 lings. 
 
 XXI. The Entertaining Correfpondent, or curi- 
 ous Relations, two Vols. 8vo. Adorned with Cuts, 
 curioufly engraved. 
 
 XXII. A compleat Treatife of Menfuration, in 
 all its Branches ; containing many New and Necef- 
 fary Improvements, in a much more eafy and fa- 
 miliar



 
 Books printed for James Hodges. 
 
 miliar Method than any hitherto extant. The whole 
 adapted not only to be ufeful to experienced Mea- 
 furers, but alfo to young Learners of the Rudiments 
 of Menfuration, and may ferve as an eafy Introduc- 
 tion to feveral Parts of the Mathematicks. By J. 
 Robertfon, Teacher of the Mathematicks. 
 
 XXIII, Chinefe Tales, or the wonderful Ad- 
 ventures of the Mandarin Fum Hoam ; related by 
 himfelf to divert the Sultana upon the Celebration 
 o her Nuptials. Written in French by Monf. 
 Gueulette. Tranflated by the Rev. Mr. Stackhoufe, 
 Author of the Hiftory of the Bible, and Body of 
 Divinity. With fome Thoughts concerning Tranf- 
 migreflion, by the late Mr. Secretary Addifon. A- 
 dorned with eight Copper Plates. Price bound 
 Two Shillings. 
 
 XXIV. The Young Mathematician's Companion, 
 being a compleat Tutor to the Mathematicks ; 
 whereby the young Beginner may be early inftrucl- 
 ed ; thofe who have loil the Opportunity of learn- 
 ing in their Youth, may, with very little Pains, 
 and in a fhort Time, become Proficients in this de- 
 lightful and inftru&ive Science ; and fuch whofe Bu- 
 finefs it is to teach, may receive much ufeful Affift- 
 ance. Containing, i. Vulgar and Decimal Arith- 
 
 . metic, Extraction of Roots by Natural Numb;rs, 
 and by Logarithms. 2. Defcription and Ufe of the 
 Seftor, with the moft ufeful Definitions, Theorems, 
 and Problems in Geometry. 3. Plain 'and Spheri- 
 cal Trigonometry, Aftronomy, Dialling, and Sur- 
 veying of Land. 4. Curious Difcourfes ? calculated 
 to render a practical Knowledge of the Mathema- 
 ticks more eafy and familiar. The whole interfperf- 
 cd with delightful and ufeful Queftion?, and adorn- 
 ed with proper Schemes in order to excite the Cu- 
 riofity, and form the Minds of Youth. By Charles 
 Leadbetter, Teacher of the Mathematicks. Price 
 bound 2 s. 6ti. 
 
 FINIS.






 
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