Z E L U C O, 
 
 VARIOUS VIEWS 
 
 O F 
 
 HUMAN NATURE, 
 
 TAKEN FROM 
 
 LIFE AND MANNERS, 
 Foreign and Domeftic. 
 
 Cur tamen hos tu 
 
 Evafifle putes, quod diri confcia fadli 
 A^ens habet attonitos, et furdo verbere caedit, 
 Occultum quatiente animo tortore flagellum ? 
 Pcena autem vehemens, ac multo faevior illis, 
 Quas et Caeditius gravis invenit aut Rhadamanthus, 
 Nocfte dicque fuum geftare in pedore teftem. Jo v. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 V O L. I. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 DUBLIN. 
 
 PRINTED roR MESSRS. L. WHITE, P. BYRNE, 
 GRUEBER AND M'ALLISTER, a no W. JONES. 
 
 M.DCCiLXXXIXi
 
 SI 
 
 E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Strong Indications cf a vicisus D'lfpoftt'ton, 
 
 Iv E L I G I O N teaches, that Vice leads t« 
 endlefs mifery in a future ftate ; and experience 
 proves, that in ipite of the gayeft and mo(t prol- 
 perous appearances, inward mifery accompanies 
 her J for, even in this life, her ways are ways 
 of wretchcdnefs, and all her paths are woe. 
 
 This obfvjrvation has been i"o often made, that 
 it mud: be known to all, and its truth is feldom 
 formally denied by any •, yet the condutSt of men 
 v/ould fometimes lead us to fufpect, either that 
 they had never heard it, or that they think it 
 falfe. To recall a truth of fuch importance to 
 tlie recollecliou of mankind, and to iliuftratc 
 it by example, may therefore be of ufe. 
 
 Tracing the windings of Vice, however, and 
 delineating the difguiling features of Villany, 
 are unpleafant talks j and fome people cannot 
 bear to contemplate fuch a plfture. It is fair. 
 
 Vol. I. B therefore,
 
 1 Z E L U C O. 
 
 therefore, to warn Readers of this turn of 
 mind not to perui'e the ftory of ZeUico. 
 
 This perfon, fprung from a noble family, in 
 Sicily, was a native of Palermo, where he pafTed 
 the years of early childhood, without being dif- 
 tinguiflied by any thing very remarkable in his 
 difpofition, unlefs it was a tendency to infolence, 
 and an inclination to domineer over boys of in- 
 ferior rank and circumftances. The bad ten- 
 dency of this, however, was fo ftrongly remcn- 
 jlrated againft by his father, and others who 
 Ibperintended his education, that it was in a 
 great degree checked, and in a fair way of being 
 entirely overcome. 
 
 In the tenth year of his age he loil his father, 
 and was left under the guidance of a mother, 
 whole darling he had ever been, and who had 
 often blamed her hufband for too great feverity 
 to a fon, whom, in her fond opinion, nature 
 had endowed with every good quality. 
 
 A fhort time after the death cf his father, 
 Zeluco began to betray ilrong jymptoms of that 
 violent anil overbearing difpofition to which he 
 j)ad always had a propenli'y, though he had hi- 
 therto been obliged to redrain it. Had that gen- 
 tleman lived a few years longer, the violence 
 of Zeluco's temper would, it is probable, have 
 been weakened, or entirely annihilated, by the 
 continued inlluence of this habit of reftrainr, 
 and his future life might have exhibited a very 
 dirYercnt chara£ler ; for he fhewed fuflicient 
 command of himl'clf as long as his father lived : 
 but very foon after his tleath, he indulged, with- 
 out control, every humour and c.iprite -, and his 
 millaken mother applauding the blufterings of 
 
 petulance
 
 2 £ L U C O. 3 
 
 petulance and pride as indications of fpirlt, hir. 
 tcMTJper became more and more ungovernable, 
 and at length Teemed as inflammable as gun- 
 powder, buriling into flaflaes of rage at the 
 flighted touch of provocation. 
 
 It may be proper to mention one inftance of 
 this violence of temper, from which the reader 
 will be enabled to form a jurter notion than his 
 mother did, of what kind of I'piric it was an in- 
 dication. 
 
 He had a favourite fparrow, To tame that it 
 picked crumbs from his hand, and hopped fami- 
 liarly on the table. One day it did not perform 
 certain tricks which he had taught it, to his fa- 
 lisfaftiou. This put the boy into a p.urion : the 
 bird bcinq frightened, attempted to fly off the 
 table. He luddenly feized it with his hand, and 
 while it ftruggled to get free, with acurfe he 
 fqueezed the little animal to death. His tutor, 
 who was prel'ent, was ih iliocked at this inftance 
 of abiurd and brutal rage, that he puniflicd hini 
 as he deferved, faying, *' I hope this will cure 
 << you of giving vent to fiich odious gufts of 
 « paffion. If it does not, remember what I tell 
 *' you, Sir, they will render you hateful to 
 «< others, wretched to yourfelf, and may bring 
 " you one day to open fhame and endlefs rc- 
 •• morle." Zeluco complained to his mother 4 
 and {he difmiircd the tutor, declaring, that flic 
 would not have her fou's vivacUy repreflcd by 
 the rigid maxims of a narrow-miuded pedant. 
 
 B 2 CHAP
 
 4 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. 11. 
 
 Sffchow the wo"ld its veterans rewards! 
 A youth of frolics — an old age of cards. 
 
 TorE, 
 
 E I N G now freed from that authority 
 which had hitherto ftimulated him to occa- 
 iional exertions, Zeluco renounced all applica- 
 tion to letters. This was partly owing to the 
 love of diih'pation and amufement natural to 
 boys, but principally to the influence of a maxim 
 very generally adopted by iervants, and by 
 them and other profound obfervers infilled 
 into the miinls of the young heirs of great for- 
 tunes, whofe faculties it too often benumbs, like 
 the touch of the torpedo, and renders them 
 incapable through life of every praife-worthy 
 exertion. The maxim is this — 'lliat learning, 
 iilthough it is fometimes of fervice to thole 
 ^vho are intended for certain proftilions, or 
 •arc in any way to gain a livelihood by it, is 
 entirely ulelefs to men whofe fortunes are already 
 made. — It is hardly to be conceived how many 
 voimg minds have been checked in the pro- 
 grcfs of improvement by the lecret operation 
 of this malignant doflrine. 
 
 The negle«Sl of letters was compcnfited, in 
 his mother's opinion, by his ufllduous appli- 
 cation to dancing, fencing, and other accom- 
 pliflmients of the lame clafs. Indeed, flie 
 
 imagined
 
 Z E L U C O. s 
 
 imagined he bertowed fuperfluous pains even on 
 thefe, being perfuaded that nature had done 
 ib much for her Ton, that there was no need of 
 the ornaments of art. 
 
 Being captivated with the uniform of fome 
 Neapolitan oilicers, Zeluco, at an early period 
 of his life, announced a decided tafte for the 
 profeflion of arms. This heroic refolution was 
 highly approved of by all thofe to whom he 
 communicated it ; which, indeed, was generally 
 the cafe whatever he communicated, becaufe he 
 alTociated only with thofe who were ready to 
 approve of all he did or propofed ; for it was 
 another miferable trait in this young man's 
 character, to prefer the company of obfequious 
 dependants, who on no occaflon withhold their 
 aflcnt, to that of men of a liberal fpirit or of 
 eiqual rank with himfelf ; a feature which in- 
 fallibly puts an end to improvement, and ren- 
 ders a man at length as difagreeable to fociety 
 as fociety is difagreeable to him. The tender 
 affetftion of his mother was not greatly alarmed 
 at the martial refolution of her fon, becaufe, in 
 the Neapolitan dominions, the profeflion of a 
 foldier having no connection with fighting, this 
 indulgent parent knew that her fon's military 
 ardour would fubjctft him to no other danger 
 than is attendant on reviev/s : to this fhe fub- 
 niitced, being aware that glory couid not be ob- 
 tained for nothing. 
 
 The pacific lltuation of the Neapolitan army, 
 however, was not Zeluco's reafon for prefer- 
 ring it ; for he was naturally of a daring fpirit. 
 He, like many other idle young men, was at- 
 tra<ftcJ to the profeflion of arms bv a rcHIh for 
 n 3 * ' the
 
 6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 the drefs of r.n officer, and by the vanity of 
 command over a few foldiers. At this time he 
 thought no deeper on the fubje^. An appli- 
 cation was therefore made by this indulgent 
 mother for a commilliorj for her fon ; between 
 which period and the time of its being granted, 
 Zeluco counted the moments witli the mofi: 
 fretful impatience ; for although he had already 
 ordered his regimentals, and often indulged 
 himfelf in the pleai'ure of flrutting in them be- 
 fore a mirror, yet he experienced the agonies of 
 Tantalus till he could appear with tliem abroad. 
 As the exigencies of the fervice did not re- 
 quire the inmiediate prefence of Zeluco, he was 
 permitted to remain at Palermo, and was in- 
 troduced by his mother into a fdc(ft circle of her 
 own acquaintance, which, flie informed him, 
 confifted of fhe very beji company of Palermo, 
 where he would acquire the moft ufeful of 
 all knowledge — the knowledge of the world, 
 and this too in the molt agreeable and moft 
 efFe(flual manner. '• 
 
 This fociecy was principally compofed of a 
 fet of ladies of quality — maidens, wives, and 
 widows — refpeiflable undoubtedly on account of 
 their fex and age; and a few gentlemen, who 
 bore a wonderful refemblance in chara<^er to 
 the ladies. V/hatever bufinefs or avocation the 
 members of this fociety had, befides thofe of 
 .^ards and fleep, it mufl be confefled that fuch 
 avocations occupied but a moderate fhare of 
 their time, as all of them fpent lix or fcven 
 hours of the four-and-twenty in the former, 
 and none of them allowed Icfs than nine to the 
 latter. 
 
 Zeluco's
 
 Z E L U C O. 7 
 
 Zcluco's bloom, vivacity, and aptitude in 
 learning the different games, procured him 
 many flattering marks of attention from the 
 female members. 'J hefe for fome time pleafed 
 the youth liimfelf, while his mother was 
 highly gratified with the congratulations poured 
 out on all fides on the promifing talents and 
 charming appearance of her fon ; fhe refle<5led 
 with pleafure alfo on the vaft advantage which 
 he enjoyed in being, at fuch an early period of 
 his life, removed from the contagion of frivolous 
 company, and introduced into fo poliftied a circle. 
 
 What degree of improvement a fteady and 
 pcrfevering cultivation of this fociety might 
 have produced in Zeluco, was not fairly tried ; 
 for the flattery and blandifliments of the old 
 ladies fooM became infipid, and he ftr.iyed in 
 iearch of pleafure to thofe liaunts where fhe 
 appears with lefs decorum and. more zeft : focn 
 after he joined his regiment at Naples, v/here 
 lie pafled moft of his time with a few young 
 cfFicers, who, with an equal pafhon for plea- 
 fure, had not equal means of indulging it, and 
 were therefore too apt to flatter his vanity and 
 bear his humours. — The love cf pleafure ieem- 
 ed to increafe upon him by indulgence, and 
 was greatly cherifhed by the ill- judged prodi-- 
 gality of his mother, whofc fondnefs could not 
 refift his unrelenting importunity for money. 
 The means with which this furniflicd liim of 
 indulging all his humours, in a country where 
 rank claims an almofl defpotic Avay over the 
 lower orders of mankind, joined to his keep- 
 ing company only with dependants, cheriflied 
 and invigorated the feeds of caprice, felfifhnefs, 
 pride, and injuftice, which had been, early 
 B 4 fowQi
 
 S Z E L U C O. 
 
 iown In the breaft of Zeluco, and perhaps ge- 
 nerated thole which did not originally exift. 
 With no purfuit but pleafure, and with fuper- 
 liuous means of attaining it, he enjoyed very 
 ]ittl(?, being the conftant flave of humour and 
 caprice ; and, befides, he looked forward with 
 fuch fretful impatience to the period when the 
 iaw allowed him the uncontrolled command qf 
 his fortune, as was fufficient oi: itfelf to embit- 
 ter all his prefent enjoyments. 
 
 The original fource of his wretchednefs, 
 and what had augmented, or perhaps generated, 
 this miferahle impatience of temper, was the 
 indulgence of his humours and his being too 
 liberally fupplied in the means of gratification ; 
 but he himlelf imputed all his mifery to the 
 fcanty allowance granted by his tutors, and to 
 his not being of aje. 
 
 Pievious to this period he returned to Pa- 
 lermo j and although he did not attend his mo- 
 ther's aireniblies with all the pynduality that 
 fliC wiflied, yet he could not always refill the 
 importunity of p mother who was re,ady to m^ke 
 every facrificefor his gratification, and who ex- 
 ntfted notiiing in return but that he fhould give 
 3»er the plealure of I'eeing him ^idmired in pub- 
 lic, and condefcend to beftow a little of his 
 company on her in private. 
 
 The happy moment he had fo anxioufly fighed 
 for arrived ; and his guardians devolved into 
 his own hands the entire condutSt of his fortune. 
 But while he remained in Sicily on account of 
 certain arrangements, for which his prefence was 
 thought indifpcnl'ably ncccllary, an incident oc- 
 curred which detained him longer than he in- 
 tended. 
 
 c II A r.
 
 2 E L tJ C O. 
 
 C H A P. iir. 
 
 Virtue fhe fimU too painful an endeavour; 
 Content to dwell in decencies lor ever. 
 
 Top: 
 
 V_/ N E of the moft important perfonages of 
 the fociety into which Zekico had been intro- 
 duced, was the Countefs Brunelh, a lady who 
 took every opportunity of inilnuating that Ihe 
 h.id been in her youth greatly diftinguiflicd for 
 h-er beauty. Nothing, however, remained to jul- 
 tify her pretentions, except this fingle confldc- 
 ration, that as ihe liad no fortune, and pof- 
 leffed no amiable qualicy, it was impofllble to 
 account for the marriage which raiied her both 
 to rank and fortune, but by fuppohng that, at 
 the time it took place, fhe had been handfome. 
 Her charms, however, whatever they had once 
 been, were now entirely fled : but flie ftill re- 
 tained all the vanity, inlblence, and caprice,. 
 which ever attend the bloom of beauty, with 
 the addition of that peevilhnefs and ill-humour 
 which often accompany its decay. Her info- 
 lence, however, was only difplayed to the un- 
 prote^Tted, and her il!-humour to her fervants ; 
 lor, to her fuperiors Ihe was always obieq\iious, 
 and to her equals fhe wore an everlafting iimpei: 
 of approbation. This woman's benevolence was 
 regulated by decorum ; herfriendfliip by conve^ 
 niency ; and all her affc£lions by etiquette. Her 
 heart had no concern in any of thefe matters. 
 
 B 5 bhe
 
 10 Z E L U C O. 
 
 She was chafle, without being virtuous ; be- 
 caufe in Z't-r it proceeded from conftitution, not 
 fentiment. Guarded by the breaft-plate of fri- 
 gidity, which, Uke the -^gis of Minerva, repels 
 the lliafts of love, flie walked through life eredt, 
 and fleady to the dictates of decorum and felf- 
 intcreft, without a flip or falfe Aep. 
 
 Inexorable to all helplefs females who from 
 the frailty of nature, or the perfidy of man, 
 were obferved to totter, or even to ftoop, in 
 their progrefs, fhe inllUed that they Ihould be 
 tor ever excluded from the ibciety of the up- 
 right : and if any perlun fliewed a dirpofition to 
 palliate their errors, this vulture of chaftity 
 t^uitted, for a moment, the frail bird on whom 
 Ihe had pounced, and turned her envenomed 
 beak againft thofe who were for fliewing the 
 imallefl degree of mercy ; and being freed by 
 nature from any propensity to one particular 
 frailty, flie indulged, without bounds, in the 
 gratitication of envy, hatred, flander, haughri- 
 nefs, and other vices of the fame clafs, for 
 which, from her childhood, fhe had difcovered 
 a decided tafte. 
 
 This lady had a niece who lived with her. 
 The young lady had little or no fortune in her 
 own pofleffion, and as little in expectation from 
 her aunt, who was too vain and oftentatious to 
 fave any of her income, ample as it was. But 
 the Countcfs flattered herfelf that (lie flioulJ 
 procure her niece i'uch a marriage as would in- 
 ilantly fupply all deficiencies, and raife her to 
 wealrh and grandeur. She made feveral unfac- 
 oefsful attempts for that purpofc ; the failnre 
 proceeded more from the general difhkc in which 
 
 the
 
 2; E L V C O. n 
 
 the aunt was held, than from the want of at- 
 tractions in the young lady. 
 
 A little after Zeluco came of age, tlie aunt 
 fixed her eyes on him as a commodious match 
 for her niece. — She was not unacquainted with 
 his irregularities, but as flie conddered rank and 
 fortune as the great eflentials in a hufband, thefe 
 being fecured, Ihs thought the reft but of fmall 
 importance. On former occafions flie had 
 proved, that Ihe looked upon age and infirmity 
 as no obftacles to the honour of beluga hufband. 
 10 her niece, and by the pains fhe now took to 
 draw in Zeluco to a marriage, flie made it clear 
 that fhe conddered profligacy as an objection 
 equally frivolous. 
 
 8hc began by paving uncommon attention to 
 the mother oi Zeluco; as the Countefs Brunella 
 was her fuperior by nuptial rank, this attention 
 greatly flattered the vanity of that weak woman. 
 — .She had for Tome time obferved that Zeluco 
 fcemed to pay more particular regard to her 
 niece than to any other young lady at Palermo j 
 and fhe carefully inftructed her in the arts of 
 cherifhing a moderate degree of liking into a 
 violent palFion. But this young lady, with ieis 
 prudence, had much more ibnfibiliiy than her 
 aunt. The genteel figure and alluring manners 
 cf Zeluco feduced her into all the unIufpe<SI:ing 
 confidence of love ; but he, amidft aflcifteJ 
 pailion, preferved all the circuml"pe<Stion of de- 
 termined perfidy. 
 
 Whilft the aunt, therefore, was artfully 
 planning what fhe confidered as an advantageous 
 match for her niece, the unwary young woman 
 granted, without marriage, what her aunt in 
 
 iimilar
 
 12 Z E L U C O. 
 
 iimilar circumftances had carefully preferved ; 
 not from any value ihe put upon the thing, but 
 merely becaufe flie knew that by that means 
 alone fhe could fecure the huiband who then 
 paid his court to her. 
 
 ■ Zeluco loon became tired of his conqueft, and 
 difgufted with the tears of the unhappy girl. 
 He negle(n;ed her with an unfeeling indifference 
 more unpardonable than the crime he had com- 
 mitted. This being obferved by the aunt, llie 
 queftloned her niece, who candidly confefled 
 what her fituation would in a fhort time have 
 revealed. 
 
 The Countefs expoflulated with Zeluco, at- 
 tempting to obtain by threats, what integrity 
 and a fenfe of honour ought to have inclined him 
 to perform. He treated her threats with derifi- 
 on, and with all the coolnefs of a veteran in in- 
 iquity he told her, that if y2)f chofe to keep her 
 niece's fecret, he fhould^, in which cafe, by the 
 induftry of her aunt, fhe might ftill be provided 
 with a hufband: " in the mean time," added 
 he farcaftically, " it is to be hoped that you 
 ■will make your own niece an exception from 
 your favourite maxim, that all who have made a 
 lingle falfe flep fhould be for ever excluded from 
 xel'pedtable Ibciety." 
 
 The young lady retired to a relation's in the 
 country, and the adventure might have remain- 
 ed unknown to the public, had not the aunt, in 
 the madncfs of her rcfontmcnt, prompted a 
 Neapolitan oliicer, who depended on her iniereft 
 lor his promotion, to call Zeluco to an account 
 lor his condut^l: on this occafion. Zeluco, who 
 was conftitutionally intrepid, liad, for fome 
 
 time,
 
 Z E L U C O. 13 
 
 time, wiihed for an opportunity of fighting a 
 duel, the eclat of which was wanting to his re- 
 putation. He went out at the firft hint with the 
 Neapolitan, and being an admirable fvvordfman, 
 wounded and dil'armed him; and thus became 
 an objeiSl of greater admiration in the eyes of 
 many ladies than ever, both on account of this 
 duel, and the occafion of it. 
 
 The rage, difappointment, and wounded 
 pride of the aunt, when flie knew the event of 
 the duel, rendered her exceedingly miferable; 
 but as in her profperity fhe had no feeling for the 
 unfortunate, her own misfortunes excited no 
 compafiion. Some of her moft intimate ac* 
 quaintance, who pafled for her friends, involv- 
 ing the niece in their hatred of the aunt, be* 
 trayed a malicious fatisfacStion at the fate of the 
 unhappy young woman. And what was equally 
 unjuft, the public indignation at the bafe con- 
 du£l of Zeluco, was not fo great as it ought to 
 have been, merely becaufe the perfon he had 
 ruined was the niece of this odious dowager. 
 
 This woman might have gone through life 
 with as few enemies as friends, had fhe remain- 
 ed pafiively felfifli; but fhe was making continual 
 profeffions of friend Ihip ; fhe afi'ciJted to be the 
 deareft friend of all her acquaintance, and to 
 take a moft extraordinary fliare of intereft in 
 all their concerns. Each of them in their turns 
 difcovered that her profeflions were falfe — from 
 her acquaintance they became her enemies, and 
 beheld her misfortunes with joy, which other- 
 wife they would have regarded only with in-- 
 diiierence. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 M Z E L U C O. 
 
 C H A P. IV. 
 
 The Gratitude of a S:fi to an iiichilgerit Mother. 
 
 J\. SHORT time after this adventure, Ze- 
 luco pafled over to Italy, and in the different 
 ftates of that luxurious country he fpent two 
 years, in every voluptuous and expenfive grati- 
 fication that his own imagination or that of the 
 prciligate company he kept could lliggeft. His 
 mother had parted from him with reluclance-, 
 her fond partiality remained flrong as ever, in' 
 fpite of all the proofs of a vicious difpofltion he 
 had difplayed: flie viewed his character in a 
 manner precifely the reverfe of that in v.'hich 
 Defdemona contemplated Othello's; {hit faw 
 Zeluco's mind in b'-s vifage; and as this was fair 
 and regular, fhe fondly believed it to be a faith- 
 ful index of the other, imputing all that part of 
 his condu<Sl which Ihe could not juftify, to the 
 warmth of youth, which a little time and re- 
 fle<Stion would foon correal. She extorted a 
 promife from him, before they parted, that lie 
 ihouU! write to her regularly twice every month 
 till his return. And as Ihe had obferved on 
 iriany cccafions that he was by no means cxacSt in 
 fulfilling his engagements, fhe took this proniile 
 with iome folcmnity, and made him renew it 
 oftner than once; adding, that if he ncgledted, 
 flie flvould certainly imagine that fomcthing very 
 terrible had happened: ilic therefore intreated 
 
 him
 
 Z E L U C O. 15 
 
 him very earneftly, by a pun£lual correfpond- 
 ence to lave her from fuch a painful idea. 
 
 The manner in which ZeUico fulfilled this en- 
 gagement, will fet his filial afi:e6tion in a clear 
 point of view. 
 
 In a very Ihort fpace after his arrival on the 
 continent he began to think the writing a few 
 lines every fortnight to his mother a piece of in- 
 tolerable flavery. — And being, while at Rome, 
 confined to his chamber, on account of a com- 
 plaint which debarred him equally from pleafure 
 and amufement, he thought this a commodious 
 opportunity of anticipating the trouble of a cor- 
 refpondence which was apt to break in upon him. 
 ;.t iefs convenient feafons. He therefore wrote 
 a number of letters to his mother, a little varied 
 in the expreflion, and properly dated ; thefe he 
 arranged according to their dates, and then 
 c'<illing his valet de chambre, — " There," faid 
 he, " carry one of thefc letters to the poft-houfe 
 every fortnight, and when they are exhaufted 
 let me know, that I mav prepare fomc niore for 
 the old lady." 
 
 it would be equally fuperfluous and difagreca- 
 ble to follow Zeluco through the fcents of ex- 
 travagance, folly, and vice, in which he a6ted 
 a principal part for two or three years in the va- 
 rious towns of Italy. Although he had been 
 luppy iluring the whole of that ihort period, it 
 would have been happinefs rather too dearly 
 bought at the expence of the mifery and remorfe 
 he felt on finding liis credit exhaufted, and 
 his fortune involved to fuch a degree, that no- 
 thing but a long and fteady courle of (economy 
 could poflibly extricate it:— but he had not even 
 
 the
 
 i6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 the recolle6lion of happinefs to comfort him 
 for the ruin of his affliirs ; — his fortune had 
 been cliffipated in debauchery, without pleafurej 
 in inagniiicence, which conferred not refpe<Sb-;i. 
 and in gaming, which fometimes drove hijntO' 
 the brink of defperation. Let this general ac- 
 count fave us from entering into a detail of ad- 
 ventures which bear the ftrongell; refemblance 
 to thofe of fo many profligate young men 
 who have afted the fame parts on the fame 
 theatre. 
 
 When his money and credit were nearly ex- 
 haufled, he joined his regiment at Naples;, 
 where, after having remained a decent time to 
 intitle him to alk a new leave of abfence, he 
 made application for permillion to pafs over 
 to Sicily for the arrangement of his domeftic 
 atFairs. 
 
 On his return to Palermo he had no imme- 
 diate refource but in what his mother could 
 fpare him from her own jointure ; and thefe 
 fupplies were not granted without ftrong re- 
 nionrtranceii againft his extravagance. Thofe, 
 however, he heard with apparent patience, and 
 repeated aflTurances of amendment, as lojig as 
 ihe had either money or credit remaining ; but 
 wlien both were exhaulUd, he ihcwcd the fame 
 impatient and overbearing tcn^per to her he had 
 always given proofs of to the rell of the world; 
 but what in the one cafe flie had palliated as 
 the ebullitions of youthful fpirit antl vivacity, 
 in the other flie conlldered as the moft uuheard- 
 of cruelty and ingratitude.— -In the biiterneis of 
 her heart, Ihc enumerated every inRance of in- 
 dulgence, generofity, and affedion /he had 
 
 lliewn
 
 Z E L U C O. tj 
 
 fliewn him, and upbraided him for the returns 
 he had made, in terms di(5tated by rage and 
 difappointment. He anfwered with the moft 
 infuhing coolnefs and the moft flinging indif- 
 ference. The unhappy woman was wounded 
 to the foul. — She had looked forward with pa- 
 rental impatience to the hour of her fon's re- 
 turn.-^Her fpirits had ril'en or fallen as that 
 happy epoch feemed to advance or to recede.— 
 Her daily prayer, and nightly dream, was this 
 darling fon's return, improved by experience, 
 accomplifiied by travel, the object of univerfal 
 afJmiration, while flie imagined that fhe herfelf 
 would be envied by every mother in Palermo. 
 
 ■ Her difappointment was as fevere as her hopes 
 had been fanguine. — She felt 
 
 How fharper than a ferpcnt's tooth it is 
 To have a thanklcfs child.—— 
 
 She retired to the houfe of a poor relation who 
 lived in the neighbourhood of Palermo j — one 
 whom fhe had neglefled in the pride of her 
 profperity ; a circumftance which made her mi- 
 iery more acute, and her misfortune lefs pitied 
 in this retreat. After languifliing a few months, 
 flic died heart-broken. 
 
 The emotions of remorfe which took place 
 on this event in the confcious mind of Zeluco 
 were not of long duration ; — his embarrafled 
 circumftanc-es gave him more laAing uneafinefsi 
 for, notwithftanding his eftatc was now dif- 
 burdened of his mother's jointure, he was Hill 
 under the neceflity of confining hinifelf to a 
 very fcanty revenue. 
 
 Being
 
 J^ Z E L U C O. 
 
 Being mortified with the idea of remaining 
 either in Sicily or the kingdom of Naples while 
 his affairs were in this embarrcfled lituation, he 
 -.applied to a brother of his father, an officer of 
 rank in the Spaiiith fervice who was then at 
 JMadrid, declaring a defign of entering into that 
 fervice, on conditions of obtaining vhe fame rank 
 in theSpanilh fervice with the which he had in 
 the Neapolitan, hope of future promotion. He 
 had already got leave from the Ne ipolitan court 
 for this fiep, with a recommendation from the 
 minifter. His plan was to put his eftate under 
 management till fuch time as the moft preffing 
 debts were cleared, and he thought, with the 
 remainder of his fortune added to his pay, he 
 Ihould pafa his time more to his mind in the 
 character of a foldicr, than he could by ob- 
 ferving a languid fyftem of oecoiiomy in Sicily. 
 
 JCW kV.
 
 2 E L U C O. 19 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 The Love cf a vey^ yotwg Lady. 
 
 Fallerc credentcm non eft opcrofa pucllani 
 
 Gloria. Ovid Epist. 
 
 Wi 
 
 H I L E Zeluco waited the refult of this 
 application, a young lady of Palermo became, 
 by the fudden death of her brother, heirefs of 
 a very confiderable fortune ; for although her 
 father was rtill alive, and her mother only fOr(y 
 years of -age, yet as fhe had not proved pregnant 
 for many years, the daughter's fucceeding 10 
 her father's whole fortune was confidered as 
 next to infallible. This certainly was tiie opi- 
 nion of Zeluco, and he immediately applied 
 every art cf infinuation he was poflefl'ed of, to 
 gain the affcdlions of this young lady. 
 
 Zeluco was of a very elegant as well as a vi- 
 gorous make, his perfon was llnely proportion- 
 ed, and although fome people who pretended 
 to flcill in phyfiognomy afferted, that they could 
 dete£l the indications of ill-nature and of a vi- 
 cious difpofirion in his countenance ; yet, in the 
 general opinion, and particularly in that of 
 ISignora Rofolia (the young lady in queftion), 
 he was a very handfome man. Rofolia was one 
 of thofc young ladies, who, when they greatly 
 approve of a man's face and figure, are inclined 
 to believe that every other good quality is added 
 thereunto, 
 
 A gentleman
 
 20 Z E L U C O. 
 
 A gentleman fuperior to Zeluco in all re- 
 fpefts but external figure had for Ibme time, 
 with the approbation of her parents, paid his 
 addrciles to her. But no fooner had the new- 
 lover made a declaration of his pafllon, than 
 he appeared in her eyes preferable to the old. 
 On whst this pi-eference was founded appeared 
 afterwards, when Zeluco lamented his hard 
 fate in having a rival who was countenanced by 
 both h.er parents ; for Roioiiathen allured him, 
 that this could proceed folely from their not 
 being informed of Zsluco's fentiments; <* But 
 as foon as tliey are," added ihe, ♦* they will 
 certainly prefer you as a fon-in-law to Signer 
 Michelo." 
 
 " I am extremely happy to know that you- 
 are of that opinion," cried Zeluco. 
 
 *• I am quite certain of it," faid flie. 
 
 " You have heard them fpeak upon the fub- 
 je£l then," faid her 
 
 ** No, never ;" replied {he. 
 
 «* Idol of my foul," cried Zeluco, " how 
 then are you certain that they would prefer me 
 to Signer Michelo ?" 
 
 " Becaufe," replied this judicious young 
 lady, •' there is no comparifon between you. 
 Every body that has eyes muft fee that you are 
 a far handfomer man." 
 
 However ilattering it may feem, Zeluco was 
 a good deal difappointcd when he was informed 
 of the circumllancc on which f[ic founded her 
 hopes, and he thought his liireft: courfe was to 
 get pofTefllon of the young lady's fortune and 
 perfon in the lirft place, and to folicit the father 
 and mother's Confcnt afterwards. 
 
 Having
 
 Z E L U C O. 2T 
 
 Having exprefled his gratitude on account of 
 the favourable fentimcnts fhc entertained of 
 him, he told her, " That parents often viewed 
 things of this nature in a different light from 
 their children — That his rival had probably fe- 
 cured the favour of her father and mother, by 
 applying to them in the firft inflance ; becaufe 
 her fortune, not her heart, was that gentleman's 
 ible object. — 'That he, on the contrary, had 
 given no hint of his paiFion to them., but had 
 applied dirc(5lly to her^ becaufe it was her heart 
 alone that he was folicitous about. As for for- 
 tune, it was what he had always defpifed, and 
 had not the leait weight with him in his prefent 
 fuit — of which difinterefted way of thinking 
 lie was ready to give her an immediate proof, 
 by marrying her fecretly without any perfon's 
 confent but her own, and without the certainty 
 of a fingle fequin." 
 
 The young lady, in anfwer to this, told him, 
 •* That flie could not comply with his propofal 
 without impiety ; for that her mother, having 
 been alarmed on a former occafion with the af- 
 liduities of a per Ton flie did not approve, had 
 condutffed her to the Madre Chiefa ; and in the 
 chapel of St. Rofolia, in the preftnce of the 
 fai.1t herfelf, had made her pledge her folemn 
 proir.ife, never to give her hand in marriage 
 without the conl'cnt of her father and mother; 
 affuring her, at the fame time, that they, on 
 their part, lliould never exa6l of her to marry 
 any man contrary to her inclination. 
 
 ♦* It is impoCible for me therefore," added 
 this pious young lady, " to break the engage- 
 ment, without incurring the difpleafure not 
 
 only
 
 22 Z E L U C O. 
 
 only of my parents but alfo of my patronefs, 
 who hitherto hath ahvays difplayed great kind- 
 nefs to me, and will certainly not ealily forgive 
 the breach of an engagement to which (lie her- 
 felf was an eye-witnels." 
 
 Zeluco, perceiving that the idea of provoking 
 St. Rofolia filled the lady's mind with horror, 
 did not think it prudent to iniifl: at that time on 
 the point he wiflied to carry, — he took her 
 promife, however, that flie fiiould not mention 
 what had palTed to her parents, till he had time 
 to retk(n: on what were the propereft: meafures 
 to adopt. 
 
 'L'his injun(5llon fne pun(n:ually obferved. — At 
 their next interview, he told Rofolia, that he 
 had been confidering what fhe had faid, regard- 
 ing the promife Ihe had given to her mother in 
 the chapel of her pntronefs : *' That he was not 
 furprifed to find this made great imprefiion on 
 one of her piety and underftanding. This, and 
 fmiilar infl:ances of the gooJncl's of her dil'poli- 
 tion," he faid, *' endeared her to him more 
 and more; for although the graces of her face 
 and pcrfon Iiad made the firft imprefilon on his 
 heajt, yet it was the beauties of her mind, the 
 amiable i'wcetnefs of her difpofition, her piety, 
 nnd above all her admirable good fenfe, that 
 rivettcd his chains." Zeluco had an opinion, that 
 people in general are moft gratified when praifcd 
 for thole qualities in which they are moll defi- 
 cient. On rhis principle, he never failed to 
 praife this young lady on the lupcrior excellency 
 of her underdanding. 
 
 He then proceeded to obferve, that with 
 refpc(5t to the engagement wliich flic imagined 
 
 (h-
 
 Z E L U C O. 23 
 
 fhe linci entered into at the Madre Chicfii, flie 
 had evidently been lurprifcd into it, and it was 
 not to be fuppofed that St. Rofolia could, in her 
 hearty approve of To ralli a vow, efpecially as it 
 had bren made without her previous confent ; 
 adding, that as for himfelf, he was certain that 
 he fliould not furvive the refufid he was fureof 
 receiving from her niotlier : — lie therefore left 
 it to the young lady to confider whether it was 
 probable St. Rofolia, b.er patronefs, and without 
 a doubt, the moft conipalTionate of all the 
 faints, v/ould approve of a meafure which would 
 infallibly occafion the death of a perfon who 
 was, anel had ever been, her faithful votary. 
 And all for what ? to gratify hard-hearted pa- 
 rents, who only confulted their own avarice, 
 and difregarded true love. 
 
 As the tendernefs of this young lady's heart 
 was equal to the weaknefs of her underfi:anding, 
 and both infinitely furpaffed thofe graces and 
 beauties wliich Zcluco had lb liberally imputed to 
 her, Ihe began to be convinced by his reaibning, 
 an<l melred by his intreaties ; but having, in 
 the courfe of their converfation, faid, that fhe 
 was quite certain of prevailing on her father at 
 lead ro give h'ls confent, — for he had always been 
 in the highefl: degree indulgent to her, and ne- 
 ver had, in any one in!>ance, withllood her 
 perfevering (blicitation ; Zeluco, contrary to his 
 ih-ft opinion, thought it would be moft prudent 
 to allow her to try to move her father; and if, 
 in rpite of her fanguine hope, flie IhquUl fail, 
 he ftill would have it in his power to periuade 
 JKr into a fecret marriage. 
 
 C H A P.
 
 24 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 The Reafomng of a yotitig Lady in Love, — The 
 Weaknej's of a Father, 
 
 X H E Impatience of the lady's love made her 
 feize the very earlieft opportunity of acquainting 
 her father with the fiate of her heart, which 
 flie did in very pathetic terms. 
 
 The aftoniihcd father at lirft infifted on the 
 encouragement which had been given tp her iirCt 
 lover, the real worth of his characfter, and the 
 advantages of fuch a connexion. To tliefe ar- 
 guments the lady oppofed her love for Zeluco, 
 and her indifference for the other. 
 
 The father hinted at the embarrafTed fituation 
 of Zeluco's circumftances. 
 
 The lady dcclarv-d, that this gave her peculiar 
 fatisfa^tion, becaui'e it aftbrdetl a proof to the 
 whole world, that in fo material a point as the 
 choice of a hufband, flie was fuperior to all low 
 and fordid confiderations, which could not fail 
 of raifing her in the efteem of the judicious, and 
 would for ever inlure to her the gratitude, as 
 well as the love, of her hufl>and. 
 
 The father fuggelled, that while flie thus 
 proved the dirintercll:ed purity of her own con- 
 dud, flie could not be certain that her lover 
 was a(Sluated by the fame noble and difintei*efted 
 motives. 
 
 To
 
 Z E L U C O. 25 
 
 To this the daughter, with equal readinefs 
 and warmth, replitxl, tl\at Zeiuco had already 
 given the moft undoubted proofs of the generous 
 turn of his mind ; his fuperioiity to all merce- 
 nary views and fordid confiderations, by the 
 magnilicent manner in which he had fpent the 
 greateft part of his own fortune. 
 
 The father Ihook his head with an air of dif- 
 fatisfadtion, and then mentioned the libertine 
 character of Zeiuco, the number of women he 
 had feduced and liis neglefl of them afterwards ^ 
 dwelling with emphalis, on the cruel treatment 
 of the countefs lirunella's niece. 
 
 This was an unlucky argument, and produced 
 an effect: direvSlly contrary to what was intended. 
 The young lady acknowledged, that *' Zeiuco 
 had been wild and rakilh ; — moft young men of 
 fpirit were;— that he had turned the heads of 
 many young women — no wonder, he was To 
 very genteel and handfonie ; — that he had af- 
 terwards negletSted them becaufe he found thera 
 unworthy of his efteem, and they, of courfe, 
 acculed him of inconflancy ; — that Signer^ 
 Brunella's niece was a very iveah yot.-fig ivanan -y 
 it was not to be fuppofed a man of Zeluco's good 
 fcnle would ever dream of taking fuch a pcrfon 
 for his wife;— that, for her own part, ihe was 
 aware, that by entirely poflelTing a man fo 
 greatly admired by all other women, fhe muft 
 be expofed to the envy of her own fex ;— luit 
 that internal tranquillity, and domeftic happinefs, 
 would enable her to dcfpife their diiappointment 
 and malice ; for {he knew that Zeiuco had fixed 
 his heart upon her, and her alone; was now de- 
 termined to reform, and to beconflant ; and all 
 Vol. I.- C th?
 
 26 Z E L U C O. 
 
 the world allowed that reformed rakes made the 
 very beft of hufbands." 
 
 The young lady's laft arguments feeming ra- 
 ther to alarm than convince her fat'ier, (he had 
 rtcouiTe to a method of reafoning \. hich (he had 
 often found fuccefsful when all others f;ii]ed. — 
 .She burfi: into a flood of tears, fobbed as if fhe 
 had been ready to expire ; and when Ihe re- 
 covered her voice, declared " that her heart was 
 fixed upon Signor Zeluco, who had given her 
 the furefi: proofs of the fmcerity of his love, and 
 of his noble and generous character \ — that hap- 
 pinefs in marriage depended on mutual affection 
 and endleis paflion, and not at all upon fortune ; 
 — that file would wander over the wide world 
 with her lover, blefk in his fidelity, and depend- 
 ing on St. Rofolia for protection and fuftcnance, 
 rather than live in the greateft alliuence with 
 any other man, although he were the tirft mo- 
 narch on earth, or even the king of Naples, 
 Jerufalem, and the Two 8icilies himfelf :— that 
 theie were her unalterable fentiments, or if any 
 alteration could happen, it would be that of an 
 increafe, not a diminution, of her love, for flie 
 felt it augmenting every hour 5 and, finally, fhe 
 intreated on her knees, that he would prove him- 
 idf an atTettionate father to a daughter who had 
 always loved and honoured him, and would obey 
 him in every thing but in this one point, which, 
 ihe was fbrry to fay, was out of her power ; and 
 which, if he infilled upon, he would loon be- 
 hold her laid in the fame grave with her dearcft 
 brother, whom he had lb lon« and lb bitterly 
 lamented." 
 
 Before
 
 Z E L U C O. 27 
 
 Before the daughter had finifhed this afFeft- 
 ing addrefs, the good-natured father was alfo in 
 tears, and as foon as he was able to fpeak, he 
 raifed her up, with an alTurance that her happi- 
 ncfs was his chief ohjeft in Hfe, and he would 
 do every thing (lie could defire to promote it. 
 
 Having thus melted her father to compliance, 
 {lie begged, in the next place, that he would 
 ufe his influence with her mother, that llie 
 might lilcewife confent to the only meal'ure that 
 could make her truly happy, which the good- 
 nalured man engaged to do. 
 
 C 2 CHAP.
 
 28 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 The Prudence of a Mother ; — and Termination cf 
 everlajl'wg L.ove. 
 
 1 
 
 H E fatlier fpeedily had an opportunity of 
 breaking the llibje£l to his Lady, alluring her at 
 the fame time that he was convinced thcii- daugh- 
 ter would never marry any man but Zekico \ fo 
 that flic had bi;ft i'ave herfelf the trouble of en- 
 deavouring to prevent it, as he had already laid 
 every thing tliat could be faid, and without 
 cttect. 
 
 He was then proceeding to give her an ac- 
 count of the ilcne which had pafTed between 
 tbetn, when Ihe laved him the trouble, inform- 
 ing: him flie had overheard the whole in an ad- 
 joining room, where Ihe happened to be when 
 his ilaughter had made the pathetic attack upon 
 liim above defcribed. Perceiving that her huf- 
 band's heart was t]uite melted by the daughter's 
 rears, and his relblution moulded to her views, 
 llie declined alldifculhon with him ; and thought 
 it not prudent to let him into the plan which llie 
 had already formed in her miml, to difentangle 
 lier daughter from a connexion fraught with ruin 
 and remorl'e. She contented herfelf therefore 
 with faying coolly, ** Ihat although fhe did not 
 much relilh the match, yet, as ihe could not 
 think of crolling her daughter's inclinations, Die 
 certainly would not perliit in oppolltion, if, on 
 
 full
 
 Z E L U C O. 29 
 
 full deliberation, the young lady continued in 
 the flime mind ; and at all events flie would take 
 no ftep without the concurrence of her hufbnnd, 
 who, Ihe was pleafed to add, was a much bet- 
 ter judge in a matter of fuch importance than 
 fhe could pretend to be." 
 
 In reply to this the huftand faid, " That he 
 candidly acknowledged that he was a far letter 
 judge ; adding, that it was impoffible for him 
 ever to change his mind." 
 
 «' Not quite, my dear," faid the wife meek- 
 ly ; " you were under the neceffity of changing 
 your mind before you could relinquifh the unal- 
 tnabk refolution you told me yefterday you had 
 formed, of giving your daughter to Signor Mi- 
 chelo, whom we then equally approved of." 
 
 << I did not know yeJJerday" laid he, a little 
 difcor.certcd, *' that Zeluco was the cnlj man 
 who could make our daughter happy." 
 
 He then went and acquainted his daughter 
 that he had prevailed on her mother to confent 
 to her marriage with Zeluco. 
 
 The yoting lady flew in a tranfport of joy to 
 her mother, afi^ed her forgivenefs for having 
 diCpofed of her heart without confulting fo indul- 
 gent a parent ; — informed her, that fhe was now 
 abfolutely certain of St. Rofolia's being pleafed 
 with her choice; and affured her, that for the 
 future line would be the moft obedient and du- 
 tiful of all daughters. 
 
 The mother thanked her for iier good inten- 
 tions, and alked her how (lie canie to be iu cer- 
 tain of the Saint's acquicfcence. 
 
 •* Becauft;," replied the pious young lady, 
 
 ** as I have been able to think, or even to- 
 
 C 3 dreaai
 
 30 Z £ L U C O. 
 
 dream of nothing for fome time, but my may- 
 riage with Signor Zeluco, after attending niafs 
 this very morning, I retired to the chapel of the 
 Saint, and looking her devoutly in the face, and 
 watching her eyes, I humbly entreated to know 
 whether ihe approved of my palVion or not ? — 
 On which, tlie fweet image cf St. Rofolia looked 
 in the mod propitious manner j and at length, 
 with a gracious imile, nodded ailent." 
 
 " Nay," faid the mother, •* after fuch a tef- 
 timony of approbation there can bt?no doubt. — 
 And have you equal proofs, my dear, of Signor 
 Zeluco's love r" 
 
 " Stronger, if poffible," anfwered the daugh- 
 ter; — " he has fworn it to me an hundred 
 times ; and belides, I have it under his hand." 
 
 « Thefe are proofs indeed," i'aid the mother ; 
 ♦* and," continued fhe, " you have no reafon 
 to doubt that all this love is for you alone, inde- 
 pendent of your fortune !" 
 
 " Santa Maria \" exclaimed the daughter, 
 '* Signor Zeluco is not only the moft loving, 
 but alfo the moft diQnterefted of mankind. — 
 He has often afllired me, that he would be ftill 
 happier if my fortune were lefs, that he might 
 prove to the world how far he is above all mean 
 and mercenary views." 
 
 *« Then it is highly probable," faid the mo- 
 ther, «' that he will enjoy the felicity he fo ear- 
 neftly defires ; for I Ihall now inform you, my 
 dear, of what I did not chufe to hint till I was 
 quite certain of it ; I am feveral months gone 
 with child, which, at any rate, will reduce your 
 fortune one half; and in caie of a Ton, will leave 
 you a very moderate portion." 
 
 " 1 vvilli
 
 Z E L U C O. 31 
 
 *' I willi with all my heart yoti may have a 
 fon, my dear mother ; for I flioiild like a little 
 brother of all things," cried Rofolia. 
 
 «* Very well, my dear," faid the mother ; 
 *' you will very probably obtain your wifh. 
 But," continued fhe, ** I fuppofc you would 
 not wilh that your marriage iliould take place 
 till I am recovered of my lying-in, that I may 
 join in the pleafure of fuchan occafion." 
 
 ** Good Heaven ! certainly not," anfwered 
 the daughter; and immediately went, in rap- 
 tures, to communicate thefe glad tidings to Ze- 
 luco, whofe joy at the parents acquiefcence was 
 prodigloufly damped on hearing of the iituation 
 of the mother. His chagrin was evident on his 
 countenance. 
 
 '* I perceive," faid the young lady tenderly, 
 ** that the poftponing of ourhappinefs till my 
 mother (hall be delivered grieves you." 
 
 " Very feverely indeed," faid Zcluco, «' Be 
 not afiiidled, my dear Zeluco," faid this love- 
 fick maiden, ** I will endeavour to prevail on her 
 to confent to our union before fhe is delivered." 
 
 Zeluco begged fhe would not attempt it, as 
 it might give offence, and render her mother 
 averfe to the match altogether. 
 
 She then, in the moft endearing manner, 
 afTured him, that the delay gave her very near 
 as niuch uneafinefs as it could him ; but he, on 
 the other hand, protefted, that he felt the dif- 
 appointmtnt with greater poignancy than flie 
 could poflibly do, which, however, he would 
 endeavour to bear, rather than rifle difobliging 
 her mother, efpecially in her prefent cnndition, 
 when the fmaliefl importunity might injure her 
 precious health. 
 
 C 4 «« But,
 
 32 :i £ L u c o. 
 
 " But, good God," added he, ** did you never 
 before fufpefi: that ihe was in this condition ?" 
 
 *• Never," faid this penetrating young lady ; 
 *' though I am ("urprifed at it; for the momertt 
 Hie mentioned it, I plainly perceived that her 
 waift was uncomiBonly large." 
 
 Zcluco retired, in all the ngonies of difap- 
 pointment •<, but determined to be more fuily in- 
 farmed before he gave up a purl'uit on which he 
 had founded there-eflablUhment of his fortune. 
 He called the following morning on a certain 
 monk, who occafionally exercifed the fun<Sl:ion 
 of a phyfician, and was known to be employed 
 in that capacity by the mother of Signora Ro- 
 iblij. 
 
 After an affccled confultation on his own 
 health, he turned the converfation on hers. 
 
 The wary mother, having thought it proba- 
 ble that Zeluco might quellion this man, had 
 prepared him in what manner to anfwer his in- 
 quiries : the medical monk, therefore, afTured 
 Zeluco, that (he was in the way, that he, and 
 the befit friends of her family, could wi{h. 
 
 ♦' What, it is true then," replied Zeluco, 
 <' iL'/:Ji I have ivith fo much pleafure heard) Sig- 
 nora Maria is really with child ?" 
 
 ** Nothing of that nature can be more cer- 
 tain," replied the phyfician, •' than that Ihe 
 is pregnant of one child ; fome think from her 
 appearance that Ihe will have twins." 
 ♦' Twins !" cried Zeluco. 
 <* Yes, Signor," continued the Doctor; 
 ** that is the opinion of Ibme who are thought 
 judges in fuch matters; but, in my own mind, 
 no indications however flrong can afccrtain the 
 
 \ oint
 
 Z E L U C O. 
 
 33 
 
 point with fuch precifion as thofe people pre- 
 tend ;— that llie has one lively child fecins be- 
 yond a doubt j that Hie \A\l have two, 1 will 
 not pofitively alTi rt." 
 
 " Why, boaor," faid Zeluco, <[ it is a 
 very long time fince (lie was in the flime fitu- 
 ation." 
 
 •* If file has twins," replied the monk grave- 
 ly, ** Die never \va:i precilely in the fame litii- 
 arion; it is true, indeed, that when a v^'oman 
 has once had twins, fhe will afterward be more 
 likely to have them again." 
 
 «' Pray, how long is it lince flie had her laft 
 child r" laid Zekico. 
 
 •* About nine or ten years," replied the phy- 
 fician. 
 
 ♦* Is it not uncommon, after fuch an interval, 
 for a woman to recommence bearing children ;'" 
 faid Zeluco. 
 
 •' It /V a little fingular," replied the monk ; , 
 ** but when a woman does rccomuiencc, ihc 
 generally proceeds with more fpirit and perle- 
 verance than if no fuch interruption had taken 
 
 place ; ■ therefore, as Signora Maria is only 
 
 forty years of age, I Ihould not be iiirprifcd if, 
 by the favour of the BlelTed Virgin, who is her 
 patronefs, ftie (hould have I'everal children be- 
 fore fhe leaves olf child-bearing entirely. 
 
 *• Several children!" repeated Zeluco, witli 
 an accent of anger; — " you muft imagine her 
 patronefs has prodigious powers in fuch urat- 
 ters. ' 
 
 " Do you call the powers of the BlefTed Vir- 
 gin in queftion ?" replied the monk, in a 
 tlyeatening tone. 
 
 C 5 *< Heavens
 
 34 Z E L U C O. 
 
 ** Heavens forbid, father," faid Zelucoj 
 with an expiatory look. 
 
 '♦ Let me tell you, Signer," continued the 
 monk in an authoritative ftyle, " that the 
 powers of the Virgin are unlimited ; it were 
 impiety to doubt it." 
 
 •' I have not the leaft: doubt," cried Zeluco; 
 taking the monk in an affedionate manner by 
 the hand: — •* fo far from calling her power in 
 queftion, I am convinced, my dear father," 
 added he, with a hypocritical accent, that ♦* fhe 
 could bring it about without the affiftance of 
 the hufband." 
 
 " Unqueftionably flie could," faid the monk. 
 
 Zeluco being now pcrfuaded of the reality of 
 Signora Maria's pregnancy, took his leave of the 
 monk ; and having two days before received a 
 letter from his uncle at Madrid, alluring him of 
 promotion in the Spanifli fervice, he refolved to 
 iet out for that city as foon as poffible. When 
 he received the letter, his determination had 
 been to fecure his marriage with Signor Roiolia 
 in the firft place, and :hen deliberate what an- 
 fwer he fhoufd make to his uncle's letter ; but 
 having now refolved to have nothing more to da 
 with the fair obj?<^t of his dilinterelled and un- 
 alterable afict^ion, he fei/ed the opporturlity of 
 a veflel ready to fail tor Barcelona •, embarked 
 with a fmgle I'ervant, and a very moderate quan- 
 tity of baggage ; and after a profperous voyage 
 arrived at that city. Being very impatient to 
 get quickly to Madrid, he ordered his fervant 
 to have every thing prepared for the journey as 
 fcon as poUible. While thcfe arrangements 
 were making, he intended to have amuled him- 
 
 felf
 
 Z E L U C O. 3j* 
 
 felf by fauntering through the town, but was 
 prevented by a heavy fhower of rain. — <« I do 
 not know what in the devil's name to do with 
 myfelf,'' faid Zeluco. — " You had as well take, 
 this opportunity of writing to Signora Rorolia," 
 faid his valet; — *« flie may perhaps be a little 
 furprifed at our fudden departure." — "Ay, fo 
 I will ; bring me pen, ink, and paper," faid 
 Zeluco, yawning. 
 
 The lervant fupplied him with the matcri.ils 
 for writing ; and this ardent lover renewing his 
 fits of yawning very frequently during the per- 
 formance, at laft finiflied the epiftle. 
 
 Signora Rofolia, when flie heard of Zeluco's 
 having failed for Spain, immediately fainted, as 
 is ufual with young ladies when they are abati- 
 doned by men who pretend to be dying for 
 them, and whom they confiuer as the only men. 
 who can make them happy : — flie continued for 
 fome weeks fubjeft to hyflerical a(le6>ions : 
 thefe, however, gradually difappeared ; and her 
 old lover, by the mediation of her mother, re- 
 newing his courtfliip, flic was in due time pre- 
 vailed on to give him her hand. Her mother 
 then informed her, that Ihe was miilaken in 
 the notion of her being with child. And tlie 
 day after her marriage, the daughter in return 
 declared to her mother, that Ihe herfelf had 
 undoubtedly miftaken the image of St. Rofolia, 
 being now convinced, that her prefent hufloand 
 was the only man who could make her com- 
 pletely happy. 
 
 *' I hope, my dear," faid the mother, " he 
 is the only man who ever will attempt it." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 36 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 His Getierofity gets Credit for luhat ivas due to his 
 Rejentment. 
 
 y ^ £ L U C O was received in the kindeft 
 manner by his uncle at IVIadrid, who viewed his 
 pad extravagances in the moft favourable light, 
 confidering them is entirely proceeding from 
 youthful vivacity and imprudence. He there- 
 fore treated him with all the refpect due to the 
 bead of his own family, introduced him to 
 every houfe of difbintStion ; flattering himfelf, 
 that the ardent fpirit of his nephew might excite 
 hini to the fame impetuous purfuit of military 
 glory with whkh he had followed pleafure, and 
 fondly hoping that he would one day arrive at 
 higher diftinction than he would have attained 
 by an unambitious prudence of conduiTk in the 
 Neapolitan fervice, which afforded no oppor- 
 tunity of difplayitig military genius. Aher 
 pointing out the advantages he would derive 
 from his birth, he inculcated tiie neceirny of 
 tliftinguifhing himfelf b)' a<^tivity as an officer, 
 that he might give an early impreilion in his 
 favour, and fmooth the way to that rapid pro- 
 motion he had reafon to expcdt, from his exer- 
 tions in an army where difcipline was greatly 
 relaxed, and in which few men of rank diltin- 
 guiilied themlclves. 
 
 Z-Iuco
 
 Z E L U C O. 37 
 
 Zeluco was appointed to a regiment then on 
 its march to one of the fea-port towns, but 
 with permiflion to remain at Madrid till the 
 troops fliould arrive at the place of their defti- 
 riation, and were completed. He Tpent this in- 
 terval in thofe Ibcieties to which he had been 
 introduced by his uncle, and being iufficiently 
 fenfible of the graces of his own perfon, he 
 was not without hopes of engaging the affec- 
 tions of fome female as wealthy as Signora Ro- 
 folia, and whole mother was lefs liable to preg- 
 nancy. 
 
 At fome of thofe affemblies, gaming, to a 
 confiderable depth, was permitted. Zeluco had 
 always been fond of play, and had acquired, at 
 the ufual expence, a very great knowledge in 
 moft games-, yet he by no means pofl'cired that 
 degree of coolnels .md commund of temper 
 which is retjuinte for a gamefter : he was fent- 
 fible of this himfclf, but he could not always 
 rtfift the temptation of gaming; and fonietimes, 
 vot fatislietl with the play at the afiemblies, he 
 went in fearch of deeper liakes at ieis credita- 
 ble houfes. 
 
 At Ijrft he was fortunate, which encouraged 
 him to attend thofe hoiifes more conitantly. 
 One unlucky e\ening, however, he loft all the 
 money he had about him, amounting to a cour 
 iiderable fum ; mnfi: part of it was won by a 
 peri'on who had lately appeared at Madrid, alr 
 iuming the chara«^ter of an Hungarian gentle- 
 man, with the rank of a lieutenant-colonel of 
 Huflars in the Emperor's fervice. As the con> 
 pany played for ready money only, when Zeluco 
 loft his, he fat in very ili-Uumour, overlooking 
 
 thofe
 
 38 Z E L U C O. 
 
 thofe who continued to play : in this difpofition 
 it was not unnatural for him to fufpedt that the 
 perfon who had won his money had, by other 
 means befides fuperior UdW in the game, affifted 
 his own good fortune. Zeluco watched him 
 with the moft malignant attention, williing to 
 detect him in fome unfair trick, and ready to 
 quarrel with him if even he fliould not. 
 
 The game was pafs-dice. A young ftranger 
 held the dice, and had already won four times; 
 and as his whole money had been covered each 
 time, the fum before him was now fixteen limes 
 larger than what he had originally ftaked. But 
 while he feemed preparing to throw a fifth time, 
 there w^as only about a third part of the money 
 which he now had on the table taken by the 
 company. 
 
 On obferving this, the ftranger faid, •' Does 
 nobody chool'e to take more ?" Every body de- 
 clined, on which he put the rcfidue of the 
 money into his pocket ; but as he fliook the 
 box, being about to throw, the HulTar officer 
 cried, Banco j and the others took up what 
 they had flaked. 
 
 The rule of the game is, that if any one 
 perfon offers to take the whole, the reft of the 
 company, who have taken fmaller fums, imme- 
 •liately withdraw their money in favour of the 
 perfon who offers to ftand againft the entire 
 bankj that is to fay, the whole fum which the 
 perfon who holds the dice has on the table. 
 
 The Huffar meant to avail himfelf of the 
 equivocal fituation of the cafe : if the dice 
 fhould prove fortunate to the thrower, he in- 
 tended to pay the exa£l ium on the table i but 
 
 in
 
 Z E L U C O. 
 
 39 
 
 in cafe the dice turned againft the ftranger, he 
 refolved to claim not only that, but aUo what 
 the young gentleman had juft put into his 
 pocket. 
 
 The ftranger threw and loft. <* Take your 
 money," faid he ; flioving the whole parcel to 
 the Hungarian. 
 
 The latter iniifted on having that alfo 'which 
 he had put into his pocket, faying it belonged 
 to the bank as much as what remained on the 
 table, fince there had been no intervening 
 throw. 
 
 The young gentleman was aftonifhed at this 
 demand, aflerting, that the money he had poc- 
 keted was entirely out of the queftion, having 
 been withdrawn before the Hungarian had 
 fpokcn. That if the officer meant both fums, 
 he ought to have declared that meaning when 
 he called Banco ; adding, that in cafe he had 
 done fo, or if the company had fet againft the 
 whole of his winning, he himfelf had deter- 
 mined to pafs the box, and not have riflced fo 
 great a fum on one throw. 
 
 This pretended colonel, however, who was 
 a ftout man, with a long fabre and a formidable 
 pair of whifkers, was loud and boifterous in af- 
 lerting his right to the whole. The ftranger 
 defended his caufe but faintly j the company in 
 general, whatever they thought of the juftice 
 of the cafe, did not feem difpofed to ailert the 
 ftranger's clain againft this ferocious Hullar. 
 
 In this ftate of affairs, Zeluco, who burned 
 with refentment againft theperfon who had won 
 his money, faid, << It was a clear cafe, and that 
 the Hungarian had a right to nothing but the 
 
 fum
 
 40 Z E L U C O. 
 
 ftim on the tabic when he firft fpoke •/' adding, 
 *♦ he was convinced if he had loft he wouiJ 
 have paid no more." *' How, Sir ! — what do 
 you mean?" cried the Hungarian, turning 
 fiercely round to Zeluco. *' 1 mean preciTely 
 what I i'ald," replied the latter. <' What, Sir!" 
 repeated the HuiFar, in a loud tone of voice, 
 and putting his hand to his i'word. " Yes, 
 Sir," cried Zeluco, " and further, I mean to 
 cut the throat of any rafcally adventurer who 
 dares be inlblent to me :'' faying this, he half 
 drew his fvvord, when the company interpofed. 
 The Hufl'ar affe^ed not to have heard Zeiuco's 
 laft woyds, but faid, in a foftened tone, *' I'hat 
 if the company were of opinion that his claim 
 was not ftnclly juft, he was willing to yield it." 
 — ** Willing or unwilling, you ihall yield it," 
 cried Zeluco ; and' the company being noiu 
 imanimous in favour of the llranger, the pre- 
 tended Hungarian ofiicer withdrew from the 
 aflembly, and ntxt morning early he left Ma- 
 drid, afraid that this incident would produce an 
 inveftigation exceedingly prejudicial to him, be- 
 ing coniirions that he had no title to the charac- 
 ter he aflumed. 
 
 1 his adventure was much talked of, and did 
 a great deal of honour to Zeluco. It was pe- 
 culiarly agreeable to his generous uncle, who 
 having heard that his nephew had been unfor- 
 tunate on the night in which he had behaved 
 with fuch Ipirit, he prefcnted him with a fum 
 fufficient for clearing all his expences at Madrid, 
 and equipping him in the genteelell: manner for 
 his expedition to the Weft Indies. Zeluco him- 
 felf, having no immediate profpcci: of meeting 
 
 with
 
 Z E L U C O. 41 
 
 with another Rofolia, grew tired of the forma- 
 lity of Madrid, and impatient to join his regi- 
 ment, wliicla lie underftood had now arrived at 
 the head- quarters. 
 
 This rel'olution being communicated to the 
 rincU*, was imputtnl by him to a hiudnbie zeal for 
 the fervice. The worthy veteran aflufcd him, 
 that he would take particular care of his intereft, 
 and aflift his-*<promotion with all his influence at 
 court, making no doubt but his efforts for that 
 purpofe would be rendered fuccefsful by the 
 rifing reputation of Zeluco. 
 
 The regiment was in a very fliort time com- 
 pleted, and loon after embarked for the illand 
 of Cuba, where it arrived in fafcty. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 42 Z E L U C O, 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Lb feroeite naUtrtlk faif meine de cfiifkque ramour-propre. 
 Due de lu RocHsroueAULT. 
 
 The Retnonflratice of an old Officer. 
 
 ..^ELUCO pofTcflcd not the generous ardour 
 of a foldijr; his impatience for promotion was 
 excited by the hopes of emolument more than a 
 third for military glory ; and if he was willing 
 to luffer fatigue and incur danger, it was hecaufe 
 in his prefent fituation they were necelTary for 
 his obtaining fome lucrative command, that 
 might fpeediiy furnilli him with the means of 
 plesfure and luxurious enjoyment, which he con- 
 lidered as the only fetifible purfuits in life. 
 
 Having heard that the commander in chief 
 was a very fl.ri(ft and attentive officer, and Ze- 
 luco's views being now centered in military pro- 
 motion, he was impatient to acquire favour and 
 recommendation by diflinguifhing himfelf as a 
 difciplinarlan ; naturally fclfifli and unfeeling, 
 he was not checked in the profecution of this 
 plan by any fentiment of juilicc or compaflion ; 
 provided he could make the men under his com- 
 mand more dextrous in their exercH'e, or more 
 fmart in their appearance, than others, he re- 
 garded not the inconvenicncy or torture he oc- 
 cafioned to them; nor did he care whether this 
 was of ufe to the fervice or not ; he was con- 
 vinced
 
 Z E L U C O. 4^ 
 
 vinced it might be of ufe to himfelf, and that 
 was luflicieni. Without temper to make allow- 
 ance for the awkward ncfs of recruits, or equity 
 in proportioning punifhments to crimes, his or- 
 ders were often didated by caprice, and en- 
 forced by cruelty; he exacted from the private 
 men fuch a degree of precifion in the manual 
 cxercife, and in the minutiae of their drefs, as 
 was almoft out of the power of the mofl; dex- 
 trous and beft difpofed to obferve. 
 
 Provoked and irritated on finding that the 
 foliers did not arrive at that degree of perfec- 
 tion which his vanity required, and becoming 
 daily more unreafonable and unrelenting by the 
 cxercife of power, he exhibited many inftances 
 of cruelty on a detachment from the garrifon of 
 Havannah, of which he had for fome time the 
 command. 
 
 His conducH: on that and other occafions came 
 to the knowledge of the commander in chief by 
 the following incident : 
 
 A foldier having committed fome flight mif- 
 take in the exercil'e, Zeluco treated him with 
 great feverity, which the man endured with all 
 the paffivenefs which military difcipline exadls •, 
 — till Zeluco, fwelling with the infolence of 
 power, exprelTed himfelf in this barbarous and 
 abfurd manner : ♦« If you are not more alert for 
 the future, you fcoundrel, I v/ill cut you to 
 pieces, and lend your Ibul to hell." 
 
 To this the man replied with tranquillity— 
 *' Your honour may cut me to pieces, if you 
 pleafe ; but I thank God it is not in your power 
 to fend my foul to hell." 
 
 This
 
 44 Z E L U C O. 
 
 This very fcdate anArer, while it raifed a fmile 
 in others who heard it, augmented the rage of 
 Zeluco. 
 
 «' Do you mutiny, villain r" cried Zeluco. 
 
 *« I do not, indeed," faid the ibldier. 
 
 ** I'll let you know in due time," laid Zeluco, 
 *< whether you do or not." 
 
 He ordered the man to be carried to the 
 guard prifon, and put in irons. 
 
 Zeluco had been long difliked by all his fel- 
 low-officers. — On talking over this matter with 
 fome of them, in order to prepofTefs them with 
 the opinion that what the foldier had faiJ 
 amounted to mutiny, he found them little dil- 
 pofed to consider it in that light ; he v/as in no 
 hafte, therefore, to bring the man to a court- 
 martial, being convinced he would be acquitted:- 
 but he had it inhnuated to the foldier himl"elf,that 
 if he would acknowledge a mutinous intention,, 
 and implore mercy, he (hould be liberated with- 
 out a trial ; whereas, if he were tried, he would 
 certainly be feverely punifhed. 
 
 But the foldier, fecretly encouraged by tbofe 
 of the officers who moft deterted Zeluco, re- 
 fufed to make any fuch avowal, and remained 
 in irons. 
 
 Meanwhile the chaplain of the regiment hav- 
 ing vifited the foldier, approved of liis conduct', 
 declaring he could not juttly be punifhed for an 
 anfwer lb orthodox. He next day informed the 
 commander in chief of the whole tranla(fHon. 
 
 This gentlcnian, unwilling to rely intirely on 
 the account he had received, fent for fome of 
 the officers belonging to the detachment, and 
 
 obtained
 
 Z E L U C O. 45 
 
 obtained from them the fame infornaation which 
 he had already received from the chaplain. 
 
 In the mean time Zeluco, having got a hint 
 of what was going on, freed tlie foldier from 
 confinement. But the indignation of the com- 
 manding officer being rouftd by what he had 
 heard, he made inquiries into Zeluco's conduct 
 to the fokiiers on other occafion? ; and fpon dif- 
 covered, with aftoniihment, and fome degree 
 of felf-condemnation, that many a<ftsof unnecef- 
 fiiry feverity and oppreffion had been committed 
 by Zeluco. Maving blamed fome officers, whole 
 duty he thought it was to have informed him of 
 thole tranfaclions iooner, he fent for Zeluco, 
 and in the prcfence of all the officers of the bat" 
 taiion to which he belonged, he addrefficd him to 
 the following efficl: : 
 
 ♦« Signer Zeluco, 
 ♦* 1 think it my duty to deliver my fentiments 
 to you before ihefe gentlemen, on aiubjeifi^ that 
 ought to be well underftood by every officer; 
 but of which it appears by your conduit you 
 have formed very erroneous notions. 
 
 •' iStri(Jt dilcipline is efl'entially requiflte for 
 the well-being of an army •, without which it 
 degeneratcb into a lawlefs niob, more formidable 
 to their friends than enemies ; the ravagers, not 
 the defenders of their country. 
 
 ♦' But it i;i equally eiTential that dilcipline be 
 excrcifed with temper and withjuftice; a capri- 
 cious and cruel exertion of power in ofllcers do- 
 preffies the Ipirits of the private men, and ex- 
 tinguidies that daring ardour which glows in the 
 breait of a real foldier. 
 
 " Is
 
 46 Z E L U C O. 
 
 *' Is it poffible that a man of a generous mind 
 can treat with wanton cruelty thofe wlio are not 
 permitted to refift, or even to expoftulate, how- 
 ever brave they may be. 
 
 ** I believe, Sir, you have not as yet ferved 
 in time of war; but I will inform you, that in 
 the courfe of my fervices I have feen common 
 foldiers gallantly face the enemy, when fomc 
 officers, who had been in the habit of ufing 
 them with infult and cruelty, flirunk from the 
 danger. 
 
 ** You are fufficiently acquainted with the 
 condition of private foldiers, to know, that 
 when they are treated with all the lenity confid- 
 ent with proper difcipline, ftill their condition 
 is furrounded with fuch a variety of hardfhips, 
 that every perfon of humanity muft wifh it were 
 poffible to alleviate it. 
 
 <* Only refle£t. Sir, on the fmallnefs of their 
 pay; how inadequate to the duty required of 
 them, and how far beneath the intrinfic value 
 it bore when it was firfl: fixed ; yet this grievance 
 remains unremedied in fome of the wealthieft 
 countries of Europe, even in thofe where the 
 greateft attention is paid in other particulars to 
 the rights of mankind. But weak as the im- 
 preffion may be which the loldier's hardfiiips 
 make on the cold heart of the politician, one 
 would naturally expeft they fliould meet with 
 fympathy in the breafts of their own officers ; 
 the men beft acquainted with their fituation, 
 whom they are conftantly ferving and obeying, 
 who are acting in the fame caufe, and expofed 
 to the fame dangers though not to the lame hard- 
 fiiips with themfelves. It is natural to imagine 
 
 that,
 
 Z E L U C O. 47 
 
 that, independent of more generous motives, 
 their own intereft, and the idea of felf-preferva- 
 tion, would prompt officers to behave with mild- 
 nefs, at leaft with equity, to the foldiers under 
 their command. How many officers have been 
 refcued from death or captivity by the grateful 
 attachment and intrepidity of the foldiers ? I 
 myfelf, Sir, once lay on the lield fevertly wound- 
 ed, when, in the midft of general confufion, of- 
 ficers and men flying promilcuoufly, I was car- 
 ried to a place of ibcurity by two foldiers, at the 
 infinite hazard of their own lives. From one of 
 thofe, indeed, [ might naturally have expedled 
 fome exertion in my favour ; he was a Caftiiian, 
 born on my own eilate : but I had no claim on 
 the other, except as an officer who had always- 
 behaved equitably to him in common wiih the 
 reft of my company; — he was an Irifliman. 
 
 •' Had I treated him with caprice or ill-na- 
 ture, would this foreigner, or even would my 
 own countryman have made fuch a generous ex- 
 ertion to preferve my life ? No, Sir ; if they 
 had refrained from giving me a frefh wound as 
 they fled paft mc, which foldiers are not unapt 
 to do to cruel officers, they certainly would at 
 leart have confultcd their own iafety by con- 
 tinuing their fhght, and left me to be trampled 
 to death by the enemy's cavalry, as I certainly 
 muft have been, had not thefe two foldiers re- 
 moved me from the fpot on which I lay. 
 
 •• But waving every confideration derived 
 from the ideas of perfonal fafety, there is an- 
 other kind of iclfifhnefs which might induce of- 
 ficers to behave well to foldiers ; that is, the 
 pleafure of alleviating, in many rcfpe^ts, the un- 
 avoidable
 
 48 Z E L U C O. 
 
 avoid;ible hardfliips of our fellow-creatures, and 
 the confcioufnefs ©f being loved by tliole around 
 
 At this part of the general's remonftrance, 
 Zeluco railed iiis eyes mechanically with that 
 kind of ftare which a man gives when he hears 
 what he thinks a very extraordinary propolltion. 
 
 " It is true, Sir, 1 afliire you," continued 
 the Caftilian ; " next to the approbation of his 
 own confcience, nothing is fo grateful to the 
 heart of man as the love and efteem of mankind. 
 In my mind, he is an object of compallion, in 
 whatever fituation of life he may be placed, who 
 is not fenlible of this tiom his own experience ; 
 and fureiy no man can be tolerably happy, who 
 thinks himielf the obje»5t of their hatred. 
 
 «' We all know, gentlemen," continued he, 
 turning a moment frotn Zeluco to the other of- 
 ficers, " that the love of ibldiers, important as 
 it is to thofe who command them, u\ay be ac- 
 quired on eafier terms than that of any other fet 
 of men ; becaufe the habit of obedience, in 
 which the-^ are bred, inclines them to refpecl 
 their officers ; unbiased equity in the midft of 
 the ftrictert diicipline commands their ejUevi^ 
 and i4ie Imallell mark of kindncis fecures their 
 graiUuJt' and attachment. 1 have ever endea- 
 voured to prelervc a ileady and regular difcipline 
 among the troops I have had the honour of 
 commanding; yet I have the happinel's to be- 
 lieve, that I am more loved than feared by thofe 
 among them who have had the bell opportunity 
 of knowing me. — One of the greateil pleahires 
 I ever enj.iyed (I fee (ome here who were with 
 me on that occaiion) was, in over hearing an 
 
 advanced
 
 Z E L U C O. 49 
 
 advanced guard of foldiers talk afFetSlionately of 
 me, when they knew not I was near them : I 
 will own to you, Sir, it came over my heart 
 like the fwceteft mufic : and if I thought niyfeU 
 the object of the i'ecret execrations of the men 
 under my command, it would fpoil the harmony 
 of my life, and jar my whole foul out of tune. 
 
 ** Signor Zeluco, what I have heard of your 
 behaviour to the foldiers, I am willing to impute 
 to a mifplaced zeal for the fervice. It is difficult 
 to believe, that a man of birth and education 
 could have been prompted to the feverities you 
 have exepcifed by other motives. 
 
 " This confideration, joined to the regard I 
 have for the recommendation of my old friend 
 your uncle, have weighed with me, in not fub- 
 jeiSling certain parts of your condudl to the judg- 
 ment of a court martial. 
 
 ♦' With refpect to the foldier wliom you con- 
 fined fb long and lb improperly in irons, you 
 certainly treated him from the beginning with 
 too much feverity. The natural awkwardnefs 
 of a recruit is to be corrected gradually, and with 
 gentlenefs ; feverity confounds him, and in- 
 creafes the evil that is to be remedied. 'J'o give 
 way to anger and paflion on fuch an occafion is 
 inconfiftcnt with the dignity which an officer 
 ought to preferve before the men, and is always 
 attended with injuflice. As for this man's an- 
 fwer to your very intemperate menace, although 
 a foldier under arms ought not to make any reply 
 to an officer, yet, all the circumilan'-cs being 
 weighed, what he faid was excufable ; to endea- 
 vour to torture it into mutiny would be abHird, 
 Vol. L D << You
 
 50 Z E L U C O. 
 
 " You ought to remember, gentlemen, that 
 as military di(cipline looks to the general tenden- 
 cy and remote confequences of thing?, more 
 than to their intrinfic criminality, many a^lions 
 are treated as crimes by the military laws which 
 in themfelves are innocent or frivolous. And 
 when a foldier, irritated by undeferved inl'ult, 
 over-leaps fubordination, and repels the wanton 
 tyranny of an officer, however he may be con- 
 demned by the unrelenting laws of difcipline, 
 he will be abfolvcd by the natural feelings of the 
 human heart, which revolts at opprefiion ; nor 
 will he appear, even in the eyes of thofe who 
 think his punifhment expedient, an object either 
 of contempt or averfion. But when an officer, 
 armed witlf the power, and intrenched within 
 the lines of difcipline, indulges unmanly paflion, 
 or private hatred, againft an unprote(Sled and 
 unrefifting ibldier, in what light can this officer 
 appear, cither in his own eyes, or in thofe of 
 others ? 
 
 " Signor Zeluco, I have thought proper to 
 explain my fentiments to you thus fully before 
 thefe gentlemen, who have been witneffis to 
 vour conduct fince you firft joined the regiment, 
 and who 1 do not think iniirely free from blame 
 for not making me acquainted with it. I have 
 only to add, that the contiderations which pre- 
 vent my laying the whole before a court-martial, 
 cannot operate a iecond time. I hope, Sir, that 
 for your own fake you will keep this in your re- 
 membrance, that while I infift upon all the troops 
 lUnder my command performing their duty with 
 
 puniituality,
 
 Z E L U C O. 51 
 
 punfluality, I will not permit the pooreft: centl- 
 nel to be treated with injuftice. 
 
 " The foldier whom you ufed Co harfhiy may 
 ftill appeal, it he pleafes, to a court-martial ; it 
 will be prudent in you to find means to prevent 
 him." 
 
 Having faid this, the general difmifTed the 
 company. Zeluco made a prefent to the foldier 
 more than fufficient to fatisfy him. And his 
 cxpecflation of fudden promotion in the army 
 being greatly damped by the general's harangue, 
 he formed tha refolution of quitting the road to 
 military renown, and of turning into a path more 
 agreeable to his talents, and from which he 
 hoped to reap greater advantage. 
 
 D 2 C H A P„
 
 SZ Z E L U C O. 
 
 C HAP. X. 
 
 GratitUih to a Friend. — Curio^ty in a Maid. 
 
 .^LcELUCO had formed an acquaintance 
 ■ wich a Spanifh gentleman, to whom he had 
 brought a recommendatory letter from his uncle 
 at Madrid j and from whom he received daily 
 marks of attention and civility. As this gentle- 
 man, though of but a moderate fortune, lived 
 in a moft hofpitable ftyle, and was of a charac- 
 ter lefs referred than the vSpaniards in general 
 are, Zeluco found him a very convenient ac- 
 quaintance, and cultivated his good opinion 
 with fuch afliduity, that he gained at lall his 
 entire coniidence. In the courfe of their inti- 
 macy, the Spaniard informed Zeluco that he 
 had long paid his addrefTes to a widow lady pol- 
 fclTed of a very valuable eftate of her own, and 
 a large fum of money fecured in mortgages on 
 iome of the beft eftates in the iilauds of Cuba 
 and Hifpaniola : that fhc hud, on his liril mak- 
 ing propofals, protefted in politive terms, ac- 
 cording to the eftablifiicd cuftom of widows, 
 iigainft ever entering into a fecond matrimonial 
 engagement i but that of late he had obferved 
 with much fatisfacflion, that her obje<ftions be- 
 came gradually weaker, both in their nature and 
 in the manner in which tlicy were urged ; and 
 that he now had good hones of their being foon 
 
 renjoved
 
 Z E L U C O. 53 
 
 removed altogether : that as her great fortune 
 was entirely in her own power, as fhe had no 
 children, and was in hcrfcif a woman of a good 
 difpofition and of a cheerful temper, he expelled, 
 many advantages and much domeftic happincfs 
 from the union. 
 
 Zeluco was introduced to this lady's acquaint- 
 ance by her lover ; and having made a cautious 
 and minute inquiry into the Hate of her finances, 
 he was fa;isfied that they rather furpafled than 
 fell flxort of the account he had received of 
 them ; and from that moment formed the de- 
 fign of fupplanting his unfufpicious friend. 
 
 But he did not think it prudent to pay his 
 court avowedly to a woman who was almolt be- 
 trothed to another ; and that otlier, a perfaa 
 from whom he received hourly civilities, and 
 whom he acknowledged lo be his friend. 
 
 lleaflalled her, however, with the eloquence 
 of gbnces and lighs j which, while he o^'crTcil 
 to conceal them from her, he took particular 
 care Ihould not efcape her obfervation ; and a=> 
 often as they feenied to be difcovered he erdea- 
 voured to blufli, and then afTumed an air of lui- 
 eafinefs and confuiion. 
 
 When he was in liCr company, wl^ch hap- 
 pened as often as he decently could, he added 
 to this the moft obfequious approbation of what- 
 ever flic fa id ; and the general tendency of his 
 difcourle, though ofteti addrclTed to others, 
 was to adopt and illuflrate thofe fentiments and. 
 ojiinions which he knew to be hers. 
 
 By thcie means, aided by the graces of his 
 
 per foil, he gradually made advances on the heart 
 
 ' D ; of
 
 54 Z E L U C O. 
 
 of the widow ; and in a iLort time gained a 
 decided preference over her old lover. But al- 
 though this llcilful engineer was fully fenfible of 
 the impreffion which he made, he declined fend- 
 ing an open fummons, trufling that his malked 
 batttry of iighs and glances would extort from 
 the fortrefs itfclf a propofal of furrender. To 
 haften which, he took care to engage the widow's 
 confidential malt! in his^nterell, by ordering his 
 own valet to make afiiduous love to her, and in- 
 llru^ing him in what manner to proceed after 
 he had gained her heart. 
 
 The attentive valet began his operations with- 
 out lofs of time ; having ipent a few days in ge- 
 neral courtfli'p, he told her that he had fome- 
 thing of an important and very fecret nature to 
 communicate to her private ear. 
 
 ** To my private ear !" cried the maid. 
 
 ♦' Afiuredly, my dear," faid the valet, •* to 
 yours, and to no other perfon'3." 
 
 This fo mightily raiied the curiofity of the 
 maid, that, flie gave him a rendezvous in a 
 grove of her miftrefs's garden j merely, as flie 
 herfelf repeatedly affured him, to know what 
 this Important matter was ; for flie owned It was 
 beyond the compafs of her power to divine what 
 it could be. 
 
 The valet gained her heart as he had been 
 ordered ; and in the intervals of his own fuc- 
 cel'sful paflion he obferved the other inftrudlons 
 of his malkr. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Z E L U C O. 55 
 
 C H A P. XL 
 
 Kien ne ppfe tant qu'un Iccrct ; 
 
 I.e porter loin elt difficile aux dames; 
 
 Et je i'ai nieme fur cc fait 
 
 Ben nombre d'hommes qui font femmes. 
 
 hi. Fontaine. 
 
 XJl F T E R having lived for fome time together 
 in a ftate of mutual happinefs, the valet prefented 
 himfelf one day to his miftrefs with every ap- 
 pearance of forrow; this tender-hearted maiden, 
 (for Ihe had never been married) afl'e^ftionately 
 inquired into the caufe of his grief. The valet 
 anhvered, " That it was all on account of his 
 unhappy mafter, who, from being the moft 
 cheerful of mankind, was of late become the 
 mofl dejected and heart-broken." 
 
 •' Have ycu no notion," faid the maid, 
 <* what has occalloned fuch a melancholy 
 change ?" 
 
 ** No notion !" replied the valet ; " I know 
 but too well what has brought it about." 
 
 " And pray, for goodnefs lake, what can it 
 be ?" faid the maid impatiently. 
 
 '* That," replied the valet," " is what no 
 earthly confideralion will make me ever di- 
 vulge." 
 
 »* No I" cried the maid, *' and for what 
 reafon ?" 
 
 D 4. « Becaufe,"
 
 56 Z £ L U C O. 
 
 " Becaufe/' hid the valet, «* I have pro- 
 TTiifed never to mention it to any human crea- 
 ture.'"' 
 
 «* I inliil: upon knowing it immediately," iaiJ 
 the maid. 
 
 ♦< I beg you will not," cried the valet, " it 
 would be horrid in me to divulge a fecret with 
 which I have been intruded— my mafter never 
 would forgive me." 
 
 <* Your tv//h-efs never will forgive you, if you 
 do not," faid the maid. 
 
 " Only conlider what you require of me," 
 rejoined the valet ; " to break my truft ! To 
 prefs fuch a thing is an attack on my honour." 
 
 *• Well," exclaimed the maid, «' have you 
 not made an attack on tny hcncur ? Is all your 
 pretended love come to this ? To refufe \.htjirj} 
 favour ihe ever afked, to her who has granted 
 you the lajh Was there ever fuch ingratitude. 
 O ! I fliall burfl with vexation. — Yes," con- 
 tinued fhe, weeping, " If you do not imme- 
 diately tell me the caufe of your mafter's mifery, 
 you will render me ten thoufand times more mi- 
 ftrable than he." 
 
 There was no refifting fuch a rational and pa- 
 thetic remonftrance. 'Ihe valet unfolded the 
 whole myftery. •» His poor mafter w»s defpe- 
 rately and hopelefsly in love with her miftrefs ; 
 for knowing that fhe was in fome meafure en- 
 gaged to a friend of his own, he was a man of 
 I'uch delicate honour that he would pine away his 
 very foul in fecret, rather than interfere with a 
 friend j that he ate little or no food, never flept 
 a wink, fighed from morning to night : and as 
 
 for
 
 Z E L U C O. 57 
 
 for my own part," continu'd the valet, " how 
 fliall I be able to lupport the lofs of fuch a gene- 
 rous mafter ! for he is the mof\ liberal of men j 
 one who thinks he never can iufiiciently recom- 
 penfe thofe who do him even the faialleft fcr- 
 vice." 
 
 The maid exprefled her admiration at the ac- 
 count he gave of his maimer, particularly at his 
 neither eating nor ileeping ; Ihe lilcewife approv- 
 ed very much of liis lighing night and day for* 
 love. She knew that iuch things were commoa 
 formerly, for in the courfe of her ftudies (lie had' 
 read of them in books. " But I fear," faid (lie, 
 *' they are not much the faihion among lovers 
 of the prefect age. Yet I muft coiifefs," con- 
 tinued rtie, ** that your mailer is to blame for 
 not acquainting my miftrefs with his paffion." 
 
 *< He never will," replied the valet ; ** no-, 
 thing will ever prevail on him to come in com- 
 petition with his friend ; he will rather pine 
 away his very foul in lecret." 
 
 ♦' He is very much to blame," faid tlie maid ; 
 ** for allow me to put a cafe wiiich has this mo- 
 ment come into my head. — If fo be that many 
 men were to a£l in the fame manner, it would 
 be a great hardlhip on the fair fex ; for many 
 of them might accept a man who was not very 
 agreeable to them, while others, whom they 
 would have preferred, are pining uway their 
 fouls in fecret j for if they alwoys pine in fccret, 
 how is a woman to know that they are pining at 
 all ? And a prudent woman," continued the 
 maid, <* will fecure what ihe can tet, rather 
 than run the riik of getting nothing. It is 
 D 5 therefore
 
 58 Z E L U C O. 
 
 therefore a clear cafe, that your mafter fhould 
 fpeak out, ar.d acquaint my millrefs with his 
 love, and who knows," added flie, with a fig- 
 nificant nod to the valet, *' what may happen, 
 iince your mafter is fo generous a man ?" 
 
 " Generous !" cried the valec, *' you can 
 have no notion how generous he is ; nobody 
 ever did hiin a fervice without being rewarded 
 far beyond their expectations ; but as for fpeak- 
 ing of his pallion to your miftrefs, it is what he 
 never will do ; — but no doubt it might be happy 
 for both, that flie knew how much he loves her ; 
 for I confefs, I tremble for his life ; for rather 
 than offer himfelf in competition with his friend, 
 he will conceal the flame which conlumes him 
 within his own brealh" 
 
 *♦ Jefu Maria !" cried the maid, " conceal a 
 flame within his breaft !" 
 
 " Yes," continued the valet, " and figh his 
 foul to the laft puff unohferved, like the dying 
 ilame in a dark lanthorn." 
 
 The maid burft into tears at this affe^ing 
 jmage ; and after endeavouring to comfort her, 
 he begged of her never to mention, to any ot 
 the human race, what he had told her, — but 
 particularly not to her miftrels. 
 
 '♦ 1 am fure," replied the maid, " my mif- 
 trefs would not deferve to be numbtred among 
 tht human race, if ihe allowed lo faithful a lover 
 to expire in any fuch manner." 
 
 *' It would, indeed, be ten thoofand pities," 
 faid the valet ; •• but you will never give a hint 
 of what 1 have told you." 
 
 *' 1 give
 
 2^ E L U C O. 59 
 
 *'' I ptve a hint 1" exclaimed the maid ; •< I 
 iv'dl be cut into ten thoufand pieces firft." 
 
 So laying, Ihe left him^ and went with all 
 pofiible Ipeed, and informed her mirtrefs, as the 
 valet expected, of all he had faid ; ending the 
 narrative, which the lady liRened to with evi- 
 dent fatisf?iclion, by declaring, '« That in the 
 whole courfe of her life, iiie had never heard 
 of fuch an ardent lover as Signor Zeluco." 
 
 ** Ardent !'"' faid the miftrels; ** what can 
 you know of his ardour ?'' 
 
 " All that I know," replied the maid, " is, 
 that he carries a flame in his breaft ; and is, be- 
 fides, a much hnodlbmer man than Don Lopez.'* 
 
 " Thy head," faid the millrefs, " is always 
 running on beauty — a prudent woman wili think : 
 of more cfTential qualities." 
 
 •* To be fure, every prudent woman, like 
 your ladyfhip, will do fo," replied the maid ; 
 *• but there is no judging for certain but by ex- 
 perience ;— though in all appearance, Signor 
 Zeluco has every efleniial quality as perfeOft as 
 Don Lopez, and is a handfomer man into the 
 bargain." 
 
 ♦' Well, but," faid the widow, fmiling, , 
 *'• you would not have me to go and court this 
 handfome man of yours — would you :" 
 
 •< No ; aflurtdly," faid the maid : " I am 
 always for fupporting the dignity of our own 
 fex ; — but I would have you to difmifs Doa . 
 Lopez." 
 
 " What, before Signor Zeluco makes any 
 propoful :" cried the widow. 
 
 "Yes;*
 
 6o Z E L U C O. 
 
 " Yes," faid the maid, " he will not dip an 
 oar into the water till Don Lopez is dirmilTed ; 
 — this I know from good authority, that till you 
 have given a final anfwer to Don Lopez, Signer 
 Zeluco, rather than fpeak, will ejtpire." 
 
 " Expire !" cried the widow. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, madam, I am alTured that 
 Signor Zeluco is riiat kind of man." 
 
 " He is a very extraordinary kind of man in- 
 deed then," refumed fhe. 
 
 ** That I am informed for certain he is," 
 faid the maid j ** for although he is languifliing 
 for love of your ladyfhip, yet rather than open 
 his mouth to you on the fubjeft, he will certain- 
 ly die." 
 
 *< Die ! nonfenfe," cried the widow. 
 
 " Yes, die," cried the maid, <« and what is 
 worfe, die in a dark lanthorn ; at ieaft, I am 
 told that is what he is in danger of" 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Z E L U C O. 6t 
 
 CHAP. xir. 
 
 Heroic Lcve. 
 
 Although the widow afFeaed to laugh 
 at the maid, and dcfpife her advice ; yet flie had 
 for Ibme time been in expe<ftation of a decla- 
 ration of love from Zeluco ; and having ga- 
 thered from her maid's difcourfe what the ob- 
 ftacle was which prevented it, after confulrirg 
 her pillow, Ihe determined to overleap the bar- 
 riers of female delicacy, and encourage him to 
 a declaration of fendments which were highly 
 agreeable to her. 
 
 Zeluco paid her a vifit at a time when fhe was 
 difengaged from all other company, and fhe 
 had previoufly given orders that none fhould be 
 admitted while he remained with her. 
 
 When they met, the lady's countenance was 
 drefTed in fniiles, and her whole manner an- 
 nounced the uioft encouraging franknefs. But 
 on the brew of Zeluco, care and folicitude 
 feemed to fit brooding, and the fighs of de- 
 fpondency burft, as it were, involuntary from 
 his bofom. 
 
 They converfed for fome time on indifferent 
 fuhjcdts, but Zeluco difplayed fuch abfence of 
 mind, and made io many paufes of melancholy 
 import, that the conterfation was continually 
 interrupted. 
 
 " I fear,"
 
 6i Z E L U C O. 
 
 " I fear," faid the lady tenderly, " that 
 fome lecret care preys upon your mind," 
 
 Zeluco, heaving as profound a llgh as ever 
 was hove on any theatre, threw up his eyes and 
 was filent. 
 
 " Why will you not difclofe the caufe of your 
 afflidlion ?" faid the widow. 
 
 *' Alas ! madam, the caufe of my mifery 
 cannot be removed ; my complaint is part re- 
 medy ; why, therefore, fhould I difquiet others 
 with forrows which are peculiar to myfelf ; ef- 
 pecially, why fhould I difquiet thofe whofe hap- 
 pinefs it is my ardent wifli, and would be my 
 greateft pride, to promote ?" 
 
 " I know not who have the honour to be of 
 that number," faid the widow with diffidence. 
 
 *' My moft fervent deiire, madam, would be 
 to promote the happinefs of " here he he- 
 fit ated, and feemed in a ftate of trembling con- 
 fufion. 
 
 *• The happinefs of woman ?" cried the im- 
 patient widow. 
 
 " Alas ! madam, do not infift upon my dif- 
 clofing fentlments which I have lb long ilrrtve 
 to fupprel's, ami fHll wilh to conceal ; fcntimeiits ■• 
 contlemned by the voice of friendlhip, though 
 infpired by the pureft: love ; fentiments which, 
 if known, might render me odious and criminal 
 in your eyes." 
 
 " f am convinced you labour under a miftake, 
 Sir," faid the widow ; '• pray tell me therefore 
 whofe happinels it is that you willi l"o carncftly 
 to promote." 
 
 «' The happinefs of the moil dcferving and 
 moft amiable of her fex," cried Zeluco, fixing 
 
 his
 
 Z E L U C O. 63 
 
 his eyes ardently on the widow ; — but this blcf- 
 llng never will be in n)y power." 
 
 " If I am the perfon you allude to," faid the 
 lady, throwing her eyes modeltly on the ground, 
 and bluiliing with ail her might, •• I muft ac- 
 knowledge that it is in your power more than in 
 that of any man alive." 
 
 There was no relifting a hint fo direcHily fa- 
 vourable as this. " Angels and faints of heaven," 
 cried Zeluco, " am I awake, or am I deluded 
 
 by a dream of felicity !" And fo he poured 
 
 out a rhapfody extremely infipid in itfelf, but 
 mightily reliflied by the hearer. This was fol- 
 lowed by a long converfation, in which the lady 
 removed all the fcruplcs of Zeluco, by alluring 
 him of what he was convinced was not ftri^tly 
 true, that (he never had any intention of giving 
 her hand to Don Lopez ; and that although he, 
 Zeluco, were entirely out of the queftion, flie 
 never would : tliat the gentleman was much 
 miftaken if he had entertained any fuch hopes ; 
 and ihf would feize the firft opportunity that of- 
 fered to inform him of this— -Zeluco begged 
 that if file was refolved on that meafure, that 
 file would execute it in the leart oflenfive man- 
 ner poflible. An advice which llie promifed to 
 follow. 
 
 In the next tonverl'atlon which Don Lopez 
 had with the widow, white, infpired by the 
 moll" flattering hopes, he began to urge his fuir, 
 and was endeavouring to remove thoi'e objections 
 which the lady had formerly ilated againft a 
 woman's engaging in a fecond mnrriiige j an ex- 
 prellion fell from her which did not fo much im- 
 ply a relu«Stance to marriage as to chuUng hini . 
 
 for
 
 64 Z E L U C O. 
 
 for her hufband. On his appearing furprrfed 
 and humbly requiring an explanation ; the lady, 
 acknowledged, that the prejudice llie had fo 
 ftrongiy entertained again (l a fecond marriage 
 was now effaced by his very judicious arguments, 
 many of which would never have occurred to 
 her uninftrudled judgment, and ihe fhould al- 
 ways retain a grateful fenfe of the pains he had 
 taken to free her mind from an error fo preju- 
 dicial to fociety. But, at the fame time, after' 
 a thoufand apologies, fhe confefled, that, al- 
 though Ihe was convinced of the propriety of 
 her marrying, yet flie had not that degree of 
 love for him which, in her opinion, was necef- 
 fary to continue happinels in the marriage flate. 
 That (he fhould be extremely glad to remain on 
 a footing of friendihip with him (for fhe really 
 had a high efteem for his character), but un- 
 fortunately not ih:xi pnjjtonote ardour of love, which . 
 alone could enf'ure mutual felicity to a married 
 couple •, and therefore, on his own account, as 
 well as hers, fhe begged he would deiilt from 
 his fuit. 
 
 The gentleman thanked her for her efteem, 
 and the obliging attention fhe difplayed for his 
 felicity; hinted, that if (lie had been equally 
 explicit fooner, it would have faved both herfclf 
 and him fome trouble, and begged to know 
 whether he might be permitted to aflc, if the 
 fentiments fhe exprefled proceeded entirely 
 from her indifference to /6/m, or were in part 
 owing to a pajponaie ardour of love for Ibme other 
 man ? 
 
 After throwing her eyes on the ground, and 
 covering her face with her handkerchief, the 
 
 lady
 
 Z E L U C O. 6s 
 
 lady decl.ired, that, contrary to her wiflies, and 
 •without any delign on his part, flie felt fuch an 
 nttachnient to his friend ?^eluco, as rendered it 
 highly improper for her to give her hand to 
 rinotheri particularly, ihe was incapable of 
 fuch injuftice to a perlbn for whom he had fo 
 hi[jh a regard as the gentleman to whom Ihe 
 then fpoke. 
 
 " You are certain that Zeluco is unacquaint- 
 ed with the preference which you give him ?" 
 faid the gentleman. 
 
 ♦* I know not what he may fufpefl," anfwer- 
 ed the blufliing widow ; «* I only know that he 
 never explained himfelf to me, nor, I am con- 
 vinced, ever will, whatever his fentiments may 
 bs, while it is believed that you continue your 
 purfuit." 
 
 ♦' My purfuit terminates here, madam ; and 
 I will, niyfelf, inform Zeluco of his good for- 
 tune," continued the generous Spaniard •, '• fince 
 I cannot have the happinefs I expe^ed myfclf, I 
 will not ftand in the way of another whom you 
 prefer, and who very poffibly may render you 
 happer than I could." 
 
 This well meaning and candid man acquaint- 
 ed Zeluco, according to his declaration, of the 
 widow's fentiments. The confummate hypocrite 
 exprelFed great furprife and concern at the in- 
 telligence, and atTtded inhnite reludance, in 
 accepting of a piece of good fortune, however 
 defirable in itfeif, which had befallen him, at 
 the expence of fo dear a friend. All this af- 
 fectation and mummery was in due time over- 
 come, and Zeluco's nuptials with the widow 
 were celebrated in form-^^ 
 
 CHAP.
 
 €6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 On ne trouve guerc d'ingrate, tant ciu'cn cfb en ctat dc fai?« I 
 
 du bicn. Koca srouc ault. ^ 
 
 xjL S the gentleman who fo generoufly had 
 quitted his claim had never, during his court- 
 iiiip, lliewn any anxiety on the fubje£tof fcttle- 
 mcnts, Zeluco alfo waved all difculuon of that 
 kind, that he might appear equally difinterefted. 
 He knew, however, that by the lady's will, as it 
 then (lood, her fortune, independent of chil- 
 dren, would devolve to one of her relations. 
 This deflination he thought he would prevail 
 upon her at his leifure to alter, and as the laay 
 Was near fifty years of age, and never had a 
 child by her former hufband, or, as far as he 
 knew, by any other perfon, Zeluco thought 
 there was little danger of his being flioved out 
 of her fortune, cither by her relations, or his 
 own offspring. The lady herfelf, indeed, did 
 not look upon her having a pretty numerous 
 pofterity in luch a dei'perate li!',iit as it appeared 
 to others; for in her lateft: iettlement, which 
 was not of an old date, fhe had fpecilied the 
 provifion of her fecond begotten fon or daugh- 
 ter, her third, her fourth, and fo on, and with 
 the molt Inudable and truly maternal folicittide 
 {lie had amply provided fur a dozen of her ex- 
 pected progeny. 
 
 Zeluco
 
 Z E L U C O. 6^ 
 
 Zeluco appeared equally obfequious after mar- 
 riage as before, making every effort in his power 
 to engrofs and fecure the afff<Slions of his ipouie, 
 who, on her part, became every day more doat- 
 ingly fond of him ; and at length, all the re- 
 gard, kindnefs, and friendlhip, (lie formerly 
 felt for other relations and conneiStions, were 
 totally effaced, and the whole affe<5lions of her 
 heart centered in her beloved hufb;;nd. 
 
 One idea however intruded into her mind, 
 and difturbed her happinefs ; this arofe fron\ 
 her hufband's profeflion, which fhe dreaded 
 might occafion a fepnration between them, and 
 cxpofe him to the hardfhips and dangers of war. 
 She often conjured him therefore, with all the 
 eloquence of love, to abandon a lltuation which 
 ke|)t her in perpetual alarm, and embittered the 
 fweeteft enjoyments of her life. 
 
 Zeluco dilliked the profeflion as much as his 
 lady, and was fully reiblved to quit it, but he 
 was equally refolved to make his yielding to her 
 entreaties fubfervient to another plan which now 
 occupied his thoughts. 
 
 He al\Vays replied to her endearing felici- 
 tations on that head with every appearance of 
 grateful acknowledgment, expreffingat the fame 
 time the greatefl relu(n:ance to give up a pro- 
 feflion of which he was paflionately fond, and 
 in which he cxpetSted to obtain glory and pre- 
 ferment. 
 
 This afledling conteft was often renewed ; on 
 one occafion, Zeluco, exaggerating the advan- 
 tages he might derive from continuing in the 
 fervice, faid, that if he ihould be as fortunate 
 as fome other officers, he might be enabled one 
 
 day
 
 tfS 2 E L U C O. 
 
 day to redeem the eflate of his anceftors, and 
 appear with fplendcur and reputation in his 
 native country. He probably expected, that in 
 conTcquence of this hint fhe would have put it 
 in his power immediately, by making over her 
 fortune to him; — but whether from not fully 
 comprehending the import of what lie laid, or 
 from feme remains of prudence, ftie made no 
 direct anfwer ; and her fears refpcifting her huf^ 
 band's profeffion feemed.to relaple into a {lum- 
 ber, when they were faddenly roufcd by her 
 receiving an anonymous letter from one who 
 pretended great anxiety for her happincfs, anit 
 at the fame time informing her, that war would 
 very foon be declared ; that her hufliind's re- 
 giment was defined for immediate fervice, in a 
 fecret expedition, of which he himfelf had al- 
 ready received intimation, though out of ten- 
 dernefs he concealed it from her. 
 
 This alarming news at once awakened her 
 appreheniions, and lulled her prudence. She 
 tenderly expoftulated v»-ith her hufband for con- 
 cealing intelligence of fuch infinite importance 
 to her peace of mind. Without abfbfutely ad- 
 mitting the truth of her information, he ufed it 
 as a frefh argument againft the propriety of his 
 quitting the army. *' If he had hefitated, even 
 in the time of peace, how could he in honour 
 agree to it on the eve of a war ?" This con- 
 vinced her of the truth of the intelligence. 
 
 " Out you liave not heard," cried the half 
 diftract:-d woman, «* that war is yet declared " 
 
 *' With whatever certainty it may be expect- 
 ed, it ail'uredly is not adtually declared," replied 
 Zeluco ; " if that were the cafe, even you, my 
 
 «lcarclt
 
 Z E C U C O: 69 
 
 (leareft love, could no longer wifh that I fliould 
 leave the army j nor could I after that allow of 
 any intreaty on the lubje(5l." 
 
 *< Well, thank heaven, it is not yet too kite," 
 cried (he ; and immediately leaving Zeluco, flie 
 ordered an irrevocable deed to be made out, by 
 which her whole fortune, real and perfonal, 
 was transferred to her hufband. This fhe 
 fhewed him, telling him at the fame time, that 
 (lie would deliver it into his poirelTion the mo- 
 ment that he rcligned his commillion. After 
 the higheft; exprefllons of admiration, at what 
 he termed her gencroGty of foul, and forne very 
 heroic fentiments denoting the relu(Slancc with 
 which he had facrificed the hopes of military 
 glory, he concluded, by repeating a line from a 
 Spanifh poet, equivalent to this from Pope's 
 Eloifa : 
 
 Fame, wealth, and honour, what are ye to love? 
 
 This fcrap of poetry, though not very applica- 
 ble on fuch an occafion, was heard with rap- 
 ture, and conlidered by the enamoured lady as 
 exceedingly in point. 
 
 Having obtained liberty to refign, he quitted 
 the army, to the great joy of his lady, and of 
 the regiment to which he belonged. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 70 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 Proprium humani ingenii, odifTe quern laferis. 
 
 Tacit. 
 
 J. H E heroic mark of love above mentioned 
 was the laft that Zeluco was folicitous of re- 
 ceiving from his lady ; for he fcemed ever after 
 very willing to difpenfe with all indications of 
 her paffion, and his expreffions of affeftion to- 
 wards her diminiflied in their energy from this 
 period. She, at firfl: with gentlenefs, and af- 
 terwards with a mixture of acrimony, remon- 
 ftrated with him on this alteration. But it has 
 been obferved, that complaints and remon- 
 firances feldom prove reftoratives to a languid 
 love. In the beft and mildeft difpofitions they 
 do no good, in acrimonious difpofitions they 
 exafperate the difeafe. 
 
 Zeluco bore the murmurings of his wife 
 from the beginning with but an ill-dilfembled 
 patience, became more and more morofe and 
 I'ulky as they were continued, and his behaviour 
 terminated in avowed contempt and open 
 abufe. 
 
 The unhappy woman finding herfelf thus 
 negledted, inlulted, and defpifed by the perfon 
 on whom fhe had fixed her affed^ions and be- 
 ftowed her whole fortune, gradually funk into 
 defpondency, and after enduring all the bitter- 
 nefs of feif-reproach, flie died at the end of 
 two years. 
 
 Difappointment
 
 Z E L U C O. 71 
 
 Difappointmcnt and difqu^etude had attended 
 Zeluco througli the whole of his life, riotwith- 
 ftanding the great acquilition of fortune he de- 
 rived from his marriage; even his matrimonial 
 ilatc had been embittered with continual cha- 
 grin. This was the natural effe<5t of his own 
 vicious condn(St ; yet by a partiality of felf-de- 
 ceit, which is very common, he always imputed 
 his mifllng of happinefs to other caufes : few 
 people blame themfelves, while it is in the 
 power of felflove to twift the charge againft 
 others. All the difcontent and fretfulnefs 
 which Zeluco experienced during the lifeiime 
 of his wife, he thought originated in the ill- 
 humour and bad temper of that unhappy wo- 
 man. 
 
 When he was freed therefore from what he 
 coniidered as the only obftruiTtion to his happi- 
 neis, he expected that what he had hitherto 
 purfued without attaining was at laft within his 
 reach. 
 
 But to render his felicity more certain and 
 permanent, he thought it neceflary to bring his 
 eftate to the highefl: pitch of improvement ; 
 after which he propofcd to return to Europe, 
 and there in fplendour and mngniflceiice enjoy 
 every plcafure that his heart could defire. 
 
 In the profecution of this plan he laboured 
 with fuch afliduity and impatience as kept him- 
 ielf in everlafting fretfulnefs, and proved fatal 
 to feveral of his flaves, iome of whom expired 
 under the exertions he forced them to make, 
 and others under the punilliments he inflicted 
 for the Imallcil remiflhefs or negledl. 
 
 Zeluco
 
 72 Z E L U C O. 
 
 Zeluco was now in that (ituation in which the 
 underftanding cannot improve, and the difpo- 
 fxtion is the mofl: Hkely to degenerate ; avoiding 
 and being avoided by e\ery peribn of a liberal 
 and independent mind ; living almoft conftantly 
 on his own eftate with a let of people over 
 whom he had unlimited power ; feeing no per- 
 fon whofe character he much refpeiSled, or whofe 
 cenfure he fo much dreaded as to put him on 
 his guard againft the overflowings of paffion, or 
 make him check the impulfes of caprice, of 
 courfe he became every day more unreafonable, 
 paflionate, and cruel ; and at length was unable 
 10 hear with patience the mod: candid and ra- 
 tional remonftrance, flying into violent fits of 
 rage on the moft trivial occaflons ; and when 
 his domeftics had the good fortune to execute 
 his orders with I'uch precillon and rapidity as 
 left him not the lealt pretence for blame, he 
 then turned his rancour on the climate and foil, 
 the viciflltudes of the weather, burfling into 
 ridiculous fits of pafllon at the commonell and 
 mod inevitable occurrences. 
 
 Ti\e daily habit which this odious man thus 
 acquired of tormenting himfelf, would have 
 alForded f.itisfaiStion to all who were witnefles to 
 it, had it not been accompanied with the diabo- 
 lical propenfity to harafs and torment all thofe 
 unfortunate creatures whom Providence, for 
 reafons we cannot penetrate, fubjecled to his 
 power. 
 
 When a nian of a good difpofition is of a 
 peevi(h, fretful, and capricious temper, which 
 unfortunately is I'ometimes the cafe, the unea- 
 linefs which he needlefsly gives himfelf is 
 
 lamented
 
 Z E L U C O. 73 
 
 lamented bv thofe who are acquainted with his 
 entire character. But when a villain is the flave 
 of caprice, and of couri'e a Iclf- tormentor, his 
 miiery affords fatisfaclion and amufement to all 
 who know him. And although they durfl: not 
 difplay it openly, yet it undoubtedly gave fecret 
 fatisfaclion to every one of this wretched man's 
 flaves, to be wituefTes to the difquietude and 
 mifery of their perfecutor. 
 
 Zeluco having been reprefented as avaricious 
 as well as cruel, it may be laid that the firlt of 
 thofe difpolitions would prove a reftraint upoa 
 the lall ; and that the fuggeftions of felf-intereft 
 would prevent his pufliing cruelty the length of 
 endangering the lives of his flavcs. 
 
 It is a common argument againftthe neceffity 
 of new laws for the prote£lion of Haves, that 
 they need no protet^tion from a jull: and humane 
 mailer, becaufc he will never injure them ; nor 
 from a maflier of an oppofiie character, becaufc 
 his own interefl will be their protetflion : but let 
 it be remembered, that men who are not natu- 
 rally compaflionate, who are devoid of religious 
 impreflions, and in the habit of giving vent to 
 every gufl: of ill-humour, are apt, in the vi- 
 olence of rage, to become deaf to the voice of 
 common fenle and interell, as well as of juiiice 
 and mercy. An unfortunate gamefter throws 
 the cards into the fire, and regrets thru thty 
 have not feeling ; a choleric ma;i breaks and 
 deftroys the furniture of his houfe, however 
 valuable ; and how often do we fee n:ien in rrn 
 abfurd rage abufe their moft ferviceable cattle? 
 But a thoufand caufes, which mud occur to 
 every one, expofe "huttum creatures to the vir- 
 VoL. I. Ji didivc
 
 74 Z E L U C O. 
 
 ditSlive rage of ill-tempered proprietors in a 
 much greater degree than inatiimate things or 
 the brute creation ever can be. And we tind 
 in fadl, that cruel and pafiionate mafters, how- 
 ever interefted in other refpects, do gratify their 
 ill-humour againft their moft valuable Haves at 
 the expence of their interefl. 
 
 It will be alleged, that in all the Chriftian 
 colonies the flaves are fo far protected from the 
 injuftice of their mafter, that none of them can 
 be condemned capitally, but after trial in a 
 court of juftice. Long experience has made it 
 clear, however, that the proprietors of land in 
 thofe colonies, Chrirtians as they are, fliew 
 little difpofition to liften to the complaints of 
 flaves, or interfere with each other relpedting 
 the manner in which flaves are treated ; and 
 when it is whifpercd about, that a flave has ex- 
 pired under the lalh, or has died in confequence 
 of the arbitrary punifliment of his mafter, 
 people in general are not fond of the trouble of 
 collecting proofs, or appearing in the character 
 of acciders ; particularly when the delinquent 
 is a white man, of intercA perhaps in the co- 
 lony, and the lufferer a black flave. iJefides, 
 there may in many inftances be a full convi(^tion 
 of the crime, and yet the criminal may not be 
 deem.ed within the gralp of thole vngue laws 
 which the policy of Europe has tl\£ught fui- 
 ficient for the prote<flion of flaves fi-om the 
 cruelty of their maflers. The law may diredt, 
 that a mafter fliall not crde/ more than a liuiited 
 number of ftripes to be inilicted for any fault 
 that his flave commits. But if the law requires 
 110 proof of the fault, except the allegation of 
 
 the
 
 Z E L U C O. 7^ 
 
 the mafter, what fecurity has the flave that he 
 fliall not be puniQied unjuftly, or that his ma.1"- 
 ter Ihall not, as often as he pleafes, repeat the 
 puniihment at fuch intervals as keep him out 
 of the reach of the law ? it muft be owned that 
 the flave has no fecurity from fuch abtjfes, 
 which is tantamount to putting it in the mafter's? 
 power to torture his flaves to death with impu- 
 nity. Such laws are no fafeguard, but rather & 
 mockery of the unhappy race of men they pre- 
 tend to protedl:. 
 
 This unlimited power, which is left in the 
 hands of the mailers, has a bad elfect both on 
 the flave and the mafter. It tends at once to 
 render the firfl more wretched, and the fccond 
 more wicked. How m.any men have, for a. 
 great part of their lives, fupported the char.Kfler 
 of well-difpofed good-natured people j and on 
 going from Europe to the Weft Indies, and be- 
 coming proprietors of flaves, have gradually 
 grown ill-tempered, capricious, haughty, and 
 cruel. Even Zeluco, though of a capriciousj 
 violent, and felfifh difpofition, was not natural- 
 ly cruel ; this laft grew upon him in confequence 
 of unlimited power. His feverity to the foldiers 
 arofe from a defire of gaining the favour of the 
 commander, by rendering the men under his 
 immediate command more expert than others. 
 In pudijlig this point he difregarded, indeed, 
 the futferings of the men ; becaufe his exrefCvc 
 felfillincfs engrolled all his feelings, and left him 
 quite inditferent to the fctlings of others ; he 
 ftill was not politively cruel. Independent of 
 pjflion or rage, he had no fatisfaclion in giving 
 painj he was only unconcerned whether they 
 £ Z iuffcred
 
 76 Z E L U C O. 
 
 fisfFered or not. And afterwards, when he be- 
 came the abfolute mafter of a great number of 
 unfortunate creatures, whom he confidered as 
 his property, he thought he had a right to make 
 the moll: of them. And he was informed by 
 thofe who have heads for fuch a calculation, 
 and hearts to acft in confequence of it, that to 
 force flaves to their utmoft exertions, and pur- 
 chafe new ones as the old expire, is, upon the 
 whole, more oeconomical than to treat them 
 \vi:h a certain degree of gentlenefs, and oblige 
 them to no more labour than is proportioned to 
 their flrength, although, by this means, the 
 cxpence of new purchafes would be lefs conil- 
 derable, and lefs frequent. A perfon who 
 palled for a very Icnfible man, who formerly 
 kept an inn on one of the great porting roads in 
 England, and was at this time a confiderable 
 proprietor of land in one of the Weft India 
 jilands, had aflured him, that he had found 
 this to hold with regard to poft-horles ; and the 
 argument was equally juft when applied to flaves. 
 Zeluco therefore had originally no dired^ inten- 
 tion of injuring his flaves ; his view was limply 
 to improve his eftateo to the utmoft; but in the 
 execution of this plan, as j'/)c;r exertions did not 
 keep pace with his impatience, he found it ne- 
 ceftary to quicken them by an unremitting ufe 
 of the whip. This produced dilbontent, mur- 
 murs, fulkinefs, fometimes upbraiJings on their 
 parts j rage, threats, and every kind of abufe on 
 his : he hnv hatred in nil tlieir looks, he prefum- 
 ed revenge in ;ill their hearts; he became more 
 and more fevere, and treated them as he ima- 
 gined they willied to treat him, and as he was 
 
 conlcious 
 
 i
 
 Z E L U C O. 77 
 
 confclous he deferved to be treated by them j 
 at length he arrived at that fliocklng point of 
 depravity, to have a gratification in punifliing, 
 independent of any idea of utility or advantage to 
 himfelf. 
 
 This, unfortunately for a large proportion of 
 mankind, is often the progrefs of unlimited 
 power, and the effefl which it too frequently 
 produces on the human characler. 
 
 If the reign of many European proprietors of 
 eftates in the Weft Indies v»'ere faithfully record- 
 ed, it is much to be feared, that the capricious 
 cruelties which difgrace thofe of Caligula and 
 Nero would not ftem lb incredible as they now 
 do. And perhaps no memoirs could be more 
 afFe£ling to a candid and humane mind, than 
 thofe of many negroes, from the time of ihcir 
 being brought from the coaft of Guinea, till 
 their death in the Weft Indies. The fate of one 
 of Zeluco's flaves, called Hanno, being connect- 
 ed with our purpofe, may, without impropriety, , 
 be mentioned here. 
 
 G H A P.
 
 78 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 <——— Met cifiil Heaven ! 
 Thou, riither with thy fliarp ai;u falphurous bolf, 
 Split'ft th' unwedgable and gnarled oiik. 
 Than the foft myrtle ! O, but man ! proud man ! 
 Dreft in a little brief authority ; 
 Moft i,(>norant of what is moll afTured, 
 liis glaffy effence— like an angry ape, 
 Plays fuch fiintaftic tricks before high Heaven, 
 As makes the angels weep.— — 
 
 Shak£»P£ARE, 
 
 I 
 
 H 
 
 ANNO tlie n.ive, mentioned at the end 
 of the foregoing chapter, allowed fymptoms of 
 compaffion, perhaps of indignatipn, to efc.ipe 
 from him, on hearing one of his brother flaves 
 ordered to be punilhed unjuftly. Zeluco having 
 obferved this, fwore that Hanno fhould be the 
 executioner, otherwife he would order him to 
 be puniflied in his ftead, 
 
 Hanno faid, he might do as he pleafed ; but 
 as for himfelf he never had been accuftomed to 
 that office, and he would not begin by exercifing 
 k on his friend. Zchico, in a tranfport of rage, 
 ordered him to be lafhed feverely, and renewed 
 tl\e punifliment at legal intervals lb often, that 
 the poor man was thrown into a languidiing 
 difc.de, which coniined him conftantly to his 
 bed. 
 
 Hanno
 
 Z E L U C O. 79 
 
 Hanno had been a favourite fervant of his 
 lady's before her marriage with Zehico ; he was 
 known to people of all ranks on the illand, and 
 efteemed by all who knew him. The Irifli 
 foldier who had carried the commanding officer 
 from the field, as was related above, was taken 
 into that gentleman's fervice fome time after, 
 and remained conftantly in his family from that 
 time ; this foldier had long been acquainted 
 with Hanno, and had a particular efteem for 
 him. As foon as he heard of his dangerous 
 fitnation, he haftened to fee him, carried him 
 wine and other refrefhments, and continued to 
 vifit and comfort him during his languiftiing ill- 
 nefs. Perceiving at laft that there was no hone 
 of his recovery, he thought the laft and btit 
 good office he could do him was to carry a priefl 
 to give him abfolution and extreme untStion. 
 
 As they went together, '* I {hould be very 
 forry, father," faid the foldier, '< if this poor 
 fellow mifled going to heaven ; for, by J — s, I 
 do not believe there is a worthier foul there, be 
 the other who he pleafes." 
 
 '• He is a Black," Hud the priefl:, who was of 
 the order of St. Francis. 
 
 «* His foul is whiter than a flcinned potatoe," 
 faid the foldier. 
 
 *' Do you know wl c'.her lie believes in all the 
 tenets of our holy fiith r" faid the pricA. 
 
 '* He is a man who was always ready to do 
 as he would be done by," replied the foldier. 
 
 '* That is fbmething," faid the capuchin, 
 «* but not the moll eifential." 
 
 ** Are you certain that he is a Chriflian ?" 
 
 E 4 " O, I'll
 
 Zo Z E L U C O. 
 
 ** O, I'll be damned if he is not as pretty a 
 Chriflian as your heart can deiire," faid the fol- 
 dier; " and 1*11 give you a proof that will re- 
 joice your foul to hear. — A loldicr of our regi- 
 ment was feized with the cramp in his kg when 
 he was bathing-, fo he halloed for affiftance, 
 and then went plump to the bottom Uke a ftone. 
 Thofe who were near him, Chriftians and all, 
 fwum away as fail: as their legs could carry them, 
 for they were afraid of his catching hold of them. 
 But honeft Hanno pullied diredlly to the place 
 where the foldier had funk, dived after him, 
 and, without more ado, or fo much as faying 
 by your leave, feized him by the hair of the 
 head, and hauled him afliore ; where, after a 
 little rubbing and rolling, he was quite recover- 
 ed, and is alive and merry at this blelTed mo- 
 ment. Now, my dear father, I think this was 
 behaving like a good Chriftian, and what is 
 much more, like a brave Irifhman too." 
 
 «' Has he been properly inflrufted in all the 
 dcOriaes of the catholic church ?" faid the 
 priefb. 
 
 «< That he has," replied the foldier ; " for 
 I was after inflruiSlinghim yefterday myfelf *, and 
 as you had told me very often, that believing was 
 the great point, I prefled that home. ♦• By 
 J — s," fays I, •• Hanno, it does not fignify 
 making wry faces, but you muft believe, my 
 dear Honny, as fad as ever you can, for you 
 have no time to lofe •," — and, poor fellow, he 
 entreated me to fay no more about it, and he 
 would believe whatever I pleafed." 
 
 This fatisfied the father ; when they arrived 
 at the dving man's cabin, *' Now, mv dear 
 
 fellow,"
 
 Z E L U C O. 8i 
 
 fellow," faid the foldier, *' I have brought a 
 holy man to give you abfolution for your fins, 
 and to iiiew youribul the road to heaven ; take 
 this glais of wine to comfort you, for it is a hel- 
 hflx long journey." 
 
 They raifed poor Hanno, and he fwallowed 
 the wine with diflicuity. 
 
 •* Benot difmayed, my honefl: lad," continu- 
 ed the foldier, ♦' for although it is a long march 
 to heaven, you will be fure of glorious quarters 
 when you get there. I cannot tell you exacliy 
 how people pafs their time indeed •, but by all 
 accounts there is no very hard duty, iinlefs it is 
 that you will be obliged to fing pfalms and hymns 
 pretty conftantly ; that to be lure you muftbear 
 with : but then the devil a fcoundrcl who de- 
 lights in tormenting his fellow-creatures will be 
 allowed to thrufl his nofe into that fweet planta- 
 tion ; and fo, my dear Hanno, God blei's you ; 
 all your fufferings are now pretty well over, and 
 I am convinced you will be as happy as the day 
 is long, in the other world, all the reft of your 
 life." 
 
 The prieft then b^gan to perform his office j ; 
 — Hanno heard kim in filence, — he feemed un- 
 able to fpeak. 
 
 '< You fee, my good father," faid the foldier, 
 ** he believes in all you fay. You may now, 
 without any further delay, give him abiblution 
 and extreme unftion, and every thing needful ' 
 to fecure him a Ihug birth in paradife " 
 
 •* You are fully convinced, friend," faid the 
 prieft, addreffing the dying man in a iblcmn 
 ivanner, «• that it is only by a firm belief in all 
 
 the tenets of the holy catholic church, that " 
 
 ' E 5 «' God
 
 82 Z E L U C O. 
 
 •* God love your foul, my dear Father," inter- 
 rupted the foldier, " give him abiolution in the 
 £rft place, and convince him afterwards •, for, 
 upon my confcience, if you bother him much 
 longer, the poor creature's foul will flip through 
 your fingers." 
 
 The prieft, who was a good-natured man, 
 tlid as the foldier requeued. 
 
 " Now,'' faid the foldier, when the cere- 
 niony was over, •' now, my honell; fellow, you 
 may bid the devil kiis your b — de, for you are 
 2S fure of heaven as your mailer is of hell ^ 
 where, as this reverend father will allure you, 
 he muft fufFer to all eternity." 
 
 ** I hope he will not fuffer fo long," faid 
 Hanno, in a faint voice ; and fpeaking for the 
 lirft time fince the arrival of the prieft. 
 
 ♦' Have a care of what you fay, friend," faid 
 the prieft, in a fevere tone of voice j ** yoa 
 .TKuft not doubt of the eternity of hell torments^ 
 — If your mafier goes once there, he muft re- 
 main for ever." 
 
 ♦« Then I'll be bound for him," faid the fol- 
 dier, " he is lure enough of going there." 
 
 ♦* But I hope in God he will not remain for 
 ever," faid Hanno, and expired. 
 
 ♦' That was not fpoken like a true believer," 
 faid the prieft ; " if I had thought that he har- 
 boured any doubts on fuch an ellcntial article, I 
 lliould not hiive given him abiolution." 
 
 •' It is lucky then that the poor fellow made, 
 ids efcapc to heaven before you knew any thing 
 of the mdittr," laid the foldier. 
 
 As the foldier returned home from Hanno's 
 cabin, he met Zcluco, who, knowing where 
 
 he
 
 Z E L U C O. 83 
 
 he had been, faid to him, *' How is the d— d 
 fcoundrel now ?" 
 
 " Thed — d fcoundrel is in better health than 
 all who know him could wilh," replied the 
 foldier. 
 
 " Why, they told he was dying," faid Ze- 
 luco. 
 
 " If you mean poor Hanno, he is already 
 dead, and on his way to heaven," faid the fol- 
 dier; " but as for the fcoundrel wiio murdered 
 him, he'll be d — d before he get there," 
 
 C II A P.
 
 84 Z E L U C O. 
 
 e H A P. XVI, 
 
 The Partuguefe. 
 
 O O M E T I M E after this an occurrence took 
 place which contributed more to render Zeluco 
 Jcfs cruel to his flaves, than all the occafional 
 attacks of compuix^ion he felt for the death of 
 Hanno, or than all the laws exifting for the 
 prote6lion of Negro flaves. 
 
 A rich Portnguefe merchant, who had been 
 fettled for feveral years in the town of Havan- 
 nah, had lately purchafed an eftate contiguous 
 to that of Zeluco, who difplayed a great incli- 
 nation to cultivate his acquaintance by every 
 kind of polite attention. 
 
 He frequently vilited this merchant at his 
 houfe in town, and offered him every kind of 
 accommodation which his eftate afForded, while 
 the Portuguefe was repairing a houfe on his 
 new purchafe for the reception of his family. 
 
 This very obliging behaviour of Zeluco feem- 
 cd extraordinary to all thofe who knew him, 
 and did not know that the merchant had a very 
 handfome wife, who was fond of admiration, 
 and not entirely free from coquetry. 
 
 Zeluco was much ftruck with her beauty, and 
 ufed all his art to fcduce her. 8he, on her 
 part, although not entirely infenfible to the 
 charms of his face and perfon, was Aill more 
 
 pleakd
 
 Z E L U C G. 8j 
 
 pleafed with the eclat of having a man of his 
 rank and fortune among the number of her ad- 
 mirers, and probably had no idea of ever mak- 
 ing any other ufe of him. Tiiis lady was one of 
 that clafs of women, who, being kept out of the 
 way of temptation, and not vigoroufly attacked, 
 will preferve the citadel of their virtue inviolate 
 through life. She was apt, however, through 
 vanity, to expofe fome of the out-works a little 
 too much, which invited the attacks of the 
 enemy ; and although Ihe had no ferious inten- 
 tion of ever formally furrendering the fort, flie 
 might poflibly, through inattention, have al- 
 lowed it to be furprifed by a coup de main. 
 
 This lady was allured into a literary corre- 
 fpondence with Zeluco ; at firft on the moft 
 trifling fubjcfts, and with the knowledge of her 
 hufband, to whom fl^e ftiewed the billets : by 
 degrees, however, it happened that flie receiv- 
 ed fome which flie thought it unneceffary to 
 comnmnicate. 
 
 When the Portuguefe brought his family to 
 the houle which he had repaired for their re- 
 ception, Zeluro's intercourle with them was 
 more frequent ; and he often walked with the 
 hufband and wife in a lequcftcred field fituated 
 between his own houfe and that of her hufband. 
 W'^ith fon^e diiriculty Zeluco at length pre- 
 vailed on her to jiromil'e to meet him at this 
 place towards the dole of an evening, when he 
 knew that her hufband was engaged on bufinefs, 
 which would neccllarily detain him very late at 
 the houfe of a gentleman who lived at a confl- 
 derable diflaiice. 
 
 From
 
 8(5 Z E L U C O. 
 
 From the time that ZeUico's correfpondence 
 with the lady became of a nature that fhe was 
 rather fhy of communicating, he always employ- 
 ed one particular flave, who, he imagined, was 
 very cordially attached to him on account of a 
 few indulgences which were granted to him 
 previous to his being entrufted as an agent in 
 this bufinefs. 
 
 In this conjecture, however, Zeluco was 
 greatly miftaken -, thofe flight favours had not 
 eradicated from the man's mind that hatred and 
 thirft of revenge which his mafter's former 
 treatment had planted there. 
 
 Having come to the knowledge of the intend- 
 ed interview, he acftually went and communicat- 
 ed all he knew to the hufband, and returned re- 
 joicing in the hope that his detefted mafter 
 would be aflaflinated that very night. 
 
 The lady however had accidentally feen this 
 flave with her hufband, and remarked, that 
 from the time the Have had fpoken to him he 
 was uncommonly thoughtful, morofe, and agi- 
 tated. 
 
 This led her to rurpe<n: that her hufband was 
 informed of the appointment, which Ihe herl'elf 
 had already begun to repent of, and to hefitatc 
 about keeping. 
 
 After maturely weighing every circumftance, 
 flie determined to reveal to her hufoand what 
 flje thought he knew already. 
 
 She approached him therefore with an air of 
 fincerity and contrition, faying, flie was about 
 to acquaint him with fomething which lay like a 
 load upon her mind ; that flie had without fcru- 
 ple indulged an acquaintance with Signor Zeluco 
 
 on
 
 Z E L U C O. 87 
 
 en account of the friendfliip he exprefled for 
 her hufband, and liis polite and obliging beha- 
 viour to herfelf j but that of late flie had been 
 furpriled at a change in his manner of addrelling 
 her, which had terminated in a declaration of 
 love ; that flie had been retrained from men- 
 tioning this to him fooner, being unwilling to 
 give him unealinefs, and in hopes that from the 
 manner in which fhe had received his declara- 
 tion, he would not venture to renew it : but 
 finding he perlilled in his criminal affiduties, 
 and had even gone the length of propofmg that 
 fhe lliould meet him privately and unknown to 
 her hulband, flie thought herfelf bound in duty 
 to conceal this behaviour of Zeluco's no longer; 
 but to inform her hufband of the whole. 
 
 Here fhe made a full ftop-, — and the hufband 
 perceiving that fhe meant to add nothing fur- 
 ther, faid, — ♦' Have you then informed me of 
 the whole ?" 
 
 She took heaven and earth to witnefs that 
 flie had. 
 
 " 1 did not hear you mention that you had 
 proir.ilcd to meet him," laid the hufband. 
 
 The lady having recovered froni a fliort em- 
 barr?lirnent which this obfervation occafioned, 
 replied, that fhe had been lb much lliocked 
 vith the propolal, and in fuch confulion, that 
 flie could not now recolle«Sl ev^ry word of what 
 fhe had laid ; but that fhe had immediately 
 left him ; *' and whatever," added llie, ♦' has 
 fallen from me, which he may conltrue into a 
 promife, I am tonlcious that I never fhould have 
 gone near the place: of the truth of this, the 
 information I have juil given you is a fuflicient 
 
 proof J
 
 88 Z E LUC O. 
 
 proof; and if I have erred in concealing this 
 matter fo long, my error proceeded from a de- 
 fire of preventing mifchievous confequences, 
 and out of tenderneis to you. 
 
 The eloquence and fair pretences of the wife 
 at length lulled the lufpicions, and foothed the 
 rage of her fpoule with refpe<St fo herfelf ; but 
 his rancour againft Zeluco remained in full 
 force ; and he threw out fome threats of deter- 
 mined revenge. The wife was alarmed at this; 
 for, although fhe was now refolved never to re- 
 new the intrigue, yet being confcious that flie 
 was in fome degree to blame herfelf, Ihe would 
 willingly have prevented any mifchief from be-- 
 falling Zeluco; with this view {he begged of her 
 hufband to overlook and defpife the vain attempt 
 which had been made, and leave the man to be 
 punifhed by the mortification of difappointment, 
 and the thoughts of the ridiculous light in which 
 he mull be confcious that he ftood in the fight 
 of both. The hufband ieemed to accjuicfce in 
 his wife's reafoning, but was determined to fa- 
 tisfy his revenge, a plan for which had alreatly 
 occurred to him. 
 
 Having perfuaded his wife to go. to bed earlier 
 than ufual, he dreiTed hiinfelf in her cloaths, 
 and throwing a wlute mantle over his head and 
 flioulders, he flipt lerretly out of his houfc, and 
 with vindicative impatience v/alked to the place 
 of rendezvous, where Zeluco had been waiting 
 ever fuice the appointed momenta 
 
 With reviving joy, and by the glimmering 
 light of the (lars, he perceived a perfon in fe- 
 male attire approaching ; and never doubting 
 but it was the obje(rt of his wiflies, he fprung 
 
 forward
 
 Z E L U C O. 89 
 
 forward with bounding velocity to meet her 
 embrace ; but at that inftant his boiling blood 
 was frozen on hearing the following words pro- 
 nounced in an unnatural voice, — " The fpirit of 
 thy wife, (lie who fell a vi(^im to thy perfidious 
 cruelty, fends thee this," On which the Por- 
 tugucle plunged his fliletto into the hrciil of 
 Zeluco, who immediately fell to the ground. 
 The blow was given with good-will, the weapon 
 ruflied to the hilt, and the hufband convinced 
 he had killed him, returned quietly to his own 
 houfe, without his wife or any of the family 
 having fufpe^cd that he had goes abroad. 
 
 CHAP,
 
 90 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XVII. 
 The Reward of Inhumanity, 
 
 JL^ E L U C O lay for fome time on the ground 
 before he could recolietft his terrified and icat- 
 tered fenfes, and when he had in fome degree 
 recovered them, he was ftill uaable to account 
 for what had happened \ fometimes he believed 
 he hadj in reality, Teen the ghoft of his de- 
 ceafed wife ; and every circumftance of his un- 
 grateful and perfidious conduct to her rufliing 
 on his memory, at a moment when he thought 
 himfelf on the point of entering into a ftatc of 
 retribution, filled his mind with horror, and 
 drove him to the brink of madnefs, from which 
 perhaps he was faved by the quantity of blood 
 he loft as he lay on the ground. 
 
 After pafilng feveral hours in a ftate of terror 
 and remorfe, the day beginning to dawn, he 
 felt himfelf, though in a very weak coudition, 
 able to move; and at length, by the aid of a 
 tree, at whofe root he had fallen, he got upon 
 his legs, and then attemprcd to uiove towards 
 his own houfe, but fooii, llirough faintnefs, 
 funk again to the ground, where he lay a con- 
 fiderable time longer in anguifh, and dcfpairing 
 of relief. At length he law fome of his own 
 flaves going to their morning labour. 
 
 In
 
 Z E L U C O. 9t 
 
 In a tone very diflferent from that in which 
 he haJ been accuftomed to addrefs them, with 
 whining humility he implored their fuccour, 
 and begged they would have the goodnefs to 
 carry him home. 
 
 At the found of a human voice, expreffive of 
 difirefs, the flaves fprung eagerly to give their 
 ailill:ance ; but the inftant they perceived it was 
 their mafter, they flopped fhort with looks of 
 abhorrence, as if it had not been a man but a 
 wounded ferpent, which they faw writhing on 
 the ground. Some turned afide, willing to be 
 thought not to have obferved him ; others 
 looked as if they enjoyed his agony ; none of- 
 fered him allirtance ; and it is not probable he 
 would ever have reached his own houfe alive, 
 had not one of his managers joined them. By 
 his authority, he was at laft carried thither, 
 and the beft medical and furgical aid was im- 
 mediately Tent for. The wound, upon the firft 
 examination, was thought mortal, and the uui- 
 verfal ratisfad\ion that this occafioned, as foon 
 as it circulated among this detefled man's flaves, 
 was very evident, in fpite of all their endea- 
 vours to control their features and geftures. 
 After languifliing many weeks, however, the 
 fymptoms at laft became favourable. During 
 all the time in which ir was doubtful whether he 
 was to die or to live, the mind of the patient 
 himfelf was hardly more cruelly agitated between 
 fear and hope, than that of every flave, male 
 and female, that belonged to him. And when 
 he was pronounced to be out of danger, fo 
 fully was he loaded with their hatred, that the 
 news produced a fliock like that of eleclricity 
 
 over
 
 92 Z E L U C O. 
 
 over his whole family. A number of flaves who 
 happened to be at work in the garden, under 
 the window of Zeluco's bed-chamber, burft into 
 a loud and uncontrollable howl of forrow when 
 his recovery was firft announced to them. 
 
 The patient alarmed at the found, afked the 
 phyfician, then fitting by his bedlide, what it 
 meant. The phylician, who underftood it no 
 more than Zeluco, went to enquire, and having 
 difcovered the true fource of the outcry, return- 
 ed to the patient. 
 
 ** What is the meaning of that howl?" faid 
 Zeluco ; " it feemed prompted by forrow." 
 
 •' It proceeded from your ilaves," anfwered 
 the phyfician j *< they are enquiring after your 
 health." 
 
 " Well, what then ?" cried Zeluco. 
 
 " Why then," anfwered the Doflor, " I 
 fuppofe they muft: have been told, by mijiahey 
 that you are worfe, and likely to die. 1 have 
 frequently known flaves exprefs their grief in 
 the fame manner, when they were in danger of 
 lofing a good and humane mafler." 
 
 The irony of this reply was wormwood to Ze- 
 luco ; he fell into a gloomy fit of mufing, and 
 made no farther inquiry, neither did he, during 
 his illnefs, or after his recovery, give any fatis- 
 fac^ory ?.ccount of the manner in which he had 
 received the wound. Whatever his opinion 
 might be, his fears were diflipaled, and when 
 he was able to weigh circumllances, he abftained 
 from fuggefting any fufpicion againlT: particular 
 peribns, or from making any inveftigation of the 
 lubjed. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Z E L U C O. 93 
 
 CHAP, XVIIL 
 
 Ye, who one bitter drop Iiave draiu'd 
 From flav'ry's cup, with horror llain'd; 
 Oh, let no fatal dregs be found, 
 But dafii her chalice to the ground. 
 
 Helen Maria Williams. 
 
 Jr O R a confiderable time after Zeluco was 
 out of danger from his wound, and even after 
 lie began to walic abroad, and relume the ma- 
 nagement of his alFairs, he appeared more pen- 
 five than formerly ; and aUhough his thoughts 
 fcemed of a gloomy nature, yet he did not 
 burll out into thofe violent fits of rage that had 
 been cuftomary with him before that accident. 
 But the imprefllon which it had made on his 
 mind gradually diminifhed, and the fentiments 
 of dread and remcjrfe, which influenced his 
 conduct for a time, wearing quite away, his 
 former difpofltions returned with his bodily 
 health. 
 
 One day, as he was walking around his eftate, 
 with the phylician ahxady mentioned, who had 
 called upon him on his return from vifiting a 
 patient, Zeluco gave pretty ftrong indications 
 ot a relapfe into his former cruelty. The phy- 
 lician, who was a man of fenl'e and humanity, 
 checked him, and exprelTed fentiments of com- 
 panion for the deplorable condition of the poor 
 ilaves. 
 
 «« They
 
 94 Z E L U C O. 
 
 «' They are," faid Zeluco, " the moft villain- 
 ous race alive." 
 
 " They certainly are the mofl: unfortunate," 
 faid the phyfician. 
 
 ** Let them perform their tallc as they ought," 
 replied the other, " and they will not be unfor- 
 tunate." 
 
 " Why, it is not a flight misfortune," faid 
 the Doctor, " to havey//r,6tafks to perform." 
 
 *< They are in a better fituation than when 
 they were In their own country." 
 
 *' That would be difficult to prove," faid the 
 phyfician ; •* but were it certain, 1 ihould think 
 it a bad reafon for treating them ill here^ merely 
 becaufe they had been very ill treated there." 
 
 ** Negro flavcs in general, all over the Weft 
 Indies," faid Zeluco, " are in a better condition 
 than the common people in moft countries in 
 Europe. I have heard this afTerted a thoufand 
 limes." 
 
 <' If it were fo," faid the phyfician, <' it 
 x^ould convey a dreadful idea of the condition 
 of Europeans; but the thing is impoflible, 
 Signor." 
 
 ** How impoRible .'"' faid Zeluco. 
 
 *' Bscauie, even if flaves were in general fed 
 and clothed as well as you are yourfe If, yet while 
 it is in the power of their mailer to impofe what 
 taik he pleafes, and punifli their faults accord- 
 ing to his humour, their condition nuift be in- 
 finitely worlc than that of the cottager whom 
 nobody can abnfe with impunity, and on whom 
 the cheering fpirit of liberty fmiles as he reaps 
 the fruit of liio own induftry. 
 
 «' You
 
 Z E L U C O. 95 
 
 " You have certainly," faid Zeluco, *' bor- 
 rowed that fcntiment from an Englifhman ; 
 fome of thofe enthuiiallic fools who are pleafed 
 to bear the infolence of mobs, and to facrince 
 many of the conveniencies of life to the empty 
 fliade of freedom. Yet I have heard fome, 
 even of their Weft India proprietors, alTert, that 
 the negroes of thofe iflands were happier than 
 the common labourers in England." 
 
 «' There is nothing too abfurd for fome men 
 to affert," faid the phyfician, " when they 
 imagine their interell is concerned, or when it 
 tends to juftify their conduft. And were a law 
 to be propofed now againlt the flave trade, or 
 to render the condition of flaves more tolerable 
 than it is at prefent, which is more likely to 
 happen among the generous enthufiafts you 
 mention than in any other country, it would 
 perhaps be oppofed by thofe very proprietors ; 
 but would you impute fuch oppoiition to ten- 
 dernei's to the flaves, and a humane wifli to 
 prevent their becoming as miferable as the com- 
 mon labourers in England ?" 
 
 " I am told, hou-ever," replied Zeluco, 
 <' that your Engliih in general are a mofl. lu- 
 gubrious race, and that there is much melan- 
 choly and dii'content in their country v/ith all 
 their liberty." 
 
 *♦ I am told," anfwered the phyfician, " that 
 there is much frort and cold in their country 
 with all their funfhine, yet it has not been as 
 yet clearly proved that the fun is the caufe of 
 either." 
 
 " Well, but to return to the flaves," faid 
 Zeluco j " 1 do not perfectly underftand what 
 
 is
 
 96 Z E L U C O. 
 
 is your drift. Are they not my property ? Have 
 I not therefore a right to oblige them to labour 
 for my profit ?" 
 
 " With regard to the right which any man 
 has to make a property of other men, and force 
 them to labour as flaves folely for his benefit, I 
 fufpeft it would be difKcult for the greateft ca- 
 fuill that ever lived to make it out." 
 
 " Why fo?" replied Zeluco; " I am afTured 
 that the flave trade is authorifed by the Bible. 
 You are too found a Chriliian, my good Doctor, 
 to controvert fuch authority," 
 
 " Without confidering whether thofe who 
 furniflied you with that argument did it with 
 friendly or unfriendly intentions to the Bible, 
 Signor, and without touching any controverti- 
 ble point in the Scriptures, I will juil obferve, 
 that charity, benevolence, and mercy, to our 
 fellow-creatures, are not only authorifed, but in 
 the plaineft unequivocal terms repeatedly ordain- 
 ed, in thofe writings. Let therefore the pro- 
 prietors of flaves begin, by conforming their 
 condudl to thofe injundlions, and then they 
 may be allowed to quote Scripture authority in 
 fupport of fuch property. — Blejpd are ihf mer" 
 CI fill ^ for they J1j:iU obtain mercy. — IV bat f caver ye 
 •wouLd that men Jljoiild do to yoiiy do ye fo to them, 
 — Come unto vie, all ye that labour ami are heavy 
 iadetif and I ivdl give you rvjl. — Thefq are the 
 words of the Author of Chriftianity, whofe 
 whole life was a reprefentation by aclion of his 
 own precepts. Let the proprietors of eftates in 
 America and the M'^efl India iflands confider 
 how far their treatment of the negroes is agree- 
 able to his do(^trine and condudl j and their 
 
 time
 
 Z E L U C O. 97 
 
 time will be better employed than in perverting 
 detached paffages of the Bible, and endeavour- 
 ing to prels that which proclaimed peace on 
 earth, and good-will to men, into the iervice of 
 cruelty and oppreflion." 
 
 «' After all this fine fermon," faid Zeluco ; 
 *' yon do not pretend to afTert, that negroes are 
 originally on a footing with white people •, you 
 will allow, I hope, that they are an inferior race 
 of men." 
 
 << I will allow," replied the Do^lor, «' that 
 their hair is fhort and ours is long, that their 
 nofes are flat and ours raifed, and their fls.in is 
 black and ours white ; yet after all thofe con- 
 ceflions, I ftill have my doubts refpetSling our 
 right to make them flaves." 
 
 «' Well, Doftor," faid Zeluco, " if you are 
 determined to difpute onr rights you niuil admit 
 that we have the power^ which is of much more 
 importance." 
 
 ** While I admit thaty Signor, I mod fincerely 
 vvifli it were otherwil'e exerciled." 
 
 •' How the devil would you have it exer- 
 cifed ?" 
 
 ** We fliould, in my opinion, exercife it 
 with more moderation and lenity than fome of 
 us do," faid the phyiician. 
 
 " Lenity," cried Zeluco, «' to a parcel of 
 rafcals, a gang of pilfering dogs, downright 
 thieves ! why, as often as they can, they fleal 
 the very provifions intended for my own table !' 
 ♦* You cannot be much iurprifed at that, 
 Signor, when they are pinched with hunger." 
 
 *' You would have them pampered with de- 
 licacies forfooth, and never puniflied for any 
 crime ?" 
 
 Vol. f. F « No,
 
 98 Z E L U C O. 
 
 " No, Sir, but I would certainly allow them 
 a fufficient quantity of wholefome food ; and 
 perceiving that all my neighbours are liable to 
 commit faults, and being confcious of many 
 failings in myfelf, I flioulcl not expecl that poor 
 untutored flaves were to be exempted from 
 them, nor would I be relcntlefs or unforgiving 
 when they were difcovered." 
 
 " Po, poll — that is not the way to deal with 
 negroes -, nothing is to be made of them by le- 
 nity ; they are the laziefl: dogs in the world ; it 
 is with the greatefl: difficulty fometimcs that my 
 manager can get them routed to their morning 
 work " 
 
 ♦< Confider, Signor, hovv natural it is after 
 hard labour to wiHi to prolong the intervals of 
 rert." 
 
 •< Red- !" cried Zeluco, angrily; <' they will 
 have reft enough in their graves." 
 
 ** Well, Signor," replied the phyiician, 
 fliocked at this brutal remark, '• it would be for- 
 tunate for fome people that they could promife 
 thcmftives the fame." 
 
 •* But, Do«Stor," faid Ztluco, taking no no- 
 tice of the lafl obfervation, " can you really 
 imagine that ibch treatment as you fcem to re- 
 commend, would render Haves ot equal benefit 
 to the proprietors of Weft India eftates :" 
 
 ♦' Ay, Signor," replied the phyfician, ** that 
 is coming dirt£lly to the point, which a man of 
 Jcnfe would wilh to invtlligate, leaving all the 
 foreign matter concerning tt'hgicii and hinnauitx^ 
 which tnibarraU'es the argument, out of the 
 cueftion." 
 
 " Well,
 
 Z E L U C O. 99 
 
 " Well, confidering the bufinefs with a view- 
 to a man's intereil or profit only ; long obfer- 
 vation on the conJucl of others, with my own 
 experience, which has been confiderable, con- 
 vinces me that the mafter who treats his Haves 
 with humanity and weU-dire£led kindnefs, reap-; 
 more benefit from their labour, than he who 
 behaves in a contrary manner. There are many 
 inllancfs of ingratitude to be fure, but it is not 
 natural to the human heart ; we naturally en- 
 dear ourfelves to thoib towiiomwe imparc plea- 
 fure, and men in general ferve u'ith more ala- 
 crity and perfeverancc from love than fear. 
 The inltant that the eye of the manager is turn- 
 ed from the Have who ferves from fear alone, his 
 efforts relax ; but the induftry of him who 
 ferves from attachment, is continually prompted 
 by the gratitude, and the regard for his mafter's 
 intereil, which he carries in his breall. 
 
 •' Befides, Signor, how infinitely more pleaH- 
 ing is it to be confidered as the diftributor of 
 happinefs, than the inflicSlor of pain ? W'hat 
 man, who has it in his power to be loved as a 
 benefaftor, would choofe to be deteftcd as an 
 executioner, Mid fee forrow, terror, and abhor- 
 rence, in the countenances he daily beholds ? 
 Come, Signor," continued the phyfician, '* hav- 
 ing, during the courfe of your illnefs, given 
 you many advices for which yon have paid me ; 
 -pray accept of one from me gratis ; you will 
 'reap much <'atisfa»ftion from it, and it may pre- 
 vent your being expoi'ed to new dangers, finiilar 
 to that from wjiich you have with fnch difiicultr 
 efcapcrd. — JNJy advice is this : Alter intircly your 
 coiidu£t towards your flavcs ; fcorn not thoi'e 
 F 2 who
 
 100 Z E L U C O. 
 
 who demand juftice and mercy ; treat them with 
 much more indulgence, and fometimes with kind- 
 nefs •, for certainly that man is in a moft miferable 
 as well as dangerous fituation, who lives among 
 thofe who rejoice in his licknefs, howl with de- 
 ipair at his recovery, and whofe only hope of 
 tranquillity lies in their own death or in his." 
 
 The phyfician having made this rcmonftrance, 
 took his leave. Zeluco remained mufing for a 
 conllderable time after he was gone ; the refult 
 of his reflections was a determination to behave 
 with more indulgence to his flavcs, being alarm- 
 ed by what was fuggefled, and convinced that 
 fuch condufl: in future was highly expedient for 
 his own perfonal fecurity. Thofe refolutions 
 were however very imperfe£lly kept. Indeed, 
 Zeluco had already given fo very bad an impref- 
 iion of his character, that a much more tho- 
 rough reformation muft have been continued a 
 long time before it could anfwer the purpofe of 
 recovering the good opinion of the public. 
 
 Perceiving, therefore, that all intimacy with 
 lilm was rather avoided, he gave over every at- 
 tempt of cultivating new acquaintance; and, as 
 it frequently happens to thofe who have dc- 
 fervedly forfeited the public cftecm, he endea- 
 voured to indemnify himfelf for the lofs of cha- 
 rafter and the want of rcfpe*Slable fociety, by an 
 unbounded indulgence in fenfual pleafure, and 
 the company of a few dependants ; to which he 
 added, the contemplationof accumulating wealth, 
 which indeed was the only iviiita! enjoyment he 
 had, as well as the only cau/c of his remaining 
 out of Europe; for, according to the cuftom of 
 money-makers, he had fet his heart on a par- 
 ticular
 
 Z E L U C O. ici 
 
 tlcular fum, and was re^.^lved not to quit the 
 fuperintendance of liis own affairs till he had 
 acquired it, after which he propofed to pafs the 
 refl of his life in uninterrupted enjoyment. 
 
 In this manner, therefore, Zehico fpent a 
 few more miferable years in the Wefi Indies ; 
 miferable furely they mufl: have been, for what 
 bodily gratifications, what accumulation of 
 riches, could prevent that man from being 
 wretched, whom no one approached that could 
 avoid it, whom no one ferved but through fear, 
 and who was confcious of being the cbje£l of 
 the hatred and execration of all wlio knew him. 
 
 Fatigued and jaded by a life of comfortkfs 
 Toluptuoulnefs, and finding a favourable oppor- 
 tunity of difpoling of an eftatehe had purchaled 
 to great advantage in theifland of Hifpaniola, as 
 well as a conllderable part of his eftate in Cuba, 
 he granted a Icafe of the remainder, fettled his 
 affairs, remitted his money to Europe, and pre- 
 pared to return to his native country, in exi>ec- 
 tation that his wealth would procure him there 
 that happinefs which he found it unable to pro- 
 duce in the Weft Indies. But before he finally 
 left this part of the world, he refolved to fettle 
 an account, which, in his own vengeful heart, he 
 thought he jufrly owed to his neighboar, the 
 Portuguefe merchant. 
 
 C IT A P.
 
 IQ2 z r. L u c o. 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 PirJicJ^> and Revenge, 
 
 XN giving an account of Zeluco's advenCtire 
 with the Portugnefe merchant, it was remarked, 
 that he flipped out of his own houfe, and re- 
 turned, uijobierved by his wife, or any other 
 perfon. With Uke cavjtion, he ever after ab- 
 ftained from mentioning wha-t had happened. 
 
 When it became publicly known that Zeluco 
 had been ftabbed, the Portugucfeexpreilcd equal 
 furprife, and rather more concern than other 
 people, and was exceedingly attentive in fending 
 nicflages of enquiry about his health. 
 
 On; of Zeluco's {laves having run away the 
 fame evening on which his mafler was ftabbed, 
 it was generally believed that this flave had done 
 the deed; Zeluco liimfelf encouraged that re- 
 port, and for obvious reaibns diicouraged all 
 purfuit or fearch for the fugitive. He had no 
 doubt, however, that the real perpetrator of the 
 faclwas the Portuguefe ; and ilrongly fufpeiSteJ 
 that the wife was an accomplice. On his reco- 
 very, however, he thanked his Portugiiefe 
 neighbour with the moft latisfied air imaginable, 
 for his obliging inquiries, and defcanted with 
 every appearance of convi(ftion on the treachery 
 and ingratitude of the fugitive Have who had fo 
 bafcly attempted to murder hiai. 
 
 No
 
 Z E L U C O. 103 
 
 No man was ever more ready to forget a good 
 office done to him than Zeluco, and none ever 
 more tenacioufly remembered an injury : thefe 
 oppofite turns of difpofition generally go to- 
 gether. 
 
 While Zeluco carefully concealed his fufpici-' 
 ons '.vithin his own breafi, he determined to aft 
 as if thefe fufpicions amounted to certainty, and 
 to be fully revenged of both the hufband and 
 wife. He faw, however, that it behoved him 
 to aft with great circumfpedtion, and it was not 
 ealy to form what he confidered as a fuitable 
 plan of revenge, for whatever concern the Por- 
 tuguefe had Teemed to take in the health of Ze- 
 luco, he did not carry his diffimulation the 
 length of renewing their intinvicy ; his wife like- 
 wife obferved the utmoft referve towards Zeluco, 
 giving him no opportunity of demanding an ex- 
 planation of what was part, or of renewing the 
 intrigue. 
 
 She had not proved with child during the firft 
 two years of her marriage, but in the courfc of 
 that in which her adventure wirh Zeluco took 
 place fhe bore a Ton. As the hafband had been 
 uncommonly anxious to have children, his im- 
 patience on that head had made him almoft de- 
 I'pair of ever having any. His joy onthelvnppy 
 event was equal to his former uneafinef^, and his 
 fondnei's for his wife was redoubled bv his latis- 
 faftion in being a father ; wliile the augmenced 
 attention which he paid her, joined to the natu- 
 ral atlcftion flie felc for her child, operated a 
 favourable alteration in her charafter, and con- 
 iirmcd her virtuous relbiutions. 
 
 i'' 4 Zelueo
 
 104 Z E L U C O. 
 
 Zeluco underftood, with redoubled wrath and 
 malignity, that two people he mortally hated 
 ilveu with mutual conlidence and in the happieft 
 union ; fomctimes he had the mortification of 
 hearing them quoted as a ftriking example of 
 parental afi'e(51:ion and conjugal felicity. He at 
 length founded his fcheme of revenge on a 
 Jknowledge of thefe circumftances, and refolved 
 to attack their happinels in its fource. 
 
 By a few prefents, and the intervention of 
 \\is valet, he gained the maid of the Portuguefc, 
 and without exactly explaining what his view;? 
 were, he prevailed on her to be fubfervient to 
 them. 
 
 He was informed by the girl, that the nurfe 
 fometimcs carried the child to a fhady feat, at a 
 imali diliance from her mafter's houfe ; Zeluco 
 pafled that way one day, when he knew of the 
 Portuguefe and his lady being elfewhere ; he 
 cxpreJJed the greateft joy at the fight of the 
 child, took it in his arms, and fondled it with 
 every appearance of the tendereft affedlion ; he 
 carneflly aud repeatedly begged of the nurfe to 
 be exceedingly careful of the fweet infant, pre- 
 I'ented her with a purfe of gold as a reward for 
 her pafl care, and promifed her another in due 
 time, provided flie perfcvered in her tendernels ; 
 he earneftly entreated the woman not to men- 
 tion what had palled to her mafter ; and taking 
 his leave with feeming reluctance, entreated her 
 to return to the lame place with the child, as 
 often as fhe fliould know that her mafter was 
 abfcnt, or engaged with company. He had fe- 
 veral interviews of the fame kind, in the fame 
 place, within the fpace of a month. 
 
 Whatever
 
 Z E L U C O. 105 
 
 Whatever reflexions occurred to the nurfe on 
 thelcr fccret vifits, and his extraordinary affedti- 
 ens for the child, ihe kept a prudent filence, 
 and hoarded them carefully up within her brea/t, 
 as a precious fund to be expended among her 
 particular friends and goffips on future occafions. 
 
 Zeluco at length arranged matters fo that the 
 lady and her maid approached the place while 
 he was careffing the child -, and as foon as he was 
 fatisfied that they obferved him, he delivered 
 the infant with precipitation into the nurfe's 
 arms and retired. 
 
 Tlie lady greatly furprifed at what (he had 
 feen, queftioned the nurfe, who, withfomehe- 
 litation (as the maid was prefent), told her all 
 that palTcd, without fuppreffing a circumftance, 
 except that of her having received the purfe. 
 
 The lady was more and more at a lofs what 
 conftrudtion to put on fo flrange and unlooked- 
 for an incident. — She alked the nurfe, " Whe- 
 ther flie had ever mentioned this matter to her 
 mafter ?" 
 
 " No, never j I do aflure your ladyfliip I 
 never did," replied the nurfe with earneftnefs. 
 
 " I do not know why you fhould not," faid 
 the miftrefs, with atfcdled unconcern ; " as 
 there feems Ibmething a little extraordinary in 
 this man's taking fo much notice of the child ; I 
 think it would be proper that my hufband fliould 
 be informed of it." 
 
 " Lord, madam," faid the maid, who was 
 inflrudted to prevent this, " if the nurfe were 
 to inform my mafter of all thofe who carefs and 
 feem fond of the child, flie could do nothing 
 elfe-,— every mortal is ftruck with his beauty, 
 F 5 and
 
 io6 Z £ L U C O, 
 
 and Signer Zeluco, in admiring and careffing 
 him, does no more than others. To mention 
 him in particular to my mailer would leem ex- 
 ceedingly odd." The miflrefs feeming ftill to 
 balance whether it would not be her lafeft courle 
 to acquaint her hufband ; — the maid continued^ 
 •« I will refer it to the nurfe, if any body could 
 ever look on the child without admiration." 
 — The nurfe declared, that nobody ever could. 
 — <» Only look at him yourfclf, madam," con- 
 tinued the maid •, " obferve how like an angel 
 he fmiles. Can you be uncafy, or think it ex- 
 traordinary, that all the world fhould admire 
 and wifli to carefs fuch a delightful creature ?" 
 
 The mother, whole eyes were fixed on the 
 child during this harangue, thought, as flie 
 gazed, that the incident which had given her 
 vneafinefs was lefs extraordinary than fhe had at 
 firft imagined, and at length allowed herfelf to 
 believe, that it was very natural for Zeluco, or 
 any other perlbn, to behave as he had done. 
 
 Let thufd who are ready to accufe this poor 
 woman of excellive weaknefs, remember that 
 fhe was a mother, and that the infant, though 
 far from being handfome, was her firil born and 
 only child. 
 
 Yet as fhe is reprefented as not deficient in 
 quicknefs of thought and clcarnels of under- 
 Itanding, fhe may be thought to have afled in- 
 confiftcntly v/ith this characSter, in atiempting 
 to conceal from her hufband what he was lb 
 likely to come to the knowledge of from the 
 babbling propenlity natural to riurfes and maids. 
 If 1 am not miftaken, however, the lex in gene- 
 ral are apt to flirink from prcfent inconvtnien- 
 
 cics,
 
 Z E L U C O. 107 
 
 cies, even when feniiblc that by encountering 
 them they would obviate the rilk of future mil- 
 fortunes. The lady was certain, that the know- 
 ledge of Zelaco'sfecret vilits to the child would 
 throw her Juifband into immediate ill- humour, 
 and awake very difagreeable reflections in his 
 mitid. She flattered herfelf, that he might ne- 
 ver hear a word of the matter, and iTie could not 
 bear to diflurb the prefeiit cnlni to fecure her- 
 lelf from a future ftorm, which poi^bly might 
 never occur. In behaving as (he did in this par- 
 ticular, Ihe will be kept in countenance by many 
 who atSl on the lame principles in matters of far 
 greater importance ; but flie feems to have been 
 entirely forfaken by her natural fagacity, when 
 fhe anxioufly enjoined the nurfe and her own 
 maid to coiiceal what had happened from her 
 huflDand. For it required but a iuperficial glance 
 of their difpofition^ to perceive, that this was 
 giving them an additional incitement to reveal it. 
 
 She was probably tempted to this inconfi- 
 derate {lep, by the knowledge fhe had, that 
 Zcluco was foon to return to Europe ; and flie 
 loft no time in perfuading her hufband to re- 
 move with his family to his houfe in town, that 
 Zeluco might not be tempted to fcek aoother 
 interview ; and Ihe refolved to kt;cp herielf and 
 the chikl lequeftercd troai any cJiance of meeting 
 him before his departure from llie illand. 
 
 Zeluco being informed of thefe circum fiances 
 by the maid, who, on the pretence of fooie ne- 
 ceil'ary arrangements, remained one day after 
 the departure of her mafter and miftreii. ; he, 
 in profecution of his bafe fcheme, gave her a let- 
 ter, which he defired h&r to place in i'uch a fltu- 
 
 atlon
 
 icS Z E L U C O. 
 
 atlon as to be obferved by the former, and 
 feem to have dropped from the latter. When 
 the maid joined the family in town, fhe execut- 
 ed thefe orders with but too much dexterity. 
 While Ihe flood behind her miftrefs, who was 
 writing, the hufband entered the room a little 
 abruptly, and told his wife that fomebody wifli- 
 ed to fpeak to her in the parlour. She imme- 
 diately locked up her papers into a fmall writing- 
 defk, and withdrew. — As flie rofe, the maid 
 took that opportunity of dropping the letter fhe 
 had received froni Zcluco, beneath the feat her 
 miftrels was quitting, and immediately followed 
 her out of the room. The hufband picked up 
 the letter which was unfealed, rumpled, ad- 
 drefled to his wife, and conceived in the follow- 
 ing terms : 
 
 " It is impoflible for me, my deareft foul, to 
 e::prefs the happinefs I have enjoyed in feeing 
 and carefling the fweet pledge of our mutual 
 love; I fliall never forget your kind attention, 
 in direiEling the niirle to the ftop where I had 
 that delicious enjoyment. I mulV, however, 
 acquielce in the prudence of your determination, 
 to pcrfuade your tyrant to move for fome time 
 to his houle in town, where an interview may 
 be arranged with lels danger, and I will wait 
 with as much patience as I am able for that hap- 
 py moment. 
 
 «* P. S. I continue to difguife my writ- 
 ing, and earneftly recommend to you the 
 fame precaution." 
 The aftonilhment and rage of the Portuguefe 
 on reading this may be eafier imagined than de- 
 fcribed j feizing his wife's writing-dellc, which 
 
 flood
 
 Z E L U C O. 109 
 
 ftood upon a table, he carried it into his own 
 apartment, and there read over and over the 
 fatal fcroll which filled his heart with anguilli. 
 Notwithftanding the difguife of the writing he 
 
 eafily diftinguiflied it to be that of Zeluco, 
 
 which left him no doubt of his wife's infidelity. 
 The firft violence of his wrath and indignation 
 might have proved fatal to her, had it not been 
 damped and count eracSted,. in fome meafure, 
 by the grief and deje(ftion he felt, that the child 
 he fo dearly loved, and had been fo proud of, 
 might not be his own, but the offspring of his 
 detefted enemy. 
 
 The imprellion of forrow, from v/hatever 
 caufe it is derived, mollifies the violence of rage, 
 and the conflict of thofe oppofite fentimcnts in 
 the prefent infiance, repreffed a little the niad- 
 nefs of the hufband's fury. However convinced 
 he was of his wife's guilt, he could not be cer- 
 tain that the child was not his own ; and all his 
 rage againft the mother could not unloofe the 
 bonds of affedtion which nature and the child's 
 infantine endearments had twined around his 
 heart. 
 
 Hearing the voice of the nurfe and the maid 
 in the paffage, he called them into his apart- 
 ment, and (hutting the door, he, with as much 
 ferenity as he could ali'ume, queftioned the 
 nurfe, whether any man was in the ufe of ac- 
 cofting her at a particular place which he named, 
 and of carefilng the child. 
 
 The woman denied that any fuch thing had 
 ever happened. 
 
 «< Be lure, woman, that you fpeak truth," 
 faid the Portuguefe. 
 
 ** I would
 
 no Z E L U C O. 
 
 «' I would not depart from the truth," ftiJ 
 the nurfe, '• for all the gold in Mexico." 
 
 The Portuguefe repeated the queilion, and 
 tlie nurfe gave the fame anfwer. 
 
 "Thou abominable wretch," cried he, *' I 
 have certain information of the contrary ; and 
 nothing but an avowal of the truth fhall fave 
 thee from punifhment here, and a long expiation 
 in purgatory hereafter !" 
 
 '< I have told the truth," faid the woman, 
 hefltating with confcious falfchood. 
 
 The Portuguefe, with augmented rage and 
 repeated threats, continued to cjuelHon her. 
 
 She at length acknowledged, that Signer 
 Zeluco had feveral times met her at the place he 
 mentioned, and fliewn great fondnefs for the 
 child. 
 
 •* Wretch !" cried the enraged Portuguefe ; 
 " Why did you deny this r" 
 
 The nurfe was filent. 
 
 " What harm did you imagine there was in 
 that man's feeing and carefling the cliild ?" 
 
 " No liarm in the wide world," faid the 
 nurfe, ** for if there had been any barm i {houkl : 
 never have permitted it." 
 
 '< Wiierefore then did you conceal it from 
 me? and wherefore did you lo folcmnly deny It 
 jurt now ?" 
 
 The confounded woman finding herfelf fo 
 hard befet, and quite unable to extricate her- 
 feif by prevarication, acknowledged, that Ihe 
 had concealed it from hiiu at the requell of her 
 
 '« I fufpcifled as much,'' cried the hufband. 
 
 '« But
 
 Z E L U C O. 11,1 
 
 "But my mifhrers," interrupted the maid, 
 *' delired her to conceal it for no other reafon 
 but merely tliat your Honour might be laved the 
 uneafineis ot hearing that anotlier man was in 
 the pra6lice of careiling, and fhewing fuch pa- 
 ternal aftcftion to your child." 
 
 The wrath of the Portuguefe, which had been 
 for Ibmo time glowing, was lo inrtantaneoufly 
 kindled by the fuggeilion, that he ftruck the 
 maid an unmanly blow on the face, fo that the 
 blood gulhed from her nofe and mouth, in 
 which condition Ihe ran to her miftrefs, who 
 was juft returned to her own apartment. 
 
 The poor woman was exceedingly terrified at 
 her hufband's violence, and her fear was not 
 diminiflied when flie underftood thecaufeof it. 
 She was now fenfible of her imprudence, in 
 concealing from her hufband, Zeluco's treache- 
 rous vifits to her child, and in depending on the 
 difcretion or fidelity of fervants. She knew 
 nothing however of the letter, and imagined 
 that her hufband's ill-humour proceeded folely 
 from his hearing of Zeluco's behaviour. She 
 thought her belt courfe was to explain the whole 
 to him without farther delay. 
 
 She Hew into his apartment, afiured him that 
 the information which difplcaled him had given 
 ftill more vexation to hii\, and that when the 
 nurfe acquainted her with it, her own firfl im- 
 pulfe had been to mention it dire»Stly to him ; 
 that llie fincerely repented her not having done 
 fo, for Ihe was now convinced that a virtuous 
 woman Ihould have no fecrets concealed from 
 her hufband. 
 
 Th«
 
 112 Z E L U C O. 
 
 The Portuguefe, who had liftened hitherto 
 with a ftern countenance, burft into a laugh, 
 which forcing its way through features diftorted 
 with anger, and the thoughts of vengeance, 
 chilled his wife with horror. She proceeded in 
 a confufed manner to afTure him, that however 
 improper it was not to acquaint him with what 
 the nurfe told him, fhe had refrained from no 
 other reafon than to fave him uneafinefs. 
 
 " Your faithful confident and you adhere I 
 find to the fame ftory, and are both equally 
 tender of giving me uneafinefs,'' faid the Por- 
 tuguefe, renewing his frightful laugh ; *< but be 
 affured, faithlefs woman, that you fliall not de- 
 ceive me twice, and that your punilhment, if 
 pofllble, fliall equal your guilt." 
 
 *' What guilt ? alas ! I know no guilt," cried 
 the trembling woman j " I am innocent as the 
 babe newly born." 
 
 " Before you have the effrontery to fpeak of 
 innocence, you fliould learn to be more careful 
 of your letters— look at this," cried he, holding 
 the letter open before her eyes. 
 
 ** Holy virgin !" cried the aftoniflied woman, 
 as flie perufed the letter ; '' I never law this 
 paper before, — it is a forgery of the villain's to 
 deceive you, and ruin me." 
 
 *' How came this forgery of the villain's to 
 drop out of your pocket ? faid the hufband. 
 
 " It allurcJly dropped not out of my pocket," 
 replied Ihe ; *' for as I hope for mercy from 
 Heaven I never faw the paper before." 
 
 «* No never ; to be fure," faid the hufband, 
 with a ghiftly fneer; " You — you are innocent 
 as the babe newly born." 
 
 «' I am
 
 Z E L U C O. HI 
 
 ** I am indeed," exclaimed the wife, " and 
 when you have patience and coolnefs to examine 
 the whole matter you will find fo ?" 
 
 ♦' What examination is neceflary ?" cried he ; 
 •• what confirmation can be added to fuch a 
 letter as this ? — this infallible evidence of your 
 lliame !" 
 
 " That letter is an evidence of nothing, but 
 of the mean revenge of a difappointed villain. 
 I befeech you therefore," added Ihe, laying hold 
 of his arm ; " I earneftly befeech you, for the 
 
 fake of your child, for your " " Think 
 
 not," interrupted he, fliaking off her hand, 
 *' to deceive me again j — be gone to your cham- 
 ber, and repent, for be afllired that I will have 
 ample revenge." So faying, he thruft her rude- 
 ly out of the room, and fliut the door with vio- 
 lence. She was put to bed, and palTed the reft 
 of the day and the whole night in anxiety and 
 terror. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 114 Z £ L U G CX 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 Unjuji accufatlom feldom affect us much^ but from 
 Jomt jujiice in them. 
 
 A 
 
 S foon as he was alone, the hufband broke 
 open her writing dellc ; but after a very ftridt 
 fcriuiny be found nothing to juftify the infinua- 
 tions of the letter, or in the fmalleft degree to 
 confirm his I'ulpicions : — "But what confirma- 
 tion is needed," faid he, <* of her criminal con- 
 nexion with this man i* — why lliould he wiih to 
 fee the child in a clandeftine manner ? — why did 
 £he order the nurfe to conceal this from me ? — 
 And above all, this letter, on which he has in 
 vain attempted to difguife his hand-writing, 
 muj} have fallen from her pocket ! — Oh ! her 
 guilt is manifefl: !" 
 
 In reflections of this nature, and in forming 
 plans of vengeance, the Portuguele palfed as 
 fleeplefs a night as his lady. 
 
 The following day fhs was fo ill that flie kept 
 her bed ; the hufband went not once to enquire 
 for her, nor did he fend any meffage : he alfo 
 kept his apirtment, and was heard v/alking 
 backwards and forwards with a hurried pace the 
 whole of that day. The next forenoon the phy- 
 fician who had formerly attended Zeluco called 
 accidentally, and was taken immediately to fee 
 the lady, one of the fervants having informed 
 him (lie was indifpofcd. 
 
 As-
 
 Z E L U C O. 115 
 
 As (he had the greatefl: confidence in the 
 DoiSlor's good fcnle and prudence, and knew 
 alfo that her hufband had a very high opinion 
 of him, ihe informed him of the true caufe of 
 her illnefs •, Zeluco's viiits to the child ; her own 
 imprudence in ordering the nurfe to concCcil 
 them; of his hearing of them, his jealoufy 
 thereupon, and of the horrid anonymous letter. 
 
 The iirrt thing that firuck the pliylician in 
 her narrative was, that no motive was affigned 
 for the bale fcheme the lady imputed to Zeluco : 
 he hinted this to her. 
 
 She faid, it murt have proceeded from the 
 natural malice of the man's wicked heart j flie 
 knew of no other motive. 
 
 The phyfician obferved, that it was hardly 
 credible that any man would form fuch a block- 
 ing fcheme without Tome more particular caufe. 
 
 The lady perceiving the force of this remark, 
 thought herfelf obliged to mention her firft con- 
 nexion with Zeluco j although that was afubjeft 
 on which fhe never thought without pain. She 
 could not help however giving as favourable a 
 glofs to her ftory as poflible, by declaring, that 
 Zeluco had formerly had the infolence to make 
 love to her ; that no woman was fafe from an 
 iniult of this nature; yet, as it is generally 
 imagined that men feldom make fuch declara- 
 tions but where they have reafon to hope they 
 will be we!! received, flie had naturally wiflied 
 to conceal this incident, though Ihe Ivad heard 
 his wicked propofal with equal furpriie and 
 horror ; and had, in conicqucncc of his perfe- 
 vering, been obliged to acquaint her hufband ; 
 and, finally, fhe now fufpected that the pride of 
 
 the
 
 ii6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 the man, hurt by her refinance, fo different 
 from what he was accuftomed to, had prompted 
 him to this diabolical I'cheme on purpofe to ruin 
 her. 
 
 It is evident that in this narrative the lady 
 did not adhere exactly to the truth, but thought 
 proper to link the circumftancc of her having 
 at firlt agreed to meet Zeluco. IF all thofe for- 
 give her for this part of her conduct, who, in 
 relating fatTts in which themfelves are concerned, 
 are apt to leave out what makes againll them, 
 and put in the moft confpicuous point of view 
 whatever is in their favour, it is to be prefumed, 
 that the Portuguefe lady will not be cenfured 
 by a vaft number of our readers. 
 
 The phyfician, it is probable, made allow- 
 ance for a bias fo very general among men, and 
 from which the fair fex themfelves are not en- 
 tirely free. 
 
 After enquiring very minutely into every cir- 
 cumftance, his fufpicion fixed flrongly on the 
 maid as an agent of Zeluco's. On his hinting 
 this to the lady, fiie declared, that of all her fa- 
 mily this girl was the laft Ihe could fufpefl ; be- 
 caufe fhe had always difplayed the moft unbound- 
 ed attachment to herfelf, and often expreflcd, 
 particularly of late, an averfion to Zeluco. 
 
 This did not weaken the phyfician's fufpicions. 
 " Poor girl," continued the miftrefs, •' fhe is 
 of a delicate conftitution, and fubjedl to hyfleri- 
 cal fits ; fhe was much terrified by my hufband's 
 treatment of herfelf, but flill more on feeing 
 me fo ill. I happened to lay, that I feared it 
 would kill me ; on which flie was feized with a 
 violent trembling, and has kept her bed ever 
 fince. 
 
 The
 
 Z E L U C O. 117 
 
 The phyfician afked, whether the lady had 
 ever intruded this maid, who feemed to be a 
 great favourite, with any fecret which it would 
 give her uneafinefs to have revealed. 
 
 The lady anfwered, with feme warmth, that 
 flie had no fuch fecret ; that ihe cared not if all 
 the actions of her life were made public ; that 
 fhe defied the power of malice ; — and thus (he 
 ran on with a zeal and fluency natural to people 
 who are endeavouring to juftify themfelves, and 
 are conlcious of not being entirely innocent j 
 flie concluded by alTerting, that there was no 
 part of her conduct ihc vvillied hid from the 
 world. 
 
 The phyfician having waited till being out of 
 breath flie fiopr, he then calmly obfcrved, that 
 his quefi:ion was not of fo extenfive a nature as 
 Ihe Teemed to imagine ; that he was not fb im- 
 pertinent as to inquire whether fhe had ever 
 done what fhe wifhcd to conceal from the world, 
 but only whether ker maid was acquainted with 
 any thing of that nature. 
 
 " Certainly not," faid the lady ; *' fince I am 
 not myfelf confcious of any fuch fecret, how 
 is it polTlble that my maid could be acquainted 
 with it .■"' '< I admire the acutenrfs and logical 
 precifion with which you reafon, Madam," faid 
 the Dodlor; " but I would be glad to know, 
 whether this maid was in your lervice at the 
 time, you mention when Signor Zeluco paid 
 his addrefTes to you?" 
 
 " If (he had, fhe could have known nothing 
 of that nature," faid fhe. « Certainly not," 
 faid the Doclor; *♦ but I wifli to know the fa<^, 
 Was flie or was flie not ?" " She was not," an- 
 fwered
 
 ij8 Z E L U C O. 
 
 fwered the lady. " So much the better," re- 
 fumed the Doctor. «* I alk pardon, Madam, 
 for being fo inquifitivej but I thought it of im- 
 portance to have this point cleared up before I 
 ■vifit the maid, which I now mean to do with a 
 view to dilcover, if poflible, by whofe means 
 the ktter was thrown in your hulband's way; if 
 that can be traced to the perfon you fulpedl, 
 your juftilication follows of courie." 
 
 So fiying he left the lady, and was condu6leJ 
 into the maid's chamber and left with her alone. 
 The maid immediately inquired how her mif- 
 trtfs was ? 
 
 *' Your miftrefs is very ill indeed," replied 
 the phyfician, looking at her with a penetrating 
 eve ; *' fome monftcr of wickednefs has been 
 bribed to ruin that worthy woman : you know 
 of the forged letter which was thrown in your 
 mafter's way - do you not ?" 
 
 " I have heard of fuch a thing," faid the 
 maid, changing colour. 
 
 *' Have you any notion who has been guilty 
 of fuch a perfidious a(Slion ?" faid the phyfician, 
 itill fixing his eyes on her. 
 
 »< Lonl, Sir ! how can I have any notion ?" 
 replied the maid. 
 
 ♦« Could you have believed," refnmed the 
 Doftor, " that fuch a viper crawled upon the 
 earth r" 
 
 »* I could hardly have thought it," replied 
 the maid, with a languid voice. 
 
 " Do you not think that the vengeance of 
 Heaven will purl'uc the vile wretch ?" faid the 
 phyfician. 
 
 *< I'erhaps JJje will repent before flie dies," 
 faid the maid, trembling. 
 
 She?'
 
 Z E L U C O. 119 
 
 *< She /" replied the phyfician — ** how do you 
 know Ihe is a woman ?" 
 
 i( Me! — I, — I know nothing; — no, nothing 
 in the Icaft," faicl the maid, in confufion ; 
 *' oiilv if Ihe is a woman, 1 hope ilie will 
 repent before Ihe dies." 
 
 " If Ihe is a woman," cried the pliyfician, 
 " Ihe is a difgrace to her fex, and the vengeance 
 of Heaven will overtake her in this life, and 
 hell awaits her in the next, unlefs Ihe confefTes 
 her crime, and prevents the ruin of an innocent 
 l.uly : — But how are you yourfelf ? you fecm 
 very ill." 
 
 " I am indeed not well," replied the maid. 
 The phyfician, feeling her pulie, cried with a 
 voice of furprife, *' Good God, you are very 
 ill indeed ; — let me fee your tongue. — Gracious 
 Heaven ! what is this! -why, 1 had no idea of 
 your being in this way." 
 
 " O, dear Doctor," cried the maid, " do not 
 frighten me ; you do not imagine I am in dan- 
 ger of dying." 
 
 '« Danger!" faid the Do^or " «* yes, af- 
 iuredly : yet, perhaps, — at leafi, I hope you 
 Aill may recover ; that is, provided you — in 
 Ihort 1 will do ail I can for you;— but if you 
 have any fpiritual or worldly aftairs to fettle, you 
 had bell let aboul it dirr6tly." 
 
 The Doi^or having ordered her fome medi- 
 cines, went into the apartment of the Portuguefe, 
 whom he found alone and in a very gloomy 
 mood. He exprefled fatisfaftion, however, at 
 llcing the phyfician, who immediately told him 
 that his lady had informed him of what had 
 happened. ♦» Her alllirance muft equal her 
 
 guilt,"
 
 120 Z £ L U C O. 
 
 guilt," cried the Portuguefe, " to enable her to 
 mention it." He then poured out a torrent of 
 abufe againfl: his wife. The phyfician did not 
 think proper to interrupt him ; but when he 
 had done, he coolly afked what proofs he had 
 of her guilt ? 
 
 The Portuguefe enumerated the circumftances 
 of Zeluco's behaviour towards the child, his 
 wife's having inftrufted the nurfe and maid to 
 conceal it, and then fhewed him the letter. 
 
 The phyiician having heard him patiently, 
 endeavoured to make him fenfible that all thefe 
 circumflances were not fuflicient to juftify the 
 inferences which he drew again ft a lady who 
 had always behaved with affeftion to him, and 
 the greateft tendernefs to his child. Befides," 
 added he, " thefe circumflances, inconclufive as 
 they are, lofe much of their weight, if they 
 can all be accounted for on the very probable 
 fuppofition of their being contrived by an 
 enemy." 
 
 <' The letter ! — the letter !" cried the Portu- 
 guefe. " Well," faid the Doclor, ♦* the letter 
 is of a piece with the clandcftine vifits ; it was 
 no difficult matter to bribe fome perfon to throw 
 a letter in your way in fuch a manner as that it 
 would appear to have dropt from your lady. 
 Recollc(5t if there was any perlbn in the room 
 with her immediately before you obferved the 
 letter." 
 
 «' Nobody but her own confidential maid," 
 faid the hufl:)and. 
 
 <« And if an enemy had formed the fchemc 
 of ruining you both in this manner, who would 
 he think of feducing as an affiftant fo likely as 
 
 the
 
 Z E L U C O. i7ii 
 
 the domeftlc who attended her perfon. Con- 
 fider alfo," continued the Do£lor, " how very 
 improbable it is, that fhe would keep fuch a 
 letter in her pocket." 
 
 " If guilty people were always cautious, th'y 
 would not be fo often detected as they are," laid 
 the Portuguefe. 
 
 " But is it not natural to think," rejoined the 
 Dodlor, " that the fame want of caution which 
 made her wear a letter of this importance care- 
 lefsly in her pocket, would have appeared M'hen 
 you examined her papers : Did you find among 
 them any other lettei-s to the fame purpofe with 
 this ?" 
 
 He anfwered, that he had not. 
 
 " This, therefore, is a fair prefumption," 
 faid the Do£lor, «* that there never was any ; 
 that the letter you found was purpofely thrown 
 in your way by the direction of fome perfon 
 equally the enemy of you and your lady." 
 
 Vol. I. G CHAP.
 
 122 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 Comfortable Hints to married Menit 
 
 W HILE they were converfing, the Capuchin, 
 who had attended Hanno in his dying moments, 
 was introduced. This venerable perfon was 
 fpiritual director to all the Chrirtians white and 
 black in the family. The Portuguefe immedi- 
 ately ordered, as was his cuftom, fome cold 
 victuals and a large flalk of wine to be fet before 
 the Father, who had only time to drink a few 
 glaiTes when a mellage came from the lick maid, 
 who earneftly wifhed to fee him. He was rifing 
 with reluctance from his repaft, when the Phy- 
 fician begged his delay for a moment *, and tak- 
 ing the PortLiguel'e to a corner of the room, he, 
 in a few words, explained his intention, which 
 the other, on whom the Do(rtor's arguments had 
 already n^ade fome impreflion, having approved, 
 they turned to the Father, who in this interval 
 had liniflied his flalk of wine. The Do(5tor 
 then informed him, that a very unfortunate af- 
 fair had happened in which he might be of fer- 
 vice ; that in (hort a difcovery had been made, 
 that the lady of the houie had been unfaithful 
 to her huflonnd, as was proved by a letter from 
 l).er lover, which he had dropt ; that a plan was 
 already formed for punilhiug her in an cxem- 
 j)larv manner •, that in the mean time flic was 
 kept in conHnenaent till endeavours were made 
 
 to
 
 Z E L U C O. 123 
 
 to Uifcover thofe who had aflifted in carrying on 
 the correfpondence with her lover, as there was 
 reafon to think fhe had been aflifled by fomc 
 peribn in the family. 
 
 The Capuchin, who was a little wanned vvit!\ 
 wine, and who valued hinifclf greatly on his 
 eloquence, and on the happy talent he thought 
 he polFefled of confoling tlie afflidtcd, could not 
 allow fo fair an occaflon of difplaying it to lli[3 
 unimproved ; addrelling himfelf, therefore, to 
 the Portuguefe, he exprefledhis concern for the 
 mibfortune which had happened to him, ofa- 
 ferving at the fame time, that however painful 
 it might be, his cafe was by no means uncom- 
 mon ; for that a large proportion of hufbands 
 laboured under the fame calamity. <' Not," 
 continued he, " that I mean to infinuate that 
 any number being in the fame predicament ren- 
 ders you, my worthy friend, leis a cuckold thnii 
 if you were the only one upon earth. I only 
 mention this circumftance, becaufe, although 
 not much to the honour of human nature, yet 
 there is realbn to think that mankind in general 
 derive confolation from the thoughts of others 
 being in the fame difagrecable (ituatiou with 
 theuifelves. I therefore afTure you, that even 
 among my acquaintance there are many, fome of 
 them very refpeiftable gentlemen, to whom the 
 fame accident that happened that there is fo 
 much reafon to think has befallen you, notwith- 
 i^auding which they live as eafy and comfortably 
 as they did before ; this depends entirely on 
 people's way of thinking. Things of this kind 
 are undoubtedly rather unpleafant at fitft: j but 
 when we are a little accui\omed to them, they 
 G 2 give
 
 124 Z E L IT C O. 
 
 give little or no uneafinefs ; for habit reconciles 
 us to any thing." 
 
 The Capuchin was a man of influence in the 
 ifliind ; and the Portuguefe, who had been, al- 
 though unjuftly, accuied of Judaifm, had nior« 
 reafons than one for wilhing to keep on good 
 terms with him ; yet he could not help betraying 
 his impatience at the reverend Father's manner 
 of comforting him, by a moft agonizing con- 
 tortion of countenance at the laft obfervation, 
 which the other obferving, he added, *' I per- 
 ceive, Sir, that you do not bear this difpen- 
 'fation with the reiignation you ought; I mufl: 
 therefore deiire that you will keep in your re- 
 membrance, that it has been undoubtetlly per- 
 mitted for fome wile purpofe ; it will therefore 
 be as impious as unavailing for yon to murmur, 
 for what has happened admits of no remedy. 
 Now that the thing is done, it cannot be undone, 
 at leaft I never heard of any method by which 
 a man can be uncuckolded : this, my valuable 
 friend, is the peculiar cruelty of your cafe j 
 another perfon commits the crime, and you who 
 are innocent fuffcr the lliame. And what is 
 iViU more vexatious, a!iho\]gh one wicked wo- 
 man can place her huihand in this opprobrious 
 ,l\ate, all the virtuous women on earth cannot 
 take him out of it. I beg you will farther ob- 
 'ferve " Here the eloquent Father was in- 
 terrupted in the middle of his harangue by 
 another meflage from the maid j and was with 
 Ibme difficulty prevailed on by the Phyfician to 
 go directly, without wailing to finiili his dif- 
 courle. 
 
 When
 
 Z E L U C O. 125 
 
 ■ When he was gone thePhyfician remnrked to 
 the Portuguefe, that in the prefent flate of the 
 maid's mind Ihe would probably confefs every 
 thing fhc knew to the Father, and M'as impa- 
 tient to fee him for that very purpofe ; that al- 
 though the Capuchin was bound not to mention 
 what was revealed to him in confeffion, yet 
 there would be no great difficulty in gathering 
 from him, particularly in his prefent trim, the 
 import of all the maid fhould fay, without his 
 mtending to inform them of a tittle. 
 
 The Phyfician was right in his conje<ft^nre. • 
 The maid, terrified with the idea of immediate 
 death, made a confeffion of her iins to the 
 prieft, and particularly acknowledged that f]ie 
 had been prevailed on by Zeluco's valet, to throw- 
 under the chair of her miftrefs a paper which 
 he gave her, and which (he now, to her grent 
 affliction, underftood had produced tlie niofl 
 mifchievous confequences to her millreis ; but 
 the import of which fiie did not fully under- 
 ftand at the time; otherwife, (he added, in alle- 
 viation of her conduft, (he would not have been 
 acceffiiry to fo great a crime. 
 
 Tlie Prieit, although not the cleareft-headed 
 of his profcffion, had underftanding enough to 
 tell her, that the beft reparation fhe could make 
 was by a full avowal of this to her nufler, antl 
 he refufcd to give her abfolution on any other 
 conditions. On the maid's conl'enting to this, 
 the Father returned to the Portuguefe, whom he 
 found in his apartment with the Doclor ; and 
 addrtffing himfelf to the former, he bcgced 
 that he would attend him to the maid, who had 
 fojTiething of the laft importance to commu- 
 nicate. 
 
 G 3 They
 
 126 Z E L U C O. 
 
 They went accordingly, accompanied by the 
 fhyfician. The maid, with a flood of tears, 
 and the moft earneft fupplications to her mafter 
 for his forgiver.efs, made an avowal of what flie 
 had fold the Prieft •, confcfling at the fame time, 
 that (lie had prevented her miftrefs from in- 
 forming him of Zeluco's interviews with the 
 child, v>!iich was her intention the moment flie 
 was inf(ir.r:ed of them; and this the maid 
 owned fhc had done at the dcGre of the fame 
 valet who had given her the paper. 
 
 The Portuguefe with difficulty reftrained his 
 indignation againft the woman ; at length, how- 
 ever, he was prevailed on to fay, he forgave 
 lier, and immediately defired to fte the nurfe. 
 V/hen flic appeared, he aflied in what manner 
 his wife had expreficd berfelf when firflfiiewas 
 informed of Zeluco's behaviour to the child. 
 The nurfe naturally, and without hefitation, de- 
 clared, that her miftrefs had infifted on herhuf- 
 band's being informed dire(Stly, but was per- 
 faaded from that mealure by the maid. 
 
 After a few more quedions, being fully con- 
 \ inced of his wife's innocence, he repaired along 
 with the Pi left and PhyHcian to the apart- 
 Tnent in which flie was confined ; — apologized 
 in the mrft eirneft manner for the ill-treatment 
 fhe had received -, btgged her forgivenefs for the 
 fuipicions he hid harboured; declared his pcr- 
 feft confidence in her virtue, which, he added, 
 it fliould never again be in the power of villany 
 cr malice to lliake. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Z E L U C O. 127 
 
 C H A R. XXII. 
 
 -He 
 
 Compounds for fins he was inclin'd to, 
 By damning thole he had no mind to. 
 
 Butler, 
 
 X H £ lady behaved with the utmoft pro- 
 priety on the occafion •, throwing the whole 
 blame on the villain who had wove fuch an art- 
 ful net of circumftances as might have caught 
 the belief of the leaft fufpicious of hufbands. 
 
 " Dearly fhall he pay for his villany," faid 
 thePortuguefe. 
 
 *' Leave him to the torments of his own 
 confciencc," rejoined his wife. 
 
 <' In cafe his confcience fhould not torment 
 him fufHciently," faid the Father, «' the defi- 
 ciency will be amply made up to him before he 
 gets out of purgatory." 
 
 The Physician then drew the Father out of 
 the room, thinking thshuIbanJ and wife would 
 complete their reconciliation in the moft f.itis- 
 fatStory manner by themfelves. He told them, 
 however, as he retired, that he would have the 
 pleafure of dining with them, and then walked 
 with the Prieft into the garden, v.'here he re- 
 mained till dinner was announced. 
 
 His view in remaining was to endeavour to 
 
 turn the Portuguefe from thoughts of revenge, 
 
 which hefufpevitcd to be brooding in his brcafu 
 
 G 4 Being
 
 irafr Z E L U C O. 
 
 Being left alone with him after they had 
 dined, he obferved, that however ftrongly he 
 was convinced of Zeluco's beirg the writer of 
 the letter, yet as he had the precaution to 
 difguife his hand-writing, it would be fruitlefs 
 to found any legal profecution upon that cir- 
 cumftance. 
 
 " I defpife all legal profecution," cried the 
 Portugucfc ; <' but I will find means of doing 
 myfelf juftice without any fuch tedious and un- 
 certain procefs." The Phylician apprehending 
 that he meant to challenge him, reprefented 
 that as a mofl abfurd and uncertain method of 
 repairing an injury ; and the Portuguele, who 
 had no fuch plan in his head, liftened calmly 
 to his arguments, and at length feemcd to bo 
 convinced by their force, on purpofe to deceive 
 the Phyflcian, antl prevent his {ui'pe£i\ng the 
 real delign he had in view. 
 
 In a fliort time Zeluco was informed that the 
 bafe train he had laid for the ruin of the Portu- 
 gucfe and his lady, with every circumftance of 
 his perfidious conducl:, was difcovered by the 
 hufband ; and although the particular caufe of 
 their milunderftanding was not publicly known ; 
 yet he was told that it had been whifpered 
 about, that he was hurrying out of the ifland 
 to avoid the refentment of the merchant. 
 
 This rumour determined him to pol^pone his 
 voyage for fome time, that he might give his 
 enemy an opportunity of calling him to the 
 field if he choi'e it ; or in cafe he did not, that 
 the world might be convinced that Zeluco him- 
 f'elf was not afraid to give him that fpecies of 
 I'atisfa^ion. 
 
 It
 
 Z E L a C O. 129 
 
 It appears in the courfe of this narrative that 
 Zeluco, however defedlive he was in other vir* 
 tues, pofTefTcd a confiderable fliare of conftitu- 
 tional intrepi'clity J in the early part of his 
 life, from iheer vanity, he had oftner than 
 once courted opportunities of diftinguifhing 
 himfelf by a duel ; and through the whole of 
 his life he fhewed, that whatever injuftice or 
 wickednefs he was tempted to commit, he hsd 
 alft) fufficient firmnefs to juftify, if he thought 
 that method expedient; or to hght any perfoji 
 who accufed hini when he thought proper to 
 deny it. Courage was indeed tlie fole virtue he 
 admired in others, and the only one he poiTeiled 
 himfelf. It has been often faid, that cowards 
 only are cruel ; but although it is natural to 
 think, and obfervation will juftify the opinion, 
 that they are more apt to be fo than the intre- 
 pid j yet there are but too many proofs that one 
 of the moft refpeifbable and briiiiant qualities 
 which can adorn the character of man, is fome- 
 times linited to the moft odious that can difgracc 
 humanity, and that courage is not incompatible 
 with cruelty. 
 
 Of this Zeluco was a ftriking example ; and 
 the fame perfon who with little regret had for- 
 feited the good opinion of every virtuous mind, 
 could not brook to have it thought that he fear- 
 ed the refentment of the man he was confcious 
 of having injured, or that he would make any 
 ^apology to him, rather than run the rifle of in- 
 juring him in a more violent manner. 
 
 Jn the mean time the fufplcions of the Phy- 
 
 llcian were not .entirely removed by the dlirirca- 
 
 latioii of the Portuguufe. MotwithAanding the 
 
 G 5 latter's
 
 130 Z E L U C O. 
 
 latter's declining to feek legal cr honourable re- 
 drefs from Zeluco, the Dealer perceived fome- 
 thing in his manner, which gave him the im- 
 preliion that the Portuguefe meditated a lefs 
 juftiliable meafure than either ; his benevolence 
 inclined him to prevent what his fagacity and 
 knowledge of the man's chara«iter led him to 
 iulpedt. His fufpicion was confirmed a very 
 Ihort time after by the merchant's wife, who, 
 under pretence of being indifpofed, fent him a 
 very urgent meffage to come and fee her. — "With 
 "I^erturbation of mind flie told him. That {he 
 had reafon to dread that her hufband had form- 
 ed a very criminal projedl of being revenged on 
 Zeluco, and watched an opportunity of putting 
 it in execution. She was prompted to this flep 
 by no regard for Zeluco, but from a horror at 
 the intended deed, and from anxiety for her 
 hufband ; — adding, that flie was afraid of dif- 
 playing much concern, partly becaufe fhe did 
 not wilh that lie fhould know of her being 
 lulpicious of what he intended, and partly that 
 Ihe might not awaken the jealous difpofition of 
 her hufband j— with tears in her eyes, there- 
 fore, flie intreated the Do^or to exert all his 
 influence to turn her hufband from fuch an un- 
 juftifiable defign ; or if he failed, to ufe fuch 
 means as his own prudence could fuggeft to ren- 
 der it inefiliStual. 
 
 The good Dodor applauded her condud^, 
 Sind feized the earlielt proper opportunity of re- 
 newing the fubjei^t, which he had once before 
 touched on to the Portuguefe; adding. That 
 ■ he feared he ftill harboured vindi^ive inten- 
 tions againft Zeluco j rcprefenting the danger 
 
 of
 
 Z E L U C O. 13V 
 
 of fuch a fchemc : and however cautioufly it 
 might be executed, he would infallibly be con- 
 fidered as the perpetrator. •* I know no other 
 reafon which you can have for fufpefting that I 
 liarbour fuch intentions," faid the Portuguefe, 
 •* but your thinking it impoflible, after what 
 you know of this man's behaviour, that it fliould 
 be otherwife." 
 
 *• You are miftaken," replied the Phyfi- 
 cian ; »« I think it ought to be otherwife ; and 
 this is not my reafon for harbouring fuf- 
 picions." 
 
 '♦ 1 do not tell you," faid the Portuguefe, 
 " that your fufpicions are well or ill founded ; 
 but could you be furprifed if it were as you 
 fufpea ?" 
 
 *' Neither fliall I be furprifed," rejoined the 
 Doctor, *' if you are convicted and executed, 
 for gratifying your revenge in fuch an unjufti- 
 iiable manner. Come, come, Sir," added 
 he, " allow yourfelf to be guided by reafon, 
 and not impelled by pafllon in this matted : con- 
 fider what a dreadful fituation your wife and 
 child will be in, Ihould any misfortune befai 
 you in confequence of fuch an attempt. The 
 wifeft plan you can follow, fince this man is on 
 the point of leaving the ifland, is to let him go 
 in fafety, and it is probable you will never fee 
 him more." — Here the Portuguefe (hook his 
 head.— «< Then, Sir," refumed the Doctor, 
 " your next beft meafure is to challenge hini 
 honourably." — «* What right has a man who 
 has adled fo perfidioufly to expe<ft that he is to be 
 fo dealt with ?" faid the Portuguefe. " None," 
 replied the Doctor •, " but were 1 in yoHr 
 
 place,
 
 13^ Z E L U C O. 
 
 place, I (hould be more folicitous about what 
 was reputable for myfelf, than about what my 
 enemy had a right to exped. I only hinted this 
 as being of two evils the leaft ; and the beft ar- 
 gument that can be made ufe of to one who de- 
 fpifes the Chriftian reUgion." 
 
 '< I do not underftand you ! what do you 
 mean ?'' faid the Portuguele. '• Why, that 
 you are in that predicament," anfwered the Phy- 
 lician. 
 
 " Who ! I defpife the Chriftian religion !"' 
 cried the Portuguefe, in terror and amazement. 
 
 " You feem at leaft to defpife one of its moft 
 important precepts," i'aid the Phyiician ; «« from 
 which it may naturally be concluded, that you 
 have no great refpe(ft for the reft." 
 
 »< I have not the imalleft comprehenfion of 
 what you mean," rejoined the Portugueie. 
 
 « Yet I have exprefled my meaning very 
 plainly," faid the Phyiician ; " I really do not 
 think you can with propriety be called a Chrif^ 
 tian." 
 
 «' Jefus Maria !" exclaimed the Portuguefe, 
 ** you HI! me v/ith horror. Why, Sir, i take 
 the Holy Trinity, the Bleffed Virgin, with St. 
 Jofeph her luifb.ind, St. Jaoies, and all the hoft 
 of heaven to witnefs, that I attend mafs regu- 
 larly, and have always from my infancy believed 
 •in every article of faith which our holy mother 
 church requires; and I am ready to believe 
 twice as much whenever fhe is pleafed to exaft 
 it ; if this is not being a Chriftian, 1 ftiould be 
 glad to know what is." 
 
 «< Nay, my good friend," refumed the Phy- 
 iician, <' it is a matter of indilFerence to me 
 
 what
 
 Z E L U G O. 133 
 
 what you do or do not believe ; I am not, I 
 thank God, your or any man's father confeffor : 
 but if you underliood ihcfpirii of theChriflian 
 religion half as well as you believe what the 
 church exa61s, you would find that your attend- 
 ing mafs, and all your faith into the bargain, 
 will not make you a Chriftian, while you indulge 
 fuch a violent I'pirit of revenge." 
 
 *' As for that," replied the Portuguefe, 
 •' neither the church nor the Chriftian religion 
 have any thing to do with it ; that is my affair, 
 and depends on my private feelings ; and it is 
 impoflible for me ever to forgive a villain who 
 attempted to injure me." 
 
 *• It is becaufe he attempted to injure you, 
 that it is in your power as a man, and your duty 
 as a Chriftian, to forgive him. Had he never 
 injured you, nor even attempted it," continued 
 the Doctor, ♦* it would indeed be impoflible for 
 you to have the merit of forgiving him." 
 
 It will naturally be iniagined, from the vin- 
 dictive charadter of this Portuguefe, that he was 
 a hypocrite, and pretended to more faith than 
 he rtally had ; but this was not the cafe. It 
 never had octurrtd to his mind that there could 
 be any doubt of the truth of thofe tenets in 
 which his father and mother had inftruCled him, 
 and which he heard venerable- looking men in 
 facred habits proclaim from all the pulpits of 
 Lifbon. He was decidedly of opinion, that 
 none but monfters of wickednefs, who ought to 
 be burnt in this world by way of preparing them 
 for the next, could harbour any doubt on fuch 
 important points j he had indeed occafionally 
 heard it hinted, that fome of thofc do<ftrines 
 
 were
 
 134 Z E L U C O. 
 
 were incomprehenfible, and others contradifto- 
 ry 5 but this did not convey to his judgment any 
 reafon for doubting of their truth. He never 
 omitted, therefore, any of the ceremonies pre- 
 fcribed by the church j he confefTed his fins re- 
 gularly, performed penance faithfully, would 
 not eat a morfel of meat on a Friday on any con- 
 fideration ; and with the moft pun<5tual perfe- 
 verance repeated daily his Pater Nofter, Ave 
 •Maria, and Credo, to the laft bead of his Ro- 
 fary. A perfon who thought that the whole of 
 Chriftianity confided in thefe and other cere- 
 monies, could not but be furprifed and fliocked 
 to hear his claim to the name of a Chriftian dif- 
 puted. As to that thirfh for revenge on every 
 real or imaginary injury, which he had indulged 
 from his childhood, and fome other culpable 
 propenfities to which he was addi£led, he con- 
 lldered all of thefe as venial foibles, which were 
 more than expiated by his obedience to mother 
 church in more cfiential points ; and when his 
 indulging in thofe culpable praftices to which he 
 was by temper or conftitution prone came in 
 queftion, he fhrugged his fhoulders, and faid, 
 *' Well, 1 thank God, they are neither herefy 
 nor fchiim." 
 
 The Phyfician, however, endeavoured to 
 give him a different notion of thefe matters, 
 founding moft of his arguments on paflages of 
 a fermon to be found in the gofpel of St. Mat- 
 thew ; for this happened to be a Phyfician who 
 fometimes read the Bible : there are, it would 
 appear, fbme of that kind in America. The 
 Portuguefe, at fir ft, thought the paflliges in 
 queftion of a very Cngular nature ; and as they 
 
 were
 
 Z E L U C O. 135 
 
 tvere plain and intelligible, and nothing myfte- 
 rious in them, he could hardly believe that they 
 were quite orthodox ; befides, he was a good 
 deal furprifed that certain articles which he 
 thought of great importance were not touched 
 upon ; yet on being informed who the perfon 
 was who had preached this fermon, he could 
 not deny that it had fair chance of being found 
 Chriftianity. The phyfician having brought 
 him fo far, found little difficulty in perfuading 
 him that it was his duty as well as intereft to 
 leave Zeluco to his own wicked heart, which 
 carried its punifhment within itfclf; hinting 
 alfo the probability of his falling fooner or later 
 within the grafp of the laws of focicty, which 
 his paffions continually tempted him to violate. 
 
 It was probably owing to the remonftrances of 
 this extraordinary Phyfician that Zeluco left the 
 jfland in fafety, and the Portuguefe merchant 
 was indebted to him for being freed from the 
 two moft tormenting dxmons that can poflefs 
 the human bread, Jealoufy and the fpirit of 
 Revenge. 
 
 C H A r.
 
 13*5 Z EL Lf CO. 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 Tp whom can riches give repute and trufl, 
 Content or pleafure, but the good and juft ? 
 Judges and fcnates have been bought for gold ; 
 £fteem and love were never to be fold. Pofe, 
 
 W3 
 
 H E N it was evident that the Portuguefe 
 had no intention of calling Zeluco to account 
 for his bale behaviour, he publicly announced 
 the time of his departure from the Havannah, 
 and having freighted a velTel entirely for his own 
 ufe, after a profperous voyage he arrived at 
 Cadiz, where he was detained for fome time, 
 but as foon as he had trania<Sted his bufinefs he 
 proceeded to Sicily. 
 
 Soon after his arrival at Palermo, Zeluco 
 furnifhed a houfe expenflvely, and began to hve 
 in a moft magnificent flyle ; inviting every per- 
 fon of diflin6tIon to his table, and entertaining 
 in the mofi: fumptuous manner. This way of 
 living, with the idea univerfally entertained of 
 his great riches, foon acquired him a numerous 
 acquaintance, and the warmeft profelllons of 
 attachment. 
 
 Zeluco, who had never known any motive 
 of action but felf-intereA^, was not deceived by 
 fuch profefiions ; but while he plumed himfelf 
 on account of his fuperior penetration, he was 
 the dupe of his own maxims, which being drawn 
 
 from
 
 Z E L U C O. 137 
 
 from the feelings of a corrupted heart, were 
 often erroneous. 
 
 Infeniible himfelf to the ardour of friendihip, 
 he thought there was no fuch fentin^ent, and 
 nioft certainly never had a friend. What the 
 world calls friend jLip, in his opinion was merely 
 a compact of conveniency or intereft between a 
 clafs of people, in which it was tacitly agreed, 
 that when, by the lofs of fortune, hcahh, or 
 otherwife, any individual of the aflbciation be- 
 came ufelefs to the reft, all farther connexion 
 with that peribn terminated of courfe. 
 
 Had Zeluco been fatisfied with thinking this 
 was oftat the cafe, he would have been in the 
 right, but he was convinced it was always fo, 
 and there he was wrong ; all declarations of at- 
 tachment and friendfhip, therefore, he viewed 
 as indirect attacks upon his purfe ; the pundtual 
 attention paid to his invitations, he rightly con- 
 lidered as nothing elfc than a proof of the ex- 
 cellency of his cook, and of thefuperior flavour 
 of his wine. 
 
 The favourable notion which he entertained 
 of the fymmetry and beauty of his own perfon 
 and face, inclined however to believe, that 
 the partiality which feveral of the ladies difplay- 
 ed towards him was void of hypocrify, and pro- 
 ceeded from fincere perfonal attachment. For 
 Zcluco had no fooner returned to Palermo than 
 he became an obje£l of great attention, and 
 lometimes a iubjedt of controverfy among the 
 ladies. 
 
 The elegant turn of his perfon and the graces 
 of his countenance were uiiiverfally admired, and 
 even his charaiSter and difpolitioa were favoura- 
 bly
 
 138 Z E L U C O. 
 
 bly thought of, from that common trick of the 
 fancy which gives the head and heart as much 
 fenfe and virtue as the face has beauty. But he 
 had not remained long at Palermo till his real 
 charaifter began to develope itfelf, and then the 
 graces of his countenance were called in quef- 
 tion, and his features were faid to convey an idea 
 of malevolence, or even atrocity : — this happen- 
 ed from another play of fancy which transfers 
 the deformity of the mind into the face. 
 
 Pleafed with the attention paid him by the 
 men, and the favour of fome of the women, he 
 palTed his time lefs difagreeably than he had 
 done in the Weft-Indies. But that degree of 
 popularity which he had obtained at his arrival 
 gradually diminifhed ; his temper, naturally in- 
 folent and overbearing, detached the moft re- 
 rpedtable of the men from his fociety ; and the 
 intolerable caprice of his difpofition, joined to 
 a continual jealoufy of temper, rendered him at 
 laft odious to the women. He therefore, with 
 great fatisfa^Ttion, embraced a propofal made by 
 a Sicilian nobleman, more diftinguifhed by rank 
 than cliara£ler, of accompanying him to Naples. 
 
 In that gay city he immediately fet up a ftill 
 more fplendid domeftic eftablifhment than he 
 had at Palermo, and as he played deep, and 
 with apparent inattention, he was confidered as 
 a valuable acquilition by fome very fafliionablc 
 focieties. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Z E L U C O. 139 
 
 CHAP. XXIV. 
 
 The frull one'8 advocate, the weak one's friend. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 O O O N after his arrival, he was prefented to 
 Signora Sporza. This lady was the widow of a 
 Neapolitan nobleman, one of the pooreft of a 
 clafs of men in which few are rich. He had 
 lived for two years after his n^arriage in a degree 
 of magnificence more fuixable to his rank than 
 fortune, and died very opportunely v/hen he had 
 nothing left to live upon. 
 
 As, contrary to the advice of her friends, (he 
 had relinquifhed great parts of the funds appro- 
 priated for the fecurity of her own jointure, to 
 relieve her hufl)and's difficulties, fhe had nothing 
 to fupport her after his death, but the revenue 
 arifing frotn the fmall part which remained, and 
 a very moderate penfion granted to her by the 
 court. 
 
 She lived however in a decent, not to fay a 
 genteel ftyle, which was the more furprifing, 
 becaufe, although her hufband had left no mo- 
 ney to maintain her, yet he contrived to leave a 
 child by another woman for her to maintain. 
 
 Signora Sporza was not acquainted with this 
 circumftance till feveral months after her huf- 
 band's death, when flie was informed of it by 
 the mother, who was then in a ftarving condi- 
 tion,
 
 140 Z E L U C O. 
 
 tion, and who, as the wretched woiTian herlelf 
 expreffed it, would not have applied to her for 
 relief, had fhe not been driven by compafHon for 
 her infant more than for herfelf. 
 
 Thofe fame relations who had advifed Signora 
 Sporza not to relinquifh any part of what was 
 fecured by marriage articles to herfelf, for the 
 fake of an extravagant hufband, exclaimed 
 againft the indecency and folly of her fupporting 
 an adulterous baftard, and its wicked mother j 
 they infifted upon it, that fhe, of all women, 
 had the leaft call to take fuch a load upon her. 
 All the anfwer which Signora Sporza made to 
 thefe exclamations and arguments, was dcfiring 
 them to find out fome other woman, or man, if 
 they pleafed, who would maintain the unhappy 
 woman and her child, in which event Ihe was 
 willing to yield up her claim. " Till that is 
 done," added flie, •' however indecent it may 
 fcem, I muft be indulged in this folly." 
 
 She accordingly took both the mother and 
 child into her houfe, where, contrary to the 
 prediflion of her relations, that the two ferpents 
 {lie was taking into her bofom would certainly 
 fting her, they greatly .contributed to her hap- 
 pinefs ; for the v/icked woman became a mofi: 
 grateful and ferviceable domeftic, and Signora 
 Sporza grew as fond of the child, who was a very 
 fpriglitly boy, as if he had been her own. 
 
 This lady was of a character which rendered 
 lier univerfally agreeable ; fhe fupportcd the in- 
 conveniences of very narrow circumftances with 
 lo much gaiety and good humour, underflood 
 the art of arranging her parties fo judicioufly, 
 and animated them with fuch pleafantry, that 
 
 her
 
 Z E L U C O. 141 
 
 her aflembVies were thought the moft agreeable, 
 though the lead fplendid in Naples. As fhe 
 was well received everywhere, and her houfe 
 frequented by the moft fafliionable company, 
 Zeluco thought it worth his while to cultivate 
 her acquaintance, and he was for fome time a 
 pretty conftant attendant at her aflemblies. One 
 circumftance, however, made him iefs fo than 
 otherwife he would have been ; the play in ge- 
 neral was not fo deep as many other aflem- 
 blies, owing to Signora Sporza's difcouraging it 
 as much as Ihe eafily could. Independent of 
 more permanent ill confequences, fhe declared 
 an averfion to deep play on account of the im- 
 mediate gloom with which it overfpread every 
 countenance engaged in it, to the entire deftruc- 
 tion of all good-humour and plealantry. But 
 Zeluco had a greater relifh for deep play than 
 for either good- humour or pleafantry; and as 
 he fometinies met at Signora Sporza's with peo- 
 ple of the fame turn of mind, they were apt to 
 indulge their humour in fpite of her remonftran- 
 ces, which indeed, however ferioufly meanty 
 were always jocularly made. 
 
 Among the Britilh fubjefts at this time at 
 Naples, there were two young Englifhmen, Mr. 
 
 N and Mr. Steel, who lodged in the fame 
 
 houfe, although of very different characters. 
 
 The Honourable Mr. N had already made 
 
 the tour of Europe, and returned to his native 
 country more free from narrow prejudices, Iefs 
 infefted with foreign fopperies, and more im- 
 proved both in knowledge and in manner, than 
 the generality of his countrymen who have made 
 the lame tour. After remaining a few years at 
 
 home.
 
 142 Z E L U C O. 
 
 home, he was feized with a complaint to his 
 breaft threatening a confuraptlon, for which he 
 was advifed to return to Italy, and refided for 
 the moft part at Naples, where he intended to 
 remain a year longer, although at this time he 
 feemed to have in a great meafure regained his 
 heakh. 
 
 Mr. N had been well acquainted with 
 
 Signora Sporza, during his firfl refidence at 
 Naples, and was now on the moft friendly foot- 
 ing with that lady. Befides his companion Mr. 
 Steel, he had introduced to her acquaintance 
 another countryman of his own — Mr. Squander. 
 This gentleman was diltinguifhed by fpending 
 more money with lefs enjoyment than any Eng- 
 lifh traveller in Italy ; without any knowledge 
 of horfes, or any love for the animal, he kept a 
 ftable of Englilh horfes at Naples. His incite- 
 ment to this was his having heard a certain peer 
 who had a violent paflion for the turf mention«d 
 with admiration for having eftabliflied a horfe- 
 race in the Englilh ftile. Mr. Squander match- 
 ed one of his horfes with one of his lordfliip's, 
 and had the renown of lofing a greater fum than 
 ever was loft at a hori'e-race at Naples ; what 
 rendered this the more memorable though the 
 lefs I'urpriling was, that he rode himfelf. He 
 gave frequent entertainments, to whicii he in- 
 vited his own countrymen only ; they generally 
 ended in drunkennefs, noife, and riot. lie 
 bought pi£lures, ftatucs, and feals, becaufe they 
 were highly praifed by the venders ; and after- 
 wards gave them away in prelcnts, becaufe they 
 were defpifed by the reft of the world. Without 
 any inclination for gaming, this young man was 
 
 ready
 
 Z E L U C O. 143 
 
 ready on the flighteft invitation to join any 
 party at deep play, and had fometimes been 
 drawn into that above-mentioned at Signora 
 Sporza's. As he was the only one of this party 
 devoid of fkill, and who played without atten- 
 tion, he generally lofl: the mofl, and fometimes 
 was the only peribn who loft at all. 
 
 How Mr. Steel came to be conne£\ed with 
 
 Mr. N will appear hereafter, but as he and 
 
 Squander had been prefented by him to Signora 
 Sporza, Ihe was particularly uneafy to fee them 
 throw away their money. She was uncommon- 
 ly attentive to ilrangers, and rather partial to 
 the EngHfh ; — by her Frank and engaging man- 
 ners, flie gradually overcame their natural re- 
 ferve, and diffipated their timidity ; and fome 
 of that nation who, from the time of their 
 crofllng the channel, had never dined but with 
 a club of their own countrymen, and had never 
 gone twice to any other aiTembly at Naples, 
 were infenfibly prevailed upon to attend thofe 
 of Signora Sporza, and at length they went 
 with pleafure inftcad of relu<ftance. 
 
 At her aflembly one evening, Signora Sporza 
 perceived the i'ame party forining with which 
 Mr. Squander had loft lb much money. " Why 
 do you not advife your countryman," faid fhe, in 
 a whifpcr to Mr. N , " to avoid thefe peo- 
 ple, tbey will pillage him of all his money." 
 
 <• Becaufe," replied Mr. N , *' my coun- 
 tryman hates advice more than he loves monev." 
 
 *' You Engliftimen," refumed flie, ♦' per- 
 haps confider advice as an encroachment on that 
 hberty you are i'o fond of.'' 
 
 <« Certainly,'*
 
 144 Z E L U C O. 
 
 " Certainly," faid Mr. N , fmiling-, 
 
 ** the Cherokees, and other refined nations in 
 America, think in the fame manner." 
 
 ** Will you not try then to keep him out of 
 thofe people's hands ?" faid fhe. 
 
 " I fhould try in vain," faid Mr. N ; 
 
 *' but if you pleafe to draw him off to a fafer 
 party, whatever he may wifli, he is too awkward, 
 and will be too much embarraffed, when a lady 
 fpeaks to him, to be able to excufe himfelf." 
 
 «' Bafta !" cried (he, and immediately ac- 
 cofting Squander ; " we have need of you here, 
 .Signor," laid iht; and lb flie engaged him for 
 the evening v/ith a party who played at a very 
 fmall ftake. 
 
 Signora Sporza thus ufing all her addrefs to 
 prevent deep play at her alTemblies, and to fave 
 the unwary from being preyed upon, the game- 
 fters gradually paid her lefs attention, and at lall: 
 entirely forfook her houfe, for that of another 
 lady with whom Signora Sporza was on ill terms, 
 and who, out of mere Ipite, eftablilhed an al- 
 fembly at her own houfe on the evenings which 
 Signora Sporza had fixed upon. 
 
 Zeluco, although he now pofleffed far more 
 wealth than he could enjoy, required the agi- 
 tation of gaming to ward off tlie intolerable lan- 
 guor which is apt to invade unoccupied minds, 
 and alfo to preclude reflection, or retrofpetSt on 
 paft conduct, which in him was always attended 
 with fclf-condemnation. He therefore became 
 a conftant attendant at the rival affembly, and a 
 confiderable time had paffed fince he had waited 
 on Signora Sporza, when he obferved her one 
 evening at the opera, accompanied by two ladies, 
 
 neither
 
 Z E L U C O. 145 
 
 neither of whom he had ever before feen. The 
 elder a genteel-looking woman, between forty 
 and fifty years of age ; — the other about twenty : 
 he gazed on the latter, and thought her by far 
 the moft beautiful woman he had ever beheld ; 
 the longer he looked he was the more confn-nied 
 in that opinion : he now regretted the coldnefs 
 fubfilling between him and 8ignora Sporza, aijd 
 refolved to ufe all means for removing it, as 
 the moft eafy way of being introduced to the 
 lady whom lie fo much admired. Impatient as 
 he was to addrefs Signora Sporza, he hefitated 
 about doing it that night, left fhe Ihould im- 
 pute it to the real caufe. A glance from the 
 young lady brought him at once to decifion ; 
 he could no longer command his impatience, 
 but leaving Signora Sporza to put what con- 
 ftrucbion Ihe pleafed on his behaviour, he fud- 
 denly darted from his own box, and entered 
 that in which flie and the two ftrangers were. 
 With eagernel's, and in the moft obfequious 
 language, he apologized to the former for not 
 having paid his duty to her of late, imputed it to 
 indil'penfiible bulinefs, and begged to be per- 
 mitted that honour the next morning, alleging 
 he had fomethingof importance to acquaint her 
 with. Having finilhed his apology, he bowed 
 very refpecftfully to the ftrangers, and then 
 looked with fignificance at Signora Sporza, who 
 heard him with the referve of offended pride, 
 taking no notice of his fignificant look., but af- 
 ter a grave bend of her head, refumed her con- 
 verfation with the ftrangers as if no other per- 
 fon had been in the box. In fpite of this very 
 cool reception, Zeluco kept his place in the box, 
 and his eyes almoft conftantly rivetted on the 
 Vol. I. H young
 
 146' Z E L U C O. 
 
 young lady till the opera was finlflied, and then 
 attended them to their carriage ; after which he 
 went home and ruminated all the refl of the 
 night on the charms of the fair (Iranger. 
 
 He waited next morning on Signora Sporza, 
 who had not been an inattentive fpeftator of the 
 impreflion which her young friend's beauty had 
 made on Zeluco ; fhe allowed him with the 
 moft cruel tranquillity to go througli the cere- 
 mony of explaining his pretended aff^iir of im- 
 portance, without interrupting him, or ailift- 
 ing him in his way to the real bulinefs which 
 {he well knew was the objeifl of his vifit. 
 
 She heard him without Teeming to take any 
 iotereft in what he faid ; — the important affair 
 did not draw from her a ilngle ohfervation ; he 
 was (b much difconcerted by the coldnefs of her 
 behaviour, that he was unable to introduce any 
 difcourje regarding the ilrangers. He wi(hed 
 to do this in an iudiredl manner, as a thing in 
 which he took little conceru, and wailed for a 
 favourable opportunity. 
 
 •* Do you know," faid Signora Sporza, in- 
 terrupting the filencc, " how many birds his 
 majefty killed yefterday ? 1 heard he went early 
 a /hooting." 
 
 ** j4-propos" replied Zeluco ; *' Pray, Signo- 
 ra, who is that lady I had the honour of feeing 
 with you yeftenlay at the opera ?" 
 
 «t Very a-propcs indeed," laid fhc ; •< may I 
 aflc which lady you mean ; there were two in 
 the box with me lart night." 
 
 «• Two !" cried Zeluco : *' O yes; I now re- 
 colletft there were two ; — but 1 mean — I mean 
 the ehln:" 
 
 »' She
 
 Z E L U C O. 147 
 
 ** She is a very near relation of mine," replied 
 flue, fupprefllng a finile ; and then turned the 
 converfation to a difFerent fubjeifl, which, with 
 the awkward manner in which he had introduced 
 his favourite topic, increafed his embarralTment. 
 Yet before he took his leave, be recovered his 
 prefence of mind fo far as to let a china fnuff- 
 box he had taken off the table, fall on the hearth, 
 where it inftantly fhivered in pieces. After 
 making becoming apologies, he took his leave, 
 and the fame day fent a gold fnuff-box, enrich- 
 ed with diamonds, with a letter to Signora 
 Sporza, intreating her to accept of the one as 
 an atonement for having deftroyed the other. 
 
 C H A p. XXV. 
 
 Digna minus mifero, r.on mcliorc viro. Ovid. 
 
 OOME few days after thi?, Zcluco again 
 waited on Signora Sporza. She received him 
 with more franknefs than at his laft vifit ; he 
 imputed this to the benign influence of the 
 Inuft-box: as foon as he was leated Ihe whifper- 
 ed her maid, who inftantly withdrev/. 
 
 They talked for a while on the common inci- 
 dents of the place •, of a new finger that was ex- 
 pelled ; of a violent explofion which had hap- 
 pened the preceding night from Mount \''efuvi- 
 us ; of the queen's havingfeemed out of humour 
 at the laft gala ; of a man who had fbabbed his 
 rival in the ftreet at mid-day, and then had taken 
 refuge in a church ; of a religious proceflion 
 H 2 that
 
 148 Z E L U C O. 
 
 that was to take place next morning, and of a 
 ball in the evening. 
 
 Zeluco endeavoured ro turn the converfation 
 from thofe topics, fo uS that it might feem to 
 fall undefignedly on that which was the objeft 
 of his villt. Signora Spcrza obferving this faid, 
 *' I will give you the hiftory of the ladies by 
 and by, Signor; but I expect two people ini- 
 "mediately, to whom you have rendered a mod: 
 efiential fervice •, and you muft permit them to 
 thank yon in the firft place." 
 
 He could not pollibly comprehend her mean- 
 ing : but foon after the maid introduced a very 
 haudfome young woman, plainly dreiTed, with 
 a child in her arms, followed by a genteel look- 
 ing man, who feemed to be a tradcfman, and a 
 fev/ years older than the woman. 
 
 Zeluco was greatly lurprifed at their appear- 
 ance. 
 
 ** This is your benef.i(n:or, Camillo," faid 
 Signora Sporza, addrefling herfelf to the man, 
 « the generous perfon who enabled me to free 
 you from prifon." 
 
 *' I am greatly indebted to you, Signor," faid 
 the man, in a moft refpc«5tful yet manly man- 
 ner ; *• and although 1 do not abfolutely defpair 
 of being one day enabled to repay what you have 
 fo humanely advanced to liberate me, yet I fhall 
 never be free from the ftrong I'enfe of obligation 
 1 feel towards you." 
 
 ** Ah, Signor !" cried the woman, unable 
 to contain herfelf, •' you do not know what a 
 worthy and noble-hearted man you have reliev- 
 ed ; you do not know the extent of the blefled 
 deed you have done ; you have preferved my 
 fweet infants from death •, you have ranibmed 
 
 my
 
 Z £ L U C O. 149 
 
 my beloved hun)3nil from prifon, and you have 
 faved my poor brain from madnefs. O, Signor ! 
 
 had you but feen " Here the tears ob- 
 
 icured her fight j the recoUediion of her huf- 
 band's condition wlien in prifon, witii the keen 
 fenfations of gratitude, fbpprelfed her voice; — 
 fhe was ready to faint ;— her hufband fnatched 
 the child from her arms, and the poor woman 
 funk down on a chair, which Signora Sporza 
 fuddenly placed to receive her. 
 
 Camillo, with his child in one arm, fupport- 
 ed his wife with the other ; while Signora Spor- 
 za chafed her temples with aromatic fpirits. — 
 ** Margbcrita will be well immediately, Camil- 
 lo," faid Signora Sporza ; '' fee, fhe recovers 
 already." — ♦< Thank Heaven," cried Camillo 
 with fervour ; then begged leave to condnft his 
 wife home. Signora Sporza attended her with 
 Camillo and the children into another room, or- 
 dered them fome refrefliment, and defired they 
 might not leave the houfe till Ihs came back. 
 
 All this was as great a myflery ro Zelucn as it 
 is to the reader. — '< If I had iufpecled," faid 
 Signora Sporza to him, as (lie returned to the 
 room in which he had remained, «' that this 
 poor woman would have been fo n-juch affected, 
 I fliould have fpared you the fcene, which I will 
 now endeavour to explain : — I have known this 
 young woman from her childhood ; ihe was al- 
 ways the mod c!ieerful fweet-tempered creature 
 I ever knew. By my recommendation, on the 
 death of her mother, Ihe was taken into the 
 
 fervice of the Marchefa de B ; and in a 
 
 fliort time flie became her favourite maid. The 
 
 Marchefa is liberal, ^nd the girl was a* happy as 
 
 a maid could be whofe miftrefs has the misfor- 
 
 H 3 tune
 
 ICO Z E L U C O. 
 
 tune of being put out of humour every day as 
 icon as file rifes : the caufe of her ili-humour 
 xvus without remedy, and grew daily more in- 
 veterate -, it proceeded from her obi'erving more 
 grey hairs on her head, and more wrinkles in 
 Iter face every morning than ihe had feen the 
 •day before; but although her peevifhnei's was 
 diurnal, it did not laft long at a time, for Marg- 
 herUa powdered her hair with wonderful expe- 
 dition ; and as foon as her face was varnifhed, 
 and her toilet finifned, (he contemplated herfelf 
 Ja the mirror with complacency, recovered her 
 cheerfulnefs, and Margherita was happy for the 
 reft of the day. Meanwhile the man who has 
 jufc left us fell in love with her, and flie fell in 
 love with him ; and from that moment the 
 girl's mind was more occupied with Iier lover 
 than her miftrefs ; whofe head, after this inci- 
 dent, was neither fo cxpeditiouily nor fo neatly 
 dreiTed as formerly. When the Marchefa found 
 out the caufe of this alteration, fiic was very 
 much out of humour indeed, and told Marghe- 
 rita, that fhe muft either give up all communi- 
 cation with her lover or with her j — " fo you 
 will confider the difference between me and 
 him," continued flie, *' and then decide." 
 Margherita accordingly did confider the diffe- 
 rence ', and decided in favour of the man. 
 
 After leaving the Marchefa, flie paffed more of 
 her time than ever with her lover ; and their 
 mutual love increafed to a very alarming height. 
 Neither of them however ever thought of any 
 other remedy than marriage; and notwithftand- 
 ing the numbers who have found it a radical 
 cure for love, to this couple it has hitherto prov- 
 ed ineffectual ; in the opinion of the poor peo- 
 ple
 
 Z E L U C O. 151 
 
 pie themrelves, the difeafe rather gains ground, 
 although they have now been married two com- 
 plete years, and have two children. 
 
 '* The hulband, who was at fird: employed 
 in thecoarfe preparatory work for f,ulptors, has 
 h'mifelf become a tolerable artift •, he redoubled 
 his induftry as his family increafed, and favcd. 
 a little money. — Margherita on her part cheer- 
 ed him under his labour, by the moft a.ftlve at- 
 tention to family osconomy, by everlafting good- 
 humour, and undiminiflied afftclion. The 
 bloom and growing vigour of their children 
 was a fource of joyful foreboding to both. — It 
 was delightful to contemplate the happinefs of 
 this little family. I often called on Margherita, 
 purely to enjoy that happinefs •, health, content, 
 and mutual love refided under their humble 
 roof: obtaining with difEcuIty the fuperfluitics, 
 or even neceflaries of live, they tafied pleafure 
 with a reliOi unknown to thofe who have the 
 overflowing cup of enjoyment conftantly preffed 
 to their lips. The gloom of their poverty was 
 cheered by fome of the brighteft fti;rs of plea- 
 fure, and by the hope of permanent fun-fiilnc 
 But all this fair and ferene profpcfl was fudden- 
 ly obfcured by a terrible ftorm. The imprudent 
 hufband, impatient to become rapidly rich, was 
 perfuaded to raife all the little money which he 
 liad faved, to accept of a larger fum on credit, 
 and to lifk the whole in a commercial adven- 
 ture : — the whole was loft;— and the obdurate 
 creditor immediately feized on all the furniture 
 and efFecls of this tittle family, and threw Ca- 
 millo into jail. — Margherita, half-diflra<fled, 
 came and tokl me l\er ftoi y. It happened by a 
 foperabundance oi ill lurk thai I was very low 
 II 4 in
 
 152 Z E L U C O. 
 
 in cafh myfelf, and had overdrawn my. credit 
 with my banker ; I gave her what I had, but it 
 was not fufficient to procure her huiLand's liber- 
 ty, which happened to be what poor Margherita 
 was mofl; ioKtitous about. I begged of her to 
 call on me the following morning, determining 
 then to go in fearch of the neceiTary fum ; but 
 liefore 1 fet out, the fnuff-box, of wliich you 
 dcfired my acceptance, arrived : inflead of go- 
 ing to borrow money, Signor, which, if you 
 ever had the experience of it, you muft know 
 to be the moft difagreeable thing on earth, I 
 went and fold the fnuff-box, and in my opinion 
 to very great advantage ; for the Turn I received 
 has not only freed the poor fellow from prifon 
 ami re^Ieemed his efFcifts, but alfo makes him a 
 little richer than he was before his unfortunate 
 attempt in commerce. I informed the joyful 
 couple that I had received the money from you, 
 vhich in effe£l I did ; they know no more of 
 the matter j and now that you have heard the 
 whole, and have {een the family whom your 
 bounty has faved, I am convinced you will ap- 
 prove of what has been done," 
 
 Zeluco exprelTed great admiration of the be- 
 nevolence of Signora Sporza, but inlKled on 
 redeeming the Ihuff-box, atid refloring it to 
 Jicr. This fhe abfolutely refufed, faying, That 
 tlie circumftances wliich fhe had related formed 
 t!ie only conllderation which could liave prevail- 
 ed on her to accept of a prefent of that value ; 
 but fhe was willing to receive from him a fnufF- 
 box of the fame kind with that he had fo for- 
 tunately broken, which (he would wear as a me- 
 morial of that happy event. Zeluco, finding 
 her obftinate, was obliged to agree to this com- 
 promife of the matter. But
 
 Z E L U C O. 153 
 
 But although SIgnora Sporza had informed 
 him of all (lie knew, Zeluco himfelf knew cer- 
 tain particulars relative to this fame affair, that 
 he did not think proper to mention to Signora 
 Sporza i but which it is now necefiary to impart 
 to the reader. 
 
 It was already obfervcd, that Zeluco was 
 /greatly furprifed when Margherita was prefented 
 to him : he had, ho\vever, frequently feen her 
 before •, and this was one rc?.ibn of his being a 
 little confounded at her appearance at .Signora 
 bporza's j but on recolief\ing, that altliough he 
 knew her yet fhe did not know him, he reaf- 
 iumed his compofure. 
 
 In going to church, Margherita ufually had 
 palled the windows of Zeluco's apartment, and 
 he had often remarked her as /lie went arid re- 
 turned to and from mafs. 
 
 Being fomewhat captivated by her face and 
 perfon, he employed an agent to find cut where 
 ihe lived, and what ihe v/.is ; and afterwards 
 commiiuoned the iame perfon to engage her tp 
 meet a very honourable getithman, who was great- 
 ly captivated with her beauty, at a houfe appro- 
 priated for a rendezvous of this nature. Mar- 
 gherita rejcifted the olJers of the agent, baffled 
 the arts employed to feduce her, and >vouI<4 
 have nothing to do with the very hoi,iQm-^lp 
 gentleman. 
 
 This unexpe<^ed refinance increafcd Zeluco'.'; 
 ardour. His valet was accpuainted with the nunji 
 who had lent Camillo tiie money which the \m- 
 prudent fcilow had funk in the ill-jiulged co'ii- 
 mercial adventure. This .n"\an, v/ho thought 
 his money in httle or no danger when he iirit 
 advanced it, was now exceeding'y uneafy, and 
 had already begun to prcfs Camiilofor payment. 
 H 5 The
 
 154 Z E L U C O. 
 
 The valet acquainted Zeluco with thofe circum- 
 ftances, who inflrufted the valet to convince the 
 creditor, that it was vain for him to expert that 
 ever Camillo could pay the nnoney ; and that as 
 long as he was left at large, none of his friends 
 would think of advancing it for him ; but that 
 if he were thrown into prifon for the debt, 
 fome of his or his wife's friends would then cer- 
 tainly ftep forth for his relief. The man fcru- 
 pled to ufe fo violent an expedient ; but having 
 mentioned it to his wife, by whom Margherita 
 was envied on account of her fuperior beauty, 
 and hated on account of her unblemiftied cha- 
 racter, fhe prelTed her hufband to adopt this 
 harlh expedient, as the only means of recover- 
 ing his money. The creditor, however, lliil 
 hefitated, till the valet alTured him, under the 
 obligation of an oath of fecrecy, that he knew 
 a perfon who would advance a fum fufficient to 
 pay all Camillo's debts, rather than allow him to 
 remain long in prilbn ; and he became bound 
 himfelf to do this if Camillo v/as not releafed 
 by the other within a month. 
 
 Zeluco, who took care not to appear in all 
 this infamous tranfa<ition, imagined, that when 
 Margherita was once feparatcd from her huf- 
 band, and humbled by dillrcfs, ihe would then 
 liften to the fecret propofals he intended to re>- 
 new through his former agent. 
 
 The creditor having given orders to his attor- 
 ney to proceed to ex-iremities againft Camilla, 
 went himfelf to the country, that he might 
 avoid a fcene which his heart was not hard 
 enough to fupport. liut his orders were ex- 
 ecuted very punt^tually on the very day in which 
 Zeluco was lo much ftiuck with the beauty of 
 the young lady at the opera, bhe had engrofl'ed 
 
 his
 
 Z E L U C O. 155 
 
 his mind fo entirely, tliat from that moment he 
 never once thought of Margherita, till he law 
 her introduced with her hulband at Signora 
 Spor7,a's, and found that the prefenthe had fent 
 to that lady with a very difi'erent view, had been 
 the means of relieving a family brought to liic 
 brink of ruin by his inlidious arts. 
 
 — » »> »»&tj^«<*' - ' — 
 
 C H A P. XXVI. 
 
 On aime a deviner les autres, muis on n';iirie pas a efie 
 devine. RocHiiFoucAii^T. 
 
 W-. H A T E V E R Hiame or compunaion Ze~ 
 luco felt on receiving praifes he fo little deferved, 
 for conferring benefits vrhich he never intended, 
 he certainly fupported the charr,(^cr he liad to 
 aft with great alTurancc- 
 
 After the compromife already mentioned, 
 Signora Sporza gave him the following account 
 of the ladies whofe hiftory he was fo impatient 
 to know. The elder, fhe faid, was her coufin- 
 german, and widow of Colonel Sedlits, an of- 
 ticer lately deccnfed in tlie king of I'rufiia's fcr- 
 vice. 8he was a Neapolitan by birth, who find- 
 ing it diiagreeable after her hufband's death to 
 remain at Berlin, whrre ihe could not atford to 
 live in the fame Uyle (he had formerly done, had 
 lately returned to her native country, with her 
 daughter Laura ; that flie inherited from her 
 father a Ini.iil etlate in theCampagna Felice, and 
 her inclination for reiT;oving from Berlin to 
 Naples had been flrengthtned by the hopes of 
 making good a claim ihe had in r'ght of an 
 
 unclej
 
 156 Z E L U C O. 
 
 uncle, which, although of no great value in 
 itfelf, was of great importance to her in her 
 vei-y circumfcribed circumftances ; and which, 
 however juft, did not the lefs depend on the 
 favour of the nainifter. 
 
 Zeluco exprelTed much concern that two 
 ladies of their merit fhould labour under diffi- 
 culties, adding, that on account of their con- 
 ne<Stion with her, he fliould think himfelf very 
 happy in having it in his power to be of I'ervice 
 to them. 
 
 Signora Sporza penetrated into the motive of 
 Zeluco's proffered I'ervices -, but {he alfo knew 
 that he was on an intimate footing with the mi- 
 nifter, and might be of eflential fervice to her 
 coulin in the afl'air of her claim, the deciilon of 
 >vhich had been hitherto protracted on the moft 
 frivolous pretexts in the molt litigious manner. 
 It muft be confeffed, that, in the warmth of 
 Signora Sporza's zeal to I'erve her friends, fhe 
 was often rcgardlefs of the motive from which 
 thofc who ferved them atSted : could (lie have in- 
 tluced Zeluco to ferve Madam de Seidlits from 
 pure and honourable motives, no dovibt fhe 
 would have preferred it ; but that not being in 
 her power, flie thought the next b>;ft was to 
 lecure the fame effedt whatever produced it. 
 After thanking Zeluco therefore for his obliging 
 offer, Ihe added, That if he would do her the 
 pleafure of calling in the evening, flie would 
 prefent him to her two relations ; and that 
 Jvladam de Seidlits would heifelf explain to him 
 the grounds of her claim. 
 
 Being introduced accordingly to the two ladies 
 as a friend of Signora Sporza, he became intox- 
 icated v/i;h the ekgant fweetaels of Laura's 
 
 manner,
 
 Z E L U C O. 157 
 
 manner, which he found equal to her beauty, 
 and liftened with much Teeming attention and 
 apparent folicitude to the hiftory of her mother's 
 fuit, exprefling great zeal to ferve her on that 
 or any ether occafion. 
 
 The nobleman with whom Zeluco came to 
 Naples had confiderable influence with the mi- 
 nifter : Zeluco himfelf had more ; both were 
 employed in giving him a favourable idea of 
 Madame de SeidUts's cafe, or rather in infpiring 
 him with a defire of promoting it, independent 
 of the right on which it was founded. It is 
 probable that Zeluco was thinking on fomething 
 clfe during that part of Madame de Seidiits's 
 narrative, for the foundation of her claim was 
 what he was unable to explain, but it was alfo 
 what the minifter fliewed no anxiety to under- 
 Hand. Soon after, however, he publicly hint- 
 ed, that having taken much pains to get a clear 
 idea of Madame de Seidiits's claim, he was led 
 to believe that the judges would decide in her 
 favour. As the miniftcr's prophecies of this 
 kind were generally accompliflieJ, Madame de 
 Seidlits v/as congratulated on this happy omen, 
 as if fhe had already gained her caufe •, and fhe 
 imputed this fair prolpcift to the intcrpolition of 
 Zeluco. 
 
 From this time he had frequent opportunities 
 of feeing and converfmg with Laura, and he 
 cxliaufted all his power of infinuation to ingra- 
 tiate himfelt into her good opinion, but without 
 fuccefs. This young lady had more penetration 
 into character, and a far juller way of thinking 
 than any of her fex with whom he had hither- 
 to been acquainted ; the fame arts which had 
 rendered him agreeable to many of them, had a 
 
 contrary
 
 158 Z E L U C O. 
 
 contrary effect on her : fhe was not pleafed 
 when (lie obferved, that, as often as he found 
 her alone, his converfation was much interfperfed 
 with compliments on her beauty. She had been 
 Sufficiently accuftomed to fvveeteners of thi'; 
 kind, not to value them above their worth ; and 
 fhe had remarked, that they proceeded as often 
 from a contempt of the underfhmding as from 
 an admiration of the beauty of the perfon to 
 whom they were aJdrelTed. But whatever 
 doubts Laura might have of Zeluco's lincerity 
 when he exprefl'ed a high opinion of her merit, 
 there was fomething in his air and manner which 
 convinced her he had a very high opinion of his 
 own. In this, however, Laura was in fome de- 
 gree miftaken ; for notwithl^anding the lofcinels 
 of his manner, Zeluco's felf-conceit was con- 
 fined to his external figure, to his addrefs, and 
 his natural talents ; he was confcious of having 
 negle(fted the opportunities of improvement, 
 and lamented the want of certain accomplilh- 
 xnents which he with envy faw others poffefs ; 
 for with whatever plaufible varnifh he concealed 
 his foibles or vices from the fight of others, he 
 found it impoffible to hide them from his own ; 
 fo that when flattery poured the honey of adula- 
 tion into his cup, the unconquerable power of 
 coniciencc often turned it into gall, and ren- 
 dered hiin unable to f\v.illow the naui'eous 
 draught ; yet by a fingular effedl of felriih ca- 
 price, though fenfible of his own failings and 
 vices, he detefted all whom he fufpected of 
 having fufBcient penetration to fee into his real 
 character, and of harbouring the fame ienti- 
 niL-nts with himfLlf. He could lupport the com- 
 pany of thofe only upon whofc unUeritandings 
 
 he
 
 Z E L U C O. 159 
 
 he inagined he impofed, by giving them a 
 much better idea of his character than it de- 
 ferved. This accounts for his conftant prefer- 
 ence of ignorant fociety, and for the gloom and 
 diiTatisfadion which attended him as often as 
 he was not engaged in fuch purfuits as bury 
 thought and kill reflexion. Yet this diffatisfied 
 milerable man, on whofe mind repentance and 
 remorfe were often obtruding themfelves, was, 
 on account of his wealth and the fplendid ftyle 
 in which he Hved, confidered by many as re- 
 markably fortunate and happy. 
 
 We are never more apt to be miftaken than 
 in our eftimate of the happinefs of grandeur, 
 'ihe grove overlooking the precipice has a fine 
 efiedt at a diftance ; we admire the fublimity of 
 its Ctuation, and the brightnefs of its verdure 
 when gilded by the rays of the fun ; we grudge 
 no labour in icrambling up to this feat of plea- 
 fure, which, when attained, we often find cold 
 and comfortlefs, overgrown with mofs, pierced 
 by the winds of e-veiy quarter, and hr lefs 
 genial than the flieltertd bank from whence we 
 iet out. In like manner many men, who are 
 viewed with admiration and envy at a diftance, 
 become the object of pity or contempt when 
 nearly approached. Of this we may be moft 
 afiiired, that all the decorations of rank and the 
 fmiles of fortune cannot prevent the intrufions 
 of remorfe and lelf-contlemnation upon a mind 
 fenfible of having abufed talents, and neglected 
 through life the opportunities of improvement ; 
 farlcis can they convey happinefs, or even tran- 
 quillity, to one coni'cious of perfidy, cruelty, 
 and ingratitude. But Laura did not at this time 
 know that the peace of Ztluco's mind was dif- 
 
 turbed
 
 i6o Z E L U C O. 
 
 turbed by intruders of this nature ; and the vain 
 fatisfafbion which he frequently enjoyed from 
 the contemplation of his face and figure, fhe 
 imagined extended to his whole charadler, and 
 rendered him, in her opinion, by much too well 
 fatisfied with himfelf. 
 
 However profufe of panegyric Zeluco was, as 
 often as he happened to find Laura by herfelf, 
 yet he always ftopt fliort, and abruptly changed 
 the tenor of his difcourfe when her mother 
 joined them. 
 
 This did not efcape the obfervation of Laura j 
 and one day on his making this fudden tranfition 
 as JMadame de Seidlits entered the room, Laura 
 faid to him gravely, ♦' There is no need, Signor 
 for you to fly from the fubjec^ on which you 
 have dwelt fo long ; I do alVure you, the praifcs 
 of my beauty are to the full as agreeable to my 
 mother as they are to myfelf." 
 
 At this uncxpefted remark, Zeluco's coun- 
 tenance iuddenly difplayed ftrong mirks of dif- 
 pleafure, and even rage ; but recollecting him- 
 lelf, he inftantly fmoothed it over with the 
 fmile of good-humour ; and having bowed, and 
 enquired after the health of Madame de Seidlits, 
 he turned to Laura, faying, " 1 ily not from the 
 fubjefl. Madam ; the praife of your good quali- 
 ties is the moft delightful of all fubjedts to me ; 
 but a fudden thought Aruck me immediately 
 before your mother entered the room." 
 
 •• A iudden thought fcenicd to ftrike you 
 alfo nfier l]ie entered," faid Laura, «* if one may 
 judge from the alterations in your countenance." 
 
 " I know nothing of my countenance," faid 
 Zeluco, with a carelels air ; " but I have great 
 fjitisfadion at my heart ia informing you, 
 
 I'.l.dam,"
 
 Z E L U C O. i6i 
 
 Madam," continued he, and turning to Madame 
 tie Seidlits, " that your claim is admitted to its 
 fuilefl: extent, of which you will have more for- 
 mal notice this very day from the court." 
 
 Madame de Seidlits exprefled a ("Irong fenfe 
 of obligation to Zeluco, imputing her fucccls to 
 his influence and exertions ; he on his part af- 
 fected to place it wholly to the juftice of her 
 caufe ; exprefiing aftonifliment, however, at its 
 having been delayed fo very long, and with an 
 oftentatious air of modefty difclaiming any kind 
 of merit from his poor feeble efforts. 
 
 When Zeluco withdrew, Madame de Seidlits 
 fpoke of him with all the partiality of gratitude. 
 J. aura aflented with coolnefs and moderation ; 
 fhe had obferved fomething in his looks and 
 conduct which difpleafed her, and conveyed 
 fome faint fufpicion of his motiveSt Madame 
 de Seidlits did not refine on looks or language ; 
 fhe founded her idea of Zeluco's general cha- 
 racHicr on the perfonal obligation fhe lay under 
 to him. On occafions of this nature the mother 
 is generally more prone to be fnfpicious than the 
 daughter; in this particular in'.tance it was 
 othervvife: Laura had as much fenfibihty to the 
 fentiment of gratitude as her mother; but hav- 
 ing doubts relpedting Zeluco's difpolition and 
 motives, fhe would have been more pleafed if 
 the favour had come from another hand. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 i62 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XXVII. 
 
 La phjticgnomle n'cft pas une regie qui rousfoitdonnte pour 
 jjger des hoinnes; die nous pcut fervir de coiijedure. 
 
 La Bk u y £it£. 
 
 M 
 
 '^-L A D AME DE Set DL ITS felt great fatis- 
 failion in the thoughts of her having at length 
 obtained juftice ; and the good and friendly 
 chara(Si:er of Zeluco was the frequent theme of 
 her panegyric. When fhe way dwelling one day 
 on this favourite topic, << It is unfortunate," 
 faid Laura, " that the exprelhon of his counte- 
 nance correfponds fo ill with the qualities of his 
 heart." 
 
 •* I do not know what you mean, my dear," 
 faid the mother •, " few men are fo handfonie 
 assignor Zeluco." 
 
 '• It is, I believe, generally thought fo," fiiJ 
 Ltura ; '* but I confel's 1 am not of the general 
 opinion." 
 
 '« No ! that a little furprifes me." 
 ** When I fpeak of the cxpreflion of the 
 countenance," refumed Laura, *' I mean fome- 
 thing different from beauty or nglinefs ; there 
 are many men whom I think plainer than Signor 
 Zeluco, whofe countenance has nothing of that 
 expreflion, which 1 think rather dilagreeable in 
 his." 
 
 «' Am I to undcrfland, child," faid Madame 
 de Seidlits, fmiling, <* that a man may be too 
 handfome to be agreeable to you r" 
 
 " You
 
 Z E C U C O. 163 
 
 *' Ycu would laugh at me if I faid fo," replied 
 Laura; •' yet if a man feeins too feiible of his 
 being handfome, you mull admit that he is the 
 lels agrcc;\ble on that account." 
 
 ♦♦ When a man happ^^ns to be handlonie," 
 replied Madanie de Sciulits, ** people are apt to 
 conclude, without any other reafon, that he is 
 vain of his looks." 
 
 •* I am not, however, fo unjufl," faid Laura ; 
 *' for example, I agree with the general opinion 
 
 in thinking Mr. N , the EnglifJiman who 
 
 is fo often at our coufin's, very handfome ; yet 
 he is fo free from airs, and all appearance of 
 conceit, that it is impoflible to think him vain. 
 His features exprefs goodnefs of heart, but I 
 have feen features, which conildered feparately, 
 ieem as good, and yet the countenance on the 
 whole to which they belong conveys the idea of 
 the reverfe." 
 
 «' I do not admit," replied Madame de Seid- 
 lits, *' that this is the cafe with Signor Zeluco's.'* 
 
 «« Perhaps I am whimfical in this point," faid 
 Laura ; " but I am convinced a man may be 
 ill-looking, and yet give no idea of his being a 
 bad man. And with refpeft to Signor Zelu- 
 co, I do think that thofe who do not know from 
 experience that he is of good character, might 
 be aj)t tofulpedt iiimof a bad." 
 
 *' Nothing depends more on whim, or is 
 more uncertain, than the pretended art of phy- 
 liognomy," faid Madame de Seidlits. 
 
 " Yet it never fails to have fome influence oh 
 our opinion," replied Laura. 
 
 *« It ought not," replied Madame de Seidlits ; 
 ** it may miflead us greatly : Did you ever, for 
 example, behold a more lovely face than that of 
 
 the
 
 i64 Z E L U C O. 
 
 the wretched woman we faw tlie other night at 
 tlie opera ? yet her profligate life is well known. 
 You may recoiled aifo, how very har/h and 
 unpleafanf. the countenance of your father's 
 friend Colonel SIciffen was ; yet there never 
 cxifted a worthier man. You ought therefore, 
 my dear Laura, to beware of imagining that 
 vice is conne^ed M'ith deformity, or virtue with 
 external beauty." 
 
 " I beg pardon, my dear Madam," replied 
 Laura, *« but I might ufe the two inftances you 
 have given in fupport of my argument; for the 
 opera woman you mention, in fpite of her 
 beauty, I fliould never have thought a perfon of 
 a virtuous dlfpoQtion ; and I always imagined I 
 faw benevolence {l:iining through the harlh fea- 
 tures of Colonel Sleiffen." 
 
 " I fufpea," replied Madame de Seidlits, 
 *' that a previous knowledge of their chara£l\;r 
 led your opinion in both cales, and I am fure 
 that candour and charity ought to prevenc our 
 fufpedling any perfon of being bad, till we have 
 reafon to believe fo from their condudi." 
 
 *' I do affure you, my dear mother,'' faid 
 Laura, *< rhat it always gives me pain to think 
 ill of any body, and it affords me llncere plea- 
 fure to find them better than I expelled." 
 
 *• Had you ever reafon to think ill of Signor 
 Zeluco ?" faid Madame de Seidlits, with fomc 
 emotion ; *' I remember you faid fomething 
 that feemed unpleafant to him as I entered." 
 
 <' Why, no — no," replied Laura, with a lit- 
 tle helitation ; " he was paying me a few com- 
 pliments, and flopped ihort as you entered. I 
 only hinted to him that I liked no converf.uion 
 when you were not prefent, that he judged 
 
 improper
 
 Z E L U C O. t6i 
 
 improper when you v/ere. But as to thinkings 
 
 ill of him, 1 have 1 have no reafon j — 
 
 we were talking of his looks." 
 
 " TZyv afford no reafon indeed," faid Madame 
 de Seidlits ; " I hope experience, my dear, will 
 teach you to judge of worth by fome more cer- 
 tain criterion than the features of the face." 
 
 " I hope it will, my deareft madam," replied 
 Laura, taking her mother's hand affectionately 
 in both hers, " and till then my opinions fhall 
 be directed by your judgment-, of this you may 
 reft affured, that nothing can ever influence mc 
 to think ill of thofe whoaxjou contifwe to think 
 well of." 
 
 CHAP, xxviir. 
 
 Ilia quidem primo nullos intelligit ignes. 
 
 Ovid. Metamorph. Lib. 9. 
 
 JL/ELXJ CO had been difconcerted, as has 
 been mentioned, and was a little piqued at the 
 manner in which Laura received the compli- 
 ments that he paid her, and what flie faid in his 
 hearing to her mother; but he was flill more 
 mortified to perceive the indifference which flie 
 difplayed towards him on all occafions, notwith- 
 ftanding his peculiar attention to her, and the 
 pains he took to gain her regard. Had Laura 
 been thoroughly acquainted with Zeluco's cha- 
 ra(fter, the diltafte fhe had to him would not 
 have been furprillng, but flie had not had fuf- 
 ficient opportunity of knowing him ; fhe faw 
 fomething in his manner indeed, and in the cx- 
 
 preflion
 
 165 Z E L U C O. 
 
 preflion of his countenance, ^vhich ftie did not 
 like, yet it miglic have been expected that tl\e 
 elegance of his perfon, and tiie iplendour of his 
 wealth, would have inclined her to get the bet- 
 ter of this prejudice, as perhaps they would, had 
 not her imagination been prepofTeilcd in a man- 
 ner which will appear fingular. 
 
 Laura's father had a Ton by a former mar- 
 riage, who was now a captain of dragoons in 
 the Prufiaan fervice. This gentleman's moft in- 
 timate friend was the Baron Carloftein, a man 
 of family and very conliderable fortune. They 
 ferved together under the gre.it Frederic, in the 
 fhort war concerning the Bavarian fucceffion. 
 
 After one unfortunate fkirmifh, a fmall de- 
 tachment which Carloftein commanded, formed 
 the rear of the retreating party, and defended a 
 particular poft with great obilinacy, that the 
 main body might have time to make good their 
 retreat ; as he was falling back at laft, his de- 
 tachruent was furrounded by a numerous party 
 of Auftrian Hufiars, and notwithftanding a very 
 fteady rellftance, would have been cut to pieces, 
 or made prilbners, had not Captain Seidlits, at 
 the head of a few dragoons, made a defperate 
 charge, by which the Hullars were difperfcd, 
 and Carloftein, with the furvivors of his de- 
 tachment, brought off. 
 
 This was the commencement of a very inti- 
 mate friendfliip between thefc two officers. At 
 the termination of the war. Captain Seidlits 
 prevailed on his friend to pais a few days at a little 
 villa belonging to his father, in the neighbour- 
 hood of Berlin; Laura was then a child betwef.n 
 ten and eleven years of age. She had often 
 heard her father, and other officers, mention 
 
 Carlortein
 
 Z E L U C O. 157 
 
 Carloftein as a young man of the greateft hopes ; 
 flic had heard many ladies talk of him as re- 
 markably genteel and amiable. Her brother 
 had written in terms of high admiration of Car- 
 loftein's conduct in the adlion above-mentioned, 
 and flie had heard his letters read to the com- 
 pany at her father's table. When Laura under- 
 itood, therefore, that the perfon whom fhe had 
 heard fo much applauded was coming to her fa- 
 ther's honle, Ihe expe^Tted to fee a hero. The 
 appearance and manners of Carloftein did not 
 belie her expeiSlation : during the fliort flay 
 which he made at the villa, he was treated by 
 Colonel Seidlits and his lady with that diilin- 
 guifhed hofpitality which it was natural they 
 fhould pay to a man of his character and rank, 
 the intimate friend of their fon. What Laura 
 had heard of this young ofhcer, the rcTpeft paid 
 him by her parents, the aiTcifllonate attachment 
 of her brother, his own figure and elegant man- 
 ners, tended to fire her fancy, and render him, 
 in her mind, the firfl of human beings. He 
 had received a wound with a fabre on one fide 
 of his brow, v.-hich reached beneath his temple; 
 the fear was covered with a flip of black plafter, 
 appearing peculiarly graceful in the child's eyes, 
 and a confirmation of the heroic character of 
 Carloftein. Colonel Seidlitb and his lady per- 
 ceived Laura's admiration of their gueit, and 
 were amufed with the earnefl manner in which 
 fhe fometimes looked at him, and the pleafed 
 attention with which fhe liftened when he (poke. 
 The Colonel one day obferved her examining 
 a print of Le Jirun's pi(5\ure of the family of 
 Darius ; — " What has caught your fancy here," 
 iaid he, coming behind and tapping her on the 
 
 fliouldtr.
 
 168 Z E L U C O. 
 
 fhoulder. The child imagined that fhe faw a 
 likenefs to Carloftein's in the countenance which 
 Le Brun gives to Alexander. — " Do you not 
 think," replied {he, " that this face/' pointing 
 to Hiepheflion, ** has a refemblance of my 
 brother ?" 
 
 The Colonel having looked attentively at the 
 print, and obferving the refemblance which 
 really had attrs.dled Laura's attention, fell a 
 laughing, and replied, *' No, my dear, I can- 
 not fay I do, — but I own I am fomewhat fur- 
 prifed that the refemblance between this face," 
 pointing to Alexander, *• and your friend Baron 
 Carloftein, feems entirely to have efcaped fo ac- 
 curate an obferver as you are." 
 
 The child feemed a little out of countenance, 
 and when Colonel Seidlits recounted the cir- 
 cumftance to his lady, he added, *' I fliould be 
 glad CO know at what age a young lady begins to 
 difguife her fcntiments ?" — " At the fame age 
 that young gentlemen begin to difguife theirs," 
 replied Madame de Seidlits, " when they fuf- 
 pe£l, from the behaviour of thofe around, that 
 there is fomething wrong or ridiculous in their 
 fentiments. We iirft taught Laura," continued 
 ihe, " to admire the Baron, and aftewards by 
 laughing at the child for the marks of admiration 
 which (he (hews, wc give her a notion that there 
 is fomerhing ridiculous in it, of courfe Ihe wifhes 
 to conceal what expofes her to raillery. A boy 
 would have done the fame." 
 
 ** I imagine not exa(rily in the fame way," 
 replied the Colonel. 
 
 Carioflein went foon after to his el^ate in a 
 diftant part of the Pruflian dominions ; he af- 
 terwards paft Ibme time in France j on his return 
 
 to
 
 Z E L U C O. 169 
 
 to his own country, his duty as a foldicr kept 
 him with his regiment, and he had never after 
 feen Laura, or thought of her more, than as an 
 agreeable child, the lifter of his friend. 
 
 The impreffion which he made oxi'her imagi- 
 nation was certainly flronger, and more perma- 
 nent ; although her parents confidered this par- 
 tiality of Laura's to Carloftein as 
 
 A violet in the youth of pritny nature, 
 Forward, not permanent ; fwcct, but not laAiing;, 
 The perfume and fuppliaiice of a minute*. 
 
 Laura herfelf endeavoured to conceal it to 
 prevent the raillery to which it expofed her ; 
 yet it had fome influence in making her reji;<Sl 
 the addrefles of more than one lover before Ihe 
 left Germany ; all of whom were thought ad- 
 vantageous matches, confidering the fmallnefs 
 of her fortune. She found them to fall lb far 
 beneath the accomplifhed Carloftein, that fhe 
 did not hefitate a moment. The fame impreffi- 
 on, though now confiderably weakened by time, 
 tended to make her view Zeluco with indifte- 
 rence, and often with diflike : fo much did he 
 fall below that model of which he ftill carried the 
 traces in her memory. In this preference, Lau- 
 ra proved that her judgment was not dire^ed by 
 external appearance, for in the general opinion, 
 Zeluco would have pafled for a handfomer man 
 than Carloftein. 
 
 * Shakefpeare. 
 
 Vol. L I CHAP.
 
 lyo Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XXIX. 
 
 Kon te4'enelopen difilcilem procis, 
 
 Tyrrhenus genuit parens. Horat. 
 
 JnL O W E V E R much Zeluco was mortified 
 and piqued at the indifference of Laura, his paf- 
 iion for her rather feemed to augment than to 
 cool. At the houfe where he liad the mod con- 
 venient opportunities of meeting with her was 
 that of Signora Sporza, he thought it indifpen- 
 iably necellary to keep that lady in conftant good 
 humour with him ; with this view he cukivated 
 her favour with the moft refpetflful afliduity. 
 He attempted in vain, however, to prevail on 
 her to accept of any prefent of value : flie always 
 declined his offers with good- humour, and gaiety, 
 faying, nobody in whom flie was particularly 
 interelted, was at that X\n\e\n pri/on for debt ; 
 but when any fuch cafe occurred, flie would ap-. 
 ply to him for a ring or fnuff-box proper fqr 
 their relief. Zeluco confidcred all this as mere 
 affeiftation and grimace, and was convinced that 
 Ihe would, in due time, unfold the particular, 
 mode in which fhe wilhed to be indemuiiled ; 
 for he took it for granted, that indemnified in 
 one fliape or other (he intended to be, for 
 whatever civility Ihe lliewed, or whatever trou- 
 ble flie took on his account. In the mean time, 
 he pl.iinly perceived that fhe would noi lloap to 
 be directly aflifling to his views on Laura. He 
 imagiixd ihe had come to arcfolution to obferve 
 
 a neutrality,
 
 Z E L U C O. 171 
 
 a neutrality, till fuchtime, at leaft, as fhe could 
 cxad a very large fubfidy for adting as an auxilia- 
 ry.— But in thefe conjedlures he had entirely 
 miflakcn the character of the lady. 
 
 Bred in a country where a very free fynem of 
 gallantry prevails, Signora Sporza certainly did 
 not view it in the light that a virtuous woman 
 ought. In her youti; fhe had been a coquette, 
 and flie retained fomething of that appearance 
 at an age when coquetry is lefs tolerable : which 
 gave a handle to her enemies to infinuate that 
 Ihe had carried matters beyond the point at 
 which fimple coquetry isfuppofed to fl'Op ; this, 
 however, they were never able to afcertain ; — 
 and as thcfe who were moft induftrinus to fpread 
 the infinuation were, -with better grounds, 
 thought to be in that predicament themfelves, 
 their malice had the lefs efiVt. Her conftant 
 good-humour, humane difpofition, and eafy 
 manners, rendered her highly agreeable to fo- 
 ciety in general ; and flie h?.d lived on the beft 
 terms with her hufband, undifturbed with jea- 
 loufy, notwithOanding his being an Italian. 
 
 Her talent for raillery (he managed with fucK 
 addrefs, as to retidcr it entertaining in general, 
 without being ofFcnfive in particular. JNIerc, 
 dull, downright fcandal, which had no obje.fc 
 but the gratification of malice, £lie deteAed, 
 and confidered the circulation of every ftory to 
 the difadvantage of others, as inexcufable even 
 although founded in truth. When a conneflion 
 of a particular kind fubfifled between two peo- 
 ple, of ditTerent fexes, nobody was more quick 
 than Signora Sporza in perceiving it ; yet flie 
 was never heard to give the leaft hint of her 
 knowledge or fufpicion of iuch an intrigue. If 
 I 2 the
 
 172 Z E L U C O. 
 
 the parties met openly at her aflemblies, fhe re- 
 ceived them with her ufual politenefs ; if either 
 of them made her acquainted with their intimacy, 
 
 :lhe would not fulTer them to vifit her afterwards. 
 She never would be the confident of a love in- 
 trigue ; becaufe acceflaries, fhe faid, were as 
 guilty as the principals, with far lefs temptation ; 
 befides, flie added, as the loving couple gene- 
 »ally quarrel afterwards, and fometimes go the 
 length of hating each other, part of this hatred 
 may extend to thofe who encouraged their con- 
 nection. 
 
 Another of this lady's maxims was, that no- 
 thing fhould ever be told concerning one friend 
 »jf another, particularly to a hufband of his wife, 
 or to a wife of her hufband, which would give 
 them pain to know. If what is told is falfe, all 
 the world agrees, that the tale-bearer has done 
 a very ill thing ; and if it happens to be true, 
 in Signora Sporza's opinion, a much worfe •, for 
 
 . a malicious falfehood, faid fhe, ceafes to do 
 barm when the truth comes to be known, but 
 the mifchief attending a malicious truth is more 
 durable. Jealoufy, whether well or ill founded, 
 llie conlldered as the greateft plague of fociety ; 
 a jealous hufband or wife flie thought the moft 
 odious of all odious animals, and as carefully to 
 be excluded from good company as mad people 
 or cut-throats. She had no icruple in declaring 
 that, in her opinion, the man was devoid of 
 principle who intrigued with any gentlewoman, 
 however willing fhe might be, before fuch gen- 
 tlewoman was provided with a hufband, or at 
 leart within a very fliort time of being fo : and 
 
 .fhe thought that man was very little better who 
 
 .did not take due precautions to prevent his in- 
 
 tercourfe
 
 Z E L U C O. 173 
 
 tercourfe with a woman of reputation from be- 
 coming public, even although the lady was mar- 
 ried. 
 
 As Signora Sporza had no favourable opinion 
 of Zeluco from her firft acquaintance with him, 
 and even ftrongly fufpefted the nature of his 
 views on Laura ; it will Teem extraordinary, 
 that (he did not communicate thefc fufpicions to 
 Laura, or to Madame de Seidlits, for both of 
 whom her efteem and afFe<5lion hourly increaf- 
 ed ; — the truth is, it was this very affcvftion that 
 prevented her. She expelled to make Zeluco's 
 attachment to Laura, and his influence with the 
 minifter, of fervice to her friends in other 
 fchemes which flie meditated for their benefit ; 
 but Hie faw plainly from the avowed principles 
 and undeviating conducSl of both the mother and 
 daughter, that on the flighteft idea of his views 
 on Laura, they V7ould renounce all connection. 
 %vith Zeluco, and fpurn at every advantage that 
 could attend it. Having a very high opinion, 
 therefore, of I^auru's prudence, on which ihe 
 relied much, and believing in her averfion to 
 the mm, on which fhe relied more, fJie per- 
 mitted him quietly to proceed in his fcheme, 
 convinced however that he would be fuccefiful 
 only in promoting hers. 
 
 There certainly was little delicacy in Signor.i 
 Sporza's way of thinking on this, and Ibmft 
 other fubje£ls ; and as Ihe was of a friendly be- 
 nevolent dil'pofition, and poflefied fome exccU 
 lent qualities, it is to be regretted that they were 
 intermingled with any of bafer alloy. 
 
 Our only reafon for defcribing men and wo- 
 men as animals of heterogeneous compoiition, 
 made up of bad as well as good materials, is, 
 I i tl^t
 
 174 Z E L U C O. 
 
 that we have hitherto always found them fo ; 
 but we fliall be happy to' dehneale uniform and 
 perfect -char^cflers as foon ^s we have the good 
 toriune to meet their prototypes in nature. 
 'Iht-re is room tO fear, hmveter, that they are 
 as difikuk to find as they would be agreeable 
 and eafy to defcribe ; and that the rsce of thofe 
 pcrfe^ beings incapable of weaknefs, and invul- 
 nerable to vice, who are ever armed at all paints, 
 and cafed in virtues as the knights of chivalry 
 were in mail, has Intirely failed, as well as that 
 of thofe tremendous giants, void of every vir- 
 tue, and replete with every vice, who lived in 
 the fame ages j till tliefe oppolite extremes, 
 men entirely good or completely wicked appear 
 sgain, we mull be contented with that medio- 
 crity of charaifler which prevails, and draw 
 mankiml as we find them, the bell fubjoct to 
 weaknellcs, the worll imbued with fome good 
 <}uality. 
 
 In a charafler, fuch as that of the pcrfon 
 whole floiy we have the unplealant talk of re- 
 cording, there are, perhaps, fewer good qualities 
 than in any other, becaufe the bails of Zeluco's 
 character w;as cruelty, at lealt a total difregard 
 10 the ftelings of his fellow-creatures, when any 
 intereft cr gratitication of h's own was in quci- 
 ticn. 
 
 This difpolltion of the mind, we conceive, 
 admits of fewer good qualities, and is conne<fl;cd 
 with a greater number of bad than any other of 
 vvhicli human nature is fufccptible. — Montaigne, 
 intleed, has fiid, •' N,tlurc a ( ce crains-je J, elle 
 vieinc a!tiii he ?i I'hcwiue quelque injlwcl a l^inhunia' 
 tii'/c- *." But it ii to be hoped, that the inftin^ 
 
 he 
 
 • FfTais Jc Mo;itaigno, livrc 1 1. chap. ii.
 
 Z E L U C O. 175 
 
 he mentions belongs only to devil?, and that a 
 dijtnterejled pleafure in the fufferings of others 
 exifts not even in the moft wicked of human 
 breafts. It is fufTiciently deplorable, that any 
 of mankind are capable of purfuing what they 
 confider as their own intereft, and fometimes 
 intereft of a very frivolous nature, at the cx- 
 pence of extreme mifery to their fellow-crea- 
 tures. The proofs, however, of this degree of 
 cruelty need not be drawn from the ftories of 
 'giants, and records of chivalry ; they are fre- 
 quently found in more authentic hiftcry, and 
 may be adduced from the conducl of too many 
 of the heroeJs and great men of antiquity; not 
 to mention the great men of our own days, 
 whofe fentiments and condu<fl, however different 
 from thofe of the former in every other refpecl, 
 have a wonderful refemblance to their predecef- 
 fors, in this article of infenfibillty and difre^ard 
 ©f the mifery of others. 
 
 CHAP. XXX. 
 
 A perjidious Attctnpt. 
 
 XJL S Zcluco row found mere frequent oppor- 
 tunities than ever of being in company with 
 Laura, he continued his afnduities with increas- 
 ed zeal, and ftrove by every means of infinu- 
 ation with which he was acquainted to gam her 
 good opinion ; but with all the pains he took 
 and the art he ufed, her behaviour to him never 
 exceeded the bounds of common polltenefs, 
 I 4. ' ?.nd
 
 176 Z E L U C O. 
 
 and fonietimes a kind of politenefs which favour- 
 ed a little of dillike. 
 
 Ahhough few men had lefs tendernefs than 
 ZeUico for the felf-love of others, none could 
 ftel more exquifitely when their own was wound- 
 ed ; he perceived Laura's indifference with in- 
 dignation, and would have endured it with dill 
 more impatience, had he not found a baifam to 
 alleviate the fmart in the very root from whence 
 it fprung. His vanity, while it made him feel 
 the indifference of Laura, perfuaded him that 
 fhe was deficient in penetration, and did not 
 relifh the graces with which he thought himfelf 
 adorned, as women of tafte ufually did. *' U 
 amciir propre" as Rochefoucault finely obferves, 
 ** empeche h'len que celtti que nous Jlaite foit fama'is 
 cehi'i qui itous fiatte le plus." It might be thought 
 that this mean opinion of Laura's tafte would 
 tend to diminifh the force of his attachment to 
 her; but we muft remember that Zeluco's love 
 was entirely fenfual; he thought Laura's face 
 the moil beautiful, and her perfon the moft pi- 
 quant, he had ever fcen. The qualities of her 
 mind he regarded not. 
 
 The attentive and complaifant manner in 
 which Madame de Seidlits always behaved to 
 him convinced him that he enjoyed her good 
 opinion ; l^e perceived alfo, that fhe had a tafte 
 for fliow and magnificence, and was a little out 
 of countenance fometimes on account of the 
 want of thofe fuperflulties which cuftom has 
 rendered almoft necelfaries in a certain rank of 
 life. On this weaknefs he founded an opinion, 
 that, with proper management, flie might be 
 gradually brougiit to wink at the conne«Slion he 
 wiflied to form with her daughter j a piece of 
 
 complaifance,
 
 Z E L U C O. 177 
 
 complaifance, however fliocking, which he had 
 already nift with in more than one inftaiice. 
 
 He relblved therefore to begin his horrid de- 
 iign by iixing an obligation of an important 
 narure on her, unknown both to her daughter 
 and Signora Sporza : he waited on her one fore- 
 noon, when he knew the other two ladies were 
 abroad ; and preluding what he had to purpoie 
 with many apologies, be faid, " I'hat the high 
 eCleem he had for her, and the lincere concern 
 he took in her intereft, had prompted him to 
 make ibme inquiry into her circumftances ; and 
 tliat he was much grieved to find they were fo ill 
 proportioned to her merit. As your hufband," 
 continued he, " belonged to another fervice, I 
 find it will be dilhcidt to have this remedied by 
 the bounty of this court ; but you will oblige 
 me infinitely (efpecially if you will agree to keep 
 it a fecret from every other perlijn without ex- 
 ception), by permitting me to be your banker 
 for an annual l"um,till fuch time at lead as your 
 own affairs are better arranged." 80 faying, 
 he prefented her with a note of very conlider- 
 able value. 
 
 The blood mounted into Madame de Seidlits's 
 face at this propolal, and fhe immediately re- 
 plied, with an air of furprife and difpleaiure, 
 That fixe was lorry he had taken the trouble of 
 miking an inquiry of fuch a nature j that he 
 had received an erroneous account of her aiiairs, 
 which were not in a fituation to juftify her in 
 accepting affiihnce of that kind from any per- 
 fon ; but more particularly from one with whom 
 fhe had no natural connection. She added, 
 That fixe fliould alVays have a proper i^tnk of 
 the obligation which, unexpeded and unfoUcit- 
 I 5 ed
 
 178 Z E L U C O. 
 
 cJ on her part, he had already conferred on 
 her •, but Ihe was determined to be exceedingly 
 cautious of permitting a load to be increal'ed 
 which (he had already felt too heavy for her to 
 bear without great unealinefs. Having faid this 
 llie withdrew, throwing fuch look at Zeluco 
 as his confcious heart interpreted into a fufpici- 
 on of his bale delign. He remained feme time 
 fixed to the ipot, and then returned to his own 
 houf'e in much difturbance of mind. 
 
 He was now convinced that he had made a 
 falle eftimate of the character of Madame de 
 Seidlits; that he had betrayed his fcheme on 
 her daughter, and dreaded that he fliould be 
 deprived of the pleafure of vlllting her any 
 more, without which he felt he could enjoy lit- 
 tle comfort or repofe. 
 
 After much reiletflion, and after forming and 
 rfje<Sting various plans to remove the effects of 
 this rafh Hep, and reinftate himfelf in the good 
 opinion of Madame de Seldlits, ho at length 
 ient her the following letter : 
 
 " I AM much afraid, my dear Madam, that 
 I have oliended your delicacy by my prop'^fal 
 this morning, which I am now convinced was 
 made in too abrupt a manner, owing to my 
 having received fome vexatious news of a do- 
 mefV:c nature, which will oblige me to embark 
 for INtcfl'na within a few days i having little ex- 
 pe«5laiion of returning to Naples, I graiped too 
 eagerly at the ]\appinefs of ferving a peribn I 
 fo highly cfleem, and whom there is reafon to 
 fear i Ihall never ice again. I hope you will 
 forgive my precipitate zccd -, for however juft 
 your rcalbns may be for rejecting the fatistadlion 
 
 aira^'d
 
 Z E L U C O. 179 
 
 aimeJ at, I hope you will never havs any for 
 denying Ibnie fliare of your regard to lum who 
 is, with the highell eReem, and the warmeft 
 prayers for your happinef^, 
 «' Madam, 
 " Your moft obedient, 
 
 " And moft humble fervant, 
 
 Zeluco.'* 
 
 Akhough Madame de Seidlits's pride had 
 been alarmed by Zeluco's propofal, fhe had no 
 fufpicion that it was diftated by any bafe mo- 
 tive ; and therefore fhe was not without uneafi- 
 nefs even before receiving this letter, left flic 
 had behaved with too much loftinefs to a well- 
 meaning and friendly man. She becarne entire- 
 ly of this opinion the moment fhe perufed the 
 letter ; her candid mind was filled with remorf'e 
 for her own behaviour, and forrow for his 
 threatened departure. 
 
 She directly fent him a letter, apologizing for . 
 her behaviour, and entreated him not to leavfi 
 Naples without feeing her once more. 
 
 - «->*»»»$:^^<«« « — 
 
 CHAP. XXXf. 
 
 — Tamen aJ mores natura rccurrit 
 Damnatos, fixa et mutari ncl'cia. — 
 
 Ju V. Sat. xiii. 139. 
 
 W HEN Signora Sporza and I.aura returned 
 from their airing, Madame de Seidiits informed 
 them, that Zeluco had paid her a vifit, and that 
 he intended to leave Naples. Slie mentioned 
 this in fuch a manner tjhat they naturally thought 
 
 the
 
 i8o Z E L U C O. 
 
 the fole defign of his vifit had been to acquaint 
 her with his fudden departure ; this fhe did to 
 prevent any inquiry concerning the real motive 
 of his villt, which, in compliance with Zeluco's 
 requeft, flie intended to conceal. 
 
 bignora Sporza was greatly lurprifed at Zelu- 
 co's fudden refolution ; it appeared unaccountable 
 to her, who was convinced his affe£lions cen- 
 tered at Naples, and did not believe that any 
 bullnefs would appear of fuificient importance 
 in the eyes of a man of his character and for- 
 tune, to drav? him from the place where his af- 
 le<flions were fixed. 
 
 Laura was uneafy becaufe fhe faw her mother 
 f b ; for independent of that circumilance, flie 
 would have been picafed with the departure of 
 ji man whofe company was dilagreeable to her. 
 
 The reader needs not be informed that Zelu- 
 co had no intention of leaving Naples, and that 
 ihe ftory of vexatious news, which obliged him 
 to embark for Sicily, was an invention, calcu- 
 lated to remove all fufpicion of his real plan 
 from the mind of Madame de Seidlits, and to 
 convince her, that his propof.il could be ditTtated 
 l)y pure benevolence alone i for if, previous to 
 making it, he had already formed the refolution 
 of quitting Italy, with no view of returning for 
 leveral years, and little chance of ever feeing 
 hjer or her daughter again, the ofier muft have 
 been well intended, whether fhe thought it be- 
 came her to accept it or not. 
 
 BuX it was neccfTary that he fhould fcem in 
 carneft: before he fent the letter to Madame de 
 fkidlits ', therefore, he announced his intention 
 to the domeftics of his own family, ordered fe- 
 deral things to be prepared and packed up, call- 
 ed
 
 Z E L U C O. i8x 
 
 ed in his debts, ordered inquiry to be made 
 about a proper veflH for tranfporting him and 
 his fuite. In fhort, he zCtcd his part lo well, 
 ihat none of his acquaintance, except Signora 
 Sporza, had any doubts of his intention. 
 
 "When Zeluco received Madame de Seidlits's 
 anfwer to his letter, he began to refume his old 
 opinions ; his mind, habituated to hypocrily and 
 deceit, could not enter into the natural move- 
 ments of an honeft heart, apprehenfive of hav- 
 ing a£ted ungeneroufly, and throbbing with ea- 
 gernels to make reparation •, he imagined her 
 anfwer difplayed an inclination to accept of his 
 offer, and thought her ftately behaviour had 
 been aflumed on pnrpofe to enhance the value 
 of her future acquielcence, or perhaps was a tem- 
 porary triumph, with which the good lady choie 
 to indulge her vanity ; but having been driven 
 to ininiediate decifion by the unexpctSted news 
 of his departure, fhc was now ready to capitu- 
 late on realbnable terms. 
 
 He did not continue long in this way of 
 thinking ; for when he waited on her the follow- 
 ing day, and Madame Scidlits having repeated 
 her apology for the coolnels of her behav our at 
 their laft interview, he began to hint, though 
 in a diftant way, at a renewal of his former pro- 
 pclition ; but was immediately ftopt fliort, by 
 her rejeiling it with equal firninefs, though with 
 lefs anger than at firft. She added, in the moft 
 obliging manner, That fhe had taken the liberty 
 of rcquefting to fee him ; becaufc fhe could not 
 bear the thoughts of his leaving Naples after 
 fuch a cold interview as their la(t, without cx- 
 preffing that fenfe of gratitude which fhe ihould 
 ever retain for his goodnefs to her on a late oc- 
 cafion, and without wilhing him a good voyage. 
 
 There
 
 i8a Z E L U C O. 
 
 There was fo much virtuous dignity and un- 
 affected candour and benevolence in the whole 
 of her dilcourfe and deportment, as overawed 
 his iniidious tongue, and checked every pre- 
 fumptuous hope that began to fpring up in his 
 breatl. 
 
 At his taking leave, Madame de Seidlits, 
 with fome degree of folemnity and fervour faid, 
 *' Heaven direcfl you, Sir, wherever you go, 
 and blefs you with all the profperity and fuccels 
 which your difinterefted conduct and benevolent 
 character deferve." The confcience of Zeluco 
 fmote him at this petition, and he felt a pang 
 Iharp as the ftiletto of the Portuguefe. 
 
 Dii'appointcd, h-umbled, and felf- condemned, 
 in broken accents, and with a faultering tongue, 
 he was withdrawing, without having the alTu- 
 ranee once to pronounce the name of Laura, 
 when Signora Sporza and that young lady enter- 
 ed the room ; even then he was unable to reco- 
 ver himl'elf fo far as to addrefs them in his 
 ufual manner j after bowing to each, without 
 uttering a word, he hurried out of the room. 
 
 His ag'tation fpoke more powerfully in his 
 favour with Madame de Seidlits, than he could 
 himfelf have done had he been ever fo cool and 
 recolIe(Sled ; that confufion which proceeded 
 from cliiiippointment, perfidy, and confcious 
 guilt, flie imputed to the fenfibility of a bene- 
 volent heart, on being feparatcd from friends, 
 without the hope of i'eeing them again for a 
 long time. 
 
 J. aura, without being fo fully convinced of its 
 jufticc, acquiefced in the con{lru6tion of her 
 mother. 
 
 Signora Sporza could not account in a fatis- 
 fatStory manner for the behaviour of Zeluco, 
 
 but
 
 Z E L U C O. 183 
 
 but flie was too much convinced of the felfifli- 
 ncfs of his difpofition, to believe that he could 
 be much affeded with any thing unconneded 
 with his own perfonal intereft or pleafure. 
 
 He was under the necellhy of continuing the 
 preparations for his departure for fome days ; 
 but on the arrival of the firft velTel from Sicily, 
 he pretended that he had received letters, in- 
 forming him that the bufinefs which required 
 his prel'ence was happily and unexpectedly ter- 
 minated J fo that his voyage was no longer ne- 
 ceflary. — This news he allowed to reach ihc 
 ladies in the common courfe of circulation, 
 fearing that their delicacy might be hurt by his 
 lending a formal meirage to acquaint them with 
 it; as that weuld imply his thinking his motions 
 of more importance to them, than they might 
 incline to have believed ; but on his waiting on 
 them a few days after, he was highly pleafed 
 when Madame de Seidlits chid him for omitting 
 to fend her a piece of intelligence which gave 
 her much plealure. He looked at Laura, in 
 hopes of her ftiewing marks of agreeing with 
 her mother; but as flie felt differently, flac 
 ieemed as if ihe had not heard what her mother 
 had faid. Signora Sporza, looking flily at Ze- 
 luco, faid, «* I am lefs furpriled than my friend, 
 having all along had a prepofTeflion that /bme- 
 ihing would occur to prtvent this voyage. ' 
 
 CHAP.
 
 i8.4 Z- E L U C O. 
 
 C H A P. xxxir. 
 
 ^he Importance of a Man io b'unfelf. 
 
 y^ E LIT C Q was now on a better footing 
 than ever with Madame de Seidlits, viilted her 
 more frequently, and became more and more 
 enamoured of her daughter. The natural grace- 
 fulnefs of her manner, the hvely good ienfe of 
 her converfation, and the winning fweetnefs of 
 her temper, would have attradred the admiration 
 of every man of fentiment, although thefe qua- 
 hties had been connected with a face and perfoa 
 of the common kind. Even in the eyes of Ze- 
 hico, funk as he was in fenhiality and debafed 
 by vice, the filial affe(Slion, the graceful modef- 
 ty, and benevolent heart of this amiable young 
 woman gave additional poignancy to thofe ex- 
 ternal beauties which hithtrto he had elteemcd 
 as all that is valuable in woman. 
 
 From the obfervations which Zeluco had 
 made on the condu(ft of mankind, confirmed 
 by what pafled within his own breaft, his opi- 
 nion was, that virtue was mere varnilh and pre- 
 text, and whatever apparent difintcrellednels, 
 generofity, or felfdenial, there were in the 
 condu«St of any perfon, that if the wh^le could 
 be chymically analyzed and reduced to their 
 original elements, felf-intereft would be found 
 at the bottom of the crucible •, he was, belides, 
 of a fur[)icious temper, and convinced that, for 
 the moft of their aitionsj mankind have lecret 
 
 reafons
 
 2 E L U C O. 185 
 
 reafons very different from the oflenfible. If, 
 tlierefore, the inotive announced was of a ge- 
 nerous or dillnterefted nature, he never believed 
 it to be the real one, but turned his eyes la 
 fearch of a motive where felf-intereft predomi- 
 nated. 
 
 In the prefent cafe, not being able to con- 
 je£lure any advantage that could accrue to Lau- 
 ra, from behaving with fo much referve to him 
 (as to difliking him, he thought that impoffible), 
 nor any benefit which Madame de Seidlits could 
 derive from rejecting his propofals, efpecially as 
 he had annexed no condition to it -, he laboured 
 to difcover what could impel two women who 
 were not devoid of common fenfe to aft in fuch 
 an irrational manner. And after much delibe- 
 rate reflexion, he at length imputed the whole 
 of their conduct to a fcheme concerted between 
 the mother and daughter, with the aid of Sig- 
 nora Sporza, to take advantage of his paffioa 
 for Laura, and, by afTumed dignity in the one 
 and referve in the other, to allure hira into a 
 marriage. 
 
 Replete with this notion he determined to be 
 more fparing in his attentions to Laura, to pay 
 his court with oftentatious afliduity to a young 
 lady of family and confiderable beauty then at 
 Naples ; and by alarming Madame de Seidlits 
 and Laura with jealoufy, and the fear of loling 
 him for ever, induce them both to more com- 
 plaifance. 
 
 lie afted the part he intended fo well, that 
 within a fliort time it was generally believed at 
 Naples, that a treaty of marriage was on foot 
 between Zeluco and the young laily in queftion ; 
 and he took particular care thatSignora Sporza, 
 
 and
 
 iB6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 and her two frientls, iliould have more reafon 
 than others to be convinced of the truth of this 
 report. 
 
 In requital for the pains he gave hinifelf in 
 his new aiTumed chara(5ter, he had the vexation 
 to perceive, that tbofe of all his acquaintance 
 who took the ieaft intereft in his behaviour, and 
 in the news he had circulated, were precifely 
 ithe perfons he wilhed to afFe*Sl the moft ; that 
 Madame de Seidlits and Signora Spor^a heard 
 and believed it with the meft perfetTt indifference, 
 and if there was any alteration obfervablc in the 
 behaviour of Laura, it was that flie feemed a 
 little gayer than formerly. 
 
 Finding that a Hrataoem, which he imagined 
 would have greatly dil'concerted the fuppofed 
 fcheme of the ladies, and produced fomething 
 favourable to his own views, had intirely failed, 
 •he now thought proper to relax in his afliduities 
 to the young lady in queflion, and renew them 
 ;to her whom, for fome time, he feemed to haVe 
 .'abandoned. 
 
 He was the more eager to return to his former 
 ■focicty at Signora Spor'/.a's, as he underllood 
 that Mr. N , the Englilh gentleman for- 
 merly mentioned, fpent a great deal of his time 
 with her, and in the company of Madame de 
 Seidlits and Laura. He could hardly indeed al- 
 low himfclf to imagine that any woman xvhty 
 liad eyes, could prefer this I'-ngliHiman to him- 
 ftlf ; yet, recollc»Sling that the taflcs of women 
 are wonderfully capricious, he felt fome fenfa- 
 tions of jealouly on hearing of the vifits of Mr. 
 
 N . Having prepared a plaufible flory to 
 
 account for his late nbfence, an<l what he 
 thought a mighty well-turned apology, he again 
 
 waited
 
 Z E L U C O. 1S7 
 
 Waited on Madame de Seidlits. He had no op- 
 portunity, however, of pronouncing his apology, 
 for as no notice had been taken by Laura, or 
 •her relations, of his retreat, the fame inattention 
 was paid to his return. He was received as if 
 •he had pafled the preceding evening with them j 
 -Signora S{)«rza faying, jult as he was about to 
 make his apology, — This is lucky enough, as 
 
 N cannot be with us ; we were in want of 
 
 fomebody to form our party Pray, Signor, 
 
 draw a card. 
 
 Baftled in all his plans of feduiflion, his ufual 
 -amufements becoming inlipid, and his former 
 .plcafures naufeous -, feeling himfelf incapable of 
 any enjoyment out of the company of Laura, 
 the obdurate and haughty fpirit of Zeluco was 
 obliged to relinquilh every idea of obtaining the 
 ■objedl of his wiihes by, what he called, conqueft, 
 and to think of propoling articles of union. 
 
 This U(l: recourfe was the more mortifying to 
 him, as it was a favourite maxim of his, that no 
 man in his fenfes would ever think of entering 
 into the tl:ate of matrimony, but by the door of 
 wealth, or with the view of uling it as the hdder 
 -of ambition; yet impelled by deiires which he 
 could not gratify on other terms, he now found 
 himfelf obliged to fuo for admiflion into that 
 flate witliOut the attractions of either wealth or 
 ambiiior. 
 
 After a long internal H niggle, he at lait wait- 
 ed on the mother of Laur;i, and without much 
 ceremony or circumlocution, for he had not the 
 ieaft: doubt of fuccefs, he acquainted her with his 
 Ivonourable intentions rel'peAing her daughter. 
 Few things could have been niore agreeable to 
 Madame de Seidlits than fuch a propolal. 
 
 During
 
 i88 Z E L U C O. 
 
 During the firft violence of her grief and de- 
 ie*rtion of fpirits on her hufband's death, fhe felt 
 the diminution of her fortune as an inconfidera- 
 ble evil after fo great a misfortune ; but now 
 that the lliarpnefs of her forrow was fomewhat 
 blunted by time, fhe began to be more fenfible 
 of the inconvsniencies and mortifications atten- 
 dant on narrow circumftances. 
 
 Her huibmd, like moft Germans, was fond 
 of Ihow, and had encouraged his wife in a more 
 expeniive ftyle of life than he could well aftbrd. 
 She herfelf, in other refpedls of a very amiable 
 chara<fler, was not without vanity ; fhe was de- 
 firous that her houfe, furniture, and equipage, 
 fliouU not only be genteel but fplendid. It is 
 not furprifing, therefore, that the minute oeco- 
 nomy which was abfolutely neceiTary in her pre- 
 fent circumftances fhould be highly difagreeable 
 to her, even on her own account, but Hill more 
 fo on account of her fondefs for Laura, whom 
 fhe eagerly wifhed to fee pofleiicd of all the ele- 
 gancies of life, and for whofe fmalleft pleafurc 
 fhe was ever ready to facrlfice any gratification 
 of her own; indeed, all her own gratifications, 
 even thofe of her vanity, were more fenfibty en- 
 joyed by her in the perlbn of her daughter than 
 in her own. 
 
 As Madame de Seidlits forefaw that Laura's^ 
 marriage with Zeluco would probably be accom- 
 panied with many conveniencies to herfelf, 
 would put her beloved daughter into that Aate 
 of affluence and fplendor which fo well became 
 her, and as Zeluco was a man of whom ihe had 
 a good opinion, flie heartily rejoiced at the pro- 
 pofal which he made. Having therefore in po- 
 lite terms thanked him for the good opinion of 
 
 her
 
 Z E L U C O. 189 
 
 her daughter, flae fald fhe would inform her of 
 his propofiils, and then leave the matter to her 
 own decifion. 
 
 « Thai is all I wifli, Madam," faid Zeluco. 
 
 " For," continued Madame de Seidlits, 
 " Laura's dutiful behaviour gives her a claim to 
 the utmofl; indulgence, and her excellent under- 
 ftanding renders it improper for mtjlrongly to 
 influence, far lefs to control her on fuch an oc- 
 callon." 
 
 '• Control !" repeated Zeluco, " have you 
 reafon to think your daughter's afFed^ions are 
 already engaged ?" 
 
 " I know they are not," faid Madame de 
 Seidlits ; «* had that been the cafe, I Ihould 
 have begun by telling you fo." 
 
 " Then, Madam," faid Zeluco, " it is to be 
 hoped there will be no need of control." 
 
 Madame de Seiillits was not fo fure of Laura's 
 agreeing to Zehico's propofal as he fcemed to be, 
 and therefore had fpoken in doubtful terms, 
 which he thought unneceflary, and a little ridi- 
 culous. 
 
 Having obtained leave to make his propofals 
 to Laura herfelf, he withdrew, fully convinced 
 that they would be moft acceptable ; but fome- 
 what abafhed, that to arrive at the wilhed-for 
 goal, he was under the neceflity of taking the 
 iletefted road of matrimony. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 ipo Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XXXIII. 
 
 Maternal J feSlion. —Filial Duty. 
 
 X HAT very evening Madame de Seidlitstook 
 occafion to mention Zeluco to Laura, in terms 
 agreeable to the good opinion flie had formed 
 of him, and the gratitude which flie feU for the 
 good office he had done her; and then added, 
 *' fhe was convinced he would mal^e a good 
 hufband." 
 
 " Perhaps lie might," faid Laura, *• to a 
 woman who loved him." 
 
 << A man of generofity and worth muft com- 
 mand the efleem of a virtuous woman," anfwer- 
 ed Madame de Seidlits; " and that, my dear, 
 is often a ftronger pledge of happinefs in the 
 married ftate, than the fantaftical notions fonie 
 women have of love." 
 
 Alarmed at the fignificant manner with which 
 Madame de Seidlits pronounced this; — Laura, 
 looking earneftly at her n:iother, cried, " Hea- 
 vens! what does this mean? — hasSignor Zeluco 
 — furely he cannot think — " 
 
 «* Yes, Laura," faid Madame de Seidlitf, 
 " he thinks of you, and you only ; — and this 
 day he offered to make you miftrefs of his hand 
 and fortune." 
 
 The blood immediately forfook Laura's face ; 
 flie became as pale as fnow, and Teemed ready 
 to faint. 
 
 <« My
 
 Z E L U C O. i9f 
 
 ** My deareft child," exclaimed Madam dc 
 Scidlits ; <* what is the matter ?" 
 
 «< Oh ! mother," faid Laura, in a feeble 
 voice, «' will you give me to a man I cannot love ? 
 — will you order your Laura — ?" 
 
 <' How can you talk, fo, child," faid the mo- 
 ther ; *' when did I order you ?" 
 
 *'Ala3 !" faid Laura, " is not every indication 
 of your wiflies obeyed as an order by. me r " 
 
 " For which reafon,'' replied Madame de 
 Seidlits, *' I have no wifhes but thofe which 
 } ou can with pleafure obey." 
 
 " It has been the happinefs of my life," faid 
 Laura, " to obey, — to anticipate your wiflies, 
 when it was in my power ; but can you wifh me 
 married to a man whom I cannot love ? or 
 would you make fuch a requital to the perfon 
 who has obliged you, as to give him a wife with- 
 out fortune, and without the leaft affeclion, 
 without even — " 
 
 •» .For Heaven's fake, my dear, do not talk 
 in that manner," interrupted J^Iadame de Seid- 
 lits j " you well know, I can dellre nothing 
 but what is for your good •, but 1 beg you may 
 hear me calmly, your decifion on this matter is 
 of great importance : you mull be fenfible of 
 the fad reverfe of fortune which has befallen 
 you by. the death of your father j his rifing 
 profpedts in the army, his generous fpirit, and 
 above all his love for us both, has accuftomed 
 you to a flyle of life very different from what our 
 preient circumdances can fuppart. In ihe 
 meanwhile, Signer Zcluco, a man of a friendly 
 and benevolent chari-Uer, and of a vaft fortune, 
 ofiers you his hand, and is ready to refcue you 
 from all the inconveniences of poverty, and to 
 
 place
 
 1^2 Z E L U C O. 
 
 place you in a ftate of affluence which you never 
 before experienced. But you fay you do not 
 love liim. — Well, if that continues to be the 
 cafe, there is no more to be faid; I fhall never 
 delirc you to give your hand to a man whom 
 you cannot love; — but I fear, my dear, you 
 are niifled by falfe and romantic notions on that 
 head." 
 
 «* Is there any thing unreafonable or roman- 
 tic," faid Laura, " in refufing my hand to a 
 man who in no degree interefts my heart. But 
 you have alluded to the inconveniencies of our 
 prefent confined circumftances, — as afFe<n:ing me 
 in a more particular manner. I know not," 
 continued Laura, *' if I underftood my mother 
 right V 
 
 *« The narrownefs of our circumftances are a 
 fource of unhappinefs to me on your account only" 
 replied Madame de Seidlits. 
 
 " From this moment then, my dear Madam, 
 let that fource be dried up," faid Laui-a, '•'for 
 our prefent circumftances, confined as they are, 
 give me no uncafinefs ; and be allured, that if 
 you can bear them cheerfully, all the inconve- 
 niencies attending them are blifs to me, in com- 
 parifon with affluence as the wife of Zeluco." 
 
 ** Well, my deareft girl, I have done ; you 
 have faid enough, and more than enough ; — you 
 fliall never again hear him mentioned as a lover 
 by me." 
 
 " My dear mother," cried Laura, with tears 
 of aft'c^ion, •« how can I requite you for this 
 goodnefs ?" 
 
 •« By following the dictates of your own vir- 
 tuous heart," faid Madame de Seidlits ; •« be 
 
 you
 
 Z E L U C O. 193 
 
 vou happy, my dear child, and I am con- 
 tented." 
 
 *< I am happy !" exclaimed Laura, throwing 
 her arms round her mother's neck ; ♦* how 
 can I be but happy while I am blefled with fuch 
 a parent ?" 
 
 Madame de Seidlits then informed her daugh- 
 ter, that Zeluco had dellred to have an audience 
 of her by himfelf, in which he would make his 
 propofals ; which Ihe had agreed to. 
 
 Laura begged with carneftncfs, that her mo- 
 ther would take on herfelf the office of acquaint- 
 ing Zeluco with her determined i'cntiments. 
 But Madame de Seidlits urged her promiie, and 
 that Zeluco might confider himfelf as difrefpe6l- 
 fuliy ufe.d, adding, with a fmile, you mull allow 
 me, my dear, to carry one point in this negocia- 
 tion. Laura acquiei'ced, and next morning 
 murtcred up all her refolution for a fccne, which 
 Ihe thought on with a good deal of unealhiefs. 
 
 CHAP. XXXIV. 
 
 Si on croit aimer fa maitrefie pour r^nnur d'cUe on eft 
 bieii trompe. Hoc h ef ou c a ult. 
 
 i^ELUCO called at Madame de Seidlits's 
 the day following ; after he had waited a few 
 minutes alone, I^aura entered the room pale and 
 in evident emotion, without looking him in the 
 face, pointed to a chair, and dellred him to be 
 I'eated, placing herfelf at the fame time at a re- 
 ipe^lful diftance. 
 
 VoL.L K « No
 
 194 
 
 Z E L U C O. 
 
 << No doubt," faid he, " your niotlicr has, 
 informed you, iM;idam, of the fentiments with 
 v'hicli your beauty and merit have inTpired me, 
 and with tlie purport of this vifit." 
 
 «' She has, .Sir," faid Laura, " and I am 
 fenfible of the honour your good opinion does 
 me ; the obligation yoti conferred on my mother 
 
 (iemands, and has my warmeft gratitude ; . 
 
 but — 
 
 Zckico, conflruing Laura's confuiion in his 
 own favour, flepped acrofs the room, feized her 
 ftu-inking hand, and exclaimed, " Talk not of 
 gratitude for trifles, my whole fortune is now at 
 vour difpofal; and you will, I hope, name an 
 early day that the rites of the church may unite 
 us forever." 
 
 The fecurity implied in this abrupt addrefs 
 offended the delicacy and roufed the fpirits of 
 Laura-, flie difengaged her hand, and throwing 
 an indignant look at Zeluco, faid, ** Carry your 
 firtune, Sir, to fome woman more defirous«nd 
 more dcferving of it -, I have claim to fhare it 
 with vou on neither account." 
 
 Zciuco, furprifed and piqued at her manner, 
 anfvvered, «' I am forry you fcem ofl'cnded, 
 Madam ; 1 hope there is nothing in the propo- 
 fal I have made to hurt your pride." 
 
 •« Without giving grounds for an accufation 
 of pride," replied Laura, " I may be iurpriled 
 ;it being prefled to fix a day for a purpole I never 
 y reed to, and never Ihall." 
 
 «« 1 underlfood, Madam, that your mother 
 had been fo obliging as to explain my ientiments 
 and y)I(.ail my caul'e ; having her approbation, I 
 flattered myitlf I Hiould have yours, and that 
 
 you
 
 Z E L U C O. 195 
 
 you would be willing to abridge unneceffary 
 delay." 
 
 " My mother, Sir, has a warm and gratefid 
 heart, and is penetrated with a fenfe of your 
 fervices on a late occafion ; I hope I alfo have 
 becoming i'entiments on that head, of which the 
 beft proof I can give, is by affuring you at once, 
 that it is not in my power to repay the partiality 
 YOU exprefs for me in the manner you defire. £ 
 liope, therefore, you will here terminate a pur- 
 fuit which muft be vain, and is fo little worth 
 your while." 
 
 «< I was informed, Rladam," find Zeluco, 
 ** that your heart was difengaged." 
 
 " You were informed rightly," laid Laura. 
 *« What then are your objeclions to me ?" faid 
 he. 
 
 *« Since the reafons which determine me," 
 faid Laura, •' feem valid to thoie to whom I 
 think myfelf accountable, I murt beexcufed froni 
 an txplanation to any other perfon." 
 
 The poffibility of his honourable propofals be- 
 ing rejected, had never once entered into the 
 contemplation of Zeluco; on the contrary, he 
 was convinced that all her former referve was 
 alTumed for no other purpofe but to allure him 
 to this point ; on hnding them rcfufed iji fo de- 
 cided a manner, his heart fwelled with anger, 
 which he could with dilliculty iupprefs. 
 
 Laura, perceiving the ftrugglc, added, " I 
 do not mean to oftend you. Sir; but I think it 
 my duty, on fuch an occafion, to aflure you, 
 that my determination is unalterable. I lincere- 
 ly wilh you hanpinefs wiih a more dei'erving 
 woman." 
 
 K 2 « You
 
 196 Z E L U C O. 
 
 *' You are infinitely obliging, ISTadam," faid 
 he, his eyes llalliing with rage. 
 
 <' I VAuil beg to be excufed from attending 
 you any longer/' hid fl\c, retiring with fonie 
 degree of precipitation. 
 
 She was no fooner gone, than Zelnco flruck 
 l.is citncheJ fifi: twice, with frantic violence, on 
 his foi-ehead, and rulhed out of the houi'e, be- 
 fcre Madame dc iSeidlits, who meant to have 
 v/aited on him, had time to reach tbe ro(>m. 
 . 'ilie grateful heart of this well-dlfpoll'd la<ly 
 was hurt when fliC undeniood that Zeluco had 
 left her lioufe in fo much difpleafure ; and even 
 after hearing her daughter's account of the fcene 
 which had palTed between tlicm, fhe thought 
 that Laura ought to have foftened h^r refufal, 
 and bore more calmly thofe figns of vexation and 
 difappointment which Zeluco had difplayeii j 
 " Which, after all, my dear," added Madame 
 lit JSeidlits, *' are proofs of his love." 
 
 *» They might have been mifiaken for marks 
 i.: hatred," laid Lama, '« and could not have 
 been more difagreeable to me had I known them 
 to be really fucli." 
 
 When Zeluco returned to his own honfe, he 
 poured out a thoufand execrations agniuft the 
 icx in general, and the pride and folly cl Laura 
 in particular ; abufcd his iervants, and diiplaycd 
 many of thofe ridiculous extravagances, which 
 wountled vanity and difappointment prompt men 
 of peevifh at.d paflionate tempers to exhibit. 
 lint after having fvv'orn, raged, liamped, bounced 
 and blafphemed for two hours together, he re- 
 coUtdtcd at laft, what was very obvious from 
 the firlV, that thefe extravagances would not 
 bring him nearer his objc<St; the fermentation 
 
 cxeiicd
 
 Z E L U C O. 197 
 
 excited by this unexpefted difappointment fettled 
 in a gloomy referve, during which he avoided 
 iociety, and pafTed great part of his time in me- 
 (iitnting fonvi fcheme for getting Lanra into his 
 power, that he might at once fatisfy his defires 
 and his revenge. 
 
 He once thought of caufing her to be feized, 
 forced aboard a velTel, and of pafling over with 
 Jier into Tunis. And he had fome conveiTatioa 
 with a bold eruerprifing fellow, who commanded 
 a trading veflel, then at Naples, was wcil ac- 
 quainted with the Barbary coat'^, and had lived 
 a confiderable time at Tunis ; this man, Zeluco 
 had firft become acquainted with at Palermo, 
 and had taken great pleafure in lillening to hi.s 
 adventures. lie fent for him on the prefcnt oc- 
 cafion, and, ftating a cafe from which the lh\~ 
 man could not guefs at the fcheme he meditated, 
 he founded him with refpe^to the pra£licability 
 of fome fuch plan. 
 
 But while his mind was agitated with this vil- 
 lanous projeifl:, he occafionally vifitcd Madame 
 de Seidlits, who, by the complacency of her be- 
 haviour to him, endeavoured, as much as lay in 
 her power, to compcnfate for that of Laura, 
 which fhe could not help thinking had been too 
 harfli to a perfon who had conducted himfclf in 
 fo obliging a manner to them both. And fho 
 made no fcruple of declaring to him, that (l\c 
 would have been better pleafed that Laura had 
 lirtened more favourably to his fait-, which pof- 
 fibly might be the cal'e at fome future period. 
 She advifed him, however, not to urge her far- 
 ther at prefenf, adding, That fhe would acquaint 
 nim as foon as {he perceived any change in the 
 icntiments of Laura in his favour. 
 
 K 3 This
 
 io8 Z £ L U C O. 
 
 This difcourft: of Madame d« Scidlits tended 
 to turn the mind of Zeluco from the mad and 
 'vindi<ftive projedls with which it was occupied, 
 the difficuhies and danger of which alio became 
 more apparent to himiclf as he cooied. 
 
 Eut ftill feeling hinifeh'" in an awkward and 
 mortified fituation, and unable to fupprefs the 
 over-boilings of wrath and 'indignation at the 
 iight of Laura, he determined on making another 
 tour through Italy, and perhaps through France, 
 in the hopes that a variety of objc<Sls would dif- 
 fipate his vexation from the conftant contem- 
 plation of one. When he arrived at Rome, he 
 endeavoured to extinguifli a paflion which gave 
 him unremitting pain, by plunging into that 
 current of diflipation and debauchery from 
 which he had of late abftained. This expedient 
 had no better effVft than his rage, execration?, 
 and blafphemy had formerly produced. Invited 
 to every f'plcndid aflembly and magnificent en- 
 tertainment, indulging every gratification of 
 ieni'e, h.Q feemed to be pafling his days in joy, and 
 }iis nights in pleafure ; and was in reality the 
 vi«Stim of chagrin and difguft. His paffion 
 appeared to gain frefh force from the efforts 
 made to iubdue it ; and the lovely form of tlie 
 virtuous Laura, ever prefent in his mind, ob- 
 i'cured even in his vitiated imagination all the 
 ;d'urcment3 of thofe meretricious charms by 
 which he endeavoured to efface it. 
 
 Unable to purine his original plan, or to fup- 
 port a longer ablcnce from Laura, after pouring 
 out a frefh torrent of execrations againfl her, he 
 
 i'ent an apology to the Cardinal B , with 
 
 whom he was engaged to duie, ordered pofl- 
 
 horl'es,
 
 Z E L U C O. 199 
 
 liorfes, and returned to Naples with the rnpidity 
 of a courier. 
 
 Mada-iie de Seidlits received him with her 
 ufual politenefs, but gave no hint of any change 
 of fcntimeut on the part of Laura. He had the 
 additional mortification, in a fhort time, to 
 find, that though the mother feldoni allowed 
 herl'clf to be denied when he called, yet it fre- 
 quently happened that Laura did not appear 
 during the whole of his vifit. 
 
 While Zeluco's aim was leduiTlion, all th?.t he 
 had expected from Signora Sporza was con- 
 nivance j when he was afterwards driven to the 
 refolution of making propof;ds of marriage, lie 
 confidcred her mediation as unneceilary, being 
 fully convinced that his teimsv/ould be accepced 
 as ibon as made. DTappointed in both hit; 
 plans, and excefuvely galled at Laura's rot ap- 
 pearing when he vifited her mother, he agaji 
 had recourfe to Signora Sporza, fpoke highly 
 of his admiration of her young friend, and end- 
 ed a very pathetic harangue, by iwearing, That 
 his paffion was, and had ever been, of the purcfl; 
 and mort honourable nature. 
 
 ♦* Of what other could it be, Slgnor ?''. f.tid 
 Hie. «' Could any body fufpect you wicked 
 enough to attempt an affair of gallantry with :i 
 woman of birth, who is unmarried?" 
 
 f-le agreed that nothing could be more horrid 
 than fuch an attempt ; but that he had cfrered 
 her his hand and fortune in the molt refpeclful 
 manner, which, to his great lurprilc and vexa- 
 tion, flie had rejected. 
 
 *' It is natural," replied Signora Sporza, 
 
 ** that you fhould be vexed on liich an occailon ; 
 
 but there are lb many inihmcef of woinen rcfnl- 
 
 i*^ 4 iiiK
 
 20Q Z £ L U C O. 
 
 ing men v/ho offer to marry them, that I fee no 
 reafon for your being greatly furprifed." It was 
 with difficuhy that Zeluco could conceal the 
 •anger which glowed in his breall at this obferra- 
 tion of Signora Sporsaj after a fliort paufc, 
 however, he faid, There was reafon to fear 
 that Laura had conceived a prejudice againfl; 
 him; and entreated of Signora Sporza, with 
 whom he knew that Laura was quite confiden- 
 tial, to advife him what was the beft method of 
 removing this prejudice, and rendering her more 
 favourable to his wifhes. 
 
 " I know of no qualities/' replied Signora 
 Sporza, ♦♦ by which a man has a greater chance 
 of making a favourable impreffion on the mind 
 of Laura, than by fincerity, good temper, and 
 benevolence; and were I to offer an advice, it 
 would be, that you lliould rely on thefe, and 
 thefe only." 
 
 Although Signora Sporza pronounced this 
 with a ferious countenance, the irony did not 
 efcape the obfervation of Zeluco ; without fecm- 
 iug to take notice of it, he laid it up in his me- 
 jnory, and thanked her for her good counfel ; 
 adding, That he was forry to perceive that Lau- 
 ra feldom appeared when he vifited Madame de 
 Seidlits ; that probably this happened from i^er 
 fufpccling that he would renew his fuit : he beg- 
 ged that Signora Sporza would aflurc her, that 
 he intended not to teafe her with felicitations ; 
 but that he earneltly w'llhed for the happinefs 
 of being received by Madame Seidlits on the 
 general footing of a friend ^ which he could not 
 think was the cafe, when any of her family 
 thought themfclves obliged to be abfent when he 
 villtcd her. 
 
 Signora
 
 Z E L U C O. 20 f 
 
 Signora Sporza was fo pleafecl with the ap- 
 parent reufonablenels and humility of this re- 
 queft, that the rancour and indignation which 
 lurked in the breaft of him who made it, entirely 
 eluded her notice. She promiied to acquaint 
 her friends with what he had faid ; and the fol- 
 lowing day fent Zeluco an invitation to meet 
 them both at her houle. 
 
 Madame de Seidlits joined with Signora Spor- 
 za in reprefenting to Laura, that there was ])o 
 neceility for her behaving with peculiar reierve 
 to Zeluco after the declaration he had made; and 
 llie agreed to behave as they required, without 
 arguing the point ; although flie would have 
 been inriniteiy better pleafed to have kept herlclt 
 fecluded from the company of Zeluco. 
 
 Zeluco now had frequent opportunities of be- 
 ing in company with the object of his wilhes. 
 He palled whole evenings with the mother and 
 daughter, attentively ftudied the characters ot 
 both, and endeavoured to adapt his behaviour, 
 and every fcntiment he uttered, to what he 
 thought would pleafe them moft ; and notwith- 
 flanding the reftraint to which this obliged him 
 to fubmit, h^ had, on the whole, a I'cnl'ation in 
 their company more agreeable than in any other 
 fociety however jovial or voluptuous. And had 
 not his own character been intrinlkally vicious, 
 the continuation of the felf-command he was 
 thus obliged to aflume, and the eflorts he made 
 to p'.eafc, might, perhaps, Jiave etfeiSled a fa- 
 vourable change in his own diCpofition. For no- 
 thing is more powerful in alluring the heart of 
 man to virtue, than the fociety of amiable, ac- 
 complil!hed, and virtuous women. 
 
 K s CHAP,
 
 202 Z E L U C O. 
 
 CHAP. XXXV. 
 
 — — Novas artes, novape(5lore verfat 
 Concilia. — Virg. 
 
 I 
 
 T was already remarked, that a portion cf 
 vanity formed part of the character of Madame 
 de Seidhts, and fometimes obfcured the lu(tre 
 of her beft qualities ; fhe was apt too frequently 
 in converfation to introduce the names of per- 
 ions of very high rank, with whom her hufband 
 had been intimate in Germany, and who had 
 occafionally vifited her when flie refided in that 
 country. 8he paid a minute attention to the 
 ornaments of her perfon, and fometimes adopt- 
 ed a flyle of drefs whicli fuited her better at an 
 earlier period of her life. Having been diftin- 
 guiflied for beauty in her youth, of which there 
 were fome remains, flic feemed more pleafed 
 with the fliare which fhe ftill retained, than 
 ienfible that far the larger portion was fled. 
 This error in calculation many women fall into 
 wliO have not tlie good qualities of Madame de 
 Seidilts to compenfate it ; for her general de- 
 portment was genteel and elegant, her temper 
 cheerful and complacent, her difpolliioa bene- 
 volent and generous. 
 
 In Laura Zeluco obferved a depth of rcflt(51ion 
 and fulidity of underftanding, which he thought 
 incompatible with her fex, and is very uncom- 
 Kion at her age. This was joined to an elegant 
 limplicity of manner, and a total want of affcv^ta 
 tun:, equally uncomnio.T j ever ready to remark, 
 
 and
 
 2 E L U C O. 263 
 
 and fond of difplaying, the accomplifliments of 
 others, (he Teemed infcnfible of thole with 
 which fhe herfelf was fo eminently adonied. 
 
 No daughter ever had a ftronger fenle than 
 Laura of what {he owed to her mother; the 
 afiedionate care and folicitude with which 
 Madame de Seidiits had watched over her in- 
 fiincy, and the unctaling attention (he beftowed 
 on her through life, were in tiie mind of this 
 young lady, obligations never to be repaid; antl 
 independent of all fenfe of obligation or filial 
 duty, Ihe had a high efteem for her inother's 
 perlonal qualities. Neither gratitude nor efteem, 
 however, prevented her feeing the weaknefles 
 above enumerated ; her clearnel's of light was 
 to her, in this particular, a fource of uneafinefs; 
 and if fhe fufpecfted any other perfon of being 
 equally clear-lighted, flie could not help feeling 
 a temporary diihke to that perfon. As often as 
 any of the little failings above enumerated began 
 to make their appearance, fne endeavoured, 
 with all the addrcfs in her power, to turn awav 
 the attention of the company, and with theirs, 
 Ihc would have been glad had it been in her 
 power to Jiave turned away her own. 
 
 But it was her happincfs to reflect upon, and 
 her delight to difphiy, every graceful and good 
 quality tnat belonged to her mother. Eafy even 
 to indiH'crencc about the common forms of ref- 
 petlt when they regarded herlelf, flie had a jea- 
 lous fenfibility of the fmalleft negledl or want of 
 attention to her mother. 
 
 Zeluco remarked this peculiarity in the cha- 
 ra(ner of Laura; he faw that the compliments 
 he Ibmetimes ventured to pay to herfeif were 
 always heard with indifference; and fometimes 
 
 with
 
 204 Z E L U C O. 
 
 with difgiift, while every juft and well-founded 
 comj-lin.cnt paid to her mother feemed to give 
 pleaiure to the daughter j declining, therefore, 
 the beaten road of infinuation, he tried to gain 
 accefs to the heart of the one by the praii'es he 
 beftowed on the other. 
 
 It behoved him, however, to be on his guard, 
 in what manner, and on what occafion, he rilk- 
 ed his compliments ; it was neceflary that they 
 fliould feem at once juft and a-propcs. He once 
 juiftook his aim fo far as to compliment INIadame 
 de Seidlits for a quality flie certainly did not 
 polTefs, and was inftantly warned of his error 
 by fuch a glance of indignation from the ex- 
 preffive eye of Laura, as prevented his ever re- 
 peating it. 
 
 But as often as, on proper occafion,-, he re- 
 marked with juftice and delicacy on the good 
 and amiable qualities that really belonged to 
 Madame de Seidlits, which he frequently did with 
 equal penetration and addrefs, it was evident 
 that Laura liftened with looks of more compla- 
 cency than Ihe ever difplayed when he fpoke on 
 any other rubje<n:. He actiuired by ftudy and 
 ul'e fuch a mafterly ma)iner of dwelling on this 
 favourite theme, that Laura's avcrfion began to 
 dlminilh ; and Ihe could not help feeling fcnti- 
 nients of appreb;ition and good-will to the pcr- 
 fon who furniHied her with fo fwcet a fouice of 
 enjoyment. 
 
 'i his alteration in the fentimcnts of Laura was 
 obferved with niore pleaiure by litr mother than 
 by Signora Sporza, whofe eftecm for Lnira and 
 her diflike of Zeluco had incrcafed witii her ac- 
 <juaintance wich both. Her diflike of the latter, 
 bowever, did not proceed entirely from her 
 
 own
 
 Z E L U C O. 2C5 
 
 own penetration ; flie had received fuch an ac- 
 count of him trom a female correfpondent at 
 Palermo, as confirmed and greatly augmented 
 her original bad opinion, and made her averfe 
 to the idea of his ever becoming the hufband of 
 her young friend, notwithflanding the tempta- 
 tion in point of fortune for fuch an alliance. 
 But being convinced that her mentioning her 
 jVntiments on this fubje<St to the mother or 
 daughter, would prevent their ever again hav- 
 ing any connexion with Zeluco, llie therefore 
 was filent j at the fame time determined, if it 
 Ihould be neceffary, to fpeak in fufficient time. 
 But although Signora Sporza concealed from 
 Madame de Seidlits and her daughter the opinion 
 ihe had of Zeluco, her real fentiments were de- 
 tected by the jealous and penetrating eyes of the 
 man himfelf. There is perhaps no fentiment 
 which it is lb difficult to conceal from the per- 
 fon who is the object of it, as violent hatred : 
 a moderate adept in the art of diffimulation 
 may impofe on thofe for whom he feels no ef- 
 teem, or whom he even holds in contempt ; and, 
 if he has an intered in it, n>.y perluude^ them 
 that he has a high rel'pe<ft or even veneration 
 for them : and this, in fome meafure, accounts 
 for fo many people of the higheft rank being 
 ignorant of the true rate at which they are ef- 
 timated. For the indications of contempt are 
 cafiiy retrained, and thofe of admiration as 
 ealily afTuined \ but it requires the powers of a 
 finifhed hypocrite to hide hatred or avcriion. 
 tjuch Urong feelings it is difficult to control, 
 and prevent their difcovering themfelves by 
 fome involuntary appearance in the countenance 
 or manner. It is not furpriilng, therefore, that 
 
 Zeluco
 
 2z6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 Zeluco became fully convinced that Slgnora 
 Sporza had a very- unfavourable opinion of him, 
 ar.d was averfe to his ever fucceeding with Lau- 
 ra. The rancour which gathered in his hreall 
 on this difcovery, was of the moil: deadly kind; 
 but he endeavoured to hide it till he fliould fmd 
 a proper occalion of giving it vent ; and being, 
 notwithftanding her fex, a better diileaibler 
 than Signora Sporza, he for a long time fuc- 
 ceeded. 
 
 CHAP. XXXVI. 
 
 Full oft by holy feet our ground was trod, 
 Of clerks good plenty here you mote efpy. 
 A little, round, fat, oily man of God, 
 Was one 1 chicHy niark'd among the fry ; 
 He had a rojrtiiih twinkle in his eye, 
 And llione all gljtt'ring with ungodly dew, 
 If a tigit danil'cl chaunc'd to trippen by ; 
 Which wlien obferv'd, he flirunk into his mew, 
 And llraight would recollccl his piety ;inew. 
 
 TllOMJOM. 
 
 .A-LTHOUGII Zeluco perceived with plea- 
 Jiire the change which had taken place in Lau- 
 ra's behaviour to him, he did not chufe to rely 
 entirely on his own addrtls •, but as he now be- 
 lieved, that he had no aid to expe<ft from Sig- 
 nora Sporza, he refolved to feek other allies, 
 and even attempted to draw them from the 
 church itfelf, a quarter in which one would think 
 he had little inttreft. 
 
 Father
 
 Z E L U C O. 207 
 
 Father Mulo was an ecclefiadic, more remark- 
 able for the rigidity of his manners and opinions, 
 than the depth of his intellects. — Father Pedro 
 was a monk of a different order, indulgent in his 
 difpolition, agreeable in converfation, naturally 
 fhrevvd, and what piety he pofl'efied was far 
 from being of a morofe kind. He had adopted 
 the eoclehaftical profeffion from neceflity not 
 inclination, and he endeavoured to alTume an 
 air of gravity and felf- denial, which was equally 
 difcordant to the turn of his mind, the rotun- 
 dity of his perfon, and to his rofy complexion, 
 all of which announced him Epicuri de grege 
 forcus. The warmth of father Pedro's con- 
 ftitution had formerly drawn him into fome 
 I'crapes from which it required all his addrel's to 
 difengage himfclf, and rendered him exceeding- 
 ly c.uiious ever after. He had behaved with 
 peculiar circumlpeClion ever flnce he had been 
 at Naples ; and being a man of more under- 
 ftanding than moft of his brethren, he was 
 thofcn Liy bignora Sporza as her father confelTbr, 
 and through her recommendaiion he now aOeJ 
 in the fanic capacity to her two friends, in pre- 
 ference to Father iNlulo, who was their relation. 
 • In a Ihort tin^e, Father Pedro, whofe manners 
 were gentle and inlinuating, gained the entire 
 confidence of IMadame de beidiits, and was ra- 
 ther well thought of by her daughter. Father 
 Mulo was by no means pleafed with the choice 
 his relations had made, yet as they behaved to 
 him in all other refpedls with much deference 
 and attention, no open breach took place be- 
 tween the Father and any of them on this ac- 
 count. 
 
 Zeluco having informed himfelf of the cha- 
 rader of thofe two monks, of knowing their 
 
 conncfticn
 
 2c8 Z E L U C O. 
 
 connection with Madame de Seidlits, he thoight 
 it might be of importance to gain them to his 
 interelt. 
 
 He began with Father Pedro, whofe favour 
 he endeavoured to acquire by all the addreTs 
 and powers of infinuation he was mailer of, fct- 
 ting out by chuling him for his ghoftly Father, 
 and to the gentle penance which lie enjoined 
 for the venial faults which Zeluco thought it 
 expedient to confefs; he frequently impofed 
 upon himfclf a mul6l in monfy, which he de- 
 livered into the hands of the Father, to be ap- 
 pl-el to whatever pious ufe he thought proper. 
 
 This behaviour on the part of Zeluco gave 
 great fatisfaftion to Father Pedro, who not only 
 received his vifits with pleasure at his convent, 
 but more frequently v/aited on him at Zeluco's 
 houfe. 
 
 After a pretty free repaft, during which the 
 Father dilplayed much good humour and jovial- 
 rcls, Zeluco feizing what he thought a lucky 
 moment, informed him of his paflion for Laura. 
 
 '1 his ghoilly Father alTuredly had never ima- 
 gined, thai the fudden veneration which Zeluco 
 profelTed for him, proceeded either from an ad- 
 miration of his charaiiler or countenance ; on 
 the contrary, he had all along l'ufpe(fled his real 
 Iburce. He was not a man of very great deli- 
 cacy of fcntiment, and certainly was not trou- 
 bled with prejudices of a fiiperflitious nature ; 
 yet there were occafions on which he thought 
 it expedient to aff'tcV as much terror for the 
 horns of Satan as his brother Mulo w.is really 
 imprefTid with. Zeluco had no fooncr men- 
 tioned his paliion for Laura, than the Monk 
 ftarted as if a culverin had unexpeclcdiy ex- 
 ploded
 
 Z £ L U C O: iC9 
 
 ploded at his ear, difphying ns much aftonifh- 
 mcnt and horror in his countenanre, as if the 
 devil had appeared hefore him in full uniform, 
 with hh cloven feet, longeft tail, and largefl. 
 pair of horns. 
 
 " What is the matter with you, my good 
 Father ?" faid Zcluco ; ** do you perceive any 
 thing unnatural or extraordinary in my dehring 
 to be united in holy wedlock with a virtuous and 
 beautiful young lady ?" 
 
 The Father, although he had long perceived 
 Zeluco's fondnefs for Laura, had never heard 
 of his propofing marriage to her, nor had he 
 any idea that fuch was his intention. When 
 Zcluco mentioned his icve, the Fatnc? tOvs. it 
 for granted that he was about to requefb his aid 
 on a different fyftem j but finding that he really 
 intended marriage, the Monk began to imagine 
 that he had played off his pantomime a iittle in- 
 advertently, and was at a lofs how to give a plau- 
 fible account of liis own affeiTied furprifej he 
 endeavoured to colour it, however, as well as 
 he could, by faying. That as his buCnefs with 
 Zeluco was of a fpiritual nature, he could not 
 help being very much furprifed at the mention 
 of a thing fo different from what he was accuf- 
 tomed to have any concern in. 
 
 *• I do humbly hope, my worthy Father," 
 faid Zeluco, " that you will think you have a 
 natural concern in this, as I can affure you my 
 happinefs not only in this world, but very pof- 
 iibly in the next, depends on my being able to 
 prevail on this young lady to accept of my handj 
 tor my heart is fo fixed upon her, that I do not 
 know what defperate meafures I may be drove to 
 if flie continues obllinately to refule me." 
 
 The
 
 210 Z E L U C O. 
 
 The Monk feerncd to foften by degrees ; Zc- 
 luco giving him a full account of the propofals 
 he had made, the fentirr.ents he had offered, 
 Laura's unaccountable obftinacy, and concluded 
 by informing the Monk, that he had laid apart 
 a fumof money which, in cafe of fuccefs in his 
 honourable propofals, he would requefl the Fa- 
 ther to accept, and appropriate to whatever 
 pious or ufeful purpofe he thought moft expe- 
 dient ; but on this exprefs condition, that it 
 fliould remain an evcrlafting fecret to all the refl: 
 of the world; <' becaufe," added he, '* an 
 oftentalious difplay of fuch donations deftroys, 
 in my opinion, any little merit there may be in 
 
 The Father agreed to this laft condition with 
 fome feemiiig difficulty, praifed Zeluco's modef- 
 ty and charitable difpofition ; and finally affured 
 him of all the alTiftance in his power. " In the 
 firft place," faid he, *' I will ufe my influence 
 out of friendlliip to you: i'ecnndly, From the 
 regard I have for Madame de Seidlits, and the 
 young lady herfclf, who fo perverfely oppofes 
 her own happincfs ; and laftly, and above all, I 
 will ufe my intereft in your fivour for the fake 
 of religion and the poor, as both muft be be- 
 nelited by the fuccefs of your honourable views." 
 
 This Ecclefiaftic, partly from probity and 
 partly from prudence, would have rcjc(Sted a 
 bribe to aflift in any projccSl which he thought 
 wicked or unlawful, but he had no fcruple in 
 allowing himlclf to be well rewarded for doing 
 what he approved, and would, of himlclf, have 
 been happy to promote without any bribe at all. 
 
 Indeed he had no notion that Madame de 
 Seidlits, or her daughter, hud a ferious intention
 
 Z E L U C O. 211 
 
 of flandinq out againfl a match which he thought 
 i'o advantiigcous for both. He imputed their 
 refufal to affccftation, caprice, or a defire of in- 
 dulging a few feminine airsj and he had a weaker 
 opinion of Zeluco's underftanding, on account 
 of his being in this manner the dupe of a httle 
 female vanity. 
 
 And fo impatient was he, that the pcsf ftiould 
 reap the fruits of Zeluco's promifcd liberality, 
 that the firfl time he found Madame de Seidlits 
 alone, he exprelTed much furprife that fhe had 
 never told hini of Zeluco's addrefles to her 
 daughter. 
 
 Madame de Seidlits replied, That after Laura 
 had given her negative, llie thought it beft not 
 to mention a fubjtct which m.ight be difagreeablc 
 to Signor Zeluco, and was fo foreign to thole 
 in which the Father was ufually employed. 
 
 ♦* It is true," replied Pedro, *' I am princi- 
 pally interefted in your fpiritual concerns, but 
 by no means indifferent to the temporal welfare 
 of your family." 
 
 Madame de Seidlits then informed him of all 
 the particulars. 
 
 " I have fuch an opinion of Signora Laura's 
 filial duty and affe£lion," faid Pedro, '* that I 
 am convinced, if yon were to prefs this matter 
 earneftly upon her, ihe would confent." 
 
 ** It is not impoilible but flie niight," faid 
 Madame de Seidlits, " for which realbn I Ihall 
 be particularly carefcl not to prefs her." 
 
 Father Pedro exprellcd afloniflimcnt at her 
 taking fo little concern in an affair of I'uch im- 
 portance to her daughter's happinels. 
 
 ♦' It is becaufe it is of fo much importance to 
 her h.ippinefs that I leave it to her own judg- 
 ment,"
 
 212 Z E L U C O. 
 
 ment," faid Madame de Seldllts; *■ Laura Is 
 endowed with prudence and good fenfe, and 
 flie is certainly the beft judge of her own feel- 
 ings •, if Zeluco ever becomes more agreeahU; 
 to her, importunity would be fuperfluous \ ami 
 if he does not, it would be cruel : befides, I 
 have given her my word never to urge her on 
 the uibjeft, and 1 will affuredly adhere to my 
 engagement." 
 
 CHAP. XXXVII. 
 
 Tor he a rope of fanJ could twift, 
 
 As tough as learneci Sorbonift, 
 
 And weave fine cobweb?, fit for fcuU 
 
 1 hat's empty when the moon is full ; 
 
 Such as take lodgings in a head 
 
 That's to be let unfurnifheJ. ^ Butler. 
 
 X H E Father was prevented from reply, by 
 Laura's entering the room with Father Mulo. 
 Before any account is given of the convcrfation 
 which this venerable man introduced, it is ne- 
 ceflary to throw a retrofpe^ive glance on inci- 
 dents which occurred long before ; from this an 
 idea may be formed of the characters of Colonel 
 Seidiits, and others, connetStcd with our purpofc. 
 Without recapitulating the circumdances by 
 which the Colonel and his lady became firfl ac- 
 quainted, it is fuflicicnt to obferve, that their 
 marriage took place before the Father knew any 
 thing of the matter; but he exprcfled inllnite 
 concern, and probably felt fome, on hearing 
 that his relation was the wife of a hereitic. 
 
 Whca
 
 Z E L U C O. 213 
 
 Whin flie went with her hufband to Germany, 
 the zealous Father continued from tinle to time 
 to remind her in his letters, of the dangers Ihe 
 incurred in a land of herefy, and furniflied her 
 with the beA: arguments he had at his dil'poCal, 
 to enable her to adhere to the religion in which 
 Hie was bred, ftimulating her at the fame time 
 to attempt the conv^erlion of her hufband, by 
 Mhich Ihe would acquire immortal glory, e-i'ect 
 her hufb^nd's falvation, and fecure to herfelf 
 the comfort of his company both in this life and 
 that which is to come. 
 
 The Father being infinitely delighted with 
 both the ftyle and arguments of thofe letters, he 
 could not deny himfelf the gratification of {hew- 
 ing copies of them to feveral of his acquaintance, 
 and as the intention of Ihewing them could not 
 be millalcen, his acquaintance in general were 
 good-natured enough to praife them to the 
 Monk's contentment ; one old maiden aunt of 
 Madame de Seidlirs's, however, whofe zcal for 
 religion and hatred to heretics increafed with 
 her years, fecmed to approve of the corrcfpond- 
 ence lei's than any other perfon to whole in- 
 fpection he had fubmitted it. When Father 
 Mulo hinted this to her, flie told him, that Ihe 
 was fo provoked at the odious heretic who had 
 Induced her niece, that it was not in her power 
 to wiih in earneft for his converfion, for llie 
 could not bear even to hear his name mentioned, 
 and ihe was certain Ihe Ihould faint at the fight 
 of him whenever ihe met him, were it even in 
 Heaven. 
 
 But the Father had too much ardour for mak- 
 itjg converts, to foUov/ the fuggeflions of this 
 virgin j he therefore continued to traniuiit fuch 
 
 morfels
 
 214 Z E L U C O, 
 
 morfels of eloquence as, in his opinion, could 
 not fail to operate the converiion of Colonel 
 beidlits. 
 
 But the reverend Father's zeal being far more 
 peripicuous than his arguments, Madame dc 
 Seiiilits never thought proper to communicate 
 them to her hufband ; while he, on his part-, 
 left his lady, without moleltation, in the full 
 enjoyment of her religious opinions, and at per- 
 fect liberty to worfliip Cod in the manner whicli 
 her confcience approved. 'I'his he had promifed 
 when he married her, and he would have thought 
 it inconiirtent with honour to have tried to bring 
 her over to his own perfuaiion, even although 
 he had been certain of I'ucceeding. The Colonel 
 has been blamed for this by many zealous Pro- 
 teftantsi we do not mean to approve or cenfure 
 his conduft in this particular, but only mention 
 the fact, leaving it to better judges to decide 
 whether he was blame-worthy or not. 
 
 Madame de Scidlits herfelf, who was pleafed 
 with all her hufband's behaviour to her, was pe- 
 culiarly delighted with what Ihe called his deli- 
 cacy in this point : and when Father Mulo in- 
 filled peremptorily, in one of his letters, on 
 knowing whether ihe had ever made any attempt 
 to convert her hun)md, or had {hewn him the 
 forcible reaibning contained in his letters to her; 
 Ihe was obliged to acknowledge that Ihe had 
 done neither, and gave for her reafon, that her 
 hufb.md having leit her at liberty on the iubject 
 of religion, ihe thought it would be a bad re- 
 quital in her to teale liiu). 
 
 Father Mulo, in anlwer, endeavoured to de- 
 monllrale the wcaknel's of that argument. It is 
 not ncccll'ary to tranfcribe the whole of the Fa- 
 ther's
 
 Z E L U C O. 215 
 
 ther's letter, the following paragraph will, in all 
 probability, be thought fufficient : 
 
 " It was natural enough in you, my dear 
 Madam, to apprehend that your own arguments 
 would be too feeble to convince your hufonnd ; 
 but it is furprifuig that you do not perceive, 
 that thofe I provided you with are of a very dif- 
 ferent nature ; indeed, they are fuch as feldoin 
 f.ni to perfuade even the weakeft minds. From 
 this you may judge what imprcllion they would 
 make on a perfon of fuch good fenfe as you de- 
 fcribe your luifband to be. 
 
 " You (ay, that it would be improper in you 
 to teaie l:;ir., becaufe he never attempts to dif- 
 turb you, nor allows any other perfon to trouble 
 you on the fubjcft of religion : but you do not 
 didinguifh, my dear Madam, the great difference 
 between tlve two cafes. For your hull)and, in- 
 deed, to make anv attempt, or to allow any to 
 be made by others, for the purpofe of feducing 
 you from your religion to his, would not only be 
 improper, but alfo highly criminal, and for this 
 very fufiicient rcafon, becauj'e it is crinii'ifil to 
 dronv any perfon ivhutcvir from truth to fJfehud. 
 But for you to labour, without cealing, to pre- 
 vail on your deluded hulhand, to abjure his 
 own faith and adopt yours, is in the higheft de- 
 gree meritorious ; becaujc it is highly ineritcricus to 
 lead tTny feijcn ivharevff, and fur wore a feloved 
 hujhafid, from f elf e hood to truth, or from darknefs 
 to light. 
 
 •' After having cleared up this point, 1 have 
 onlyjurtto hint, that inftead of reafoning upon 
 what I inform you it is your duty to do; your 
 fafeil courfe, my deareft coufin, will, for the 
 future, be to perform it implicitly, for reafoning 
 
 is
 
 ii6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 is by no means v/Kat you fhlne in : and, altlioiigh 
 you are generally allowed to be endowed with 
 very good common fenfe, and fufficlent under- 
 ftanding to conduft common affairs ; take my 
 word for it, your immortal foul is of too much 
 confequence to be entrufled in your own hands." 
 This remonftrance had not the effect which, 
 in Father Mulo's opinion, fuch forcible reafon- 
 ing and fuch rational refpeifts ought to hare 
 produced. What coni:ributed, perhaps, to ren- 
 der Madame de Seidlits the more unwilling to 
 touch on iiich fubje(^s, was an incident of which 
 Hie was informed about the very time when the 
 JMonk was urging her fo earneftly. 
 
 — >»->*->»>^:^$««-«-« »— 
 
 CHAP. XXXVIII. 
 
 No fooner could a hint appear, 
 
 But up he darted to piquccr, 
 
 Alii] made t!ie lloutcfl yield to mercy. 
 
 When he engaged in controvcrfy, 
 
 Mot by thp. force of carnal rcafon, 
 
 But indefatigable tcaling. Bun. er. 
 
 jfjL. Young Proteftant clergyman, a dillant re- 
 lation of Colonel de Seiilliis, came about this 
 time to Berlin. He had applied himfelf with 
 ardour to the ftudy of controverfy. He was dif- 
 tingulflied by his wonderful faculty of creating 
 difputes where they v\'erc leail expected, and by 
 his invincible courage in maintaining them when 
 begun: he often alVerted, and with truth, that 
 he had never yielded an argument in his life. 
 He was greatly admired for the How of his pulpit 
 
 eloquence,
 
 Z E L U C O. 217 
 
 cloquetice and the force of his reafoning, by 
 all who were previoufly of his own opinion. The 
 longer this happy Eccleliaftic lived, he feemed 
 to be the more confirmed in the favourable im- 
 preflion which, from his boyifli years, he enter- 
 tained of his own talents, and in his contempt 
 for thofe of others ; and became at length lb 
 powerful in felf conceit, that he would, without 
 helitation, have engaged a whole conclave of 
 his adverlaries, being convinced not only that 
 he could overturn all their arguments, but that 
 the prejudices of education, the confiJerations 
 of intereft, and the allurements of ambition, 
 mufl ell yield to the irrefiftible iirength of his 
 demonflration. 
 
 This gentleman was fometi.nes invited to din- 
 ner by Colonel Seidlits, and was made welcome 
 by his lady as often as flie faw company in the 
 evening. 
 
 In return for thofe civilities, he thought it 
 incumbent on him to point out to her the abfur- 
 dities of the Popilh religion, as preparatory to 
 her converfion to Calvinifm. With this view 
 he was apt to introduce queftions of a controver- 
 iial nature, and at one time threw out a fnecr at 
 the docTlrine of tranCubftantiation in the prefcnce 
 of I\Iadame de Seidlits. 
 
 This was repeated by one of the company to 
 Colonel Seidlits, who, the next time he law 
 the clergyman alone, faid to him mildly, " I 
 am not certain, my good Sir, whether I ever 
 informed you that my wife is of the Roman Ca- 
 tholic church." 
 
 *< You never informed me," replied the other; 
 *' but it is long iince I knew that Madame dc 
 Seidlits had that misfortune." 
 
 Vol. I. L « You
 
 .21.8 Z E L U C O. 
 
 " You may, if you pleafe, leave her misfor- 
 tunes to thole who are more naturally concerned 
 in them," laid the Colonel; "but fince you 
 knew of what I was in Iiopes you had been igno- 
 rant, I own I am furpriled that you could fpeak 
 of one of the articles of her faith in the manner 
 you did, in her prelence." 
 
 <' I recolledl what you allude to," faid the 
 clergyman ; •' but really the article in queftion 
 is fo abfurd and incomprehenfible, that it is im- 
 pollible to mention it otherwile than in terms of 
 derifion." 
 
 '♦ Pray," replied the Colonel, *' do you be- 
 lieve in all the doctrines to be found in the public 
 creeds and fonnularies of our own church." 
 
 •' That I do," replied the Divine ; " and 
 Wr3uld die at the Hake, were it neceflary, avow- 
 ing them." 
 
 " Then I hope you have a better reafon for 
 thinking tranfubftantiation abfurd, than merely 
 it being incomprehenfible ?'' 
 
 " There is no article in any of the Proteftant 
 creedsyo incomprehenlible as that you mention," 
 replied the Divine. 
 
 '• I did not know there were degrees in in- 
 comprehenfibility," laid the Colonel j *< if there 
 is any propohtion which I am quite unable to 
 comprehend, it will be difficult to hate another 
 which I can comprehend lefs." 
 
 «' I will undertake to make you comprehend 
 diflin^tly every article of the creeds you allude 
 to," faid the Divine, with an undaunted air. 
 
 *' Rather than impole luch a tallc upon you," 
 faid the Colonel, '* allow me to continue to be- 
 4ieve them without fully comprehending them." 
 
 •« Well,
 
 Z E L U C O. 219 
 
 " Well, Colonel, you will do as you pleafe, 
 but furcly it would afford you great I'atisfaftion 
 if your lady could be prevailed on to embrace 
 the lame religion that you profefs." 
 
 " No ; I cannot fay it would," replied the 
 Colonel, coldly. 
 
 *' Good God ; that feems very unaccountable; 
 will you be fo good as to tell me your realon," 
 faid the other. 
 
 " Becaufe the thing cannot happen, Sir, 
 without either my changing my religion, and I 
 intend no fuch thing, or by my endeavouring 
 to perfuadc my wife to change hers, which I 
 have folemnly promifed never to do : befides, I 
 am certain that Mruiame de iSeidlits is an amiable 
 woman, and a moft excellent wife, with the re- 
 ligion (he profefl'es -, and there is no knowing 
 what alteration a change of fcntiments might 
 make." 
 
 ** What alteration, but a favourable one, can 
 accrue from renouncing one of the worft religi- 
 ons in the world for the bell r" 
 
 *< As to which is the worft, and which the 
 bcft," faid Seidlits, *< the world is much divided." 
 
 •' The Protellant religion is gaining ground 
 every day," faid the Clergyman; <* and there 
 is reafon to hope, that in a iliort time there will 
 be more ProtelKmts in the world than Papift?." 
 
 *' That to be furc is very comfortable news, 
 faid the Colonel ; " but it can have no great 
 weight in the prefent argument ; becaule, ever 
 iince the beginning of the world, there has been 
 greater numbers devoted to falie religions than 
 to the true ; and even now, if the ouclticn were 
 to be decided by a plurality of voices, the reli- 
 L 2 gioa
 
 220 Z E L U C O. 
 
 gion of Mahomet might perhaps carry the palm 
 both from the Proteftant and Roman Catholic." 
 " But you yourfelf are a Proteflant ; — ^cu at 
 leajl prefer the Proteftant form of worihip to all 
 others ?" faid the Clergyman. 
 
 •' I certainly prefer no other form of worfliip 
 to the Proteftant,'^ replied the Colonel. 
 
 •' Then I vro^ld be glad to know," faid the 
 Clergyman, with a triumphant air, '* wherefore 
 you prefer no other ? — the fame arguments 
 which convinced you might convince your lady?" 
 *« No," faid the Colonel ; *' that they could 
 not. 
 
 " Why fo :" faid the Clergyman. *« By what 
 powerful arguments were you perfuaded to ad- 
 here to the Proteftant religion?" 
 
 '* By this powerful argument," replied the 
 Colonel, ** that I was born in Berlin, and bred 
 at KoningftDcrg." 
 
 " That anfwer fmells of infidelity. Colonel, 
 and implies that you confider religion merely as 
 an affair of geography, and of little or no im- 
 portance in the world," faid the Clergyman. 
 
 <« It implies more than 1 intended then," re- 
 plied Seidlits, '* for although I (\q think that 
 nine hundred and ninety-nine in a thoufautl of 
 niinkind arc determined in the religion they 
 ])rofefs by the place of their birth and education; 
 1 do not infer from thence, that religion is of no 
 i nportancc : on the contrary, I am convinced, 
 that thofe who cherifti religion, perform the re- 
 lative duties of life in the moft confcientious 
 manner." 
 
 •' So you put all religionr. on the fame foot- 
 ing ?" faid the Clergyman. 
 
 '» By no means," anfwercd Scidlits; " I 
 know indeed of no religion which does not in- 
 culcate
 
 Z E L U C O. 221 
 
 culcate morality ; but as I have not had any op- 
 portunity of obferving the influence of other 
 religions on men's condu<n:, I fpeak of the Chrii- 
 tian religion only; — which, if I am not mif- 
 taken, contributes greatly to render mankind 
 better and happier even in this life." 
 
 ♦• You rpeak of the reformed religion, I pre- 
 fume," faid the Clergyman; "for as to the 
 abfurd tenets of the Roman Catholic creed, it 
 is iinpoffible for you, or any man of fenfe, to 
 refpeft them." 
 
 *• 1 fpeak not of the creeds whicli, fince the 
 Chriftian sera, have been compofed by the fa- 
 thers of either church," replied the Colonel ; 
 " I have not leifurc, perhaps nor underftand- 
 ing fuflicient to weigh or compare them with 
 due precifion. My oblervation regards only the 
 precepts given, and the example fet, by the 
 Author of Chrirtianity bimfelf, and in which 
 both churches are agreed. The good efi'cc^ 
 which a due imprellion of tliofe divine precepts 
 has upon the mind ieems, I confefs, very evi- 
 dent to me, whether the individuals on which 
 it operates are Roman Catholics or Proteftants." 
 
 " That yon, by accident, have met with 
 Roman Catholics who wore reckoned good mo- 
 ral men, I Ihall not difpute," fanl the Miniftcr; 
 " but that any part of their goodnefs proceeded 
 from their religion, is what 1 can never admit." 
 
 " Why not ,^" laid the Colonel; '« the moral 
 precepts of both religions are the lame." 
 
 '* The rpirit of thofe who profefs them are 
 very dillercnt, however," relumed the Minifl-er. 
 
 " When did the Proteftants difplay the fame 
 fpirit of perfecution that the Papifts have To of- 
 ten done f" 
 
 I' 3 " Let
 
 212- Z £ L U C O. 
 
 ** Let us remember," replied Seidlits, " that 
 ihe church of Rome was eftabliflied in power 
 when the lirft reformers began to attack its doc- 
 trines j that an attack on its docli-ines cndan- 
 j;ered the power and riches of its clergy. That 
 it is natural for mankind, when they have long 
 been in pofleffion of power and wealth, to be 
 exceedingly unwilling to relinquifli them ; and 
 the clergy do not form an exception to this 
 general rule ; they, as well as others, are apt to 
 be extremely angry with thole who attempt to 
 difpoflefs them j befidcs, let us recolletSt, that all 
 eftabliflied governments think they have a right 
 to ufe i'everities againft revolting ("ubjedls, what- 
 ever good grounds ihof'e fubjects have had for 
 revolting, — and " 
 
 •' But reniember," interrupted the Clergyman, 
 ** the perfidy and cruelty diiplayed by the Roman 
 Catholics in the mail'acre of St. Bartholemy — 
 tiiink of the Ihocking reign of the gloomy bi- 
 gotted Philip, and the enormities of his unre* 
 lenting general the Uuke of Alva," 
 
 *' I do think of them with horror, faid the 
 Colonel, *' and 1 have no mind to palliate fuch 
 dreadful inftances of human wickcdncl's and de- 
 lufion. I only meant to hint, that thofe ought 
 not to have cretlit for not difplaying the fame 
 fpirit who were not in polTefllon of the fame 
 power. I am willing to believe, however, that 
 with equal power they would not have commit- 
 ted equal excefles. Though I am forry to fay, 
 that inftances might be mentioned, which create 
 a fufplcion that more power would have per- 
 verted the fpirit of fbme of the moft diftin- 
 guilhed reformers, and might poffibly have the 
 iauic cficit on their fuccelibrs. It is therefore 
 
 fortunate
 
 Z E L U C O. 223 
 
 fortunate for the clergy of HollanJ, Switzer- 
 land, fome parts of Germany, and other coun- 
 tries in Europe, that there is little danger of 
 their degenerating from that caufe." 
 
 *' I doubt much, whether that is a fortunate 
 circumftance," replied the Clergyman ; *« for 
 although riches, power, and pomp have a mif- 
 chievous eiffe<St when proftituted to the unwor- 
 thy, yet they are fuitable to the character we 
 bear of the ambafladors of Heaven, and might 
 give more weight to our admonitions." 
 
 " Power and wealth are the great corrupters 
 of the human heart," faid Seidlits, *« and might 
 fpread their baneful influence even to the ambaf- 
 Jadors themfelves ; in which event, in lieu of 
 that fpirit of toleration, benevolence, and hu- 
 mility, which diftinguillies them at prefent ; a 
 great acceflion of power and riches might gra- 
 dually infpire them with pride and ambition, 
 and render them at laft little better than lb 
 many cartlinals and popes." 
 
 '* Never, never," cried the Clergyman ; 
 ** the fpirit of Proteftantifm is too averfe to any 
 fuch alteration." 
 
 *' The fpirit of human nature, however, has 
 a mighty tendency that way," faid Seidlits. 
 
 " Jjcarning and deep reflection correvSt the 
 depraved tendencies of our nature," reiimied 
 the Ecclefiaftic, '< and leave the mind equally 
 free from the degrading abfurdities of fuptifti- 
 lion, and the impious Ibphiftry of fcepticifm." 
 
 «' That is a flate of mind devoutly to be 
 wiflied," faid Seidlits- 
 
 " Is it not ?" cried the Parfon with exul- 
 tation ; "you yourfelf allow that fuperftition 
 is degrading to the mind of man," continued he. 
 L 4 ♦» I do,"
 
 224 Z E L U C O. 
 
 " I do," replied the Colonel ; " and the mor« 
 readily, as I never faid it was otherwife." 
 
 *• Well, I will now prove to you, that fcep- 
 
 ticifiii is as uncomfortable as the other is degrade 
 ing : I hope you have no prefling bufinefs at 
 prei'ent," continued ihe Parfon, *' becaufe, to 
 put the fubje^l: in a clear light, it will be necef- , 
 i'ary to divide it into three heads, and then fubc 
 divide each of thefe into four principal branches. 
 " To begin then with the firft and moft in;- 
 portant of thofe three heads. 
 
 " Any degree of doubt or uncertainty, par- 
 ticularly on matters of high importance, has been 
 confidered in all ages as irkfome and " 
 
 " I aOc pardon for interrupting you," faid 
 the Colonel ; " it is only to know whether you 
 mean to prove, that to a well-difpofed mind a 
 flate of certainty is more agreeable than any de- 
 gree of doubt on religious fubjeds ?" 
 
 " That is precifely what I am going to dc- 
 monflrate," relumed the Parfon. 
 
 ♦« I will fave you the trouble," faid Seidlits, 
 «' for there is nothing of which I am more firm- 
 ly convinced." 
 
 " Is it not aflonifhin" then," faid the other, 
 ** that fo many fliould be lb foolilli as to per- 
 fevere in a ftate of uncomfortable doubt ?" 
 
 " Very aflonilhing indeed," faid the Colonel ; 
 '* efperiuiiy as it is in every body's power to be- 
 lieve whatever will alFord them moll comfort." 
 
 •' I perceive," faid the Parfon, <' you have pe- 
 rufed my treatife upon the faculty of believing." 
 
 The Colonel nodded. 
 
 " I there clearly prove, that the Roman Ca- 
 ( holies have too much faith, and fome fetfls of 
 the Protelhmts too litik j aud then carefully 
 
 point
 
 Z E L U C O. 225 
 
 point out the golden medium which mankind 
 ought to adhere to." 
 
 •« It is very fortunate for mankind," faid the 
 Colonel, *' that you know it." 
 
 " It is fo," relumed the Parfon ; " for of this 
 happy medium it may be faid, m.ore emphatical- 
 ly than of any thing e'fe, ne,'cire mdli/tn ej}." 
 
 «' If lam not millaken," faid Seidlits, " an 
 nnfwer to your work was publillied by a certain 
 French Abbe, who, according to the cuftom of 
 his countrymen, leemed very fond of jefting." 
 
 «* That was a moll abominable, and a mcft 
 provoking performance," cried the Parfon with 
 great vehemence; " but jeftsare no argument?, 
 Colonel." 
 
 " No ; nor arguments are no jefls," faid Seid- 
 lits ; •' yet this provoking Abbe endeavoured to 
 make a jeft of ail your arguments." 
 
 " There will be no jefting in Hell, however," 
 faid the Parfon, with a vengeful afpedl. 
 
 " True," faid the Colonel ; *• when you have 
 .once got him there, the laugh will be on your 
 ilde— " 
 
 *< But pray. Colonel," refumed the Minifier, 
 *• do you imagine that your lady has ever read 
 *« my book." 
 
 •■< I fhould rather think not," faid the Colonel. 
 
 ** What a pity !" exclaimed the other ; *« it 
 would go a great way to cure her of many pre- 
 judices." 
 
 " The remedy would be rather violent," laid 
 the Colonel. 
 
 *' Perh.ips it might feem a little fo at firfr," 
 rejoined the Clergyman, •< but were I to con- 
 verl'e with her on thofe fubjeds, I fliould begin 
 in gentle terms." 
 
 L 5 « That
 
 226 Z E L U C O. 
 
 " That would be very proper," faiJ the Co- 
 lonel. 
 
 " The fooner I begin then the better," faid 
 the Parfon ', '« after 1 have talked with her for 
 a few hours, fhe will be able to decide between 
 the two religions on rational principles." 
 
 ** I have already decided, on what I think 
 rational principles," faid the Colonel, " not to 
 difturb her." 
 
 *• You have decided very erroneoufly," re- 
 fumed this perfevering EcclefiaiVic. 
 
 *' Let me intreat you, my good Sir," inter- 
 rupted the Colonel, " not to interfere in my 
 domeftic concerns, but to mind your own bu- 
 ilnefs." 
 
 *' I beg leave to inform you, Colonel Seid- 
 lits," faid the Clergyman, with a dignified air, 
 *• that I conlider the propagation of gofpel 
 truths, and the immafliing of impollure, par- 
 ticularly thofe of the church of Rome, as vvj 
 bufinefs j antl 1 will embrace every opportunity 
 of doing both, in fpite of the united oppolition 
 of men and devils." 
 
 The Colonel having looked very earneftly for 
 fome time at this violent Reformer, at length 
 iaid, •* I beg your excufe, Sir, for having en- 
 grofFcrd fo much of your valuable time; it is a 
 miilake I fliall never again fall into." So fay- 
 ing, he pulled of his hat, made a low bow, and 
 walked away. The momejit he entered his own 
 houfe, he gr.ve orders that his relation ihouUl 
 be no more -adruitted. 
 
 CHAT-
 
 Z E L U C G. 227 
 
 C M A P. XXXIX. 
 
 Miilla putans, fortenique anlnio niiferatiis iniqiiam. 
 
 Via. J£ii. 1. vi, 
 
 JL HE attention which Colonel Seidlits dif- 
 playcJ in preventing his lady from being dii- 
 quieted in her religious opinions, and the deli- 
 cacy of his behaviour on every occafion, was 
 felt by her with ail'edion and gratitude. Siie was, 
 however, by no means fo eafy in the contem- 
 plation of her hufband's being a proteftant, as 
 he was in that of her remaining a Roman catho- 
 lic •, and although the arguments of Fatiier 
 Mulo did not prevail on her to attempt his con- 
 verfion, yet few things could have atibrded her 
 greater i'atisfuvflion than to have i'cen her hiii- 
 band adopt from conviction, what flie confidcr- 
 cd as the only true religion. But with what a 
 face could the fpeak to him on a fubjedl, wluch 
 he never mentioned to her, and which he per- 
 mitted no perlon whatever to dirturb her about? 
 Any attenipt on her part to alter his lentiments, 
 implied that (lie confidcrcd heri'clf as wifer than 
 he ; whereas Ihe only coniidered herfeif as more 
 fortunate, in having been educated in a better 
 religion. 
 
 Thefe and fimilar confiderations, which oc- 
 cupied the mind of this worthy lady, were 
 fometimes on the point of being facriP.ced to 
 the anguifh Ihe felt as often as the idea of her 
 hufband's continuing in herefy, and all the 
 preadful confe(^ucnccs occurred to her terrified 
 
 imagination i
 
 228 Z E L U C O. 
 
 imagination ; for the natural clearnefs of her un- 
 derftanding and the ferenity of her difpofition, 
 were clouded and difturbed by the terrilic afpeift 
 and unrelenting feverity of Ibme of the doctrines 
 in which flie had been inftrucSled. 
 
 This anxiety of mind on her hufband's ac- 
 count always increafed in proportion to the 
 hazards he was expofeJ to in the exercife of his 
 profefiioji, and became particularly fevere in the 
 courfe of a tedious illntf^, into which he fell in 
 confequence of a blow by the but-end of a muf- 
 ket, which he received on his breaft at the battle 
 of Hochkirchen. This contullon produced a 
 fpitting of blood, and was fuppofed to lay the 
 foundation of that illncfs of which he afterwards 
 died. 
 
 Soon after the battle, the Colonel was carried 
 to a place of f.ifety. And Madame de 8eidlits, 
 having obtained a pafs from Marfhal Daun, 
 haftened to the village in which her hufband 
 was •, where Ihe attended him during his long 
 illnefs with equal patience and tendernefs. At 
 one time he was, by the millake of the phylician, 
 thought in immediate danger. The an^^iety 
 which had fo long lurked within the breafl of 
 jMadame de Seidlits now became too violent for 
 her to conceal i the very acute forrow which 
 ihe endured from the thought of loling a hulband 
 fhe highly efleemed and dearly loved, was ab- 
 forbed in the keener anguifh arifing from the 
 aweful idea of the danger which threatened his 
 immortal foul ; and this imprefl'ed her with the 
 more dread that it (eemed to give him none. 
 
 Her terrors on this fubjciSt were augmented 
 by a letter which ihe received from her indefati- 
 gable relation Father Mulo •, who, having heard 
 
 of
 
 Z E L U C O. 229 
 
 of the Colonel's illnefs, moft charitably Intreated 
 her to exert herl'elf now or never ; as there was 
 nopoffibility of falvation for herhufband,unlefs 
 he relinquilhed herefy, embraced the Catholic 
 faith, confefled his fins, and obtained abfolution. 
 One argument, he thought, proved the good 
 policy of this meafure beyond the power of re- 
 ply; it was this : ** The Proteflants them- 
 
 ielves," faid this ingenious Priefi:, <* admit, that 
 well-meaning and virtuous perfons may be faved, 
 notwithflanding their dying in the Roman Ca- 
 tholic perfuafion ; whereas we afltrt, that no he- 
 retic, however virtuous in other refpe^fls he may 
 be, can enter into the kingdom of heaven : it is 
 apparent, therefore, that your hufband runs 
 no rifk in following your advice, but the great- 
 eft by neglefting it." 
 
 The agitation and ccufulion of Madame de 
 Seidlits's mind prevented her from feeing this 
 kind of reafoning in the fame light which her 
 good fenfe would have prefented it in a calmer 
 moment. 
 
 One day, therefore, when her apprehenfions 
 on the Colonel's account were at the height, 
 after fome circumlocution, with infinite deli- 
 cacy, but in the moft pathetic terms, (he com- 
 municated her fears to him, and concluded by 
 urging him to forfakehis own religion, and em- 
 brace that of the church of Rome. 
 
 Having heard her with the utmoft attention 
 and feme degree of furprife, the Colonel faid, 
 " I fear, my dear, you are too much alarmed 
 on my account ; but I afiure you I have palFed 
 an uncommonly good night, and I feel myfelf 
 better than I was yeftcrday." <' I am moft ex- 
 ceedingly glad to bear it," faid Madame de Seid- 
 
 lits ;
 
 230 Z E L U C O. 
 
 lits ; " but let this be no reafon for preventing 
 a nieafure of infinite importance, which cannot 
 be taken too foon, but may be delayed till it is 
 too late." 
 
 » My deareft Therefa," faid the Colonel, 
 taking hold of her hand, *' I view your prefent 
 folicitude and importunity in the true light \ I 
 confider them as frefli proofs of that noble friend- 
 fhip and affection which has been the happinefs 
 of my life, and of which I ever had a grateful 
 conviction ; but I mufl allure you, that although 
 I have never urged you, nor permitted any other 
 perfon to urge you, on the lame fubjedl, which 
 you now prefs on me, it is not becaufe I have lefs 
 concern for your foul than you have for mine ; 
 nor is it from a want of partiality for the religion 
 which I myfelf profefs." — " From what motive 
 then has your forbearance proceeded," laid Ma- 
 dame dc Seidlits. •* From a convidlion," re- 
 plied he, " that you are as certain of falvation 
 in your religion as I can be in mine." *' You 
 muft believe, then," faid INiiulame de Seidlits 
 with quicknefs, ** that both religions are equally 
 good." '< No, my love, that docs not follow, 
 for although I think there is much good in both, 
 ftill I think my own is preferable; yet," 
 continued he gaily, «• as you poficl's fo much 
 more of yours than I do of mine, I imagine the 
 fuperiority in quantity will m.ike up for the de- 
 ficiency in ipjality, and render you as fecure as 
 you can wiih." 
 
 " My dear Colonel," replied Madame dc 
 Seidlits, *• is this a fubje<Sl, or is this a proper 
 occafion for jefting ?" 
 
 <* I beg pardon, my dear," faid the Colonel, 
 *' I will be very ferious ; in one great and eficn- 
 
 tial
 
 Z E L U C O. 231 
 
 tial point we have the happinefs to be of one 
 opinion ; both rel-gions agree, that it is ou r duty 
 to hve a life of integrity, and do all the good 
 we can to our fellow-creatures." 
 
 «* For which realbn," interrupted Madame 
 de Seidlits, ** I am fo anxious to do the grcateft 
 good poflible to him who is infinitely the dearelt 
 to me of all my fellow-creatures." 
 
 *' None of them can be more grateful," re- 
 plied the Colonel, '« than I am for thofe good 
 intentions ; and you cannot doubt of my being 
 willing to render you the fame fervice ; yet if 
 you were to continue to prefs this upon me, and 
 I the fame upon you, the unavoidable effe£l of 
 our eagernefs to make each other eternally hap- 
 py, would be the making each other eternally 
 milerable; for what can be worfe in this world 
 or the next, than everlading difputes between 
 man and wife ^ Let us therefore avoid all dif- 
 putable points," continued he, ** and endeavour 
 to promote our own happinefs, and that of cur 
 neighbours, by every means in our power. The 
 mo:t probable realbn I can conceive for the un- 
 equal dillribution of the comforts of life, is to 
 atlord m?nkind opportunities for the exercifes 
 of benevolence, gratitude, and other virtues, 
 which I am inclined to believe is the n^oft likely 
 way of acquiring the favour of the Deity. We 
 certainly have it frequently in our power to add 
 to the happinefs or miiery of our fellow-crea- 
 tures, to God Almighty we can neither do good 
 nor harm , and therefore 1 cannot help thinking, 
 that the condutft of our lives is of infinitely more 
 importance, than our religious opinions, or the 
 forms of ourworlhip. — It has been already fet- 
 tled between us," continued he, »' that you fhall 
 
 educate
 
 232 Z E L U C O. 
 
 educate our daughters in your way of thinking, 
 as our fons ihall be educated in mine ; our mu- 
 tual endeavour will be, to render them virtuous 
 women and honeft men, which implies benevo- 
 lence and liberality of lentiment j if we fucceed, 
 I have no doubt, notwithftanding our having 
 taken different roads, but we fhall all meet in 
 heaven." 
 
 *' God Almighty, in his infinite mercy, grant 
 it may be fo, cried Madame de Seidlits, in a 
 tranfport of afFedlion j " for I am certain hea- 
 ven will be no heaven to me without thofe I fo 
 dearly love." Then recollecting herfelf a little, 
 fhe took occafion from what her huiband had 
 juft faid, to urge the laft argument of her con- 
 feflbr ; — '< Since you have no doubt," faid fhe, 
 <' of our meeting in heaven, although 1 retain 
 my religion, and llncc thofe of our church de- 
 clare there is no admiflion for thofe who perlifb 
 in herefy, why will you not, my deareft huiband, 
 take tiie fafer courfe, and embrace the catholic 
 
 faith r 
 
 Here the Colonel, fmiiing through the tears 
 which his lady's endearments had previcufly 
 forced into his eyes, replied, *' I confefs, my 
 beloved I herefa, that this laft argument is fo 
 unv/orthy of your excellent underllandiug, that 
 I am convinced you have had it fuggefted by 
 fome one of far inferior fenfe and candour to 
 yourfclf. Conlider that, in my conCcience, — 
 for whether I am right or wrong is out of the 
 
 queftion ; but in my conl'cience I think the 
 
 protellant religion preferable to that which you 
 profefs ; yet you advife me, as the fafeft cour(c 
 I can take, to embrace yours ; that is to fay, to 
 comn^it a piece of grols Iiypocriiy, and with a 
 
 view
 
 Z E L U C O. 233 
 
 vkw to what ? to impofe on men ? No ; there 
 might be fenfe in that ; foi- men are impofed 
 upon daily by hypocrites : but this piece of hy- 
 pocrify to which you advifc me, is with a view 
 to impofe upon God, and to get fmuggled into 
 heaven as a Roman Catholic, while in my heart 
 and confcience I remain a Proteftant." 
 
 Madame de Seidlits feemea embarrafled -, after 
 a fhort iilence flie faid, " I fear my anxiety 
 makes me abfurd •, forgive me, my dear," con- 
 tinued (he, " for leafing you in this foolifli 
 manner." 
 
 ** I (hall think myfelf for ever obliged by the 
 affectionate and generous anxiety of my Therefa,'* 
 faid Seidlits. 
 
 " How could I allow myfelf to think for a 
 moment that fuch integrity, fuch manly gene- 
 rofity of mind, as you have always difplayed," 
 faid fhe, taking her hufband by the hand, " and 
 fuch {iuiX adherence to the dictates of confci- 
 ence, can be reje«5lcd ? Thefe alfo were the vir- 
 tues of the man whofe memory you fo much re- 
 vere, your noble friend and patron the Marlhah'* 
 
 " Ah ! my Therefa," cried Seidlits, '« can 
 the long couri'e of honour and integrity purfued 
 by the gallant Keith be forgotten and rejeftedof 
 Heaven, becaufe he was born in a proteflant 
 country, or perhaps entertained erroneous fpe- 
 culative opinions ? I well knew the uprightnefs 
 of his mind, have feen many inftances of his hu- 
 manity and benevolence even to his enemies, 
 and have myfelf received proofs of his generous 
 friendfliip ; it will be my lateft boaft to have 
 been a witnefs tothofe noble exertions in which 
 he finiflied a life of honour in the field of Hoch- 
 kirchen, where the gallaut Prince Francis of 
 
 Ijrunfwic,
 
 234 Z E L U C O. 
 
 Brunfvvic, a family fo fertile in heroes, alfo fell. 
 I thank Heaven I had the honour of aflifting 
 the Marfhal's intrepid endeavours in rallying and 
 infpiriting our difordered troops, in following 
 him again and again to the charge ; by which ■ 
 means the elated enemy was checked, our troops 
 protected, the great monarch he ferved, and 
 who honoured him with his friendship, enabled 
 to retreat in fuch order as to pitch his camp 
 within a few miles of the field from which he 
 retired. This great officer himfelf refufing, 
 although dangeroufly wounded, to quit the field, 
 continued his exertions, till he received a fecond 
 wound, which proved inftantly mortal. And 
 fhall a parcel of ignorant monks, a gang of ufe- 
 lefs drones, deal damnation around on all who 
 have not a ready faith in their legends and their 
 
 ? But I alk your pardon, my dear," faid 
 
 Seidllts, checking himfelf, " I did not mean to 
 fay any thing difobliging; but I heartily wifh 
 you would obferve the dictates of your own un- 
 derf\anding more, and liften to the fuggeflions 
 of others lefs ; the virtuous condmSt which you 
 have hitherto purfacd is your bed: fecurlty for 
 happinel's here and hereafter ; permit me to en- 
 deavour to fecure mine in the manner mofl: 
 agreeable to my confcience, and of courlc the 
 molt likely to be fuccefsful." 
 
 <♦ Forgive me, my deareft friend," faid Ma- 
 dame de Scidlits, " for this once, and I fhall 
 aiTure you, all the monk> on earth fliall never 
 prevail on me to give you a lingle hint of this 
 n;iturc ag lin. I am not a little alhamed of whac 
 
 I was foolilhly induced to fay ; Heaven be 
 
 praifed that you feem fo much better than you 
 were lalt night." 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Z ^ E L U C 0. 235 
 
 CHAP. XL. 
 
 Shitll mau he left abnndoii'c! in the duft, 
 When 1 iite relenting, Ict'i the flow'r revive? 
 Shall Nuturc's voice, to man alone unjiift, 
 Bid him, tho' doom'd to perifli, hope to live? 
 Is it for this fair Virtue oft muft ftrive 
 With difappointment, penury, and pain ? 
 No ; Heav'n's immortal fpriiig fhall yet revive ; 
 And man's majeflic beauty bloom again. 
 
 Beattik. 
 
 
 X HIS was the firft and Inft difpute on religion 
 that ever pafled between Colonel Seidlits and his 
 lady, although both continued attached to that 
 in which they had been bred ; yet, from this 
 time, Madame de Seidlits feemed to adopt, ia 
 many particulars, the liberal fentiments of her 
 hufband. They lived together in the happieft 
 union for feveral years after the general peace. 
 
 Laura, their only child, was educated, ac- 
 cording to the agreement between them, in 
 her mother^s religion. 
 
 It was already remnrked, that the Colonel 
 never fully recovered his health after the con- 
 tullon in his breali -, on the flighteft cold, and 
 fometimes without any known caufe, he was 
 liable to be feized with fits of oppreffive and dif- 
 ficult breathing ; a I'evere attack of this nature 
 obliged him, by the king's exprefs order, to 
 quit the field in the middle of that fliort war 
 between Pruflia and the Emperor refpectmg the 
 fucceffion of Bavaria. Having returned by flow 
 journies to Berlin, he foon after had thehappi- 
 
 nels
 
 236 Z E L U C O. 
 
 nefs to hear of his fon's diftinguKhing himfelf by 
 relieving the Baron Carloftein from the Auftrian 
 Huflars. And at the conclufion of the peace he 
 retired to his fmall villa, with his wife and 
 daughter, where he had the pleafure of enter- 
 taining the two friends, as has been mentioned, 
 Carlollein he never faw more ; but Captain Seid- 
 lits fpent all the time he could be fpared from 
 his regiment in his father's family, with whom 
 he lived in the greateft harmony. 
 
 But Colonel Seidlits health gradually declin- 
 ed ; this however was more apparent to others, 
 than to thofe conftantly with him ; and Madame 
 de Seidlits v^as for a long time deceived by the 
 cheerful air her hufband always afTumed in her 
 prefence ; for his mind remained in full vigour 
 notwithftanding his bodily weaknefs. Having 
 perceived, however, for fome days, that he 
 fhewed uncommon folicitude in arranging and 
 fettling his affairs, fhe took nonce of that cir- 
 cumftance to him with an air of apprehcnfion. 
 
 •' Is it not a fuflicient reafon," laid he, '• my 
 dear friend, that I know I muft die fome time 
 or other, and that I do not know how foon ?" 
 
 •* But why difturb your mind with bulinel's at 
 prefent ?" faitl flie, '• you are certainly in no 
 immediate danger." 
 
 " You are not then of the opinion of the Due 
 de la Rochefoucault," replied the Colonel, " who 
 fays, // ti'y a quelamori qui foil cfitnine, et cepen- 
 d.iiit nous agijjoiis commefi ceto'it la Jeule chofe incer- 
 iaine:' 
 
 " That is applicable to me as well as to you, 
 my dear," laid Madame de Seidlits. 
 
 " It is fo," replied the Colonel ; «« and if I 
 bad become apprehenfive of your dying as often 
 
 as
 
 Z E L U C O. 237 
 
 as you prepared yourfelf for death, I fliould have 
 been in continual apprehenfion ever fince I knew 
 you." The Colonel faiJ this with fuch an eafy 
 air, that Madame de Seidlits became lefs alarmed. 
 
 But although the Colonel had none of the op- 
 preflive afthmatic attacks as formerly, he felt his 
 llrength melting faft away ; he permitted none 
 of his family, however, to attend him through 
 the night ; an old foldier alone, who had been 
 long in his fervice, lay in the bed-chamber. 
 
 A few days after this converfation with his 
 lady, having had a very difturbed night, he 
 perceived the near approach of death. He 
 caufed himielf to be raifed in his bed in the 
 morning, a little before the hour at which his 
 family ufually entered the room ; they were un- 
 confcious of his illnefs through the night ; his 
 lady, with Laura and Captain Seidlits, fat around 
 hh bed ; — when the Colonel, fmiling, faidin a 
 f;iiut voice to his fon, *' It is a long while, Seid- 
 lits, fmce I alTured my wife, that notwithfiand- 
 ing the difference of our fentiments on certain 
 fu bjetfts, this company fhould all meet in heaven." 
 
 ♦' 1 hope yon will keep your word, Sir," faid 
 the young man ; *' but nor for a long time." 
 
 ♦• It is my hope," replied the Colonel, <' that 
 it will be long before the reft of the company 
 follow j but I feel that I niuft fet out foon." 
 
 ♦< Ah, father !" cried Laura, with a voice 
 of forrow. Captain Seidlits looked with an- 
 guifli at his mother-in law. 
 
 «« Why do you talk fo, my dear," faid Ma- 
 d.ime de Seidlits ; " you feem a little faint this 
 morning ; but you have often recovered from 
 )nore oppreflive fymptoms." 
 
 ««, Never,
 
 2t8 Z E L U C O. 
 
 " Never, never ! my beloved friend," faid 
 he; " but you would not willi me to rtruggle 
 any longer ; the hope of perfect recovery hus 
 been long over, and the ftruggle is ending." 
 
 " Alas !" cried fhe, fbarting from her feat 
 greatly alarmed, <* fend for a phyflcian." 
 
 *' If you love me," faid he, «< let there be 
 no intrufion." 
 
 She funk on the bed, grafping his hand ; 
 *« Let my lateft breath," continued he, " de- 
 clare my unaltered affejflion. I regret that I 
 have been able to make fo fmall a provifion ; 
 but what can a foldier provide ? I have ferved 
 an heroic monarch with fidelity ; he knows it. 
 Your condu<5l, my Seidlits," looking at his fon, 
 •' has thrown comfort and gladnefs on the heart 
 of your father, and made my declining years the 
 happieft of my life, 1 know you will behave 
 with duty to your inother and afl'e^ftion to your 
 filter. Farewell, my beloved Therefa ; — fare- 
 well, my fweet Laura \ — farewell, my Seidlits : — 
 I refign you to /;// protection, into whole mer- 
 ciful hands I refign my own foul. God Al- 
 mighty blefs you -, — once niorc, farewell ; — but 
 1 hope — I trull not for ever. — My eyes grow 
 dim ! — a dark mift over-hangs them ! — I fee you 
 not, my Thereia ! — My children ! — my organs 
 
 fail ! — yet my foul departs intire. Father of 
 
 mercy, receive my foul !" — His voice failed, and 
 after a few fobs tliis gallant foldier expired. 
 
 Madame de Seidlits remained in ipeechlcfs 
 afilicStion, holding the cold hand of her hufljand 
 for a confiderable time after he had breathed his 
 laft. Laura, kneeling by her mother, wept 
 without uttering a lyllable ; and Captain Seidlits 
 
 unable
 
 Z E L U C O. 239 
 
 unable to comfort either, flood motionlefs with 
 grief, t\l\ a iervant entering the chamber, Seid- 
 lits ilippofted l\,aura and her mother to their 
 apartment, and then retired to his own. 
 
 CHAP. XLI. 
 
 La gravitc eft un myftere du corps, in vente pour cacher Ics 
 tlcrauts Uc I'dprit. Roc m trou c a ult. 
 
 c 
 
 OLONEL SEIDLITS left his family in 
 very moderate circumllances. The king ap- 
 pointed a penfjon to his widow, and foon after 
 })romoted his fon, who had only the rank of 
 J-ieutenant, to the command of a troop of dra- 
 goons. This young man behaved with great 
 generofity to his mother-in- law; and continued 
 for fome time after his father's death to live with 
 her and his iiller ; but, on his being obliged to 
 ?tttnd his regiment, Madame de Scidlits took 
 the refolution of returning to her native coun- 
 try, which fhc put in execution notwithflanding 
 the ftrongeft felicitations on the part of Captairx 
 Seidlits, whole friendfliip and affection for them 
 both made him exceedingly delirous of their 
 remaining in Germany. 
 
 When we were led intothis long digreflion, we 
 left Madame de Seidlits in converiation with 
 Father Pedro, which was interrupted by the 
 coming of Laura and Father Mulo. The latter 
 always harboured fears that Madame Seidlits's 
 long refidence in a country of heretics had di- 
 miniflied in her mind that filutary horror in 
 which he thought they fliould be held by every 
 
 fin cere
 
 240 Z E L U C O. 
 
 flncere catholic. To counteraft this, and to 
 levive her faith in thofe points which he con- 
 fidered 2S moft efTential, he fent her, fince her 
 arrival at Naples, a large folio of divinity, ear- 
 neftly entreating her to perufe it attentively 
 along with her daughter, telling her at the fame 
 time, that fhe might rely on having the fecond 
 volume as foon as they had read the firft. 
 
 " Have you perui'ed that admirable work, 
 my dear doughter ?" faid Father Mulo, feeing 
 the book lie on the table. 
 
 <' I have begun it," replied Madame de Seid- 
 lits ; *' it is a book of too ferious a nature to be 
 read over fuperficially." 
 
 ** It is indeed a work of great weight, and 
 requires the utmofl attention," {aid Father Mulo. 
 
 " It were fortunate," iaid Laura, " if the 
 authors of books which require fo much attcn- 
 tiou could write them fo as to command it." 
 
 <' The bufinefs of an author is to write books," 
 faid Father Mulo, with becoming gravity ; *' it 
 is the duty of the reader to command his atten- 
 tion when he perufes them." 
 
 " You are indeed too hard upon authors, my 
 good young lady," faid Father Pedro, " to ex- 
 pe<ft that they lliould not only write their books, 
 but alfo be obliged to command the attention of 
 their readers. My learned brother has, with 
 more regard to didributive juftice, divided the 
 toil between the author and the reader." 
 
 *• In my humble opinion," replied Laura, 
 fmiling, •• he allots too large a proportion of the 
 tafk to the courteous reader. It is not fo eafy a 
 matter to command one's attention on ptruilng 
 certain books as you feem to think. I own I 
 never found mine more difobedient than in the 
 
 perufal
 
 Z E L U C O. 24t 
 
 pcruful of that very admirable work which the 
 revereml Father recommends.'' 
 
 " Your tafte, I am afraid," faiJ Father Mulo, 
 addrefTing himfeif to liaura with much I'olem- 
 nity, ** ii in fome mcafurc corrupted by books 
 of prophaiie hirtory, or of amulement, whofe 
 merit confifts in their elocjuence, or perhaps in 
 their wit." 
 
 *' And you may judge, my dear daughter," 
 ndded Father Pedro, " how httle vahie ought 
 to be put on tliat kind of merit, by its hiring 
 often to be met with in the writings of infidels 
 and heretics," 
 
 " I fliould be better pleafed," refumed Laura, 
 •' to meet it elfewhere; but I hope, Father, 
 you do not think that where there is wit there 
 muff alfo be infidelity." 
 
 " Why really, daughter," faid Father Mulo, 
 anfwering with more gravity of manner than 
 depth of refleclJon, " where there is much of 
 the firfl, therv* is often reafon to fufpe»5l fome of 
 the laft." 
 
 " I cannot be of that opinion," faid Madame 
 de Scidlits; <' for 1 have generally found true 
 wit in better coni[vany; and although we fome- 
 times find infidelity accomjianied by wit, how 
 much oftner are we fliocked with pert oflenta- 
 tious infiJelity without any wit at all ?" 
 
 ♦' I am convinced my mother is in the rigiit," 
 cried Laura ; *' and I hope you will allow. Fa- 
 ther, that there is not a neceffary connexion 
 between them " 
 
 Father Mulo, perceiving at length that lie 
 had fpoken a little inconfiderately, was obliged 
 to own, though with evident rcluiftance, that 
 he hoped there was not. 
 
 Vol. L M «« I am
 
 242 Z E L U C O. 
 
 *' I am certa'rtt there is not," added Laura \ 
 *' and I am obliged to my mother for having 
 made me remark inftances, both in converfation 
 and in reading, where not only the ftrength of 
 the arguments, but alfo the pureft wit, was on 
 the fide of virtue and piety." 
 
 *««I can aflure you, young lady, froni my 
 own experience," faid Father Mulo, with an 
 air of great fagacity, and wifliing to retra£t his 
 iirft afiertion, '* that it is almoll: always the cafe ; 
 — true wit and eloquence are generally on the 
 ilde of orthodoxy." 
 
 *' How comes it then that this author," faid 
 Luira, pointing to the large volume, *' has not 
 feafoned his work with a little wit or eloquence, 
 fince there is nothing finful in them ; and they 
 would have made it more univerfally read, and 
 of courfe more ufeful r" 
 
 " How comes it ?" repeated Father Mulo, 
 Avho was not famous for quick replies on emer- 
 gencies of this kind, — ♦' how comes it, did you 
 fiy?" 
 
 " Why it comes by the diabolical malice of 
 Satan," cried Father Pedro, ftepping in to the 
 relief of his brother j ♦* it is all owing to the 
 fpite of our great fpiritual enemy, who is ever 
 ready to enliven the works of the wicked •, and 
 has, it would Teem, perplexed the fenfe and 
 darkened the rcafoning of this excellent author, 
 fo as to render it a little laborious for the young 
 ladv to read his work with the .ittentlon it re- 
 quires." 
 
 •' The greater the eflu; t the more meritorious 
 will it be in the young lady to perform that duty 
 as fhc ought," refumed Father Mtilo. 
 
 «« True, brother," laid Pedro; *' and thus 
 the malice of Satan is defeated, and like the 
 
 words
 
 Z E L U C O. 243 
 
 words of Balaam the Ton of Beer, what ivas in- 
 tended as a curfe is converted into a blefllng." 
 
 Father Pedro had a fovereign contempt for 
 his venerable brother ; and as he vviflied to re- 
 tain his influence with Madame de Seidlits with- 
 out participation, he was too ready to difplay 
 him in a ridiculous light before her, as in the 
 prefent inftance. 
 
 But perceiving that he fhou'dhave no farther 
 opportunity that day of profecuting the object 
 of his vifit, he withdrew, leaving Father Mulo 
 to dine with his two relations, which he did ac- 
 cordingly, and in fuch a manner as gave them 
 no fiifpicion of his having already made a very 
 ample repall at the houfc of a pious old lady, 
 whofo time of dining was two hours earlier 
 than that of jNIadame de Seidlits; for it mu ft 
 be allowed in juftice to Father Mulo, that al- 
 though he reafoned but feebly, and thought 
 with difficulty, he digefted with uncommon 
 force and freedom. 
 
 C II A p. XIJL 
 
 -with tract oblique 
 
 At firft,' as one who fought accels, liut fear'd 
 
 'Jo inteiriipt, iidc-long he works his way. 
 
 As when a (hip by Ikilliil fteerfnian wrought 
 
 Nigh river's mouth or F'orcland, where the wind 
 
 \ctrs oft, as oft fo fti.vrs, and fliiftshcr fails; 
 
 So varied he.— — AIiltox. 
 
 J:' ATH Ell Pedro having found Madame de 
 Seidlits lels tractable than he expe(ned, refolved, 
 on the next occafion, to found Laura herlell-, 
 and try to difpofe her to the purpofe he had in 
 M 2 view.
 
 244 Z E L U C O. 
 
 view. Accordingly, a few days after, on being 
 left alone with her, he lurned the converfation 
 on the fubjecl of chai ity ; mentioned fome in- 
 dividuab who diftinguiihed themfelvcs by tbe 
 exercife of tliis virtue, and dwelt particubrly 
 on Zeluco, whom he reprefented as one of the 
 inoft: charitable perlons he had ever known ; 
 adding, that thofe were happy -who were blefled 
 with benevolent and charitable inclinations, but 
 much more were tliey to be envied, who were 
 alfo blelTed with the means of putting fuch in- 
 clination into action. 
 
 Lnma agreeing with him in this fentiment, 
 he faid, <' would not you be happy, my daugh- 
 ter, to be in this enviable fituation ? ' 
 
 «< I flatter myfelF," replied fhe, <* that if I 
 ever had a great defire to be rich, it proceeded 
 from a difpoiition to relieve the diftrefl'ed. But 
 it has been rerunrked, F.:ther," added fhe, 
 •' that thofe who have nothing to give are won- 
 .tlerfuUy generous ; and I myfelf have known 
 fome who, when they had not the power, ex- 
 jjreflcd the flrongefl- inclination of being liberal-, 
 yet when they afterwards came to have- the 
 jiower, feemed entirely to loie the inclination. 
 Thofe oblervations give meditlldence in myfeU ; 
 I am not certain what alteration riches might 
 make in my own difpoiition." 
 
 «' I have no diffidence in you," fjid the Fa- 
 ther. 
 
 «* Of this, at leafr, I am certain/' faid Laura, 
 «' that if 1 couKl know beforehand, that wealth 
 would have the fame etfcc^t on me tliat it Items 
 to have had on lome of my acipnintance, I 
 lliDuld rcfufe it were it oQcrcd to im,." 
 
 " Depend upon it, my dear daughter," faid 
 I'uther Pedro, <« thofe you allude to never had 
 
 charitable
 
 Z E L U C O. 245 
 
 charitable and benevolent difpofitions-, they have 
 only afteiStcd to have them, when they vv'ell 
 knew that nothing was expetSled, nor would be 
 received from them. Their real difpolltions 
 appeared afterwards when they became rich. 
 Bli: in you, my dear child, exifls the reality, 
 not the femblance, of benevolence ; and riches 
 could only enable you to extend your gcnerofi- 
 ty, not to render it more fincere." 
 
 Laura thanked him for his good opinion. 
 
 •' I ihould have flill a better opinion of you," 
 faid Father Pedro, " if I had not been informed 
 that you refufed this very enviable power." 
 
 •• I have no idea of what you mean," faid 
 Laura. 
 
 " Tell me, in the firft place, my dear daugh- 
 ter, whether you really refuied your hand to 
 i)ignor Zeluco ?" 
 
 << I did," faid flie, without hefitatlon. 
 
 " And what good realon could you have, my 
 dear child, for rejeifling fo generous a man ?" 
 
 '* You will allow, Father, that a woman may 
 have good reafons for refuling a man for her 
 hufband, although flie does not think proper to ■ 
 reveal them to her Father Confeflbr." 
 
 " You ought to have very good reafons in- 
 deed, daughter, for declining fuch a fortunate 
 and happy match." 
 
 " But my particular fentiments and feelings 
 might render it a very unhappy match." 
 
 <» How could it be unhappy for you," faid the 
 Father, '* who would reap every advantage by 
 the alliance." 
 
 '* U my hufband cnuld rea]") none," faitl flie, 
 ** that circuniflance alone would make it an un- 
 comfortable alliance to me." 
 
 •• Do not niiftake me, my dear child ; your 
 M 3 huftxini
 
 24^ Z E L U € O. 
 
 hufbnnJ would certainly acquire a beautiful, ac- 
 complilhcd, and I hope a pious wife; but the 
 gifts of fcrtune arc all on his Tide. There are 
 many beautiful and accomplifhed young ladies in 
 Italy who would be happy to be united to iSignor 
 Zeluco; but what probability is there of your 
 having the ofFea" of a hufband of fuperior for- 
 tune to his:" 
 
 '* Not theleaft," laid Laura ; " but, my good 
 Father, I thought the queftion between us re- 
 lated to happinei's, not merely to fortune." 
 
 *« It does fo," anl'vvcred Father Pedro ; " and 
 what do you think of the happincfs of haviug 
 it in your power, as well as in your inclination, 
 to do good to others; to feed the hungry, clothe 
 the' na'iced, protect the orphan, and make the 
 widow's heart fing for joy," 
 
 *' According to your own account. Father," 
 fuid Laura, '* all this is done by Signor Zcluco's 
 fcrtune alreacly ; to embarrafs fuch a generous 
 and charitable man with the additional expences 
 which a wife occafions," flie added with a fmile, 
 " would be diverting into different channels that 
 bounty which, at prelent, Hows entirely upon 
 the naked, the orphan, and widow." 
 
 *' There is no occafion for turning it into 
 another channel," faid the Father," a little pec- 
 viflily, '* but 1 perceive you arc in a jelling 
 mood." 
 
 «« You fhall not be angry, Father," faid Laura; 
 ♦* if you are offended, 1 muft be to blame." 
 
 ♦< Nay," replied he, *' I am not offended, 
 child; your vivacity cannot offend me; I wilh, 
 however, it may not lead you into error." 
 
 *' If it ever lliould, Father," faid Laura, " I 
 beg you will not, by way of expiation, enjoin 
 
 me
 
 Z E L U C O. 247 
 
 me to give my hand to Zeluco, for that is a 
 penance 1 fliall never lubmit to " 
 
 Laura pronounced thei'e )aft words with fudi 
 {Irength of emphafis, as, joined to what her 
 mother had faid, greatly damped the fanguine 
 hopes of Pedro with regard to the fuccels of 
 his mifiion. 
 
 CHAP. XLIII. 
 
 £',il y a un amour pur et exempt 3u melange de nos autres 
 paflioiis, c'ell tclui qui eft cache au fond du curur tt que 
 nous igncrons iious-mcmes. Roch efoucault. 
 
 _LN the mean time, Signora Sporza became fo 
 very fond of her two relations, that (he prefer- 
 red their company to thole numerous aflemblies 
 ill which ihe had been accuQomcd to pais her 
 evenings. Having perceived that Laura had no 
 great relifh for them, Ihe formed a fmall feledt 
 party at her own houfe, which met two or three 
 times a week, and to which the honourable Mr. 
 N — , and a few others were conftantly invited. 
 This gentleman hadlong been on a footing ot 
 friendly intimacy with Signora Sporza, and now 
 found an additional power of attrr.ction to her 
 parties in the lively and judicious converlation of 
 Laura. Few men's company were more univer- 
 fally acceptable thaniNIr. N— '5 ; but what ren- ' 
 dered him peculiarly agreeable to iMadam.e de 
 Seidlits and her daughter, was iiis acquaintance 
 with the Baron Carloftein and captain Seidlits. 
 He became known to tlic iirft during \\\s reli- 
 dence at Potldam ; and the Baron, on his ex- 
 prefling an inclination to i'ee the tamp at Mag- 
 M 4 deburg,
 
 24.8 Z E L U C O. 
 
 debnrg, f^ave hini a letter of introduclion to his 
 iriend Captain vSeiJlits, who was there with his 
 regiment j an.l Mr. N— , always Ipoke of thole 
 i'.vo gentlemen in high terms of" commendation. 
 
 Laura was fcldom or ever in company with 
 Mr. N — , without making freili inquiry con- 
 Ci^rning her brother. It was not in Mr. N — 's 
 power to talk mucli of him without his friend 
 Carlofltin's being included in the circumftances 
 ot '.he narrative i and every anecdote relating to 
 thofe gentlemen feemeil highly intereiting to 
 Madame de SekUits, and ftiil more fu to Laura. 
 
 " Pray, Sir," faid fl:ie to Mr. N — , cne even- 
 ing when the refl of the company were engaged 
 /it cards, *• is my brother as fond of horfes as 
 ever ?" 
 
 *' He is remarkably fond of his horfes," re- 
 j)lied Mr. N~ ; *» and no ofiicer in the army is 
 efteeni;d a better rider." 
 
 •' He is very graceful on horfeback," faid 
 Laura. 
 
 '* He is very much fo," replied Mr. N — . 
 
 •♦ I do not think the fear on his face at all 
 disfigures him," faid Laura. 
 
 " He had no fear on his face, madam, when 
 I faw him," replied Mr. i^^ — . 
 
 " No fear," iaid Laura, vvithTurprife. 
 
 •'No, m.idami— not Captain iSei(ilits : his 
 iriend the li;uon, indeed, has a very honourable 
 fear covered with a piece of black plailer, which 
 does not disfigure him in the leafl." 
 
 " 1 thouj^lit you had mentioned him," faid 
 Laura, bluOiing very deeply. 
 
 A conlideiM'jle degree of intimacy was gra- 
 dually formed between Mr. N — ami this young 
 lady. It was hardly polllble for them not to 
 have a mutual efteem for each other. Laura 
 
 had
 
 Z E L U C O. 249 
 
 hnd received the moft favourable impreflion of 
 Mr. N — from Signora 8porza, who had fpoke 
 of hini as a nvan of lenfe, integrity, and bene- 
 volence; and her own obfervation of hib con- 
 verfation and behaviour, confirmed her in the 
 juftice of her friend's reprefentation. He, on 
 the other hand, while he agreed with the gene- 
 ral opinion of the graces of Laura's face and 
 p^rfon, was ftili niore {truck with her other ac- 
 complilliinents, with the genuine modcrt)' an I 
 unaffefted dignity of manner which accompanie.l 
 her beauy : flie was equally free from coquetry 
 and difguile ; her fentiments of thofe around 
 her might be eafily gueiTed by her behaviour. . 
 
 To thole of whom fliie-haci bur an indiiFerent 
 opinion, Ihe obferved fuch a degree of cautious 
 and polite referve as rendered it very difficult for ■ 
 them to be on a footing of any degree of freedom 
 or cafe with her, however flrongly they were 
 delirons of being fo. But to thofe of whom fhe 
 thought well, and particularly to IMr. N — , {he 
 behaved wiih a natural franknefs, exprefllve of - 
 confidence and good-will. 
 
 Yet although this engaging franknefs of man- 
 irer was extended to her male frientis as well as 
 h'er female, it was always attended with fuch 
 exprefllve purity and dignity as precluded licen- 
 tious hopes or wlflies ; lor innate modelly per- 
 vaded the eaiy opcnncfs of her manners, ap- 
 peared in all her words, aftions, and gefluies, 
 and prellded even in her drcfs. As often as the 
 mode Teemed to lean to the oppofite fide, Laura,- 
 had the art of making hers retain the la h ion- 
 able air, while fhe corredled the circum ancG 
 which flic difapproved. 
 
 Mr, N— had the lame degree of eftecm and 
 approbation of Laura, which flie made ro dif- 
 M'5, fi.uhy.
 
 250 Z E L U C O. 
 
 ficulty of declaring foi- him ; and there was no 
 engagement which he would have preferred to 
 pafling an evening at Signora Sporza's, when he 
 knew that Laura was to be of the party. 
 
 CHAP. XLIV. 
 
 CharaBerijl'ic Sketches. 
 
 ^LR. N had for his fervant out of livery, 
 
 one Buchanan, a Scotchman, to whom his maf- 
 icr's growing attachment to Laura gave the 
 greatell concern ; and his concern augmented iu 
 projjoi tiou to the beauties and acconiplilhments 
 which he himfclf could not help obferving in 
 that young lady, and the good qualities he heard 
 afcribed to her ; for he had loo good an opinion 
 fjf hii maker's tafte and penetration to think him 
 capable of a lading attachment to one who was 
 not remarkably accompli Ihed. But Laura had 
 one failing which, in this man's opinion, neither 
 beauty, nor fortune, nor underftanding, nor an 
 aiTem.biage of every good quality of mind or per- 
 fon could compenfate Iho was a Roman ca- 
 tholic. 
 
 1 hat his mafter fliould be captivated, and pof- 
 fibiy drawn inio a marriage with a woman of that 
 religion, Buchanan conlidered as one of the 
 gieate(t misfortunes that could happen to him, 
 and he knew it would be viewed in the fame light 
 i)v Lady Elizabeth, Mr. N — 's aunt, by whom 
 lie had been placed with her nephew. The 
 ilrong attacliment this man had to his niafter, 
 and his extraordinary zeal for his welfare, 
 
 prompted
 
 Z E L U C O. 2JI 
 
 prompted hini to intermedJIe in matters which 
 did not properly belong to him, and to offer his 
 advice much oftner than it was wiihed or ex- 
 pelled . 
 
 One day when Mr. N dined at home, 
 
 and expetJted nobody but Mr. Steele, who lived 
 with him, the latter invited Mr. Squander, and 
 he brought along with him a certain Mr. Bronze, 
 one of thole golhpping companions, who know 
 every body, are of every body's opinion, and 
 are always ready to laugh at every body's joke ; 
 who nelile themltives into the intimacy of men 
 of fortune and rank, allow themfelves to be 
 laughed at, are invited on that account, or to fdl 
 a vacant chair at the table; and fometimes merely 
 to afford the landlord the comfort of having at 
 \ezl\ one perfon in the company of inferior un- 
 derftanding to himl'elf, whole chief employment 
 is to fetch and carry tittle-tattle, become at 
 length as it were one of the family, and are al- 
 ternately careffed and abufed like any other 
 fpaniel in it. This perlbn had, many years ago, 
 come to Italy with a party of young Englilh, 
 who, as they pofted through the country, 
 dropped him lick at Ferrara ; and having rellded 
 ever fince in Italy, he was thought to have Ibme 
 tafte in pi^Slures, antique antaglio.-, cameos, 
 flatues, &c. and had picked up a conliderable 
 fortune by felling them to his countrymen who 
 came to Rome or Naples. 
 
 Mr. Squander would not, for h\-> own private 
 fatisfadion, have given a horfc-lhoe for all the 
 antiques in Rome, and had no more tafte in 
 painting than his pointer ; yet, thinking that he 
 mull carry home a fmall affortment of each, were 
 it only to prove that he had been in Italy, Mr« 
 Bronze had been r<;commeiK!ed to him as a great 
 
 connoiffeur.
 
 252 
 
 ^ E L U C O. 
 
 connoifleur, who would either furnifli him with 
 what he wanted, or aflift him in purchaiing it. 
 Buchanan waited ac the fide-board. — They. 
 
 talked of an aflembly, at which MelTrs. N , 
 
 .Squander, and Steeie, had been the preceding 
 evening. The fornier fpoke with warmth of the 
 b;;auty of Laura. Tiie antiquarian, who had 
 alio Iccn her, faid, her face had a great reiem- 
 blance to a certain admired IMa.'.ona of Guido's,^ 
 — Mr. Squander obierved, that he thought fhe- 
 was very I'.ke a pidlure which he had feen at Bo- 
 logna, but whether it was painted by Guide or 
 
 by Rheni he could not recollccL — Mr. N ■ 
 
 faid, fmiling, that it was probably done, by bothj. 
 as they often painted conjunctiy ;— -" but, how'- 
 ever that may be," continued lie, " the young; 
 lady I mentioned has one of the linefb counte- 
 nances that I ever law either in nature or on 
 canvais." Buchanan, who was forry to hear 
 his mafter praife her with fuch warmth, fliook 
 his head. 
 
 *' You have feen many hardfomer in Scot- 
 land," faid Squander, addrclling himfclf to 
 Buchanan. 
 
 ♦« I will not prefijine to m?ke any comparl- 
 fens, Mr. Squander," replied Buchanan ; •' for, 
 on the pre lent occafion, 1 doubt they would be 
 thought odious." 
 
 Mr. N had often defired Squander to 
 
 leave off the indecent cuftom which lie had, of 
 addreffing the fcrvants, but without effect. So 
 taking no notice of what pafild between him and 
 Buclianan, he proceeded to praile Laura's ac- 
 coniulifhment3, particularly her voice, and her 
 cxecucion on the piano forte. 
 
 •' yoi/r countrywomen," faid Squander, re- 
 newing his attack on Buchanan, " prefer the 
 
 Scotch
 
 Z E L U C O. 253 
 
 Scotch fiddle." — The Antiqunrian laughed very 
 heartily, and all the footmen tittered at this jeft, 
 which Squander himlelf called a bon mot.--** A 
 bon mot !" repeated Steele. — " Yes, by G — d," 
 faid Squander, " and as good a one as ever 
 George Bon Mot uttered in all his life. What 
 think you, Buchanan ?" 
 
 " It certainly bears this mark of a good joke, 
 Mr. Squander," laid Buchanan, *' that it has 
 been often repeated ; yet there are people who 
 would rather be the object than the rehearl^r 
 of it." 
 
 " You are a wit, Mr. Buchanan," faid Bronze, 
 tipping the wink to Squander, " and you will 
 certainly make your fortune by it." 
 
 «' If I (houUi fail that way, Mr. Bronze, I 
 may try wbat is to be done by the haberdalhing 
 of intaglios and cameos, and other hardware," 
 faid Buchanan. 
 
 " A great many more of your countrymen, 
 indeed, have made their fortune as pedlars than 
 as wits," refum^d Squander. 
 
 The* Antiquarian burft into a loud fit of 
 laughter at this fally, clapping his hands, and 
 crying, Excellent, bravo. 
 
 Buchanan, oblVrving that Mr. N was 
 
 difpleafed at what was going on, made no reply, 
 till Squander pulhed him by, faying, " "What 
 have you to fay to that, Buchanan ?" 
 
 " All I have to fay, Mr. -Squander, is, that T 
 l;ave known fomc of my countrymen, as well as 
 yours, who were beholden to tbeir fortune for 
 all the applaufe their wit received." 
 
 Although Mr. N could with difficulty 
 
 refrain from fmiling at this remark, afluming a 
 lerious air, he told Buchanan, There was no 
 need of his farther attendance ; and when he 
 
 withdrew,
 
 254 Z E L U C O. 
 
 withdrew, Mr. N ftarted another fubjcft, 
 
 which prevented the Antiquarian and Mr. 
 Squander from abuiing Buchanan, for which he 
 faw them prepared. 
 
 Mr. N , however, fpoke not In his ufual 
 
 affable manner to Buchanan the whole evening, 
 and when he went out, addreffing one of the 
 footmen inflead of Buchanan, as was his cuftom, 
 he faid, he was going to IMadame de Seidlits. 
 
 Buchanan imagining that his mafter was highly 
 difplealed with him, imputed it to his having 
 ihaken his head at the praifes of Laura j and 
 was now more convinced than ever, that Mr. 
 
 N was del'perately in love with her, and in 
 
 immediate danger of propoling marriage to her. 
 
 Under this apprehenfion he relblvcd to ufe 
 every means, even at the riik of greatly offending 
 his mailer, to prevent a meafure which he 
 thought diametrically oppolite to his intereft and 
 happinels. Knowing that a certain Baronet, who 
 
 was uncle to JMr. N by the mother, and 
 
 whofe prefumptive heir Mr. N was, had 
 
 lately arrived at Rome, and was Toon expelled 
 ac Naples; Buchanan imagined the moft likely 
 means he could ufe to accomplifli his purpolc, 
 was to inform the Baronet ; he therefore deter- 
 mined to write to him all his fears relative to his 
 mafter. Buchanan had been educated at an 
 univerfity, and had learning fuflicient to render 
 him a pedant; to have an op[)ortunity of dil[)lay- 
 ing his learning therefore, in all probability, was 
 an additional motive for his writing the following 
 letter to the Baronet : 
 
 *' Honourtd Sir, 
 
 <' ?Icaring of your arrival at Rome, I think 
 it my indilpeiifable duty to hiform you, that my 
 
 iiiaftcr,
 
 Z E L U C O. 255 
 
 mafter, and your nephew, the Honourable Mr. 
 
 N , has been fcized with a violent paffion 
 
 for a young lady denominated Laura Seidlits, 
 who lately arrived at this city from Germany. 
 The young woman is of a comely countenance. 
 — Vultus minium lubrictis ojpn'i, and, as far as I 
 have hitherto been able to learn, of a very to- 
 lerable reputation. Yet, notwithftanding the 
 fairnefs of her chara^Ster and countenance, flie is 
 at bottom a black Papift. — Hiric ilia lachrywa! — 
 This is the caufe of my affliction -, for were fhe as 
 beautiful a:3 Helen of Greece, Cleopatra of Egypt, 
 or even as Mary Queen of Scots, fhe being, like 
 the afcrefaid Mary, of the Popifli perlbftfion, 
 would be a moft unluitable fpoule for my mafler. 
 Yet there is hardly a day goes over his head that 
 he is not in his young woman's company, and 
 the Lord above only knows how far a headftrong 
 youth, inftigated by paflion, may pufli matters, 
 more efpccially, as he generally meets her at one 
 Signora Sporza's, a very pawky * gentlewoman, 
 who underfiands what's what as well as any wo- 
 man in Naples, and being the relation of the 
 forefaid Laura, will leave no ftone unturned to 
 
 get her linked to Mr. N . 
 
 *' I once had hopes, that as the young woman 
 attends mafs regularly every day — for thofe poor 
 deluded creatures fhcw more zeal for thtir own 
 fuperftition than fome proteftants do for true 
 religion — I had once hopes, I fay, that flie might 
 objedl to marrying a Proteftant. But I am in- 
 formed, that as the fong is, Her molhtr did fo 
 before her, which has greatly diminiflied my hopes 
 of refufal on her part ; for it is natural to con- 
 clude, that the mother has given the daughter a 
 
 tin(rture 
 ♦ £)v.
 
 256 Z E L U C Q. 
 
 tiniTture of her own difpolition, and vou know. 
 
 Sir, that 
 
 Quo feniel eft imbuta recer.s, fervabit odortm, 
 Teflu ciiu. 
 
 '* I am iure I need add no more to convince 
 you of the milery thr.t i'uch a match as this would 
 occadon to all PJr. N 's relations, particu- 
 larly to his honoured aunt, who holds Anti- 
 chrift and all his adherents in the greatell detella- 
 tion. You niuft likewife be fenfible, that a 
 Popifli wife, however fair her afpedt, muft give 
 but a dark profpi^^ to a Protefrant hufband, in- 
 afmuch as her religion inftrusSts her that flie is 
 iiot obliged to keep faith with heretics. —iff«, 
 qiiotivs fidein inntatoj'que Deos fiehh L 
 
 *' Thefe ren;ctions are fo nianifeft-, that you 
 
 w'dl wonder they do not occur to Mr. N ; 
 
 but you muft remember, that he is blinded by 
 the nnfl of paflion, and in that ftate people can- 
 not perceive the force of reafbn ; - ^I'ul eiiitn 
 ratione tnneinus out cnpimus. — Yet if you conKl 
 
 find a plaufible pretext for defiring Pvlr. N to 
 
 meet you at Rome, inftead of allowing him to 
 wait for you here at Nafjies, I am convinced he 
 would obey your fummor.s ; and when he is re- 
 moved from the opportunities of feeing this 
 young woman, he may polfible be beyond the 
 influence of her attraclion, and above the wiles 
 of her co-adjntors \ and you may then prevail 
 upon him to liilen to the voice of rea^fon, aban- 
 don this land of fuperftition and deluriun, where 
 \it have fojourned too long^, and remm iiire<^tly 
 to Britain ; whereas it would be as ea(y to whiille 
 the hivroiks out of the lift*, as to make him agree 
 to this propofition while be remains within eye- 
 iliot of this frnie Laura Scidlits. — I an), with all 
 due refpedt, honoured Sir, your moll obedient 
 fervaut, Geohge Buchanan." 
 
 The 
 
 * The larks from the flfy.
 
 Z E L U C O. 257 
 
 The gentleman to whom this letter was ad- 
 drt ir^d had already received a hint from a friend 
 of his at Najiles to the fame purpofe -, he therc- 
 iore determined to follow Buchanan's advice, 
 and aftually wrote to his nephew, that it was 
 Hot in his power to proceed to Naples as he had 
 intended, and exprcfllng a ftrong dellre of fee- 
 ing him and Mr. Steele at Rome. 
 
 ilowever fond Mr. N \i'as of Laura's 
 
 com[)any, he could not think of allowing his 
 uncle, for whom, independent of other conli- 
 dcrations,he had a very great refpetTV, to return 
 to England without waiting on him ; he there- 
 lore took his leave of iSignora Sporza and her 
 two friends a few days after receiving this letter, 
 and he and Mr. Steele fet out for Rome, accom- 
 panied by Buchanan and two footmen. 
 
 Signora Sporza told him at parting, That flie 
 was herfelf engaged to a lady of her acquaint- 
 ance, who had buiinefs of importance at Rome, 
 to make that jaunt with her, fo that Ihe exptcl- 
 ed very foon to have the pleafure of meeting 
 him in that city. 
 
 Squander, and two or three other young 
 Englilhmen, finding their time pafs a little 
 
 heavily without Mr.N and Steele, followed 
 
 them on the third day after they fet out. 
 
 CHAP. XLV. 
 
 L'hypocrifie eft un honuiugo que le vice rend ,1 li vertue. 
 
 Roc 11 E roU (. AVLT. 
 
 iLrELUCO plainly perceived at their next 
 meeting the ill luccefiof the Fatli£r':> negocialion, 
 
 in
 
 2s8 Z E L U C O. 
 
 in fpite of the palliations with which it was com- 
 municated. As his hopes had been greatly raif- 
 ed, his difappointment was great in proportion j 
 his enraged fpirit, unacctiftomed to reftraint, 
 on this occafion was deaf to the didlates of cau- 
 tion, and rejected the malic of hypocrify ; he 
 raved like a madman, poured curies on both 
 mother and daughter, particularly the latter, 
 on whom he vowed vengeance for what he term- 
 ed her infolence, and for all the trouble and 
 vexation flie had given him. 
 
 Father Pedro crofled himfelf, and began to 
 repeat his Pater Noflcr. 
 
 " Come, come, Father," faid Zeluco, " do 
 not let you and I keep up the farce wi:h each 
 other any longer. I know you have too much 
 lenfe to lay any flrefs on thele mummerits ; and 
 I am not fuch a fool as to think that a woman is 
 to be won by croffings or prayers." 
 
 " You have as good a chance that way, how- 
 ever," replied the Father, " as by fwearing and 
 raging like a fury." 
 
 " I will have her one way or another!" ex- 
 claimed Zeluco. 
 
 «< And what way do you intend to take next ?'* 
 faid Pedro. 
 
 " ril have her by force. — Fll have her fcized^ 
 and carried aboard a veffel. — Fll ily with her to 
 Algiers! to the Welt Indies! — any where!" 
 exclaimed he with a loud voice, and flamping 
 with his foot -, " for flie fnall be mine ; - bv all 
 the Gods, Ihe (hall !" 
 
 <« Of all t]\e Gods," faid Father Pedro, calm- 
 ly: " the God of Hell v.-as the only one who 
 was driven to the mifcrable (hift of committing a 
 rape to get liimfelf a wife j do you intend to 
 imitate him, Si^nor r" 
 
 «' I do
 
 Z E L U C O. 259 
 
 " I do not care who I imhate," roared Zelu- 
 co, " were it the devil." 
 
 " In the prefent cafe, however, you will not 
 even have the fatisfacflion of imitating him 
 throughout ; for although you may hurry your/e/f 
 to hell, you have little chance of carrying the 
 lady along with you. I would advife you, there- 
 fore, to adopt lome lefs defperate expedient." 
 
 " "What expedient .'"' cried Zeluco. " 1 can 
 think of none ; I can hardly think at all. — But 
 if thou canft afiifl: me in obtaining this woman, 
 thou wilt eternally oblige me, Prieft j and thou 
 flialt have money enough to build a church." 
 
 Although Zeluco in his rage thus threw hlm- 
 felf open, and put himfelf in fome degree in the 
 Father's power, the latter was refolved not to 
 follow his example, and put himfelf in Zeluco's. 
 He plainly perceived, indeed, that Zeluco did 
 not imagine that he had a£lcd from motives of 
 piety; but whatever fufpicions he might enter- 
 tain, Pedro confidered that there was fome dif- 
 ference between being fufpected of villany, and 
 actually avowing it ; he therefore alTured Zeluco, 
 that he would have no farther connexion with 
 him in this bufmefs, and that he would inform 
 againft him if he made any criminal attempt on 
 Laura. He acknowledged, he faid that as he 
 bad thought his marriage with that young lady 
 would be happy for both, and agreeable to the 
 worthy lady her mother, befides conducing to 
 other good purpofes, he lliould have been ex- 
 tremely happy to have promoted it ; but after 
 the furious and unwarrantable projedls he had 
 jufb heard of, he defired to have no UiOre to do 
 with it, diredlly or indiredly. 
 
 This calm remonftrance brought Zeluco to 
 his fenfes ; he now perceived, that the perfon he 
 
 had
 
 260 Z E L U C O. 
 
 had to deal with, and whofe alTl fiance he fi'iW 
 thought might be of u!e, was of too wary a 
 character to a£l without a cover, to which he 
 might retreat on occafion. 
 
 After a little recollection he replied, in con- 
 ciliating terms, "Surely, Father, you cannot 
 iinagine that what has efcaped me in a moment 
 of pailion is my ferious intention j my own re- 
 flections would very ibon have convinced me of 
 the folly and wickednefs of an attempt which 
 your prudence has in an Inftant put in ajuft' 
 light. I think myfelf moft 1- 2ppy in fuch a friend 
 on vvhofe wifdom 1 may rely, and whofe coun- 
 fels I fhall ever be ready to follow. My love 
 and rerpe(f\ for the virtuous young lady is fuch, 
 that I will ufe every lawful means in my power 
 to obtain her hand. I know the well-placed 
 confidence which flie has in you, and I moft 
 earneftly beg that you will ufe your influence 
 with her in my favour. In the mean time, my 
 dear Father, I am fenfible of the trouble which 
 I give you ; and as the only way in which you 
 permit me to fhcw my gratitude, is by enabling 
 you to extend your benevolence to the deferving 
 and the neceflitous, I beg, therefore, you will 
 a:cept of this, which ynu will app'y to whatever 
 pious purpofe you think proper :" — So faying, 
 ]ie put a purfe of Icqnins into the Father's hands, 
 afTuring him of double the fum, independent of 
 what he had already proniifcid, on the I'uccefbful 
 conclufion of the bufineis. 
 
 *< Now, my fon," replied the Monk, "you 
 talk rationally ; and reafon always fuggefts a 
 mode of aflioti oppofite to what is prompted by 
 rage. You hnve already gained the good opini- 
 on of the young bdy's mother; pleafc to recoU 
 let^ how you gained icj not by violence, but 
 
 by
 
 Z E L U C O. 26r 
 
 by gentlcnefs, by rendering her an elFentlal fcr- 
 vice : and although the young woman herRlf 
 feems indilpofed towards you, yet who knows 
 wliat a ieni'e of gratifjde might do? — it might 
 have the fame effe»^t on the daughter that it has 
 had on the mother. Tlie V^Ci obligation you laid 
 on the family was of a peciniiary nature, which 
 is more apt to make an imprellion on an old 
 heart than on a young; but there are obligations 
 which make deeper imprefilons on young hearts 
 than on old." 
 
 " Wlvat obligations are ihofc ? I am re.'.dy 
 to do whatever you diredl." 
 
 " Opportunities of this kind may occur," 
 faid the Father, *' and then your own good 
 icni^c will dire<I!l you how to profit by them. In 
 your rage you propoie methoils the mofi: likely 
 to make her deteft you, and love thole who 
 ihould have the good fortune to free her fron 
 you j you ipoke not like yourfelf, but like a ;«/•- 
 ter, like a ".w'Jljcr. A man who attempteJ 
 what you threatened would draw upon himfelf 
 her jult hatred, whereas he who did thereverfe, 
 who had the good fortune to lave her from fuch 
 an attempt, niight probably gain lier love." 
 
 Having laid this in a very iignificant manner, 
 Tather Pedro took his leave. In fpite of Zcluce's 
 endeavours to prevail on him to be more explicit, 
 after remaining for fome time in profounil me- 
 ditation, <' He who has the good fortune," laid 
 he, repeating to himfelf the words which Pedro 
 had pronounced with emphalis ; ♦' he who has 
 the good fortune to fave her from fuch an at- 
 tempt miglit probably gain her heart." — Who 
 can make fuch an attempt .'' — How can I deliver 
 her from dangers to which flic is not expofed .•* 
 
 He
 
 262 Z E L U C O. 
 
 He conjetftured however, that the Father 
 meant to convey a hint to him refpefting fome 
 emergency which he knew would occur, al- 
 though he was refolved not to be farther expli- 
 cit ; and determined to obferve his words and 
 actions attentively, in the hopes of difcovering 
 his meaning more clearly. 
 
 Two days after, he was able more fully to 
 comprehend the Father's idea; when he inform- 
 ed Zeluco that he had juft left Madame de Scid- 
 lits and her daughter ; that Laura having often 
 exprefTed a curiofity to viiit Mount Vefuvius, 
 her mother, who had formerly oppofed it, had 
 now agreed to it, on his offering to accompany 
 her and Signora Sporza ; that accordingly he 
 and thefe two ladies were to dine next day at 
 Portici, vifit the mountain in the evening, and 
 return to Naples the fame night, — *' If you are 
 eager to be of the party," added he, " I will 
 endeavour to obtain the ladies confent." 
 
 Zeluco, engrofTid by refleclion, did not give 
 an immediate anfwer. 
 
 " But I know," continued the Father, *' you 
 have been there already ; and pollibly do not 
 chufe to return again." 
 
 *' Pray, my good Father," faid Zeluco, 
 roufing from his reverie, ** at what hour do you 
 propofe returning to town ?" 
 
 *« It is impoffible to fay exa<5lly," replied Fa- 
 ther Pedro; '• I dare (ay it will be late enough, 
 for I find Signora Laura wifhcs to fee the cxplo- 
 fions to the greateft advantage ; but I perceive 
 we cannot have you. I ftiall not, however, 
 inform the ladies that I made you the propofal, 
 or that you fo much as know of the expedition, 
 left they fhould accufe you of want of gallantry. 
 Adieu. I can ftay no longer at prefcnt." 
 
 «« What
 
 Z E L U C O. 263 
 
 *< What fervants do you take with you ?" 
 refumed Zeluco. 
 
 <* I really do not know," faid the Father ; 
 *' but I muft be excufed, I cannot flay any 
 longer now ; — one of my penitents waits for 
 tne — Servants ! — let me fee — there will be no 
 need of many fervants. I prefume we fliallhave 
 only Jachimo. The muleteers will be with us 
 till we regain the carriage ; and then we fliall 
 have only the coachman and Jachimo to attend 
 us to town. Saying this, the cautious Monk 
 hurried away, leaving Zeluco fatisfied refpe(Sting 
 the meanini^ of his former hints. 
 
 CHAP. XLVI. 
 
 Revenge, at firfl; thought fweet, 
 
 Bitter ere long, back on itlclf recoils. Milton. 
 
 ^^ELUCO now determined to plan an attack 
 on the ladies as they returned from the moun- 
 t.iin, to drive off the afiailants, and affiime the 
 merit with Laura of ha\ing faved her from rob- 
 bery and afiaflination. 
 
 Having communicated his dcfign to his valet- 
 de-chambrc, the confidant and accomplice of 
 many of his villanies •, the fcheme feemed prac- 
 ticable and fafe in all refpedts, except in the ne- 
 ceflity which appeared of employing many 
 agents. The valet however unden took the bu- 
 finefs with the aflifiance of only one perfon, and" 
 fpoke with a confidence of fuccefs fcldom ac- 
 quired otherwife than by experience in iimi- 
 lar fcenes. 
 
 Being
 
 264 Z E L U C O. 
 
 Being now convinced of Signora Sporza's dif- 
 like to him, and having a violent fuTpicion that 
 it was through her means that Laura was i"o ill 
 dilpofed towards him, Zeluco exprefled iome 
 ;;nxiety with regard to Signora Sporza, left Ihe 
 might fufpccl the lource of the attempt, — The 
 valet afliired him, that fl^e ihould be particularly 
 attended to, for he would order his companion 
 to f]re his piftol To clofe to her ear, that though 
 charged only vvith powder, it would confound 
 ]ier fufllcientiy to prevent her from making cb- 
 fervations, and terrify the rell: of the company 
 .into non-reiiftance. 
 
 This fuggefted a horrid piece of wickednefs 
 to the vengeful mind of Zeluco, which however 
 he did not communicate to the valet ; but next 
 day, when he underiiood tliat every thing was 
 arranged, he deilred to fee the piftol with which 
 the man v/as to arm his conipanicn : — " You 
 arc certain it is charged with powder only," faid 
 he. "I am very certain," replied the valet; 
 " for I charged it myfelf." *' Let the fellow 
 fire then diredtly at her head ; this will frighten 
 her into fdcnce," faid Zeluco, *< and render 
 every thing eaiy."- He then gave him very par- 
 ticular dirtciions in what mainter th.ey were to 
 behave to Lrnra ; and, icnding the valet to 
 fetch Ibmething from a diftant part of the houfe, 
 lie flipt two bullets into the piflcl : tlie hatred 
 and thirft of revenge, which burned in his 
 breaft^ againft Signora Sporza, ovcrcondng his 
 caution, and prompting him to a mealiire which 
 might have produced a uil'tovery of the whole 
 plan. 
 
 lieforc thefi two emifTarics fet out, Zeluco 
 again repeated to the valet not to allow his com- 
 panion to touch Laura, but to pull Signora 
 
 Sporza
 
 Z E L U C O. 265 
 
 Sporza entirely out of the carriage, and then 
 fire the piftol in her face, which would be the 
 fignal for Zeluco himielf to make his appearance. 
 
 In the evening Zekico waited on Madame 6c 
 Seidhts, where he found Father Mulo ; he af- 
 fe<5led great furprife when fhe told him that her 
 daughter, Signora Sporza, and Father Pedro 
 had fet out that fame morning on an expedition 
 to Mount Vefuvius ; and that they were not as 
 yet returned. 
 
 When the night advanced without their ap- 
 pearing, Madame de Seidlits became uneaiy ; 
 the noife of every carriage gave her iiopes that 
 it was theirs ; and every diiappointment when 
 the carriage palled increafed her unealinefi". 
 
 When JNIadame de Seid'.its firft began to ex- 
 prefs her apprehenfion, Zeluco withdrew on 
 pretence of an engagement ; and Father ?<Iulo 
 remained, as he faiJ himfelf, to comfort Madame 
 de Seidlits, in cafe any misfortune fliould really 
 have happened to Laura and the reft of the party, 
 
 Madame de Seidlits had heard, in general, of 
 people being fometimes hurt by the fall of the fub- 
 iVances exploded from the mountain : her alarm- 
 ed imagination prompted her to make particular 
 inquiries on this f"u!ije<Sl ; and Father Mulo's 
 retentive memory fupplied her with every in- 
 itance of that kind which had happened for 
 many years back; but he added, at the clofc of 
 every example, that fuch a misfortune having 
 liappened to the people he mentioned, could not 
 be confldereda": a pofitive proof that the fame had 
 befallen any of the company for whom llie was 
 fo much interefled ; and if the like had happen- 
 ed Xo Jomc of them y Aill it wai". pofllble that Laura 
 was not the unfortunate perfon : " For which 
 reafon," ad»led he, " my dear Madam, you 
 
 Vol. I. N ought
 
 a<6 Z E L U C O. 
 
 ought to keep yourfelf in perfect tranquilHt)% 
 and hope for the beft ; becaufe vexing yourfelf 
 will be of no manner of ufe, but is rather a 
 tempting of Providence, and may draw down 
 upon your head the very misfortune you dread, 
 or fome other as bad." By fuch reafoning Fa- 
 ther Mulo endeavoured, with uninterrupted 
 perfeverence, to quiet her fears. 
 
 What effect this method of conveying comfort 
 might have produced on the mind of Madame 
 de Seidhts can never be known, for her invagi- 
 nation was too much alarmed to permit her to 
 attend to his difcourfe: btfides, ahhcugh it may 
 feem a bold word, ro ecclefialL'C ever pofTefTed 
 the faculty of fpeaking without being liitcned to 
 in greater perfection than the reverend Father 
 Mulo. . 
 
 On leaving INIadame de Seidlits, Zeluco 
 mounted his liorie, and rode directly towards 
 the place which he had fixed on for the attack. 
 Having perceived his emifl'aries in waiting, he 
 turned his horfe without feeming to take notice 
 of them, and rode flowly backwards and for- 
 wards till he faw the carriage coming brifkly 
 along. The valet and his companion, with 
 mafks on their faces, riding furiouily up to the 
 carriage, ordered the driver to Aop on pain of 
 having his brains blown out; the driver inftant- 
 ly obeyed, and Jachimo fell from his horfe on 
 hiv knees, fupplicating for mercy in the name 
 of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghod; to whom, 
 after he had recovered his recolledlion a little, 
 he added St. Januarius, — Father Pedro alfo 
 prayed with much feeming fervency, invoking 
 the aid of St. Dominic, and a whole holl of 
 Other i'aints. 
 
 After the valet had taken the ladies purfes, 
 
 whicli
 
 Z E L U C O. 267 
 
 which were inftantly prefented to him, the other 
 fellow dragged Signora Sporza out of the chaife; 
 Ihe exclaimed that every thing had been deliver- 
 ed to them, and attempted to get into the car- 
 riage again -, but the fellow, (landing between 
 her and it, prefented his piftol, which flafhed 
 without going off. Zeluco feeing the flafli, and 
 hearing the fcreams of Laura, galloped to^^ 
 the carriage, hollowing, and threatening 
 affailants with immediate death if they liit' 
 defift; but the fellow whofe piftol had fnapj 
 fearing that he (hould not be thought to h. •■ 
 performed his part properly, if he did not r.(5tij 
 ally fire it, cocked it once more, and nred it oh 
 in fuch a hurried manner, that both the bullets 
 paiTed the head of Signora Sporza, and one of 
 them lodged in Zeluco's ihoulder. 
 
 This ftaggered hmi a little j but the attackers 
 flying, he came up to the carriage in time to 
 pi-event Luura from rolling out of it ; fhc had 
 retained her prefcnce of mind while fhe con- 
 (idered the allailants fimply as robbers ; and af- 
 ter delivering their money, feeing Signora Sporza 
 pulled violently out of the carriage, Ihe called 
 to Father Pedro to afilft her; but on hearing the 
 pillol fjred, which fhe imagined had killed her 
 friend, (he fainted in the chaife. Signora Spor- 
 za alfo was greatly alarmed ; but feeing the ag- 
 grefibrs fly, (he rofe from her knees, on which 
 (he had i'unk when the piftol was lired, and af- 
 fifted Zeluco and Father Pedro in their endea- 
 vours to recover Laura, who, as foon as (he re- 
 cognifed Signora Sporza and the Father, and un- 
 derftood that the danger was over, exclaimed, 
 " What bleffed angel has delivered us n ■ n^ t'le 
 ruffians?" Father Pedro immediately anfwercd, 
 " We all owe our deliverance to bignoi (.luc ' 
 N 2 <* oii-njr
 
 268 Z E L U C O. 
 
 '< Signer Zeluco !" cried I.aura, with painful 
 rurpnfe. << Yes, my daughter," added lie ; 
 ♦' and here he is to receive our grateful acknow- 
 ledgments."— •' We are all highly indebted to 
 you, Signer," faid flie : *' How providential 
 was your coming !" added Father Pedro. — . 
 *• Conlidering the hour of the night," faid Signo- 
 raSporza, "his coming Teems miraculoufly lb." 
 
 Zeluco then informed them how he was in- 
 duced to meet them ; that as he drew near the 
 carriage, hearing tlie flirieks of Signora I/aura, 
 he had rode up to the ruffians, one of whom, he 
 faid, he could have taken, had he not been 
 ir.ore anxious to relieve them than to feize him. 
 
 The driver and Jachimo having now recover- 
 ed from their terror, the carriage was prepared, 
 and the company moved towards the town. 
 Jachimo told the driver as they went, that he 
 had made an obfervation which he would com- 
 municate to liim as a friend, becaufe. it might 
 be of ufe on future occafions of the fame naturej 
 it was this : that while he continued to implore 
 the tirO: three Perfons to whom he had addrefled 
 his prayers, no interpofition had been made in 
 his favour; but that as foon as he began to im- 
 plore the protetStiou of St. Januarius, Signor 
 Zeluco had appeared for the refcue of the com- 
 pany. <' CeriOy^ faid the coachman, " St. Ja- 
 nuarius takes the greateft: care of all his votaries 
 on Mount Vefuvius and the neighbouring dif- 
 trifl, nd ogtii uccello Jtio n'ldo e hello ;" but out of 
 ilght of the mountain, he allured Jachimo that 
 St. Januarius was as regardlefs of prayers as his 
 neighbours, and not more to be depended upon 
 than thofc he complained of. 
 
 When the cou:ipany arrived at the houfe of 
 Madame de Seidlits, Father Mulo was giving 
 
 her
 
 Z E L U C O. 269 
 
 her a circumftantlal account of a robbery with 
 airaflination, which happened many years before 
 on the road between Portici and Naples \ and, as 
 he with wonderful accuracy remarked, looking 
 at his watch, much about the hour in which he 
 was then fpeaking ; he alfo detailed the provi- 
 dential manner in whicii the murderer was dif* 
 covered, and how he was broke on the wheel, 
 to the edification, as Father Mido exprelled 
 himfelf of all the beholders, and the great com- 
 fort of the murdered perfon's widow. 
 
 The powerful faculty hinted above, which 
 the Father pcfieiVed, and which {hone with pe- 
 culiar luftre in narrative, prevented thcie anec- 
 dotes from afi-l(ftlng rvladame de Scidlits fo much 
 as they would otherwife have done. The iight 
 of the company which now entered her hcufu 
 relieved her, however, from a fct of very dif- 
 agreeable rtflccllons. 
 
 Father Pedro, in tiie prefence of the ladies, 
 gave her the hiftory of their adventure, in which 
 the generous intrepidity of Signer Zeluco made 
 a coni'picuous ligure ; and the watchful care of 
 Providence in fending him to their deliverance 
 was mentioned in the moft pious terms. 
 
 Madame de Seidlits then poured out the grate- 
 ful eftufions of her heart in thanks to Zeluto, 
 \\ho modtflly acknowledged that, on feeing 
 her alarmed at the ladies not returning, ancl 
 being himfelf exceedingly uneaiV, he h.il on 
 leaving her immcuiately mounted his horie, and 
 galloped towards Portici, which he n)Ould ever 
 conlider as the moft fortunare incident of hi.s 
 life, with whatever coidecpience the accident 
 which had happened to himi'clf il-.otdd be at- 
 tended. 
 
 " Accident i" cried Madame de Seidlits ; 
 ,; - ^ N 3 «i Wha:
 
 270 Z E L U C O. 
 
 ** What accident ?'* — and then perceiving blood 
 on his cloth-'s,— «* Alas f Signor," faid fhe, 
 " you are wounded! fend dire^Iy for a fur- 
 geon !" 
 
 Father Pedro, who notwithftanding the 
 blood, had realotis of his ou-n for thinking that 
 J'le was not at ail, or in no dangerous degree 
 hurt, faid it would be beft that Zeluco were re- 
 moved to his own houl'e, where the wound would 
 be examined more conveniently, and propofed to 
 accompany hiin thither immediately. 
 
 Madanrye de Seidlits, wringing her hands in 
 the utmort grief, begged that all poflible care 
 might be taken of him; for llie fliould never 
 $giin know conafort if any accident fliould ac- 
 crue to fo worthy a man, particularly, added 
 flK% looking to Laura, on fuch an occafion. 
 
 Her daughter, with more compofure, but 
 with viflble emotion, begged of Father Pedro 
 not to leave Zeluco till his wound was dreffed, 
 which ftie hoped would not be found dangerous. 
 
 Father Mulo defired Zeluco to be of good 
 cheer, for Heaven feldom permitted villany of 
 this kind to pafs unpunifhedj but that in cafe 
 this wound ihould prove mortal, he might rely 
 upon ;V, that the planners of fuch a daring at- 
 tack would be brought to open fhame ; for, 
 iboner or later, murders were always difcovered. 
 
 Signora vSporza obfcrvcd to Zeluco, who by 
 this time was not the leaft alarmed in the com- 
 pany, that the wound could not be dangerous, 
 as he had been able to lit on hovfeback while 
 they were coming to town. 
 
 Z:luco was then put into a carriage, and 
 flowly tranfported to his own houfe, accompani- 
 ed by Father Pedro, who did not chufe to make 
 any particular inquiry, nor to exprcfs thefurprife 
 
 he
 
 Z E L U C O. 271 
 
 he really felt at there being a wound at all ; for, 
 as the carriage went llovvly, he was afraid of 
 being overheard by the fervant that walked by 
 its lide. The wounded man himfelf was filent, 
 except that once he muttered, '' Damn the awk- 
 ward blockhead !" and afterwards, << What a 
 curfed blunder !" 
 
 As foon as he was placed in his own bed- 
 chamber, *< Is the furgeon come ?" faid he to 
 Father Pedro. 
 
 " Do you really wiQi for a furgeon :" fald 
 the Father. 
 
 *« Certainly; don't you fee how I bleed ?" 
 
 " I fee blood ; but I had hopes it was not 
 from your veins ?" 
 
 *' It is a curfed bufinefs ; pray fend for a fur- 
 geon," cried Zeluco impatiently. — This was done 
 accordingly. 
 
 The valet and his accomplice had returned be- 
 fore Zcluco had even reached the town. The 
 former, on hearing that a furgeon was fent for„ 
 and feeing blood on his mailer's arm, was 
 aftoniflied, and cried, " Plow is it poflible, Su-, 
 that you can be wounded .'' For " 
 
 " Peace, babbler," faid Zeluco. 
 
 '* Can any thing be more natural," faid Father 
 Pedro, with a larcaiiical fmile, ♦♦ than for plftols 
 to make wounds, elpeciaily when fired by two 
 fuch bloody-minded ruffians. But I muft now 
 leave you, Signor ; you may deptnd on my 
 prayers ior your recovery, and that you may 
 foon reap the fruits of your generous valour." 
 He then withdrew, convinced that the wound 
 was fictitious, and invented as a natural incident 
 in the farce, which would be better a*Sted by the 
 mafter, the fervant, and the furgeon, without 
 his taking anv part. 
 
 N4 CH.AP.
 
 272 Z E L U C O. 
 
 A; 
 
 CHAP. XLVIL 
 
 A Medical Covfultati&n» 
 
 S Father Pedro went out, a Phyfician and 
 Surgeon entered the room together. It was 
 found that the bullet had entered the arm, near 
 the fliotilder, and without having injured the 
 bone or joint, was felt beneath the Ikin on the 
 oppcfite fide. 
 
 It was extracfted without difficulty after an in- 
 cifion. The Doctor and burgeon then retired 
 to another room to confult. Ihc latter was a 
 Frenchman of fome humour, a confidetable 
 iliarc of fhrewdne(s, and much of a coxcomb. 
 
 " This wound is nothing," faid the Dcdor. 
 
 *' AVe mufl: try to mzke/omet/:irg of it, how- 
 ever," replied the iSurgeon. 
 
 •* It vi'iU heal of itfclf dlreftlv," rcfumed the 
 Doctor. 
 
 *' It mufl therefore not be left to itfelf," fiiid 
 the Surgeon. 
 
 «* AVhat farther do you intend," faid the 
 Phyfician ; '« little more feemsneceilary, except 
 applying fome frefli lint every day." 
 
 ♦' Lii/iij far' a Sa/;i' Antomo^''' replied the 
 Surgeon ; ♦« I will take care that his Excellency 
 fliall not be expofcd to danger on the high road 
 for at lea ft a month to come." 
 
 •< Unlcls it be to prefciibc fome cooling phy- 
 fic, and fuch a low regimen as will prevent his 
 futlcring from want of exercife, I can do no- 
 thing," faid the Phyfician. 
 
 « That
 
 Z E L U C O. 273 
 
 << That is doing a great deal," faid the iSur- 
 geon ; ♦' it keeps the patient in low fpirits, and 
 renders him obedient." 
 
 " But after all, how do you intend to treat 
 the wound itfelf ?" laid the Phylicinn. 
 
 '* I intend to trcdt it Jecunclum at I'eni," replied 
 the Surgeon. 
 
 ** Be/ie, bene refpotuUpiy* faid the Phyfician ; 
 *' and fo much for the wound. — Now, pray what 
 fay you to the news?" continued the Fhyfician, 
 " they talk of a Ruffian fleet in the Mediter- 
 ranean." 
 
 " Whether that will take place or not," faid 
 the Surgeon, " depends entirely on the king's 
 pleafure." 
 
 '♦ How fo ?" faid the Phyfician ; " How can 
 his majefty prevent it r" 
 
 '< By threatening to fink them if they pre- 
 funie to enter the flreights," replied the Sur- 
 geon. •< The Toulon fleet will be fufiicient." 
 
 '* Toulon fleet !" cried the Phyfician ; " why, 
 what king do you mean ?" 
 
 •' Why, the king of France to be fure," re- 
 plied the Surgeon ; '< what other king can I 
 mean r" 
 
 «♦ Vi prego di fctifarmiy S'gnor," crie»l the 
 Phyfician ; «• but in fpeaking of the king in 
 Naples, 1 thought the king cf Naples might: 
 perhaps be meant." 
 
 *^ A fe di D'/Oy Signer," repHed the Surgeon ; 
 ** non wj'^ vtruto vun in fenficro \ but 1 believe," 
 adJed he, looking at his watch, ** our confulta- 
 tion has lafled a decent time enough." 
 
 The Phyfician being cf the fame opinion, they 
 returned to the patient's bed-chamber. The 
 Phyficians ordered a low diet, and cooling ptifiuis 
 in great abundance. 
 
 N 5 •« What
 
 274 Z E L U G O. 
 
 " What do you think of the wound ?" faid 
 Zeluco to the Surgeon. 
 
 *' It would be rafh to fpeak decifively at the 
 Tery firfl: drefling, Signer," laid the Surgeon. 
 
 *< But what is your general notion ?" refum- 
 ed Zeluco. 
 
 " Why, Signer, if my friend here will anfwer 
 for keeping down the fever, I will do my beft 
 to fave your Ericellency's arm." 
 
 " Save my arm," exclaimed Zeluco ! " I 
 would rather be damned than lofe my arm, Sir." 
 
 •♦ That may be, Signor," iaid the Surgeon, 
 *• but people are not always allowed their choice 
 on fuch occafions." 
 
 " Zounds, Sir !" exclaimed Zeluco ; " Do 
 you think there is any danger of my loling my 
 arm r" 
 
 ** I am determined to fave it, if polTible," 
 faid the Surgeon, *' and it will afford me great 
 pleafure to iiicceed." 
 
 Here the Phylician interfering, begged of 
 Zeluco to be compofed, for nothing retarded the 
 cure of wounds more than impatience; he hoped, 
 by the great fkill of his friend, every thing would 
 terminate to his fatisfadlion, provided he would 
 be refigned, and follow the dire<^tions that from 
 time to time would be given him. 
 
 With much internal chagrin, Zeluco was 
 obliged to alTume the appearance of ferenity, and 
 he promiled to obey I he injun<^ions of thofe two 
 learned gentle^ncu. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 Z E L U C O. 273' 
 
 CHAP. XLVIII. 
 
 The F tenth Surgeon. 
 
 JL H E following d-Ay the Phydcian and Snr- 
 geon did not think it expedient to tiike the drclt- 
 ings from the wound, but renewed their injiiar- 
 tions that Zeluco ihonid be kept exceedingly 
 (^nict, take his medicines puncflualiy, and ilriftly 
 adhere to the cooiefl regimen. As the wound 
 now was more painful tlun at firrt, the patient 
 became apprehenfive of loling his arm, and com- 
 plied with the directions given, though not witli- 
 out breaking out frequently into violent execra- 
 tions on the unUicky chance by which he was 
 reduced to the neceiilty of i'unering fuch penance. 
 
 Madame dc Seidlits had f'ent a rneir^ge, defir- 
 ing that the Surgeon might call at her houle 
 when he left his patient. 
 
 He went accordingly, and found Father Mulo 
 with her. 
 
 •' I am extremely happy, Madam," f^ild the 
 Surgeon, " to have this opportunity of paying 
 you my devoirs ; it is an honour I have long 
 wifhed for. I perceive, by the brilliancy of 
 your looks, that you are in charming health." 
 
 •« Pray, Sir," faid Madame de Seidlits, with 
 impatience ; *' How do you find — ?'' 
 
 ** I alk you ten thoufand pardons, Madam, 
 for interrupting you," faid the Surgeon j •' but 
 I beg to know, before you proceed, how the 
 amiable and accompliflied young lady your 
 daughter does ?" 
 
 *« My
 
 276 Z E L U C O. 
 
 *« r»Iy daughter is very well, Sir," anfwered 
 Madam de Seidlits •, " now will you be fo 
 obliging " 
 
 *• You may command whatever is in my 
 power, Madam," laid the Surgeon, bowing very 
 low. 
 
 " Then pray tell me. Sir, how you left your 
 patient ?" 
 
 " I have a great many patients, Madam ; but 
 I prefume your laJyfhip inquires, at prefent, for 
 5 jgnor Zeluco." 
 
 ♦' I do. Sir, and earneftly beg to know how 
 ycu left him?" 
 
 '« Much better than I found him, Madam — 
 I hive cut a bullet out of him." 
 
 " Poor gentleman !" cried Madame de Seid- 
 lits. 
 
 " He is not the poorer for that. Madam," 
 faid the Surgeon ; ♦' he is a great gainer by what 
 has been taken from him." 
 
 *« I hope he is \^\ no manner of danger?" 
 faid Father Mulo, who was ftill with her. 
 
 " Alas ! Father," laid the Surgeon ; " how 
 often are our hopes fallacious : — a heretic hopes 
 to go to Fleaven, which is impollible : Is it not, 
 Father ?' 
 
 << That certainly 7/ impoffible," faid Mulo. 
 
 '« I knew," continued the Surgeon, " that 
 you would be fully convinced of that great and 
 couifortabic trutii." 
 
 •' But you do not think this poor gentleman 
 in danger?" laid Madame de Seidlits. 
 
 *' A pcrfon of your ladylliip's excellent un- 
 do (landing muft know," replied the Surgeon, 
 *• that gun-Iliot wounds are often attended witU 
 dauLer." 
 
 «» This
 
 Z E L U C O. 277 
 
 " This is only a piftol fliol wound," faid Fa- 
 ther Mulo. 
 
 «' Very judicioufly obferved, Father," faid the 
 Surgeon ; " that certainly makes a difference; 
 it happens unkickily, however, that even piflol- 
 fhot wounds prove ibmetimes mortal." 
 
 " The bullet, I underftand, paffed through 
 his arm o«/)'," laid Father Mulo. 
 
 << Had it pafTed through his heart alfo^ it 
 would have been more dangerous to be fure, 
 Father," faid the Surgeon. 
 
 " You have extracted the ball — I think you 
 faid fo. Sir r" relumed Madame de Seidlits. 
 
 *« 1 have, INIadam, and quite in the manner 
 recommended by Monf. I^ewis at Paris ; it is by 
 much the fafeft. I never made a fweeter inci- 
 fion in my life." 
 
 " It mull: have been very painful," faid Ma- 
 dame de Seidlits, flirinking like one who fuffers> 
 
 <« Painful! — not in the leafl-, Madame!" re- 
 plied the Surgeon ; " I ptrformed it with the 
 greateft eafe." 
 
 I imagine," fiiid Father Mulo, " the lady 
 meant, that the operation muft have been pain- 
 ful to the patient!* 
 
 " To iht patient -J Oho !" cried the Surgeon; 
 <• your ladylliip fpoke of the patient, — did you?" 
 
 ♦' I did indeed, Sir: I fear he futfered a great 
 deal," laid Madame de Seidlits. 
 
 <» Why, yes; a good deal perhaps, though I 
 Ihould think not a vaA deal neither.— -I have 
 feen many fuller more-,---in fhorr, there is no 
 knowing," f^id the Surgeon, carelefsly ; then 
 added with earneflnef?, " but of this I do aflurc 
 you, Madame, that Monlieur Lewis's method is 
 by much the bed. I had the honour of being a 
 
 favourite
 
 278 Z E L U C O. 
 
 fiivourlte eleve of his — and in fome inftances, 
 have Improved on his ide^.s." 
 
 •' I dare lay, Sir," (liid Madame de SeidHts, 
 willing that he fliould withdraw, *« you will do 
 ail that can be done for this gentleman. I fhall 
 be glad to know how he is after the next drell- 
 Jng. I have heard your Ikill much commended." 
 
 *' You are extremely polite and obliging. 
 Madam," faid the Surgeon, bowing ; *' your 
 ladyfliip, no doubt, has palTed fome time at 
 Paris." 
 
 " I never did, Sir. — I fliall expe<n: to hear 
 from you to-morrow." 
 
 *< I am furprifed at that," faid the Surgeon ; 
 ** I could have fworn that you had lived a con- 
 fiderable time at Paris r" 
 
 ** Pray, Sir," refumed Father Mulo, " will 
 you be kind enough, before you go, to fay 
 whether or not you think this gentleman's 
 wound will be long in healing ; for I have not 
 yet been able to gather from your difcourle 
 what your opinion is." 
 
 ** I'hc art of furgery, my good Father," re- 
 plied the Surgeon, " confifts in healing wounds 
 ivell and raduallyj not foon and fuperficially } 
 the laft is the art of charlatans." 
 
 " 1 honour the art of Surgery, Sir," faid Ma- 
 dame de Scidlits ; *' it is one of the moll uicful 
 that mankind can polTefs, and particularly lb to 
 the braveft clafs of mankind." 
 
 " Your politenefs can only be equalled by 
 your excellent underftanding, Madam," fa J the 
 Su-.geon. " The art of furgc. y id nor only the 
 molt lift ful, and moH: honoui.ible, but al/"o the 
 moll ancient of all ihe arts ; it can boaft hi.-aer 
 antiquity than the art of medicine itfelf." 
 
 <' Perhaps
 
 Z E L U C O. 279 
 
 *' Perhaps it may be fo," faid Madame de 
 Seidlits. 
 
 •* I will have the honour of proving it to 
 your ladyfhip," faid the Surgeon ; then cough- 
 ing and adjufting himfelf hke one going to make 
 a formal harangue, he began — " The earlieft 
 race of mankind — " 
 
 " I am fully convinced it is as you aflert," 
 faid Madame de Seidlits, interrupting him, ♦' but 
 I muft really beg your forgivenefs for being 
 obliged to leave you at prefent. You will be fo - 
 good as to let me know how your patient does 
 after the next dreffing ? — Your humble fervant, 
 Sir.— Adieu, Father." 
 
 When Madame de Seidlits was withdrawn : 
 *« Is it poffible," cried the Surgeon, <* that this 
 lady was never at Paris ?" 
 
 *• She never was, I afllire you," replied Fa- 
 ther Mulo. 
 
 " That feems very extraordinary," faid the 
 Surgeon. 
 
 *' I had a notion," refumed the Father, 
 *' that there was a confiderable number of peo- 
 ple in the world who never were at Paris." 
 
 '* Your reverence's notions are all wonderfully 
 well founded," faid the Surgeon ; •* but my 
 furprife at prefent proceeds from my not being 
 able to conjedlure where or how Madame de 
 Seidlits could acquire fo much politenefs and li- 
 berality of fcntiment." 
 
 " She was educated in a convent," faid the 
 Father. 
 
 •* That clears up the matter at once," faid 
 the Surgeon; <' for fo were you. Father, and 
 yet perhaps you never were at Paris no more 
 than the lady." 
 
 " Never
 
 28o Z E L U C O. 
 
 *« Never in my whole life/' anfwered Father 
 Mulo. 
 
 " Nor at Mofcow neither," added the Sur- 
 geon. 
 
 •* No, never," anfwered the Father; " though 
 I have heard a good deal about Mujcovyj parti- 
 cularly of late." 
 
 '• O, you have .-*" faidthe Surgeon. 
 
 " I have indeed," anfwered Father Mulo ; 
 ♦* fome people tell me it is larger than Naples. 
 What is your opinion ?" 
 
 •' About what ?" faid the Surgeon; <' I fear 
 I do not quite underftand what your reverence 
 means." 
 
 '♦ I only afked which you believed to be the 
 largell city, Naples or Mufcovy ?" 
 
 " Why, I fliould think Naples the mod po- 
 pulous," anfwered the Surgeon, " though Muf- 
 covy ilands upon rather more ground." 
 
 " I had fome lulpicion of that kind myfelf>'* 
 faid Father Mulo. 
 
 CHAP. XLIX. 
 
 j^n Atiodyne Sermon. 
 
 ImpeJiat verbis lafTas oncrantibus auccs. HoK. 
 
 w. 
 
 HEN Madame de Seidlits left Father 
 Mulo and the Surgeon, it was partly to get free 
 of the loquacity of the latter; and alfo becaufe 
 Laura, who did not chul'e to appear herfelf, 
 Waited with impatience to know the Surgeon's 
 opinion of Zcluco. That young lady had palled 
 a very difturbeJ niglit, owing in fome meafure, 
 
 t(>
 
 Z E L U C O. 281 
 
 to the fright, but more to the uneafmefs fh.e felt 
 on account of Zcluco's wound, or perhaps rather 
 on account of the occaflon on which he had re- 
 ceived it; for it is more than probable that Lau- 
 ra would have felt kts concern had he received 
 the fame wound in any other caui'e. Of all man- 
 kind the per Ton flie wifhed leaft to be obliged to 
 was Zeluco. 
 
 Madame de Scldlits having perceived her 
 daughter's anxiety, although fhe had herfelf 
 been agitated by the alarming manner in which 
 the Surgeon had fpoken, afFcdled a degree of 
 compofure which flie had not, and fpoke to 
 Laura as if there were no doubt of his recovery; 
 flie afterwards delired Signora Sporza and Father 
 Mulo to talk the fame language to her. The 
 former did fo naturally; for there appeared 
 fomethiiig myflerious and fufpicious to her in 
 the whole adventure, and flie never once be-, 
 heved him in any danger. 
 
 Father Pedro vifited Zeluco daily, but never 
 thought proper to tiflc any particular explanation 
 cf the accident by which he was wounded; nor 
 did the latter ever talk to him but on the general 
 fuppofition that the attack had been made by 
 real robbers. Yet they fo far talked without 
 difguife to each other, that the Father informed 
 Zeluco of Laura's dillrefs on his account, the 
 mother's precaution in foftening the accounts of 
 his illncfs to her daughter, advifing Zeluco, as 
 the beft means of keeping alive the intercft which 
 that young lady took in him, that he fhould not 
 be in too great a hurry to announce his perfe<St 
 recovery; and declaring, at the fame time, that 
 he had better hopes than ever of his fuccefs. 
 
 Several days after the adventure, Father Pe- 
 dro
 
 282 Z E L U C O. 
 
 dro found the three ladies together, and ertdca- 
 vouring to fuit the account he gave of Zeluco 
 with the fentiinents he wifhed toinfpire*, he 
 faiJ, ** That, for his part, he did not know 
 what to thinh of Signor Zeluco's Oate of heahh ; 
 that fometimcs the Surgeon imagined the wound 
 dirpofcd to heal, that Ibon after he declared 
 that it had a worfe appearancii, and threatened 
 the moft dangerous confequences. But what 
 gave him the greateft uneafinefs was, that the 
 Phyfician, a man of great flcill and penetralion 
 had told him, that he l'urpe<^ed feme fecret an- 
 xiety of mind preyed upon his patient, producing 
 a flow fever, which gradually undermined his 
 ftrength, and deftroyed the eflect of the medi- 
 cines ; and he was much afraid would render a 
 ViTOund, which might otherwife have been cured, 
 the apparent caufe of his diflblution," Madame 
 de S^idlits threw a look at Laura, as the Father 
 pronounced thefe words, and the young lady 
 herfelf betrayed fymptoms of great emotion. — 
 ** Avaunt, thou profit of evil !" cried Signora 
 Sporza, with an air of raillery, <♦ fee you not 
 that this audience cannot bear a fermon from 
 the Lamentations of Jeremiah. Nor is there 
 need for fuch gloomy forebodings. I will be un- 
 fwerable for ic, that our heroic Knight Errant's 
 wound will heal in due time, in ipite of the fe- 
 cret Ibrrow which preys on his tender heart." 
 
 Signora Sporza continued to flight every idea 
 of danger, and endeavoured to keepup the i'pirits 
 of her friends, whicli feemed ready to fink un- 
 der the artful infinuations of Father Pedro. 
 
 Signora Sporza, in confequence of the en- 
 gagement above mentioned, fet out for Rome 
 with her companion a few days after this con- 
 
 vcrfation,
 
 Z E L U C O. 2?3 
 
 verfation, having taken an affcclionate leave of 
 her two friends, both of whom were a little hurt 
 at the want of concern fhe dil'playcd on account 
 of the illnefs of Zcluco, who, they iimgined, 
 merited more regard from her than flie was 
 willing to allotr. 
 
 When Hie departed, Father Pedro circulated, 
 without reftraint, fuch reports as he thought 
 would anfwcr his purpofe. One day Madame 
 de Seidlits was told, that Zeluco was a llitle bet- 
 ter, the next a great deal worfe ; at one time it 
 was given out, that the Surgeon feared it might 
 be necefTary to amputate his arm as the beft means 
 of faving his life. And the Father was always at 
 hand to lament, that this generous intrepidity 
 fhould be attended with fuch confequences. 
 
 One day he filled Madame de Seidlits's mind 
 with the greateft apprehenfions for Zeluco's life; 
 aflerting that the agony of his wound was ex- 
 cruciating; that he had not flept for the three 
 laft nights, and that the fever threatened his 
 brain. — «< What a benevolent and hberal friend ?" 
 exclaimed the Father, '< are the poor about to 
 lofe 1" And fo he left both the mother and 
 daughter in very great concern. 
 
 He had hinted to Zeluco himfelf, that he in- 
 tended to give this impreflion, that he might acH: 
 accordingly, and give fuilable anfwers to all in- 
 quiries made about his health. The Father's 
 view was to imprint, in the firft place, a ftrong 
 degree of compaihon in the breaft of Laura, in 
 the hope that this would render her more fa- 
 vourable towards Zeluco; and he purpofed re- 
 turning that fame evening to the ladies with ex- 
 aggerated accounts of Zeluco's tortures, which, 
 by totally depriving him of fleep, augmented the 
 
 fever j
 
 284 Z E L U C O. 
 
 fever ; an J when he flioulJ perceive Laura'a 
 compaffiou ftrongly interefted, he intended 
 again to urge his fuit in the hopes of obtaining 
 feme favourable declaration from Laura, in the 
 event of Zeluco's recovery. 
 
 This Ihrcwd plan, liowcver, was a little de- 
 ranged. Father Mulo called on JVIadame de 
 SelJlit^ two Jiours after Pedro had left her. 
 When he had fat a little while, fhe begged he 
 would be fj obliging as to pay a vifit to Signer 
 Zeluco, endeavour to fee him, and return af- 
 terwards to her; for his cafe, as (lie was inform- 
 ed, altered every hour, and flie did not know 
 whofe account to dtpcnd upcui. I/.\ura joined 
 in this requeO, that lae might be relieved from 
 the Reverend Father's converfation, which fhe 
 had always felt uncommonly oppreflive. 
 
 Father INIulo's connexion with Madame de 
 Seidlits's family was known to all Zeluco's fcr- 
 vants J therefore, although they had received 
 orders to admit nobody to his chamber except 
 the medical people and Father Pedro, yet 
 they imagined that Father ^lulo was meant to 
 be conimprehended in the exception. He was 
 according introduced. 
 
 But as Zeluco expected no fuch viut, he 
 was not exadly in the lituation he would have 
 chofen, had he known of the Father's coming. 
 The wine and fweet-nieats which were on the 
 table had been placed theue on Father Pedro's 
 accounr, who was always pleafed to find a col- 
 lation of that kind ready arranged when he 
 called. Father Mulo exprcflcd great fatisfai^tiou 
 at feeing him look lb much better than he ex- 
 pedcJ, adding, that it would aQbrd confolatioa 
 u) hij friends, particularly to Madame de Seid- 
 
 lits,
 
 Z E L U C O. 285 
 
 llts, when he fliould inform them how well he 
 looked. 
 
 «« Alas ! Father," faid Zeluco, " nothing is 
 more deceitful than looks. 1 am in continual 
 pain. I have not flept at all for thefe three 
 nights. The phyfician thinks I might be better 
 if I could get fome fleep ; but nothing he or- 
 ders has the cffccfl, the agony of my arm is fo 
 violent. Oh !— " 
 
 '* You had heft take a gl.ifo of wine -, allow 
 me to help you," faid the Father. 
 
 " 1 dare not tafte wine," replied Zeluco j 
 •* but I beg you will help yourfelf to fome ; and 
 pray, my good Father, try at the fame time, if 
 you can, to tafte thofe bifcuirs; yoti feem fa- 
 tigued with walking in this fultry weather. 
 There is a napkin to dry you with ; you are in 
 a very violent perfpiration. Pray take another 
 glafs of wine. — I will endeavour to fupprefs my 
 complaints while you refrcfli yourfelf. The 
 brhryma Chrijli is excellent ; do tafte it." 
 
 Father Mulo acknowledged that he was in- 
 deed very much fatigued, having vifited many 
 penitents that morning, and walked a great deal. 
 After he had eat and drank very plentifully, ' 
 thinking himfelf bound to repay Zeluco for his 
 agreeable repaft, he prepared to do it in the 
 moft ample manner in the only coin he ever car- 
 ried about with him, a confoiatory exhortation. 
 lie turned, therefore, from the bufet, and ad- 
 drefied himfelf to Zeluco in thefe words : " The 
 accident which has befallen you, my dear fon, 
 in all human probability, is the moft fortunate 
 that could h.ive happened ; you have had time 
 during your confinement to refje(ft on your pafi: 
 life, and to repent of your manifold iniquities. 
 As for the pain, it is temporary and trivial in 
 
 comparifon
 
 286 Z E L U C O. 
 
 comparifon of the pangs which finners endure 
 in purgatory. Of what account are the frivo- 
 lous enjoyments of fenCs ? of what avail are all 
 fiiblunary — ?" &c. &c. &c. 
 
 In this flrain and with an uniform monoto- 
 nous voice, mightily refembling the drone of a 
 bee, the Father continued his harangue with 
 wonderful perfeverance and lliut eyes, as was 
 his cuftom when he prayed and admoniflied. It- 
 is difficult to fay how long he might have con- 
 tinued, had he not been furprifed into a full 
 flop, in the mid ft of a fentence full of un6lion, 
 by the fnoring of Zeluco ; who unwilling to- 
 interrupt the Relation of Laura, and unable to 
 attend to what he faid, had been long lulled 
 into fleep by the lethargic hum of his voice. 
 
 Father Mulo opening his eyes, perceived the 
 fituation of Zeluco; as it was no ways uncom- 
 mon to the Father to find many of his audience 
 in the fame condition at the end of his fermons, 
 be betrayed no marks of furprife on the prefent 
 occaflon ; but after having with wonderful com- 
 pofure ilnifiicd wiiat remained of his bottle, and 
 eat a few more billuits, he walked Ibftly out of 
 the room, told the fcrvant that his mailer had 
 mof^ providentially fallen into repol'e, and de- 
 fired that he ftiould on no account be difturbed 
 till he awaked of himfelf. 
 
 Father Mulo, not chufing to be troubled with 
 inquiries into particulars, lent a general meffage 
 to Madame de Seidlits, importing that .Signor 
 Zeluco was a great deal better. 'Fliis aflordcd 
 much pleafure to both the mother and daughter; 
 and the fame evening, when Father Pedro call- 
 ed on purpofe to ftrengthen the impreflion he 
 had already made, they congratulated him on 
 the comfortable accounts they had received of 
 
 Zeluco.
 
 Z E L U C O. 287 
 
 Zeluco. As Father Pedro had not feen nor 
 heard of him fince he had been laft with the 
 ladies, he was a good deal iurprifed at the intel- 
 hgence; he could ice no motive Zeluco could 
 have for deviating from the plan that had been 
 fettled between them, and therefore declared 
 his difbclief of the account which the ladies had 
 received. ♦' Have you Teen Signor Zeluco fince 
 you were here?" i'aid IVIa<lame de Seidlits. Fa- 
 ther Pedro owned that he had not. — "Then 
 our accounts are later than yours, and may be 
 depended on ; they come from Father Mulo, 
 who was with Signor Zeluco, and fent me the 
 meflage after he left him." 
 
 *' There is fome miftake/' faid Pedro angrily j 
 *< he cannot pofTibly be better." 
 
 «' One would imagine, however," faid Laura, 
 *« that there is nothing to put you out of hu- 
 mour in the intellig<;nce we have received, and 
 which it is certainly poffible may be true." 
 
 ♦« The reafbn that I have to fear that it is 
 not," refumed Father Pedro, recollccSling him- 
 feif, '< makes me averfe to your adopting an 
 opinion which will give double uneafinefs when 
 found to be falie." 
 
 '* Whether it is falfe or true maybe foon af- 
 certained," faid Madame de Seidlits, who im- 
 mediately ft;nt a footman to inquire. The mef- 
 Icnger returned in a few minutes, and informed 
 them, that Signor Zeluco had been allecp for 
 feveral hours ; and that he flept lb calmly, there 
 was every realbn to hope he would be greatly 
 better when he awoke." 
 
 *' Heaven be praifed !" exclaimed the Father, 
 *• fome powerful foporific muft have been ad- 
 miniitered to produce fuch a lafting effedl." 
 
 ZelucQ was at length awoke by Father Pedro 
 
 himfelf,
 
 28S Z E L U C O. 
 
 himfelf, who was greatly irritated at what had 
 happened, and burned with impatience to vent 
 his ill-humour. 
 
 *' You feized a very feafonable moment truly 
 for numbering," faid he, after a long altercation. 
 
 *' I feized it not," replied Zeluco ; *' I am 
 hoar fe with telling you, that in fpite of all I 
 could do. It feized me." 
 
 <' After I had melted them with the accounts 
 of your fufFerings, afluring them you had not 
 flept for three nights, when I returned with the 
 ftrongeft hopes of improving on this favourable 
 difpofition of Laura's mind," continued Pedro, 
 ** it was too provoking to ilnd them informed 
 that you were in perff<n: eafe, found fleep, and 
 the efFedl of all my labour annihilated." 
 
 <• If the whole world had been to be annihi- 
 lated, I could not help it," cried Zeluco; »' your 
 brother Mulo has power to lull Prometheus 
 alleep, in fpite of all the cfForts of his vulture. 
 I'll tell you, Father," added Zeluco, with vehe- 
 mence, as if he intended a ftrong illuftration, 
 «< your own eloquence is fcarcely more powerful 
 to roufe and animate, than his drovvfy monodies 
 are to benumb the fcnfes. 
 
 This lalt ftroke foftencJ the wrath, and 
 fmoothed the brow of Father Pedro. •« Well, 
 well, my friend," faid he, with a fmile, " re- 
 pining at what is pafl can do no good •, all may 
 yet be repaired ; that this long and unexpected 
 repofe has been of fcrvice to your health muH: 
 not be denied to the ladies, but remember that 
 you are to recover very flowly, and that you 
 may pofllbly relapfe." 
 
 After a confultation of fome length, they fe- 
 parated as good friends as ever. 
 
 END OF THE riRST VOLUMH:.
 
 
 \n 
 
 t^-^'-^ 
 
 C, Q'^^r/l
 
 :=% 
 
 ^■^