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
:=%
^■^