He takes an Occafion to condemn Idleness and ill Company. He recounts the Spoils and Trophies of Cooks, and relates a pleafant Paffage between him and his Miftrefs. Chap. VII. Guzman takes up the Basket again, and makes many useful moral Reflections on Mankind. At last, by means of a Theft, he got a great deal of Money, and left Madrid. 30 Chap. VIII. Guzman tells how he arriv'd at Madrid, and fer up for a Gallant there; that having two Intrigues, they both Jucceeded unprofperously, and that at length quitting that City, he was ferv'd a Scurvy Trick at Malagon. Chap. IX. Guzman tells the Meaning of a certain Proverb; and after proceeds to fhew how he was lifted for a Soldier, yet re- fus'd by the Commissary. He thence takes occasion to reflect on the Abuses of that and other Pofts; and at last comes to Speak of Want of Money, and the Confequences of it. Chap. X. Guzman Jets forth the Disadvantages of one that is decay'd in his Fortune, and how difficult it is for an honest Man to get into any Employment. He acquaints you, how be Supplied his Captains Neceffities by his Rogueries; and after- wards, how he came with him to Genoa, where he discharg'd The Third BOOK. mas rejected by his Relations, and what Trick he had play'd him while he was in queft of them; and how at last he took the Road Chap.II. Guzman,in his Journey towards Rome,difcourfes of his Parfimony and good Husbandry; and at length tells you how, upon his Arrival at his fourneys end, he turn'd Beggar again; and what Inftructions he had from an old Proficient, who com- municated to him the Laws and Ordinances of that Fraternity, which he acquaints you with. Chap. III. Guzman tells you of fome new Laws he learn'd; and how he was ferv'd for begging at an unfeafonable Hour, and afterwards laugh'd at by an old Proficient, who inftructed him Exercife both of himself and his Companions, whereby they got wherewithal to live,not only plentifully, but luxuriously. Page 395 Chap. IV. Guzman Difcourfes of Charity, and the many Benefits of it. Then he tells, how he came to be reliev'd by a certain Nobleman, who thought his Alt meritorious. Afterwards he proceeds to fhew what a free Life and Liberty a Beggar enjoys 400 Chap. V. Guzman tells a ftrange Story of one of his Profession, and then proceeds to cry up a Beggars Life in Oppofition to all others. At length he acquaints you, how he was ferv'd at Gaeta Chap. VI. Guzman difcourfes of Alms-giving,and the many Ad- vantages of it: And then tells you how,upon his return to Rome and falling to his old Trade of Begging, he was taken in by a Car- dinal, pretending to have a fore Leg, who order'd him to be cur'd by two Surgeons,who agreeing with him, impos'd on his Eminence, and got a great deal of Money. He laftly acquaints you how being cured,theCardinal took a fancy to him,and made him his Page.412 Chap. VII. Guzman fpeaks of the many Changes in this World,and laments his own late Change of Life, as not comparable to the Condition of a Beggar. He tells you feveral little Thefts of his; and at laft acquaints you with one that he was foundly lafh'd for, which, however,he fufficiently reveng'd on the Executioner. 420 Chap. VIII. Guzman tells, how he reveng'd the Cardinal's Gentle- man-Ufher upon his Secretary: And afterwards acquaints you with a notable Theft of his, which had like to have cost him his Place; but his Eminence retain'd him out of meer Charity, in hopes he might have an Opportunity to teach him better, and prevent, if poffible, his utter Deftruction. Chap. IX. Guzman fpeaks of Charity in relation to the Cardinal'; and then fhews the Inconveniencies of Mafters being over-rigo- rous and unkind to their Servants. He next tells you another Theft of his, and how well he came off. Afterwards he proceeds to treat of Gaming, and fhews the Rogueries of it. Here he tells a pleafant Story; and at laft,having recommended fome Laws for Gaming, acquaints you how he was difmifs'd the Cardinal's Ser- vice, and on what Condition he was to return into it. 436 Chap. X. Guzman goes into the Spanish Ambaffador's Service, and tells you what Tricks he play'd there; and above all, one THE LIFE and ACTIONS Of the Famous SPANISH ROGUE Guzman d'Alfarache. PART I. Book I. CHAP. I. Guzman tells who and what his Father was; dif courfing by the by, of Detractors and Backbiters of unconscionable Traders; of unjust Judges; of wicked Notaries; and at length takes Notice, That over-nice Dreffing is ill in a Woman, but worfe in a Man. Was fo defirous, Courteous Reader, to relate to thee the Adventures of my Life, that without allowing my felf Latitude enough, I had like to have paffed by what is the very Bafis of it, the fooner to engage thee in the Reading my Story; but over and above that it was altogether effential to my B Difcourfe, Difcourfe, I fhould thereby have expofed my felf to fome Sophift or other, who would have been apt to have accufed me of not proceeding à Definitione ad Definitum, from the Definition to the Thing Defind; that is to fay, of not telling who my Parents were, and of how uncertain an Origin, before I came to speak of my felf. 'Tis true, I have a great deal to fay on this firft Head, and if I had a mind to enlarge into Particulars, might, perhaps, afford a more fatisfactory Entertainment by fuch a Relation, than by any Ac count I can give of my own Actions, but I fhall content my felf with what is most important, and pass by the reft as either unneceffary or improper for me to tell. Let fome other lefs Scrupulous Perfon beat that Bush for me; for my part, I care not fo far to participate of the Nature of the Hyena, as to unearth the Dead to procure my self Sustenance; and let me tell you, as there have never wanted Cenfurers in the World, fo no doubt my Parents will never want Chroniclers. However, in the little I have to say of them, you will poffibly be apt to imagine I fay too much, and be ready to call me Fool or Blockhead for dwelling fo long on other People's Defects, while I take fo little notice of my own. This I allow to be true; yet give me leave to procure my felf as good a Character with you as I can, fince certainly to boast of Wickedness is much worfe than to be really wicked. You must likewife believe, if I acquiefce in that Holy Command which enjoins me to honour my Parents, it is because I have Hopes their Frailties may conceal mine: Not that I have a mind to fecure my Reputation at the Expence of another Man's, though that be a common Thing to do, but only to render my Faults the more excufable, fince certainly one difcovers ones own Weakness whenever one expofes that of ones Neighbour. I own Slanderers are ever blameable'; but I hope that Crime will be never juftly imputed to me, in regard of my Parents, fince what I have to fay fay of them will be always fo artificially fet off, that whoever fhall read it, will be apt to cry, Bleffed be the Man who knows fo well how to glofs the Crimes of his Ancestors. Nevertheless, to speak truth, their Story is fo well known, and their Actions have made fo great a Noife in the World, that 'twould be meer madness in me to go about to excufe them; and therefore to do them the greater Service, or rather Juftice, I muft relate all Matters concerning them according to the very Text, wherein, however, Ifhall give the Lie to feveral Commentators upon their Lives, who, as often as they have had occafion to mention them, have never failed to add feveral Articles of their own Invention, which have always been to their Difadvantage, but never to their Credit. Thus the greateft part of the World goes, and thus it fell out with a Gentleman, a Stranger, who I my felf knew at Madrid. He was a great Lover of Horfes, having two the fineft for Shape that could be imagin'd. These he would have willingly transported to his own Country, but it being against the Law, he refolved to have them painted, that he might at least have the Satisfaction of fhewing their Pictures to his Friends, For this purpofe, he had recourfe to two of the moft Famous Painters at that time in this City; to each of whom he gave a Horfe to Paint, promifing, whoever fhould excell the other, fhould, over and above the ftipulated Price, have a generous Gratuity. The two Painters fet to Work, and one painted the Sorrel fo wonderfully fine, that there wanted only Life and Motion to make him a real Horfe; and he had kept. the Likeness so well, that a Man could hardly diftinguifh the Copy from the Original. The other drew the Dapple-Grey, which indeed was, in the main, a fine Piece, but came far fhort of the other in Perfection. This Painter, however, excelled in one thing; for having placed his Horfe in an open Coun try, he reprefented under him fine Landicapes, ve B z nerable |