(said I) how credulous are Lovers, and how easy is it for Love to impose on them! _La Foret_, _La Foret_, you are playing a Game that will infallibly ruine you. Gaming, Women, and Wine have a good Aspect, I confess, but when made too familiar, are of no Value; they produce short Pleasures, attended with long Repentance; their greatest Sweets often change to Bitter; and their Payment is only in Tinsel, with which they who suffer their Eyes to be dazzled, are commonly deceiv"d. Remember what I now tell you: The Affair you are engag"d in is such, that you"ll repent of it more than once." I might have moraliz"d thus till Doomsday, for all that I said was to no purpose. My Friend thought of nothing but the Pleasure he should have, and turning his Back upon the Consequences, was actually captivated by the most flattering Ideas that his Mind was capable of forming. The poor Man was blinded to such a Degree, that he did not see the Precipice he was just falling into, and was sway"d by nothing but his prevailing Pa.s.sion. His Imagination was so disorder"d, that he thought he had his Fair One every now and then in his Arms, and he often talk"d to her as if he had been actually enjoying her. In short, he pa.s.s"d his Hours in Bed very pleasantly, for tho" he rarely slept, he had such sort of Dreams as create more Pleasure than a profound Sleep, and have this Advantage, that they tickle the Fancy, without impairing the Strength of the Body.
_La Foret_ heard nothing of his Mistress in three Days, which made him so uneasy that it had like to have turn"d his Brains. He often retraced his whole Conduct, but could find nothing to reproach himself with, unless that he had been too respectful. I had not observ"d till then, that the Women of that Country had any Inclination to Galantry. I really thought they were too silly for it; but I began to see by this Specimen that there are few of them in any Country but know a great deal of it in the Affair of granting Love to the Men, and that if they don"t take greater Liberties than they do, it is only owing to the extreme Severity of the Laws against such as transgress the Rules to which _Hymen_ seems to bind them. And they say moreover, that the Kings and Governors are subject to the same Inconveniences, as private Men in _Europe_, because those Gentlemen having more than one Wife, each of them studies to gain her Husband"s Favour, and when she can"t succeed, it gives her Occasion to embrace the first Offer that presents: But return we now to our Love-Story.
Upon the Fourth Day in the Forenoon, as the King came to see us at work, I thought at the first Sight of him that he smelt a Rat; for looking willfully upon _La Foret_, he said to him, You seem to be ruffled, Friend; your Countenance is chang"d from what it us"d to be, and if I may be allow"d to form a Judgment by your Eyes, your Heart is not in a very serene State. Are you fallen in love with any Fair One of this Canton? For Love in a few Hours commits great Ravages. You blush, continued the King. Don"t be afraid to own it: Tho" you are a Foreigner, and of a Religion very different from mine, I a.s.sure you that I will do every thing for you that is in my Power. If you make your Addresses to any Free Person, I"ll find the way to make her marry you; but let me advise you not to delude any Woman, because, should you be taken in the Fact, all my Credit would not be of weight enough to save you. Galantry may perhaps prevail among us, but if it does, "tis conceal"d; and you are not ignorant that "tis a Breach of one of the Articles of our Law, which the Judge treats with the greatest Severity. Adultery especially would not be pardon"d in my self.
_La Foret_, who had by this time recover"d himself, reply"d, "Tis perfectly right, Sir, to be severe upon that Head, and especially with respect to the great Men: If I had the Power in my own Hands, a King who prais"d that sort of Galantry should be less exempt from Punishment than other Men, because while his Subjects are oblig"d, for the Generality, to adhere to one Person only, he has the Liberty of taking a Dozen, and by consequence the Pleasure of having all the Variety at home that he could expect to find abroad. However, continu"d he, this is a Happiness which I don"t envy your Majesty; for tho" I have neither Wife nor Mistress, I am very well contented; and if I don"t look at present altogether so brisk as usual, "tis owing no doubt to my not having slept well for two or three Nights past, for otherwise I am in perfect Health. Nevertheless, he added, I am infinitely oblig"d to your Majesty for your Desire to make me happy, and to find me out a Settlement. If ever I"m inclin"d to marry, I swear to you, Sir, that I will refer my self intirely to your Disposal.
Let us call another Cause, _La Foret_, said I, "tis time enough to think of altering your Condition. The King reply"d very graciously, That shall be when you please. You know the Privileges of the Gown which you wear, so that you will not have much to reproach me with.
The King thereupon retiring, we went to Dinner, and made various Reflections upon the little Dialogue that had pa.s.s"d betwixt us.
Mean time _La Foret_ did not fail to take a Walk after Dinner in the Galleries. _Lidola_, who generally took a Pleasure in seeing him pa.s.s by her Windows, fix"d her Eye upon him till he was out of Sight. Her Waiting-woman, who always kept a Look-out for some Intelligence that might be to their Advantage, came at last to her with News that she had just met the King taking the Air with the Empress; from whence the Queen concluded, that he would infallibly spend the Night with her, as had always been his constant Practice when he took her out in the Day time; therefore without Hesitation she injoin"d her Servant to go after _La Foret_, and to signify to him, as she pa.s.s"d by him, that she expected him at Eleven of the Clock.
The young Woman was not dilatory in the Execution of her Commission. She met him just as he was upon the Return, brush"d as close by him as she could with Decency, and said to him, _en pa.s.sant_, Come to us an Hour before Midnight. I dare not express his Joy at the hearing of these agreeable Words, for fear of saying too much to be believ"d, or not enough to give a just Idea of his Transports. He made such Haste back, and was so absent from himself all the while, that he was at home before he perceiv"d it. I need not say he had no Thought, for he did not care that I shou"d speak to him. The little Time he had to spare, was spent at the Toilet, where he consulted his Mirrour a hundred times, which being only of polish"d Steel, made him fearful that he had not discover"d all his Blemishes. He wash"d himself almost all over with perfum"d Water, cut and trim"d his Whiskers, comb"d his black Hair over and over again, and being at length as handsome as _Adonis_, he wish"d me Good-night, and went his way.
_Lidola_"s Servant, who stood Centinel, receiv"d and carry"d him into the Anti-Chamber, where there was no Light, and bid him steal into her Mistress"s Apartment.
_Lidola_ was lain down on a Bed so fragrant, that it perfum"d the whole House. Her Head-Dress was in the careless Air, her Neck bare, as was also her left Breast, her Arms at Liberty, and her whole Posture was like one between Sleeping and Waking. _La Foret_ made his Approach to her so softly, that she did not perceive it. At the unexpected Sight of so many Beauties he stood like a Statue, with his Eyes so fix"d on the Person of this charming _Venus_, that they had no Motion. A secret Desire, on which he was incapable of making the least Reflection, push"d him forward to view her more nearly. She was like a Loadstone that attracted him imperceptibly and irresistibly. This adorable Beauty happening to open her Eyes, seem"d to the last Degree astonish"d to see her Lover by her Bed-side. She blush"d, and having rais"d her self up, and put on a Veil that lay in a Chair, just at hand, You have surpris"d me, said she, and perhaps seen things you ought not to have seen. Nay, Madam, he reply"d, the Fates will"d it, and not you, that I should have the Opportunity of contemplating Beauties that had like to have thrown me into a Trance. However, what I have seen will be so far from diminishing the Respect I owe you, that it has infinitely heighten"d a Pa.s.sion which I thought could not have been stronger than it was before. You deserve tho" to be chastis"d, reply"d the Fair One, for not letting me know that you was present. But what made you come so soon? It cannot be Night yet, and I did not appoint you "till Eleven o" Clock. You mistake, said _La Foret_, you only upbraid me for coming so late, tho" you don"t consider how long I have been here. You deceive your self, said the Queen; if you consult your Watch, you"ll find that you are in the Wrong to contradict me. I have no Watch, reply"d _La Foret_, nor have I need of one, for on these Occasions my Head is a Minute-Watch, so that I would not lose one Moment. Have you not a Watch? said _Lidola_; "tis surprising that you should be without those Jewels which you bestow upon others? If I had the Skill to make such pretty Machines, it should never be said that I had not one for my own Use, and another at the Service of my Mistress. This was a mortifying Compliment to the _Frenchman_, who very well understood the Tendency of the Rebuke, and was mad with himself that he had not prevented it. The Queen perceiving him in some Confusion, thought fit to put him out of his Pain. I only banter, _La Foret_, said she, and you are studying for a serious Answer.
Sit down upon my Bed, continu"d she, the Moments are precious, let us not squander them to no purpose. At the same time she went to grasp his Hand, but Love render"d her so weak, that she gave a Sigh, and fell back on her Pillow. So far things went on swimmingly, and the two young Hearts did not doubt that their Bliss was upon the Point of being compleated. But Fortune envying their Felicity, chang"d all their Hopes on a sudden into mortal Terrors.
The King had a real Love for _Lidola_, the Violence he had done himself in not seeing her so long was such a Burden upon his Mind, that he could bear it no longer; and a fresh Report which she had given out of her Indisposition, adding to his former Uneasiness, he was resolv"d to keep her Company that Night. The Waiting-woman, who was always at the Window, hearing a confused Noise at a distance, like that of a Company of Men, immediately had a Mistrust, because "twas but just Midnight, and the King never went to Bed before that time: At length, seeing the Train approach, she ran and gave the Alarm, crying out, _We are all undone, Madam, here is the King just at the Gate_. As warm as our two Lovers were before, their Blood immediately chill"d in their Veins. _La Foret_ knew not what would be his Doom. It was no time to demur, and he was immediately hurry"d into a Closet which fronted that Chamber. He was no sooner enter"d but a Domestic who stepp"d before, knock"d at the Gate. The Chamber-maid made him stay just as long as she thought it might have taken her up to rise, and as Visits of this sort were pretty frequent, she did not seem to be at all surpriz"d. As the King was close at the Domestic"s Heels, he enter"d the very Moment that the Gate was open"d. The Queen, who heard him coming, found it no very hard Task to counterfeit an Indisposition, to which the Fear she was in, both for her self and her Spark, did not a little contribute; and the King verily believing that she was not well, had not the least Suspicion, tho" he saw her more disorder"d than usual. He shew"d a greater Fondness for her than ever, and said to her, that notwithstanding the ill State of Health he found her in, he intended to spend the Night with her. Sire, reply"d _Lidola_, you do me a great deal of Honour, but I am not now in a Condition either to give Pleasure, or to receive it; I fear that if I were to stir ever so little, it would do me an Injury, and I find that I want Rest. I would not incommode you, said the King, for the World; if you can"t admit of my Company, I"ll go and rest upon the Tent Bed in that Closet, being determin"d to stay here all Night. This Answer quite unexpected by the Fair One, so alarm"d her, that after abundance of Excuses for the Coldness wherewith she had treated him, which she ascrib"d entirely to her Illness, she began to be very sweet upon him, and begg"d him earnestly to undress himself.
As soon as he was in Bed, and the Domestics gone, the Chamber-maid took an Opportunity to go into the Closet to consult with the Prisoner what shift to make for his Liberty, when, to her great Surprize, she could not find him, tho" there was no Door but what he went in at, and the Windows were so close, that they did not seem to have been open"d. While she was rummaging the Bed and other Furniture in that Apartment, the Lady, who was perplex"d to think what was become of her Lover, call"d to her to raise her Pillow, and bring her some Drink, and having by that means an Opportunity to whisper, and to hear that he was gone, tho" she knew not which way, it put her out of Pain, and she slept the remainder of the Night very quietly. _La Foret_ imagining that the King would make a very short Stay, had shut himself up in the Privy, but he found himself terribly mistaken when he heard soon after that he design"d to pa.s.s the whole Night with his Wife, or at least in the Closet where he was, in case that she could not admit him to her Bed. Then it was, as he has own"d to me since, more than once, that he was seiz"d with a Panick which he had never felt the like of before. He could not return thro" the Chamber where the King was, without the Hazard of being seen; he thought all the Windows of the Apartment were secur"d with Iron Bars: Besides, he was afraid the Noise would betray him, if he open"d them, especially if he leap"d into the Ca.n.a.l, which the Closet over-look"d. Having resolv"d all this in his Mind, in the utmost Hurry, he thought of no better Expedient, than to slip into the Water thro" the Hole of the Privy, and so to save himself by Swimming.
By good Luck for him, the Room where I lay was low, and next the Road, so that he came and rapp"d with his Fingers at one of my Windows. I presently imagin"d that his Affairs had taken a wrong Turn, got up in a Trice, and had no sooner open"d the Window, but he bolted in like a hunted Hare, pull"d off his Clothes, and went into Bed, where he gave me a full and true Account of his nocturnal Adventures. You see now, said I, dear Boy, how Love and Fortune trifle with you. They seldom agree, and if ever, "tis in order to deceive us the more terribly in the After-Game. Believe me, you are in a very dangerous way, and if you don"t abandon it, as I have already advis"d you, it will a.s.suredly prove your Ruine. Let me hear no more of it, said he, she is worth all my Trouble; and provided I can but once enjoy her, I fear not to die. What vexes me most of all is, that I know not how to gratify her. She ask"d me for a Watch; whereas I have not one to give her, and it will take me up at least a Week to finish that we have in hand. If she wants you to give her a Watch, said I, "tis a plain Sign that her Love is self-interested, and tho" it were not so, how do you propose she should make use of it? The King who will know it presently, will also be satisfy"d where she had it, upon which the Mystery will break out, and then farewel the two Lovers. You are in the right, upon my Word, said my Friend, I had not that Foresight; but in short, we must make an end of it, and by that time, I warrant we shall find some Expedient or other to bring us off; for Love is too ingenious to lurch us when we are in so fair a way.
Mean time we heard five or six great Strokes upon the Bason of our Clock which were given so fast one after another, that they made us start; we could not imagine the Meaning of it; not considering that we our selves had advis"d the King to make use of this Method, in Imitation of the _Europeans_, to raise an Alarm, and give the Inhabitants of the Canton Notice, when any thing happen"d to the Disadvantage of the Quarter, that they might all flock together to the Place, and endeavour to remedy it. A Man running by just after, and calling out Fire, as loud as ever he could, deliver"d us from that Fright, and threw us into another. Not knowing where it was, we leap"d to the Bed"s-feet and put on each a dirty Gown, which we girt close round our Bodies, with a Design to lend a Helping-hand to quench it, and going out, we presently saw that Queen _Lidola_"s House was in Flames. Ladders were brought from all Parts, and there was such Plenty of Water at hand, that by the Force of it the Fire was hindered from spreading to the neighbouring Apartments, so that the Damage was not very considerable. As it began in the Closet where _La Foret_ was conceal"d, we did not doubt but the Waiting-woman, when she was looking for him, let some Spark fall into the Tent-Bed, or some other Moveable or combustible Matter, which had been the Cause of the Fire. Mean time the King retir"d as soon as a Domestic brought him the News. We went immediately to condole with him, but he only laugh"d, and told us, that neither the Fright nor the Damage deserv"d our Compliment, especially with regard to a Man of his natural Temper, whom nothing could put out of Humour. The Queen was no sooner recover"d of her Fright, on account of this sad Fire, but she took Pen in Hand and drew up a second Letter, in Substance almost as follows.
To _La Foret_.
_My Chamber-maid has already been abroad. I know where you are retired, but I give a shrewd guess which way you made your Escape. The Conjuncture was dangerous, and altogether as alarming to me as to you, insomuch that the Fire which afterwards broke out in my Closet, by the Imprudence of my People, was nothing to it, in comparison. But let not this discourage you, we shall be more happy another time. Be constant and tranquil. I will give you notice when "tis a proper Season, and take such Precautions that at our next Interview, I hope for an Opportunity of giving you a convincing Testimony, that I am truly your Friend._
LIDOLA.
It was no difficult Matter for the Messenger of Love to Hide this Billet into the Hands of the Lover, who seldom fail"d of walking by her Mistress"s Door every Morning, Noon, and Night, so that she might meet and talk with him whenever she pleas"d, without any Notice taken of her. Mean time, _La Foret_ seriously went to work upon her Watch, and labour"d so hard at it, that it was ready by the fifth Day. It was extremely pretty; the Graving of the Box was beautiful, nor was the Case inferior to the Workmanship within. The Evening was hardly shut in, but he went out with his Machine in his Pocket, and finding the young Woman of whom he was in quest, he put it into her Hand, and desir"d her to present it for him to the Queen, to whose Favour he always recommended himself. If ever Woman, discover"d her Joy, _Lidola_ did at the Sight of this pretty Watch. We were told that she kiss"d it a thousand times, and bless"d herself for having succeeded so well in her Intrigue.
One would have thought that this fine Pledge of _La Foret_"s Love would have hasten"d the Happiness he expected for his Reward, but in truth, he heard no more of it. The Waiting-maid who formerly was so eager to find him out, was as watchful afterwards to avoid him. This made him very uneasy; but as he had no room to suspect the Lady, he imagin"d that the young Woman was disgusted to find her Mistress so highly gratify"d, and herself unrewarded in companion, of the Pains she had taken. In short, not long after, when he scarce thought any thing of it, the young Woman to his great Surprize accosted him at a Place where there was no Witness, and after having dropp"d a Sigh, you are wretchedly deceived, _said she_, I really pity you, and have the utmost Abhorrence of my Mistress"s unjust Proceeding. All that she has done hitherto was only to coax you out of a Watch, and now she has it, she has order"d me to tell you, that she finds it too difficult and dangerous for her to receive you at her Apartments any more, that she is troubled for it to the last Degree, that her Grief is even inexpressible, that it will certainly break her Heart, and a great deal more of such Cant which is all meer Hypocrisy.
The King, _continued she_, was with us Yesterday, and hearing the Beat of the Watch, immediately ask"d what it was. Being under a Necessity of telling him, he seem"d surpriz"d at it, and would needs know how Madam came by that Jewel. The ungrateful Creature, as she herself confess"d to me, was just going to tell him, that you had sent it to her with a Design to make use of it as a Bribe to debauch her, and that you had actually made an Attempt to that end; but for fear of involving herself in a Sc.r.a.pe, wherein perhaps she would have run as great a Risque as you, or at least have been in Danger of restoring the Watch, she told him that I had found it, and that she had it from me. Upon this, I was call"d, and question"d as to the Truth of it. I perceiv"d by her tipping the Wink on me at every Word, that she was in a Plunge, and that there was a Necessity for my confirming every thing she had said. Very well, if it be so, _said the King_, I know whose it is, and Justice demands the Rest.i.tution of it to the Right Owner. I would have done so before, _said the Queen_, for as soon as my Maid found it, I imagin"d it belong"d to those Foreigners who made yours, and I sent it back to them that Instant, but when my Servant told from whom she came, they protested that they would never take it again, and that their Design was to make one for the Empress, and for all the other Queens. Thus, _said the Chambermaid_, have I told you what Turn the Matter has taken.
Possibly you expect some Reward for your Present, but I don"t think you will have any as long as you live. "Tis enough, _said La Foret_, I thank you my Dear; undoubtedly I shall remember your Hint, and will take my Measures accordingly.
It being then past Supper-time, _La Foret_ made haste to his Chamber, and went to Bed without saying a Word. You are in the Dumps, Friend, _said I_, what ails you? Don"t Affairs go to your Mind? No verily, they don"t, _said he_, for I heard that just now, which I should never have thought of; and thereupon he gave me the Relation of every Thing that the Maid had told him. Alas!
_said I_, did nor I tell you as much before? However, you are come off better than I thought you would. But after all, consider the Consequences of this Affair. You are hereby brought under a Necessity of making Watches with all Speed for all the King"s Wives on Pain of incurring their Displeasure, and perhaps too the Monarch"s Hatred, who if you should fail in that Point, might well mistrust that you gave that Watch with a Design to insinuate yourself into the Affections of the most beautiful of all his Wives, which Suspicion you know would be corroborated upon the least Noise of your having been seen Abroad at an unseasonable Hour, either in the Water, or going in at our Window, if any Body has ever so little Hint of it. The D---l take all Women then, _said he in a Pa.s.sion_, I"ll never trust another be she of what Quality she will. Fair and softly, _said I_, your being in a Rage won"t help the Matter. I plainly see what is to be done. That we may have at least some Respite, we must desire the King to let us go and spend the Summer at our former Village, and then we will consider what we have to do.
Next Day the King came as usual to see what we were about, and banter"d us on the Affair of the Watch. _La Foret_ confirmed every t.i.ttle that the Chamber-maid had said about it, and then added, that it being hot Weather, and not so proper for working as the Winter Season, he desir"d that his Majesty would consent that we might go and spend some Months in our old Village. With all my Heart, _said the King_, and after having order"d us a hundred Pieces, he wish"d us a happy Journey. We went soon after to take our Leaves of the Court, and the Cook in particular being our very good Friend, we thought it our Duty to crack a Bottle with him. The Moment that we told him of our Resolution, the Man seem"d Thunder struck, which we both mistook for the Effect of his Friendship and his Concern to part with us for so long a Time, but when he recover"d his Speech, he said to our very great Surprize, are you really going away, Gentlemen, do you consider well what you are doing? Don"t you know what People say of you?
G.o.d forbid that I should suspect you of the least foul Action.
You never gave me any Occasion for it, nor any one else that I know of; but every Body does not know you so well as I do. If you will be rul"d by me, you ought to justify yourselves before you change your Quarters, otherwise you"ll run the Risque of being accus"d as Incendiaries; for they who have spread the Report will triumph in your Absence; and who knows but such as doubt of it at this present will then give Credit to it? How! Incendiaries!
_said I_, are we charg"d with a Design of laying the Place in Ashes before we go away? No, _reply"d he_, but they give out, that _La Foret_ is the Man who set Fire to Queen _Lidola_"s House. We are very much oblig"d to you, _said I_, for your good Caution, and we"ll go this Moment and inquire into the Cause of so groundless a Scandal, of which I don"t think it will be very difficult to clear ourselves. As soon as we were gone out, I"ll lay a Wager, _said I to my Comrade_, that you were seen returning to your Lodging at a late Hour the very Night the Fire happen"d, and that some ill-designing Person has drawn this Conclusion from it to your Disadvantage. Let us go to the King, _said I_, and open the Matter to him, when we shall presently see what he will say of it.
As soon as the Monarch saw us, What"s the Matter, _said he_, my dear Friends? have you not receiv"d the Money I order"d for you, or do you want any more? What is it you stand in need of, I conjure you to tell me freely. We want nothing, Sir, _said I_, but the Continuance of your Favour; for we have just heard something which very much afflicts us, and we must lie inconsolably at your Feet "till your Majesty has procur"d us Satisfaction. We are slander"d with having form"d a Design to reduce this Royal Canton to Ashes. If we are guilty, we deserve to be punish"d, if not, the Calumny is so heinous, that we hope from your Clemency, the Inventor of it will have exemplary Chastis.e.m.e.nt. Tush, _said the King_, I heard this several Days ago, but I gave so little Heed to it that I did not think it worth while to mention it to you. However, to satisfy you, I"ll go straight and order Informations to be taken about it with all Speed. And indeed they who had the Commission, discharg"d it with such Diligence, that by tracing the Matter from one to another, the Person that first invented the Lye was found out in an Hour"s time, who prov"d to be one of the King"s Equerries, an honest sober Man of exemplary Modesty.
The King at our Sollicitation was pleas"d to send for him in our Presence, and having ask"d him what Motive he had to give out a Rumor so prejudicial to our Reputation, he made this Defence. I had been a little indispos"d for some Days, _said he_, when the Court Physician whom I consulted, prescrib"d a Purge to me which operated 36 Hours after I had taken it. Being obliged during this to rise in the Night, I heard a great Noise in the Ca.n.a.l facing my Chamber, at the Entrance of the neighbouring Canton. My Curiosity to know what it was, made me look out at the Window, and it being not very dark, I saw a Man in the Ca.n.a.l who got Ash.o.r.e over-against the Queen"s Pavilion, shook his Clothes, and ran towards the Temple-Bridge. Upon this I open"d my Door softly, ran after him as hard as I could, and having watch"d him towards the Senate-House, I saw him rap at a Window, and on its being open"d, he got thro" it into the House. I knew it was the Apartment of these Gentlemen by their Stature, and a certain Air which I know is peculiar to them. A little after this, _Lidola_"s Apartment was in a Flame. Now, Sir, said he, I ask whether putting all these Circ.u.mstances together, my Conjectures were so ill founded, and if wiser Men than I might not have been as much mistaken? I own, _said the King_, there was a Probability, but something more was requisite in order to ground an Accusation.
But before I determine any thing on the Point, what say you to all this? said the King to _La Foret_. Nothing, Sir, _reply"d my Comrade_, every t.i.ttle that the Gentleman has told you, is true, only the Inference he draws from it is false, so that I have nothing to reproach him with but Want of Charity. My Companion, _continued he_, is an Astronomer, of which, Sir, you are not ignorant: He has been teaching me for some time past to find out the princ.i.p.al Stars, and my Desire to perfect myself in that Science, makes me often rise in the Night to see if the Sky is clear, and then I am us"d to take a Tour in one of the four Cantons, because the Buildings being lower there than in this, I have a better View of the Stars. That very Night I went Abroad for the very same Purpose, and having cast my Eyes on _Sirius_ and _Procion_, and observing their Situation and Distance as I walk"d along, I had the Misfortune to fall into the Ca.n.a.l before I was aware of it. Being stun"d as it were with such an unexpected Fall, I made a little Pause to look about me, and fell a swimming without knowing where I should land, "till at last I got Ash.o.r.e where this honest Gentleman saw me, and from whence I made all the Haste I could directly to my Chamber into which I enter"d thro" the Window, not only for fear of awaking our People, but of being seen in a Pickle which would no doubt have rais"d their Laughter. You see, Sir, that we agree perfectly in our Depositions, but that Mr. _Equerry_ is quite mistaken in the Cause of my being sous"d in the Water; I hope however that after this, he will be fully convinc"d of my Innocence. I am sorry that this Misfortune occasion"d such an ill Opinion of me. My own Destiny is properly speaking, the Cause of it; therefore I owe you no Grudge for it. I am oblig"d to you, _reply"d the_ Equerry, and beg Pardon for the Injury I have done you, for which I am really sorry. I see plainly that I was too rash upon this Occasion; but it will teach me to be more cautious another time.
Are you both satisfy"d, _said the King_. Yes, Sir, _reply"d they_. Very well, _said the King again_, shake Hands, and let it be never mention"d more. Thereupon we again took our Leaves, and render"d as well pleas"d as a Couple of Kings. _La Foret_ with his Presence of Mind, and I with the Civilities of our Prince, and because we had so happily escap"d a Scouring.
We set out next Day without taking any thing but our Gowns, and some Trifles which we thought absolutely necessary. We did not want Money, we were known, and the People of the Country are very hospitable, so that we were in no danger of faring ill. The King having recollected that he did not ask us what Conveniency we intended to make use of for our travelling, sent a Domestic after us to conjure us to take the best that he had, and to tell us, that if we did not, he should resent it. We had travell"d about half a League when the Messenger overtook us; he would fain have had us gone back with him, or to have told him how we intended to be carry"d, whether in a Chariot or a Gondola which he would accommodate us with on the Spot, adding, it was the King"s Pleasure. We thank"d the Messenger for his Civility, and pray"d him to tell his Majesty, that we were confounded to find him so very obliging, that we should gladly embrace his kind Offer, but that we chose to walk from one Village to another after we had staid long enough to make an Acquaintance with the Judge or the Priest. This Answer did not satisfy our Man who left us with some Uneasiness, for fear perhaps that the King should think he had not duly discharg"d his Commission.
By the way now, let any one judge from this little Incident, whether we had any Reason to complain of our Fortune, and whether we were not compleatly happy, setting aside that unlucky Affair of my Comrade. It was not only at Court that particular Respect was paid us, but every where upon the Road the People throng"d to do us Honour, so that one would have swore an express Order had come from Court to receive us like the chief Men of the Kingdom.
We had been gone about 17 Days when we were surpriz"d to meet two Domestics of our Judge and our Priest with a Canoe laden with Spades, Mattocks, Pick-Axes, Hatchets, Bows, Habits, and necessary Provisions to make a trading Voyage for Copper. They told us, that their Masters wish"d we would be so good as to make them another Clock bigger than the former with a Bell in Proportion, which they intended to present to their Governor, in order to gain his Consent that each of their Sons might have one of his Daughters, who as they describ"d them, were perfect Beauties. And as a pretty deal of Copper would be wanting for the Purpose, they said their Masters were sending them to the Mines with Goods to truck for that Metal; and indeed they had a very good Stock of Provisions on Board, and a Permission to stay out as long as they thought fit. My Comrade presently gave me to understand, that this News chagrin"d him not a little. What, _said he_, I came from a Place to avoid continual Labour, and they are cutting out Work for me in another Place where I am come for Rest; but I"ll see the whole Nation at the Devil before I"ll file a Stroke more for any of them, tho" I should not be against it if there was any thing to be got by it worth our carrying Home whenever a Conveniency offers, but all our Reward is only a Piece of Metal which will yield but 15 _d._ a Pound in _Europe_.
Let us be gone, _continued he_, as soon as possible, for I had rather hazard 100 Lives if I had them to go back the Way we came, into our own Country, than stay here any longer.
You don"t consider, _La Foret_, _said I_, nor have you well examin"d the Obstacles that we shall have to surmount. We had great Advantages when we came, which we have not now. We were then three in Number all provided with Fire-Arms, and press"d by Necessity; but now the Case is quite otherwise. Be rul"d by me, my Friend, let us stay where we are, we shall be still more and more belov"d by amusing ourselves in Clock-making, part of our Time, and one cannot be always idle. Wherever we are we can have but Food and Raiment, and here we have as much again as we want.
Let us not imitate our Countrymen who are so fickle that they are always shifting from one Place to another. Before we have travell"d much farther we shall repent of our Folly. Finally, I expatiated upon the Difficulties which hinder"d our Return, but it was all in vain, and he told me in plain Terms, that he would go alone if I was obstinately bent not to go with him. Very well then, _said I,_ since you are inexorable, and as on the other hand, I am resolv"d not to part with you; "tis necessary we should take the Opportunity of this Boat, and try So escape with it thro" that frightful Cavern as they still call the Place where, as I said before, their first King pretended that the Earth brought him forth.
While we were forming this Design, our two Peasants were impatient to see the End of our Dialogue. I told them that we had been divided in our Opinions what Course it were best for us to take, whether to return to the Village, or to go along with them to the Copper-Mines where we had never been yet, and that we had determin"d to keep them Company. They express"d great Joy at it, and in order to add to it, we resolv"d to go to the next Canton, and buy some Flagons of the best Liquors they had. We also took some more Provision with us, but persuaded them at the same time to turn towards the River, on pretence that as we had seen it but in one Place, we had a Curiosity to survey the Sh.o.r.es of it from one End to the other, and we a.s.sur"d them also, that we would a.s.sist them alternately to row, and would furnish them with all Necessaries if our Voyage was r.e.t.a.r.ded some Days by the Current of the Water, which however was not very rapid in that Place. The poor Fellows consented to every thing we propos"d, the only Difficulty being that as they were both of them Natives of a Canton not many Miles of, they made Account to go thither and see their Relations. I presently gave them to understand that far from hindering their Design we would forward it. Go, _said I to them_, this instant, and spend two or three Days with your Friends while we march so slowly on that when you turn towards the Current, you will soon overtake us. They were in Raptures at my Complaisance, and I was as much rejoyc"d that I was not forc"d to the Trouble of contriving to get rid of "em in any other Manner.
CHAP. XII.
_The Author leaves this fine Country; the Ways he contriv"d to get out of it. He meets again on the Sea-Side with some of the Ship"s Company with whom he had formerly been cast away upon the Coast_, &c.
As soon as those honest Fellows had left us, we took our Course towards the River, but still kept in those Divisions of the Cantons where there were no Houses. I think we had saunter"d scarce two Days, when a little before Midnight we found ourselves at the End of the Ca.n.a.ls where were Sluices which we knew nothing at all of before we came to them. This cursed Pa.s.sage alarm"d us, and we tugg"d hard near an Hour before we discover"d which way the Sluice-Doors were to be open"d. At length we master"d the Difficulty, but then we were as weary as Dogs. In the mean time, there was a Necessity for our going over. It would have been a dangerous Enterprise in the Day-time, because no Body was suffer"d to enter this River without Leave from the Judges, not only by Reason of the Fishery, but in Respect to the Laws which hinder the Inhabitants from going beyond the Bounds of their Country; whereas in the Night-time there was seemingly no Danger of being so much as seen by any Person whatsoever. We had not above 4 Miles and a half to pa.s.s. _La Foret_, as he was more zealous to push on than I, so he was more tir"d. I bid him take a little Rest, because one of us at a time was enough to steer the Boat.
I kept exactly in the middle of the Current, and it being fine still Weather, our Boat drove down with the Stream imperceptibly.
This together with the Fatigues we had undergone made me so drousy that I could not keep my Eyes open, and we slept so soundly that whether we were always so fortunate as to keep off of the Sh.o.r.e, or whether we did not sometimes dash against it, is more than I can tell, for we were not easily to be awak"d. Nor did I exactly know how long we slept; probably it would have lasted long enough to have refresh"d us, but as Misfortune would have it, it was interrupted on a sudden. Our paltry little Boat dash"d so vehemently against a Rock, that it push"d me out of my Place, and I fell with such Violence against a Shoal, that my Face look"d as if it had been scarify"d. My Comrade started out of his Sleep not knowing what the Noise meant, nor where he was, for he had quite forgot he was upon the Water, and cry"d all at once, Oh G.o.d! what"s the matter? where am I? Tho" I had done myself a great deal of Mischief, I could not help laughing heartily. Are you there, _said he_, pray where are we? h.e.l.l itself can"t be darker than it is here. Don"t ask me, _said I_, for I can"t resolve you, only this I am certain of that our Boat has just now beat against some Place, which gave me such a Fall that my Head is broke, and if I guess right, we must be got into that Cave which we are to pa.s.s thro". I was so very sleepy, _said he_, that I did not consider we were in a Bark. Good G.o.d, how dark it is here! I think you were not mistaken when you guess"d that we were under Ground. Handle an Oar, _said I_, and try if you can feel what we are fasten"d to; we must certainly stick to something for I don"t perceive that we stir, and yet my Hand tells me the Stream runs down apace, so that the Pa.s.sage here must be very narrow.
_La Foret_ was a bold Man, yet he was daunted at this dreadful Gulph; he was afraid to stir, and would willingly have stay"d where we were. When I saw there was no Good to be done with him, I grop"d with my Hands and my Oar, and found that we were inclos"d between two Points of the Rock. Come on, said I, there"s no Harm, we are where I told you, I feel the Roof of the Cave with my Oar. Thereupon he bestirr"d himself, but notwithstanding all that we could do, I believe we were three Hours in getting out of that d.a.m.n"d Place, after which we turn"d to the Right.
Wherever we came we met with Shoals, which no doubt were form"d by Parts of the Mountain that broke off every now and then, and obstructed the Pa.s.sage. We run a-ground, or else beat against the Sh.o.r.e, at every Turn, so that it had been well for us if the Boat had not been so swift, but we could not stop her. In the mean time the Pa.s.sage grew still narrower the farther we went, so that at last we could not go at all. Then my Blood came into my Face, and verily believing that we were absolutely lost, I was going to knock _La Foret_ in the Head, to be reveng"d for the Mischief he had been the Cause of to me, without any Necessity. But I remember"d very luckily that I had formerly plung"d him in the like Sc.r.a.pes, and that these were only the Consequences of our former Misfortunes.
Now, said I, my Friend, we are hamper"d, and I know not how we shall get off. If we had but steer"d to the Left, no doubt we should have had room, but I don"t see how we can go back, "tis a pretty way, and besides the Current here is too rapid. Upon this he sounded the Water, and finding it but three or four Foot deep, he stripp"d without saying a Word, and leap"d all at once into the Water. O Heavens! I cry"d, what are you doing? I thought I heard you fall over-board. Don"t be afraid, said he, "twas a voluntary Fall, I am going to examine the Depth and Breadth of this Pa.s.s. He had not been gone 20 Steps, but he guess"d he was at the very Point where the two Branches unite. He came to tell me the agreeable News, and added, that undoubtedly we were in the narrowest Part. Observing that there were but two Peaks where the Rock hinder"d our Pa.s.sage, I took the Pickax and Mallet, and in less than two Hours demolish"d one of those Peaks. This Exercise, with what we had gone through before, made me extremely faint; we took some Nourishment in order to strengthen us, and we relied till we were in a Condition to begin our Work again. _La Foret_ too try"d to demolish the other Peak that hinder"d our Pa.s.sage, but whether the Stone there was harder, or that he did not act with that Strength as I did, he observ"d that he made but a very small Progress, so that I was fain to give him a Lift, and we work"d at it alternately.
We had labour"d a long time, and had not a great deal to do, when we heard a confused Noise approaching to us like Men talking; we stood still for a few Minutes to hearken to it, and perceiv"d that some Men were coming to us. Verily, said I to _La Foret_, our Flight has not been so secret, but it has been observ"d; perhaps the Day was far advanc"d before we enter"d this River, or it may be some body spy"d us in the Ca.n.a.ls: Be it as it will, "tis very probable that the Court was acquainted of it at Noon, and the King order"d Men to be sent out to apprehend us. You hear how they advance, continued I, they are just at our Heels; what shall we do now? Upon my Word, said _La Foret_, as for my part, I am of opinion that we should fight to the last Gasp. We have Tools here which will be of great Use to us for that Purpose; and on the other hand, if we suffer our selves to be taken, I apprehend that some unlucky Prank will be play"d us, and that we shall be sent to the Mines. Not at all, said I, there is no Danger; the King is too _debonnaire_ to treat us after that manner; he has such a Value for our Workmanship, that he would not deprive himself of it by banishing us; besides, we can say with great Probability, that as we went upon the River with Design to examine the Diversity of its Sh.o.r.es, it happen"d unluckily in the Night-time that our Boat got loose before we perceiv"d it, so that we were drove down by the Current to the Place where they have found us. They will laugh perhaps at this little Disaster, but they"ll be glad that they came so seasonably to our a.s.sistance.
As my Comrade was going to make answer, we spy"d a Light. They could not be above 30 Paces from us, and they were in the same Arm of the River that we were, but in that Part of it which form"d an Elbow, so that tho" they had Candles, they did not see us. They were no sooner come thither, but their Boat, which probably was larger than ours, was hamper"d all of a sudden, and they seem"d to be uneasy at it. What shall we do now? said one of them. Why, said another, we will make the best Shift we can to get out of this Place, and we"ll try to pa.s.s to the Left, which we should have done before, if you would but have been rul"d by me. We will do as you would have us, reply"d the former, but for my own part, I believe we may as well do nothing at all; "tis possible that the Men we are in pursuit of have been gone this way twelve or fifteen Hours ago, so that by this time they are a great way off, or else have been cast away somewhere, as we had like to have been several times. If you will take my Opinion, we will return and say, which is true, that we met with such Obstructions that we could go no farther. The King, indeed, would be very glad to have those Men again, but he does not propose to hurt a Hair of their Heads; and you know that we were injoin"d to intreat them civilly to return, or to let them go in Peace in case they would not come back with us. We may say likewise, if you please, that we overtook them, but that not withstanding all we could say, it was not in our Power to persuade them to return, because they have not true Enjoyment in a Country, whose Maxims are so different from theirs, and that they have a mind to see if they can"t find a way to their own Country, where they may have the free Exercise of their Worship, whereas here they dare not so much as defend it, as they have declar"d upon more Occasions than one. Upon this, they all said, Come away, we will agree upon what to say as we are going back.
After they were gone out of our Hearing, we did not budge for some time, because we were afraid they might alter their Minds, and that when they heard the strokes of our Mallet, they might be tempted to come back again. This Inactivity cast us naturally into a Doze, and at length into a profound Slumber. When we awak"d, we began to put our selves into the greater Hurry, because we were far from being hot, and were as fresh and brisk as if we had rested in a good Bed. Consequently we beat down the Angles that stopp"d us, and by main Strength forc"d open a Pa.s.sage. Afterwards we found things as my Comrade thought we should, for immediately we had Room enough, but then the Place was so full of strong Echoes, that what would have charm"d us at another time, frighten"d us now from speaking, because at every Sentence you would have thought there had been a thousand Devils in the Air mocking you with their monstrous Voices.
Then we advanc"d very slowly, and in the mean time began to hear another confused Noise, not unlike the Rumbling of Thunder at a small distance, which made us even more afraid than we were before. A Man that thinks himself in Danger need have no other Affliction. Each of us rack"d his Brains to find out the Meaning of it. We were not very wide of the Mark when we imagin"d there must needs be a Place with a great Fall, and that the Noise we heard must proceed from some Cataract. There we thought our Ruine would be unavoidable. I did not dream then of what was told us of the _Portuguese_ who formerly went that way, for if I had consider"d of it, I should not have been in so much Pain. As we had Cordage enough, I thought it high time to make use of it; we immediately took ten or twelve Spades and Mattocks, ty"d them up in a Bundle as tight as we could, and cast them into the Water as an Anchor. The Remedy was effectual, the Ground being uneven, our Machine stuck in a good Place, so that we advanc"d no further than the Rope would let us out. At the end of about twenty-five Fathom, my Comrade, who was commonly at the Head of the Boat to sound with his Oar, and to feel on both Sides what hinder"d our Pa.s.sage, call"d out to me on a sudden to stand fast, because there fell some Water from the Top with which he was already wet to his Skin. Upon this I call"d him in, and after we had agreed that the Water we heard, and which no doubt was the same he then felt, could come from no other Place but the Top of the Mountain, from whence it precipitated by some Crevice into our River, we resolv"d to hale in our Anchor, but before we had got it half way up, our Cable broke, a Loss which however was not very considerable at that Juncture. I only endeavour"d to put my self in such a Situation as to avoid the impetuous Fall of the Torrent we so much dreaded. _La Foret_, by meer Force of Rowing, turn"d my Rudder so as to carry us against the Rock, so that we had the happiest Pa.s.sage that could be without being in the least wet, but not without danger of being swallow"d up by the dreadful tossing and tumbling of the Waves, occasion"d by the Fall of so great a Quant.i.ty of Water from such an Eminence, and "tis probable that if we had gone on the other Side, we should have been swallow"d up.
The rest of the Way that we had to go was not near so dangerous, and it pleas"d G.o.d we saw the End of it. When our Eyes began to see the Light again, we thank"d the Lord most heartily, and our Joy was such, that we have no Words in our Language strong enough to express it. However, we could not land immediately the Sh.o.r.es being too steep, so that we were oblig"d to fall down at least 3 Miles below the Mouth of the River, and then we went Ash.o.r.e on the left Side in a Place of such Verdure as Nature seem"d to have made on purpose to solace us after having escap"d such manifest Dangers.
The Provisions we had, came very seasonably to our Relief, so that we made a very hearty Meal, and did not spare our Cider. By the Height of the Sun it could not be then less than two o" Clock in the Afternoon, therefore "twas pretty plain we must have been about 30 Hours in that dark Place. From hence we made the best of our Way.
This River has prodigious Turnings and Windings, and is full of Rocks "twixt Wind and Water, Shoals and Islands which in some Places form ten or a dozen difficult narrow Pa.s.sages. There are some Falls in it too which are extremely dangerous, nevertheless, as we pa.s.s"d them without any Damage or any extraordinary Accident that might naturally be expected in a Voyage of this Nature, I will not stand to mention the Particulars, for fear the Reader should think me tedious.