Part 15

_Clitander_ having seen by chance _Celimene_, stood both surprised and charm’d with her Beauty. However because she had but a very mean Fortune, and that he was Master of a vast Estate, he reflected upon an Engagement which he found no less strong, than Sudden. He had quite lost his Repose; he felt himself in continual agitation, and feared lest a Passion, so very violent in its first rise, should prompt him at last to gratify his Heart at the Expence of his Fortune. In order to banish so dangerous a Tenderness from his Heart, he went to serve a Campaign in _Flanders_, but came back deeper in Love than he was at his Departure. Then accusing his own Weakness, he made a second attempt and resolv’d to travel into _Italy_, but the Diversions of _Rome_, and the Carnaval of _Venice_, proved as useless as the Siege of _Namur_. _Clitander_ return’d more ardent and passionate than ever, and as his Friend _Philantes_ came to visit him, Dear _Philantes_, said he, I lead a lingring wretched Life; I cannot forget _Celimene_, I fancy her always present to my view with all her Charms. _At last_, added he, _at last I must marry her, to cease to love her_. He did so, and a Months Marriage chang’d his violent and boysterous Love into a gentle and quiet Friendship.

152

_Le Mariage est quelquefois un Remede contre l’Amour._

C_litandre_ ayant veu par hazard _Celimene_, il demeura surpris & charmé de sa beauté extraordinaire, Cependant comme elle n’avoit qu’un bien médiocre, & qu’il avoit des Richesses immenses, il fit Reflexion sur un engagement qu’il trouvoit bien prompt, & bien fort. Il n’avoit plus de repos: Il se sentoit continuellement agité, & il craignoit qu’une Passion qui ètoit si violente dés son commencement, ne le portât enfin à satisfaire son coeur au prejudice de sa Fortune. Pour bannir de son ame une tendresse si dangereuse il alla faire une Campagne en _Flandres_; mais il revint plus amoureux qu’il n’ètoit parti. Puis, s’accusant de Foiblesse, il fit un second effort & entreprit le voyage d’_Italie_; mais les Divertissemens de _Rome_, & le Carnaval de _Venise_ ne furent pas moins inutiles que le Siege de _Namur_. _Clitandre_ fut à son retour plus passionné que jamais, & comme son Ami _Philante_ fut lui rendre visite, Mon cher _Philante_, lui dit il, je traine une vie malheureuse; je ne puis oublier _Celimene_; je m’imagine qu’elle est toûjours devant mes yeux avec tous ses Charmes; _Enfin_, ajoûta-t-il, _enfin il faudra, que je l’épouse pour cesser de l’aimer_. Il l’épousa en effet, & un mois de Mariage changea son Amour violente & tumultueuse, en une Amitié douce & tranquille.

153

_Of the Queen of_ Spain _and her Parrots._

T_he Camerara Major_, or first Lady of Honour and Groom of the Stole, to the last Queen of _Spain_, was a Woman of a mighty sowr angry Humour, who took upon her rather to govern than to serve her Mistress; She mortally hated two Parrots, the Queen had brought along with her from _France_, because they could talk _French_. One Day her Majesty going abroad, the _Camerara_ took the Parrots from their keeper, wrung off their Necks in cold Blood, and then went her way. As soon as the Queen came home, she askt for her Parrots, that were her chief Diversion in a Countrey, where she scarce enjoyed any other. Her Women amaz’d, discover’d Surprize in their Faces, and not being able to answer a Word at first, confess’d the whole Matter at last. This struck her Heart; but she thought convenient to conceal her Resentment. Some time after, the _Camerara_ coming back, and seeing her Majesty calm enough, offered to kiss her Hands, as she us’d to do, but was receiv’d by the Queen with two great Boxes on the Ear. The Confusion of that haughty Woman, upon so sensible an Affront, can hardly be exprest; she went out in a Passion, and gathered all her Kindred and Relations: applied her self to the King, with a Train of Four hundred Ladies, and was so importunate with him for the Reparation of her Honour, that he was fain to come and ask the Queen her Reasons. _Sir_, replied readily that Ingenious Princess, _’twas but to save a Womans longing_. Do you then think two enough, Madam? answer’d the King; else, pray, let her have two Dozen. And as one Misfortune comes upon the neck of another, the _Camerara_ lost her place to boot. A well deserved Reward for such as keep not the Respect due to so Sacred Persons.

153

_De la Reine d’_Espagne _& de ses Perroquets._

La _Camerara Major_, ou la premiere Dame d’honneur, de la feuë Reine d’_Espagne_, ètoit une Femme d’une humeur chagrine & emportée, qui au lieu de servir sa Maitresse, se croyoit en droit de la gouverner: Elle haïssoit mortellement deux Perroquets que la Reine avoit apportez de _France_, parce qu ils parloient _François_. Un jour sa Majesté ètant sortie, la _Camerara_, prit les Perroquets de celle qui les gardoit, leur tordit le cou de sang froid, & s en alla. Aussi tôt que la Reine fut revenuë, elle demanda ses Perroquets, qui ètoient son plus grand divertissement, dans un Pays où elle n’en avoit guere d’autre; ses Femmes tout étonnées firent paroitre leur surprise sur leur Visage, & ne sachant d’abord que lui repondre, elles lui avoüerent enfin ce qui en ètoit. Cela lui perça le coeur, mais elle trouva à propos de cacher son ressentiment. Quelque tems aprés la _Camerara_ ètant de retour, & voyant sa Majesté assez calme, s’approcha d’elle pour lui baiser la main comme elle avoir accoutumé de faire, mais elle en fut receuë avec deux grands soufflets. A peine peut on exprimer la confusion qu’un affront si sensible donna à cette Femme superbe: Elle sortit toute en colere, & ramassant toutes ses Parentes & Alliées, elle s’en alla trouver le Roy avec une suite de quatre cens Dames, & lui demanda la Reparation de son honneur avec tant d’importunité, qu’ils se vit obligé d’aller chez la Reine, pour savoir ses Raisons. _Sire_, repliqua cette ingenieuse Princesse, _ce n’ètoit que pour faire passer une envie de Femmes_: Est-ce donc assez de deux, Madame, repondit le Roy: Autrement, je vous prie, appliquez lui en deux douzaines. Et comme un malheur ne vient jamais seule la _Camerara_ perdit sa place sur le Marché. Digne recompense de ceux qui perdent le respect qui est dû à des Personnes si augustes.

154

_Of an Old Impotent Lord._

An Old Lord fell in Love with a young Gentlewoman that waited upon his Lady: The Frailty which is pretty common in Waiting-women, being happily supported by the Defects of an Old Man, she found strength enough in her self to resist his Sollicitations: Moreover, she told her Lady of it, and confirm’d by a Shower of Tears those Proofs of her Chastity. It is not possible, Madam, said she, for me to bear it any longer: What does my Lord make of me? And how can he have the Thoughts that I can be wanting in my Duty, either to your Ladiship, or to my Honour? If he goes on at this rate, I beseech your Ladiship to let me be gone. The good Lady very much incensed against her Husband, and no less pleas’d with her Woman’s Honesty, told her, Child never trouble thy self, neither think of leaving me, as long as thou art assured of my kindness to thee. Then Madam, return’d she, be so kind as to free me from my Lord’s Persecutions. Well, _said the Lady_, there comes now in my Thoughts an expedient very fit for that purpose: Thou must dissemble a kindness for him, and afterwards give him an Assignation in thy Chamber. I, Madam, give him an Assignation? said the Waiting-woman. Hear me out, replied the Lady, When thou hast set the time, and left the Door open, I’ll go in thy place into thy Bed, and thou shalt slip into my Room, and then, when he comes, I’ll make him so asham’d, that he’ll have no more Thoughts of tormenting thee. The Waiting-woman perform’d with care her Lady’s Orders: And the Night being come, the old Dotard crept into the Chamber, and eagerly went to that Bed where his Wife waited for his coming. She did not think it convenient to quarrel with him at first; but this Adventure being carried on more chastly than she had expected, she grew weary on’t, and resolv’d to give her Tongue its liberty, _What! is it only for this_, said she, _that you have been at so much pains_? The Husband acknowledging his Error by his Wife’s Voice, _I vow, Madam_, said he, _my Body has been wiser than my Mind, for it has known you, when my blinded Mind took you for a handsom Maid_.

_D’un vieux Seigneur Impuissant._

154

Un vieux Seigneur devint amoureux d’une jeune Demoiselle qui servoit sa Femme: La Fragilité qui est assez ordinaire aux Suivantes se trouvant heureusement soutenuë par les defagrémens du Vieillard, Elle eut assez de force pour resister à ses Sollicitations: Elle en avertit même sa Maitresse, & confirma par ses larmes ces Temoignagnes de sa Chasteté. Il n’est pas possible, Madame, lui dit elle, que je souffre davantage: Pour qui me prend Monsieur? Et comment peut-il me croire capable de manquer à ce que je dois & à vous, & à mon honneur? S’il continuë, je vous supplie de me permettre de me retirer. La bonne Dame fort piquée contre son Mari, & trés contente de l’honnêteté de sa Suivante, lui dit, Ma fille, ne te mets point en peine, il ne faut pas que tu songes à me quitter, ètant si asseurée que tu l’es de mon Amitié. Il faut donc, Madame, reprit-elle, que vous me delivriez des Persecutions de Monsieur. Hè bien, lui dit la Dame, il me vient dans l’esprit un expedient fort propre pour cela: Il faut que tu fasses semblant de t’addoueir pour lui, & qu’ensuite tu lui donnes la nuit un Rendez-vous dans ta Chambre. Moy, Madame, lui donner un Rendez-vous? lui dit la Demoiselle; écoute jusqu’áu bout ce que j’ai à te dire, repliqua la Dame: Quand tu lui auras donné l’heure, & laissé la Porte ouverte, j’irai en ta place dans ton lit & tu passeras dans ma Chambre, & alors quand il viendra je lui ferai tant de honte qu’il n’aura plus l’envie de te tourmenter. La suivante executa avec soin les ordres de sa Maitresse: la nuit venuë, le vieillard amoureux se glissa dans sa Chambre, & alla avec empressement dans le lit où sa Femme l’attendoit. Elle ne jugea pas à propos de le quereller d’abord, mais comme cette avanture se passoit plus chastement qu’elle ne s’y ètoit attenduë, elle s’en ennuya, & se resolut enfin de parler: _Quoy! n’est-ce donc que pour cela_, lui dit elle, _que vous vous êtes donné tant de peine_? Le Mari reconnut alors son erreur & la voix de sa Femme, _Je vous avouë, Madame_, lui dit-il, _que mon Corps est plus sage que mon Esprit, car il vous a reconnuë, & mon Esprit aveugle vous prenoit pour une jolie fille_.

155

_The Widow Exchange._

A Young Lady having lately buried her Husband, whom she call’d _Old Simon_, ordered a Carver to make her a Statue of Wood, as near his Figure as he could, which was laid by her Side every Night in remembrance of him. In the mean time, a young Gentleman that had a great Passion for her, by the Intercession of some Guineas, prevail’d with her Maid to lay him one Night in the place of _Old Simon_. The Widow went to Bed, and after her usual manner cast her Arms over her dear Husband’s Statue, and finding it very warm, she crept closer and closer to it, till at length they came very close together, by which she perceiv’d it was not her Wooden Bed Fellow. In the Morning the Maid call’d at her Chamber-door, as she us’d to do, Madam, What will you please to have for Dinner? She reply’d, Rost the Turky that was brought in Yesterday, Boil a Leg of Mutton and Colley-flowers, and get a good Dish of Fruit. Madam, says the Maid, we have not Wood enough to dress so much Meat. _If not_, reply’d she, _you may burn_ Old Simon.

155

_Le Troc de la Veuve._

Une jeune Dame, qui venoit d’enterrer son Mari, qu’elle appelloit le vieux _Simon_, commanda à un Statuaire de lui faire une Statuë de Bois aussi ressemblante qu’il pourroit, laquelle elle faisoit mettre toutes les nuits à son côté, pour se souvenir de lui. Cependant un jeune Gentilhomme qui l’aimoit passionnément, gagna si bien sa Servante par l’entremise de ses Guinées, qu’elle le mit une nuit en la place du vieux _Simon_. La Veuve s’alla coucher, & selon sa coutume embrassa la Statuë de son cher Mari, & la trouvant fort chaude, elle s’en approcha davantage, jusqu’à ce que s’ètant embrassez fort étroitement, elle s’apperceut que ce n’ètoit point son homme de Bois. La Matin, sa Servante vint à la porte de la Chambre selon sa coutume, & lui demanda ce qu’elle souhaitoit avoir à diner? A quoi elle répondit, Fais rotir le Dindon qu’on apporta hier, & bouillir un Gigot de Mouton avec des choux fleurs, & achete nous un bon plat de Fruit, Madame, dit la Servante, nous n’avons pas assez de Bois pour apprêter tant de Viandes. _Et bien_, repliqua-t-elle, _vous n’avez qu’à bruler le vieux_ Simon.

156

_The Foolish Confession._

A Simple Fellow in _Lombardy_, had a great Love to a young Maid, as he thought she was, and that they might live peaceably and quietly together, he thought of this Expedient; one day he told her, that it was his full intent to marry her, and to prevent future Quarrels, he said, he would tell her all the Secrets of his Heart, that their Alliance might be the stronger. Among many other things, he told her, That in the Heat of his Youth, he got a Son on a Friend of his, which Friend was yet living, and desir’d her not to take it amiss. No, no, said she, I am very well pleas’d, for a Friend of mine got me with Child, and it is a Daughter; and if you intend to fortify our Alliance, it may be done with another Marriage, between your Son and my Daughter.

156

_L’aveu Indiscret._

Un Idiot en _Lombardie_, ètoit fort amoureux d’une Fille qu’il croyoit être Pucelle; & afin de vivre en paix & en bonne amitié avec elle, il s’avisa de cét expedient; un jour il lui dit qu’il avoit resolu de l’épouser, & que pour éviter toutes sortes de querelles à l’avenir, il vouloit lui dire tous ses Secrets, afin de rendre par la leur Alliance plus ferme: Entre autres choses, il lui dit, que dans la Chaleur de sa jeunesse il avoit fait un Garçon à une de ses amies, laquelle ètoit encore en vie, & qu’il la prioit que cela ne lui fit point de peine. Non, non, dit elle, j’en suis fort contente, car un de mes Amis m’a fait une Fille, & si vous voulez fortifier nôtre Alliance, nous pouvons le faire par un autre Mariage de vôtre Fils avec ma Fille.

157

_The_ Gascon _punish’d._

A Young Widow, rich and beautiful, was belov’d by a young _Gascon_; both poor and proud. This _Gascon_ had a mind to be thought very intimate with the Lady, and boasted of more Favours than he receiv’d. The Lady, who lov’d to be Merry, resolv’d to punish him for it after a new manner: I know, said she to him, you have an Affection for me, and doubt not but you will give me proofs of it upon an Occasion that now offers it self. The _Gascon_ assur’d her he was ready to do any thing to serve her. You know, added the Widow, such a Lady of my Acquaintance, who has a Cross and Jealous Man to her Husband, that will never give her leave to lie abroad; now it is necessary, for some private Reasons, that she should lie with me to Night; and what I desire of you, is to lie in her place, that her Husband, who will come home late, finding you in his Bed, may take you to be his Wife: And as he rises earlier than she, to go about his Business, he will take no notice of any thing; for though he be Jealous of his Wife, he seldom disturbs her Rest at Night. The _Gascon_ consented to every thing, and suffer’d himself to be carried to his Mistress’s Friend; they dress’d his Head in Womens Night-Cloaths, and afterwards he laid himself in the Bed of the Jealous Husband, who the young Lady knew would not be at home that Night. The two Ladies left the _Gascon_ alone in Bed, and a little while after the young Widow came in in her Night Gown, and without a Light, and went to Bed to him. The _Gascon_, who took her for the Jealous Husband, was in great Pain and Trouble; he lay extreamly close, and turning his Back to the young Widow, put himself as near the other side of the Bed as possible. Thus he spent a whole Night more restless and uneasy than any in his Life, being still apprehensive of some preposterous Caresses from the Jealous Husband; but his Trouble increas’d when at break of Day, the young Widow rung a Bell, at the noise of which he heard some body coming into the Room; he cover’d his Head with the Bed-Cloaths, and such was his fear of being known, that he wish’d he could have buried himself in the Bed. Now ’twas the Widow’s Friend that came in, and open’d the Curtains, and at that very instant the Widow rose from Bed adorn’d with all her natural Beauties, which made almost the _Gascon_ die with Regret, Spite, and Shame, for making such ill use of so favourable a Night.

_FINIS._

157

_Le_ Gascon _puni._

Une jeune Veuve belle & riche, ètoit aimée par un jeune _Gascon_, pauvre & presomptueux. Ce _Gascon_ vouloit qu’on crut qu’il ètoit fort bien avec cette Dame, & divulguoit beaucoup plus de faveurs qu’il n’en recevoit. La Dame qui ètoit d’une humeur enjoüée & plaisante, resolut de l’en punir d’une maniere nouvelle: Je sai, lui dit elle, que vous avez de l’Affection pour moy, & je suis persuadée que vous voudrez bien m’en donner des Marques dans une Occasion qui se presente; le _Gascon_ lui temoigna étre prêt à tout faire pour son Service; vous connoissez, ajoûta la veuve, une telle Dame de mes amies, qui a un Mari jaloux & fort incommode, & qui ne lui permet pas de coucher hors de chez lui, cependant il est nécessaire, pour des Raisons particulieres, qu’elle couche ce soir chez moy, & ce que je desire de vous est que vous ailliez vous coucher en sa place, afin que son Mari, qui ne reviendra que tard, vous trouvant dans son lit croye que c’est sa Femme; & comme il se leve de meilleur matin qu’elle pour aller à ses Affaires, il ne s’appercevra de rien, car quoy qu’il soit fort jaloux de sa Femme, il n’a pas accoutumé de troubler son repos durant la nuit. Le _Gascon_ aprés avoir consenti à tout ce qu’elle voulut, se laissa mener chez l’Amie de sa Maitresse; on lui mit une coiffure de nuit telle que les Femmes en portent, & il se mit ensuite dans le lit du Mari jaloux qui ètoit absent, & que la jeune Veuve savoit bien ne devoir pas revenir ce soir là: les deux Amies laisserent le _Gascon_ seul dans ce lit, & quelque tems aprés la jeune Veuve entra en Robbe de Chambre, & sans lumiere, & alla se coucher auprés de lui. Le _Gascon_ qui la prenoit pour le Mari jaloux, ètoit en une peine extreme; il tenoit fort peu de place, & tournant le dos à la jeune Veuve, il s’ètoit mis le plus prés qu’il avoit pû de l’autre bord du lit. Il passa de cette sorte une nuit la plus in quiete qu’il eût jamais euë, apprehendant toûjours quelques Caresses à contre tems du Mari jaloux, mais sa peine fut encore plus grande, lorsque le jour comçant à paroitre, la jeune Veuve prit une sonnette au bruit de laquelle il entendit qu’il entroit quelqu’un dans la Chambre; il se couvrit la tête avec la Couverture, & auroit voulu s’abimer dans le lit, tant il avoit peur d’être connu. Ce fut l’Amie de la Veuve qui entra & qui ouvrit les rideaux du lit, d’où la veuve sortit aussitôt parée de toutes ses beautez naturelles, qui penserent faire mourir le _Gascon_ de regret, de depit, & de honte d’avoir fait un si mauvais usage d’une si belle nuit.

_FINIS._

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Original spelling and grammar have generally been retained, with some exceptions noted below. This fact is especially noteworthy herein, as this book exhibits great variety in spelling and grammar, and much of it differs greatly from modern usage. There are many variations that may be regarded as probable typographical errors, which nevertheless have been retained. Original _ſ_ (now Unicode U+17f) has been changed to _s_ throughout; and original _ß_ (U+df) have been changed to _ss_. Original italics look _like this_. The transcriber produced the cover image and hereby assigns it to the public domain. Scanned images of the original pages are available from archive.org — search for “wiseingeniouscom00boye”.

The original pagination has been discarded. The book was comprised of English text on verso (left-hand) pages, and corresponding French text on recto (right-hand) pages. The pagination was unusual, in that the first printed page of the book — the English title page — occurred on a verso page. This page was unnumbered, but shall be counted in this discussion as page i. Page ii displayed the French title page. A Prefatory Introduction started on page iii, verso. The last page of introductory material fell on page xiv, recto. The first chapter, The Apophthegms of the Ancients, fell on the first numbered page (1), verso.

This ebook cannot retain the verso/recto arrangement. In this edition, the English text is generally aligned to the left margin while French text is indented four spaces right. Paragraphs of French text have been moved from their original locations to follow directly the corresponding paragraphs of English text. Paragraphs originally broken at page _n_ and continued on page _n+2_ are reunited.

Page vii. The phrase “Proper, and and the” was changed to “Proper, and the”.

Page 11 ¶16. Changed “borc” to “bore”.

Page 20 ¶26. In “j’ay défait Hannibal” (as shown in this transcription), the acute accent over the e looked more like “ẻ” (U+1ebb latin small letter e with hook above) in the original print.

Page 34 ¶51. “marié ees Mots” to “marié ces Mots”.

Page 35 ¶57. “aswered” to “answered”.

Page 65 ¶119. “Clock is too Cold” to “Cloak is too Cold”.

Page 86 ¶161. Paragraph heading changed from 162 to 161.

Page 88 ¶165. Paragraph heading changed from 164 to 165.