In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

26 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane great and small, are not a whit more conscientious. As for your limbs of the law,10 I need not mention them; every body knows what they can do: I must own, however, that they are somewhat more humane than we; for we often put innocent people to death, and they sometimes save the lives of the guilty.” chapter vi. Of the attempt of Gil Blas to make his escape, and the success thereof. When the captain of the thieves had made this apology for his profession, he went to bed, and I returned into the hall, where I uncovered the table, and put every thing in order: from thence I went into the kitchen, where Domingo (so was the old negro called) expected me to supper. Tho’ I had no appetite, I sat down with them; but as I could not eat, and appeared as melancholy as I had cause to be so, these two apparitions, equally qualified, undertook to give me consolation:1 “Why do you afflict yourself, child? (said the old lady:) you ought rather to rejoice at your good fortune.— You are young, and seem to be of an easy temper; consequently would have been, in a little time, lost in the world: there you would have fallen into the hands of libertines, who would have engaged you in all manner of debauchery: whereas here your innocence finds a secure haven.” “Dame Leonarda is in the right, (said the old black-amoor with great gravity) and let me add, the world is full of affliction: thank heaven, therefore, my friend, for having delivered thee all at once from the dangers, difficulties , and misery of life.” I bore their discourse with patience, because to fret myself would have done me no service: at last Domingo, having eaten and drank plentifully, retired into the stable; while Leonarda, with a lamp in her hand, conducted me into a vault, which served as a burying-place to the robbers who died a natural death, and in which I perceived a miserable truckle-bed,2 that looked more like a tomb than a couch: “Here is your bedchamber , (said she:) the lad, whose place you have the good fortune to supply, slept here, as long as he lived among us; and now that he is dead, rests in the same place.— He slipt away in the flower of his age: I hope you will not be so simple as to follow his example.” So saying, she put the light into my hand, and returned into her kitchen; while I, setting the lamp upon the ground, threw myself upon the bed, not so much in expectation of enjoying the least repose, as with a view to indulge my melancholy reflection. “O heavens, (cried I) was ever destiny so terrible as mine! I am banished from the sight of the sun; and, as if it was not enough to be buried alive at the age of eighteen, I am moreover condemned to serve thieves, to spend the day among highwaymen , and the night among the dead!” I wept bitterly over these suggestions, which seem’d to me—and were in effect extremely shocking. A thousand times I cursed my Volume One: I.6 27 uncle’s design of sending me to Salamanca: I repented of my flying from justice at Cacabelos , and even wished I had submitted to the torture.—But recollecting that I consumed myself in vain complaints, to no purpose, I began to think of some means by which I might escape. “What! (said I to myself) is it then impossible to deliver myself! the thieves are asleep, the cook-maid and negro will be in the same condition presently : can’t I, while they are all quiet, by the help of my lamp, find out the passage through which I descended to this infernal abode? ’Tis true, indeed, I don’t think myself strong enough to lift the trap-door that covers the entry; but however, that I may have nothing to reproach myself with, I will try: my despair will, perhaps, supply me with strength, and who knows but I may accomplish it.” Having then projected this great design, I got up when I imagined Leonarda and Domingo were at rest; and taking the lamp in my hand, went out of the vault, recommending myself to all the saints in heaven.—It was not without great...

Share