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

Volume One: I.8 29 it is therefore my opinion, that we carry him along with us to-morrow to gather laurels on the highway, and usher him into the path of glory.” The robbers agreed to their captain’s proposal; and to shew that they already looked upon me as one of their companions , from that moment dispensed with my service, and re-established dame Leonarda in the office she had lost on my account. They made me throw away my habit, that consisted of a sorry threadbare short cassock, and dress’d me in the spoils of a gentleman whom they had lately robb’d; after which I prepared for my first campaign. chapter viii. Gil Blas accompanies the thieves, and performs an exploit on the highway. It was the month of September, when, towards the close of the night, I came out of the cavern in company with the robbers, armed like them, with a carabine, two pistols , sword and bayonet, and mounted on a pretty good horse, which they had taken from the same gentleman whose dress I wore. I had lived so long in darkness, that when day broke I was dazzled with the light, which however soon became familiar to my eyes. Having passed hard by Ponserrada, we lay in ambush in a small wood which bordered on the road to Leon. There we waited, expecting that fortune would throw some good luck in our way, when we perceived a Dominican1 (contrary to the custom of these good fathers) riding upon a sorry mule: “God be praised, (cried the captain laughing) there’s the coup d’essai2 of Gil Blas:—let him go and unload that monk, while we observe his behaviour.”—All the rest were of opinion that this was a very proper commission for me, and exhorted me to acquit myself handsomely in it. “Gentlemen, (said I) you shall be satisfied: I will make that priest as bare as my hand, and bring hither his mule in a twinkling.” “No, no, (replied Rolando) she is not worth the trouble: bring us only the purse of his reverence; that is all we expect of thee.” For this purpose I sallied from the wood, and made towards the clergyman, begging heaven, all the way, to pardon the action I was about to commit. I would gladly have made my escape that moment; but the greatest part of the thieves were better mounted than I, and, had they perceived me running away, would have been at my heels in an instant, and entrapt me again in a very short time, or perhaps discharged their carabines at me; in which case I should have had nothing to brag of.—Not daring therefore to hazard such a delicate step, I came up with the priest, and clapping a pistol to his breast, demanded his purse. He stopt short to survey me, and without seeming much afraid, “Child, (said he) you are very young:—you have got a bad trade by the hand, betimes.” “Bad as it is, father, (I replied) I wish I had begun it sooner.”—“Ah! son, son, (said the good friar, who did not comprehend the true meaning of my words) what blindness!—allow me to represent to you the miserable condition”—“O father, 30 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane (said I, interrupting him hastily) a truce with your morals, if you please: my business on the highway is not to hear sermons; I want money.”——“Money! (cried he, with an air of astonishment) you are little acquainted with the charity of the Spaniards, if you think people of my cloth have occasion for money while they travel in this kingdom. Undeceive yourself;—we are every where chearfully received, have lodging and victuals , and nothing is asked in return but our prayers: in short, we never carry money about us on the road; but confide altogether in providence.” “That won’t go down with me:3 (I replied) your dependance is not altogether so visionary; for, you have always some good pistoles in reserve, to make more sure of providence. But, my good father, (added I) let us ha’ done:—my comrades, who are in that wood, begin to be impatient ; therefore throw your purse upon the ground instantly, or I shall certainly put you to death.” At these words, which I uttered with a menacing look, the friar, seeming afraid of his life, said, “Hold! I will satisfy...

Share