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202 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane mine, or rather, that sensuality has corrupted your natural taste. I have been in the world, as you are now: the most delicate viands, the most exquisite ragouts,8 were not too good for my palate: but since I have lived in solitude, I have recovered the former purity of my taste, and at present can relish nothing but roots, fruits, milk; in a word, that which composed the nourishment of our first parents.” While he spoke in this manner, the young man sunk into a profound reverie, which the hermit perceiving, “My son, (said he to him) you have an oppression on your spirits ; may I not know the cause? unbosom yourself to me. It is not curiosity, but charity alone that animates my request. I am of age to give advice; and perhaps your situation requires it.” “Yes, father, (replied the cavalier, with a sigh) I have, doubtless, occasion for advice, and I will follow yours, since you are so good as to offer it. I believe, I run no risk in discovering myself to a man of your character.” “No, my son, (said the senior ) you have nothing to fear on that score, and may safely trust me with any secret.” In this confidence, the cavalier spoke as follows. chapter x. The story of Don Alphonso and the fair Seraphina. Iwill conceal nothing from you, father, nor from the other gentleman who hears me; for, after the generosity he shewed, I should be to blame to distrust him. Listen, therefore, to my misfortunes. I was born in Madrid, and my origin is this.—An officer of the German guards,1 called the Baron de Steinbach, going home one evening, perceived a bundle of white linen at the foot of the stair-case. He took it up and carried it to his wife’s apartment, where he found it to be a new-born infant wrapped in very handsome swaddling-cloaths; with a billet importing that it belonged to persons of quality who would one day make themselves known; and that it had been baptized by the name of Alphonso. I am that unhappy infant, and this is all I know of my birth and parentage: sacrificed to honour or infidelity, I know not whether, my mother exposed me, in order to conceal a dishonourable flame or seduced by a perjured lover, found herself under the cruel necessity of disowning the fruit of her womb.2 Be that as it will, the Baron and his lady were touched with my situation, and as they had no children of their own, determined to educate me under the name of Don Alphonso . As I advanced in years, their attachment to me increased: my flattering and complaisant behaviour attracted their caresses every moment: in a word, I had the good fortune to make myself beloved; they gave me all kinds of masters; my education became their only study; and far from expecting impatiently, that my parents would discover themselves, they seemed on the contrary, to wish that my birth would always remain a secret. As soon as the Baron found me able to carry arms, he entered me in the service, procured for me an ensign’s commission, ordered my small equipage to Volume Two: IV.10 203 be got ready; and, to animate me the more to seek occasions of acquiring glory, he represented to me, that the career of honour was open to every body, and that in war, I might obtain a name the more glorious, as I should owe it to myself alone. At the same time, he revealed the secret of my birth, which he had hitherto concealed from my knowledge. As I passed for his son in Madrid, and effectually believed myself to be so; I own, this piece of information gave me a good deal of pain: I could not then, nor cannot now think of it without shame; for the more my sentiments seemed to argue me of a noble origin, the greater my confusion was to see myself abandoned by those who gave me being. I went to serve in the Low-Countries,3 but the peace being concluded soon after, and Spain rid of her enemies, though not of those who envied her prosperity, I returned to Madrid, where I received fresh marks of tenderness from the Baron and his lady. About two months after my return, a little...

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