The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

Chapter V. The step that Gil Blas took after the archbishop had dismissed him. His accidental meeting with the licentiate who had been so much obliged to him; with the gratitude of that priest.

Volume Three: VII.5 293 criticized; every body is charmed with them. Nevertheless, since you have laid your injunctions upon me to be free and sincere, I will take the liberty to tell you, that your last discourse, in my judgment, has not altogether the energy of your other performances . Are not you of the same opinion?” My master grew pale at these words; and said with a forced smile, “So then, Mr. Gil Blas, this piece is not to your taste?” “I don’t say so, Sir, (cried I, quite disconcerted :) I think it excellent, although a little inferior to your other works.” “I understand you, (he replied) you think I flag, don’t you? come, be plain: you believe it is time for me to think of retiring.” “I should not have been so bold (said I) as to speak so freely, if your grace had not commanded me: I do no more, therefore, than obey you; and I most humbly beg that you will not be offended at my freedom.” “God forbid, (cried he, with precipitation) God forbid that I should find fault with it. In so doing, I should be very unjust, I don’t at all take it ill that you speak your sentiment; it is your sentiment only that I find bad. I have been most egregiously deceived in your narrow understanding.” Though I was disconcerted, I endeavoured to find some mitigation, in order to set things to rights again: but how is it possible to appease an incensed author, one especially who had been accustomed to hear himself praised. “Say no more, my child, (said he:) you are yet too raw to make proper distinctions. Know, that I never composed a better homily than that which you disapprove: for my genius (thank heaven) hath, as yet, lost nothing of its vigour. Henceforth I will make a better choice of a confident, and keep one of greater ability than you. Go, (added he, pushing me by the shoulders out of his closet) go tell my treasurer to give you an hundred ducats, and may heaven conduct you with that sum. Adieu, Mr. Gil Blas, I wish you all manner of prosperity, with a little more taste.” chapter v. The step that Gil Blas took after the archbishop had dismissed him. His accidental meeting with the licentiate who had been so much obliged to him; with the gratitude of that priest. Iwent out of the closet, cursing the caprice, or rather weakness, of the archbishop, and more enraged against him, than afflicted at the loss of his favour. I even doubted some time, if I should go and touch my hundred ducats; but, after mature deliberation, I was not fool enough to refuse them. I considered, that this money would not deprive me of the right of ridiculing the prelate; in which, I was resolved not to be wanting, as often as his homilies should be brought upon the carpet,1 in my presence. I went, therefore, and demanded the hundred ducats of the treasurer, without men- 294 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane tioning a single word of what had happened between his master and me; and went afterwards in quest of Melchior de la Ronda, to bid him an eternal adieu. He loved me too much to be insensible of my misfortune, which while I recounted, I perceived that grief was printed on his countenance. In spite of all the respect he owed the archbishop , he could not help blaming his behaviour. But as I swore in my rage, that the prelate should pay for it, and that I would make the whole town merry at his expence, the sage Melchior said to me, “Believe me, my dear Gil Blas, you had better suppress your resentment. People of an inferior rank ought always to respect persons of quality , whatever cause they may have given them to complain. There are, I own, some very mean noblemen, who scarce deserve the least consideration; but as they have the power of doing mischief, they are to be feared.” I thanked the old valet de chambre for his good advice, which I promised to observe. “If you go (said he) to Madrid, you shall visit Joseph Navarro, my nephew, who is clerk of the kitchen to Signior Don Belthazar de Zuniga,2 and, I dare say, a young man worthy of your friendship, frank, brisk, obliging, and forward to serve his friends: I wish...