146

A Divine, preaching before a great Prince, who had taken up Arms against his own Country, compar’d him to Coriolanus, that famous Roman Captain, who having well deserv’d of his Country in the Infancy of the Com­mon­wealth, was banish’d out of it, which piece of In­gra­ti­tude he so highly resented, that he came and laid Siege to Rome, assisted by the Volsci. That great Captain, cry’d the Preacher, justly provok’d by the In­gra­ti­tude of his Coun­try­men, was in a Condition to take a cruel Ven­geance of them. But at last he was prevail’d upon by the Tears of his Mother and Wife; and those two Ladies obtained from him, what neither the Sacred College of Cardinals, nor the Pope himself, who were gone to meet him, could not obtain.

146

Un Predicateur prèchant devant un grand Prince, qui avoit pris les Armes contre son Païs, il le compara à Coriolan, ce fameux Capitaine Romain, qui aprés avoir bien servi sa Patrie dans les Com­mence­mens de la Re­pub­lique, en fut banni. Et cette in­gra­ti­tude lui toucha si fort au coeur, qu’il vint assieger Rome avec les Volsques. Ce grand Capitaine, s’écria ce Predicateur, Justement irrité de l’ingratitude de ses Compatriotes, ètoit en ètat d’en tirer une cruelle vengeance. Mais enfin il se laissa toucher par les Larmes de sa Mere & de sa Femme: & ces deux Dames obtinrent de lui ce que ni le sacré Collége des Cardinaux, ni le Pape mêmes, qui ètoient allez au devant de lui, n’avoient jamais pu obtenir.

At these Words the Prince fell a laughing, and could not forbear crying out to the Preacher, Sir, you know not what you say, for in those times there were neither Popes nor Cardinals.

But the Preacher unconcern’d, stoutly maintain’d to the Prince, that he was under no mistake: And for a Proof, my Lord, added he, of what I say, I my self have seen the History of it represented in a Sute of Tapistry, in a Castle of yours at such a place. The Authority of that Tapistry brought in so pat, increased the Laughter. Which discompos’d the ignorant Preacher to that degree, that he duckt, as they call it, in the Pulpit, and went his way without making an end of his Sermon.

Le Prince fit alors un éclat de rire, & ne put s’empécher de s’écrier, Monsieur le Predicateur, vous ne savez pas ce que vous dites, il n’y avait en ce tems-là ni Papes ni Cardinaux.

Mais le Predicateur, sans s’étonner, soûtínt cour­ageuse­ment au Prince qu’il ne se trompoit pas. Et pour marque, Mon­seigneur, ajoûta t-il, que ce que je vous dis est vray, c’est que j’ai veu cette Histoire representée dans une Tapisserie de votre Chasteau d’un tel Lieu. l’Autorité de cette Tapisserie citée si à propos redoubla les éclats de rire, & l’ignorant Predicateur en fut si troublé qu’il fit, comme on dit, le Plongeon dans sa chaire, & s’enfuit au lieu d’achever son Sermon.