I then perceived before me a good old man, of a very sad aspect, who demanded if I was dead?
“No,” answered I; “living, and at your service.”
“Good!” said he; “I expect a favour of you. You must know, I am called They. I also bear the appellation of Somebody, of Another, of a certain Personage, of Author, and of I know who. While I lived in the world, I was accused of having said and done every thing which could not be traced: if a false report was circulated, it was they who had broached it: if any one was found assassinated in the high way, it was they who had killed him: if there was a man with a bad face, this was somebody: if it was imprudent to name a person in an affair, they called him a certain person: if a writer advanced bold things, this was an author, who had spoken on the first impression: and, finally, when the author was entirely concealed, it was I know who, that had said or acted thus and so. All this time I neither said nor did any thing; I appeared no where; I knew not what passed, and kept house both day and night; the chagrin of seeing myself in so bad repute, fairly put an end to my existence. I demand, therefore, of you, to vindicate me to your friends, and those persons over whom you have any influence, that they may not in future charge me with any thing; for, since I am dead, I can of course have nothing more to do with the world.”
I promised the old gentleman I would remember what he desired, and he retired contented. At this moment a young woman coming up to me, fell upon my neck, exclaiming,
“My dear Æneas, have you at length arrived! I have for a long time wished to see you. Virgil hath spoken very illy of you: he has published a history of our loves, which we knew nothing of: I have sought you among all the dead, without being able to find you; but I know, from your air, that you are Æneas; for, as you have been the greatest and most illustrious of heroes, so here you surpass all the dead in demeanour and beauty.”
As the surprise I felt at this unmerited compliment prevented answer, she continued to speak, and embraced me so vehemently, that I was compelled to cry out.
“Peace, there!” commanded the officer of the chamber, who was called Silence.
I still continued to bawl out; and said to Madame Dido, “O Queen of Carthage! will you not be undeceived? I am Don Francisco de Quevedo de Villegas, Chevalier of the order of Saint James!”
“Behold!” replied the queen, “behold this drunkard, who, being a Trojan, would fain pass himself off for a Spaniard! Go, pious Æneas; Virgil hath done thee no great wrong in describing thee as thou art. Where is thy Palladium? thy nurse? thy son Ascanias? where are thy companions? why are you here without attendants?”
“Be not disquieted,” said I: “address yourself to Charon; he would know you as well as Æneas, who abandoned you in Africa; that was a meet punishment for your prudery: but you have not yet been able to forget a man, who surrendered his native city to the Greeks, and fled from his ruined country. You are a victim of love!”