| Notice of the Life of Quevedo | [7] |
| Night First . . . The Demon | [11] |
| Night Second . . . Death and her Palace | [33] |
| Night Third . . . The Last Judgment | [56] |
| Night Fourth . . . The Country and the Palace of Love | [70] |
| Night Fifth . . . The World | [84] |
| Night Sixth . . . Hell | [101] |
| Night Seventh . . . Reformation of Hell | [146] |
NOTICE OF THE LIFE OF QUEVEDO.
Fracois de Quevedo de Villegas, a Spanish gentleman, and knight of the order of Saint James, was born in 1570, at Villa Nueva de l’Infantado; and not at Madrid, as has been asserted by Moreri, and repeated after him in the Historical Dictionary of Lyons. He was lord of Juan Abbate, in the province of La Mancha, an estate of which he bore the title. After having visited Italy, France, and all Spain, and rendered the most signal services to the Spanish ministry, he took up his residence at Madrid.
During his stay at court, he devoted himself to study and composition: being considered the most polished writer of his time, and one who united in himself the greatest versatility of talent. The taste of Quevedo naturally inclined him to fictitious composition. Endowed with keen perceptions, a vivid imagination, and rapidity of invention, he is not indebted to the drudgery of research, and other men’s thoughts for his immortal productions: depending solely upon his own resources, he was emphatically an original writer.
The author of the Spanish Library, expresses himself of Quevedo, in the following terms: “He knew how to reconcile the gravest studies with pleasantries and wit. His style is embellished with the ornaments of an adroitly managed application: he has so much finesse, such an immense fund of invention, of ideas as novel as ingenious—so much soft and delicate irony: he understands so well, whether in verse or prose, how to sketch with facility a pleasant or ridiculous subject, that among gay writers there is not one comparable to him. Nervous and sublime in heroic poetry, graceful in lyric verse, full of wit and gaiety in his sportive works, his genius illuminates the weakest subjects.”
His poetical effusions have been very much sought after. Nicholas Antonio, an excellent critic, says, also, that in the higher walks of poetry, he has force and sublimity. His luxuriant imagination carried him alternately to both sacred and profane verse. He wrote divers religious treatises, and many essays extremely amusing, besides translations in verse and prose. He published, among other works, the Spanish Panassus, and the novel known by the name of the Sharper.
His works have been published in four volumes folio, and in eleven volumes octavo. They comprise, under the title of Dreams or Visions, divers works of his, published at different times, in various places, and with different titles.
Quevedo, in his old age, was very infirm; and, at an advanced period of his life, was imprisoned by order of Count d’Olivarez, for a libel upon his administration, in which situation he remained till the death of the minister. He died at Villa Nueva de l’Infantado, the place of his birth, on the eighth day of September, 1645.
FIRST NIGHT.
THE DEMON.
The prayers of the church being considered as the most efficacious remedies that can be employed against the possession of the devil, a malady almost invincible, some wealthy inhabitants of the country had brought into this city of Seville, one of their relations, who was thus afflicted, to confide his cure to a religious of renowned sanctity; or, in other words, for the purpose of having him exorcised. On the day assigned for this operation, the possessed was carried to the church of the Cordeliers, which very soon overflowed with spectators. The gates having been shut before my arrival, I engaged a religious of my acquaintance to admit me. He introduced me by the gate of the monastery; but I had no sooner entered the church, than I had reason to repent my curiosity: I was hustled by the crowd, and overcome with the heat. There my regards were attracted by an unhappy wretch, of an ill figure, with wild eyes and dishevelled garments, his hands bound behind his back, and uttering from time to time the most frightful yells. There was much impatience testified to behold this holy priest, of whom I have spoken, whose name was Juan de Cardanas, father of Barnadino de Cardanas, Capuchin, and Bishop of Paragua, in America. After the performance of mass, he found himself so much indisposed, that they were obliged to postpone the exorcism till another day. I was not sorry; for, not partaking in the credulity of the people, who often impute epileptical complaints to the operation of demons, I had for a long time been desirous of personally verifying those things they relate concerning the possessions of the devil. I lost no time in visiting the relations of this unhappy person, whom I shrewdly suspected had recourse to this adroit method to rid themselves of the inconvenience of certain pecadilloes he had been engaged in. I inspired them with sufficient confidence to obtain permission to visit their lodgings the following night, with a view of making such an examination as I should judge proper. I preferred this time to any other, that I might the better conceal the defeat of my enterprize if it should not succeed.