Although Antonio had told me that the evil spirits were so averse to light, my candles did not secure me from the persecution of four figures in the shape of so many devils who entered my chamber. It was some time before I heard the noise created by these demons; but as it was very far from their intention to respect my repose, they advanced towards the bed, drew the curtains, two of them seized me by the arms, and the other two by the legs, and dragged me out of bed. At length I awoke; and finding myself thus dangling in the air in the clutches of four devils, I was so terribly frightened that I was more dead than alive. They were each habited exactly as the devil is represented; with huge long tails, frightful vizards, and horns on their heads. I had just sufficient sense remaining in me to invoke the assistance of some Saint whose name occurred to me at the moment. But had I offered up prayers, they would have been equally unavailing. These apparitions were not to be driven from their purpose; exorcisms even would have been useless, for the devils that I had to deal with had been baptized. They placed me in one of my blankets, and each taking a corner, began to toss me in the air with such violence, that they threw me to the ceiling at every toss, against which I expected every moment that either my head or one of my arms would have been broken. But they contented themselves with only bruising me, though they did not cease to make me vault in this manner until they were completely fatigued, or rather until their noses informed them that my fear grew laxative. They then placed me in bed again, covered me over as they found me, extinguished the light, and vanished the same way as they had entered.
In this pitiable condition I remained until day-break; and with the most dreadful sensation of fear still on my mind, I made an effort to get up, with the intention of hastening as quickly as possible out of a house where the duties of hospitality had been so scurvily fulfilled. But I could not rise, or dress myself without the greatest difficulty and pain, the cause of which I could not remember without bestowing a thousand curses on the old rascal who had caused me to be thus cruelly treated. He no longer seemed to me that personage so worthy of veneration, no longer that benevolent character the meeting with whom had so much delighted me, but an old sorcerer, destined to be damned from the creation of the world.
Before I quitted the chamber, I was curious to know how these malignant spirits could have entered it. I first examined the door, and finding it still bolted as I had left it before I fell asleep, I could not reasonably imagine that they had found their way to me by that means. But having lifted up the hangings, I perceived a large window covered by them, which opened into the gallery. This was still open, the apparitions not having taken the trouble to close it after them. I made not the least noise, lest there should be something still in reserve for me, and thought of nothing but how to extricate myself from this cursed place. I had already left the room with this view, when I met Antonio in the gallery, who informed me that his master was waiting for me at the nearest church. All the answer I made was to request him to shew me to the street-door, which he did with as much sang-froid as if he had not been one of the goblins who had amused themselves so much at my expence. I no sooner got out of doors, than I scampered off as if I had not a bruise about me. What wonderful strength is imparted by fear! I ran as fast as my legs would carry me.
As soon as I considered myself in perfect safety, my hunger, which had been suspended for a while by fear, became such, that I was obliged to satisfy it by buying some baked meat and a slice of bread, which I amused myself with eating as I walked along. I did not stop till I had got quite out of the city, and then seeing a tavern before me, I went in and drank a glass of good wine. This so completely reanimated my courage, that after a slight repast, I was able to set out again, taking the road towards Rome, reflecting on the affectionate reception I had met with from my relations, and especially from my old friend. I made a solemn oath never to forget the detestable night that this grey bearded old wolf had allured me under his roof, for which I resolved to be fully avenged on him the very first opportunity.
CHAP. XXI.
What becomes of Guzman after having left Genoa.
I travelled some distance from Genoa, without so much as turning my head once towards that city, as though I feared that the sight of it would have petrified me. I resembled one of those who escaped from the battle of Roncesvalles; I walked on without having any determined route, though it was my wish to go to Rome. At length I reached a town about ten miles from Genoa, where I stopped some hours to rest myself, and spent what remained of my pistole. Then resigning myself entirely into the hands of Providence, I resumed my journey.
It was well for me that I had been accustomed to misfortunes, and that I had already made some progress in the art of begging. What would have become of me without this resource? I should have been much to be pitied. Any one that possesses the talent of exciting his neighbour’s charity may travel all over Italy without money. I must render this justice to Italy, that no nation in the world has more charity in it. In proof of which assertion, I reached Rome without spending a single sous of all the money that I was able to collect on the road, and which I carefully reserved. In the different villages through which I passed I had more meat and bread given me than I could possibly consume. Mendicity in that country is a fine resource for persons of spirit in bad circumstances who cannot make up their minds to be industrious. For my own part, I was so naturally inclined to that trade that I wished for no better. I must confess that when I found myself in the capital of the Catholic World with money enough in my pocket to buy a new suit of clothes, I was at first somewhat tempted to employ it that way, with design to offer my services to some nobleman; but I had courage enough to resist this desire, which I considered in no other light than as a temptation of the devil.
“Oh! Oh! Guzman,” said I to myself, “do you wish to give yourself the same airs here as at Toledo; suppose, when you have expended all your little hoard in dress, you should be so unlucky as to find no one willing to employ you, who do you think will feed you, my friend? do you imagine that a fine new coat is likely to excite charity? undeceive yourself. You will be more likely to fare better in your present dress. Be wise, and rather endeavour to profit by your old follies than to seek after new ones. Be contented as you are, and do not resume your former vanities.” Reasoning with myself in this manner, I tied up my purse with a double knot, and addressing myself to the money within it: “Remain thus secure,” said I, “until I find a better opportunity of making thee useful.”
I began then to traverse the streets of Rome in my rags, soliciting alms like one who believed himself a master in the art, but who was in reality a mere apprentice in comparison with the professors of that country. Among these was a young fellow, who remarking the manner of begging that I adopted, found that I required a few lessons, which he was kind enough to give me. We associated together; and to render me useful to the society, he taught me the different manners and the several tones in which alms should be asked of different people, and that the same speech would not always do. “Men,” said he, “are not in the least affected by the plaintive and lamentable tones adopted by most beggars. They will be much more likely to put their hands in their pockets, when you implore their assistance boldly for God’s sake.” “As for women,” continued he, “as some pay their devotions to the Holy Virgin, and others to our lady of the Rosary, it is by one of these that we wheedle them. It has frequently a good effect also to pray that they may be preserved from all mortal sin, from false witnesses, the power of traitors, and from slanderous tongues: such wishes as these, pronounced in energetic terms, and in an impressive tone of voice, will almost always make their purses fly open to assist you.”