The second volume of letters writ by a Turkish spy who lived five and forty years undiscover'd at Paris : giving an impartial account to the Divan at Constantinople of the most remarkable transactions of Europe, and discovering several intrigues and secrets of the Christian courts (especially of that of France) continued from the year 1642 to the year 1682 / written originally in Arabick, translated into Italian, and from thence into English, by the translator of the first volume.

LETTER XXXVI.

To Mehmet, an Eunuch Page in the Seraglio.

THOU hast long ago heard of my Impri∣sonment at Paris: let not the News of my Release be unwelcome to thee. If thou didst then Sympathize with my Sufferings, now take a Share in my Joy. I believe, thou hast Friend∣ship enough to do both; and, I am willing thou shouldst divide the One with me, as well as the Other.

I will not therefore make thee melancholy, with a Rehearsal of my Fears and Apprehen∣sions, my Wants and Discontents, with other doleful Circumstances of a Prison. I am now at Liberty, let Sadness vanish. Yet, I have not so forgot my late Grief, as to be now exces∣sive in my Joy; since I am liable to the same, or a Worse Disaster again. It is never good to be secure, while we are ignorant what's the next Potion that Fate is tempering for us. Moderation keeps a Man upon his Guard; and, if any Stroke of Misfortune be aim'd at him, if he is aware of the Blow, and so can ei∣ther dextrously ward it off, or at least take Honourable Quarter: Whereas, he that suffers himself to be dissolv'd, and his Mind unbent with Prosperity, is taken Captive by Evil, without being able to make any easie Condi∣tions

for himself. I love to have my Eyes open, and to look round the whole Horizon of Contingencies: I watch for the very Possibi∣lities of Misfortune, that so I may not be catch'd napping by a Calamity, but be always in a State to Fence, or make Composition.

I will now tell thee with more Freedom than I did the Mufti, what happened to me during my Imprisonment. The Gover∣nour of the Citadel where I was confin'd, in∣vited me one Day to a Banquet. I need not give thee an Inventory of the various Dishes, with which his Table was furnished: Our Entertainment was generous, he regal'd me beyond the Expectation of a Prisoner; and, had there not been a design in it, I should have admired the Bounty of this Infidel. But, his Treat was a Snare, and contrived for a Test of my Religion, Whether I was a Di∣sciple of Mahomet or Jesus. Thou knowest, the Christians eat Swines Flesh, and drink Wine, which the Mussulmans have in Abo∣mination. We had Plenty of both at this Feast, and I durst not be squeamish at either. I tell thee, though I eat of the One with lit∣tle Pleasure, yet I drank of the other with∣out any Disgust. These Nazarenes, imitate the Ancient Grecians at their Banquets, in drinking of Healths to such as they most e∣steem. The Governour plied me with Glasses, and I quaffed liberally. Policy and Self-pre∣servation, taught me to begin the Debauch; and, the Charms of that tempting Liquor, would not suffer me to shrink to the End.

The Wines of France are very delicate, and we had choice of the Best. The Pleasure I enjoyed at this Banquet, had almost recon∣ciled me to the Disciples of Hali; and, I could have wish'd, our Prophet had been in a better Humour, when he forbid us the Juice of the Grape. He promises us Rivers of Wine in Paradise; and, while I was in my Cups, I thought he might connive at us, for taking a Glass or two sometimes on Earth. If thou hast not yet tasted this Enchanting Liquor, I wish thee to abstain as long as thou livest; for otherwise, thou wilt find it very difficult, to overcome the Desires of it, or to live without it. For my Part, I greedily longed for it, before ever I tasted it, because it was forbid: And now I have often had my Fill of it, my Appetite is encreased. The more I drink, the greater is my Thirst after it; which is never like to be quenched, till I shall drink at the Original Fountains of Wine in Paradise.

I do not think it is so great a Sin, as our Doctors would make us believe; since, the Divine Lawgiver prescribes Abstinence from Wine, rather as a Counsel than a Command. If thou art of another Opinion, I Censure thee not. The late Sultan Amurath was of my Mind; and many Grandees at the Port, count it no Heresie. All the Danger lies in the Ex∣cess, I am no Advocate for Drunkards.

Let these Things be spoken like Words in a Dream, which cannot be remembred again. Thou hast Prudence enough to take Care, that this Letter fall not into the Hands of such

as shall dispose of it in the Wall of the Hazoda. It is evident that I love thee, in that I thus frankly disclose such Passages, as I would not have others be privy to.

After all, I declare I should esteem my self much more happy, might I exchange Paris for Constantinople, and the most delicious Wines of Europe, for the wholesome Sherbets of Asia.

May Heaven fulfil my Desire, to see thee once again, with the Rest of my Friends at the Seraglio. Continue thy Affection to Mahmut, who loves his Friends without Hy∣pocrisie. Adieu.

Paris, 24th. of the 7th. Moon, of the Year 1645. according to the Christian Style.