The comical romance, or, A facetious history of a company of stage-players interwoven with divers choice novels, rare adventures, and amorous intrigues / written originally in French by the renowned Scarron ; and now turned into English by J.B.

CHAP. XII.

Which will perhaps be as little pleasing as the last.

VErville and Destiny gave each other an exact account of all they were ignorant of in each others little concerns. Verville related wonders to him of the brutishness of his Brother Saint Far, and the vertue of his Wife in suffering them. He exagerated the felicity he enjoyed in possessing his own, and told him News of the Baron of Ar∣ques, and of Mounsieur St. Sauveur. Destiny then gave him the little story of his own Adventures not concealing any thing; and Verville avouched to him, that Saldaigne was still in the Country, a very dishonest man still, and very dangerous, and promised him, if Madam Star were in his hands, to do all he could possibly to discover it, and serve

Destiny, both in person, and by the power, of h•••• friends, in whatever should be necessary to re∣deem her. He hath no other retreat, said Ver∣ville, but my Fathers House and another Gentle∣mans just like himself, who is not absolute Maste•• of a house being the youngest Son of a younge•• Brother. He cannot but return to see us, if h•• remains in the Country: my Father and my se•• suffering him to do so because of his alliance: S•• Far loves him not now, whatever resemblance there is betwixt them. I am therefore of opinion that it were best for you to go with me to mor∣row; I know where to place you, nor shall you be seen by any but whom you are willing to con∣verse with; and in the mean while Saldagne shal•• be watched, and so narrowly observed, that he shall do nothing which shall not come to our knowledge. Destiny found a great deal of reason in the counsel his friend gave him, and determined to follow it. Verville returned to supper to the Lord of the Town an ancient Gentleman, of Kin•• to him, whose Heir he hoped to be, and Destiny eat what he could get in his Inn, and went early to bed, that he might not make Verville wait for him, who designed to be going very early to his Fa∣thers. They set forth at the hour appointed, and during three Leagues riding, told each other ma∣ny particulars they had not time to Discourse of before. Verville placed Destiny at a Servants, who was married in the Town, and had a little House very convenient, within five hundred paces of the Castle belonging to the Baron of Arques. He gave order that he should be kept privately, and

promised him to come suddenly again to see him. Verville had not left him above two hours, before he returned, and said at his coming that he had a great many things to tell him. Destiny grew pale, and was afflicted at his first words, and the other as readily gave him hopes of a remedy for the trouble he was to relate, alighted from my horse, said he, I beheld Saldaigne, carried betwixt four, into a lower Chamber. His horse threw him and fell on him, about a League from hence, and hath much bruised him, he told me he had something to say to me, and intreated me to follow him into the Chamber as soon as a Chirurgion who was there, had seen his leg which is much strained with his fall. When we were alone: I must ever, said he, reveal all my faults to you, although you are the least indulgent of my censurers, your Wisdom ever chiding my Folly. After this he confessed to me, that he had stollen away a Comedian, of whom he had a long time been enamoured, and said he would tell me some particulars of this en∣terprize which would raise my wonder. He told me that Gentleman, whom I informed you to be his friend, had not been able to find any place of retreat for him in the whole Province, and was obliged to leave him, and carry off those men he had furnished him withall to execute his design, because one of his Brothers, who used to make a conveyance of prohibited Salt, was way-laid by the Searchers, and so stood in want of some assi∣stance to secure him. So that, said he, not daring to appear in the least Village, where my enter∣prize had made a loud report, I am crept hi∣ther

with my prey. I have intreated my Siste•• your Wife to let her be concealed in your apart∣ment, our of the sight of the Baron of Arques whose severity I dread, and I conjure you, since I cannot keep her here, and have only two Ser∣vants the veriest Sots in the world, to lend me yours to Conduct her, together with my own, to the Lands I have in Brittany, whether I will go my self, as soon as I can ride on Horse-back. He ask∣ed me whether I could not spare him some others besides my own Servant, for as rash as he is, he apprehends it very difficult to carry a Woman far against her will: For my part, I made him be∣lieve the undertaking was very easie: which he soon credited, as Fools do ever hope things will succeed according to their wishes. His Servants do not know you, and mine is very crafty, and ve∣ry faithful to me. I will make him tell Saldaigne that he can get a very stout friend of his, which shall be your self; your Mistress shall have no∣tice of it, and this night wherein they intend to make a long journey, she shall feign her self sick at the first place they come to. My man, shall endeavour to Fuddle the other two, which is very easie, and this shall make it very opportune for you to convey away the Damosel, and making the two Drunkards believe that you are already gone after her, he shall lead them a quite contrary Road, and so be sure not to interrupt you. De∣stiny found a great deal of probability in what Ver∣ville proposed, whose trusty Servant came at the same time into the Chamber, they consulted together what was to be done. Verville kept him∣self

all the rest of that day with Destiny in obscuri∣ty; having much ado to part with him after so ••ong an absence, which perhaps might be followed with a more tedious one. Indeed Destiny hoped to see Verville at Burbon, whither he was to go, and where Destiny promised to engage their Company to follow him. The Night came on; Destiny ar∣rived at the places assigned with Vervilles man, Saldaignes two Servants failed not, and Verville did himself put Madam Star into their hands. Imagine the joy of two young Lovers, who had as much affection as hearts can hold, and the constraint they were in, being hindred from expressing their minds. Within half a League of that place, Star begins to complain; they bid her take courage till they came to a Town two Leagues distant, where they put her in hopes she should bait. She feigns that her malady encreaseth still, Vervilles Servant and Destiny seemed to be much concerned, there∣by to prepare Saldaignes Servants not to think it strange that they should make a stop so near the place they came from. In fine, they came to the Town, and demanded lodging at the Inn, which they happily found to be full of Lodgers and Drinkers. Madam Star acted the sick Womans part better by Candle light then she had done in the dark: She lay down in her Cloaths, and desired they would let her rest only one hour, and made them believe that after she thought she might be able to ride again. Saldaignes men, being Drun∣kards, did let Vervilles do what he pleased, he be∣ing indeed commanded to take the sole charge upon him, they Club immediately with four or

five Country fellows, as great Bubbers as them selves; These altogether began to drink round∣ly, and wash down all sorrow, and the cares of th•• world. Vervilles man, did now and then put in fo•• a health with them to keep them in play, and un∣der the pretence of going up to see the sick Lady that he might hasten her away, he conveyed he and Destiny forth and mounted them, whom h•• directed what way he must ride. He returned t•• his good fellows, told them the Gentlewoma•• was asleep, and said there was the greater likeli∣hood she would be soon enabled to prosecute th•• journey. He told them likewise that Destiny ha•• thrown himself upon a bed; and then began t•• drink merily, and talk of other things, plying th•• two Servants very stifly, who were already pret∣ty hot headed. They drank to excess, wer•• fudled, and could not so much as rise from th•• Table; Then were they removed into a Barn fo•• fear they should spoil any bed, might have been given them. Vervilles man counterseited th•• Drunkard, and having slept till break of day, ha∣stily waked the two others, telling them with a de∣jected countenance, that the Damosel had mad•• her escape; that he had dispatched his friend af∣ter her, and that it was time for them to moun•• their Horses and ride several wayes that she might not escape them. He was above an hour a•• making them understand what he said, for I be∣lieve their braines were dosed for a week after and as the whole house had tippled extraordinari∣ly that night, yea even the very Hostess and Maids they did not so much as trouble themselves to

make any inquiry what was become either of De∣stiny or the Gentlewoman, whom they no more ••emembred then if they had never seen them. Whilst these people were digesting or voiding their Wine, Vervilles Servant exclaiming against fortune, and pressing his two Companions to ha∣••en away, which those yet half-sober fellows could ••ot do, Destiny galloped on with his dear Madam ••ar, ravished with joy that he had found her, and ••ot doubting but Vervilles trusty Trojan had sent ••he two others the quite contrary Road. The Moon shone then very bright, and they were in a ••road way easie enough to be found, which led ••hem to a Village, whether we intend to bring ••hem in the next Chapter.