turn to Leonora; he proceeded directly to his own seat, whence, after a few days'

"Adorable and charmante,

CHAPTER VII.

a great way.

THE lady having finished her story, re

stay, he returned to Paris, to the great de-A very short chapter, in which Parson Adams went light of the French and the honour of the English nation. But as soon as he arrived at his home, heceived the thanks of the company, and now presently despatched a messenger with the Joseph putting his head out of the coach, cried out, Never believe me, if yonder following epistle to Leonora: be not our Parson Adams walking along without his horse.'-' On my word, and so he is,' says Slipslop: 'and as sure as twopence he hath left him behind at the inn.' Indeed, true it is, the parson had exhibited a fresh instance of his absence of mind; for he was so pleased with having got Joseph into the coach, that he never once thought of the beast in the stable; and finding his legs as nimble as he desired, he sallied out, brandishing a crab-stick, and had kept on before the coach, mending and slackening his pace occasionally; so that he had never been much more or less than a quarter of a mile distant from it.

"I AM sorry to have the honour to tell you I am not the heureux person destined for your divine arms. Your papa hath told me so, with a politesse not often seen on this side Paris. You may, perhaps, guess his manner of refusing me. Ah, mon Dieu! You will certainly believe me, madam, incapable myself of delivering this triste message, which I intend to try the French air to cure the consequences of. A jamais! Cœur! Angel! Au diable! If your papa obliges you to a marriage, I hope we shall see you at Paris; till when, the wind that flows from thence will be the warmest dans le monde, for it. will consist almost entirely of my sighs. Adieu, ma princesse! Ah l'amour !

"BELLARMINE."

I shall not attempt, ladies, to describe Leonora's condition, when she received this letter. It is a picture of horror, which I should have as little pleasure in drawing, as you in beholding. She immediately left the place, where she was the subject of conversation and ridicule, and retired to that house I showed you, when I began the story; where she hath ever since led a disconsolate life, and deserves, perhaps, pity for her misfortunes, more than our censure for a behaviour to which the artifices of her aunt, very probably contributed, and to which, very young women are often rendered too liable by that blameable levity in the education of our sex.

Mrs. Slipslop desired the coachman to overtake him, which he attempted, but in vain; for the faster he drove, the faster ran the parson, often crying out, Ay, ay, catch me if you can; till at length the coachman swore he would as soon attempt to drive after a greyhound; and giving the parson two or three hearty curses, he cried, Softly, softly, boys,' to his horses, which the civil beasts immediately obeyed.

But we will be more courteous to our reader than he was to Mrs. Slipslop: and leaving the coach and its company to pursue their journey, we will carry our reader on after Parson Adams, who stretched forwards without once looking behind him; till, haying left the coach full three miles in his rear, he came to a place, where, by keeping the extremest tract to the right, it was just barely possible for a human creature to miss his way. This track however did he keep, as 'If I was inclined to pity her,' said a indeed he had a wonderful capacity at these young lady in the coach, it would be for kinds of bare possibilities; and travelling in the loss of Horatio; for I cannot discern it about three miles over the plain, he arrivany misfortune in her missing such a hus-ed at the summit of a hill, whence, looking band as Bellarmine.' a great way backwards, and perceiving no coach in sight, he sat himself down on the turf, and pulling out his Eschylus, determined to wait here for its arrival.

'Why, I must own,' says Slipslop, the gentleman was a little false-hearted; but howsumever, it was hard to have two lovers, and get never a husband at all. But pray, madam, what became of Our-asho?' He remains, said the lady, still unmarried, and hath applied himself so strictly to his business, that he hath raised, I hear, a very considerable fortune. And what is remarkable, they say he never hears the name of Leonora without a sigh, nor hath ever uttered one syllable to charge her with her ill conduct towards him.

He had not sat long here, before a gun going off very near, a little startled him; he looked up, and saw a gentleman within a hundred paces taking up a partridge, which he had just shot.

Adams stood up, and presented a figure to the gentleman, which would have moved laughter in many; for his cassock had just again fallen down below his great-coat; that is to say, it reached his knees, whereas the skirts of his great-coat descended no lower than half way down his thighs: but the gentleman's mirth gave way to his surprise

at beholding such a personage in such a most curious in this but perhaps in any place. other book.

when Mr. Fickle got his place, colonel | is given, of him can nothing be required. Courtly stood again; and who should make However, on all proper seasons, such as the interest for him but Mr. Fickle himself! approach of an election, I throw a suitable that very identical Mr. Fickle who had for- dash or two into my sermons; which I have merly told me the colonel was an enemy to the pleasure to hear is not disagreeable to both the church and state, had the confi- Sir Thomas, and the other honest gentledence to solicit my nephew for him; and men my neighbours, who have all promised the colonel himself offered me to make me me these five years to procure an ordinachaplain to his regiment, which I refused in tion for a son of mine, who is now near favour of Sir Oliver Hearty, who told us he thirty, hath an infinite stock of learning, would sacrifice every thing to his country; and is, I thank Heaven, of an unexceptionand I believe he would, except his hunting, able life; though, as he was never at a uniwhich he stuck so close to, that in five years versity, the bishop refuses to ordain him. together he went but twice up to parlia- Too much care cannot indeed be taken in ment; and one of those times, I have been admitting any to the sacred office; though told, never was within sight of the house. I hope he will never act so as to be a disHowever, he was a worthy man, and the grace to any order; but will serve his God best friend I ever had; for, by his interest and his country to the utmost of his power, with a bishop, he got me replaced into my as I have endeavoured to do before him; curacy, and gave me eight pounds out of his nay, and will lay down his life whenever own pocket to buy me a gown and cassock, called to that purpose. I am sure. I have and furnish my house. He had our interest educated him in those principles; so that I while he lived, which was not many years. have acquitted my duty, and shall have On his death I had fresh applications made nothing to answer for on that account. But to me; for all the world knew the interest I do not distrust him, for he is a good boy; I had with my good nephew, who now was and if Providence should throw it in his a leading man in the corporation: and Sir way to be of as much consequence in a Thomas Booby, buying the estate which public light as his father once was, I can had been Sir Oliver's, proposed himself a answer for him he will use his talents as candidate. He was then a young gentle- honestly as I have done.' man just come from his travels; and it did me good to hear him discourse on affairs. which, for my part, I knew nothing of. If I had been master of a thousand votes, he should have had them all. I engaged my nephew in his interest, and he was elected; and a very fine parliament man he was. They tell me he made speeches of an hour long; and, I have been told, very fine ones; but he could never persuade the parliament to be of his opinion. Non omnia possumus omnes. He promised me a living, poor man; and I believe I should have had it, but an accident happened, which was, that my lady had promised it before, unknown to him. 'Sir,' said he, 'I have disinherited a neThis, indeed, I never heard till afterwards; phew, who is in the army, because he would for my nephew, who died about a month not exchange his commission, and go to the before the incumbent, always told me I West Indies. I believe the rascal is a cowmight be assured of it. Since that time, Sirard, though he pretends to be in love forThomas, poor man, had always so much business, that he never could find leisure to see me. I believe it was partly my lady's fault too, who did not think my dress good enough for the gentry at her table. However, I must do him the justice to say he never was ungrateful; and I have always found his kitchen, and his cellar too, open to me: many a time after service on a Sunday for I preach at four churches-have I recruited my spirits with a glass of his ale. Since my nephew's death, the corporation is in other hands, and I am not a man of that consequence I was formerly. I have now no longer any talents to lay out in the service of my country: and to whom nothing

CHAPTER IX.

In which the gentleman descants on bravery and heroic virtue, till an unlucky accident puts an end to the discourse.

THE gentleman highly commended Mr. Adams for his good resolutions, and told him, He hoped his son would tread in his steps;' adding, 'that if he would not die for his country, he would not be worthy to live in it. I'd make no more of shooting a man that would not die for his country, than-'

sooth. I would have all such fellows hang'd, sir; I would have them hang'd.' Adams answered, "That would be too severe: that men did not make themselves; and if fear had too much ascendance in the mind, the man was rather to be pitied than abhorred; that reason and time might teach him to subdue it.' He said, 'A man might be a coward at one time and brave at another. Homer,' says he, who so well understood and copied nature, hath taught us this lesson; for Paris fights and Hector runs away. Nay, we have a mighty instance of this in the history of latter ages, no longer ago than the 705th year of Rome, when the great Pompey, who had won so many bat

6

tles, and been honoured with so many tri- | the voice issued; and the man of courage umphs, and of whose valour several au- made as much expedition towards his own thors, especially Cicero and Paterculus, have home, whither he escaped in a very short formed such eulogiums; this very Pompey time without once looking behind him; left the battle of Pharsalia before he had where we will leave him to contemplate his lost it, and retreated to his tent, where he own bravery, and to censure the want of it sat like the most pusillanimous rascal in a in others; and return to the good Adams, fit of despair, and yielded a victory, which who, on coming up to the place whence the was to determine the empire of the world, noise proceeded, found a woman struggling to Cæsar. I am not much travelled in the with a man, who had thrown her on the history of modern times, that is to say, these ground, and had almost overpowered her. last thousand years: but those who are, The great abilities of Mr. Adams were not can, I make no question, furnish you with necessary to have formed a right judgment parallel instances.' He concluded, there- of this affair on the first sight. He did not fore, that had he taken any such hasty reso- therefore want the entreaties of the poor lutions against his nephew, he hoped he wretch to assist her; but lifting up his crabwould consider better and retract them. stick, he immediately levelled a blow at that The gentleman answered with great warmth, part of the ravisher's head, where, accordand talked much of courage and his coun- ing to the opinion of the ancients, the brains try, till, perceiving it grew late, he asked of some persons are deposited, and which Adams, What place he intended for that he had undoubtedly let forth, had not Na-, night?" He told him, ' He waited there for ture, (who, as wise men have observed, the stage-coach.'-'The stage-coach! sir,' equips all creatures with what is most expesaid the gentleman; they are all past by long dient for them,) taken a provident care, (as ago. You may see the last yourself almost she always doth with those she intends for three miles before us.'-'I protest, and so encounters,) to make this part of the head they are,' cries Adams: then I must make three times as thick as those of ordinary haste and follow them.' The gentleman men, who are designed to exercise talents told him,' He would hardly be able to over- which are vulgarly called rational, and for take them; and that if he did not know his whom, as brains are necessary, she is obliway, he would be in danger of losing him- ged to leave some room for them in the caself on the downs; for it would be presently vity of the skull; whereas, those ingredidark; and he might ramble about all night, ents being entirely useless to persons of the and perhaps find himself farther from his heroic calling, she hath an opportunity of journey's end in the morning than he was thickening the bone, so as to make it less now.' He advised him, therefore, to accom- subject to any impression, or liable to be pany him to his house, which was very little cracked or broken; and indeed, in some out of his way, assuring him, that he would who are predestined to the command of find some country fellow in his parish, who armies and empires, she is supposed somewould conduct him for sixpence to the city times to make that part perfectly solid. where he was going.' Adams accepted As a game cock, when engaged in amothis proposal, and on they travelled, the gen-rous toying with a hen, if by perchance he tleman renewing his discourse on courage, espies another cock at hand, immediately and the infamy of not being ready at all quits his female, and opposes himself to his times to sacrifice our lives to our country. rival; so did the ravisher, on the informaNight overtook them much about the same tion of the crabstick, immediately leap from time as they arrived near some bushes; the woman, and hasten to assail the man. whence, on a sudden, they heard the most He had no weapons but what nature had violent shrieks imaginable in a female voice. furnished him with. However, he clenched Adams offered to snatch the gun out of his his fist, and presently darted it at that part companion's hand. "What are you doing?' of Adams's breast where the heart is lodged. said he, Doing!' says Adams; 'I am Adams staggered at the violence of the hastening to the assistance of the poor crea- blow, when, throwing away his staff, he ture whom some villains are murdering.'-likewise clenched that fist which we have "You are not mad enough, I hope,' says the before commemorated, and would have disgentleman, trembling: Do you consider charged it full in the breast of his antago this gun is only charged with shot, and that the robbers are most probably furnished with pistols loaded with bullets? This is no business of ours; let us make as much haste as possible out of the way, or we may fall into their hands ourselves.' The shrieks now increasing, Adams made no answer, but snapt his fingers, and brandishing his arabstick, made directly to the place whence

nist, had he not dexterously caught it with his left hand, at the same time darting his head, (which some modern heroes of the lower class, use, like the battering-ram of the ancients, for a weapon of offence; another reason to admire the cunningness of Nature, in composing it of those impenetrable materials;) dashing his head, I say, into the stomach of Adams, he tumbled him

H

on his back; and not having any regard to the laws of heroism, which would have restrained him from any further attack on his enemy till he was again on his legs, he threw himself upon him, and laying hold on the ground with his left hand, he with his right, belaboured the body of Adams till he was weary, and indeed till he concluded, (to use the language of fighting,) that he had done his business; or, in the language of poetry, that he had sent him to the shades below; in plain English, 'that he was dead.'

dark, she had no human means to avoid him; that therefore she put her whole trust in Providence, and walked on, expecting every moment to arrive at the inn; when on a sudden, being come to those bushes, he desired her to stop, and after some rude kisses, which she resisted, and some entreaties, which she rejected, he laid violent hands on her, and was attempting to execute his wicked will, when, she thanked G-, he timely came up and prevented him.' Adams encouraged her for saying she had put ber whole trust in Providence, and told her, But Adams, who was no chicken, and He doubted not but Providence had sent could bear a drubbing as well as any boxing him to her deliverance, as a reward for that champion in the universe, lay still only to trust. He wished indeed he had not dewatch his opportunity; and now perceiving prived the wicked wretch of life, but G-'s his antagonist to pant with his labours, he will be done. He said he hoped the goodexerted his utmost force at once, and withness of his intention would excuse him, in the such success, that he overturned him, and became his superior; when fixing one of his knees in his breast, he cried out in an exulting voice, 'It is my turn now;' and after a few minutes' constant application, he gave him so dexterous a blow just under his chin, that the fellow no longer retained any motion, and Adams began to fear he had struck him once too often; for he often asserted, he should be concerned to have the blood of even the wicked upon him.'

next world, and he trusted in her evidence to acquit him in this.' He was then silent, and began to consider with himself whether it would be properer to make his escape, or to deliver himself into the hands of justice; which meditation ended as the reader will see in the next chapter.

CHAPTER X.

Giving an account of the strange catastrophe of the preceding adventure, which drew poor Adams into fresh calamities; and who the woman was who owed the preservation of her chastity to his victorious arm.

Adams got up and called aloud to the young woman, Be of good cheer, damsel,' said he; you are no longer in danger of your ravisher, who I am terribly afraid lies dead at my feet: but God forgive me what I have done in defence of innocence.' The THE silence of Adams, added to the poor wretch, who had been some time in darkness of the night and loneliness of the recovering strength enough to rise, and had place, struck dreadful apprehensions into the afterwards, during the engagement, stood poor woman's mind: she began to fear as trembling, being disabled by fear even from great an enemy in her deliverer, as he had running away, hearing her champion was delivered her from; and as she had not light victorious, came up to him, but not without enough to discover the age of Adams, and apprehensions even of her deliverer; which, the benevolence visible in his countenance, however, she was soon relieved from, by his she suspected he had used her as some very courteous behaviour, and gentle words. honest men have used their country; and They were both standing by the body, had rescued her out of the hands of one which lay motionless on the ground, and rifler, in order to rifle her himself. Such which Adams wished to see stir much more were the suspicions she drew from his sithan the woman did, when he earnestly lence; but indeed they were ill grounded. begged her to tell him by what misfortune He stood over his vanquished enemy, wisely she came, at such a time of night, into so weighing in his mind the objections which lonely a place. She acquainted him, She might be made to either of the two methods was travelling towards London, and had of proceeding, mentioned in the last chapaccidently met with the person from whom ter, his judgment sometimes inclining to the he had delivered her, who told her he was one, and sometimes to the other; for both likewise on his journey to the same place, seemed to him so equally advisable, and so and would keep her company; an offer equally dangerous, that probably he would which, suspecting no harm, she had accept-have ended his days, at least two or three ed: that he told her they were at a distance from an inn where she might take up her lodging that evening, and he would show her a nearer way to it than by following the road that if she had suspected him, (which she did not, he spoke so kindly to her,) 'being alone on these downs in the

of them, on that very spot, before he had
taken any resolution: At length he lifted
up his eyes, and spied a light at a distance,
to which he instantly addressed himself with
Heus tu, Traveller, heus tu! He presently
heard several voices, and perceived the light
approaching toward him.
The persons