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'entertain a poet for Orpheus's sake: so I was forced to ' return again to the place from whence I came.'

CHAPTER XXV.

Julian performs the parts of a Knight and a Dancing Master.

'I NOW mounted the stage in Sicily, and became a "knight-templar; but, as my adventures differ so little เ from those I have recounted you in the character of a 'common soldier, I shall not tire you with repetition. 'The soldier and the captain differ in reality so little 'from one another, that it requires an accurate judgment 'to distinguish them; the latter wears finer clothes, and in times of success lives somewhat more delicately; but as to every thing else, they very nearly resemble one ' another.

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'My next step was into France, where fortune assigned me the part of a dancing-master. I was so expert in my profession that I was brought to court in my youth, ' and had the heels of Philip de Valois, who afterwards 'succeeded Charles the Fair, committed to my direction.

'I do not remember that in any of the characters in 'which I appeared on earth I ever assumed to myself a greater dignity, or thought myself of more real importance than now. I looked on dancing as the greatest 'excellence of human nature, and on myself as the greatest proficient in it. And, indeed, this seemed to 'be the general opinion of the whole court; for I was ⚫ the chief instructor of the youth of both sexes, whose ' merit was almost entirely defined by the advances they made in that science which I had the honour to profess.

As to myself, I was so fully persuaded of this truth, 'that I not only slighted and despised those who were ignorant of dancing; but I thought the highest 'character I could give of any man was that he made a graceful bow for want of which accomplishment I 'had a sovereign contempt for most persons of learning; nay, for some officers in the army, and a few even of the 'courtiers themselves.

'Though so little of my youth had been thrown away in what they call literature that I could hardly write ' and read, yet I composed a treatise on education; the 'first rudiments of which, as I taught, were to instruct a 'child in the science of coming handsomely into a room. In this I corrected many faults of my predecessors, 'particularly that of being too much in a hurry, and instituting a child in the sublimer parts of dancing 'before they are capable of making their honours.

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But, as I have not now the same high opinion of my profession which I had then, I shall not entertain you 'with a long history of a life which consisted of borées ' and coupées. Let it suffice that I lived to a very old age,

and followed my business as long as I could crawl.

At

length I revisited my old friend Minos, who treated me 'with very little respect, and bade me dance back again 'to earth.

'I did so, and was now once more born an Englishman, bred up to the church, and at length arrived to 'the station of a bishop.

'Nothing was so remarkable in this character, as my 'always voting-.'

*Here part of the manuscript is lost, and that a very considerable one, as appears by the number of the next book and chapter, which contains, I find, the history of Anna Boleyn but as to the manner in which it was introduced, or to whom the narrative is told, we are totally left in the dark. I have only to remark, that this chapter is, in the original writ, in a

:

BOOK XIX.

CHAPTER VII.

Wherein Anna Boleyn relates the history of her life. 'I am going now truly to recount a life, which from the 'time of its ceasing has been, in the other world, the continual subject of the cavils of contending parties; 'the one making me as black as hell, the other as pure and innocent as the inhabitants of this blessed place; 'the mist of prejudice blinding their eyes, and zeal for 'what they themselves profess making every thing appear in that light, which they think most conduces to its 'honour.

My infancy was spent in my father's house, in those 'childish plays, which are most suitable to that state, and I think this was one of the happiest parts of my life; เ for my parents were not among the number of those 'who look upon their children as so many objects of a tyrannic power, but I was regarded as the dear pledge of a virtuous love, and all my little pleasures were thought from their indulgence their greatest delight. 'At seven years old I was carried into France with the king's sister, who was married to the French king, where I lived with a person of quality, who was an acquaintance of my father's. I spent my time in learning those things necessary to give young persons of 'fashion a polite education, and did neither good nor woman's hand: and though the observations in it are, I think, as excellent as any in the whole volume, there seems to be a difference in style between this and the preceding chapters; and as it is the character of a woman which is related, I am inclined to fancy it was really written by

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one of that sex.

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evil, but day passed after day in the same easy way, till I was fourteen; then began my anxiety, my vanity grew strong, and my heart fluttered with joy at every 'compliment paid to my beauty: and as the lady, with 'whom I lived, was of a gay, cheerful disposition, she kept a great deal of company, and my youth and 'charms made me the continual object of their admi'ration. I passed some little time in those exulting 'raptures, which are felt by every woman perfectly 'satisfied with herself and with the behaviour of others towards her: I was, when very young, promoted to be 'maid of honour to her majesty. The court was fre'quented by a young nobleman whose beauty was the 'chief subject of conversation in all assemblies of ladies. The delicacy of his person, added to a great softness in his manner, gave every thing he said and did such an air of tenderness, that every woman he spoke to 'flattered herself with being the object of his love. I was one of those who was vain enough of my own. 'charms to hope to make a conquest of him whom the 'whole court sighed for: I now thought every other object below my notice; yet the only pleasure I proposed to myself in this design was the triumphing over 'that heart, which I plainly saw all the ladies of the highest quality and the greatest beauty would have 'been proud of possessing. I was yet too young to be very artful; but nature, without any assistance, soon 'discovers to a man, who is used to gallantry, a woman's 'desire to be liked by him, whether that desire arises from any particular choice she makes of him, or only from ' vanity. He soon perceived my thoughts, and gratified my utmost wishes by constantly preferring me before 'all other women, and exerting his utmost gallantry and 'address to engage my affections. This sudden happiเ ness, which I then thought the greatest I could have

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had, appeared visible in all my actions; I grew so gay, and so full of vivacity, that it made my person appear 'still to a better advantage, all my acquaintance pre'tending to be fonder of me than ever: though, young เ as I was, I plainly saw it was but pretence, for, through all their endeavours to the contrary, envy would often 'break forth in sly insinuations, and malicious sneers, 'which gave me fresh matter of triumph, and frequent 'opportunities of insulting them; which I never let slip, 'for now first my female heart grew sensible of the 'spiteful pleasure of seeing another languish for what 'I enjoyed. Whilst I was in the height of my happiness 'her majesty fell ill of a languishing distemper, which obliged her to go into the country for the change of air; my place made it necessary for me to attend her, ' and which way he brought it about I can't imagine, 'but my young hero found means to be one of that 'small train that waited on my royal mistress, although 'she went as privately as possible. Hitherto all the 'interviews I had ever had with him were in public, ' and I only looked on him as the fitter object to feed 'that pride which had no other view but to show its power; but now the scene was quite changed. My ' rivals were all at a distance: the place we went to 'was as charming as the most agreeable natural situation, assisted by the greatest art, could make it; 'the pleasant solitary walks, the singing of birds, the 'thousand pretty romantic scenes this delightful place afforded, gave a sudden turn to my mind, my whole 'soul was melted into softness, and all my vanity was 'fled. My spark was too much used to affairs of this 'nature not to perceive this change; at first the profuse transports of his joy made me believe him wholly mine, and this belief gave me such happiness, that 'no language affords words to express it, and can be

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