He concluded at length, however, telling me that, if I had a mind to sell my mule, he was acquainted with a very honest jockey who would buy her. I assured him that he would oblige me by sending for him. He immediately went in quest of him with great eagerness, He soon returned, accompanied by his man, whom he introduced to me, and whose honesty he highly praised. We went into a yard altogether, when my mule was produced, and passed and repassed before the jockey, who examined her from head to foot, and did not fail to speak very disadvantageously of her. I own there was not much to be said in her praise, but, however, had it been the pope's mule, he would have found some defect in her. He assured me she had all the defects a mule could have; and, to convince me of his veracity, appealed to the landlord, who, doubtless, had his reasons for supporting his friend's assertions. "Well," said the dealer, with an air of indifference," how much do you expect for this wretched animal?" After the eulogium he had bestowed on her, and the attestation of senor Corcuelo, whom I believed to be a man of honesty and a judge, I would have parted with my mule for next to nothing; and therefore told him I would rely on his integrity, bidding him appraise the beast in his own conscience, and I would stand to the valuation. Upon this, he assumed the man of honour, and replied that, in engaging his conscience, I took him on the weak side. In good sooth, that did not seem to be his strong side; for, instead of valuing her at ten or twelve pistoles, as my uncle had done, he fixed the price at three ducats, which I accepted with as much joy as if I had made an excellent bargain.

After having so advantageously disposed of my mule, the landlord took me to a muleteer, who was to set out the next day for Astorga. This muleteer told me he would depart before daybreak, and promised to wake me in time. We agreed upon the price, as well as for the hire of a mule, as for my board on the road; and when everything was settled between us, I returned to the inn with Corcuelo, who, by the way, began to recount the carrier's story. He told me every circumstance of his character in town, and, in short, was going to stupify me again with his intolerable loquacity, when, luckily for me, a man of a pretty good appearance prevented this misfortune by accosting him with great civility. I left them together, and went on, without suspecting that I had the least concern in their conversation.

I called for supper as soon as I arrived at the inn. As it was a meagre day (see page 242), they dressed eggs for me. While they were being prepared, I made up to the landlady, whom I had not yet seen. When the omelet that was being made for me was ready, I sat down to table by myself. I had not yet swallowed the first morsel, when the landlord came in, followed by the man who had stopped him on the street. This cavalier wore a long sword, and seemed to be (656.) thirty years of age. He approached me with an eager air, saying "Mr. Student, I have just been informed that you are Senor Gil Blas of Santillane, the ornament of Ovideo and the link of philosophy. Is it indeed possible that you are that most learned of men, that fine wit, whose reputation is so great in this country? You know not," continued he, addressing the innkeeper and his wife, "you know not what you possess! You have a treasure in your house! Behold in this young gentleman the eighth wonder of the world!" Then turning to me, and throwing his (725.) arms around my (727.) neck: “Forgive,” cried he, “my transports! I cannot contain the joy that your presence inspires me with."

I could not answer for some time, because he locked me so close in his arms, that I was almost suffocated for want of breath; and it was not till I had disengaged my head from his embrace, that I replied, "Senor Cavalier, I was not aware that my name was known at Pegnaflor."-" How, known!" resumed he in his former strain; "we keep a register of all the celebrated names within twenty leagues of us. You are considered here as a prodigy; and I do not doubt but Spain will one day be as proud of having produced you, as Greece of having given birth to her seven sages." These words were accompanied with a fresh hug, which I was obliged to endure at the risk of meeting with the fate of Antæus. However slight my experience might have been, I ought not to have been the dupe of his professions and of his hyperbolical compliments; I ought to have known, by his extravagant flattery, that he (732.) was one of those parasites who abound in every town, and who, whenever a stranger arrives, introduce themselves to him, in order to fill their bellies at his expense; but my youth and vanity made me judge quite otherwise. My admirer appeared to me so much of a gentleman, that I invited him to take supper with me. "Ah! most willingly," cried he, "I am too much obliged to my kind stars for having thrown me in the

Antæus, king of Lybia, was the son of Cybele, the Earth. He challenged Hercules, who, at three different times, threw him down. But at every fall, Antæus received assistance from his mother, the Earth, and at last Hercules was obliged to raise him from the ground, and to suffocate him in his arms, before he could conquer him.

way of the illustrious Gil Blas, not to enjoy my good fortune as long as I can. I have no great appetite," pursued he, "but I will sit down to keep you company, and eat a mouthful purely out of complaisance."

So saying, my panegyrist sat down opposite to me. A cover was laid for him. He attacked the omelet as voraciously as if he had fasted for three whole days. By his complaisant beginning, I foresaw that it would soon be despatched. I ordered a second, which they dressed so quickly that it was served (825.) just as we, or rather he, had made an end of the first. He proceeded on this with the same vigour, and found means, without losing a single bite, to overwhelm me with praises, which (759.) made me very well pleased with my sweet self. He drank in proportion to his eating; sometimes to my health, sometimes to that of my father and mother, whose happiness in having such a son as I (668.), he could not enough extol. In the meantime he poured wine into my glass, and excited me to pledge him. I did not ill respond to the toasts which he proposed; which (759.), together with his flattery, put me insensibly into such good humour, that, seeing our second omelet half eaten, asked the landlord if he had no fish in the house. Senor Corcuelo, who, in all likelihood, was in league with the parasite, replied: "I have an excellent trout; but those who will eat it will pay dear for it: it is too dainty a bit for you." "What do you call too dainty ?" said the sycophant, raising his voice; "you do not know what you are saying: be aware that there is nothing (783.) too good in this house for Senor Gil Blas de Santillane, who deserves to be entertained like a prince."

I was pleased at his having taken up the landlord's last words, and in doing this he only anticipated me. I felt offended, and proudly said to Corcuelo: "Bring this trout of yours, and do not trouble yourself about the consequence." This was just what the innkeeper wanted; he got it ready, and lost no time in serving it up. At the sight of this new dish, I perceived the parasite's eyes sparkle with great joy; he showed renewed complaisance-I mean that he attacked the fish as he had done the eggs. However, he was obliged to give over, for fear of accident, for he was crammed to the very throat. At length, having eaten and drank his fill, he thought proper to conclude the farce. "Senor Gil Blas," said he to me, rising from table, "I am too much pleased with your good cheer to leave you without offering you an important advice, which you appear to have occasion for. Henceforth beware of praise. Be on your guard against those persons you do not know. You may meet some others who, like myself, will be inclined to divert themselves with your credulity, and perhaps carry things still farther; do not be their dupe, and do not believe yourself, though they should swear it, the eighth wonder of the world." In concluding these words, he laughed in my face, and disappeared.

I was as much affected by this trick, as I have since been by the greatest misfortunes that have befallen me. I could not get over having allowed myself to be so grossly imposed upon; or, rather, over finding my pride so humbled. "How!" said I to myself, "has the traitor made a jest of me? His only design in accosting my landlord was to pump him, or, rather, they understood each other. Ah! poor Gil Blas, die of shame for having given those rascals an opportunity of turning thee into ridicule. They are going to compose with all this a fine story, which will likely reach Oviedo and do thee a great deal of honour. Thy parents will doubtless repent their having advised such a fool. Instead of exhorting me not to wrong anybody, they ought to have cautioned me against allowing myself to be duped." Agitated by these mortifying reflections, and inflamed with resentment, I locked myself in my chamber, and went to bed; but I could not sleep, and I had not yet closed my (725.) eyes, when the muleteer came to let me know that he only waited for me to start. I straightway got up; and, whilst I was dressing, Corcuelo came in with a bill of the expenses, in which the trout was not forgotten, and I was not only obliged to submit to his exactions, but I had also the mortification, whilst I gave him the money, to see that the unfeeling wretch remembered my adventure. After having dearly paid for a supper which I had so ill digested, I went to the muleteer with my portmanteau, cursing the parasite, the landlord, and the inn.

POETRY.

(PAGE 36.)

THE CROW AND THE FOX. (P. 349.)

Master Crow, perched on a tree, held in his beak a piece of cheese. Master Reynard, allured by the smell, addressed him in nearly the following language. "Ho! good day, sir Crow! How beautiful you are! How handsome you seem to me! Without exaggeration, if your warbling corresponds with your plumage, you are the phoenix of the tenants of these woods." At these words, the crow is beside himself with joy; and, to display his fine voice, opens his large beak, and lets his booty fall. The fox snatches it up, and says, "My good sir, know that every flatterer lives at the expense of the man who listens to him. This lesson is doubtless well worth a piece of cheese." The crow, ashamed and confused, swore, but a little too late, that he would never be taken in again.

THE FROG WHO WISHES TO MAKE HERSELF AS LARGE AS THE OX.

A frog saw an ox that seemed to her of handsome size. She, who was not altogether as large as an egg, enviously stretches and inflates herself, and endeavours to equal the animal in size, saying, "Look well, sister, is this enough? tell me; am I not there yet ?"—" Nay, nay." "Is this it then ?"" Not at all." "Is this ?"-" You are not near it." The poor silly beast inflated herself so strongly that she burst.

The world is full of people who are no wiser. Every citizen wishes to build like the great lords; every petty prince has ambassadors; every marquis wishes to have pages.

THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANT. (P. 38.)

The grasshopper, having chirruped all summer, found herself very destitute when the winter wind came. Not a solitary little bit of fly or grub. She went and cried famine in the house of her neighbour the ant, beseeching her to lend her a grain to live on till the new season. "I shall pay you," said she to her, "before August, by the honour of an animal, interest and principal." The ant is not a lender. In that is its least defect. "What were you doing in the warm weather?" said she to this borrower. "Night and day I sang to every comer, by your leave." "You were singing? I am very glad of it. Well, dance now!"

THE TOWN RAT AND THE COUNTRY RAT.

Once on a time, the town rat invited the country rat in a very polite manner to some scraps of ortolans. On a Turkey carpet the cover was spread; I stop not to think of the life that these two friends led. The entertainment was very genteel; nothing was wanting to the banquet; but some one disturbed the feast as they were enjoying themselves. At the door of the hall they heard a noise; the town rat scampers away, his companion follows him. The noise ceases; the coast is clear; the rats are straightway in the field; and the citizen says, "Let us finish all our roast." "It is enough," said the rustic; "to-morrow you will come to my house. It is not that I pretend to rival all your king-like repasts. But nothing comes to interrupt me. I eat completely at leisure. Adieu, then! Shame on the pleasure that fear can destroy!"

SOUVENIRS OF THE PEOPLE. (P. 39.)

1. Long will his glory be talked of in the cottage. The humble roof in fifty years will know no other story. There the villagers will come to say then to some old woman"Mother, shorten our nights with stories of the olden time. Although he has injured us, it is said the people revere him still; yes, revere him. Speak to us about him, grandmother; speak to us about him."

2. Children, in this village he passed by, followed by kings. "Tis now a long long time since that. I had just begun to keep house. Climbing on foot the little hill, where I had stationed myself to see, he had on a little hat with the grey frock-coat. When near him, I was alarmed. He said to me: "Good day, my dear; good day, my dear."-He has spoken to you, grandmother! he has spoken to you!

3. The year after, I, poor woman, being in Paris one day, saw him with his court. He was going to Notre Dame. All hearts were glad. The people were admiring his train. Every one was saying: "What fine weather! Heaven always favours him." His smile was very sweet. God was making him the father of a son-was making him a father. -What a fine day for you, grandmother! what a fine day for you!

4. But when poor Champagne fell a prey to the foreigners, he, braving all dangers, seemed to keep the field alone. One evening, exactly like to-day, I hear a knock at the door; I open. Good heaven! it was he, followed by a scanty escort. He sat down where I am just now, exclaiming: "Oh! what a war! Oh! what a war!"-He sat down there, grandmother! he sat down there!

5. I am hungry, he says; and with all speed I serve up piquettef and brown bread. Then he dries his clothes. The fire invites him even to sleep. On awakening, seeing my tears, he says to me: "Be of good cheer, I run to avenge France for all her misfortunes under the walls of Paris." He sets out, and I have since then kept his glass as a treasure; kept his glass.-You have it still, grandmother! you have it still!

6. This is it. But the hero was drawn on to his ruin. He whom a pope crowned is dead in a desert island. For a long time no one believed it. People said: "He will soon appear, he has escaped by sea; the stranger will soon see his master.' When we were drawn from our delusion, my grief was very bitter—was very bitter.—God will bless you, grandmother! God will bless you!

↑ Wine made of the residue of grapes.

TRANSLATION

OF

ALL THE FRENCH ILLUSTRATIONS

GIVEN THROUGHOUT THE WORK,

AND INTENDED TO BE TURNED AGAIN INTO FRENCH BY THE PUPILS,

PREPARATORY TO THEIR WRITING THE EXERCISES.

(SEE P. 55.)

"The attempt to compose or write exercises in a language before being at all versed in its general construction, is like endeavouring to copy without a model, and is an undertaking which fatigues the mind without producing any equivalent success. Imitation is natural to us, and is a task easy and agreeable; but we cannot imitate that which has not been in some shape presented to us, and to a certain extent become familiar to the mind."-(C.-J. DELILLE.)

CHAPTER I.
THE ARTICLE. (P. 55.)

I.-P. 55.-1. The father loves the son. sons and the daughters respect the fathers. are mortal. 6. (The) bread is good. 7. bread. 9. My brother has the newspaper. II.-P. 55.-1. (The) gold and (the) silver are precious. (85.) 2. (The) spring, (the) summer, (the) autumn, and (the) winter, are the four seasons of the year. 3. Bring my sister's parasol. (35.) 4. My father's partner is gone to Paris. 5. Albert's bird sings very well. 6. Do you like (like you) (the) winter? 7. Do you know (know you) (the) Hindustani? 8. The swallow is a bird. 9. We study the article. 10. Do you know the hour? III.-P. 56.-1. I speak of the treasure. 2. Have you spoken to the traveller? 3. Do you hear (hear you) the warbling of the bird? 4. This is the watchmaker's tool. 5. We speak of the ferocity (85.) of the hyena. 6. The king of France was speaking to the ambassador. 7. (The) French is easy at the beginning. 8. We are-going to the hamlet. 9. We drink to the health of the queen. 10. These are the hats of the gentlemen. Give me a knife and (a) fork. 12. The two travellers come from a very pretty town. 13. (The) geography is a (the) description (84) of the earth. 14. (The) tea comes from (the) China. 15. He learnt from the shepherd that his parents (his father and his mother) were in a neighbouring village. 16. Mary's relations are very wealthy. 17. The doors and the windows of the houses are shut. 18. This-is Charles' cap. 19. That-is Caroline's parasol‡ 20. We are-studying the principles of the French (119.) language.

2. The mother cherishes the daughter. 3. The 4. (The) friends are rare. (36.) 5. (The) men (The) meat is good. 8. We like (the) good 10. (The) France is large.

11.

IV.-P. 58.-1. I have some bread. 2. Thou hast some meat. 3. He has some money. 4. She has friends. 5. My uncle has gardens and houses. 6. We have French

+ MONSIEUR (pl. MESSIEURS) is the usual translation for "gentleman:"-1. Un monsieur dans la rue, a gentleman in the street. 2. Monsieur ne dit pas cela, this gentleman (present) does not say that. 3. Le domestique répondit, Monsieur est sorti, my master is out. (Read also No. 57. and No. 544.) MONSIEUR in superscriptions is often used twice; it is then equivalent to the English Esquire. GENTILHOMME means a "noble," a "man of title."

PARASOL, m. (petit pavillon portatif qui garantit du soleil.-BorSTE.) is now nearly obsolete, except in speaking of the large parasols used in warm countries. The modern term is OMBRELLE, f., not to be confounded with PARAPLUIE, m., "umbrella."