按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
his sentiments； recommended me to Eutropius as very proper to
execute some wicked purposes he had contrived against my frend
Timasius。 The minister embraced this recommendation； and I was
accordingly acquainted by Lucilius （after some previous accounts
of the great esteem Eutropius entertained of me； from the
testimony he had borne of my parts） that he would introduce me to
him； adding that he was a great encourager of merit； and that I
might depend upon his favor。
〃I was with little difficulty prevailed on to accept of this
invitation。 A late hour therefore the next evening being
appointed； I attended my friend Lucilius to the minister's house。
He received me with the utmost civility and cheerfulness； and
affected so much regard to me； that I； who knew nothing of these
high scenes of life； concluded I had in him a most disinterested
friend； owing to the favorable report which Lucilius had made of
me。 I was however soon cured of this opinion； for immediately
after supper our discourse turned on the injustice which the
generality of the world were guilty of in their conduct to great
men； expecting that they should reward their private merit；
without ever endeavoring to apply it to their use。 'What avail；'
said Eutropius； 'the learning； wit； courage； or any virtue which
a man may be possessed of； to me； unless I receive some benefit
from them？ Hath he not more merit to me who doth my business and
obeys my commands； without any of these qualities？' I gave such
entire satisfaction in my answers on this head； that both the
minister and his creature grew bolder； and after some preface
began to accuse Timasius。 At last； finding I did not attempt to
defend him； Lucilius swore a great oath that he was not fit to
live； and that he would destroy him。 Eutropius answered that it
would be too dangerous a task： 'Indeed；' says he； 'his crimes
are of so black a dye； and so well known to the emperor； that his
death must be a very acceptable service； and could not fail
meeting a proper reward： but I question whether you are capable
of executing it。' 'If he is not；' cried I； 'I am； and surely no
man can have greater motives to destroy him than myself： for；
besides his disloyalty to my prince； for whom I have so perfect a
duty； I have private disobligations to him。 I have had fellows
put over my head； to the great scandal of the service in general；
and to my own prejudice and disappointment in particular。' I
will not repeat you my whole speech； but； to be as concise as
possible； when we parted that evening the minister squeezed me
heartily by the hand； and with great commendation of my honesty
and assurances of his favor； he appointed me the next evening to
come to him alone； when； finding me； after a little more
scrutiny； ready for his purpose； he proposed to me to accuse
Timasius of high treason； promising me the highest rewards if I
would undertake it。 The consequence to him； I suppose you know；
was ruin； but what was it to me？ Why； truly； when I waited on
Eutropius for the fulfilling his promises； received me with great
distance and coldness； and； on my dropping some hints of my
expectations from him； he affected not to understand me； saying
he thought impunity was the utmost I could hope for on
discovering my accomplice； whose offense was only greater than
mine； as he was in a higher station； and telling me he had great
difficulty to obtain a pardon for me from the emperor； which he
said； he had struggled very hardly for； as he had worked the
discovery out of me。 He turned away； and addressed himself to
another person。
〃I was so incensed at this treatment； that I resolved revenge；
and should certainly have pursued it； had he not cautiously
prevented me by taking effectual means to despatch me soon after
out of the world。
〃You will； I believe； now think I had a second good chance for
the bottomless pit； and indeed Minos seemed inclined to tumble me
in； till he was informed of the revenge taken on me by Roderic；
and my seven years' subsequent servitude to the widow； which he
thought sufficient to make atonement for all the crimes a single
life could admit of； and so sent me back to try my fortune a
third time。〃
CHAPTER XI
In which Julian relates his adventures in the character of an
avaricious Jew。
〃The next character in which I was destined to appear in the
flesh was that of an avaricious Jew。 I was born in Alexandria in
Egypt。 My name was Balthazar。 Nothing very remarkable happened
to me till the year of the memorable tumult in which the Jews of
that city are reported in history to have massacred more
Christians than at that time dwelt in it。 Indeed； the truth is；
they did maul the dogs pretty handsomely； but I myself was not
present； for as all our people were ordered to be armed； I took
that opportunity of selling two swords； which probably I might
otherwise never have disposed of； they being extremely old and
rusty； so that； having no weapon left； I did not care to venture
abroad。 Besides； though I really thought it an act meriting
salvation to murder the Nazarenes； as the fact was to be
committed at midnight； at which time； to avoid suspicion； we were
all to sally from our own houses； I could not persuade myself to
consume so much oil in sitting up to that hour： for these
reasons therefore I remained at home that evening。
〃I was at this time greatly enamored with one Hypatia； the
daughter of a philosopher； a young lady of the greatest beauty
and merit： indeed； she had every imaginable ornament both of
mind and body。 She seemed not to dislike my person； but there
were two obstructions to our marriage； viz。； my religion and her
poverty： both which might probably have been got over； had not
those dogs the Christians murdered her； and； what is worse；
afterwards burned her body： worse； I say； because I lost by that
means a jewel of some value； which I had presented to her；
designing； if our nuptials did not take place； to demand it of
her back again。
〃Being thus disappointed in my love； I soon after left Alexandria
and went to the imperial city； where I apprehended I should find
a good market for jewels on the approaching marriage of the
emperor with Athenais。 I disguised myself as a beggar on this
journey； for these reasons： first； as I imagined I should thus
carry my jewels with greater safety； and； secondly； to lessen my
expenses； which latter expedient succeeded so well； that I begged
two oboli on my way more than my traveling cost me； my diet being
chiefly roots； and my drink water。
〃But perhaps； it had been better for me if I had been more lavish
and more expeditious； for the ceremony was over before I reached
Constantinople； so that I lost that glorious opportunity of
disposing of my jewels with which many of our people were greatly
enriched。
〃The life of a miser is very little worth relating； as it is one
constant scheme of getting or saving money。 I shall therefore
repeat to you some few only of my adventures； without regard to
any order。
〃A Roman Jew； who was a great lover of Falernian wine； and who
indulged himself very freely with it； came to dine at my house；
when； knowing he should meet with little wine； and that of the
cheaper sort； sent me in half…a…dozen jars of Falernian。 Can you
believe I would not give this man his own wine？ Sir； I
adulterated it so that I made six jars of ＇them＇ three； which he
and his friend drank； the other three I afterwards sold to the
very person who originally sent them me； knowing he would give a
better price than any other。
〃A noble Roman came one day to my house in the country； which I
had purchased； for half the value； of a distressed person。 My
neighbors paid him the compliment of some music； on which
account； when he departed； he left a piece of gold with me to be
distributed among them。 I pocketed this money； and ordered them
a small vessel of sour wine； which I could not have sold for
above two drachms； and afterwards made them pay in work three
times the value of it。
〃As I was not entirely void of religion； though I pretended to
infinitely more than I had； so I endeavored to reconcile my
transactions to my conscience as well as possible。 Thus I never
invited any one to eat with me； but those on whose pockets I had
some design。 After our collation it was constantly my method to
set down in a book I kept for that purpose； what I thought they
owed me for their meal。 Indeed； this was generally a hundred
times as much as they could have dined elsewhere for； but；
however； it was quid pro quo； if not ad valorem。 Now； whenever
the opportunity offered of imposing on them I considered it only
as paying myself what they owed me： indeed； I did not always
confine myself strictly to what I had set down； however
extravagant that was； but I reconciled taking the overplus to
mys