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grave and wise friend what was proper to be done； whether I
should go myself； or employ a notary on this occasion； and defer
my journey to the spring。 To say the truth； I was most inclined
to the latter； the rather as my circumstances were extremely
flourishing； as I was advanced in years； and had not one person
in the world to whom I should with pleasure bequeath any fortune
at my death。
〃My friend told me he thought my question admitted of no manner
of doubt or debate； that common prudence absolutely required my
immediate departure； adding； that if the same good luck had
happened to him he would have been already on his journey； 'for；'
continued he； 'a man who knows the world so well as you； would be
inexcusable to give persons such an opportunity of cheating you；
who； you must be assured； will be too well inclined； and as for
employing a notary； remember that excellent maxim； Ne facias per
alium； quod fieri potest per te。 I own the badness of the season
and your very late recovery are unlucky circumstances； but a wise
man must get over difficulties when necessity obliges him to
encounter them。'
〃I was immediately determined by this opinion。 The duty of a
wise man made an irresistible impression； and I took the
necessity for granted without examination。 I accordingly set
forward the next morning； very tempestuous weather soon overtook
me； I had not traveled three days before I relapsed into my
fever； and died。
〃I was now as cruelly disappointed by Minos as I had formerly
been happily so。 I advanced with the utmost confidence to the
gate； and really imagined I should have been admitted by the
wisdom of my countenance； even without any questions asked： but
this was not my case； and； to my great surprise； Minos； with a
menacing voice； called out to me； 'You Mr。 there； with the grave
countenance； whither so fast； pray？ Will you please； before you
move any farther forwards； to give me a short account of your
transactions below？' I then began； and recounted to him my whole
history； still expecting at the end of every period that the gate
would be ordered to fly open； but I was obliged to go quite
through with it； and then Minos after some little consideration
spoke to me as follows：
〃 'You； Mr。 Wiseman； stand forth if you please。 Believe me； sir；
a trip back again to earth will be one of the wisest steps you
ever took； and really more to the honor of your wisdom than any
you have hitherto taken。 On the other side； nothing could be
simpler than to endeavor at Elysium； for who but a fool would
carry a commodity； which is of such infinite value in one place；
into another where it is of none？ But； without attempting to
offend your gravity with a jest； you must return to the place
from whence you came； for Elysium was never designed for those
who are too wise to be happy。'
〃This sentence confounded me greatly； especially as it seemed to
threaten me with carrying my wisdom back again to earth。 I told
the judge； though he would not admit me at the gate； I hoped I
had committed no crime while alive which merited my being wise
any longer。 He answered me； I must take my chance as to that
matter； and immediately we turned our backs to each other。〃
CHAPTER XVII
Julian enters into the person of a king。
〃I was now born at Oviedo in Spain。 My father's name was
Veremond； and I was adopted by my uncle king Alphonso the chaste。
I don't recollect in all the pilgrimages I have made on earth
that I ever passed a more miserable infancy than now； being under
the utmost confinement and restraint； and surrounded with
physicians who were ever dosing me； and tutors who were
continually plaguing me with their instructions； even those hours
of leisure which my inclination would have spent in play were
allotted to tedious pomp and ceremony； which； at an age wherein I
had no ambition to enjoy the servility of courtiers； enslaved me
more than it could the meanest of them。 However； as I advanced
towards manhood； my condition made me some amends； for the most
beautiful women of their own accord threw out lures for me； and I
had the happiness； which no man in an inferior degree can arrive
at； of enjoying the most delicious creatures； without the
previous and tiresome ceremonies of courtship； unless with the
most simple； young and unexperienced。 As for the court ladies；
they regarded me rather as men do the most lovely of the other
sex； and； though they outwardly retained some appearance of
modesty； they in reality rather considered themselves as
receiving than conferring favors。
〃Another happiness I enjoyed was in conferring favors of another
sort； for； as I was extremely good…natured and generous； so I had
daily opportunities of satisfying those passions。 Besides my own
princely allowance； which was very bountiful； and with which I
did many liberal and good actions； I recommended numberless
persons of merit in distress to the king's notice； most of whom
were provided for。 Indeed； had I sufficiently known my blessed
situation at this time； I should have grieved at nothing more
than the death of Alphonso； by which the burden of government
devolved upon me； but； so blindly fond is ambition； and such
charms doth it fancy in the power and pomp and splendor of a
crown； that； though I vehemently loved that king； and had the
greatest obligations to him； the thoughts of succeeding him
obliterated my regret at his loss； and the wish for my
approaching coronation dried my eyes at his funeral。
〃But my fondness for the name of king did not make me forgetful
of those over whom I was to reign。 I considered them in the
light in which a tender father regards his children； as persons
whose wellbeing God had intrusted to my care； and again； in that
in which a prudent lord respects his tenants； as those on whose
wealth and grandeur he is to build his own。 Both these
considerations inspired me with the greatest care for their
welfare； and their good was my first and ultimate concern。
〃The usurper Mauregas had impiously obliged himself and his
successors to pay to the Moors every year an infamous tribute of
an hundred young virgins： from this cruel and scandalous
imposition I resolved to relieve my country。 Accordingly； when
their emperor Abderames the second had the audaciousness to make
this demand of me； instead of complying with it I ordered his
ambassadors to be driven away with all imaginable ignominy； and
would have condemned them to death； could I have done it without
a manifest violation of the law of nations。
〃I now raised an immense army； at the levying of which I made a
speech from my throne； acquainting my subjects with the necessity
and the reasons of the war in which I was going to engage： which
I convinced them I had undertaken for their ease and safety； and
not for satisfying any wanton ambition； or revenging any private
pique of my own。 They all declared unanimously that they would
venture their lives and everything dear to them in my defense；
and in the support of the honor of my crown。 Accordingly； my
levies were instantly complete； sufficient numbers being only
left to till the land； churchmen； even bishops themselves；
enlisting themselves under my banners。
〃The armies met at Alvelda； where we were discomfited with
immense loss； and nothing but the lucky intervention of the night
could have saved our whole army。
〃I retreated to the summit of a hill； where I abandoned myself to
the highest agonies of grief； not so much for the danger in which
I then saw my crown； as for the loss of those miserable wretches
who had exposed their lives at my command。 I could not then
avoid this reflectionthat； if the deaths of these people in a
war undertaken absolutely for their protection could give me such
concern； what horror must I have felt if； like princes greedy of
dominion； I had sacrificed such numbers to my own pride； vanity；
and ridiculous lust of power。
〃After having vented my sorrows for some time in this manner； I
began to consider by what means I might possibly endeavor to
retrieve this misfortune； when； reflecting on the great number of
priests I had in my army； and on the prodigious force of
superstition； a thought luckily suggested itself to me； to
counterfeit that St。 James had appeared to me in a vision； and
had promised me the victory。 While I was ruminating on this the
bishop of Najara came opportunely to me。 As I did not intend to
communicate the secret to him； I took another method； and；
instead of answering anything the bishop said to me； I pretended
to talk to St。 James； as if he had been really present； till at
length； after having spoke those things which I thought
sufficient； and thanked the saint aloud for his promise of the
victory； I turned about to the bishop； and； embracing him with a
pleased countenance； protested I did not know