Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 4

O F G 1 "L B L A S.
*3
ofhcr, drew near his exit. Though he was enviro¬
ned by the fhades of death, his fenl'es had not quite
(forfaken him. “ My dear friend, (faid my mother
“ to him), here is your fon Gil Bias, who begs your
“ fbrgivenefs for the fbrrows he has occafioned, and
“ afks your bleffing.” At thefe words, my father
Iening his eyes, which death had begun to clofe,
ed them upon me; and obferving, in fpite of his
m lamentable condition, that I was very much
Fe&ed with the lofs of him, teemed moved at my
ief, and attempted to fpeak, but had not ftrcngrfi
lough to utter one word. J took hold of one of his
mds; and while I bathed it with my tears, unable
i pronounce a fyllable, he expired, as if he had
aited for my arrival, before lie would breathe hit
ft.
My mother was too well preparea for 'his death,
) be immoderately afflidted at it; and I was per-
aps more grieved than the, although my father had
never given me the lead mark of friendfliip in his
|life. My being his fon was a fufftcient cau-fe for me
*o lament him ; befides, I upbraided myfelf for not
( having affifted him in his diftrefs : and when I re-
fledtcd on my hard-heartednels, looked upon myfelf
as'a monfter of ingratitude, or rather as a downright
parricide. My uncle, whom I afterwards behdd
ftretched on a truckle-bed, and in a miferable con-
; dition, made me feel freflr remorfe. “ Unnatural
fon! (faid 1 to myfelf), contemplate, for thy pu-
“ nilhment, the mifery of thy parents. If thou
i“ hadft given them a fmall fhare of the fuperfluity
! • “ which was in thy pofieffion before thou waft im-
j s“, prilbned, they would have eifjbyed eonveniencies
“ which the revenue of the prebendcould-not afford;