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

3o
THE ADVENTURES
concerned approved of the propofal : I paid the firft
gear’s annuity per advance, and quitted Oviedo next
morning before break of day, that 1 might not be
treated by the populace like another St Stephen-
Such was the reception I met with in my own coun¬
try. An excellent leflbn for thofe people of the com¬
mon rank, who, after having got a fortune abroad,
return to the place of their nativity, and afl'tiit the
gentleman of importance.
CHAP. III.
Gil Bias departs for the kingdom of Valencia, and at
length arrives at Lirias. A defr'tpiian of his hovfe.
His reception ; -with an account of the people be found
there.
"VV E took the road to Leon, then to Valencia; and
* 1 continuing our journey, by fliort flages, in ten
days arrived at the city of Segorba* from whence,
next morning, we repaired to my eftate, which is
but three leagues diftant from it. As we drew near
this place, my fecretary obferved, with great atten¬
tion, all the country-feats that pre/eutcd themfelves
to his view, on the right and left; and when he per¬
ceived one of a grand appearance, he always pointed
to it with his finger, and faid, “ I wifli that was our
“ retreat.” “ I don’t know, friend, (faid I to him)
“what idea thou haft formed of our habitation; but
“ if you imagine that it is a magnificent houfe, like
“ that on fome great nobleman’s eftate, I tell you
“ bcfore-hand, that you are furioufly miftaken. If
“ thou haft not a mind to be the dupe of thy own
“ imagination, reprefent to thyfelf the fmall houfe
which Horace enjoyed in the country of the Sa-