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

O F GIL R.L A S. 31
f‘ bines, near the Tyber, and which he received in a
“ prefent from Maecenas.” “ Then I muft expedt
“ to fee a cottage!” (cried Scipio.) “ Remember,
“ (I replied) that I have always given you a very
“ modeft defeription of it; and this moment thou
“ mayeft thyfelf judge whether or not I am a faith*
“ ful painter. Calt thy eyes towards the Guadala-
“ viar, and obferve on its banks, hard by that fmall
“ hamlet, the houfe confifling of four little pavilions ;
“ that is my caftle.” “ How the devil! (faid my
“ fecretary, with furprife) that houfe is a perfedk
•‘jewel! Befides the noble air that thefe pavilions
“ give it, it is extremely well built, and furreunded
“ by a more charming country than even the neigh-
“ bourhood of Seville, which is called, by way of
“ excellence. The terreftrial Paradife. Had we cho-
“ fen our abode, it could not have been more to my
“ tafte; a river waters it with its ftream, and a thick
“ wood lends its fliade, when we are inclined to
“ walk in the middle of the day. What an amiable
V folitude this is! Ah, my dear mafter, in all ap-
“ pearance, we fhall not quit this place in a hurry.”
“ I am overjoyed, (anfwered I) that thou art fo well
“ fatisfied with our afylum, which is more agreeable
“ ftill than you imagine.” Converfing in this man*
ner, we approached the houfe; the gate of which was
thrown open, as foon as Scipio lignified that it was
Signior Gil Bias de Santillane, who came to take pof-
felfion of his caftle. At that name, fo refpetfted by
thole who heard it pronounced, my chaife was ad¬
mitted into a large court, where I alighted : then
leaning on Scipio, and taking ftate upon myfelf, I
went into a hall, where I was fcarce arrived, when
feven or eight fervants appeared. They faid they