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

THE ADVENTURES
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lion vomited out great gufties of water, the beauty
of the flowers, the variety of fruits, all thefe objeift*
raviflied Scipio; but he was in a particular manner
enchanted with a long walk that led by a gentle de-
fcent all the way to a farmer’s houfe, and was (haded
by the interwoven boughs of the trees planted on
each fide. Here we flopped to make the elogium of
a place fo proper for an afylum againfl the heat of »
the day; and fitting down at the root of a young
elm, fleep eafily furprifed two merry boys, who had
juft made (uch a good dinner.
Two hours after we darted up, awakened by thfc
noife of feveral (hot, which leemed To near that we
were frightened. We got up in a hurry, and repair*
ed to the farmer’s houfe, where .we found eight or
ten peafants, all inhabitants of the hamlet, who had
fcoured and fired their fufils to celebrate my arrival,
of which they had got notice. The greateft part of _
them knew me, having feen me more than once at
the caftle, in the exercife of my ftewardfhip. They
so fqoner perceived me, than they cried all togej
ther, “ ItOjng life to our new mafter, who is welcome
“ to Lirias.” Then they loaded their pieces, and
regaled me with a general difcharge. I received
them as courteoully as I could ; preferving my gra¬
vity however, thinking it improper to be too fami¬
liar with them. I allured them of my. proteiftion,
left twenty piftoles among them; and this, I believe,
they did not look upon as the moft difagreeable part
Of my behaviour. I afterwards left them at liberty
to fpend more powder, and retired with my fecre.-
tary into the wood, where we drolled about till
night, without being tired with beholding the groves;
fo charming is.ths firfl view of a new poffeilioa.