Languages & literature > Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane > Volume 1

GIL BLAS. *47
it, rejoiced at having a \vife of fuch a rare
lai Hcter, told me that his fpoufe was a p:odigy
:r'virtue; and perceiving ihe put on her veil,
tl prepared to go to na-fs, bade me conduft
r to church. vVe were no fooner in the ilreet
tan we met (which is not all extraordinary) fe-
dral gentlemen, who, ftruck with the fine air of
tmna Mergellina, paid her a great many com-
, iments en p.'iJJ'cnt. She replied to them all;
jit you cannot imagine how tiiiy and ridiculous
• i ;r anfwers were, livery body was aftoniihed,
• fi id could not conceive that there was a woman
;jii the world who could be difpleafed with praiie.
f: Madam, (t’aidi to her) take no notice of want
.jk laid to you; it is better to keep filence, than
^ fpeak in pallion.” “No no, (anfwered Ihe)
, will let thole infolent fellows know that I
ron’t be treated with difrelpecd.” “ In ihort,
j much impertinence efcaped her, that I coUlJ
. ,ot help telling her my fentiments, at the na-
ard of her difpleafure. 1 reprefented to her, as
..(•itcately as 1 could, that ihe perverted nature,
and fpoiled a thoufand good qualities by her ia-
*hge humour; that a woman of politenefs and
.good-nature might infpire love witnout the help
pf beauty; whereas, the handtomeft perfon in
- 'he world, without meeknels and good-breeding,
would become the object of contempt. I
.r,! lengthened thefe arguments with many more
3of the fame kind, calculated for the reformation
| ot her behaviour ; and after having moralized a
t good deal, 1 was afraid that my freedom would
, enrage my miitrefs, and bring upon me fome
Tevere repartee; neverthelefs, ihe did not rebel
jRgaintt my remonltrance, but contented herfelf
with neglecting it entirely, as well as all tiie red
ijifiat i was afterwards foolilh enough to make.”
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