THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS OF SANTILLANE By Alain-René Lesage

525 Pages·2009·2.08 MB·English

THE ADVENTURES OF GIL BLAS OF
SANTILLANE
By
Alain-René Lesage
Translated from the French
By
Tobias Smollett
Published by the Ex-classics Project, 2009
http://www.exclassics.com
Public Domain
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ALAIN-RENÉ LESAGE
CONTENTS
BibliographicNote and Acknowlegdements.................................................................9
TheAuthor's Declaration.............................................................................................10
Gil Blas totheReader..................................................................................................11
IntroductionbyWm.MortonFullerton.......................................................................12
HISTORY OFGILBLAS OFSANTILLANE.
BOOKTHEFIRST.
CH. I. --Thebirth andeducationofGil Blas..............................................................22
CH. II--Gil Blas'alarm onhis roadtoPegnaflor; his adventures onhis arrival inthat
town; andthecharacterofthemenwithwhom he supped..........................................24
CH III.-- Themuleteer's temptationontheroad; its consequences, andthesituationof
Gil Blas betweenScylla andCharybdis.......................................................................29
CH IV. --Descriptionof thesubterraneous dwellingandits contents........................31
CHV.--The arrival ofthebanditti inthesubterraneous retreat,withanaccount of
theirpleasant conversation...........................................................................................33
CHVI. --Theattempt of Gil Blas toescape,andits success......................................37
CHVII.-- Gil Blas, not beingabletodowhat he likes, does what hecan.................39
CHVIII.--Gil Blas goes out withthegang, andperforms an exploit onthe
highway.......................................................................................................................40
CH. IX. --Amoreserious incident..............................................................................42
CH.X.--Thelady's treatment from therobbers. Theevent ofthe great design,
conceivedbyGil Blas..................................................................................................44
CH.XI--Thehistoryof DonnaMenciadeMosquera................................................47
CH.XII.-- Adisagreeableinterruption.......................................................................51
CH.XIII.--Theluckymeans bywhichGil Blas escapedfrom prison, and his travels
afterwards.....................................................................................................................53
CH.XIV.-- DonnaMencia's receptionofhim at Burgos...........................................55
CH.XV.--Gil Blas dresses himselftomoreadvantage,andreceives asecondpresent
from thelady.His equipageonsettingout from Burgos.............................................57
CH.XVI.--Showingthat prosperitywill slipthroughaman's fingers......................60
CH.XVII.--Themeasures Gil Blas tookafterthe adventureoftheready-furnished
lodging.........................................................................................................................64
BOOKTHESECOND.
CH. I. --Fabriciointroduces Gil Blas tothe LicentiateSédillo,andprocures him a
reception.Thedomestic economyofthat clergyman.Pictureofhis housekeeper......69
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GILBLAS
CH. II.--Thecanon's illness; his treatment; theconsequence; thelegacyto
Gil Blas........................................................................................................................73
CH. III.-- Gil Blas enters intoDoctorSangrado's service, andbecomes afamous
practitioner...................................................................................................................76
CH. IV. --Gil Blas goes onpractisingphysic withequal success andability.
Adventureoftherecoveredring..................................................................................80
CH.V.--Sequel ofthe foregoingadventure.Gil Blas retires from practice,andfrom
theneighbourhoodofValladolid.................................................................................85
CH.VI. --His route from Valladolid,withadescriptionofhis fellow-traveller........89
CH.VII.--Thejourneymanbarber's story..................................................................91
CH.VIII.--ThemeetingofGil Blas andhis companionwithamansoakingcrusts of
breadat aspring,andthe particulars oftheirconversation.......................................103
CH. IX. --ThemeetingofDiegowithhis family; theircircumstances inlife; great
rejoicings ontheoccasion; thepartingscenebetweenhim andGil Blas..................105
BOOKTHETHIRD
CH. I. --The arrival ofGil Blas at Madrid.His first placethere...............................108
CH. II.--Theastonishment ofGil Blas at meetingCaptainRolandoinMadrid,and
that robber's curious narrative....................................................................................112
CH. III-- Gil Blas is dismissedbyDon BernarddeCastil Blazo,andenters intothe
serviceof abeau.........................................................................................................115
CH. IV. --Gil Blas gets intocompanywithhis fellows; theyshewhim areadyroadto
thereputationofwit,and imposeonhim asingularoath..........................................120
CH.V.--Gil Blas becomes thedarlingofthefairsex,andmakes aninteresting
acquaintance...............................................................................................................124
CH.VI. --ThePrince's companyofcomedians........................................................129
CH.VII.-- HistoryofDonPompeyodeCastro........................................................132
CH.VIII.--Anaccident, inconsequenceofwhich Gil Blas was obligedtolookout
foranotherplace........................................................................................................136
CH. IX. --Anewservice,afterthedeathofDon Matthias deSilva.........................139
CH.X.--Muchsuch anotheras theforegoing..........................................................141
CH.XI. --Atheatrical lifeandan author's life..........................................................144
CH.XII.-- Gil Blas acquires arelish forthetheatre,andtakes afull swingofits
pleasures, but soon becomes disgusted......................................................................147
BOOKTHEFOURTH
CH. I. --Gil Blas not beingabletoreconcilehimselftothemorals ofthe actresses,
quits Arsenia,and gets intoamorereputableservice................................................149
CH. II.--Aurora's receptionofGil Blas. Their conversation...................................152
CH. III.-- A great changeat DonVincent's. Aurora's strange resolution.................154
CH. IV. --TheFatal Marriage; aNovel.....................................................................157
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CH.V.--Thebehaviour ofAuroradeGuzmanon herarrival at Salamanca...........173
CH.VI. --Aurora's devices tosecure Don Lewis Pacheco's affections....................178
CH.VII-- Gil Blas leaves his placeand goes into theserviceofDonGonzales
Pacheco......................................................................................................................184
CH.VIII.--TheMarchioness ofChaves: her character,andthat ofher company...191
CH. IX. --Anincident that partedGil Blas andthe Marchioness ofChaves. The
subsequent destinationof theformer.........................................................................194
CH.X.--Thehistoryof DonAlphonso andthefairSeraphina................................197
CH.XI. --Theoldhermit turns out anextraordinarygenius, andGil Blas finds
himselfamonghis formeracquaintance....................................................................205
BOOKTHEFIFTH.
CH. I. --HistoryofDon Raphael...............................................................................208
CH. II--DonRaphael's consultationwithhis company, andtheiradventures as they
werepreparingtoleavethewood..............................................................................249
BOOKTHESIXTH.
CH. I. --The fateofGil Blas andhis Companions aftertheytookleaveoftheCount
dePolan.OneofAmbrose's notablecontrivances set offbythemannerofits
execution....................................................................................................................252
CH. II--ThedeterminationofDonAlphonso and Gil Blas afterthis adventure......258
CH. III.-- Anunfortunateoccurrence,whichterminatedtothehighdelight ofDon
Alphonso. Gil Blas meets withanadventure whichplaces him all at onceinavery
superiorsituation........................................................................................................260
BOOKTHESEVENTH.
CH. I. --Thetender attachment betweenGil Blas andDame LorenzaSephora.......262
CH. II.--What happened toGil Blas afterhis retreat from thecastleof Leyva;
shewingthat thosewhoarecrossedinlovearenot always themost miserableof
mankind......................................................................................................................268
CH. III.-- Gil Blas becomes theArchbishop's favourite,andthechannel of all his
favours........................................................................................................................272
CH. IV. --TheArchbishopis afflictedwithastrokeofapoplexy. HowGil Blas gets
intoadilemma,andhow hegets out..........................................................................276
CH.V.--The coursewhichGil Blas tookafterthe archbishop had givenhim his
dismissal.His accidental meetingwiththelicentiatewhowas so deeplyinhis debt,
andapictureof gratitude intheperson ofaparson...................................................279
CH.VI. --Gil Blas goes totheplayat Grenada.His surpriseat seeingone ofthe
actresses, andwhat happenedthereupon...................................................................282
CH.VII.-- Laura's Story............................................................................................286
CH.VIII.--ThereceptionofGil Blas amongthe players at Grenada; andanotherold
acquaintancepickedupinthegreen-room...............................................................295
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GILBLAS
CH. IX. --An extraordinarycompanionat supper; andanaccount oftheir
conversation...............................................................................................................297
CH.X.--TheMarquis deMarialva gives acommissiontoGil Blas. That faithful
secretaryacquits himselfofit as shall berelated.......................................................299
CH.XI. --Athunderbolt toGil Blas.........................................................................301
CH.XII.-- Gil Blas takes lodgings inaready-furnishedhouse.He gets acquainted
withCaptainChinchilla.That officer's characterandbusiness at Madrid................303
CH.XIII.--Gil Blas comes across his dearfriendFabricio at court.Great ecstacyon
bothsides. Theyadjourn together,andcomparenotes; but theirconversationis too
curious tobeanticipated............................................................................................308
CH.XIV.-- Fabriciofinds asituationforGil Blas intheestablishment ofCount
Galiano,aSiciliannobleman.....................................................................................314
CH.XV.--The employment ofGil Blas inDon Galiano's household.....................317
CH.XVI.-- Anaccident happens totheCount de Galiano's monkey; his lordship's
afflictiononthat occasion.Theillness ofGil Blas,andits consequences................321
BOOKTHEEIGHTH
CH. I. --Gil Blas scrapes anacquaintanceofsome value,andfinds wherewithal to
makehim amends forthe Count deGaliano's ingratitude.DonValeriode Luna's
story............................................................................................................................326
CH. II.--Gil Blas is introducedtotheDukeof Lerma,whoadmits him amongthe
numberofhis secretaries, andrequires aspecimen ofhis talents, withwhichheis well
satisfied......................................................................................................................330
CH. III.-- All is not gold that glitters. Someuneasiness resultingfrom thediscovery
ofthat principleinphilosophy,andits practical applicationtoexistingcircumstances.
....................................................................................................................................333
CH. IV. --Gil Blas becomes afavourite withtheDukeof Lerma,andthe confidant of
animportant secret.....................................................................................................336
CH.V.--Thejoys, thehonours, andthemiseries ofacourt life,inthepersonofGil
Blas............................................................................................................................338
CH.VI. --Gil Blas gives theDukeof Lermaahint ofhis wretched condition.That
ministerdeals withhim accordingly..........................................................................341
CH.VII.-- A gooduse madeofthefifteenhundredducats. Afirst introductiontothe
tradeofoffice, andan account oftheprofit accruingtherefrom...............................344
CH.VIII.--HistoryofDonRogerdeRada..............................................................346
CH. IX. --Gil Blas makes alargefortuneinashort time,andbehaves likeother
wealthyupstarts.........................................................................................................351
CH.X.--Themorals of Gil Blas becomeat court muchas iftheyhadneverbeenat
all.Acommissionfrom theCount de Lemos, which,likemost court commissions,
implies anintrigue......................................................................................................355
CH.XI. --ThePrinceof Spain's secret visit,andpresents toCatalina.....................359
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ALAIN-RENÉ LESAGE
CH.XII.--Catalina's real conditionaworryand alarm toGil Blas. His precautions
forhis owneaseandquiet..........................................................................................361
CH.XIII.--Gil Blas goes onpersonatingthe great man.Hehears news of his family:
atouchofnatureontheoccasion.A grandquarrel withFabricio.............................363
BOOKTHENINTH
CH. I. --Scipio's scheme ofmarriageforGil Blas. Thematch,a rich goldsmith's
daughter.Circumstances connected withthis speculation.........................................366
CH. II.-- Intheprogress ofpolitical vacancies, Gil Blas recollects that thereis sucha
manintheworldas Don Alphonso de Leyva; and renders him aservice from motives
ofvanity.....................................................................................................................369
CH. III.--Preparations forthemarriageofGil Blas. Aspokeinthewheel ofHymen.
....................................................................................................................................371
CH. IV. --Thetreatment ofGil Blas inthetowerofSegovia.Thecauseofhis
imprisonment.............................................................................................................372
CH.V.--His reflections beforehewent tosleepthat night,andthenoisethat waked
him.............................................................................................................................374
CH.VI--Historyof Don GastondeCogollos and DonnaHelenadeGalisteo........376
CH.VII.--Scipiofinds Gil Blas out inthetower ofSegovia,andbrings him abudget
ofnews.......................................................................................................................384
CH.VIII.--Scipio's first journeytoMadrid: its object andsuccess.Gil Blas falls sick.
Theconsequenceofhis illness...................................................................................386
CH. IX. --Scipio's secondjourneytoMadrid.Gil Blas is set at libertyoncertain
conditions. Theirdeparturefrom thetowerofSegovia,andconversationontheir
journey.......................................................................................................................389
CH.X.--Theirdoings at Madrid.Therencounter ofGil Blas inthestreet,andits
consequences..............................................................................................................391
BOOKTHETENTH.
CH. I. --Gil Blas sets out fortheAsturias; andpasses through Valladolid,wherehe
goes toseehis oldmaster,DoctorSangrado.Byaccident,he comes across Signor
Manuel Ordonnez, governorofthehospital..............................................................393
CH. II.--Gil Blas continues his journey,andarrives insafetyat Oviedo. The
conditionofhis family. His father's death,andits consequences..............................398
CH. III.-- Gil Blas sets out forValencia,and arrives at Lirias; descriptionofhis
seat; theparticulars ofhis reception,andthecharacters oftheinhabitants hefound
there............................................................................................................................403
CH. IV. --Ajourneyto Valencia, andavisit tothelords of Leyva.Theconversation
ofthegentlemen,andSeraphina's demeanour...........................................................407
CH.V.--Gil Blas goes totheplay, andsees anewtragedy.Thesuccess ofthepiece.
Thepublictasteat Valencia.......................................................................................410
CH.VI. --Gil Blas, walkingabout thestreets ofValencia,meets withamanof
sanctity,whosepious facehehas seensomewhere else.What sort ofmanthis manof
sanctityturns out tobe...............................................................................................413
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GILBLAS
CH.VII.-- Gil Blas returns tohis seat at Lirias. Scipio's agreeableintelligence,and a
reform inthedomestic arrangements.........................................................................417
CH.VIII.--Theloves of Gil Blas andthefairAntonia............................................419
CH. IX. --Nuptials ofGil Blas withthefair Antonia; thestyleandmanner ofthe
ceremony; thepersons assistingthereat; andthefestivities ensuingthereupon.......423
CH.X.--Thehoney-moon(averydull timeforthereader as athirdperson)
enlivenedbythecommencement ofScipio's story....................................................427
CH.XI. --ContinuationofScipio's story..................................................................440
CH.XII.--ConclusionofScipio's story....................................................................447
BOOKTHEELEVENTH
CH. I. --Containingthesubject ofthe greatest joythat Gil Blas everfelt,followedup,
as our greatest pleasures toogenerallyare,bythe most melancholyevent ofhis life.
Great changes at court,producing, amongotherimportant revolutions, thereturnof
Santillane....................................................................................................................458
CH. II.--Gil Blas arrives inMadrid,andmakes his appearance at court: thekingis
blessedwithabettermemorythanmost ofhis courtiers, andrecommends him tothe
noticeofhis primeminister.Consequences ofthat recommendation.......................461
CH. III.-- Theproject of retirement is prevented,andJosephNavarrobrought upon
thestageagain,byanact ofsignal service................................................................465
CH. IV. --Gil Blas ingratiates himselfwiththeCount ofOlivarez..........................467
CH.V.--TheprivateconversationofGil Blas withNavarro, andhis first employment
intheserviceoftheCount d'Olivarez........................................................................469
CH.VI. Theapplicationofthethreehundredpistoles, andScipio's commission
connected withthem.Success ofthestatepaper mentionedinthelast chapter........473
CH.VII.-- Gil Blas meets withhis friendFabriciooncemore; the accident,place,and
circumstances described; withtheparticulars oftheirconversationtogether...........476
CH.VIII.--Gil Blas gets forwardprogressivelyin his master's affections. Scipio's
returntoMadrid,and account ofhis journey.............................................................479
CH. IX.. --Howmylord dukemarriedhis onlydaughter, andtowhom: withthebitter
consequences ofthat marriage...................................................................................481
CH.X.--Gil Blas meets withthepoet Nunez byaccident,andlearns that hehas
writtenatragedy,which is onthepoint ofbeingbrought out at thetheatre royal.The
ill fortuneofthepiece,andthegood fortuneofits author........................................483
CH.XI. --Santillane gives Scipioasituation: thelattersets out forNewSpain......486
CH.XII.-- DonAlphonsode Leyva comes toMadrid; themotiveofhis journeya
severe afflictiontoGil Blas, andacauseof rejoicingsubsequent thereon................488
CH.XIII.--Gil Blas meets DonGastondeCogollos andDonAndrewde Tordesillas
at thedrawing-room,and adjourns withthem toamoreconvenient place.Thestoryof
DonGastonandDonna HelenadeGalisteoconcluded.Santillanerenders some
servicetoTordesillas.................................................................................................490
CH.XIV.--Santillane's visit tothepoet Nunez,thecompanyand conversation.....494
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ALAIN-RENÉ LESAGE
BOOKTHETWELFTH.
CH. I. --Gil Blas sent toToledobytheminister.Thepurposeofhis journeyandits
success........................................................................................................................496
CH. II.--Santillanemakes his report totheminister,whocommissions him tosend
for Lucretia.The first appearanceofthat actress beforethecourt............................500
CH. III.-- Lucretia's popularity; herappearancebeforetheking; his passion,andits
consequences..............................................................................................................501
CH. IV. --Santillaneina newoffice.........................................................................504
CH.V.--Theson ofthe Genoeseis acknowledgedbyalegal instrument,andnamed
DonHenryPhilipdeGuzman.Santillaneestablishes his household,andarranges the
courseofhis studies...................................................................................................506
CH.VI. --Scipio's return from NewSpain.Gil Blas places him about Don Henry's
person. That youngnobleman's courseofstudy.His careerofhonour,andhis father's
matrimonial speculationonhis behalf.Apatent of nobilityconferredonGil Blas
against his will...........................................................................................................508
CH.VII.-- Anaccidental meetingbetween Gil Blas andFabricio.Theirlast
conversationtogether,andawordtothewise from Nunez.......................................510
CH..VIII.--Gil Blas finds that Fabricio's hint was not without foundation.Theking's
journeytoSaragossa..................................................................................................512
CH. IX. --TherevolutionofPortugal, anddisgraceoftheprimeminister...............514
CH.X.--Adifficult,but successful,weaningfrom theworld.Theminister's
employments inhis retreat.........................................................................................516
CH.XI. --A changeinhis lordshipfortheworse. Themarvellous cause,and
melancholyconsequences, ofhis dejection...............................................................518
CH.XII.--Theproceedings at theCastleof Loeches afterhis lordship's death,andthe
coursewhichSantillane adopted................................................................................520
CH.XIII.--ThereturnofGil Blas tohis seat.His joyat findinghis god-daughter
Seraphinamarriageable; andhis ownsecondventureinthelotteryoflove.............522
CH.XIV.-- Adoublemarriage,andthe conclusionofthehistory...........................524
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GILBLAS
BibliographicNoteand Acknowlegdements
Thetext ofthis versionistakenfrom The Adventures ofGil Blas byA.R.
LeSage,Translatedfrom theFrenchbyTobias Smollett withanintroductionby
William MortonFullerton,GeorgeRoutledge &Sons. 1913Wewish toacknowledge
thecourtesyandhelpfulness ofMs.SallySweet of ITPS andMs MarionMainwaring,
biographer andliteraryexecutorofW.M. Fullerton,inclearingcopyright forthis
publication.
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ALAIN-RENÉ LESAGE
.
TheAuthor's Declaration
THEREaresomepeople intheworldso mischievous as not toreada work
without applyingthevicious orridiculous characters it mayhappentocontainto
eminent orpopularindividuals. Iprotest publiclyagainst thepretendeddiscoveryof
anysuchlikenesses. Mypurposewas torepresent humanlifehistoricallyas it exists:
Godforbid Ishouldholdmyselfout as aportrait-painter. Let not thereader thentake
tohimselfpublicproperty; forifhedoes, hemaychancetothrowanunluckylight on
his owncharacter: as Phaedrus expresses it,Stultenudabit animi conscientiam.
Certain physicians ofCastille,as well as ofFrance,aresometimes alittletoo
fondoftryingthebleedingandloweringsystem ontheirpatients. Vices, theirpatrons,
andtheirdupes, areof everyday's occurrence,To besure, Ihavenot always adopted
Spanish manners withscrupulous exactness; andintheinstanceoftheplayers at
Madrid,thosewhoknow theirdisorderlymodes oflivingmayreproachme with
softeningdowntheircoarsertraits: but this Ihave beeninducedtodofrom asenseof
delicacy, andinconformitywiththemanners ofmyown country.
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