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 -1- 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 -2- 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 -3- ALAIN-RENÉ LESAGE 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 -4- 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 -5- 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 -6- 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 -7- 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 -8- 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. -9- 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. -10-