The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants, Comprehending the most Eminent Cheats of Both Sexes: The Third PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants, Comprehending the most Eminent Cheats of Both Sexes: The Third Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
He going out, I withdrew from the Company, desiring their excuse for a
while and follow’d him, but coming near him he trembled so he could
hardly move a foot forward, seeing him in that agony, I asked him what
ailed him? Bade him not be afraid, that I came not after him to mischief
him, or injure him in the least. I believe, said he, you intend me no
harm now, but it would have been well if you had never done me any. How!
replyed I, it is impossible I should be so cruel as to injure a face so
innocently harmless as thine appears: yes, Sir, you have, said he, and
were it not for something within me I have no name for, I would be
reveng’d on thy very soul for the abuse thou hast done me; I have now no
longer time left to discourse you, but to-morrow meet me under the
Southern Toddy-trees, and there I shall not fail to let you understand
the miseries of ——, and there he dropt his tears so fast that he could
hardly see his way before him. I was so amazed at what I had seen and
heard, that there I stood as a thing immovable, speechless, and almost
sensless; staying somewhat too long, the Captain came out to look me,
and found me in this posture staring up into the Skie; What’s the matter
man? said he, what wonders dost thou see there, thou dost so gaze? I
tell thee man, said he, this is no proper time nor place to take an
observation, we are now at Land; but he knew not what observation I had
taken, if he had he would have spoiled the Instrument if he could.
Recollecting my self, Your pardon good Sir, said I, I protest you drink
too smartly within, so that I was forc’d to come out to suck in some
little airy refreshment. This shall not excuse you, quoth he, therefore
come along with me. Coming in he told the whole company in what a
rediculous posture he found me, and did so Romance upon it, that he made
them all laugh. One while, said he, he was telling the Clouds he saw,
pleasing himself with the several monstrous shapes they bore, though I
could not see one in all our Hemisphere. Then he turned his ear up to
the firmament, as if he were hearkening to the Sweet harmony of the
Sphears, and in my conscience, if I had not prevented him, I had seen
him madly dance by himself without one stroke of Musick. After this he
turn’d his eyes upwards again, and fixing them there awhile, the nine
heavens or firmaments were so transparent to his sight, that looking
through them, he recounted their particular names to himself in order as
they were posited. He would have proceeded but that the company would
not let him, for my own part he might have talked till dooms-day without
any interruption from me, my thoughts being wholly imployed in searching
out the meaning of what the young man lately spake to me.
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