The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16Dryden, John
History
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16
Dryden, John
English literature
The stay which Xavier made at Bazain was not unprofitable to a young man
of quality, who was much debauched, called Rodrigue Segueyra, whom he had
known two years before. For Segueyra having committed a murder at
Malacca, when the Father made his first voyage to the town, retired into
the hospital, to avoid the pursuit of justice. There it was that the
Father knew him, and grew into his familiarity, by his engaging ways of
mildness and courtesy, which always succeeded with him. When he had
gained the affection of Segueyra, he spoke to him of eternity with so
much power, that the young gentleman entered into serious thoughts, and
made a general confession to him. Xavier, to engage him the more in the
ways of goodness, and to free him from that confinement of the hospital,
where his crimes had forced him to take sanctuary, made up the business
with his adversaries, and obtained his pardon from the governor of
Malacca; but seeing the soft and dissolute manner of living in Malacca
was capable of ruining all his good intentions, he advised him to leave
the Indies, and return into Europe. Segueyra, who was sensible of his own
weakness, and desired to save his soul, promised the Father to obey him,
and put himself into a condition of executing his promise. In effect, he
took the way of Goa, with design from thence to go for Portugal. But
being made a receiver of the public revenues by the viceroy Don John de
Castro, he thought no more of Portugal, but relapsed into his first
debauches.
Xavier was wholly lost to his remembrance when he happened to meet him at
Bazain. The sight of the Father surprised him at first, and almost
confounded him; but straight recovering, he came up boldly to him, and
took his hand, to have kissed it according to his former custom. The
Father, as courteous and civil as he was, yet thrust him back sternly
enough; yet, mollifying himself a little, "How, my son," said he, "are
you still in the Indies? Were you not advised to leave Malacca, and
return to Portugal?"
The Portuguese, in great disorder, and not knowing how to excuse himself,
laid all the blame upon the governor, who had detained him, in some sort,
against his will. "But," replied Xavier, with a holy indignation, "is it
the governor who has obliged you to lead the life of a beast, and to
continue for two years without going to confession? However it be,"
continued the Father, "know, that we two shall never be well with one
another, so long as you are upon ill terms with God." At these words,
Segueyra, pierced with a lively sorrow, asked pardon of the Father for
his breach of promise, and his unfaithfulness to the Divine Grace. He
confessed himself the same day; and wholly changed his life, under his
direction, whom God had sent to bring him back into a better way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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