Page:Political history of the devil upon two sticks.pdf/12

 Alas, cried the student, the air resounds with shrieks and lamentations. Some sad accident must have happened. It is this, said the spirit. Two young gentlemen were playing at cards in that gaming house, where so many lamps and candles are lighted up; they grew warm upon their game, drew their swords and wounded each other mortally. The eldest of them is married, the youngest an only son, and they are both expiring. The wife of the one, and the father of the other, informed of the sad disaster, are just come to them, and they fill the neighbourhood with their complaints. Unfortunate child, said the father, addressing himself to his son, who was past hearing him, how often have I advised thee to leave off play? How often have I foretold thee, that it would cost thee thy life? If thou diedst thus unfortunately, I here call heaven to witness, it is not my fault. As for the poor wife she is running mad; tho' her husband hath by his gaming lost all the fortune she brought him, though he hath sold all her jewels, and even her very clothes, she is inconsolate for the loss of him. She is cursing cards which have been the cause of it, she is cursing the gaming house and all that live in it.

I extremely pity people that are raving mad for play, said Don Ceofas, their minds are often in such a horrid situation. Thank heaven I have nothing to answer for upon account of that vice. But you have another full as had replied the devil. Think you it is at all more excusable to give yourself up to common prostitutes; and was not you in danger this very night of being killed by bullies? Really I wonder at the folly of mankind; their own faults seem trifles to them, whereas they look at those of others thro a microscope.

A little farther, you see two men, whom they are now burying: They are two brothers, that were both sick of the same disease, but two different measures; one of them relied, with an entire confidence