Page:Political history of the devil upon two sticks.pdf/20

 replied; and the dialogue ended with several strokes with the flat side of the sword, which Guillermo received: Several persons passing by took the vintner's part; the serjeant wounded three or four, but was suddenly fallen on by a crowd of Alguazi's, who seized him as a disturber of the public peace, and carried him to prison. He there declared all that I have told you and upon this disposition the officers have also seized Guillermo; the father in law requires the annulling of the marriage: and the holy office, being informed that Guillermo is rich, have thought fit to take cognizance of it.

But why should we dwell so long on this melancholy group. Come Dan Cleofas, my confinement has tired me of Madrid, I will instantly transport you to Paris, where still, amid all the calamities and confusion of war and civil broils, the same frivolity and voluptuousness reign paramount. Don Cleofas rejoiced at the proposal and seizing Asmodeo by the cloak in an instant found himself on the top of the Palais Royale. What mean these joyous effusions of the crowd, says Zambullo and the illuminations I see? Surely they are on account of some great advantages obtained over their enemies the English or Austrians. Quite the contrary, said the devil, such a succession of calamities have befallen France since the commencement of this war, owing to the weak efforts of the friends of the unfortunate Monarch to establish royalty; the unexampled cruelties of those ambitious democrats who have, one after another, committed the most sanguinary and hellish brutalities, to raise themselves to consequence in the hate and retain themselves so; and more so by the impression their enemies formerly made on them, although France at last was so sucessful as to drive them into the very bosom of Germany and expected to have declared to the Emperor terms of peace at Vienna; but so uncertain is war, that their armies are now driven defenceless before the