Page:Political history of the devil upon two sticks.pdf/6

 culous matches, and marry old grey-beards to raw girls under age, masters to their maids, virgins of low fortunes to lovers that have none. It is I that have introduced into the world luxury, debauchery, games of chymistry. I am the inventor, of carousals dancing, music, plays, and all the new French fashions. In a word, I am the celebrated Asmodeo, surnamed the Devil upon Two Sticks.

Ah! cried Don Cleofas you are then the famous Asmodeo, so gloriously celebrated by Agrippa and the Clavicula Salamonis? Really you have not told me all your amusements: you have forgotten the best of them, I know that you sometimes divert yourself with assuaging the pains of unfortunate lovers; by the same token, it was by your assistance that a young gentleman a friend of mine, crept into the good graces of a doctor of the university of Alcala's lady. It is true, said the spirit; I reserved that till the last: I am the dæmon of luxury, or to express it genteeller, the god Cupid: for the poets have bestowed that fine name on me, and indeed painted me in very advantageous colours; they describe me with gilded wings, a fillet bound over my eyes, a bow in my hand, a quiver of arrows on my shoulders, and a charming beautiful face. What sort of a face it is you shall immediately see, if you please to set me at liberty.

Signior Asmodeo, replied Don Cleofas you know that I have long been your sincere devotee; of the truth of which the dangers I just now ran are sufficient evidences. I should be very ambitious of an opportunity of serving you; but the vessel in which you are hidden is undoubtedly enchanted. [sic] It is in your power to do it, answered the demon: the phial in which I am inclosed is barely a plain glass bottle, which is very easy to break; you need only throw it on the ground, and I shall immediately appear in human shape. If so, said the scholar, it is easier than I imagined; tell me then in which phial