Page:Political history of the devil upon two sticks.pdf/7

 you are, for I see so many like one another, that I cannot distinguish them. It is the fourth from the window, replied the spirit, though the cork be sealed with a magical seal, yet the bottle will easily break.

It is enough, Signior Asmodeo, returned Don Cleofas; there is now only one small difficulty which deters me when I have done you this service, will you not make me pay for the broken pots? No accident shall befal you, answered the dæmon,; but on the contrary you will be pleased with my acquaintance, I will learn you whatever you are desirous to know, inform you of all things which happen in the world, and discover to you all the faults of mankind; I will be your tutelar dæmon, you shall find me much more intelligent than that of Socrates, and I will make you far surpass that philosopher in wisdom: in a word, I will bestow myself on you, with my good and ill qualities; the latter of which shall not be less advantageous to you than the former.

These are fine promises, replied the student, but you gentlemen devils are accused of not being very religious observers of what you promise to men. It is a groundless charge replied Asmodeo; some of my brethren indeed make no scruple of breaking their word, but I (not to mention the service you are going to do me, which I can never sufficiently repay) am a slave to mine; and I swear by all that renders our oaths inviolable, that I will not deceive you. Depend upon my assurances. I promise you withal, that you shall revenge yourself on Donna Thomasa, that perfidious lady, who hid four ruffians to surprise and force you to marry her; a circumstance that should please you.

Young Zambullo, charmed above all with this last promise, to hasten its accomplishment, immediately took the phial, and without concerning himself what might be the event of it, he threw it hard against the ground. It broke into a thousand pieces, and overflowed the floor with a blackish liquor, which