96 IIOSCOE'S SPANISH NOVELISTS. 



who were averse to make their appearance ; and an attorney would have put 

 in a demurrer, on the plea that he had got a soul that could be none of his, 

 for that his soul and body belonged to some different ones elsewhere. 



" When it came at length to be generally understood, that here at last was 

 the Day of Judgment, it was curious to observe what strange evasions and 

 excuses were made use of among the wicked. The man of pleasure, the be- 

 trayer of innocence, the epicure, and the hypocrite, would not own their 

 eyes, nor the slanderer his tongue, because they were sure to appear in evi- 

 dence against them. Pickpockets were seen running away as fast as possi- 

 ble from their own fingers, while an old usurer wandered about anxiously in- 

 quiring if the money-bags were not to rise as well as the bodies ? I should 

 have laughed outright at this, had not my attention been called away to a 

 throng of cut-purses, hastening all speed from their own ears, now offered 

 them, that they might not hear so many sad stories against themselves. 



" I was a witness to the whole scene, from a convenient station above it, 

 when all at once there was uttered a loud outcry of " Withdraw, withdraw I" 

 No sooner was it pronouced, than down I came, and forthwith a number of 

 handsome women put out their heads and called me a base clown for not 

 showing the respect and courtesy due to their high quality, not being a whit 

 the less inclined to stand upon their etiquette, although in Hell Itself. They 

 appeared half-naked, and as proud as Juno's peacock, whenever they hap- 

 pened to catch your eye ; and, to say truth, they had a good complexion, 

 and were well made. When they were informed, however, that it was no 

 other than the Day of Judgment, they took the alarm, all their vivacity 

 vanished, and slowly they took their way towards an adjacent valley, quite 

 pensive and out of humour. Of these one among the rest had wedded seven 

 husbands, and promised to each of them that she would never marry again, 

 for she was unable to love any one like she had loved the last. Now the 

 lady was eagerly inventing a*ll manner of excuses, in order that she might 

 return a proper answer when examined on this part of her conduct. Another, 

 that had been common as the common air, affected to hum a tune, and delay 

 the arrival on pretence of having forgotten some of her trickeries, as an eye- 

 brow, or a comb ; but, spite of her art, for she could neither lead nor 

 drive, she was impelled on till she came within sight of the throne. There 

 she beheld a vast throng, among whom were not a few she had brought far 

 on their way to the worst place ; and no sooner did they recognize her than 

 they began to hoot after and pursue her, till she took refuge in a troop of 

 city police. 



" Next appeared a number a number of persons driving before them a cer- 

 tain physician along the banks of a river, whither he had unfairly dispatched 

 them considerably before their time. They assailed his ears all the way with 

 cries of "justice, justice," at the same time urging him forwards towards the 

 seat of judgment, where they at length arrived. Meantime, I heard upon 

 my left hand something like a paddling in the water, as if some one were 

 trying to swim : and what should it all be but a judge, plunged into the mid- 

 dle of a river, and vainly trying to wash his hands of the foul matter that 

 adhered to them. I inquired what he was employed about, and he told me, 

 that in his life time he had often had them oiled so as to let the business slip 

 the better through them, and he would gladly get out the stains before he 

 came to hold up his hand before the bar. What was yet more horrible, I 

 saw coming under a guard of a legion of devils, all armed with rods, scourges, 

 and clubs, a whole posse of vintners and tailors, suffering no little correc- 

 tion ; and many pretended to be deaf, being unwilling to leave the grave un- 

 der dread of a far worse lodging. 



" As they were proceeding, however, up started a little dapper lawyer, 

 and inquired whither they were going ? to which it was replied, that they 

 were going to give an account of their works. On hearing this, the lawyer 



