39S TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



leading nearer and nearer to prefumption, when the place 

 iti'elf where I flood, the object of my vain- glory, fuggefted 

 what depreffed my fhort-lived triumphs. I was but a few 

 minutes arrived at the fources of the Nile, through num- 

 berlefs dangers and fufferings, the leafl of which would 

 have overwhelmed me but for the continual goodnefs 

 and protection of Providence ; I was, however, but then 

 half through my journey ,and all thofe dangers which I 

 had already palled, awaited me again on my return. I 

 found aidefpondency gaining ground fall upon me, and 

 Dialling the crown of laurels I had too rafhly woven for my- 

 felf. I relblved therefore to divert, till I could on more folid 

 reflection overcome its progrefs. 



I saw Strates expecting me on the fide of the hill. " Stra- 

 tes, faid I, faithful fquire, come and triumph with your 

 Don Quixote at that ifland of Barataria where we have wife- 

 ly and fortunately brought ourfelves ; come and triumph 

 with me over all the kings of the earth, all their armies, 

 all their philofophers, and all their heroes." — " Sir, fays 

 Strates, I do not underfland a word of what you fay, and 

 as little what you mean.: you very well know I am no 

 fcholar ; but you had much better leave that bog, come into 

 the houfe, and look after Woldo ; I fear he has fomething 

 further to feek than yourfafh, for he has been talking with 

 the old devil- worfhipper ever fmce we arrived." — "Did they 

 fpeak fecretly together, faid I ?" — " Yes, Sir, they did, I allure 

 you." — " And in whifpers, Strates !" — " As for that, replied 

 he, they need not have been at the pains ; they under- 

 Hand one another, I fuppofe, and the devil their mailer un- 

 derllands them both ; but as for me I comprehend their 

 difcourfe no more than if it was Greek, as they Jay. Greek I 

 i fays 



