126 CUSTOMS AND MANNERS. 



approach me with his hoary locks. The ecstacy which had 

 taken a complete possession of me, deprived me of all dread 

 and apprehension on viewing him. He came up to me, and 

 in a grave and deliberate tone, addressed me thus : '* For- 

 tunate man, whosoever thou mayest be, who hast had the 

 happiness to tread on this ground, know that thou art in the 

 country of As t re a. That divinity, a fugitive from thy per- 

 verse world, where it is criminal to speak the truth and prac- 

 tise justice ; where nothing more is coveted than a vile and de- 

 ceitful adulation ; — has chosen in this island a retreat, in which 

 she lives without any other companion than myself. I am 

 True Merit : I have retired to this solitude, because I could 

 find neither access, prote6lion, nor reward among thy race 

 of beings." 



Notwithstanding this address filled me with confusion, I 

 was about to make a reply expressive of my thanks, and in 

 the way of compliment, when I saw a new prodigy, still more 

 awful than the former : enveloped in a cloud partly azure and 

 partly of a golden hue, a figure resembling a human being 

 stood before me. I fancied it to be the goddess ; but in an in- 

 stant the old man, as if he had divined my thought, said to 

 me : " Thou art mistaken : this is not Astrea, but the 

 celebrated Eugenia, w^ho, having in the world the reputa- 

 tion of being the most lovely of women, is come hither, to the 

 end that we may confirm her in that opinion. Approach, 

 take heed, hear, profit, and be silent." 



As soon as I had a near view of the nymph who had ap- 

 peared to us, I exclaimed : " Eternal Heavens, what do I 

 see !" I was unable to say more, my senses having been sub- 

 dued by terror. I perceived a creature of my own species, but 



.of 



