The wanton Banquet with malicious hafte, Afcyltos defign'd for Naples the fame day, had I not acquainted him how imprudent it was to take up there, where, according to all probability, we were in likelihood to be fought after And therefore, faid I, let's keep out of the way for the present, and, fince we have enough to defend us from want, ftroul it about till the Heat be over. The Advice was approv'd, and we fet forward for a pleafant Country Town, where we were fure to meet fome of our Acquaintance that were taking the benefit of the Seafon: But we were fcarce got half way, when a fhowre of Rain difcharging it felf upon us like Buckets, forc'd us into the next Village; where entring a Houfe of Entertainment, we faw a great many others that had alfo ftruck in thither to avoid the Storm. The throng kept us from being taken notice of, and gave us the opportunity of prying here and there, what we might filch in a Crowd; when Afcyltos, unheeded of any body, took a Purse from the Ground, in which he found feveral pieces of Gold; we leap'd for Joy at fo fortunate a beginning; but fearing left fome or other might feek after it, we flunk out at a Back-door, where we faw a Groom fadling his Horfes; but, as having forgot fome fomewhat, he ran into the House, leaving behind him an Embroider'd Mantle faftned to one of the Saddles: In his abfence I cut the Straps, and under the covert of fome Out-houses, we made off with it to a neighbouring Forest. Being more out of danger among the Thickets, we were contriving where we fhould hide the Gold, that we might not be either charg'd with the Felony, or robb'd of it our felves: At laft we concluded to few it in the Lining of an old patcht Coat, which I threw over my Shoulders, and entrusted the Care of the Mantle to Afcyltos, with an intent to get to the City by Cross-ways: But as we were going out, we heard fome-body on our left hand speak to this purpose: They fhall not escape us; they came into the Wood; let's separate our felves and beat about, that we may the better difcover and take them. This put us into fuch a fright, that Afcyltos and Gito fled thro' Briars and Brambles towards the City; but I turn'd back again in fuch a hurry, that without perceiving it, the precious Coat dropt from my Shoulders; At laft being quite tir'd, and not able to go any further, I laid me down under the fhelter of a Tree, where I first mist the Coat: Then Grief restor❜d my ftrength, and up I got again, to try if I could recover the Treasure j I wander'd backwards and forwards to no manner of purpose; till spent and wasted with toil and forrow, I got into a Thicket, where having tarried four Hours, and half C 3 dead dead with the horrour of the place, I fought the way out, but going forward, a Country Man came in fight of me: Then had I occafion for all my stock of Confidence; nor did it fail me: I went up roundly to him, and making my moan how I had lost my self in the Wood, defir'd him to tell me the way to the City: He pitying my Figure (for I was as pale as Death, and all bemir'd) ask'd me, if I had feen any one in the Wood? I answer'd, not a Soul-on which he courteously brought me into the High-way, where he met two of his Friends, who told him, they had travers'd the Wood thro' and thro', but had lit upon nothing but a Coat, which they fhew'd him. It may eafily be believed I had not the Courage to challenge it, tho' I knew well enough what the value of it was: This afflicted me more than all the reft; however, bewailing my Treasure, the Country-man not heeding me, and Feeblenefs growing upon me, I flackend my pace, and jogg'd on flower than ordinary. It was longer e're I reach'd the City than I thought of; but coming to the Inn, I found Afcyltos half dead, ftretcht upon a Straw Pallat, and fell on another my self, not able to utter a word: He mifling the Coat, was in a great diforder, and haftily demanded of me, what was become of it: I, on the other hand, fcarce able to draw my Breath, refolv'd him by languishing Eyes, what my Tongue would not give me leave to fpeak: At length recovering by little and little, I plainly told him the ill Fortune I had met with: But he thought I jested, and tho' the Tears in my Eyes might have been as full Evidence to him as an Oath, he yet queftioned the truth of what I faid, and would not believe but I had a mind to cheat him. During this, Gite stood as troubled as my felf, and the Boys fadness increas'd mine: But the fresh pursuit that was made after us, distracted me most. I opened the whole matter to Afcyltos, who feem'd little concern'd at it, as having luckily got off for the prefent, and withal affur'd himself, that we were paft danger, in that we were neither known, nor feen by any: However, it was thought fit to pretend a Sickness, that we might have the better Pretence to keep where we were: But our Monies falling fhorter than we thought of, and Neceffity enforcing us, we found it high time to fell fome of our Pillage. It was almost dark, when going into the Brokers Market, we faw abundance of things to be bought and fold; of no extraordinary Value, 'tis true, yet fuch as might be safely difpofed of at that time by the Perfons who stole them. We also had the Mantle with us, and taking the opportunity of a blind Corner, fell a fhaking the Skirt of it, to fee if fo glittering a Shew would bring us a Purchaser: Nor had we been long there, e're a certain Country-man, whom I thought I had feen before, came up to us, with a Woman after him, who beginning to inspect the Mantle more narrowly, as on the other C 4 ther fide did Afcyltos our Country Chapman's Shoulders, they prefently startled him, and ftruck him dumb': Nor could I my felf behold 'em without being concern'd at it, for he feem'd to me to be the fame Fellow that had found the Coat in the Wood, as in truth he was: But Afyltos doubting whether he might trust his Eyes or not, and that he might not do any thing rafhly, first came nearer to him as a Buyer, and taking the Coat from his Shoulders, began to cheapen, and turn it more carefully. O the wonderful vagaries of Fortune! for the Country-man had not examined a Seam of it, but carelefly look'd on it as a Purchase for a Beggar. Afcyltos feeing the Coat unript, and the Perfon of the Seller contemptible, took me afide from the Crowd: And don't you fee Brother, faid he, the Treasure I made fuch moan about is return'd? That's the Coat with the Gold in't, all fafe and untoucht: What therefore shall we do, or what courfe fhall we take to get our own again? I was now comforted, not so much that I had seen the Booty, but had clear'd my felf of the Sufpicion that lay upon me, and was by no means for going about the Bush, but downright bringing an Action against him, That if the Fellow would not give up the Coat to the right Owner, we might recover it by Law, Law bears the Name, but Money has the Power; The Canfe is bad whene'er the Client's Poor : Thofe |