We had refolv'd to keep out of the broad Streets, and accordingly took our Walk thro' that quarter of the City, where we were likely to meet least Company; when in a narrow winding Lane, which had no Paffage thro', we faw, a little distance before us, two handfome well-dreft Ladies, and followed them at a distance to a Chappel, which they entred, and from whence we heard an odd humming kind of a Noife, as it came from the hollow of a Cave: Curiofity alfo made us go in after them, where we faw a number of Women, as mad as if they had been Sacrificing to Bacchus, and each of them an Amulet (the Enfign of Priapus) in her Hand. More than that, we could not get to fee; for they was no fooner fenfible of our being amongst them, but they fet up fuch a Shout, that the Roof of the Temple fhook again, and withal endeavoured to lay Hands on us; but we scamper'd away, and made all the hafte we could to our Inn.

We had scarce eaten the Supper which Gito had got ready for us, when a more than ordinary knocking at the Door put us into another Fright; we look'd as pale as Death, and in fear demanded who was there? Anfwer was made, Open the Door and you'll fee: While we were talking, the Bolt dropt off and fell down of its own accord, and the Door miraculoufly flew open, on which, a Woman with her Head veil'd came in upon us, the very fame who a little before was with the Country-man in the Market: And

what,

what, faid fhe, do you think to put a Trick upon me? I am Quartilla's Maid, whofe Sacred Recefs you fo lately disturb'd: She is at the Inn-gate, and defires to speak with you: You need not be uneafie, the neither blames your Inadvertency, or has a mind to refent it, but rather wonders what God brought fuch civil Gentlemen into her Quarters.

We were filent as yet, and gave her the hearing, but not the leaft inclin'd to grant any part of her Requests, when in came Quartilla her felf, attended with a young Girl; and fitting down by me, fell a weeping: Nor here did we put in a word, but ftood expecting what would be the event of these Tears which the commanded at her difcretion. At last, when the Showre was over, the difdainfully turn'd up her Hood, and wringing her Hands together, What Impudence, faid fhe, is this? or where learnt you thefe Shams, and that Slight of Hand you have fo lately been beholden to? By my Faith, I am forry for ye; for no one beheld what was unlawful for him to look upon, but went off severely punisht: and fincerely our part of the Town hath fo many Deities in it, you'll fooner meet with a God than a Man: Don't believe I come here with any Sentiments of Revenge, I am rather affected with Compaffion for your Youth than angry at the Injuries you have done me, which, I believe, were not done with a Design, but unawares you had the Misfortune to perpetrate them, and an inexpiable abomination.

!

For

For my part, it troubled me all Night, and threw me into fuch a fhaking, that I was afraid I had gotten a Tertian Ague, on which I took a Remedy to have made me Sleep; but the God appeared to me, and commanded me to rise and find you out, as the likeliest way to take off the violence of the Fit. Yet I am not so much in pain for a Cure, but that a greater Anguifh ftrikes me to the Heart, and will undoubtedly make an end of me, for fear, in one of your youthful Frolicks, you fhould declare what you faw in Priapus's Chappel, and difclofe the Mysteries of the Gods amongst the Vulgar. Low as your Knees, I therefore lift my Hands t'ye, that you neither make a Jeft of our Night-wor fhip, nor dishonour the Rites of fo many Years, which not every one, even among our felves, is throughly acquainted with.

After this fhe fell a crying again, and with many a pitiful Lamentation, fell flat on my Bed; when I, at the fame time, between Pity and Fear, bid her take Courage and affure her felf, that we would neither divulge thofe Holy Myfteries, nor, if the God had prefcrib'd her any other Remedy for her Ague, be wanting freely to affift in the Cure, even with the hazard of what was dearest

to us.

At this Promise of mine, becoming more chearful, fhe fell å kiffing me thick and threefold, and changing her Tears into Laughing, the comb'd up fome Hair that hung over my Eyes with her Fingers: And I, faid fhe, am

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