Ingenious and diverting letters of a lady's travels into Spain; describing the devotions, nunneries, humour, customs, laws, militia, trade, diet, and recreations of that people / [Marie Catherine Jumelle de Berneville Aulnoy].

Madame d'Aulnoy

Date:: 1717

Credit: Ingenious and diverting letters of a lady's travels into Spain; describing the devotions, nunneries, humour, customs, laws, militia, trade, diet, and recreations of that people / [Marie Catherine Jumelle de Berneville Aulnoy]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$the having deferved Reproaches for fo long and tirefome a Conver{ation. I lt is let ne leave se + RUE ; and] a her to lie with me, fhe having no Bed. So civil and cour- teous a Proceeding made her much my Friend. She affured me of this in fuch affectionate Terms, that I could not doubt of it; for I muft tell you, the Sari/h Women are more caref- fing than we, and are far more kind and tender to thofe they profefs Friendfhip, In fine, I could not forbear telling her, That if foe had all the Kindnefs for me fhe made Profefion, foe muft be Jo complaifant to inform me, what made her feem.fo melancholy 2 That Ihad heard her fetch deep Sighs in the Night, and appeared very reftle/s and difconfolate : That if fhe could find any Comfort in fharing ber Grief with me, Loffered my Service to her, as a moft faithful Friend. _ She embraced ime with great Affection, and told me without Delay, fhe would immediately fatisfy my Curiofity ; which the did in thefe Terms : | Seeing you are [9 defirous to know me, Imuft, without difguifing to you any thing, acknowledge my Weaknefs to you 5 and, by my Sincerity and Open-heartedne/s, deferve a Curiofity as obliging as yours. I come not of fuch a Family as may claim Nobility; my Fa- ther’s Name was Davila : He was only a Banker ; but he was in good Credit, and was moderately wealthy: We are of Seville, Capital of 4ndaloufia, and we have ever dwelt there. My Mo- ther knew the World ; fhe faw many People of Quality ; and having no Children but me, fhe took great care of my Educa- tion : It did not appear ill beftow’d onme; for had the good Fortune to get the good Will of moft that faw me. We had two Neighbours who came often to our Houfe, who — were very welcome both to my Father and Mother. ‘Their Condition and Age were in no fort alike: One was the Mar- juefs de Los Rios, a Perfon wealthy and noble ; he was a Widow- er, and well advanced in Years: The other was the Son of a great Merchant, who traded to the Indies: He was young and handfome; he had Wit, and very graceful Behaviour ;° his Name was Mendez : He was not long before he fell paffionately in Love with me; fo that he omitted nothing ste might pleafe me, and fats my Affeétions. | He was in all Places where he knew I was to pafs ; he fpent whole Nights under my Windows, to fing Verfes which he had fompofed and fet to my Praife ; which he had very well accom- panied with his Harp. fit wid | ! But feeing his Attendancies had not all the effect he ex- pected , and having paft fome time in this manner, without daring to mention his Affection to me, he at length refolv’d to te eRe CO make$