A history of the ridiculous extravagancies of Monsieur Oufle / occasioned by his reading books treating of magick, the black art, dæmoniacks, conjurers, of elves, fairies, of dreams, the philosopher's-stone, judicial astrology, with notes containing a multitude of quotations out of those books, which have either caused such extravagant imaginations, or may serve to cure them. Written originally in French, by the Abbot B-----, and now tr. into English.

  • Laurent Bordelon
Date:
1711
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A history of the ridiculous extravagancies of Monsieur Oufle / occasioned by his reading books treating of magick, the black art, dæmoniacks, conjurers, of elves, fairies, of dreams, the philosopher's-stone, judicial astrology, with notes containing a multitude of quotations out of those books, which have either caused such extravagant imaginations, or may serve to cure them. Written originally in French, by the Abbot B-----, and now tr. into English. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Mon(ieur O tu l e® had indeed feen and heard all that paft. As foon as he was gone, fhe told her Miftrefs of it; who immediately ran after him, but did not overtake him, rill the Moment when he en* tred his Houfe. She went up the Sreps crying ftop Thief and made a moft difmai Noife in the Houfe : Madam Oufle] her Sons and Daughters, and Aiornand% ran to hear what was the Matter. The Lady demanded Juftice ; charg’d Moufieuc Ou fie with (healing heV Watch, and dew at him in order to fearch him : Madam Oufle and her Children fell upon her ; and began to thrafh her very briskly, when our Thief put a ftop to all thefe Violences, by pronouncing, in an oracular Tone, and very loudly, the following Words : Have patience my dear JVife ; have patience Children ; patience Mornand ; and you, Madam, who accufe me, pie afe to be patient* This fo frequent repetition of the Word, put an effedual ftop to the Engagement. He then pull’d the Watch out of his Pocker, and at the fame time fetch’d a Book out of his Study, in which he fhew’d the excellent PafTage which ingag’d him to commit this piece of Theft. The Lady firft feiz’d on the Watch, and then allow’d him to fay what he pleas’d. He then, before his whole Family, deferib'd his fufpicion of that Lady, and the Convention he had with her. The effect of all which Narration was, that all the Company allow’d Monfieur Oufle to be the moft fuperftitious Madman that they had ever feen. The Lady confidering what had part at her Houfe, and where (he now was, did this poor Wretch ju¬ ftice, in declaring, that file did not believe that he was a Thief, but really a Madman. Madam Oufle and her Chil¬ dren exprefs’d all poftible uneafinefs, for the rude and vio¬ lent Entertainment they had given her: She receiv’d their Acknowledgments perfedly well ; and allur'd them, that (he would banifh all Refentment againft ; and that (he was ra¬ ther inclin d to pity them, confidering the uneafinefs which this Man muft give them, by his extravagant Whim fies. San fugue, who obferv’d that his Father fufpeded her of Witchcraft, to remove that ridiculous Notion, frankly own’d the Tour he made, with all its Circumftances ; and thereby difeover’d to him, that he was the only Magician who had bewitch’d his Horfe. Monfieur Oufle, like all thofe of his Charader, who will never own themfelves m the wrong in any thing which they have, fhew’d, that he believ’d nothing that his Son laid. But yet internally began to believe