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80

STREET-PREACHING.

gold; which he is entreated to accept as a return for the pleasure and instruction he has given.

"It is not, however, only in the pulpit that the Spanish preachers may be heard. There is a class who, not feeling themselves able to address a select audience, sally forth to captivate the people. Mounted on a chair, or a bench, in a corner of the street, their eloquence is of a very singular kind; with the most pathetic description of the death of our Saviour, and the torments of hell, they mingle the lowest puns, and most frivolous conceits.

"These harangues, given with the alternate air of a buffoon and a fanatic, attract a crowd, and are usually particularly well paid.

"It not unfrequently happens, that a mountebank, and one of these preachers, are placed within a few yards of each other, and endeavour to draw off each other's audience; such being the allowed license in this country, we cannot wonder that the populace are sunk into the lowest ignorance, on all points connected with their religion; for though this buffoonery is permitted, any attempt to introduce the Bible would be attended with very severe punishment."

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"I remember," said Mrs. Delville, " that a friend your brother's was obliged to leave Madrid be

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cause he was suspected of giving a New Testament to a young lady."

"Yet," he said, "it is astonishing what effects patience and good conduct have even upon prejudice and ignorance. The Spanish clergy were in the habit of representing heretics to their flock in the most odious colours, both mental and bodily; as beings void of humanity, and addicted to the most horrible atrocities. The Spaniards not being as a nation great travellers, have little opportunity of judging for themselves.

"In 1789, at the close of the eighteenth century, two Englishmen endeavoured to set up a cotton manufactory at Avila, a sea-port of the Asturias. This establishment would have been highly advantageous to the province; for the population of the town was very poor, and ill provided with the necessaries of life. At the commencement of their business, however, they were unable to procure workmen; because the inhabitants were taught, that the mere presence of these excommunicated heretics would expose them to misfortune.

"The most absurd reports were spread of them. As they wished to employ children in their factory, it was asserted that they sought after them to devour them, at the horrible feasts they had instituted instead of the sacrament.

"They could hardly walk the streets in safety; and the common people preferred going a round

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82

OVERCOME BY PATIENCE.

about way to their homes rather than pass a building made unholy by their presence.

"The Englishmen bore this torrent of prejudice with composure: they wisely trusted to time to undeceive the natives: nor were they mistaken. The inhabitants gradually remarked, with astonishment, the mildness and propriety of their behaviour: slowly they suffered their prejudices to be overcome; and in 1792 they had in their factory seven hundred Spaniards."

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That, papa," said Ellen, "is a charming fact. I love, above every thing, to see people overcome injustice by the force of truth.”

"More than the force of arms?" said Frank, laughing.

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Surely," said his Father. "In the one case, a perfect and satisfactory conviction is obtained, which is the more impressive that it has in some measure been acquired by the erring person himself; but in the other, you know the old saying, Frank:

'He that's convinced against his will,
Is of the same opinion still.'"

BLIND BALLAD-SINGERS.

CHAPTER VII.

83

888

BLIND BALLAD-SINGERS-ATTACHMENT OF A GOOSESALAMANCA-DR. CURTIS-CONVENT OF ST. STEPHEN -COLUMBUS-VISIT TO THE UNIVERSITY-LIBRARY.

As they were going out of Valladolid they saw a blind man groping his way along the great square, led by a little dog tied to a string; presently he sat down, took out a drum and a flute, and collected round him an attentive audience.

"These men," said Mr. Delville, "fill the same situation as the ballad-singers on the Pont-neuf, at Paris. They are the most attentive listeners to the street-preachers; and they sing to the people old ballads which recall the memory of their former valour and prosperity. One of their favourite songs is in French, and relates the capture of Francis I., by Charles V.: it begins thus:

'Quand le roi partit de la France,

A la malheur il en partit.' *

"Neither those who sing it, nor those probably who listen, understand French; but they know that it

• When the king left France,
He left it to go to misfortune.

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NATIONAL SONGS.

relates an event flattering to their national vanity; and, therefore, they wish to transmit it to their children. At no time were those national legends more in favour, than during the invasion of the French it was, while they remained in Spain, a favourite channel for the expression of popular feeling."

"We have no national songs of that kind," said Ellen.

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"Because," said Mr. Delville, "it is long since we have had war in our native country. During the celebrated periods of our domestic dissensions, we had numerous ballads of the same kind as those of the French, and other continental nations. The tone, indeed, was different, but the object was the same. Our northern ballads of Chevy-chase,' 'Robin Hood,' and many others, were all composed and recited to preserve the memory of events that interested the nation; and they possess an exquisite pathos that we shall look for in vain in other national poetry. During the reformation many and biting were the satirical songs published by both parties. Some lines upon purgatory put into the mouth of the pope have rested in my memory. I do not recollect them all; but they ran thus :

'Thou stryvest against my purgatory,
Because thou findest it not in Scripture,
As though I by myne auctorité

Might not make one for myne honour.

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