Transcribed from the 1904 Methuen & Co. edition by DavidPrice,
MADE ENGLISH BY R. L.
METHUEN & CO.
LONDON
This Issue, first published in1904, is founded on the Third Edition, corrected, published by H.Herringman in 1668.
This Preface is merely forfashion-sake, to fill a space, and please the stationer, who says’tis neither usual nor handsome, to leap immediately fromthe title-page to the matter. So that, in short, a Prefaceye have, together with the reason of it, both under one: but asto the ordinary mode and pretence of prefaces, the translatordesires to be excused. For he makes a conscience of a lie,and it were a damned one, to tell ye, that he has published this,either to gratify the importunity of friends, or to oblige thepublic, or for any other reason of a p. vihundred, that are commonly given inexcuse of scribbling. Not but that he loves his friends, aswell as any man, and has taken their opinion along withhim. Nor, but that he loves the public too (as many a mandoes a coy mistress that has made his heart ache.) But topass from what had no effect upon him in this publication, tothat which overruled him in it. It was pure spite. For he has had hard measure among the physicians, the lawyers,the women, etc. And Dom Francisco de Quevedo, in English,revenges him upon all his enemies. For it is a satire, thattaxes corruption of manners, in all sorts and degrees of people,without reflecting upon particular states or persons. It isfull of sharpness and morality; and has found so goodentertainment in the world, that it wanted only English of beingbaptized into all Christian languages.
Going t’other day to hearmass at a convent in this town, the door it seems was shut, and aworld of people pressing and begging to get in. Uponenquiry what the matter was; they told me of a demoniac to beexorcised; (or dispossessed) which made me put in for one, to seethe ceremony: though to little purpose; for when I had halfsmothered myself in the throng, I was e’en glad to get outagain, and bethink myself of my lodging. Upon my wayhomeward, at the street’s end, it was my fortune to meet afamiliar friend of mine of the same convent; who told me overagain what I had heard before, and taking notice of my curiosity,bade me follow him; which I did, till with hispasse-partout he brought me through a little back-doorinto the church, and so into the vestry: where p. 2we saw awretched kind of a dog-looked fellow with a tippet about hisneck, as ill ordered as you’d wish; his clothes all intatters, his hands bound behind him, roaring and tearing after amost hideous manner. “Bless me,” quoth I,crossing myself, “what spectacle have we here?” “This,” said the good Father who was to do the feat,“is a man that’s possessed with an evilspirit.” “That’s a damned lie,”with respect of the company, cried the devil that tormented him,“for this is not a man possessed with a devil, but a devilpossessed with a man; and therefore you should do well to have acare what you say, for it is most evident, both by the questionan