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Francisco de Quevedo. The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas
The Visions of Dom Francisco de Quevedo Villegas
Table of Contents
Footnote
TO THE READERS GENTLE AND SIMPLE
THE FIRST VISION OF THE ALGOUAZIL (OR CATCHPOLE) POSSESSED
THE SECOND VISION OF DEATH AND HER EMPIRE
THE THIRD VISION OF THE LAST JUDGMENT
THE FOURTH VISION OF LOVING FOOLS
THE FIFTH VISION OF THE WORLD
THE SIXTH VISION OF HELL
THE SEVENTH VISION OF HELL REFORMED
THE DECREE OF LUCIFER
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Francisco de Quevedo
Published by Good Press, 2021
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Mean souls do naturally breed sad thoughts, and in solitude, they gather together in troops to assault the unfortunate; which is the trial (according to my observation) wherein the coward does most betray himself; and yet cannot I for my life, when I am alone, avoid those accidents and surprises in myself, which I condemn in others. I have sometime, upon reading the grave and severe Lucretius, been seized with a strange damp; whether from the striking of his counsels upon my passions, or some tacit reflection of shame upon myself, I know not. However, to render this confession of my weakness the more excusable, I’ll begin my discourse with somewhat out of that elegant and excellent poet.
“Put the case,” says he, “that a voice from heaven should speak to any of us after this manner; what dost thou ail, O mortal man, or to what purpose is it, to spend thy life in groans, and complaints under the apprehension of death? where are thy past tears and pleasures? Are they not vanished and lost in the flux of time, as if thou hadst put water into a sieve? Bethink thyself then of a retreat, and leave the world with the same content, and satisfaction, as thou wouldst do a plentiful table, and a jolly company upon a full stomach. Poor fool that thou art! thus to macerate and torment thyself, when thou may’st enjoy thy heart at ease, and possess thy soul with repose and comfort, etc.”
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