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to comply with them； as I could by no means discover the
imposition； nor do I believe I should have gained any credit if I
had。
〃I had now done with the saint； but the bishop had not； for about
a week afterwards lights were seen in a wood near where the
battle was fought； and in a short time afterwards they discovered
his tomb at the same place。 Upon this the bishop made me a
visit； and forced me to go thither； to build a church to him； and
largely endow it。 In a word； the good man so plagued me with
miracle after miracle； that I was forced to make interest with
the pope to convey him to Toledo； to get rid of him。
〃But to proceed to other matters。There was an inferior officer；
who had behaved very bravely in the battle against the Moors； and
had received several wounds； who solicited me for preferment；
which I was about to confer on him； when one of my ministers came
to me in a fright； and told me that he had promised the post I
designed for this man to the son of count Alderedo； and that the
count； who was a powerful person； would be greatly disobliged at
the refusal； as he had sent for his son from school to take
possession of it。 I was obliged to agree with my minister's
reasons； and at the same time recommended the wounded soldier to
be preferred by him； which he faithfully promised he would； but I
met the poor wretch since in Elysium； who informed me he was
afterwards starved to death。
〃None who hath not been himself a prince； nor any prince till his
death； can conceive the impositions daily put on them by their
favorites and ministers； so that princes are often blamed for the
faults of others。 The count of Saldagne had been long confined
in prison； when his son； D。 Bernard del Carpio； who had
performed the greatest actions against the Moors； entreated me；
as a reward for his service； to grant him his father's liberty。
The old man's punishment had been so tedious； and the services of
the young one so singularly eminent； that I was very inclinable
to grant the request； but my ministers strongly opposed it； they
told me my glory demanded revenge for the dishonor offered to my
family； that so positive a demand carried with it rather the air
of menace than entreaty； that the vain detail of his services；
and the recompense due to them； was an injurious reproach； that
to grant what had been so haughtily demanded would argue in the
monarch both weakness and timidity； in a word； that to remit the
punishment inflicted by my predecessors would be to condemn their
judgment。 Lastly； one told me in a whisper； 'His whole family
are enemies to your house。' By these means the ministers
prevailed。 The young lord took the refusal so ill； that he
retired from court； and abandoned himself to despair； whilst the
old one languished in prison。 By which means； as I have since
discovered； I lost the use of two of my best subjects。
〃To confess the truth； I had； by means of my ministers； conceived
a very unjust opinion of my whole people； whom I fancied to be
daily conspiring against me； and to entertain the most disloyal
thoughts； when； in reality （as I have known since my death）； they
held me in universal respect and esteem。 This is a trick； I
believe； too often played with sovereigns； who； by such means；
are prevented from that open intercourse with their subjects
which； as it would greatly endear the person of the prince to the
people； so might it often prove dangerous to a minister who was
consulting his own interest only at the expense of both。 I
believe I have now recounted to you the most material passages of
my life； for I assure you there are some incidents in the lives
of kings not extremely worth relating。 Everything which passes
in their minds and families is not attended with the splendor
which surrounds their throneindeed； there are some hours
wherein the naked king and the naked cobbler can scarce be
distinguished from each other。
〃Had it not been； however； for my ingratitude to Bernard del
Carpio； I believe this would have been my last pilgrimage on
earth； for； as to the story of St。 James； I thought Minos would
have burst his sides at it； but he was so displeased with me on
the other account； that； with a frown； he cried out； 'Get thee
back again； king。' Nor would he suffer me to say another word。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
Julian passes into a fool。
〃The next visit I made to the world was performed in France；
where I was born in the court of Lewis III； and had afterwards
the honor to be preferred to be fool to the prince； who was
surnamed Charles the Simple。 But； in reality； I know not whether
I might so properly be said to have acted the fool in his court
as to have made fools of all others in it。 Certain it is； I was
very far from being what is generally understood by that word；
being a most cunning； designing； arch knave。 I knew very well
the folly of my master； and of many others； and how to make my
advantage of this knowledge。
〃I was as dear to Charles the Simple as the player Paris was to
Domitian； and； like him； bestowed all manner of offices and
honors on whom I pleased。 This drew me a great number of
followers among the courtiers； who really mistook me for a fool；
and yet flattered my understanding。 There was particularly in
the court a fellow who had neither honor； honesty； sense； wit；
courage； beauty； nor indeed any one good quality； either of mind
or body； to recommend him； but was at the same time； perhaps； as
cunning a monster as ever lived。 This gentleman took it into his
head to list under my banner； and pursued me so very assiduously
with flattery； constantly reminding me of my good sense； that I
grew immoderately fond of him； for though flattery is not most
judiciously applied to qualities which the persons flattered
possess； yet as； notwithstanding my being well assured of my own
parts； I passed in the whole court for a fool； this flattery was
a very sweet morsel to me。 I therefore got this fellow preferred
to a bishopric； but I lost my flatterer by it； for he never
afterwards said a civil thing to me。
〃I never balked my imagination for the grossness of the
reflection on the character of the greatest noblenay； even the
king himself； of which I will give you a very bold instance。 One
day his simple majesty told me he believed I had so much power
that his people looked on me as the king； and himself as my fool。
At this I pretended to be angry； as with an affront。 'Why； how
now？' says the king； 'are you ashamed of being a king？' 'No；
sir；' says I； 'but I am devilishly ashamed of my fool。'
〃Herbert； earl of Vermandois； had by my means been restored to
the favor of the Simple （for so I used always to call Charles）。
He afterwards prevailed with the king to take the city of Arras
from earl Baldwin； by which means； Herbert； in exchange for this
city； had Peronne restored to him by count Altmar。 Baldwin came
to court in order