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extraordinary individual； a tall； bony； meagre figure； in a
tattered Andalusian hat； ragged capote； and still more ragged
pantaloons； and seemingly between forty and fifty years of age。
The only appellation to which he answered was Manuel。 His
occupation； at the time we knew him； was selling tickets for the
lottery； by which he obtained a miserable livelihood in Seville and
the neighbouring villages。 His appearance was altogether wild and
uncouth； and there was an insane expression in his eye。 Observing
us one day in conversation with a Gitana； he addressed us； and we
soon found that the sound of the Gitano language had struck a chord
which vibrated through the depths of his soul。 His history was
remarkable； in his early youth a manuscript copy of the compilation
of Luis Lobo had fallen into his hands。 This book had so taken
hold of his imagination； that he studied it night and day until he
had planted it in his memory from beginning to end； but in so
doing； his brain； like that of the hero of Cervantes； had become
dry and heated； so that he was unfitted for any serious or useful
occupation。 After the death of his parents he wandered about the
streets in great distress； until at last he fell into the hands of
certain toreros； or bull…fighters； who kept him about them； in
order that he might repeat to them the songs of the AFICION。 They
subsequently carried him to Madrid； where； however； they soon
deserted him after he had experienced much brutality from their
hands。 He returned to Seville； and soon became the inmate of a
madhouse； where he continued several years。 Having partially
recovered from his malady； he was liberated； and wandered about as
before。 During the cholera at Seville； when nearly twenty thousand
human beings perished； he was appointed conductor of one of the
death…carts； which went through the streets for the purpose of
picking up the dead bodies。 His perfect inoffensiveness eventually
procured him friends； and he obtained the situation of vendor of
lottery tickets。 He frequently visited us； and would then recite
long passages from the work of Lobo。 He was wont to say that he
was the only one in Seville； at the present day； acquainted with
the language of the Aficion； for though there were many pretenders；
their knowledge was confined to a few words。
From the recitation of this individual； we wrote down the
Brijindope； or Deluge； and the poem on the plague which broke out
in Seville in the year 1800。 These and some songs of less
consequence； constitute the poetical part of the compilation in
question； the rest； which is in prose； consisting chiefly of
translations from the Spanish； of proverbs and religious pieces。
BRIJINDOPE。 … THE DELUGE （65）
A POEM： IN TWO PARTS
PART THE FIRST
I with fear and terror quake；
Whilst the pen to write I take；
I will utter many a pray'r
To the heaven's Regent fair；
That she deign to succour me；
And I'll humbly bend my knee；
For but poorly do I know
With my subject on to go；
Therefore is my wisest plan
Not to trust in strength of man。
I my heavy sins bewail；
Whilst I view the wo and wail
Handed down so solemnly
In the book of times gone by。
Onward； onward； now I'll move
In the name of Christ above；
And his Mother true and dear；
She who loves the wretch to cheer。
All I know； and all I've heard
I will state … how God appear'd
And to Noah thus did cry：
Weary with the world am I；
Let an ark by thee be built；
For the world is lost in guilt；
And when thou hast built it well；
Loud proclaim what now I tell：
Straight repent ye； for your Lord
In his hand doth hold a sword。
And good Noah thus did call：
Straight repent ye one and all；
For the world with grief I see
Lost in vileness utterly。
God's own mandate I but do；
He hath sent me unto you。
Laugh'd the world to bitter scorn；
I his cruel sufferings mourn；
Brawny youths with furious air
Drag the Patriarch by the hair；
Lewdness governs every one：
Leaves her convent now the nun；
And the monk abroad I see
Practising iniquity。
Now I'll tell how God； intent
To avenge； a vapour sent；
With full many a dreadful sign …
Mighty； mighty fear is mine：
As I hear the thunders roll；
Seems to die my very soul；
As I see the world o'erspread
All with darkness thick and dread；
I the pen can scarcely ply
For the tears which dim my eye；
And o'ercome with grievous wo；
Fear the task I must forego
I have purposed to perform。 …
Hark； I hear upon the storm
Thousand； thousand devils fly；
Who with awful howlings cry：
Now's the time and now's the hour；
We have licence； we have power
To obtain a glorious prey。 …
I with horror turn away；
Tumbles house and tumbles wall；
Thousands lose their lives and all；
Voiding curses； screams and groans；
For the beams； the bricks and stones
Bruise and bury all below …
Nor is that the worst； I trow；
For the clouds begin to pour
Floods of water more and more；
Down upon the world with might；
Never pausing day or night。
Now in terrible distress
All to God their cries address；
And his Mother dear adore； …
But the time of grace is o'er；
For the Almighty in the sky
Holds his hand upraised on high。
Now's the time of madden'd rout；
Hideous cry； despairing shout；
Whither； whither shall they fly？
For the danger threat'ningly
Draweth near on every side；
And the earth； that's opening wide；
Swallows thousands in its womb；
Who would 'scape the dreadful doom。
Of dear hope exists no gleam；
Still the water down doth stream；
Ne'er so little a creeping thing
But from out its hold doth spring：
See the mouse； and see its mate
Scour along； nor stop； nor wait；
See the serpent and the snake
For the nearest highlands make；
The tarantula I view；
Emmet small and cricket too；
All unknowing where to fly；
In the stifling waters die。
See the goat and bleating sheep；
See the bull with bellowings deep。
And the rat with squealings shrill；
They have mounted on the hill：
See the stag； and see the doe；
How together fond they go；
Lion； tiger…beast； and pard；
To escape are striving hard：
Followed by her little ones；
See the hare how swift she runs：
Asses； he and she； a pair。
Mute and mule with bray and blare；
And the rabbit and the fox；
Hurry over stones and rocks；
With the grunting hog and horse；
Till at last they stop their course …
On the summit of the hill
All assembled stand they still；
In the second part I'll tell
Unto them what there befell。
PART THE SECOND
W