FRACOIS DE QUEVEDO DE VILLEGAS, a Spanish gentleman, and knight of the
order of Saint James, was born in 1570, at Villa Nueva de l’Infantado;
and not at Madrid, as has been asserted by Moreri, and repeated after him
in the _Historical Dictionary_ of Lyons. He was lord of Juan Abbate, in
the province of La Mancha, an estate of which he bore the title. After
having visited Italy, France, and all Spain, and rendered the most signal
services to the Spanish ministry, he took up his residence at Madrid.
During his stay at court, he devoted himself to study and composition:
being considered the most polished writer of his time, and one who united
in himself the greatest versatility of talent. The taste of Quevedo
naturally inclined him to fictitious composition. Endowed with keen
perceptions, a vivid imagination, and rapidity of invention, he is not
indebted to the drudgery of research, and other men’s thoughts for his
immortal productions: depending solely upon his own resources, he was
emphatically an original writer.
The author of the _Spanish Library_, expresses himself of Quevedo, in the
following terms: “He knew how to reconcile the gravest studies with
pleasantries and wit. His style is embellished with the ornaments of an
adroitly managed application: he has so much finesse, such an immense
fund of invention, of ideas as novel as ingenious—so much soft and
delicate irony: he understands so well, whether in verse or prose, how to
sketch with facility a pleasant or ridiculous subject, that among gay
writers there is not one comparable to him. Nervous and sublime in
heroic poetry, graceful in lyric verse, full of wit and gaiety in his
sportive works, his genius illuminates the weakest subjects.”
His poetical effusions have been very much sought after. Nicholas
Antonio, an excellent critic, says, also, that in the higher walks of
poetry, he has force and sublimity. His luxuriant imagination carried
him alternately to both sacred and profane verse. He wrote divers
religious treatises, and many essays extremely amusing, besides
translations in verse and prose. He published, among other works, the
_Spanish Panassus_, and the novel known by the name of the _Sharper_.
His works have been published in four volumes folio, and in eleven
volumes octavo. They comprise, under the title of _Dreams_ or _Visions_,
divers works of his, published at different times, in various places, and
with different titles.
Quevedo, in his old age, was very infirm; and, at an advanced period of
his life, was imprisoned by order of Count d’Olivarez, for a libel upon
his administration, in which situation he remained till the death of the
minister. He died at Villa Nueva de l’Infantado, the place of his birth,
on the eighth day of September, 1645.
FIRST NIGHT.
THE DEMON.
THE prayers of the church being considered as the most efficacious
remedies that can be employed against the possession of the devil, a
malady almost invincible, some wealthy inhabitants of the country had
brought into this city of Seville, one of their relations, who was thus
afflicted, to confide his cure to a religious of renowned sanctity; or,
in other words, for the purpose of having him exorcised. On the day
assigned for this operation, the possessed was carried to the church of
the Cordeliers, which very soon overflowed with spectators. The gates
having been shut before my arrival, I engaged a religious of my
acquaintance to admit me. He introduced me by the gate of the monastery;
but I had no sooner entered the church, than I had reason to repent my
curiosity: I was hustled by the crowd, and overcome with the heat. There
my regards were attracted by an unhappy wretch, of an ill figure, with
wild eyes and dishevelled garments, his hands bound behind his back, and
uttering from time to time the most frightful yells. There was much
impatience testified to behold this holy priest, of whom I have spoken,
whose name was _Juan de Cardanas_, father of Barnadino de Cardanas,
Capuchin, and Bishop of Paragua, in America. After the performance of
mass, he found himself so much indisposed, that they were obliged to
postpone the exorcism till another day. I was not sorry; for, not
partaking in the credulity of the people, who often impute epileptical
complaints to the operation of demons, I had for a long time been
desirous of personally verifying those things they relate concerning the
possessions of the devil. I lost no time in visiting the relations of
this unhappy person, whom I shrewdly suspected had recourse to this
adroit method to rid themselves of the inconvenience of certain
pecadilloes he had been engaged in. I inspired them with sufficient
confidence to obtain permission to visit their lodgings the following
night, with a view of making such an examination as I should judge
proper. I preferred this time to any other, that I might the better
conceal the defeat of my enterprize if it should not succeed.
The night being come, I was introduced into the chamber of the possessed
whom they had placed upon a bed in such a manner that he could not rise.
The presence of his friends prevented me from the proposition of certain
questions I had meditated. The following will serve as a sample:
Is it possible to find out the philosopher’s stone?
Can the quadrature of the circle be discovered?
Is there an universal panacea for every disease?
Is there among herbs, any simples which can inspire love in women, or
protect from blows and wounds?
I had put in writing some other objects of my curiosity; but as it was
not a convenient time to propound them, I began to feel the pulse of the
possessed. It was frequent and elevated: from time to time his eyes were
troubled; and he had convulsive movements, from which he suffered very
much.
After having examined his body, I examined his mind, speaking to him in
Greek, Hebrew, Turkish, Indian, and even in the Mexican tongue. He
answered me always very appropriately in Spanish, which convinced me that
he was in truth possessed with a devil; for although he spake not all
languages, he nevertheless understood them, which could not naturally
happen without study or travel. His relations assured me he had done
neither the one nor the other.