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From This World to the Next-Part12_HENRY FIELDING(1707-1754)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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afterwards proceeded to assure me that this appearance of St.



James was entirely owing to his prayers; for that he was his

tutelar saint. He added he had a vision of him a few hours



before, when he promised him a victory over the infidels, and

acquainted him at the same time of the vacancy of the see of



Toledo. Now, this news being really true, though it had happened

so lately that I had not heard of it (nor, indeed, was it well



possible I should, considering the great distance of the way),

when I was afterwards acquainted with it, a little staggered me,



though far from being superstitious; till being informed that the

bishop had lost three horses on a late expedition, I was



satisfied.

"The next morning, the bishop, at my desire, mounted the rostrum,



and trumpeted forth this vision so effectually, which he said he

had that evening twice seen with his own eyes, that a spirit



began to be infused through the whole army which rendered them

superior to almost any force: the bishop insisted that the least



doubt of success was giving the lie to the saint, and a damnable

sin, and he took upon him in his name to promise them victory.



"The army being drawn out, I soon experienced the effect of

enthusiasm, for, having contrived another stratagem[9] to



strengthen what the bishop had said, the soldiers fought more

like furies than men. My stratagem was this: I had about me a



dexterous fellow, who had been formerly a pimp in my amours. Him

I dressed up in a strange antic dress, with a pair of white



colors in his right hand, a red cross in his left, and having

disguised him so that no one could know him, I placed him on a



white horse, and ordered him to ride to the head of the army, and

cry out, 'Follow St. James!' These words were reiterated by all



the troops, who attacked the enemy with such intrepidity, that,

notwithstanding our inferiority of numbers, we soon obtained a



complete victory.

[9] This silly story is told as a solemn truth (i.e., that St.



James really appeared in the manner this fellow is described) by

Mariana, 1.7, Section 78.



"The bishop was come up by the time that the enemy was routed,

and, acquainting us that he had met St. James by the way, and



that he had informed him of what had passed, he added that he had

express orders from the saint to receive a considerable sum for



his use, and that a certain tax on corn and wine should be

settled on his church for ever; and lastly, that a horseman's pay



should be allowed for the future to the saint himself, of which

he and his successors were appointed receivers. The army



received these demands with such acclamations that I was obliged

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




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