68 The A D VENTURES of
to it, arrived at a place thro’ which a rivulet of crystalline waters gently glided in its wav to join the waters of Guadalaviar *. The fhade projcfcled by the trees, and the grais which the place afforded in abundance to our horfes.. would have determin' d us to halt here, even il we had not been refolved upon it before. We alighted therefore, and prepared to pafs the day very agieeably ; but when wc went to break- faff, found very little provifion left. We began to want bread, and our bcttlc was become a body without a foul. “ Gentlemen, faid Ambrofc, the moll charming retreats are but difagrecable without Bacchus and Ceres ; our provifion muff be renewed : I will for that purpofego to Xelva, an hamifomc town no* above two leagues from hence; fothat the journey will foon be finilhed.” So faying, he fixed the bottle and havrefack on one of the horfes, and mounting atop of them, went out of the wood with a difpatch that promifed a fpeedy return.
He did not come back, however, fo foon as we expelled : more than half of the day clapfed, and night was ready to cover the trees with her footy wings, when we beheld our purveyor, whofe flay had begun to give us fome uncafincfs. He exceeded our expectation by the quantity of things with which he returned loaded. He brought not only the leathern bottle filled with excellent wine, and the knapfack crammed with bread and all forts of venifon, but alfo a great bundle of cloth, which we obferved with a good deal of attention. He perceived our admiration, and faid with a finile, “ I defy Don Raphael, and all the world together, to guefs why I have purchafed thefe things.” Saying thefe words, he loofed the bundle,
* Guadalaviar, a river of Spain, taking its rife near the fource of the Tagus, on the confines of Arra- gon and New Caftxle, traverfes the firft of thefe kingdoms, enters Valencia, waters the capital, and dif- charges itfclf into the gulph of that name.
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