ingular folly.
Thomas returned accordingly to his past pursuits; but, instead of
calling himself Rodaja, as before, he assumed the name of Rueda. He had
scarcely appeared in the street, before he was recognised by the boys;
but seeing him in a dress so different from that he had before worn and
been known by, they dared not cry after him or ask him questions, but
contented themselves with saying, one to another, "Is not this the
madman, Doctor Glasscase? It is certainly he; and though he now looks so
discreet, he may be just as mad in this handsome dress as he was in that
other. Let us ask him some questions, and get rid of our doubts."
All this was heard by Thomas, who maintained silence, but felt much
confused, and hurried along more hastily than he had been wont to do
before he regained his senses. The men at length made the same remarks
as the boys and before he had arrived at the courts he had a train of
more than two hundred persons of all classes following him, being more
amply attended than the most popular professor of the university.
Having gained the first court, which is that of the entrance, these
people ended by surrounding him completely; when, perceiving that he was
so crowded on as no longer to have the power of proceeding, he finally
raised his voice, and said--
"Senores, it is true that I am Doctor Glass-case, but not he whom you
formerly knew. I am now Doctor Rueda. Misfortunes such as not
unfrequently happen in this world, by the permission of heaven, had
deprived me of my senses, but the mercy of God has restored them; and by
those things which you have heard me say when I was mad, you may judge
of what I shall say now that I am become sane. I am a doctor in laws of
the university of Salamanca, where I studied in much poverty, but raised
myself through all the degrees to that I now hold; but my poverty may
serve to assure you that I owe my rank to industry and not to favour. I
have come to this great sea of the Court, hoping to swim and get forward
and gain the bread of my life; but if you do not leave me I shall be
more likely to sink and find my death. For the love of God, I entreat
that you follow me no further, since, in doing so, you persecute and
injure me. What you formerly enquired of me in the streets, I beg you
now to come and ask me at my house, when you shall see that the
questions to which I before replied, impromptu, shall be more perfectly
answered now that I shall take time t
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