Page:New winter evening's companion, of fun, mirth, and frolic.pdf/11

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
There was a problem when proofreading this page.

11

before now with the blood of my adversary: but, Signior Alvarez is my worthy and a man of honour. By this panctilio their honour's lives were both saved, and courage and memory set on a level, that neither of them could reproach the other with the want or either.

A gentleman of Wales, coming fresh off the mountains to visit London, happened upon a change of air. to fall dangerously ill of a hectic fever. An English physician being immediately sent for, found his condition to be very dangerous, and presently ordered him such proper medicines as are usually administered in such cases, but all of no purpose; for the distemper proved so very rebellious, that notwithstanding the doctor proceeded according to the best of his judgement, let all the physic he prescribed him, was wholly ineffectual, till at last, the patient was reduced to such a condition, that the doctor, though a skilful man, quite despaired of his recovery; so told the nurse privately, that he had done the utmost, according to the rules of art, and that all his visits and prescriptions for the future would be of little use to the patient, so that he would now give him up to the goodness of God and the care of herself, or he could not conceive it was in the power of physic to save his life, therefore advised her to real gently by him, and deny him nothing that he could eat or drink, that the few moments he had to spend in this world might pass away under the less uneasiness; so took leave of the nurse, and away he went.

No sooner had the doctor given the nurse this liberty, but as soon as his back was turned, she