GIL BLAS
Archbishop.What is your business with me，my friend？
Gil Blas.I am the young man who was recommended to you by your nephew，Don Fernando.
Arch .O！you are the person of whom he spoke so handsomely.I retain you in my service；I regard you as an acquisition.Your education，it would seem，has not been neglected；you know enough of Greek and Latin for my purpose，and your handwriting suits me.I am obliged to my nephew for sending me so clever a young fellow.So good a copyist must be also a grammarian.Tell me，did you find nothing in the sermon you transcribed for me which shocked your taste？no little negligence of style，or impropriety of diction？
Gil B.O，sir！I am not qualified to play the critic；and if I were，I ampersuaded that your Grace’s compositions would defy censure.
Arch.Ahem！well I do flatter myself that not many flaws could be picked in them.But，my young friend，tell me what passages struck you most forcibly.
Gil B.If，where all was excellent，any passages more particularly moved me，they were those personifying hope，and describing the good man‘s death.
Arch.You show an accurate taste and delicate appreciation.I see your judgment may be relied upon.Give yourself no inquietude，Gil Blas，in regard to your advancement in life.I will take care of that.I have an affection for you，and，to prove it，I will now make you my confidant.Yes，my young friend，I will make you the depository of mymost secret thoughts.Listen to what I have to say.I am fond of preaching，and my sermons are not without effect upon my hearers.The conversions of which I am the humble instrument ought to content me.But，shall I confess my weakness？my reputation as a finished orator is what gratifies me most.My productions are celebrated as at once vigorous and elegant.But I would，of all things，avoid the mistake of those authors who do not know when to stop；I wouldGil Blas de Santillaneproduce nothing beneath my reputation；I would retire seasonably，ere that is impaired.And so，my dear Gil Blas，one thing I exact of your zeal，which is，that when you shall find that my pen begins to flag and to give signs of old age in the owner，you shall not hesitate to apprise me of the fact.Do not be afraid that I shall take it unkindly.I cannot trust my own judgment on this point；self-love may mislead me.A disinterested understanding is what I require for my guidance.I make choice of yours，and mean to abide by your decision.
Gil B .Thank Heaven，sir，the period is likely to be far distant when any such hint shall be needed.Besides，a genius like yours will wear better than that of an inferior man；or，to speak more justly，your faculties are above the encroachments of age.Instead of being weakened，they promise to be invigorated，by time.
Arch.No flattery，my friend.I am well aware that I am liable to give way at any time，all at once.At my age，certain infirmities of the flesh are unavoidable，and they must needs affect the mental powers.Irepeat it，Gil Blas，so soon as you shall perceive the slightest symptom of deterioration in my writings，give me fair warning.Do not shrink from being perfectly candid and sincere；for I shall receive such a monition as a token of your regard for me.
Gil B.In good faith，sir，I shall endeavor to merit your confidence.
Arch.Nay，your interests are bound up with your obedience in this respect；for if，unfortunately for you，I should hear in the city a whisper of a falling off in my discourses，an intimation that I ought to stop preaching，I should hold you responsible，and consider myself ex-empted from all care for your fortunes.Such will be the result of your false discretion.
Gil B.Indeed sir，I shall be vigilant to observe your wishes，and to detect any blemish in your writings.
Arch.And now tell me，Gil Blas，what does the world say of my lastdiscourse？Think you it gave general satisfaction？
Gil B.Since you exact it of me in so pressing a manner to be frank-Arch.Frank？O，certainly，by all means，speak out，my young friend.Gil B.Your Grace’s sermons never fail to be admired；but-Arch.But-Well？Do not be afraid to let me know all.