Johnstone, Charles (c.1719-c.1800)

Chrysal; or the Adventures of a Guinea

London

Printed for T. Beckett

1760

"Heaven has blessed thee with a fertile genius, and steel'd thy soul with fortitude"

The judge then making a profound reverence, withdrew without a murmur, and the triumphant father returned to his penitent. 'My son (said he) thine enemies are defeated. Thy rest is secure here. But such is their power, and so strong the general abhorrence that pursues thy late guilt, that it will not be safe for thee ever to leave this sanctuary.' --'O father, must I be confined for ever here?' --'I said not so, my son: there is a way for thee to go in triumph out, above the power of thy present persecutors.' -- 'O name it, father.' --'Take our vows. Heaven has blessed thee with a fertile genius, and steel'd thy soul with fortitude. These talents must not be buried, an account will be required of them; and where can they be put to proper use, except in the service of the donor, in his church; there they will raise thee to that rank and power, which thou seest us enjoy. I see thou yieldest. Resist not the motions of the holy spirit. I receive thee into the fold. I salute thee, brother. From this moment of thine election may'st thou date thy entrance into the highest honours of this world. The day approaches, when thy military knowledge and valour may also be called into practice. Great events are ripening in the womb of time!' --'I yield, O father, (replied the penitent) I receive thine offer with due submission and respect. And from this moment dedicate my valour, skill, and every power of my soul and body, to the implicit service of thine holy order.' --'It is the hand of heaven that leads thee, no longer son, but brother. I will go and acquaint our brethren with thy miraculous conversion and election. Thou hast no more to do but to make thy will, and bequeath all thy wealth to our order.' --'Bequeath, my father, must I die?' --'But to the world, brother, to live with us.' -- 'But I have nothing to bequeath.' -- 'Leave that to us. Do you only give all your fortune, in the hands of your brother, to our society, in consequence of your admission; and let us find that fortune. I go. The bell rings for vespers. I shall send our notary to you; and when that is done, we will restore our exhausted spirits with a slight repast in the refectory, where I will introduce thee to our brethren.'

Mineral::Steel

Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Prose)

22 entries in the ESTC (1760, 1761, 1762, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1771, 1775, 1783, 1785, 1794, 1797).

See Chrysal; or the Adventures of a Guinea. Wherein are exhibited Views of several striking Scenes, with Curious and interesting Anecdotes of the most Noted Persons in every Rank of Life, whose Hands it passed through in America, England, Holland, Germany, and Portugal. By an Adept. (London: Printed for T. Beckett, 1760). <Link to Hathi Trust>

06/09/2005