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liberties.""Prodigious indeed!" answered the stranger. "You tell me what wouldbe incredible of a nation which did not deserve the character thatVirgil gives of a woman, _varium et mutabile semper_. Surely this isto be unworthy of the care which Providence seems to have taken ofus in the preservation of our religion against the powerful designsand constant machinations of Popery, a preservation so strange andunaccountable that I almost think we may appeal to it as to amiracle for the proof of its holiness. Prodigious indeed! AProtestant rebellion in favour of a popish prince! The folly ofmankind is as wonderful as their knavery--But to conclude my story:I resolved to take arms in defence of my country, of my religion,and my liberty, and Mr. Watson joined in the same resolution. Wesoon provided ourselves with an necessaries and joined the Duke atBridgewater.""The unfortunate event of this enterprise you are perhaps betteracquainted with than myself. I escaped together with Mr. Watson fromthe battle at Sedgemore,...Chapter xv.A brief history of Europe; and a curious discourse between Mr Jonesand the Man of the Hill."In Italy the landlords are very silent. In France they are moretalkative, but yet civil. In Germany and Holland they are generallyvery impertinent. And as for their honesty, I believe it is prettyequal in all those countries. The _laquais a louange_ are sure to loseno opportunity of cheating you; and as for the postilions, I thinkthey are pretty much alike all the world over. These, sir, are theobservations on men which I made in my travels; for these were theonly men I ever conversed with. My design, when I went abroad, was todivert myself by seeing the wondrous variety of prospects, beasts,birds, fishes, insects, and vegetables, with which God has beenpleased to enrich the several parts of this globe; a variety which, asit must give great pleasure to a contemplative beholder, so doth itadmirably display the power, and wisdom, and goodness of the Creator.Indeed, to say the truth, there is but one work in his whole creationthat doth him any dishonour, and with that I have long since avoidedholding any conversation.""You will pardon me," cries Jones; "but I have always imagined thatthere is in this very work you mention as great variety as in all therest; for, besides the difference of inclination, customs and climateshave, I am told, introduced the utmost diversity into human nature.""Very little indeed," answered the other: "those who travel in orderto acquaint themselves with the different manners of men might sparethemselves much pains by going to a carnival at Venice; for there theywill see at once all which they can discover in the several courts ofEurope. The same hypocrisy, the same fraud; in short, the same folliesand vices dressed in different habits. In Spain, these are equippedwith much gravity; and in Italy, with vast splendor. In France, aknave is dressed like a fop; and in the northern countries, like asloven. But human nature is everywhere the same, everywhere the object