Даниэль Дефо
The Friendly Daemon, or the Generous Apparition
Froissard reports, That in the Time of Edward the Third, there was a certain Knight in France, call'd Corasse, who could tell every thing Transacted throughout the whole World, in a Day or two at the most, were the distance never so remote, and this he did by an invisible Intelligencer or familiar Spirit, which he call'd Orthone, who was always at his Command and brought him News continually for many Years, till, at last, he lost the Benefit of so useful a Companion, through a vain desire of gratifying his Curiousity after the following manner, (viz.) The Knight, having hitherto only heard the Voice of his spiritual Emissary, was now infatuated with an earnest inclination to behold his Shapes, which favour he requested of Orthone; accordingly, whose Answer was, that the first thing he should see on the morrow Morning, after he was risen from his Bed, should be the Object he desir'd, or Words to that effect. The Knight, the next Morning, pursuant to the direction of his Spirit, arose from his Bed, look'd about him, but could not discover any thing worthy of Remark; upon which disappointment, he upbraided Orthone, with being worse than his Word, who reply'd he had kept his Promise, desiring the Knight to remind himself of what he had first observ'd after his rising; the Knight, upon recollection, reply'd, that he saw nothing uncommon, but a couple of Straws tumbling upon the Ground and sporting with one another, as if agitated by the Wind; That was I, saith the Spirit, and therefore I kept my Word. Then the Knight desir'd to see him once more, in such a Shape as might induce him, the next Time, to take more notice of him, to which the Spirit consented, saying, the first thing you see to morrow Morning, after your uprising, shall be me again; accordingly, when the Time appointed was arriv'd and the Knight was risen from his Bed, looking out of his Chamber Window, the first Object he espy'd, was a Lean ill-favour'd Sow, so deform'd and ugly, that he was not able to abide the sight of her; and not expecting Orthone to appear to him in so homely a manner, he set his Dogs upon the Sow, to drive her away, who being highly affronted at such unfriendly usage, immediately Vanish'd, to the Knight's great surprise; and his old acquaintance Orthone, never came near him after. This relation, Froissard asserts he had from the Knight's own Mouth, with whom he was very intimate.
From hence I conclude, That the same sort of Spirit that attended Corasse, has been always a Friend to you, not only of late, in your miraculous Recovery, but has at all Times assisted you in Writing the Names of Strangers, discovering the most secret Intrigues and foretelling future Events, for which you have long been Famous. As a further Proof of the Existence of Spirits and that at some other Times, as well as in your Case, they have prescrib'd Physick to their living Friends, I shall quote an Instance out of Mr. Glanvil's Reports, attested by the late Lord Orrery, the Famous Mr. Greatrix, and many others, living in the Reign of King Charles the Second.
A Gentleman in Ireland, near to the Earl of Orrery's House, sending his Butler one Afternoon to a neighbouring Village to buy Cards, as he pass'd a Field, espy'd a Company in the middle thereof, sitting round a Table, with several Dishes of good Cheer before them, and moving towards 'em, they all arose and Saluted him, desiring him to sit down and take part with them; but one of them whisper'd these Words in his Ear, viz. Do nothing this Company invites you to: Whereupon, he refusing to accept of their Kindness, the Table and all the Dainties it was furnish'd with immediately vanish'd, but the Company fell to Dancing and playing upon divers Musical Instruments, the Butler being a second Time solicited to partake of their Diversions, but would not be prevail'd upon to engage himself with them; upon which, they left off their Merry-making and all fell to Work, still pressing the Butler to make one among 'em, but to no purpose; so that, upon his third refusal, they all vanish'd and left the Butler alone, who in a great Consternation return'd home, without the Cards, fell into a Fit as he enter'd the House, but, soon recovering his Senses, related to his Master all that had pass'd.
The following Night, one of the Ghostly Company came to the Butler's Bed-side and told him, that if he offer'd to stir out the next Day, he would be carry'd away; upon whose Advice, he kept within till towards the Evening, and having then an Occasion to make Water, ventur'd to set one Foot over the Threshold of the Door, in order to ease himself, which he had no sooner done, but a Rope was cast about his Middle, in the Sight of several Standers-by, and the poor Man was hurry'd from the Porch with unaccountable Swiftness, follow'd by many Persons, but they were not nimble enough to overtake him, till a Horseman, well mounted, happening to meet him upon the Road, and seeing many followers in pursuit of a Man hurry'd along in a Rope, without any Body to force him, catch'd hold of the Cord and stop'd him in his Career, but receiv'd, for his Pains, such a strap upon his Back with one End of the Rope, as almost fell'd him from his Horse; however, being a good Christian, he was too strong for the Devil, and recover'd the Butler out of the Spirits Clutches and brought him back to his Friends.
The Lord Orrery, hearing of these strange Passages, for his further Satisfaction in the Truth thereof, sent for the Butler, with leave of his Master, to come and continue some Days and Nights at his House, which, in Obedience to his Lordship, the Servant did accordingly, who after his first Night's Bedding there, reported to the Earl in the Morning, that his Spectre had again been with him, and assur'd him, that on that very Day he should be spirited away, in spight of all the Measures that could possibly be taken to prevent it: Upon which, he was conducted into a large Room, with a considerable Number of holy Persons to defend him from the Assaults of Satan; among whom, was the famous stroker of bewitch'd Persons, Mr. Greatrix, who liv'd in the Neighbourhood, and knew, as may be presum'd, how to deal with the Devil as well as any Body; besides several eminent Quality were present in the House, among the rest, two Bishops, all waiting the wonderful Event of this unaccountable Prodigy.
Till part of the Afternoon was spent, the Time slid away in nothing but Peace and Quietness, but, at length, the enchanted Patient was perceiv'd to rise from the Floor without any visible Assistance, whereupon, Mr. Greatrix and another lusty Man clapt their Arms over his Shoulders, and endeavour'd to weigh him down with their utmost Strength, but to no purpose, for the Devil prov'd too powerful, and after a hard struggle on both sides, made them quit their hold, and snatching the Butler from 'em, carry'd him over their Heads and toss'd him in the Air, to and fro, like a Dog in a Blanket; several of the Company running under the poor Wretch to save him from the Ground, by which means, when the Spirits Frolick was over, they could not find that in all this hurry-scurry, the frighted Butler had receiv'd the least Damage, but was left in Statu quo, upon the same Premises, to prove the Devil a Liar.
The Goblins, for this bout, having given over their Pastime, and left their Maygame to take a little repose, that he might in some Measure be refresh'd against their next Sally, My Lord order'd, the same Night, two of his Servants to lie with him, for fear some Devil or other should come and catch him Napping, notwithstanding which, the Butler told his Lordship the next Morning, that the Spirit had again been with him in the likeness of a Quack Doctor, and in his right Hand a wooden Dish-full of grey Liquor, like a Mess of Porridge, at sight of which, he endeavour'd to awake his Bedfellows, but the Spectre told him his attempts were fruitless, for that his Companions were enchanted into a deep Sleep, advising him not to be frighted, for he came as a Friend, and was the same Spirit that caution'd him in the Field against complying with the Company he there met, when he was going for the Cards; adding, that if he had not refus'd to come into their Measures, he had been for ever miserable; also wonder'd he had escap'd the Day before, because he knew there was so powerful a Combination against him; but assur'd him, that for the future there would be no more attempts of the like Nature; further telling the poor trembling Butler, that he knew he was sadly troubl'd with two sorts of Fits, and, therefore, as a Friend, had brought him a Medicine that would Cure him of both, beseeching him to take it, but the poor Patient, who had been so scurvily us'd by these sort of Doctors, and fearing the Devil might be at the Bottom of the Cup, would not be prevail'd upon to swallow the Dose, which made the Spirit Angry; who told him, however, he had a kindness for him, and that if he would bruise the Roots of Plantane without the Leaves, and drink the the Juice thereof, it should certainly Cure him of one sort of his Fits, but as a Punishment for his Obstinacy in refusing the Liquor, he should carry the other to his Grave, then the spiritual Doctor ask'd his Patient if he knew him; the Butler answer'd, No. I am, says he, the wandring Ghost of your old Acquaintance John Hobby, who has been dead and bury'd these seven Years; and ever since, for the wickedness of my Life, have been lifted into the Company of those Evil-Spirits you beheld in the Fields, am hurry'd up and down in this restless Condition, and doom'd to continue in the same wretched State till the Day of Judgment. Adding, that Had you serv'd your Creator in the days of your Youth, and offer'd up your Prayers that Morning, before you were sent for the Cards, you had not been treated by the Spirits that tormented you, with so much Rigour and Severity.
