Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-06-30

mill under hin. The miller. seeing hi,
cast down, said, "what is The matter. ,II
what makes you sigh SO?
81 may we'll sIgh,' replied the Abbc
for bis higbness th rea te rs 10 play III dem,
with me if do not answer four question,
which neither Soloman nor Aristotle coOt
solve;" and he told the miller what th,,
were.
The latter stood thoughtful few minus.
and then said. "weli, if you have mind
| will get you out Of the scrape."
Would to Heaven you could" excDain
ed the Abbot; there IS nothing hav. thu,
would not give you"
81 am willing to leave that 10 ycun 90,
the miller, 8" but It will be necessarv q.
you should lend me your tunic and cowI =
must &c: myself shaved, and make nv,ef .,
much like an Abbot as can"
10 this bis reverence joyfully consented
and the next morning. The miller. bavno
transformed himself in;o priest, set Oh, 70,
the palace.
The duke, surprised that the Abbot should
be ready so early, ordered him to be admit.
ted; and the miller, having made bis revs.
renee, placed himself as much in the dark a,
he could, and kept fumbling about hi, fac.
with his hand, to prevent bi. being recoe.
nized. The duke then asked him if he W.,
ready TO answer the queries be had pu, to
him to which be replied in the affirmative
"Your highness's first question:" said b.
was, how far is it from hence to the sky /
answer thirty six millions eight hundred and
htty-fou thousand. seventy-two miles and
bali, and twenty two yards" You hay.
made nice calculation" said the Duke.
but how do you prove it?' "Ifyou think
it incorrect" said the other, measure j,
yourself, and il you do not 6nd it right hane
me-"
Your second question, how much water
is there in the sea, has given me good deal
OF trouble, because, as there is always some
coming into it, or going out Of il. it is scarce.
ly possible 20 be exact; however, according
to the nearest estimate I have been able 10
make, the sea holds twenty five thousand
nine hundred, and eigbty.two milIion. Of
bogshead,. seven barrels, twelve quarts, and
one pint" How can you possibly tell?" said
the Duke. II have taken all the pain,
could, replied the other; but it you have a.
ny doubt about the matter, get a sufficient
number OF barrels, and you will then see."
"To your third question, what are they
doing in hell, reply they ar. banging, draw.
ing, gu arteriDg and aaying, much as you,
hIghness is doing here. This | was told by
a man who had been there, The same from
whom Dante the Florentine cot his informs.
ton. He is now dead but it your highness
disputes what say, send Tor him.
"Fourthly, you demanded, how much
your bighness was worth answer nine
and twenty shilliEgs."
When Messire Barnabas heard this, be
few into furious passion, and said, "a mur-
rain take you. do you bold me in no higher
estimation than pottage.pot 2" Sire,"
replied he other, trembling all over, "you
know our Lord was sold for thirty pieces Of
silver, and | thought must take you at one
less than him. The shrewdness Of the mans
replies convinced the duke that he was not
the Abbot, and looking stedfas,Iy at him, he
charged him with being an impostor. The
miller, terribly frightened, fell on bis knees
and begged tor mercy, stating that he was
servant Of the Abbot. and bad undertaken
the scheme at bis request, solely With view
to entertain bis higbness Messire Barnabs'
bearing this, exclaimed, since be has bin.
self made you an Abbot, and better one
than ever be was confirm the appointment,
and invest you with bis bene6ce; as you
have taken his place. he shall take yours"
This was actually done and as long as he
lived, the miller received the revenue Of The
abbey, and the Abbot was obliged to content
himself with that Of the mill.
The writer Of The above concludes With
remarking. that notwithstanding the miIes's
good fortune, it is seldom safe to take liber-
ties with great men; that they are like the
sea, which, if it gives the chance OF great
wealth exposes also to great peril and that
however man may be favored By the wes.
Their for time, be has always in danger Of
being wrecked by a storm.