was directed against me, threatening all manner of tortures,
which the poor lady was in too great a fright and confusion to
dissuade him from executing; and perhaps, if her concern for me
had made her attempt it, it would have raised a jealousy in him
not afterwards to be removed.

"After some hesitation Roderic cried out he had luckily hit on
the most proper punishment for me in the world, by a method which
would at once do severe justice on me for my criminal intention,
and at the same time prevent me from any danger of executing my
wicked purpose hereafter. This cruel resolution was immediately
executed, and I was no longer worthy the name of a man.

"Having thus disqualified me from doing him any future injury, he
still retained me in his family; but the lady, very probably
repenting of what she had done, and looking on me as the author
of her guilt, would never for the future give me either a kind
word or look: and shortly after, a great exchange being made
between the Romans and the Goths of dogs for men, my lady
exchanged me with a Roman widow for a small lap-dog, giving a
considerable sum of money to boot.

"In this widow's service I remained seven years, during all which
time I was very barbarously treated. I was worked without the
least mercy, and often severely beat by a swinging maid-servant,
who never called me by any other names than those of the Thing
and the Animal. Though I used my utmost industry to please, it
never was in my power. Neither the lady nor her woman would eat
anything I touched, saying they did not believe me wholesome. It
is unnecessary to repeat particulars; in a word, you can imagine