de Si-mismo, written by Lope de Vega* 



GIL BLAS. &(> 

Among the actresses who came upon the stage, I dis? 
covered one of my old cronies. It was impossible to 
have forgotten Phenicia, that bouncing good-humoured 
girl whom you have seen as Florimonde's waiting-maid, 
and have supped with more than once at Arsenia's. I 
was aware that Phenicia had left Madrid above two 

rears ago, but had never heard of her turning actress, 
longed so earnestly to embrace her, that the piece ap- 
peared quite tedious. Perhaps, too, there might be some 
fault in those who played it, as being neither good enough 
nor bad enough to afford me entertainment. For, as to 
my own wordnetanger, which is that of seeking 'diversion 
wherever I can find it, I must confess that an actor 
supremely ridiculous answers my purpose just as well 
as the most finished performer of the age. 

At last, the moment I had been waiting for being ar- 
rived, namely, the dropping of the curtain on the - 
ite and standard piece, we went, for my widow would 
go with me, behind the wordnetanger, where we caught a 
glimpse of Phenicia, who was playing off- the amiable 
and unaffected simpleton, and listening with