The Poet, Pedro de Moya,. and the 
 
                              Players 
 
 D. Maclise, Artist                                C. W. Sharfie, Eng-raver

 
 
 
 T HE players with whom Gil Blas is traveling, are assembled at supper. 
        He describes the reception of a poor devil of an author, who came
in 
        towards the end of the repast. 
     "Our page came, and said aloud to his mistress, 'Madam, a man in

marvellous foul linen, bedraggled all over, and who, so please you, looks

very much like a poet, wants to speak with you.' 'Show him up " answered

Arsenia ; 'Don't stir, gentlemen, 'tis but an author.' Sure enough it was

one whose tragedy had been received, and who brought a part for my mis- 
tress. He was called Pedro de Moya, and, as he entered, made five or six

profound bows to the company, who neither got up nor returned the compli-

ment. Arsenia only answered his profusion of civility by a slight inclina-

tion of her head. He advanced into the room, trembling and confused, and

let his cloak and gloves fall, which having taken up, he approached my 
mistress, and presented to her a paper, with more respect than that of a

counsellor when he delivers a petition to a judge, saying; 'Be so good, 
Madam, as to accept of this part, which I take the liberty to offer.' "

 
 
Le Sage's "Gil Bias. "