midnight
He dispatches quickly , which is a grateful virtue in great men ; and none ever espoused his interest , that did not find a reward and a protection ; it is true , these are all the tools he is to work with , and he stops at nothing that leads to his ambition ; nor has he done all that lies in the power of man only , to set all _ France _ yet in a flame , but he calls up the very devils from hell to his aid , and there is no man famed for necromancy , to whom he does not apply himself ; which , indeed , is done by the advice of _ Hermione _ , who is very much affected with those sort of people , and puts a great trust and confidence in them . She sent at great expense , for a _ German _ conjurer , who arrived the other day , and who is perpetually consulting with another of the same sort , a _ Scot _ by birth , called _ Fergusano _ . He was once in Holy Orders , and still is so , but all his practice is the Black Art ; and excellent in it he is reported to be . _ Hermione _ undertakes nothing without his advice ; and as he is absolutely her creature , so his art governs her , and she the Prince : she holds her midnight conferences with him ; and as she is very superstitious , so she is very learned , and studies this art , taught by this great master _ Fergusano _ ; and so far is this glorious hero bewitched with these sorcerers , that he puts his whole trust in these conjurations and charms ; and so far they have imposed on him , that with an enchanted ointment , which they had prepared for him , he shall be invulnerable , though he should face the mouth of a cannon : they have , at the earnest request of _ Hermione _ , calculated his nativity , and find him born to be a king ; and , that before twenty moons expire , he shall be crowned in _ France _ : and flattering his easy youth with all the vanities of ambition , they have made themselves absolutely useful to him . This _ Scot _ , being a most inveterate enemy to _ France _ , lets the Prince rest neither night nor day , but is still inspiring him with new hopes of a crown , and laying him down all the false arguments imaginable , to spur the active spirit : my lord is not of the opinion , yet seems to comply with them in Council ; he laughs at all the fopperies of charms and incantations ; insomuch , that he many times angers the Prince , and is in eternal little feuds with _ Hermione _ . The _ German _ would often in these disputes say , he found by his art , that the stop to the Prince 's glory would be his love . This so incensed _ Hermione _ , and consequently the Prince , that they had like to have broke with him , but durst not for fear ; he knowing too much to be disobliged : on the other side , _ Fergusano _ is most wonderfully charmed with the wit and masculine spirit of _ Hermione _ , her courage , and the manliness of her mind ; and understanding which way she would be served , resolved to obey her , finding she had an absolute ascendancy over the Prince , whom , by this means , he knew he should get into his sole management .