proceed further if she continu'd silent he began to take greater Liberty then ever and perceiving that there was but a very slight resistance made and that both the Mask and the Silence did invite him to proceed he went on and was using the extremity of Violence when the Masqued Fair One perceiving it time to act another part pulled off her Masque and shewed the Duke the Face of his own Wife Never was there such a change put upon a Man so passionate as he was his surprize was such as may be imagin'd but not related He went out of the Chamber more affrighted then if he had seen all the Spirits of the other World and as he pass'd by some Lords and Ladies that were in the next Chamber he enquired of them what was become of the Lady Theresia The Lady Theresia replied one of the Ladies who had seen her go into that Chamber with him Was she not with You The Duke made no Answer but went on to seek after what he asked for The Dutchess having compos'd her self out of those disorders in which her false Husband had left her she went out of the Chamber and pass'd by the Company with much haste that here Gate which was somewhat different from Theresia's might not discover her These Lords and Ladies who did see her come forth did not know what to think of the Duke's Question Is not that said they one to another the Lady Theresia What ails the Duke In fine they gave an ill construction to the business and every one thought of it as he pleas'd But the Dutchess having some Fears that the Duke who was very passionate might ill treat those that had detained Theresia in her Chamber did run presently towards it to prevent Mischief where she met him coming forth leading Theresia by the Hand she had not the Power to look with Patience upon them and her passion which had been so lately stirred up with what had passed in Theresia's Chamber breaking forth there was no injurious Words that she did not say nor no Threatenings which she did not use against that Lady But she who did think to have at least as much cause of complaint against her for the violent detaining of her in the Dutchess's Chamber notwithstanding all her endeavours to get out did return the Dutchess as smart Language as she brought The Duke who could not remain Newter in a business in which his heart was so much concern'd was twice or thrice upon the point of putting in for one but at last his Prudence carrying it above the Transports of his Heart it not becoming him to take Theresia's part against his Wife nor agreeing with that tenderness of his Heart to take his Wives part against his Mistress he intreated the last to pursue her way and he conducted her into her Chamber This business having made a great noise at Court it was variously discours'd off no Person knowing what had pass'd in Theresia's Chamber The Duke himself did not relate it justly to his own Mistress for Fear of drawing her anger upon him as Doubtless it had done had she known all He only told her that having mistaken the Dutchess for her and having Conducted her into her Chamber he had pressed her very much to unmask but she not answering his desires at first he had said so many things to her that at last she had discovered herself Theresia could not forbear smiling at the Cheat though it was at her Cost but desirous to have satisfaction at what rate soever for this late insulting which she had receiv'd without cause she told the Duke that he was to prepare himself to see her depart the next Morning and that she could no longer remain with Honour in the Court after the manner with which the Dutchess did daily Treat her and that she did very well perceive that how virtuously soever she should behave her self his Wives Jealousies would be ever finding fault with her so that it were best for the satisfaction of all parties that she should retire The Duke who did harken unto her without the least motion could you said he to her Abandon me unto all that rage would make a Man do For there would be no desperate attempt in which your absence would not lead me and I do declare to you that if you have so little consideration for my Life you may perform what you threaten to do but you will no sooner be out of the Gates of Naples but that you will hear of my Death Alass my Lord reply'd Theresia What would you have me do Shall I be all my Life-time expos'd to be ill Treated in the Eyes of the whole Court And though you could ingage to the contrary shall it be said that after that the Dutchess has diverted her self at my cost shall run down with all the abusive Language imaginable a Person of my Quality in your presence What have I done to deserve so severe a usage at her hands Or rather added she with Tears What have I done to you to make you have so little regard for my Reputation that you will not let me quit this place that is so fatal to my Life Oh! Heavens what did I come here to do The Duke who was pierced through the very heart with her Words and Tears remain'd some time without answering Sighing and looking upon her with Eyes which did sufficiently express how much he was concern'd at all that she had said to him No Madam said he to her at last It shall not be said that that Person which I most Honour in the World and that I may safely say I Love a thousand times more then my Life does receive any Injury in my Court on my account and I not resent it give me continu'd he but twenty four hours time and all Persons shall know what is due unto you Ah! my Lord reply'd Theresia who fear'd some dangerous effects from the Dukes Passion I do conjure you to make no further noise about it there has been but two much already and I shall fear that at last it will all fall upon me no Madam reply'd the Duke you have been offended without cause I will have that satisfaction given that is due to you and you shall see Persons return to you without the least noise The Duke did continue some time longer in discourse with that Faire one to conclude the diverting of her from a design to which of truth she had no great Inclination and having left her at last he return'd not to the Dutchess who spent the whole night in a fruitless expectation of him the Disconsolate Lady did believe that she had had sufficient cause of Complaint and of afflicting her self without the addition of this last unkindness of not seeing the Duke all that night she was extreamly concern'd at it she sent secretly some Person of trust to learn where he had laine but none could give her any account of it at last she was inform'd
then all ours lasted not much longer The Master of it having great reason to conclude it before the time which he had designed it should After which every one having taken the way to the City I took leave of Theresia who put her in the Dutchess's Coach with whom she had come thither and the Duke who was to accompany them did not but came to ask me room in mine I did receive that Honour as I ought but I did soon perceive to what it tended and after we had been some time without speaking I must needs confess My Lord said he in a slighting manner whiâ—h did sufficiently express with what a Passion his mind was posses'd that for a young Man you are very knowing and that your love of indifferency has had no bad success There are none but for you now at Court and your vanity extends so far as to carry your designs on Persons towards whom you ought not so much as to lift up your Eyes I know not my Lord I reply'd in what it has ever appeard that I have lost that respect which I owe you That business answer'd he has not need of any further clearing what I tell you is sufficient to put you in mind of your duty it is time for you to re-enter into it you are Young I have some considerations for the Family whence you came without that it is like that I had not acted with all the moderation that I do at present But abuse not any of it and make good use of this advice that I give you I am very unhappy My Lord I reply'd thus to incur your displeasure but more that I know not by what means I am fallen into that misfortune all that I can do is to depart the Court and if you desire it I will quit the Kingdom also rather then give you the least disquiet Those ways that make such noise are not convenient answer'd he when you know what it is that I desire of you do it and then when you think good to be gone you may without giving any intimation of the cause thereof The Conversation went no further we remained all the rest of the time in silence until we came to the Palace where he told me again that I should think on the advice which he had given me But I had no sooner quitted him that seeing him take the way to the Dutchess's Appartment whence I did not think that he would come forth again that night that I went to Theresias Lodgings being impatient to learn what Entertainment she had had with the Duke I found her undressing and she no sooner did see me but that she told me in a Languishing strain that the Dutchess had given her an Intire Divertisement and that now she did believe her more Jealous of me then of the Duke all her business having been to learn where we two had met so as to return together I also related to her all that had pass'd in my Coach with the Duke So that we were both Laughing heartily at it when the Duke came into the Chamber which did very much surprise me But Theresia Laugh'd more lowd then before at it which put him as much out of countenance as I had been who had no other thoughts but of retiring as I did personally I did well imagine that this last surprise would make an end of placing me ill in the Dukes opinion Therefore I did design not to appear at Court all the next day fearing as he was very hastey that in some suddain action he should express his resentments against me But I was scarce out of my Bed the next Morning that one of his Gentlemen came to call me as from him I went into a Gallery where he staid for me and after he had receiv'd me with such a cold Air as did sufficiently shew how he forc'd himself I did believe Lord N. said he that I had sufficiently given you to understand how far my nicety extended in respect of some Persons and I know not if it is that you would have me to express my self in that manner that such a contempt as you make of what I say to you does deserve You did only mention to me my Lord said I such Persons towards whom I ought not to lift up my Eyes and I did not believe that that command did extend so far as on all kind of Persons and that I ought not to look on any body especially when you could not imagin that I should have any design in it Whether I have spoken to you of it or not reply'd he in a lowder voice you know sufficiently those Persons in which I pretended to have some Interest and if I find you there again I would not advise you to carry it off without Laughing for it would be Dangerous for any Person whatsoever to Laugh in the Court at my Cost You being not in the Chamber My Lord I answered him mildly when we began to Laugh No no interrupted he what I say is sufficient it is not good to play the Jester with me here You forget your self see where you are and you will know what you owe me Upon this he left me hastily not hearkning any longer to what I said This Treatment did seem something harsh though I had deserv'd part of it and I judging that I should not pass my time very well in that Court being thus out with the Duke who would certainly have my steps observ'd I took the resolution to be gone But in the condition that I found my heart at that time it was almost impossible to get his consent to leave so soon that Country it was not now the Dutchess that did detain it only It was Theresia also for whom I had always had a greater inclination who notwithstanding the cause that I had given her that Night of Anger against me had not treated me with all the rigour that I might have expected from her And even the manner after which she had return'd with me to the Company and that we had after that discours'd together had not any thing in it which gave me not hopes that she had no mind to hate me long Finally so many other things which came into my mind and so many Amorous Ideas which I had upon all those liberties which I had taken with her having render'd me more passionate then ever I chang'd the resolution which I had taken of absolutely quitting that Kingdom to an eight days absence from Court to give way to the Dukes Anger and to learn in what disposition of heart my two Ladies were and how they would take my absence I did think my self oblig'd to give them notice of my departure and this is the Note which I Writ to the Dutchess IF I had not fear'd disturbing the joy of your being so well reconcil'd to your Husband I could not have hindred my self from seeing you and of taking leave of you at my Retiring from Court notwithstanding any
me to do reply'd Theresia but I cannot forbid him seeing of me It would too much concern my reputation What would he think of it continu'd she that you are Jealous of him or it may be that I Lov'd him Do you not put me my Lord added she on such observances You have already but too much expos'd me to publick talk and I will not make an end of ruining my self Well Madam reply'd the Duke with some passion I shall forbid him my self since that you will not That were the way reply'd Theresia to increase my design of seeing him That you say reply'd the Duke is the way to give you the greater desire of seeing him Yes doubtless reply'd Theresia and I do confess to you that that manner of Living to which I am daily reduc'd by you is very cruel it will at last come to pass that I shall be compel'd to be Lock'd up like a Prisoner in my Chamber as in a manner I am already without the liberty of seeing any body Rather say Madam interrupted the Duke that you have not began to take notice of this cruel Life which others would not call so But since the Lord N's absence that wheresoever he is not you will think your self uneasy and restrained and that in fine to gain your favour I must my sefâ— invite him again to Court and if you please conduct him to your Appartment It is pitty he hears you not reply'd Theresia and I do believe that if he did but know the good Offices that you render him towards me that he would return you thanks for them For to tell you the truth to act as you do would not be a means to drive a man from my heart If he were there it would rather be Yes it would interrupted the Duke in a passion having not the patience to let her make an end be the way to make you Love him This is already done continu'd he but I shall prevent him for enjoying such an happiness It is not from this day that I know you to be Passionate reply'd Theresia rising to be gone but if you would believe me continu'd she you would not be too hasty on that account I shall not take Councel of you reply'd the Duke and I do engage that before it be Twenty-four hours longer I shall rid my self of a person that gives me too much vexation not to invite me to Banish him out of the Kingdom And I engage to you reply'd Theresia that before Twenty-four hours are pass'd I shall be no longer in this Court. That 's the way reply'd the Duke to make me drive more home my resentments Drive or not reply'd she this is what I will perform by to Morrow By this time they were got too far from me to hear any more of their discourses neither did I think it convenient to follow them after what I had heard It is certain that there never was any pleasure like to that which this conversation did give me and that if Love had not engag'd me already to give my heart unto the Beautiful Theresia the bare knowledge of what she had done that night for me had oblig'd me to Love her most passionately There wanted nothing to make me perfectly happy but the satisfacton of seeing her again one moment only before I went from thence as she had promis'd me but it appeared to me too much happiness at once Yet she out-went my hopes and I did see her return even before I expected it by reason that the Conversation which she had had with the Duke in the Garden being not pleasant as to invite him to the continuation of it in her Chamber he had retired as full of Jealousy and Spight as ever was a Lover I did run towards her so soon as I perceived her and casting my self at her Feet What is it that I do not require of you Madam said I after that goodness which you have expressed towards me this Night had I a thousand Lives though I should expose them all for you I could not repay so many Graces and Favours Alass my Lord reply'd she causing me to rise I fear very much that on the contrary I have given you cause to hate me I am return'd but only to tell you with what rage against you the Duke has left me and at the same time to intreat you not to wait the effects of his Passion but to depart this very night from these Dominions I Madam said I interrupting her go out of this Kingdom to leave in the hands of a most violent man and of a Rival all that is dearest to me in the World a Lady that has laid a side all other considerations to take my part and to shew that I was more then indifferent to her Yes my Lord reply'd she I have done so and I can farther say that I have done nothing in that but what my heart has allowed of And that if you have found me according to your heart the first time that you did see me I have not found you unworthy of mine from the very first moment that I saw you and that if ever any thing did vex me in all my life it was when you gave the King unto the Dutchess which in truth I expected for my self And you had had it that Ring answer'd I if it had been the Choice of my heart which did then sufficiently draw me towards you But the Duke Yes the Duke interrupted she always contrary to my happiness will be the cause of my Death The cause of your Death Madam said I I it is not now time to extend your self on this Theme reply'd she you must think of returning your self with the soonest into some place of safety that I may have no more to fear as to your Life You to fear in regard of my Life Madam I reply'd with an Air wholly transported know that if it must be sav'd it cannot be but without you and that I should sooner deliver my self up into the Dukes hands than abandon you If I had not my Honour to mind my Lord reply'd she sighing I find a sufficient willingness in me to follow you and to desire no other â—ortune then yours but the Honour of a Person of my Quality What Danger is there in this as to your Honour said I interrupting and Embracing her with all that Tenderness that I had with a man that gives you his Faith from this very moment She remain'd some time after this without answering and presently leaning gently on me If you give it me said she with a languishing voice Will you keep it then I redoubling all the protestations that a man in such a Passion as I was could utter It is sufficient said she I am satisfi'd let us retire and do what is most convenient to shelter us from the Dukes violent temper for in the condition I am at present I do not find my self capable of giving you any Councel I did then propose
very well satisfied to see my Affairs advanced so far on that side and the next Night after this conversation I pass'd with most pleasing fancies Poggio Reale is a place of pleasure some three Miles distant from the City where the Duke did frequently divert himself The Company were very numerous and Gallant there that day and the Supper most Magnificent but that which was most pleasant to behold and made on design to amuse the People were a great number of Fire Works which lasted above an hour They had scarce been Lighted that every one running to see that pleasant spectacle the Duke and Theresia under pretence of the same curiosity disapear'd from the Eyes of the Dutchess who had diligently observ'd them till then that she lost the sight of them in the Confusion She was immediatly disturb'd at it and sought after them and meeting me by accident Do you not know said she quite out of Breath What is become of the Duke and Theresia No Madam I reply'd smiling at the trouble she was in And if you would believe me you would not seek any further after them You will but put by an adventure which if not atchieved to day will be so to Moâ—row It is no matter reply'd she Blushing I will go see if they are not in one of the Arbours of the Labyrinth you will do well to repair there where if I find them not and meet with you it is likely that I shall seek them no further I promis'd her to go there and did follow her presently after This Labyrinth is very large and the Alleys of it so close cover'd that at mid-day there appear'd but a dull Light in them so that I who did not well know the windings of it and that fear'd to ingage my self in that obscurity so far as not so easily to get out again I went a slow pace on till at last I did think that I heard a voice I went forward without any noise to endeavour to understand what was said and at last I understood that it was the Dutchess Well My Lord was she saying Will you this Night Revenge me of all the Dukes Injuries He is false and does not deserve the pains that I take after him I know it and since that he is the only cause that I have met with you here alone it will be your own fault if I return not well satisfi'd for my fruitless search after him so far without success This Discourse did the more surprise me by reason that I knew it to be intended to me that the Dutchess did mistake her self and that to both our Sorrows it was peradventure the Duke that was with her upon this I did harken more attentively then before to hear what he would answer But presently after I heard the Dutchess proceed in this manner Why are you so silent And what is become of that sensibility which you have shewn till now for all my Troubles And that has made you share in all my sorrows and afflictions as well as in the aversion which I have against a Perfidious Husband Will you become insensible when it is no longer time to be so This Discourse did make me mad not so much because that I could not answer her expectations as I would have done if I had been in that place that the Dutchess did think me to be as for the evil consequences that would follow both as to her as well as to my self especially if it was the Duke that she spoke too as I had little reason to doubt it There being none but he that could keep thus the Lady so long in her Ignorance He had that day on a Justecoes imbroider'd as I had and I did guess that that might be the very occasion of the mistake During these Transactions I got so near the place they were in that there was only the Hedge between them and us and I could hear all even to the Dutchesses Sighs who judging ill things from this silence and the indifferency which she found in the Person which she took from me She began to examine him more nearly there was a great silence and I fearing to make some noise did seat my self on the Ground to see the effects of so sad an accident when I heard some body move behind me who pulling me by the Coat and casting his Arms about my Neck did bring his Mouth close to my Ears Is it you My Lord said he as low as he could I was affraid that you had met with the Dutchess but I believe that it is the Lord N. that is with her continu'd he naming me The surprisal that I was in joyn'd to the pre-ocupation that I had of what was passing with the Dutchess had so strangely disturbed my mind that I did scarce know the Persons voice but that the conjuncture of the place the Cloaths that I felt and what had been said to me did perswade me that it was Theresia who doubtless had taken me for the Duke while the Dutchess did mistake the Duke for me At last the Dutchess finding the mistake at the touch of her Husbands Cloaths she had occasion to make use of all the quickness of her Wit to get off of so bad a business Therefore in an instant recalling into her mind all the causes of Anger that she had to animate her self the more against her Husband Go thou Traitor said she to him go seek thy Theresia for I am too virtuous to carry on this disguise any further thou well deservest that I should make thee feel all those anguishes which my fidelity keeps from thee but if thou dost persist in thus making me grow desperate I will not warrant thee but that I may perform in earnest that Personage which I but now acted This suddain charge did smell too much of Art not to be perceiv'd by so skilful a man as the Duke who reflecting upon every little circumstance of this adventure did amongst the rest find that the embraces with which the Dutchess had accosted him at first were too full of heat and accompanied with too many Ardent Sighs to proceed from a Woman who had a heart fill'd with Jealousies only and that had no other design then to feign he was not Ignorant of the Affairs of the World and his own experience had made him too capeable to be subject to make so gross a mistake so that speaking with the voice of a Person that had no mind to be cousen'd by a Womans Subtilty If I mistake not said he Madam there is much more of mistake then of feigning in this business Confess the truth and that you did not expect me here that you intended that Honour to some other and that I own to my silence and to my Cloaths perhaps the saving of the Shameful Conclusion of this adventure Who could have seen the Dutchess's Face might easily have guest at the transactions within her brest she was at first something daunted at the Dukes Words
orders to the contrary But I must let you enjoy in peace the happiness of possessing him Yet I fear it will not last long and that there will happen some Amorons relapses that may steal him from you a second time Then you will have some thoughts of me and perhaps wish me near you again Though it is a greater Honour to be at any time servisable to you on any account yet it is but an ill requital to have the whole misfortune of the adventure to fall wholly upon me at the same time that I expected to be over com'd with favour I sent her this Note by a trusty Agent and this is what I Writ to Theresia IF I had any hopes of Living pleasantly in this Court I would not leave it but it being forbid me to see you and what is more to laugh with you what pleasure can I receive in it or rather how could I forbear those things but by timely withdrawing my self from all the occasions of doing them I did partly guess that so much good fortune in one day could not last long of which had I been as certain I would have made better use in declaring to you a Secret which concerns my Life that you should know it but that it is of too dangerous a Nature to commit to Paper To what should I not be concern'd if it were known I shall tell it to none but you because that thâ—re is none but you that ought to know it These two Notes being Writ and sent I got on Horse back and I retired my self with a Lord that was a Friend of mine some ten Viles from the City Where the next day I receiv'd answer to both my Letters and this is that of the Dutchess's I have been strangely surpris'd at your absence but the sorrow that I feel for it Surpasses that you little know what passes in my Heart when you speak to me of joy I am no longer capable of any but when I see you and He you speak of has bethought himself too late of his duty You have made so good use of his negligence not to say more that there is no room left for him in my Heart It fell very unlucky that she possest your place at Roggio Regale but where were you Were you as unfortunate as I was But why sais I unfortunate after seeing your return so well accompanyed Oh! Heaven it is possible that that Creature must be the cause of all my Miseries Farwell I shall have no rest till I see you therefore return with the soonest there will be ways found to see one another and not be known Farwel Two hours after this I receiv'd that from Theresia which was in these Terms THose Persons know not what they do who would deprive me from the Innocent pleasure of Langhing with you I have an heart wholly addicted to mutiny and at the least opposition that it finds it has no greater delight than to bend it self against those obstacles It were fine indeed to hinder us from Laughing and seeing one another Do but return that we may have that satisfaction in spite of all I am almost dead with longing to know the secret which you mention and if it be such a one as I imagine I promise you before-hand that none shall know it but my self This commerce having lasted seven or eight days during which the tender confidence that was between Theresia and I did daily increase my affections and the Hearts correspondency which I had with the Dutchess did very much decay of two Letters that she did Write to me I made but one answer whereas Theresia had always two Letters from me for one of hers and I did so imploy my self of tenderness with this that I had scarce any thing left for the other the which she was not long without perceiving and attributing to absence that which was the meer eflect of an inconstancy At last she Writ to me this Note IF absence was to you so hard a thing as you say it is you would do more then you do to see us again These reasons which you aledge in justification of it proceeds not from a very passionate Man pray not so much reservedness and somewhat more of Love and then you will find nothing difficult This you would know did you Love as you should I have a thousand things to tell you but they are kind reproaches which I will make you in Person Be this night in the Garden of the Pallace I send you the Key of the Port-Gate I shall stay for you there from twelve at night till two Farwel The Passion which I had had for the Dutchess did awaken again at the lecture of this Letter and notwithstanding all the love that I had for Theresia I could not refuse such a rendezvous as that I was so in Love with those kind of adventurs that I would have quitted all to have such an Entertainment for a Lady I therefore prepar'd my self for that and parted from that place where I was at a convenient hour to get to the Garden at the appointed time but I made such haste in the Impatiency I was that it was but Eleven of the Clock when I found my self at the Gate I had but one Man with me whom I caus'd to wait with my Horse at some distance from thence in a very private place I did open the Gate and I gently advanc'd from one Alley into another it being early enough yet to meet with People there as I did hear some walking I hid my self between two Hedges to see who it was for it seem'd to me as if they were comming my way At last I heard a voice that spoke very low but as they still did draw nearer me to rest themselves on some Seats that were not far from me I was near enough to discern that it was the Dukes voice I did not doubt but that he was discoursing with Theresia and Jealousie as well as some curiosity insenssibly ingaging me to draw nearer still I at last creept so close to them as to understand what they said But what is then the Cause said Theresia of his absence from Court You know it Madam reply'd the Duke but to free you from the trouble of asking it me again I will tell you that he has trespass'd a little too much upon my hounty I Love you Madam continu'd he My Lord reply'd Theresia Interrupting him and is that the cause of his disgrace And have you any cause on that account to complain of either of us But too much reply'd the Duke You strangely surprize me answer'd Theresia and you will much oblige me to let me know in what it has appear'd that the Lord N. has ever made one step only in favour of me I am but too well experimented in those things reply'd the Duke to become the Interpreter of his actions and grant that I had deceiv'd my self you take too much his Interests to prove that