beloved Faniaca Now Celadon I yield thee up thy Mistress and quit all my pretensions to her for this which I have newly found Celadon gladly thanked him for his submission to Diana's Choice and all the Company bore a part with the Spaniard in the Joy he conceived at the change of his Mistress But the beautiful Indian who longed to hear how he came for Ireland said It is now my Astolfo two years since you and I parted wonder not then if I am desirous to know what befell you since that and how you escaped a Death which so apparently threatned you my endeavours to find you out here made me relate all the passages of our Acquaintance hitherto and therefore I believe there is no accident in the remaining part of your Life which is too secret for the Ears of this honourable Company I have had none said he which I will not freely tell but to the understanding my Relation it is requisite that this Illustrious Company should know some things which for want of opportunity have as yet been a secret to you as well as to them My Father is a Gentleman of a plentiful Estate near Sevill by my Mothers death he was left a Widdower with two Children Me and a Daughter both which he was very fond of as being his only Comforts the Relicts of his deceased Wife and the Pledges of his youthful Love There lived near us an old Couple who had the like number of Children a Son and a Daughter they were intimate Friends of my Father's and so free with us that notwithstanding the severe restraints of our Countrey upon young Persons yet our Families observed no such Custom but we young ones conversed with one another with the same freedom as if we had been near Relations And as youthful familiarity in different Sexes usually ends in Love so it proved with us for our Neighbour's Son and my Sister had such a mutual Affection that they were never well but in one anothers Company and his Sister whether by her own inclination or their setting on seemed as uneasie unless when she was in mine had she been handsome perhaps I should have taken as much diversion in his Sister's Company as he did in mine but I thought those Complements thrown away which were bestowed on an ugly Face nor could my Wit help me with one fond Vow or happy Expression for want of Beauty to inspire it This made me avoid her Company to get into his but when I saw him shun mine as much and that he and my Sister coveted to be always together his growing more reserved to me than formerly and some symptoms which I perceived in my Sister her frequent sighs at parting her blushes at meeting him and some other slips which the most dissembling of your Sex find difficult to hide gave me apparent cause to think that she loved him He and I were once as great as 2 Brothers laid our Breasts open to one another thence his never discovering the least to me concerning his passion for my Sister made his Love look to me as if it designed nothing that was honest I had then to wait on me a Turkish Captive who was taken away young and having been bred up several years in my Father's House was very trusty and discreet I let no one know my suspitions but him and ordered him to be a Spy on all my Sister's Actions and if ever he observed any thing remarkable between them two that he would acquaint me with it He observed my Commands and one time brought me word that he had over-heard him and my Sister discoursing that she desired him to ask her of my Father and that very soon or she should be discovered to be with Child and so be disgraced and turned out of Doors tho' this was but what I feared to find out yet now I found those fears true it enraged me both against him and my Sister However the consideration of her Sex's weakness which is an unequal Combatant for Love when assisted by earnestness and opportunity made me pardon her so far as to leave her to be punished by the ill consequences of her own Folly but him I resolved to be revenged on Tho' my blood boyled at the first sight of him yet I dissembled my anger in publick and told him that I had something to impart to him if he would take a walk with me into the Fields in the cool of the Evening he consented and we went out together at we walked on talking I drew him insensibly to a private place and then retiring a little distance from him I bade him draw Sure you are in jest said he you will not draw that Sword against your Friend which you have before now drawn in my defence This Sword said I was drawn then for my Friend but now against the worst of mine Enemies one who has abused my Friendship and my Sister's Love Yet thus much I will give to our former Affection Marry her and salve up the Injury thou hast done her and I will forgive thee mine What said he and are you turned a Bravo to hector me into Marriage Know then that I will never do it neither shall it ever be said that Guzman valued his Honour so little as to make a Wife of his Whore Whore said I that word I will engrave on thy traiterous Heart at these words he leapt back and drew I made at him with a great deal of Fury but being appeased by some Blood I drew from him I proffered him again the same conditions of Reconciliation but his Rage made him deaf to Reason We fought on till one thrust I made at his Breast ended our difference by his fall I fled in all haste to the Sea-side where by good chance there was a Ship under Sail bound for the Indies I went aboard her Landed in America amongst some Souldiers who were sent to re-inforce our Country Garrisons there I was a private Souldier till a Fight that I signalized my self in raised me to a Captain 's Commission 't was in this station I was when I came acquainted with you You know the Captain of the Man of War which boarded us sent me Prisoner to Sevill with my other Countrymen Near this Town my Father lived I sent him word of my being in Prison and he streight came to see me but told me he must not own me for his Son lest it should cost me my Life He applauded my revenging the dishonour done to my Family but said that there had been Warrants issued out against me and 500 Duckats by the deceased's Friends promised him that should seize me that if I should stand a Tryal and escape the Law yet their private revenge would reach me therefore he said he would make Friends for me and my fellow Prisoners that we should be dismissed and then he would have me spend some years abroad and when Time or Death had cured the malice of my Enemies he would
a Boast yet coming from one who did not know but he might suffer next day it appear'd so brave that I could not but admire it The others held their Tongues but looked so fierce as if they kept silence out of disdain I went thence with a great opinion of their Courage and a secret horrour in my self at the cruelty of our Nation which gave brave Men such barbarous usage I called to mind his professing a design to save me and carry me to a happier place and his telling me of the thing about my Neck for a Token to know me by made me believe it was true and when I considered of this I imagined I ought to save his Life but I could not tell how to do it without my Father's consent As I came into the Room where he lay ill of his Wound there was one brought him word of the death of his only Son who was found after the Battel among the Slain with a Bullet lying in him I shewed my sorrow in all the extravagancies which our Nation commits on the like occasions but my Father only gave a groan or two as it were to rouze up his anger and said that he would comfort himself for his Son in revenging his Death since all his grief could never raise him to Life again That all the Spaniards who were in the Battel were killed except ten who were in his Custody and he would sacrifice each of them because he would be sure that his Sons Murderer should not escape for since he was killed with a Bullet he did not doubt but it was a Spaniard shot him We lay all that Night awake grieving for my Brother but the next day when the first Fury of our grief was over and my Father began to talk with me about our Prisoners Suppose Father said I the Spaniard who saved our Lives should be one of them If that should come to pass said my Father he had better staid where he was than come over to seek his Death here the second time But Sir said I gratitude would oblige us to save his Life who saved ours first That we have done already said my Father and so we have returned his kindness and if after so hard an escape he should be come again he does not deserve his Life neither would I be guilty of so much injustice to my Son and my Countrey as to save that Man's Life who has been the Death of the one and has made a second attempt to be the Destruction of the other This arguing of my Fathers seemed so reasonable and his Indignation so just that I could not gainsay it and therefore said no more to him but went back to my Prisoner and told him that I did intend to save him and his Companions for his sake but that my Brother's Body being found shot had so incensed my Father that I could not prevail with him to spare them and therefore I told them they must prepare their Courage to dye as soon as my Father's Wounds would suffer him to assist at the Solemnity Well says he since I must dye and it does not lye in your power to help it I am sorry you told me you attempted it for that shews so much kindness that it makes me desirous to live I was willing to dye when you upbraided me with the begging my life but now I can no longer be suspected to flatter you out of any such hopes since you say it is not in your power to help me I own that my Death is no grievance to me only as it prevents my living for you and all that I 'll now desire of you is to let me dye the first that I may not behold the Cruelties exercised on my Country-men The Love and Courage which I perceived in these words quite altered the thoughts I had of giving him up to my Father's resentments and from that time I found something within me so strong on his side that it over-ballanced the Duty I should have paid to my Father's will and my Brother's Blood I went to my Father and told him that he who saved his Life was there and urged to him how ingrateful we should be if we did not restore him to his Liberty but my Father answered me with the same Arguments he had done before Then I endeavoured to corrupt him that was Captain of the Guard that looked to them but he was a Blood-thirsty violent natured Man and not only refused me but complained to my Father who was so angry that I should endeavour to release so many of our worst our most formidable Enemies the Spaniards that he threaten'd the next time I attempted the like he would have me condemned to suffer with them as the Enemy of my Country I knew his violent temper too well to venture any farther and gave over all hopes of saving my Prisoner The next morning four Indians were to be carried to our Gods to feed upon they drew Lots for their Lives they were blind-folded when they drew and I held the Cistern and decided who the Lot fell upon and it often grieved me to doom the poor trembling Slaves my Prisoner seeing me picking out some of them for Death told me he longed to know when his turn would come I told him that his must come as well as the rest that I had incurred my Father's displeasure on his account and left nothing undone which I thought might be for his safety that I hoped this was all he could expect and desired him to own before his Death that I was out of his debt yet I had resolved with my self to keep him till the last in hopes that before that time the Guards might be changed or else my Father's anger might be mitigated when most of them had been sacrificed to it Two or three days had now past over in which time my Father had given the Guards particular charge to beware of the Spaniards for fear I should free them the day come that he found himself well enough to perform the Sacrifice and our Spaniards were brought out in the midst of their Guards to draw Lots which of them should make our Banquet by ill chance it fell on my Prisoner I changed the Lot and sentenced one of the others in his stead but not so cleverly but that my Father perceived it The poor wretch was cut to pieces slice after slice and lived long enough to see his own Flesh broiled and eaten by the Company you must think this was a terrible sight to the rest who saw by their Companion what they were to suffer I expected to keep him the same way I had the first day and went on the morrow with the same design little dreaming what would happen for my Father who had seen me play the Jugler the day before would hold the Pitcher himself and the first black Lot was again drawn by my Prisoner Upon that the Fire was made to broil his Flesh he was stript
naked and tyed to the Tree he looked about him without as much as changing Countenance at his Destiny but when he turned his Eyes towards me he blushed I believe out of shame to think that I should see him in that helpless condition Such a sight as this which would have drawn pity even from a merciful Enemy what effect then do you think it had upon one that loved him Or rather what effect had it not I blusht and grew pale Anger Love and Fear succeeded one another Anger at the Barbarity of my Countrey-men Love for him and Fear at his danger But just as my Father's Knife fetched Blood from the brawny part of his Arm the place which he first began with I was not able to bear up any longer but fell in a swoon which my Father perceiving left him and catched me in his Arms but not having yet recovered strength enough to bear me up he fell to the Ground with me and lighting upon his Wound rubbed the Plaisters off and made it bleed afresh My Father was immediately taken up on some of their Shoulders and carried home and every one said 't was an unlucky day and the Gods were angry so the Sacrifice was deferred till the next When I came to my self I was very glad to see the poor Man delivered from immediate death though it cost some of my Father's blood but it almost distracted me to think what a short reprieve I had for him only till the next day his Fate was now at its Crisis and within twenty four hours I must either see him free or mangled to pieces all my former hopes lay in deferring the time till another Guard came which perhaps I could have bribed off or till my Father's mind was altered but his Anger continued still and because he found the Captain of the Guard as violent against the Spaniards as himself he ordered him to continue in the same Post till all the Spaniards were Sacrificed My poor Prisoner's Lot was come and he to dye the next day and I had not yet thought on any way that could prevent it After having wracked my Invention a great while for a way to free him at last I lighted on this There were two of my Father's Servants whom I sent formerly to row my Prisoner over the River I knew they wished well to him because when he enter'd our House as an Enemy he had saved their Lives these two I acquainted with my design to release him I gave them a large Pot full of pleasant Liquor made of our Sacred Plant the Coca and bade them towards Night to bring that to the Guard-house as a present from my Father Our Guard consisted of a hundred Men for the preservation of the Temple and the Treasures of it and the Prisoners who belonged to it so that all these things might well require the care of an hundred Men We had near twice the number of Indian Prisoners besides the nine Spaniards only they were Armed these were naked and tied Out of the Temple I had got Arms enough for them all and conveyed them into a Room hard by to be ready upon occasion when the two Servants came with the Liquor all the Souldiers crowded into the Guard-house only two who stood to their Arms at the Prison Door when the Servants saw them all engaged about the drink they left the Guard and came to give me notice upon which I took some Daggers which our Souldiers had taken from the Spaniards and hung up in the Temple as Trophies these I hid under my Gown for the Women of our Nation had thin silk Gowns to wear in the cool of the Night and so under pretence of seeing the Prisoners I conveyed these unto them When I came in I saw my Prisoner asleep I cut the Cords of his Hands and Legs and as I cut them he awaked and found himself loose thence I went to another and still as I loosened them I put a Dagger in their Hands I told them I was come to give them all Liberty if they would shew themselves Men and Conquer an Enemy whom they would find surprized and not ready to oppose them And my Astolfo said I I have done all this for your sake yet I will rather stay behind you and undergo all the punishments that an angry Father or incensed Town could inflict upon me than fly with you unless you are as willing to receive me as I to go Several of the Indians wept for Joy and the Spaniards for all their Gravity could scarce forbear it My Prisoner said that he was more glad of my Love than of the saving his Life and would have told me abundance of the like nature had he not been interrupted for one of the Centinels not liking my long stay came to see what was the matter and no sooner came in but he was stabb'd by one of the Spaniards my two Servants had stood all this while at the Door and when one of the Centinels left them to come to us they dispatched the other by this time the Indians had untyed one another and I carried them to a Chamber hard by where I had laid the Arms Some of the Guard hearing a noise chanced to come out and mistrusting something more than ordinary alarm'd the rest but they came a little of the latest for we had as many Armed as they they began a very bloody Engagement and a great many were killed on both sides but our number increasing we over-powered them and they fled every way for safety My Prisoner had given me in charge to some of the Indians who were formerly under his Command and they kept me in Rear till the Guard fled Then Astolfo came to me and desired me to come down to the River side before the Town Guards came upon us for our noise had alarm'd the Town and there were at that time five or six thousand Men which were left with us for fear those on the other side the River should make another Invasion but we were too quick for the uproar before the Guards came we got to the River and there being abundance of Canoes and the Enemy coming after us you may guess we did not stand to Complement who should take Boat first The eight Spaniards Astolfo the two Indians and my self took the same Canoe We put off altogether as fast as we could but in a little time we were parted from the rest the night being so dark that we knew not which way we went though the Wind blew so hard from the other side that we were afraid 't would force us on our Enemies Coast to our ruin Two of our Spaniards tugg'd against it as hard as they could till one of them broke his Oar and then we gave over striving and let the Boat go down which way the River would carry it the next morning we would have made for Shore but having but one Oar the Wind beat us off and carried us down
all that day and the next night with the Stream Though the first day we got away we were very chearful yet now wanting Provisions and being driven down we knew not whither dampt the Joy we should otherwise have taken in our Love and Liberty I began to reflect on my former actions and to think this a just punishment for my undutiful leaving my Father and my Country I began to grow faint with hunger and he was so troubled to see me in that condition that in the greatest danger of his Life I never saw him shew so much sorrow The farther we Sailed the River still grew wider and wider on one side we could not Land because the Wind would not let us on the other side we durst not because 't was inhabited by those Nations who are mortal Enemies to the Spaniards We were now come down a great way and the River had turned so that the Wind which before was against us now was for us we made towards the Land with the greatest haste that a violent Hunger could make as we came near the Shore we discovered a Boat lying under a Rock we made towards it and saw only one Man in it and he was asleep so that we were upon him before he awaked he would have resisted but finding it in vain for one Man to fight with eleven he yielded up himself and his Boat in it we found store of Victuals the richest prize we could have wished for at that time and you may think we fell on to some purpose We examined the Fellow and he said he belonged to a Ship which lay about sixty Leagues lower that they sent twenty Men up the River in quest of a Prize which they were to take by plundering a little Town thereabouts he told us that there were about so many more left in the Ship but that the greatest part of them lay sick of the Wounds they had received in a late Engagement We stept into his Boat and going down the River in eight days time we came within sight of the Ship then having got out of the Man what intelligence we thought necessary we threw him over-board and made up to the side of the Pinnace it being duskish and they knowing their own Boat again they mistook us for their own Men so that half the Spaniards entered and had killed all that were above Deck before they mistrusted any thing the rest they took Prisoners and throwing all the Wounded Men into the Sea because we had not Provisions sufficient to last us all they set their Prisoners on Shore and so came down the River merrily in a Ship of our own The Spaniards fell to searching and found some Bullion in her besides a vast deal of ready money which after a just division between us ten we computed would amount to near 30000 Ducats a piece so that with a general consent we Sail'd streight for Spain intending to Land at the first Port of that Kingdom which we came to Now we were happy enough we had escaped our Enemies the Indians and Famine which had like to have proved a more fatal Enemy than they besides the Prize which enriched us beyond our expectation and came in good time to help my needy Fortune who in that hurry of leaving home had not remembered to bring any thing of value with me besides a few Pearl which I always wore about me My Servant came and took me in his Arms congratulating my escape out of the several dangers we had been in and thanking me a thousand times for the kindness I had shewed in saving his Life and more for leaving a Father to run the same Fortune with him In fine he promised that he would requite all my kindnesses by having me Christened and marrying me as soon as we came to Spain And I was so well pleased with the alteration of my Condition so much for the better that I think that Night was one of the pleasantest of my Life The next Morning we spy'd a Sail making up to us and as soon as it came within reach it sent a great Shot to command us to strike Sail we saw by the bulk that it was a Man of War too strong for us to resist We much against our wills staid for it and received some of them on board in searching our Ship they found divers Colours as Pyrats usually have our Vessel it seems had been one and for their Faults who had owned her we were all seiz'd our Vessel made a Prize and our Men taken Prisoners The Man of War being a Spaniard the Captain said he would reserve Astolfo and his eight Country-men to be tryed on Shore and condemned to the Gallies My two Indians notwithstanding all my intreaties for their Lives he hanged on the Ropes before my Face But taking compassion on me he said he would keep me to wait on his Wife Accordingly when we came upon the Coasts of Spain he sent the nine Spaniards Prisoners to Sevil and though I begg'd him to let me accompany Astolfo he kept me at Sea a few days more and then Landed me at Aveiro and gave me a present to a Wife he had there It would be tedious for me to tell you how ill I bore this worst change of my Fortune I raged I grieved till my Sighs and Tears grew so thick upon one another that no one could know which was the most plentiful of their two Fountains my Heart or my Eyes My Mistress who was a good natur'd Gentlewoman interessed her self in my Sorrows and would often enquire what was the reason of my grieving till at last her Importunities drew from me the whole Relation which I have now made to you she bade me be comforted and think no more of him I told her I could not be satisfied without him That opinion says she is I hope a false one you must be comforted either without him or not at all for you must never expect to see him again for supposing he should escape being condemned to the Gallies yet how is it likely that you who are a Stranger should find out a single Man and one of no note in such a large City as Sevill or one who perhaps before you could get thither would be gone to some other part of the World I told her I had an Art by which I could do more than that and thus much I knew that if I were at my liberty and had a little travelling Money I should not be a year e're I found him She asked what Art that was 'T is what I learned from my Father said I and is very common among us She desired to see the effects of it I told her I would shew it in resolving whatever question she would ask me She bade me tell her where her Husband was at that time and when he would come home I told her she must buy me a small Drum which had never been used before and I would then tell her
at home to Night You may see said she by my preparations for him that I believed you I could not forbear smiling to see how she would have imposed on me as she did on my Master But Madam answered I since I have given you such a proof of my skill which though it has told you this only for tryals sake yet hereafter may shew it self some way which may prove more serviceable to you I would desire one favour of you in its behalf What 's that answered she 'T is said I that you would pardon me for an accident which befell me in the performance of it What 's that says she I hope you have not raised any Spirits that have broken our Windows or done any damage to the House What if they have said my Master you shall pardon any slight mischief that they have done They have done no mischief at all said I pray do not be affrighted Madam and I 'll tell you all When you were abroad yesterday I set about my Enchantment to answer your question but you came home a little too soon while I was asking some questions concerning my own Fortune hearing you at the Door and not having time to lay that Spirit which I had raised I ordered him to throw the Bisket out of the Chest and enter into it himself you can't but have heard how mischievous Spirits are while they are at liberty and to preventy any such mischief I confined him there till your absence should give me leisure to lay him You went soon after to Bed and I durst not tell you how near the Spirit was to you for fear of fright'ning you nor would at all had not the present use my Master has of the Chest forced me to this discovery When my Mistress heard this told she ran to my Master and clasping him about the middle pretended to be in the greatest fright imaginable and desired him to leave me the House to my self till I had ridded the house of the Devil Though the hot Supper which my Master believed prepared for him and my Mistress saying that 't was because I foretold his coming had confirmed him in the belief of my Art and the earnestness with which I begg'd pardon made him not question what I said to be true yet he laughed at the extream fear which his Wife so excellently counterfeited and said Never fear Wife that Mr. Devil who has been so civil as to lye there all last night will be so rude as to disturb us now Sure Faniaca he he will not force us to leave our Victuals to cool to dance attendance on him If he will give us leave to Sup we will retire afterwards and give you leisure to dismiss him Not for the World said my Mistress I cannot eat one bit nor enjoy my self one minute while the Devil is so near us dear Love consider the danger 't is to be here and let us go to some Neighbours and leave the Witch and the Devil together Since you are so fearful said my Master have but patience till my Men come and I 'll order them to carry the Chest up Stairs for I am loath to leave this hot Supper but do not shew your fear to them for if they know that his Devilship is in it 't is likely they won't venture to meddle with it My Mistress said she thought it long till they came and I dare swear she did not counterfeit in that but was at that time as desirous to get rid of her inclosed Spark as ever she was to get into his Company The Sea-men kept her not long in pain for they came while we were talking of them My Master mentioned nothing of the Bisket to them but desired before he sat down that they would remove that Chest up one pair of Stairs for him Two of them immediately laid hold on two Rings which were fastened in the sides of it and heaved it by degrees up stairs I lighting them the way the Stairs were so narrow that they could not go both on a breast but one pulled the Chest up and the other heav'd it after him by which means our Gallant was almost stifled in it for his Head chanced to lie at that end which was lowermost therefore when it was near the top he not being able to endure it any longer stirred about to lye easier and coughed at which the Men being startled let go and the weight of the Chest tumbled it down that pair of Stairs and another pair which joined just to it though the Chest was locked yet the tumbling of it made me expect every moment that it would sly open and therefore lest it should discover the Gentleman I dropt the Candle My Mistress shriek'd at the noise and clapt too the Room Door where my Master was he stood silent not knowing what to think of the noise one of the Seamen stood by me till the Maid brought us a light but the other who bore up the lower end of the Chest was driven down all the Stairs before it I heard the poor Man groan and was terribly afraid that it was the Gentleman's voice and that the fall had crippled him I therefore desired them all to stay in the Room while I went down Stairs they were willing to obey me for the horrid noise had put them in such a Fright that they stood gazing one at another wondering what the event would be When I came down I found the Chest open and the Gentleman gone then I helped the hurt Man up Stairs his Head was broken and some parts of his Body bruised with the fall but he was more afraid than hurt Well said my Mistress to me this comes of your raising the Devil The Seaman who did not know what to make of it before hearing her say it was the Devil concluded it was so indeed and said He was sure 't was a cloven Foot trod on him for he felt it and that he saw the Tail of it as it went out of the House What then is he gone said my Mistress Yes Madam he is gone said I and shall trouble you no more A good riddance said she of your Mischievous Spirits pray raise no more of them Then Madam said I you must not give me the occasion Now my Mistress's real fear was over her counterfeit one vanished with it and bidding us set Chairs she and my Master sat down the wounded Man he sent on Ship-board to the Chyrurgeon and having supped and diverted himself with the poor imprisoned Devil they went to Bed where he passed that night with my Mistress who would rather have had that Devil for her Bedfellow The next morning my Mistress's Confessour came to her and my Master who was filled with the last nights adventure could not contain himself from communicating it to the Father saying That he had given his Wife an Indian that could raise Spirits and make them tell her things that were doing at ever so great a distance
assurance which the Indian had given him that he must expect no success unless in a Vertuous Love made him resolve to shake off the mean Passion but all his endeavours were vain the more he tryed it the more sensible he grew how unable he was to perform it He advised with Celadon and they agreed to carry on the Intrigue in spight of what the Indian foretold and this agreed best with the Prince's humour who though he could not entertain the thoughts of Marrying her could less endure the thoughts of losing her They contrived to have it thought about Town that Celadon had fallen into the Prince's displeasure the Prince shewed the first signs of it in House and they of the House soon reported it abroad Celadon with a seeming discontent left the Prince and went to Lodge with one of the Officers at Marinda's Mother's There was a young Gentlewoman a Cousin of Marinda's and her chief Confident the same whom the Prince had heard talking with her at the Well the only comfort of her Parents who were worth above ten thousand Ducats of which their Deaths would leave her the entire Possessour she was withal very Witty and good Humoured but Nature and Fortune who not often agree to be over-kind to the same person had here followed their usual Custom making her want in Beauty what she had in Riches And as her Wit was keen and sharp upon all that came into her Company so Nature had given you an exact Copy of her inside by her out-side for her Face had as much of Satyr in it as her Tongue the Chin of it was sharp and long the Nose tucked up as if it fled from her Mouth which was so wide as if Nature had designed it for some Cormorant Body Her Face was all over studded with Freckles which like the Stars in the milky way lay so thick that you would have thought it one continued yellowness only her Cheeks which had a red Colour but such a tawny one as that of blasted Goosberries This Gentlewoman was then in Town with Marinda's Mother who was her Aunt and she was an excellent help to her Cousin both diverting her from Melancholly with her Company and helping her with her Advice When Celadon came to Lodge there he became acquainted with her and having remembered that he once had some discourse with her while the Prince was entertaining her Cousin he call'd to mind how Witty and Pleasant he that time found her Conversation Their being in the same House made them often in one anothers Company and in a little time they grew to a great Familiarity Celadon hearing what a considerable Fortune she had made his Addresses to her in earnest but found her still grow strange when he spoke to her of that and therefore thought that something extraordinary was the cause of it in the mean time the Prince grew reconciled to Celadon and as their falling out was only a pretence for Celadon's leaving him to Lodge there so the Prince now made use of that priviledge to his own advantage for now Marinda could no longer avoid him and though she did as often as she could yet he came so often thither that sometimes he lighted on her before she was aware Celadon's Chamber was on the same floor with hers and nothing but a small Gallery divided them her Chamber was just at the Stair-head and the Prince would sometimes as he came up Stairs find her Door open and then force himself into her Company He this way had frequent access to her yet could never gain from her the least word in his Favour In this posture his Amour was when an Express came to him that the King had set out of Dublin on his March to Limerick the Prince gave the Officers notice to have all the Souldiers in Arms the next day to receive him He went streight to see Marinda because he did not know but the King might take him along with him as he came through the Town and so not give him time to take his leave of her He came into her Mother's and being used to go often thither to Celadon went up Stairs without speaking to any body not seeing her below he went into her Room but not finding here there and seeing her Closet-door open and a Pen and Ink on the Table he pulled the Door close and sat down to write a Billet Deux which he intended to leave for her In the mean while Marinda came into the Room and this Cousin with her and sitting down they carried on a discourse the first words of which the Prince did not hear but the following were to this purpose I tell you Marinda said the Stranger 't is in a happy hour for you that the King is coming down for he will take these Souldiers with him and this Prince who is so ungentile to endeavour the ruin of a Gentlewoman I should scarce blame him said Marinda for why should a Man be blamed for prosecuting the way to his own happiness Nor am I so conceited as to aim at Marriage for what private Gentlewoman could nourish such vain hopes as those of being raised to a Princess 'T is more than a bare Prodigy for Earthquakes Inundations and those wonders of Nature do sometimes happen but that a Prince should marry a private Maid is such a wonder as I never found mentioned in all the Chronicles I have read What Cousin says she and do you plead for him will you ever consent to his Love on dishonourable terms No said Marinda as I do his Cause Justice so I will my own had not this news of the King 's coming prevented me I would have gone with you to your Father's to avoid him now I will deferr it till I hear the Siege of Limerick is over then I will retire to your House or some other Relations where he shall never trouble me again or I him Ay do Marinda said her Cousin fly the Tempter But what shall I do with my Lovers They are both going to the Camp and will expect that I give them some satisfactory answer and I do not know which way to incline the one is a Captain of Horse he is approved of by my Father but disliked by my Mother and me because he is a Papist and I have another cause of aversion for him that is that he is a Foreigner I don't fear that all his Country Jealousie can make him suspitious of such a Face as mine but those on the continent make such saucy domineering Husbands that no free-born Irish-woman will endure their slavery There is Celadon a good Humoured Handsome Witty Fellow and one that I like very well he makes his Courtship so zealously and swears so seriously that he Loves me that I do almost believe him yet the Fellow is so poor that I fancy neither Father nor Mother will ever consent to my having him prithee tell me what resolution to take or whether of the two to favour my
Your Highness said Celadon cannot be more in Love with the perfections of your Mistress than seem with the Wit and good Humour of mine Besides her Baggs which are so large and tempting it would grieve my heart to part with them after I was in so fair a way for obtaining her The Prince answered that both their Loves waited only for his Health and then he would soon see them consumated He wrote two or three Letters more to Marinda whilst he lay ill but the Reader must excuse me if I produce them not here since Marinda burned them to prevent a discovery and Secretary Celadon was not so careful to keep any Copies Now had the active Sun run through our Celestial sign and his pale Sister gone through her Monthly course and changed her Orb whilst the poor Prince kept his Bed and with the loss of Blood had been as pale as she at length the help of Art restored his Health strengthning Nature began to exert her power and tho' she was not risen of a sudden to her former vigour yet she made great advances and every day perceived her strength encreasing His impatient Love would stay no longer than till he was able to travel and then it carried him back to Clonmell to see his long absent Mistress He rode to his Lodgings at Marinda's Mothers but hearing Musick in the House and the Mirth of Company within he asked what was the Matter 'T is said one a preparation for Madam Diana's Wedding who is just now to be Married Married said Celadon O that I had either come sooner or later for my Honour sake I cannot see my Mistress Married away before my Face and yet I am come too late to prevent it but what can be done on such a sudden I 'll do Saying this he alighted and rushed into the House and the Prince followed him in to see what his design was Celadon entered just as the Ceremony began and with a threatning voice cryed I forbid the Banes and if the intended Bridegroom will defer his hopes so long to go aside with me I will convince him that my Title to her is better than his The Company wonder'd to see this Challenge laid to her her Relations who were by expected her to speak but she was prevented by the Bridgeroom who fiercely cryed that it belonged to none but him to vindicate his Title to her Some Officers were there the Bridgerooms Friends and would have taken up his quarrel but forbore out of respect to the Prince expecting what he would do in it The Prince knowing the Gentleman to be the same whom he had seen Combat with so many Enemies to save Marinda had such an opinion of his Valour that the would fain have decided the Quarrel without injuring either of the Pretenders Had she been at his disposal Celadon should have had her if at her Parents they had decided it for the Spaniard Therefore he thought it best to leave it to her self and therefore spoke to this purpose Gentlemen I have such an esteem for you both that I would not have you fight since which ever falls the Law will lay hold on the other and so in striving which shall have the Lady both of you will lose her if you will stand to my advice let it be thus Refer your Cause to the Lady and give her three days time to consider of it in which time let both of you have free access to make your Court to her and at the three days end let her take which she will If Celadon her choice does decide it against you you must submit but if she like you best there is no reason why your staying with me in my illness should make you lose your Mistress The Gentleman said that since he owed his Life to the Prince's Valour he would not deny him this and Celadon was glad to win so much to try his Fortune in While the three days lasted the two Suiters took their turns to Court Diana On the fourth day the Musick play'd again the Priest was present and the admiring Company stood in suspence to see who was the destined Bridegroom The Bride stood out and in making her Choice spake thus You are here come together my Relations and good Acquaintance to set me Married and I am happy in having the choice of two Gentleman the refused of which may if his deserts are answered have many a better proffer however if they were ever so good one of them must be rejected therefore I would not have the disappointed one take it ill that I refuse him One of them has been longer my Servant but the other was more zealous while he was so The Spaniard has been the more Complaisant but the Englishman the Fonder The Spaniard the truer Courtier but the Englishman the truer Lover therefore as commonly Love is soonest raised in one Breast by seeing it first in the other so the Englishman has the advantage of the Spaniard and my heart catched that Passion as it were by Contagion from his Yet on the other side I should not forget my Duty my Father takes the Spaniard's part well but Love takes the Englishman's Then I must beg my Father's pardon if I leave the Spaniard to receive his reward from him whom he courted and desire the Company to judge if I ought not rather to yield him my Love who sued to me for it than to him who Courted my Parents The Company was divided in their opinions as their Acquaintance byassed them and some murmured as the Inconstancy of her Humour whilst others applauded her Choice Celadon ran to give her thanks with all the kindest expressions his Joy could inspire him with and his Rival distracted with Grief and Shame at his unexpected repulse stood uncertain on that sudden Emergency how to behave himself He was awaked out of this Trance by a Gentlewoman who came to him and said Take heart Seignior be not ashamed of a Denial which not your want of Merit but my Contrivance was the occasion of 't was I that persuaded the Lady to refuse you and I trust you will pardon me when I say it was for my own sake that I did it Without question the Company thought this an odd sort of Confidence for a Gentlewoman to Court a Man in so kind terms and so publickly too Her Garb was very fine her Shape and Air gentile and her Face which was one of the most amiable ones there spake her to be in the prime of her years yet neither her Dress Youth Beauty or Love could prevail the least on our discontented Spaniard who would not once vouchsafe to look on her What then said she is my Constancy thus requited Or can two years time cause so much alteration as to make Astolfo forget me These words made the Spaniard turn towards her and he no sooner saw her Face but he cry'd out am I in a Dream Or do I truly behold once again the Face of my
she told my Cousin she should have the Gentleman she Dreamed of she interpreted the little Archer who was on your side to be Love the Giant on hers Honour that Honour 's going over to your side and leaving her defenceless signified that your proffering to Marry her would overcome her obstinacy and the Cupid's shooting her through is easie enough to be left to your Highness's Explanation the Indian promising her success made her indulge that Love which she bridled before and brought her abroad to the Ball Marinda Madam was nor at the last Ball said the Prince Yes Sir said Diana if your Highness remembers there were two in Spanish Dress the one was the Indian the other Marinda but sure said the Prince Marinda was not not with her in my Room the next day She was with your Highness both times said Diana nay it was she whose Advice you asked in the Closet she came home that Night with all the marks of a violent Grief at something which your Highness had said to her and resolved withall never to see hear or speak to you more when she represented the Fortune-Teller she forbad your Highness to prosecute the Intrigue any farther unless you designed to carry it on Honourably and your going on with it by giving her your Company so often afterwards and the Indians 〈◊〉 averring that she was destined for you made her believe your Highness had altered your mind for the better as you know Lovers above all People are aptest to believe things will come to pass fortunately meerly because they would have it so this her belief was strengthned by the kind promising Letter you sent her from Limerick which Letter induced me too to think that your Highness had designed something to her advantage You saw what a free reception she gave you at your return from the Camp till Celadon's telling me that you were Married dashed all the Joy I conceived at the prosperity of her Amour and was very near breaking her Heart in endeavouring to gain a Conquest over her Love but when she found how difficult that was she said she would punish your illegal Passion and her own at the same time and lest a fit of Love should make her recant she put it in Execution immediately there was a Gentleman of a considerable Fortune who had seen her at my Father 's in Dublin and fallen in Love with her this Gentleman being then come to Clonmell to see her she desired him to wait on her to Dublin and I desired my Servant the Spaniard that he would accompany her thither she told me that she would rather Marry him whom she did not Love than give a longer encouragement to any unlawful Affection which your Highness might entertain for her that would have bereaved you of her for ever had not she been met by those Rapperees her Servant fell there and though she was mightily concerned for your Highness's danger yet her Vertue drew those Tears from her which she thought due to her Defender's Misfortune and might serve to make you despair ever coming into her favour again But when Celadon undeceived us by telling me that your being Married was only an invention of his own Shame and Love returned very powerfully upon her Shame that she had used you so ill without a cause and that Love which before was only supprest by her Resentments flourished now with greater vigour than before This discovery which regained your Highness her Affection lost Celadon mine and my Anger at his crafty deceit and his being the cause of so much bloodshed though innocently made me resolve on the same way to get rid of him which my Cousin designed against you that is by Marrying another and the Spanish Gentleman who had my Father's Consent coming then wounded from a Journey which he undertook to serve me I thought once to reward his Service and punish Celadon's Falseness and imagined I might do it with less disturbance whilst your indisposition kept him out of the way but Fate which they say presides over our Marriages as well as our Deaths ordered it otherwise and brought him just time enough to suspend it The Prince gave the most ample demonstrations of Joy at the setledness which this Relation shew'd to be in Marinda's Love and having thank'd the Ingenious Diana for the comfort she had given him he walked towards the other Couple they joyned Company and the Prince desired Marinda that she would compleat his Happiness by setting Celadon as high in his Mistress's Favour as himself was in hers The Beautiful Marinda granted him this request as the first demonstration of her Obedience she endeavoured it so effectually that presently she made her Cousin pardon Celadon's former miscarriage and receive him again into her favour neither did Marinda find it any thing difficult to persuade her to this for of all People Mistresses are the most forgiving indulgent Persons to those they Love and let them dissemble it as much as they please they cannot be long Angry at any fault a Lover commits unless it seem to proceed from want of Affection but Celadon not being of that Nature was soon forgiven and as a proof of it was encouraged to hope she would Vote for him The next morning the Indian came to wait on the two Cousins and told Diana that he who was in Election to be her Husband was the Spaniard whom she had been so long looking for Marinda had invited her to the Wedding and she came in a little after the Prince had deferr'd it and then seeing it put off would not discover her self to the Spaniard she desired Diana to keep him still in ignorance that when he was refused she might see how he would excuse himself to her Diana desired no less than she that it might be kept secret lest Celadon should esteem her love the less thinking that the Spaniard being owned by another made her take him for a shift this was the result of the three days Tryal and hence it came to pass that the Spaniard dejected at the loss of one Mistress was elevated by the unexpected finding out another whom he Loved better The short prorogation of their Marriages only continued till the Prince had prepared for his at last the expected day came and rewarded the three longing Lovers with the intire possession of their Mistresses The Beautiful Marinda the Ingenious Diana and the Pritty Faniaca submitted themselves to the power of their Youthful Conquerours Diana had all the felicity she could wish in having him she Loved the Indian gained not only her dear Spaniard but a Fortune with him for he that day received News from his Father that his old Enemy was Dead his Pardon taken out and with it he had orders to come home and take possession of an Estate his Father gave him the Beautiful Marinda received the reward of her invincible Vertue in Loving and being Beloved and in having gained a Prince who raised her Quality as high in comparison of what she was before as a Woman's Ambition could desire these were the Pleasures of the Wedding Day heightned by the addition of Musick Feasting and Mirth but the Night came we must like their Bride Maids conduct them to their Beds and drawing the Curtains leave them there to the full Enjoyment of those Pleasures whose Raptures none but Experienced Lovers know and the Constant ones may expect to attain FINIS