convinced of it as soon as she awaked and Eugenia acquainted her that she had so tired and overheated that poor Girle with her embraces that she was obliged to withdraw into another Chamber for a little rest it being impossible for her to sleep with so great heat and importunity As soon as our two Lovers saw each other Eugenia smilingly asked Oronces how he had past the night Ah! malicious Creature he replied have you the heart so to insult over an unfortunate man Know that I never gave you greater proofs of my Love than last night and without extream Affection my Obedience could never have been so perfect You made me dye a thousand times by your continual motions and I still admire how I have been able to observe with so great submission those rigorous Laws which you had given me By this the time was come wherein they were to attend all the usual exercises of a Monastick life Oronces was instructed in them by his Mistress and performed them with so great success especially those that regarded the business of the Quire that in some time after she who had the care of forming the Voices of the Novices being fallen sick that charge was given to sister Aurelia who took pleasure in the Employment and did execute it to the satisfaction of all those put under him The truth is that he so behaved himself as that under the Countenance of a Venus he made Virtue it self and Modesty shine out He seemed unmoved with any ambition His Beauty gave him not the least pride or affectation He was simple or witty according to occasion and so plain a sincerity appeared in him that even the most penetrating were deceived Under the Veil of an easy and attracting Devotion he gained the hearts of all the World and his Mistress and himself following the same Rules in their Conduct and being endowed almost with the same qualities they were esteemed as Persons that one day would fill up the Chief Places of the Convent Eugenia was of a tall and slender stature her face round and of a wonderful complexion her black Eyes were filled with Fire which she tempered with a great deal of sweetness and modesty her teeth were white even and well ranked In fine to give a perfect Idea of Her it may be said that her Veil hid more beauty then outwardly appeared and that it was reserved for him only who one day was to enjoy her to admire at its Perfection Oronces had already remained almost a year in the Monastery and lived there with the Approbation of the whole Convent when an unlucky Accident made him a thousand times repent of his rash entring into that place and of trusting himself so long to the inconstancy of Fortune A Nun of the house called Lucia having been a little too familiar in private with at Directour who would conduct her into Heaven by ways very different from the Gospel so resented his devout Instructions that she could not hide the fruits of it but appeared big with Child in the sight of all her Companions There is nothing that destroys the esteem which the world hath conceived for these kind of People more then the knowledge of their Crimes and Offences They therefore kept the business as secret as they could and the Superiour forbad them under great penalties to say any thing of that disorder In the mean time the poor Lucia was examined and because she had read in a Book containing several Fabulous Stories that a Vestall had conceived by a Spirit She thought that she also might deny her having any communication with a man In effect she so stubbornly persisted in the denyal that the Superiour fearing that there might be some Hermaphrodite among her maids ordered ten of the most Ancient to search all the Nuns of the Convent without exception and then to make a true Report to her of what they had seen I leave you to judge what extremity this Order reduced our two Lovers to Eugenia who feared all things for Oronces councelled him to withdraw and depart that night through a place in the Garden where the passage was not difficult There was so little probability of saving himself otherwise from the danger whereto he was exposed that he resolved to follow the Countel of his dear Mistress whom he bid adiew to in the evening and took leave of her without having time to reflect upon the means of recovering her thus abandoned by his departure He was not yet arrived at the place by which he was to make his escape when he met a Nun whom chance or the desire of taking a little fresh air had brought thither She immediately perceived Sister Aurelia by reason of her Habit being white mingled with black which reaches the sight sooner then any thing else and joyning with her retained her in spight of all the Artifices which she used to get rid of her She entertained her with what had past in the House and with what was to be done on the morrow according to the command of the Superiour These discourses put Aurelia upon Thornes Nevertheless it was impossible for her to get from that Impertinent and to add to his misfortune she who had the charge of locking up all the Gates came to advise them to retire that the retreat was rung and that she came to perform her office This unhappy rencounter broke all the Measures of our poor Lover he was forced to reenter the Cloyster and go to his own bed thinking continually how to secure himself from the storm and tempest which threatned him But alas that Wit that suggested to him his former Stratagem failed him upon this occasion Eugenia perceiving him in the morning in the Quire among the rest was in the greatest amazement in the world The search was to be made in the Afternoon and there was no possibility of escaping by day the sight of so many people She spoke to him and understood what had hindred his departure she thought she studied she meditated but still in vain and in that disquiet she remitted her cause to the God of love whom she conjured not to abandon them in so dangerous an extremity In the mean while the time appointed for the execution of the ordonnance being come all the Nuns had fresh notice to go and present themselves one after another to the old ones deputed to search and several had already undergone that mortification when Eugenia came thither and retired as soon as she could out of the hands of those old Matrons whose fashions would have made her laugh had she not had so much cause of affliction Oronces his turn approached when Eugenia perceiving her self all of a suddain transported went to find him out and readily changing Habits with him which differed from the rest as we have already told you she bid him not to torment himself and said that she hoped that with this disguise every thing would fall out to their advantage In
â—f her Lover she talked not of â—im so frequently as before and in â—â—e it was believed that she had recovered her former liberty But theâ—â— appearances were deceitful anâ— though she thought fit to compoâ—â— her outward behaviour after thaâ— manner yet her heart was still â—qually wounded and was not sensible to any Love contrary to thâ— faith which she had sworne to hâ— Dear Oronces There is usually no better remâ—dy for Love than Love it selâ— Therefore Eugenia's Mother name Laurentia proposed to her the dâ—signe which she had of makinâ— by her means an alliance with tâ—â— Family of Dorimont who was a hanâ—some and well behaved Gentlemaâ— and whose Nobility was supportâ— by a considerable Fortune whiâ—â— rendered him one of the Princiâ—â—â— men in the Province Therefoâ—â— she was not to be surprized tâ—â— she had in prospect of her advantaâ—â— been crost in her first inclinatioâ— which could not be reasonable siâ— they proceeded from a blind Passâ— without reason Although those Propositions infinitely displeased Eugenia and that she had no designe to obey them yet she did not let that appear presently but contented her self with answering that she no longer had any sensibility for Love and that she did believe no Lover could sigh for her with success however to satisfie Her she would receive his Visits whom she spake of and if she foresaw she could live happily with him she would not oppose his good fortune Though that answer was sufficient to let them know what the Faire one's Sentiments were Yet they perswaded themselves that so witty a Lover as Dorimont could manage her spirit and by his Diligence and Assiduities blot out the first impressions which love had engraved in her heart But alas how difficult is it to deface stroaks so deeply cut and extinguish fires â—hat draw their nourishment from â—ur Inclination This new Cavalier had much merit but he succeeded another which had yet more He then began to shew his love for her by all the complaisances imaginable he desired nothing but what pleased her and did nothing but what he believed agreeable to her Humour She on the contrary answered all this with civilities which denoted only her indifference and were enough to let this pooâ— Lover understand that he laboureâ— in vain and that all his presents his Promenades and this Regale would be more successful bestoweâ— on some other Mistress He sigheâ— but his sighs touched not Her hâ— languishing seemed to Her affected and all his Gallantries loathsomeâ— and improper in a word even tâ—â— best thing he did offended Her aâ—â— she wished for nothing more thâ—â— to be freed from these Visits whiâ—â— were already become insupportaâ—â— torments to her This unhappy Lover made Courting in vain He could obtain no love and his perseverance was followed only by a stubbornness which he found invincible in Eugenia never to love any thing but her Dear Oronces When he knew perfectly that there was nothing to be done and that the Fair one could never be reduced to favour him he thought of a retreat and acquainted Eugenia's Parents with the little success of his enterprise and his designe of leaving her Then it was that the Combat grew rough and that Laurentia to little purpose making use of a Mothers Authority would force her Daughter to doe that thorough Obedience which she would not do by Inclination and knowing that she had a great aversion for a Cloyster she threatned to shut her up in one if she persisted in her stubbornness But all these frights were unuseful and Eugenia protested that though she had a great Antipathy for a Monastick life yet she would embrace it rather than do any thing contrary to the Faith given her Lover that all these false Alarms should work no effect upon her and that the only way to retain her in the world was not to perplex her in an Honourable Love which might prove Glorious to her Family That in all other things she would have for her Mother all the respect possible but in an affaire that concerned the Liberty of her Person she desired that she might not be made unhappy by any evil engagement Laurentia said to her all that anger could inspire a provoked Mother She threatned her with the loss of her Favour and gave her only one whole Week to resolve upon the choice either of a Cloyster or of Him whom she had proposed to her for an Husband That afflicted Mother had no real designe of forcing her to quit the World she was â—ather entirely averse to it but she â—lattered her self that the only means to be obeyed was to act after that manner and that she would sooner make choice of a Marriage with Dorimont than of a Voluntary confinement in a place which she could never approve of While these affairs past thus Oronces had an Employment in Flanders conformable to his Age and Birth he acquitted himself of it with the approbation of all those who knew him and they admired that courage which he made appear in the most dangerous assaults and which accomplisht the most difficult Enterprises Whatever diversions these Exercises might give his spirit yet he could not lose the memory of his Dear Mistress He thought of her night and day and the excess of his Passion made him long for a Peace so that there might be a possibility of his enjoying her whom he loved more then his life As soon as the time given Eugenia to determine her choice was expired Laurentia would have heâ— openly declare which of the Two proposed to her was the least disagreeable She having had leisure to think thereon told her Mother that she had not changed her Opinion that the Affection which she had for Oronces was not at all diminished and that she might noâ— fail in the fidelity due to him she had rather enter into a Cloyster iâ— it must be absolutely so than give her Heart to another in prejudice of her true Lover Laurentia who was enraged aâ— these words told her that she might then prepare her self for that she her self would conduct her to the place where perhaps she should aâ— her own expences learne how mischievous are the consequences oâ— such a Disobedience Eugenia madâ— no other answer but that she believed they could not in Conscience engage a Free person to a Course of life for which she had a Repugnance but that she hoped she might one day take advantage from the Constraint which she received All this was alledged in vain she must enter into Religion and hide from the Eyes of men a Beauty which seemed not to be created with so much perfection to be Enclosed Laurentia and Eugenia dissembled the true cause of this Retreat and gave out that it was only for a Tryal whether her Vocation was not there or if Heaven would call her otherwise All the Religious admired with astonishment so sudden a change and were yet much more surprized when they saw that it was real and
longer kept any measures in their declarations but discovered to one another what they really resented in their hearts As soon as Oronces was arrived he with a Gallant aire told Eugenia alas Madam I am come to know whether I have sufficiently performed my Commission and whether my expressions be not so obscure as to need an interpretation You have done well answered the Lady in coming to explain your self a little more clearly for in truth I knew not whom you meant nor has your Letter made me any wiser than I was before Oh Heaven Replied Oronces how full of dissimulation are you and what pleasure do you take to see a Young Lover before you whom bashfulness restrains from telling you how much he loves you At these words he cast his Eyes to the ground and then lift them up to Eugenia with an aire that might let her understand what he felt in his Soule She appeared a little amazed and in a serious Tone said to him that she was much obliged to him but that she plainly saw that he intended to divert himself with her and that she had reason to take what he had said rather for a Complement then for a convincing Truth as to the rest that â—â—e went a little too fast Ah Maâ—am continued he great Passions â—ever goe slowly they immediately pâ—oduce great Effects and you â—ught not to be surprized that even â—n the first minute in which I saw â—ou I became so Amorous of you â—â—at it is now to no purpose to enâ—eavour to dissemble it my Eyes â—nd all my Actions would discover â—hat my Heart would fain conceal â—nd this dumb Language would â—â—ew it as much as if I declared it â—ut aloud You must then persuâ—d he with a sigh see the bottom â—f my heart and I must tell you â—hat there is not any thing in you which charmes me not that I have â—o other Ambition then That of enâ—ying you and that your Will aâ—one shall hereafter Govern all my â—ctions Eugenia during this discourse afâ—ected a great deal of Modesty and â—eemed much astonished As her soul was agitated by the most violent passion that a fair object could inspire so her answer made appeaâ— the confusion of her Spirit and leâ— Oronces know that her heart waâ— no less wounded than his Then he used all the Arts which a passionate young Spark is capable of to assure his Conquest and to benefiâ— himself of the disorder which he had caused in his Mistresses soul he expressed his regards with so much languishing he pressed his sighs to so much purpose that he reduced that innocent thing to be no longer able to defend her self from a thousand Complaisances which enflamed them yet more and obliged these two hearts who never had loved any thing before to confess to one another that they were taken Ah Oronces said Eugenia after having received a kiss from her Lover do you believe that we can be so happy as to love successfully The fear that I am in that it cannot be makes me already represent to my self a thousand Obstacles which may oppose our Love and fancy a number of Mischances which ill Fortune may expose us to We must not be so fearful replied our Cavalier we have cause rather to hope than fear for I dare tell you that I am resolv'd to to neglect all Considerations whatever but those of pleasing you and there is no difficulty which I will not overcome to attain and preserve a Good that I prefer before all the Treasures in the World These words were followed by a thousand kisses and other favours which altho' they were not incompatible with virtue yet were rather stollen then freely granted One embrace followed the other so closely that it seemed as if they designed to render them Eternal and as if finding nothing else grateful to their Hearts they intended to live only upon tenderness sighs and affections In Effect this life was very pleasant its being was only in the most tender Amity that ever had united two hearts and its nourishment was seasoned with the most innocent delights that could charm an excellent Soul Our Lovers past some time by favour of their great Youth in this amiable tranquillity for as much as that their Parents did believe that an age more advanced would make them change their Sentiments but they were deceived in that for time far from diminishing that Love which they had entertain'd in their tender years made it the stronger for their weakness and rendered it incapable of receiving any alteration by inconstancy Our Lovers to make good use of this interval of Liberty neglected nothing that could contribute to their Common satisfaction â—heir visits were no longer formal â—â—r they hardly ever quitted each â—ther and they past whole days in â—alking of the Excess of their passion â—ut in termes so tender with reâ—ards so languishing and sighs so â—morous that their behaviour had â—een enough to raise Love even â—n the most unsensible Heart There appeared fire as well as â—anguishments in these amorous Entertainments they resented nothing but tenderness and transports and their Caresses were like those of innocent Doves who never are tired with their Courtship and always find new Charmes in the tender Object of their Pleasures The good Intelligence which had always accompanied the agreeable moments of those lovely young ones was disturbed to the quick by extraordinary Prohibitions which they on either side received to see one another any more Oronces his Parents perceiving that his assiduities to Eugenia might draw afteâ— them such Consequences as would oblige him to consent to his marrying a Person very rich indeed but whose Nobility was much inferiour to his pushed on with Ambition desired to break the Course of these Amours and in order to it at the same time resolved to send him out of the Province On the other side Eugenia's Mother being informed of what had past and having learnt from her Daughters confession that without raillery she loved the Governour 's Son and was also beloved by him she reprehended her very severely for having so long suffered his visits and told her that she had higher designes than to engage her to a younger Brother who never should have any other Estate but what Fortune or the chance of War could procure him that she ought to consider that she was the only Child in the Family and â—hat she esteemed her Nobility as good as Oronces his Fathers wâ—â—â— was only considerable for Goverâ—ment One must have loved equally with our Lovers to conceive their Affliction Oronces abandoned himself entirely to Sorrow Murmurs and complaints came only from him and he even called his Father inhumane and assured him that he took away his life if he did not moderate those rigorous Orders which he had given him Eugenia for her part was inconsolable and being of a softer Sex past whole Nights in weeping and breathing forth sighs able to soften Rocks and change the Sentiments of
and Pure you should not then have rendered it Criminal by infidelity while on my side I render it Illustrious by an inviolable constancy acquaint me as soon as possible if my complaints are unjust and deliver from his Pain the unfortunate Oronces This Letter was put into her own hand by the Gentleman we mentioned it produced in the Soul of our young Profest very very different Motions for she was equally toucht with Grief and Joy and in that moment perceived the Reliques of the Fire to rekindle in Her which were almost extinguish't If her Joy was great to understand that He whom she loved was living she conceived no less displeasure to see her self tied and bound and according to all appearance a Captive for the rest of her days that Reflection caused in her an extream Melancholly and raised troubles in her Spirit which tormented her to the Quick She endeavoured to get out of that confusion and to enjoy her former tranquillity by overcoming her Nature and mastring her Inclination for her Lover She believed that Meditation and the Devout Contemplation of several Pious Mysteries and the exercise of a severe Virtue might take her off from these Sentiments of the World and Terrestial thoughts by approaching Heaven She therefore made a Tryal of this for some days but it was without any profit Devotion was to her an Insipid Dainty which she could not at all Relish She in vain forbid Love an entrance into her heart â—e so constantly crept in and made 〈◊〉 greater ravage then before He cauâ—ed a thousand distractions in her â—ost fervent prayers He maliciâ—usly led her into all Places where â—er Lover had been He obliged her â—o stop in the place where he had â—iven her a thousand Kisses and â—here she had received a thousand Caresses and where he had assured â—er of his Constancy In fine he oâ—ercame and constrained her to yield and still to nourish in her Soul the same Passion which had made her sigh so often heretofore Eugenia then finding her self too weak to resist this little God that attacked her abandoned her self entirely to his conduct and writ to Oronces the most passionate Letter that her Genius could dictate she informed him of her Mothers deceit and conjured him to seek some remedy for an evil that in its self seemed irrecoverable that she was altogether His and that Love of him only had obliged her to embrace the Condition wherein she saw her self unhappily engaged I leave you to judge how this Letter was received by our young Lover without reflecting upon his Mistresses condition he was excessivâ— glad to hear that she had been faithful to him and that He only waâ— beloved and tho' there was nâ— cause for it yet he flattered himseâ—â— with the hope of some good fortunâ— whereof the thought only transported him wih Pleasure Nevertheless this Extasie being ill grounded continued not long it gave place to more serious considerations and was followed by an extraordinary Melancholly which represented to him that the loss of Eugenia was without recovery and that it was impossible to repair it While this inquietude afflicted his mind he wholy applied himself to find out means of getting Eugenia into his possession He presently thought of stealing her away which would have been without doubt easy since she without any great difficulty would have consented to it but many considerations disswaded him from it and made him reject that Expedient for fear of not being able to make use of it but with prejudice to his Mistress At length after much consideration Love inspired him with an Artifice which at the same time was the most pleasant and most rash in the World He understood that a young Gentleman one of his intimate Friends called Camillus had made a close Familiarity with a young Nun of that Country who had conceived for him so great an affection that she would have followed him all the World over her name was Aurelia Oronces made a confidence to this Cavalier of his ancient Passion for a Mistress who by a Mothers Stratagem was blindly shut up in a Cloyster for the rest of her days he intreated him to serve him in that affaire from which he himself could draw nothing but advantage Then he proposed to him his designe and told him that to bring it succesfully about he must obtain leave for sister Aurelia to change her Convent so that she might go and remain in that where Eugenia was and that if this could be done as it was apparently possible they Two should be the most happy Lovers that ever were in the World Camillus became of his Friends opinion and told him that he would speak of it to his Mistress without whom nothing could be performed But alas how weak is a young heart when it suffers it self to be conducted by Love Aurelia far from examining with the Scruple which she ought the Proposition made to her immediately consented unto it and approved of the project admiring that Oronces in so tender an age should be capable of imagining so witty a contrivance Then our two Lovers met again and Camillus gave an account of his visit to our Cavalier Both obtained from their General upon a decent pretence leave to withdraw and they seriously applied themselves to succeed in their designe It being unfit that they should appear to have any interest in the retreat of Sister Aurelia they left her to act all alone and supplied her with the sure means of obtaining her request feeing underhand the persons employed to sollicite the fair Nun's Petition The Town wherein she was had been conquered from the King oâ— Spaine and thereupon it was that she grounded her request She represented with a great deal of Spirit and Ingenuity that she had ever born an inclination to the French interest and more particularly since His Majesty became Master of the Town wherein the Monastery stood but that sarr from gaining the love of her Superiours by thâ— Obedience which she paid her Prince she was become the hate of thâ— whole Convent that they respected her as a stranger and that those that Govern'd being still Spaniard in their hearts and affections madâ— her suffer a thousand torments from which she could not be delivered but by quitting the place from whence she humbly prayed to retire This pretence being specious enough and these reasons having some appearance she easily obtained her wish but not without special regard being had that Eugenia's Convent to which she was to go was governed by the same Rule as That which she was to quit and there was no other difference but that in This wherein Aurelia was they wore a little white scarfe upon their Habit which the others observed not But this distinction not being essential they without difficulty gave her all the necessary Orders for her departure In the mean time these two Lovers consulted together of what they had to do Oronces following the Genius that pusht him on
no other answer but that she should have time enough to see and salute her since she was to remain in the House In the mean time the Superiour according to custom caused all the Sisters to be called together to the publick reading of Aurelia's Patents and to receive her according to Form into the number of the Religious Eugenia was then present with the others and while one of the Ancients red the dispatches and that the other Formalities were observed she had her eye continually upon this new Commer but she little thought that she beheld her Lover After the Ceremony was over Oronces received fresh kisses from the Company but he found none so sweet as that which his Mistress gave him He could not refrain from clasping her more amorously than he did the others and although he did not design to discover himself so soon to her he could not forbear a certain whisper followed by some glances which penetrated the heart of that lovely Creature The poor Lady agitated with a thousand thoughts retired immediately into her Chamber to meditate of what she had seen and to reflect upon the resemblance of Aurelia's face to her Dear Oronces Nevertheless she durst not be convinced of what her heart declared to her and though she had been moved with an infinite tenderness at the time she was embraced yet a designe so hardy and surprizing could not enter her thought In this embarras and confusion of Spirit she slumbered and her mind being filled only with the resemblance that was between Aurelia and Oronces she continually dreamed of that Subject Let us leave her in this moment of repose and tranquillity to see what her Lover does Aurelia was all his time entertained by a Nun who finding in her self a great inclination to love her resolved with the first to gain her Heart and Friendship She was young and fair and Oronces was not insensible but his Affections being already placed he made no return of real Love or Tenderness but only of a little outward Complaisance This Nun who was called Pamphilia never found in her self so ardent a desire to love one of her own Sex as she did in respect of this new Commer and this Love appearing to her innocent and impossible to have in it any thing impure she pusht it on as far as she could and knowing by experience that the Night was more proper than the Day for a thousand amorous declarations and an infinity of engaging wantonnesses she proffered Aurelia to pass it with her in one of the Common Chambers because as yet there was no particular one provided for her All these Caresses enough to have transported with joy any other that had sence gave Aurelia but a slender satisfaction She did indeed find her self a little warmed but she needed only think upon Eugenia to quench immediately those Flames which begun to blaze Nevertheless she could not forbear telling Pamphilia that her company would be very agreeable unto her and that she received extraordinary pleasure in her conversation But that which gave her no small content was to hear from this Religious a recital of every thing that had past concerning her Mistress who being one of Pamphilia's intimate Friends had made her a Confident of it all and had prayed her to keep it secret and impart it to none Oronces who almost died with a desire of speaking to Eugenia took thence an occasion of asking Pamphilia where was her Chamber and told her that she would be glad to go along with her and visit that amiable Nun. Then Pamphilia conducted him thither and immediately left them together to the end that they might be the more easily engaged in a Common amity wherein she might have a part Our Metamorphosed Cavalier for all his Mistresses Melancholly found her fairer then ever he had seen her even in her richest Garments Her youth inspired him with Joy her Beauty with new desires and what she had done for him with admiration He at first dissembled who he was and understood from her that she was newly risen from sleep and that she had had a Dream which while it continued gave her a great deal of pleasure but after awakening created nothing in her but disquiet He prest her to declare it and told her that he would shew the true meaning of it if it had the least conformity with reason She immediately gave him a look and their Eyes meeting together said in their Language that Love was very ingenious and that they could not â—ong be unknown to one another Nevertheless Eugenia being the more fearful did not dare to declare her thought first and Oronces who took pleasure in seeing her in that confusion made no great hast to draw her out of it In fine Love overcame Affection Aurelia or rather our Cavalier could no longer resist those tender motions which the presence of his dear Mistress made him resent He â—ast himself about her neck and embracing her with transports of extraordinary joy he cried out yes â—tis I Eugenia and Love has given me the Habit which you see That word chasing all doubt from Eugenia's mind replenished her with an â—nconceivable satisfaction and for â—ome moments deprived her of the â—se of her senses that she might â—he more peaceably enjoy within her â—elf that excess of pleasure which â—he felt As soon as they had recovered their surprize they began again their Caresses and Oronces to take Eugenia out of pain related to her how every thing past and that they had no cause to apprehend any thing as long as his youth would leave his chin unfurnished and as the sweetness of his voice would continue She for her part acquainted him with the Artifice which her Mother made use of to abuse her and conjured him to behave himself discreetly in regard of the Convent least that by some wrong step he might spoil an enterprize that required all the good conduct imaginable to make it succeed She instructed him moreover iâ— all the ways of living in a Cloyster and she fashioned him so well thaâ— he was in a little time as skilful 〈◊〉 the ancientest Dame in the house and he performed his Duty so well as shall be seen hereafter that hâ— merited to have the direction of thâ— Novices when their ordinary Miâ—tress who was very Aged could not attend that exercise by reason of indisposition In the mean time the promise which he had made Pamphilia to pass the night with her troubled him not a little He told in Eugenia who could find no surer means to prevent it then by offering the same thing in the others presence an opportunity so to do presented it self immediately for Pamphilia impatient to see Aurelia again went and rejoyned them in a Friends Chamber who told her as soon as she entered that she would not quit Aurelia before the morning and that being for that day exempted from assisting in the Quire she would keep her company Pamphilia for her
part alledged that she had made the first proffer that the Bed wherein they were to ly was too little for three and that she must yield to her as to one who was her elder But Eugenia was too much interessed to let her gain that point Therefore the conclusion was that they should accommodate themselves as well as they could and that both should take care to divert the new Comer In the mean time nothing was more embarrassed than our Cavalier he was so fearful of giving his Mistress some apparent cause of Jealousy that he thought himself obliged to prevent her and to intreaâ— her not to make any ill construction of the Amity which she should outwardly shew in return to thâ— Caresses of the other Nuns thaâ— he would abstain altogether from so doing if she absolutely desireâ— it but that he believed that thâ— best way to conceal their Game was to live outwardly alike with alâ— the world Eugenia who had a good witâ— and was perfectly convinced of thâ— great Love which Oronces had foâ— her told him that he might aâ— in all things without Constraint that although she loved him much more then he could imagin yet she did believe that no jealousy could ever trouble her That he might really upon these words and hereafter use all the liberty he would do were he that in Effect which he was only in Appearance There is nothing that agrees with Beauty better or gives it more lustre then joy Eugenia being rid of her vexation and a gay humour succeeding her Melancholly recovered in a little time together with a good plight those charms which formerly rendered her so lovely and were now sullied with the trouble and disquiet of mind to which her retreat had reduced her She supt with her Lover and Pamphilia who was become jealous of the Caresses that all the young Nuns made to sister Aurelia flattered her self with the sensible pleasure of lying and passing the night with a Person whom she loved with an Extraordinary tenderness and affection Eugenia that she might have an opportunity of being somtime alone with Oronces undertook her self to go and make the Bed and put in a readiness the Chamber wherein he was to remain untill another were provided in the Common Dormitory of the Convent The disguised Lover followed her and was sufficiently perplexed to satisfy all the questions which were asked him in a quarter of an hours conversation She immediately asked him what were his sentiments when he received so many kisses from the youngest and fairest in the house Alas my dear Eugenia he answered I will dissemble nothing from you 'T is true that two or three who acquitted themselves with a great deal of heat caused in me some slight emotions some Sparkles of the Fire wherewith they seemed to burn did warm my heart and touched it with some sence of sweetness which did a little tickle me How said she to him did you not resist that springing Affection and condemn in your self a Love which could not be lawful since you conceived it to my prejudice Ah he replied you ought to excuse me for several reasons faults that we committed in spight of our selves should easily be pardoned Besides I can assure you that if these Embraces have raised in me any passions they were but wandring ones which only disturbed the soul but possest it not for any long time My reason is not become irregular upon their account and the extream love that I have for you hath suffered no alteration for your presence only hath driven out of my mind all the Idea's formed therein by these strange Beauties I must believe you interrupted Eugenia and I foresee well enough that I must prepare my self to pardon you many of the like faults while you remain here but for the rest continued she have a care of favouring the weakness of any in this Convent or of making your self known and no less of requiring from me what I will never grant but according to Form All other favours for your comfort shall not be denied you and we will live together as a Brother would with a Sister whom he cherishes and by whom he is equally beloved Especially since that we shall be obliged to ly together this night to avoid the wantonness of Sister Pamphilia who otherwise will without doubt discover you behave your self discreetly and consider that your fortune and my Life and Honour ly upon your following these measures which I give you Your Father who is the Principal obstacle to our liberty is very old and the manner that I enter'd this House is known to many who can upon occasion bear witness of it and I hope that by the assistance of some powerful friends we may at length bring about our first pretensions and then pass the rest of our days in pleasures by so much the more pure as that they will be lawful and shall never more be disturbed by any Accident from the long enjoyment of them in perfection They were in this Discourse when Pamphilia entered who finding them all on fire demanded how they had over-heated themselves Eugenia replied that they were forced to righten the Chamber for it was quite ought of Order Truly said Pamphilia you are not very conscientious to cause sister Aurelia to work thus could you not stay for company but must tire a poor girl just arrived from a long journey and in saying that she cast her arms about Oronces his neck and gave him a kiss Eugenia who in spight of all her precautions did believe that her Lover robbed her of every thing that he granted another could not restrain her self but would be a sharer so that our new Nun was the most embarrassed in the world to satisfy these passionated Creatures But this was but a Prelude or slight Attack if compared with what was apparently to follow As soon as the retreat was rung and that all the Nuns were retired each one into her Cell the two Sisters together with the young Nun began the evening with a thousand little divertising Sports Oronces who had no experience in the greater part of these Cloysterial Games was almost continually out and was condemned to an hundred wanton trifles which would infinitely have pleased him had he been at liberty These pastimes were followed by a Collation where Marchpanes and other delicacies grateful to the tast appeared with profusion The most tender Airs out of Operaes were also sung and Sister Aurelia who had a great deal of skill performed her part to perfection After having spent much time in these divertisements they began to talk of going to bed Eugenia had before hand acquainted her Lover with all the fooleries he was to endure if he lay near Pamphilia besides that it would be impossible to do so without discovering his Sex Therefore he was to place himself by his Mistress's side do not imagin that this was any pleasure to him but quite contrary for she had imposed upon him