him Don Alvaro began then to make his Importunity an open Persecution he forgot nothing that might touch the insensible Agnes and made use a long time only of the Arms of Love But seeing that this Submissions and Respect was to no purpose he form'd strange Designs As the King had a Deference for all his Counsels it was not difficult to inspire him with what he had a Mind to He complain'd of the ungrateful Agnes and forgot nothing that might make him perceive that she was not cruel to him on his Account but from the too much Sensibility she had for the Prince The King who was extream angry at this reiterated all the Promises he had made him The King had not yet spoke to Agnes in favour of Don Alvaro and not doubting but his Approbation would surmount all Obstacles he took an occasion to entertain her with it And removing some distance from those who might hear him I thought Don Alvaro had Merit enough said he to her to have obtain'd a little share in your Esteem and I could not imagine there would have been any necessity of my solliciting it for him I know you are very charming but he has nothing that renders him unworthy of you and when you shall reflect on the Choice my Friendship has made of him from among all the Great Men of my Court you will do him at the same time Justice His Fortune is none of the meanest since he has me for his Protector He is nobly born a Man of Honour and Courage he adores you and it seems to me that all these Reasons are sufficient to vanquish your Pride The Heart of Agnes was so little disposed to give itself to Don Alvaro that all that the King of Portugal had said had no Effect on her in his favour If Don Alvaro Sir answered she were without Merit he possest Advantages enough in the Bounty your Majesty is pleased to Honour him with to make him Master of all things it is not that I find any Defect in him that I answer not his Desires But Sir by what obstinate Power would you that I should Love if Heaven has not given me a Soul that is tender And why should you pretend that I should submit to him when nothing is dearer to me than my Liberty You are not so free nor so insensile as you say answered the King blushing with Anger and if your Heart were exempt from all sorts of Affection he might expect a more reasonable Return than what he finds But imprudent Maid conducted by an ill Fate added he in Fury what Pretensions have you to Don Pedro Hitherto I have hid the Chagreen which his Weakness and yours gave me but it was not the less violent for being hid And since you oblige me to break out I must tell you that if my Son were not already married to Constantia he should never be your Husband renounce then those vain Ideas which will cure him and justifie you The couragious Agnes was scarce Mistress of the first Transports at a Discourse so full of Contempt but calling her Vertue to the aid of her Anger she recover'd herself by the assistance of Reason And considering the Outrage she receiv'd not as coming from a Great King but a Man blinded and possest by Don Alvaro she thought him not worthy of her Resentment her fair Eyes animated themselves with so shining a vivacity they answered for the purity of her Sentiments and fixing them stedfastly on the King If the Prince Don Pedro have Weaknesses reply'd she with an Air disdainful he never communicated 'em to me and I am certain I never contributed wilfully to 'em But to let you see how little I regard your Defiance and to put my Glory in safety I will live far from you and all that belongs to you Yes Sir I will quit Coimbra with pleasure and for this Man who is so dear to you answer'd she with a noble Pride and Fierceness of which the King felt all the Force for this Favourite so worthy to possess the most tender affections of a great Prince I assure you that into whatever part of the World Fortune conducts me I will not carry away the least Remembrance of him At these words she made a profound Reverence and made such haste from his Presence that he could not oppose her going if he would The King was now more strongly convinc'd than ever that she favoured the Passion of Don Pedro and immediately went to Constantia to inspire her with the same thought but she was not capable of receiving such Impressions and following her own natural Inclinations she generously defended the Virtue of Actions The King angry to see her so well intentioned to her Rival whom he would have had her hated reproached her with the sweetness of her Temper and went thence to mix his Anger with Don Alvaro's Rage who was totally confounded when he saw the Negotiation of his Master had taken no effect The haughty Maid braves me then Sir said he to the King and despises the Honour which your Bounty offered her Why cannot I resist so fatal a Passion But I must love her in spight of my self and if this Flame consume me I can find no way to extinguish it what can I farther do for you replied the King Alas Sir answer'd Don Alvaro I must do by force what I cannot otherwise hope from the Proud and Cruel Agnes Well then added the King since it is not fit for me to Authorize publickly a Violence in the midst of my Kingdom chuse those of my Subjects which you think most capable of serving you and take away by force the Beauty that charms you and if she do not yield to your Love put that Power you are Master of in execution to oblige her to marry you Don Alvaro ravish'd with this Proposition which at the same time flatter'd both his Love and Anger cast himself at the feet of the King and renew'd his Acknowledgments by fresh Protestations and thought of nothing but employing his unjust Authority against Agnes Don Pedro had been about three months absent when Alvaro undertook what the King counsell'd him to tho' the Moderation was known to him yet he feared his Presence and would not attend the Return of a Rival with whom he would avoid all Disputes One Night when the sad Agnes full of her ordinary Inquietudes in vain expected the God of Sleep she heard a noise and after saw some Men unknown enter her Chamber whose Measures being well consulted they carried her out of the Palace and putting her in a close Coach forc'd her out of Coimbra without being hinder'd by any Obstacle She knew not of whom to complain nor whom to suspect Don Alvaro seem'd too puissant to seek his satisfaction this way and she accus'd not the Prince of this Attempt of whom she had so favourable an Opinion whatever she could think or say she could not hinder her ill Fortune They hurried her
for the future he would be less able to injure him so that abating the Scandal of the Veil which was no otherwise so than that she was Wife to another He believ'd her safe even in the Arms of the King and innocent yet wou'd he have ventur'd at the Conquest of the World and have given it all to have had her avoided that Honour of receiving the Royal Veil 'T was thus between a thousand Caresses that both bemoan'd the hard fate of Youth and Beauty so liable to that cruel Promotion 'T was a Glory that cou'd well have been spar'd here though desir'd and aim'd at by all the young Females of that Kingdom But while they were thus fondly employ'd forgetting how Time ran on and that the Dawn must conduct him far away from his only Happiness they heard a great Noise in the Otan and unusual Voices of Men at which the Prince starting from the Arms of the frighted Imoinda ran to a little Battle-Axe he us'd to wear by his Side and having not so much leisure as to put on his Habit he oppos'd himself against some who were already opening the Door which they did with so much Violence that Oroonoko was not able to defend it but was forc'd to cry out with a commanding Voice Whoever ye are that have the Boldness to attempt to approach this Apartment thus rudely know that I the Prince Oroonoko will revenge it with the certain Death of him that first enters Therefore stand back and know this Place is sacred to Love and Me this Night to Morrow 't is the King's This he spoke with a Voice so resolv'd and assur'd that they soon retir'â— from the Door but cry'd 'T is by the King's Command we are come and being satisfy'd by thy Voice O Prince as much as if we had enter'd we can report to the King the Truth of all his Fears and leave thee to provide for thy own Safety as thou art advis'd by thy Friends At these words they departed and left the Prince to take a short and sad leave of his Imoinda who trusting in the strength of her Charms believ'd she shou'd appease the Fury of a jealous King by saying She was surpriz'd and that it was by force of Arms he got into her Apartment All her Concern now was for his Life and therefore she hasten'd him to the Camp and with much a-doe prevail'd on him to go Nor was it she alone that prevail'd Aboan and Onahal both pleaded and both assur'd him of a Lye that shou'd be well enough contriv'd to secure Imoinda So that at last with a Heart sad as Death dying Eyes and sighing Soul Oroonoko departed and took his way to the Camp It was not long after the King in Person came to the Otan where beholding Imoinda with Rage in his Eyes he upbraided her Wickedness and Perfidy and threatning her Royal Lover she fell on her Face at his Feet bedewing the Floor with her Tears and imploring his Pardon for a Fault which she had not with her Will committed as Onahal who was also prostrate with her cou'd testifie That unknown to her he had broke into her Apartment and ravish'd her She spoke this much against her Conscience but to save her own Life 't was absolutely necessary she shou'd feign this Falsity She knew it cou'd not injure the Prince he being fled to an Army that wou'd stand by him against any Injuries that shou'd assault him However this last Thought of Imoinda's being Ravish'd chang'd the measures of his Revenge and whereas before he design'd to be himself her Executioner he now resolv'd she shou'd not die But as it is the greatest Crime in nature amongst 'em to touch a Woman after having been possess'd by a Son a Father or a Brother so now he look'd on Imoinda as a polluted thing wholly unfit for his Embrace nor wou'd he resign her to his Grand-son because she had receiv'd the Royal Veil He therefore removes her from the Otan with Onahal whom he put into safe Hands with order they shou'd be both sold off as Slaves to another Country either Christian or Heathen 't was no matter where This cruel Sentence worse than Death they implor'd might be revers'd but their Prayers were vain and it was put in execution accordingly and that with so much Secrecy that none either without or within the Otan knew any thing of their Absence or their Destiny The old King nevertheless executed this with a great deal of Reluctancy but he believ'd he had made a very great Conquest over himself when he had once resolv'd and had perform'd what he resolv'd He believ'd now that his Love had been unjust and that he cou'd not expect the Gods or Captain of the Clouds as â—hey call the unknown Power wou'd suffer a better Consequence from so ill a Cause He now begins to hold Oroonoko excus'd and to say he had Reason for what he did And now every Body cou'd assure the King how passionately Imoinda was belov'd by the Prince even those confess'd it now who said the contrary before his Flame was abated So that the King being old and not able to defend himself in War and having no Sons of all his Race remaining alive but only this to maintain him on his Throne and looking on this as a Man disoblig'd first by the Rape of his Mistress or rather Wife and now by depriving of him wholly of her he fear'd might make him desperate and do some cruel thing either to himself or his old Grand-father the Offender he began to repent him extremely of the Contempt he had in his Rage put on Imoinda Besides he consider'd he ought in Honour to have kill'd her for this Offence if it had been one He ought to have had so much Value and Consideration for a Maid of her Quality as to have nobly put her to Death and not to have sold her like a common Slave the greatest Revenge and the most disgraceful of any and to which they a thousand times preferr Death and implore it as Imoinda did but cou'd not obtain that Honour Seeing therefore it was certain that Oroonoko wou'd highly resent this Affront he thought good to make some Excuse for his Rashness to him and to that end he sent a Messenger to the Camp with Orders to treat with him about the Matter to gain his Pardon and to endeavour to mitigate his Grief but that by no means he shou'd tell him she was sold but secretly put to death for he knew he shou'd never obtain his Pardon for the other When the Messenger came he found the Prince upon the point of Engaging with the Enemy but as soon as he heard of the arrival of the Messenger he commanded him to his Tent where he embrac'd him and receiv'd him with Joy which was soon abated by the Down-cast Looks of the Messenger who was instantly demanded the cause by Oroonoko who impatient of Delay ask'd a thousand Questions in a breath and
the Ruine of the Colony Oroonoko was first seiz'd on and sold to our Over-seer who had the first Lot with seventeen more of all sorts and sizes but not one of Quality with him When he saw this he found what they meant for as I said he understood English pretty well and being wholly unarm'd and defenceless so as it was in vain to make any Resistance he only beheld the Captain with a Look all fierce and disdainful upbraiding him with Eyes that forc'd Blushes on his guilty Cheeks he only cry'd in passing over the side of the Ship Farewell Sir 'T is worth my Suffering to gain so true a Knowledge both of you and of your Gods by whom you swear And desiring those that held him to forbear their pains and telling 'em he wou'd make no Resistance he cry'd Come my Fellow-Slaves let us descend and see if we can meet with more Honour and Honesty in the next World we shall touch upon So he nimbly leapt into the Boat and shewing no more Concern suffer'd himself to be row'd up the River with his Seventeen Companions The Gentleman that bought him was a young Conish Gentleman whose Name was Trefry a Man of great Wit and fine Learning and was carry'd into those Parts by the Lord Governor to manage all his Affairs He reflecting on the last World of Oroonoko to the Captain and beholding the Richness of his Vest no sooner came into the Boat but he fix'd his Eyes on him and finding something so extraordinary in his Face his Shape and Mien a Greatness of Look and Haughtiness in his Air and finding he spoke English had a great Mind to be enquiring into his Quality and Fortune which though Oroonoko endeavour'd to hide by only confessing he was above the Rank of common Slaves Trefry soon found he was yet something greater than he confess'd and from that Moment began to conceive so vast an Esteem for him that he ever after lov'd him as his dearest Brother and shew'd him all the Civilities due to so great a Man Trefry was a very good Mathematician and a Linguist couâ—d speak French and Spanish and in the three Days they remain'd in the Boat for so long were they going from the Ship to the Plantation he entertain'd Oroonoko so agreeably with his Art and Discourse that he was no less pleas'd with Trefry than he was with the Prince and he thought himself at least fortunate in this that since he was a Slave as long as he won'd suffer himself to remain so he had a Man of so excellent Wit and Parts for a Master So that before they had finish'd their Voyage up the River he made no scruple of declaring to Trefry all his Fortunes and most part of what I have here related and put himself wholly into the Hands of his new Friend whom he found resenting all the Injuries were done him and was charm'd with all the Greatnesses of his Actions which were recited with that Modesty and delicate Sence as wholly vanquish'd him and subdu'd him to his Interest And he promis'd him on his Word and Honour he wou'd find the Means to re-conduct him to his own Country again assuring him he had a perfect Abhorrence of so dishonourable an Action and that he wou'd sooner have dy'd than have been the Author of such a Perfidy He found the Prince was very much concern'd to know what became of his Friends and how they took their Slavery and Trefry promis'd to take care about the enquiring after their Condition and that he shou'd have an Account of ' em Though as Oroonoko afterwards said he had little Reason to credit the Words of a Backearary yet he knew not why but he saw a king of Sincerity and awful Truth in the Face of Trefry he saw an Honesty in his Eyes and he found him wise and witty enough to understand Honour for it was one of his Maxims A Man of Wit cou'd not be a Knave or Villain In their passage up the River they put in at several Houses for Refreshment and ever when they landed numbers of People wou'd flock to behold this Man not but their Eyes were daily entertain'd with the sight of Slaves but the Fame of Oroonoko was gone before him and all People were in admiration of his Beauty Besides he had a rich Habit on in which he was taken so different from the rest and which the Captain cou'd not strip him of because he was forc'd to surprize his Person in the minute he sold him When he found his Habit made him liable as he thought to be gaz'd at the more he begg'd Trefry to give him something more befitting a Slave which he did and took off his Robes Nevertheless he shone through all and his Osenbrigs a sort of brown Holland Suit he had on cou'd not conceal the Graces of his Looks and Mien and he had no less Admirers than when he had his dazling Habit on the Royal Youth appear'd in spite of the Slave and People cou'd not help treating him after a different manner without designing it As soon as they approach'd him they venerated and esteem'd him his Eyes insensibly commanded Respect and his Behaviour insinuated it into every Soul So that there was nothing talk'd of but this young and gallant Slave even by those who yet knew not that he was a Prince I ought to tell you that the Christians never but any Slaves but they give 'em some Name of their own their native ones being likely very barbarous and hard to pronounce so that Mr. Trefry gave Oroonoko that of Caesar which Name will live in that Countrey as long as that scarce more glorious one of the great Roman for 't is most evident he wanted no part of the Personal Courage of that Caesar and acted things as memorable had they been done in some part of the World replenish'd with People and Historians that might have given him his due But his Misfortune was to fall in an obscure World that afforded only a Female Pen to celebrate his Fame though I doubt not but it had liv'd from others Endeavours if the Dutch who immediately after his time took that Countrey had not kill'd banish'd and dispers'd all those that were capable of giving the World this great Man's Life much better than I have done And Mr. Trefry who design'd it dy'd before he began it and bemoan'd himself for not having undertook it in time For the future therefore I must call Oroonoko Caesar Since by that Name only he was known in our Western World and by that Name he was receiv'd on Shore at Parham-House where he was destin'd a Slave But if the King himself God bless him had come a-shore there cou'd not have been greater Expectations by all the whole Plantation and those neighbouring ones than was on ours at that time and he was receiv'd more like a Governor than a Slave Notwithstanding as the Custom was they assign'd him his portion of Land his House
or of his Love to Imoinda to imagine we cou'd flatter him to Life again but the Chirurgeon assur'd him he cou'd not live and therefore he need not fear We were all but Caesar afflicted at this News and the Sight was gastly His Discourse was sad and the earthly Smell about him so strong that I was persuaded to leave the place for some time being my self but sickly and very apt to fall into Fits of dangerous Illness upon any extraordinary Melancholy The Servants and Trefry and the Chirurgeons promis'd all to take what possible care they cou'd of the Life of Caesar and I taking Boat went with other Company to Colonel Martin's about three Days Journey down the River but I was no sooner gone but the Governor taking Trefry about some pretended earnest Business a Day 's Journey up the River having communicated his Design to one Banister a Wild Irish Man and one of the Council a Fellow of absolute Barbarity and fit to execute any Villany but was Rich He came up to Parham and forcibly took Caesar and had him carried to the same Post where he was whip'd and causing him to be ty'd to it and a great Fire made before him he told him he shou'd die like a Dog as he was Caesar replied this was the first piece of Bravery that ever Banister did and he never spoke Sence till he pronounc'd that Word and if he wou'd keep it he wou'd declare in the other World that he was the only Man of all the Whites that ever he heard speak Truth And turning to the Men that bound him he said My Friends am I to Die or to be Whipt And they cry'd Whipt No you shall not escape so well And then he reply'd smiling A Blessing on thee and assur'd them they need not tie him for he wou'd stand fix'd like a Rock and endure Death so as shou'd encourage them to Die But if you Whip me said he be sure you tie me fast He had learn'd to take Tobacco and when he was assur'd he shou'd Die he desir'd they wou'd give him a Pipe in his Mouth ready lighted which they did and the Executioner came and first out off his Members and threw them into the Fire after that with an ill-favour'd Knife they cut off his Ears and his Nose and burn'd them he still Smoak'd on as if nothing had touch'd him then they hack'd off one of his Arms and still he bore up and held his Pipe but at the cutting off the other Arm his Head sunk and his Pipe dropt and he gave up the Ghost without a Groan or a Reproach My Mother and Sister were by him all the while but not suffer'd to save him so rude and wild were the Rabble and so inhumane were the Justices who stood by to see the Execution who after paid dearly enough for their Insolence They cut Caesar in Quarters and sent them to several of the chief Plantations One Quarter was sent to Colonel Martin who refus'd it and swore he had rather see the Quarters of Banister and the Governor himself than those of Caesar on his Plantations and that he cou'd govern his Negroes without Terrifying and Grieving them with frightful Spectacles of a mangl'd King Thus Died this Great Man worthy of a better Fate and a more sublime Wit than mine to write his Praise yet I hope the Reputation of my Pen is considerable enough to make his Glorious Name to survive to all Ages with that of the Brave the Beautiful and the Constant Imoinda FINIS THE Fair Jilt OR THE AMOURS OF Prince TARQUIN AND MIRANDA Written by Mrs A. BEHN LONDON Printed by W. Onley for S. Briscoe 1697. The Fair JILT OR THE AMOURS OF Prince Tarquin and Miranda AS Love is the most Noble and Divine Passion of the Soul so it is that to which we may justly attribute all the real Satisfactions of Life and without it Man is unfinish'd and unhappy There are a thousand things to be said of the Advantages this generous Passion brings to those whose Hearts are capable of receiving its soft Impressions for 't is not every one that can be sensible of its tender Touches How many Examples from History and Observation cou'd I give of its wondrous Power nay even to a degree of Transmigration How many Ideots has it made wise How many Fools eloquent How many Home-bred ' Squires accomplish'd How many Câ—wards brave And there is no sort or species of Mankind on whom it cannot work some Change and Miracle if it be a noble well-grounded Passion except on the Fop in Fashion the harden'd incorrigible Fop so often wounded but never reclaim'd For still by a dire Mistake conducted by vast Opinionatreism and a greater Portion of Self-love than the rest of the Race of Man he believes that Affectation in his Mien and Dress that Mathematical-movement that Formality in every Action that Face manag'd with Care and soften'd into Ridicule the languishing Turn the Toss and the Back-shake of the Perriwig is the direct Way to the Heart of the fine Person he Adores and instead of curing Love in his Soul serves only to advance his Folly and the more he is enamour'd the more industriously he assumes every Hour the Coxcomb These are Love's Play-things a sort of Animals with whom he sports and whom he never wounds but when he is in good humour and always shoots laughing 'T is the Diversion of the Little God to see what a fluttering and bustle one of these Sparks new-wounded makes to what fantastick Fooleries he has recourse The Glass is every moment call'd to counsel the Valet consulted and plagu'd for new Invention of Dress the Foot-man and Scrutore perpetually employ'd Billet-doux and Madrigals take up all his Mornings till Play-time in Dressing till Night in Gazing still like a Sun-flower turn'd towards the Beams of the fair Eyes of his Caelia adjusting himself in the most Amarous Posture he can assume his Hat under his Arm while the other Hand is put carelesly into his Bosom as if laid upon his panting Heart his Head a little bent to one side supported with a world of Crevat-string which he takes mighty care not to put into disorder as one may guess by a never-failing and horrid Stiffness in his Neck and if he have an occasion to look aside his whole Body turns at the same time for fear the Motion of the Head alone should incommode the Crevat or Perriwig And sometimes the Glove is well manag'd and the white Hand display'd Thus with a thousand other little Motions and Formalities all in the common Place or Road of Foppery he takes infinite pains to shew himself to the Pit and Boxes a most accomplish'd Ass This is he of all Humane Kind on whom Love can do no Miracle and who can no where and upon no occasion quit one Grain of his refin'd Foppery unless in a Duel or a Battle if ever his Stars shou'd be so severe and ill-manner'd to reduce
same Destiny and was astonish'd at an Order which ought to have excepted him The next day Constantia appear'd but so alter'd that 't was not difficult to imagine what she had suffer'd Agnes was the most impatient to approach her and the Princess could not forbear weeping They were both silent for some time and Constantia attributed this Silence of Agnes to some Remorse which she felt and this unhappy Maid being able to hold no longer Is it possible Madam said she that two Days should have taken from me all the Goodness you had for me What have I done And for what do you punish me The Princess regarded her with a languishing look and return'd her no Answer but Sighs Agnes offended at this Reserve went out with very great Dissatisfaction and Anger which contributed to her being thought criminal The Prince came in immediately after and found Constantia more disorder'd than usual and conjur'd her in a most obliging manner to take care of her Health The greatest good for me said she is not the Continuation of my Life I should have more Care of it if I lov'd you less but She could not proceed and the Prince excessively afflicted at her trouble sigh'd sadly without making her any Answer which redoubled her Grief Spight then began to mix itself and all things perswading the Princess that they made a Sacrafice of her she would enter into no Explanation with her Husband but suffer'd him to go away without saying any thing to him Nothing is more capable of troubling our Reason and consuming our Health then secret Notions of Jealousie in Solitude Constantia who us'd to open her Heart freely to Agnes now believing she had deceiv'd her abandon'd herself so absolutely to Grief that she was ready to sink under it she immediately fell sick with the violence of it and all the Court was concern'd at this Misfortune Don Pedro was truly afflicted at it but Agnes more than all the World beside Constantia's Coldness towards her made her continually sigh and her Distemper created meerly by Fancy caus'd her to reflect on every thing that offer'd itself to her Memory so that at last she began even to fear herself and to reproach herself for what the Princess suffer'd But the Distemper began to be such that they fear'd Constantia's Death and she herself began to feel the Approaches of it This Thought did not at all disquiet her she look'd on Death as the only Relief from all her Torments and regarded the Despair of all that approach'd her without the least concern The King who lov'd her tenderly and who knew her Vertue was infinitely mov'd at the Extremity she was in And Don Alvaro who lost not the least Occasion of making him understand that it was Jealousie which was the Cause of Constantia 's Distemper did but too much incense him against Criminals worthy of Compassion The King was not of a Temper to conceal his Anger long You give fine Examples said he to the Prince and such as will render your Memory illustrious and the Death of Constantia of which you are only to be accus'd of is the unhappy Fruit of your guilty Passion Fear Heaven after this and behold yourself as a Monster that does not deserve to see the Light If the Interest you have in my Blood did not plead for you what ought you not to fear from my just Resentment But what must not Imprudent Agnes to whom nothing ties me expect from my hands If Constantia dyes she who has the Boldness in my Court to cherish a foolish Flame by vain Hopes and make us lose the most Amiable Princess whom thou art not worthy to possess shall feel the Effects of her Indiscretion Don Pedro knew very well that Constantia was not ignorant of his Sentiments for Agnes but he knew also with what Moderation she receiv'd it He was very sensible of the King's Reproaches but as his Fault was not voluntary and that a commanding Power a fatal Star had forc'd him to love in spight of himself he appear'd afflicted and confus'd You condemn me Sir answered he without having well examin'd me and if my Intentions were known to you perhaps you would not find me so criminal I would take the Princess for my Judge whom you say I sacrifice if she were in a condition to be consulted If I am guilty of any Weakness her Justice never reproach'd me for it and my Tongue never inform'd Agnes of it But suppose I have committed any Fault why wou'd you punish an Innocent Lady who perhaps condemns me for it as much as you Ah Villain interrupted the King she has but too much favour'd you You would not have lov'd thus long had she not made you some Returns Sir reply'd the Prince pierced with Grief for the Outrage that was committed against Agnes you offend a Vertue than which nothing can be purer and those Expressions which break from your Choler are not worthy of you Agnes never granted me any Favours I never asked any of her and I protest to Heaven I never thought of any thing contrary to the Duty I owe Constantia As they thus argued one of the Princess's Women came all in Tears to acquaint Don Pedro That the Princess was in the last Extremities of Life Go see thy fatal Work said the King and expect from a too-long-patient Father the Vsage thou deserv'st The Prince ran to Constantia whom he found dying and Agnes in a swoon in the Arms of some of the Ladies What caus'd this double Calamity was that Agnes who could suffer no longer the Indifferency of the Princess had conjur'd her to tell her what was her Crime and either to take her Life from her or restore her Friendship Constantia who found she must die could no longer keep her secret Affliction from Agnes and after some Words which were a Preparative to the sad Explanation she shew'd her that fatal Billet which Elvira had caus'd to be written Ah! Madam cry'd out the fair Agnes after having read it Ah Madam How many cruel Inquietudes had you spar'd me had you open'd your Heart to me with your wonted Bounty 'T is easy to see that this Letter is counterfeit and that I have Enemies without compassion Cou'd you believe the Prince so Impudent to make use of any other hand but his own on an occasion like this And do you believe me so Simple to keep about me this Testimony of my Shame with so little Precaution You are neither betray'd by your Husband nor me I attest Heaven and those Efforts I have made to leave Coimbra Alas my dear Princess how little have you known her whom you have so much honour'd Do not believe that when I have justify'd myself I will have any more Communication with the World No no there will be no Retreat far enough from hence for me I will take care to hide this unlucky Face where it shall be sure to do no more Harm The Princess touch'd at this
most certainly now render'd the most glorious Palace in the Christian World And had our late Gracious Soveraign of blessed Memory had no other Miracles and Wonders of his Life and Reign to have immortaliz'd his Fame of which there shall remain a Thousand to Posterity this Noble Structure alone this Building almost Divine would have eterniz'd the great Name of Glorious Charles the Second till the World moulder again to its old Confusion its first Chaos And the Paintings of the famous Vario and Noble Carvings of the unimitable Gibon shall never die but remain to tell succeeding Ages that all Arts and Learning were not confin'd to ancient Rome and Greece but that England too could boast its mightiest Share Nor is the In-side of this Magnificent Structure immortaliz'd with so many eternal Images of the Illustrious Charles and Katherine more to be admir'd than the wondrous Prospects without The stupendious Heighth on which the famous Pile is built renders the Fields and Flowery Meads below the Woods the Thickets and the winding Streams the most delightful Object that ever Nature produc'd Beyond all these and far below in an inviting Vale the venerable College an Old but Noble Building raises itself in the midst of all the Beauties of Nature high-grown Trees fruitful Plains purling Rivulets and spacious Gardens adorn'd with all Variety of Sweets that can delight the Senses At farther distance yet on an Ascent almost as high as that to the Royal Structure you may behold that famous and noble Clifdon Rise a Palace erected by the illustrious Duke of Buckingham Who will leave this wondrous Piece of Architecture to inform the future World of the Greatness and Delicacy of his Mind it being for its Situation its Prospects and its marvellous Contrivances one of the finest Villa's of the World at least were it finish'd as begun and would sufficiently declare the magnifick Soul of the Hero that caus'd it to be built and contriv'd all its Fineness And this makes up not the least part of the beautiful Prospect from the Palace-Royal while on the other side lies spread a fruitful and delightful Park and Forest well stor'd with Deer and all that make the Prospect charming fine Walks Groves distant Valleys Downs and Hills and all that Nature could invent to furnish out a quiet soft Retreat for the most Fair and most Charming of Queens and the most Heroick Good and Just of Kings And these Groves alone are fit and worthy to divert such Earthly Gods Nor can Heaven Nature or Humane Art contrive an Addition to this Earthly Paradise unless those great Inventors of the Age Sir Samuel Morland or Sir Robert Gorden cou'd by the Power of Engines convey the Water so into the Park and Castle as to furnish it with delightful Fountains both useful and beautiful These are only wanting to render the Place all Perfection without Exception This Damon is a long Digression from the Business of my Heart but you know I am so in Love with that charming Court that when you gave me an Occasion by your being there now but to name the Place I could not forbear transgressing a little in favour of its wondrous Beauty and the rather because I wou'd in recounting it give you to understand how many fine Objects there are besides the Ladies that adorn it to employ your vacant Moments in and hope you will without my Instructions pass a great part of your idle Time in surveying these Prospects and give that Admiration you shou'd pay to living Beauty to those more venerable Monuments of everlasting Fame Neither need I Damon assign you your waiting Times your Honour Duty Love and Obedience will instruct you when to be near the Person of the King and I believe you will omit no part of that Devoir You ought to establish your Fortune aud your Glory For I am not of the Mind of those Critical Lovers who believe it a very hard Matter to reconcile Love and Interest to adore a Mistress and serve a Master at the same time And I have heard those who on this Subject say Let a Man be never so careful in these double Duties 't is Ten to One but he loses his Fortune or his Mistress These are Errors that I condemn And I know that Love and Ambition are not incompatible but that a brave Man may preserve all his Duties to his Soveraign and his Passion and his Respect for his Mistress And this is my Notion of it Love and Ambition The Nobler Lover who wou'd prove Vncommon in Address Let him Ambition joyn with Love With Glory Tenderness But let the Vertues so be mixt That when to Love he goes Ambition may not come betwixt Nor Love his Power oppose The vacant Hours from softer Sport Let him give up to Int'rest and the Court. 'T is Honour shall his Bus'ness be And Love his Noblest Play Those two should never disagree For both make either gay Love without Honour were too mean For any gallant Heart And Honour singly but a Dream Where Love must have no part A Flame like this you cannot fear Where Glory claims an equal Share Such a Passion Damon can never make you quit any part of your Duty to your Prince And the Monarch you serve is so gallant a Master that the Inclination you have to his Person obliges you to serve him as much as your Duty for Damon's Loyal Soul loves the Man and adores the Monarch for he is certainly all that compels both by a charming force and Goodness from all Mankind The King Darling of Bellona's Care The second Deity of War Delight of Heaven and Joy of Earth Born for great and wondrous things Destin'd at his Auspicious Birth T' out do the num'rous Race of long-past Kings Best Representative of Heaven To whom its chiefest Attributes are given Great Pious Stedfast Just and Brave To Vengeance slow but swift to save Dispencing Mercy all abroad Soft and Forgiving as a God! Thou Saving Angel who preserv'st the Land From the Just Rage of the Avenging Hand Stopt the dire Plague that o'er the Earth was hurl'd And sheathing thy Almighty Sword Calm'd the wild Fears of a distracted World As Heaven first made it with a sacred Word But I will stop the low Flight of my humble Muse who when she is upon the Wing on this Glorious Subject knows no Bounds And all the World has agreed to say so much of the Vertues and Wonders of this great Monarch that they have left me nothing new to say though indeed he every day gives us new Themes of his growing Greatness and we see nothing that equals him in our Age. Oh how happy are we to obey his Laws for he is the greatest of Kings and the best of Men You will be very unjust Damon if you do not confess I have acquitted myself like a Maid of Honour of all the Obligations I owe you upon the account of the Discretion I lost to you If it be not valuable enough
'em but when they went abroad which was but seldom they wanted nothing as to outward appearance that was fit for his Quality and was much above his Condition This old Count had two only Daughters of exceeding Beauty who gave the generous Father Ten thousand Torments as often as he beheld them when he consider'd their extream Beauty their fine Wâ—â— their Innocence Modesty and above all their Birth and that he had not the Fortune to marry them according to their Quality and below it he had rather see them laid in their silent Graves than consent to for he scorn'd the World should see him forced by his Poverty to commit an Action below his Dignity There lived in a Neighbouring Town a certain Nobleman Friend to De Pais call'd Count Vernole a Man of about Forty Years of Age of low Stature Complexion very black and swarthy lean lame extream proud and haughty extracted of a Descent from the Blood-Royal not extreamly brave but very glorious He had no very great Estate but was in Election of a greater and of an Addition of Honour from the King his Father having done most worthy Services against the Hugonots and by the high Favour of Cardinal Mazarine was represented to his Majesty as a Man related to the Crown of great Name but small Estate so that there was now nothing but great Expectations and Preparations in the Family of Count Vernole to go to Court to which he daily hop'd an Invitation or Command Vernole's Fortune being hitherto something a kin to that of De Pais there was a greater Correspondency between these two Gentlemen than they had with any other Persons they accounting themselves above the rest of the World believ'd none so proper and fit for their Conversation as that of each other so that there was a very particular Intimacy between them Whenever they went abroad they clubb'd their Train to make one great Show and were always together bemoaning each other's Fortune that from so high a Descent as one from Monarchs by the Mother's side and the other from Dukes of his side they were reduc'd by Fate to the degree of private Gentlemen They would often consult how to manage Affairs most to advantage and often De Pais would ask Counsel of Vernole how best he should dispose of his Daughters which now were about their ninth Year the eldest and eight the youngest Vernole had often seen these two Buds of Beauty and already saw opening in Atlante's Face and Mind for that was the Name of the eldest and Charlot the youngest a Glory of Wit and Beauty which could not but one day display itself with dazling Lustre to the wondring World Vernole was a great Virtuoso of a Humour Nice Delicate Critical and Opinionative He had nothing of the French Mien in him but all the Gravity of the Don. His ill-favour'd Person and his low Estate put him out of Humour with the World and because that should not upbraid or reproach his Follies and Defects he was sure to be before-hand with that and to be always Satyrick upon it and lov'd to live and act contrary to the Custom and Usage of all Mankind besides He was infinitely delighted to find a Man of his own Humour in De Pais or at least a Man that would be perswaded to like his so well to live up to it and it was no little Joy and Satisfaction to him to find that he kept his Daughters in that severity which was wholly agreeable to him and so contrary to the Manner and Fashion of the French of Quality who allow all Freedoms which to Vernole's rigid Nature seem'd as so many Steps to Vice and in his Opinion the Ruiner of all Vertue and Honour in Woman-kind De Pais was extreamly glad his Conduct was so well interpreted which was no other in him than a proud Frugality who because they could not appear inso much Gallantry as their Quality requir'd kept 'em retir'd and unseen to all but his particular Friends of which Vernole was chief Vernole never appear'd before Atlante which was seldom but he assum'd a Gravity and Respect fit to have entertain'd a Maid of Twenty or rather a Matron of much greater Years and Judgment His Discourses were always of Matters of State or Philosophy and sometimes when De Pais would Laughing say He might as well entertain Atlante with Greek and Hebrew would reply gravely You are mistaken Sir I find the Seeds of great and profound Matter in the Soul of the young Maid which ought to be nourish'd now while she was young and they will grow up to very great Perfection I find Atlante capable of all the Noble Vertues of the Mind and am infinitely mistaken in my Observations and Art of Phisiognomy if Atlante be not born for greater Things than her Fortune does now promise She will be very Considerable in the World believe me and this will arrive to her perfectly from the Force of her Charms De Pais was extreamly overjoy'd to hear such Good prophesied to Atlante and from that time set a sort of an Esteem upon her which he did not on Charlot his younger who by the Perswasions of Vernole he resolv'd to put in a Monastery that what he had might descend to Atlante not but he confess'd Charlot had Beauty extreamly attractive and a Wit that promised much when it should be cultivated by Years and Experience and would shew itself with great Advantage and Lustre in a Monastery All this pleased De Pais very well who was easily perswaded since he had not a Fortune to marry her well in the World As yet Vernole had never spoke to Atlante of Love nor did his Gravity think it Prudence to discover his Heart to so young a Maid he waited her more sensible Years when he could hoope to have some return And all he expected from this her tender Age was by his daily Converse with her and the Presents he made her suitable to her Years to ingratiate himself insensibly into her Friendship and Esteem Since she was not yet capable of Love but even in that he mistook his Aim for every day he grew more and more disagreeable to Atlante and would have been her absolute Aversion had she known she had every day entertained a Lover but as she grew in Years and Sense he seemed the more despicable in her Eyes as to his Person but as she had respect to his Parts and Qualities she paid him all the Complaisance she could and which was due to him and so must be confess'd tho' he had a stiff Formality in all he said and did yet he had Wit and Learning and was a great Philosopher as much of his Learning as Atlante was capable of attaining to he made her Mistress of and that was no small Portion for all his Discourse was fine and easily comprehended his Notions of Philosophy fit for Ladies and he took greater Pains with Atlante than any Master would have done with
on with diligence and before it was Day were a considerable way off from the Town As soon as Day began to break she surveyed those that encompassed her without so much as knowing one of them and seeing that her Cries and Prayers were all in vain with these deaf Ravishers she satisfied herself with imploring the Protection of Heaven and abandon'd herself to its Conduct While she sate thus overwhelmed with grief uncertain of her Destiny she saw a Body of Horse advance towards the Troop which conducted her the Ravishers did not shun them thinking it to be Don Alvaro but when he approached more near they found it was the Prince of Portugal who was at the Head of 'em and who without foreseeing the occasion that would offer itself of serving Agnes was returning to Coimbra full of her Idea after having performed what he ought in this Expedition Agnes who did not expect him changed now her Opinion and thought that it was the Prince that had caused her to be stolen away Oh Sir said she to him having still the same Thought Is it you that have torn me from the Princess and could so cruel a Blow come from a Hand that is so dear to her what will you do with an Vnfortunate Creature who desires nothing but Death and why will you obscure the Glory of your Life by an Artifice unworthy of you This Language astonish'd the Prince no less than the Sight of Agnes had done he found by what she had said that she was taken away by force and immediately passing to the height of Rage he made her understand by one only Look that he was not the base Author of her Trouble I tear you from Constantia whose only Pleasure you are replied he What Opinion have you of Don Pedro No Madam though you see me here I am altogether innocent of the Violence that has been done you and there is nothing I will refuse to hinder it He then turned himself to behold the Ravishers but his Presence had already scattered 'em he ordered some of his Men to pursue 'em and to seize some of 'em that he might know what Authority it was that set 'em at work During this Agnes was no less confus'd than before she admir'd the Conduct of her Destiny that brought the Prince at a time when he was so necessary to her Her Inclinations to do him Justice soon repair'd the Offence her Suspicions had caus'd she was glad to have escap'd a Misfortune which appear'd certain to her but this was not a sincere Joy when she consider'd that her Lover was her Deliverer and a Lover worthy of all her Acknowledgments but who ow'd his Heart to the most amiable Princess in the World While the Prince's Men were pursuing the Ravishers of Agnes he was left almost alone with her and tho' he had always resolv'd to shun being so yet his Constancy was not Proof against so fair an Occasion Madam said he to her is it possible that Men born amongst those that obey us should be capable of offending you I never thought my self destin'd to revenge such an Offence but since Heaven has permitted you to receive it I will either perish or make them repent it Sir replied Agnes more concern'd at this course than at the Enterprize of Don Alvaro those who are wanting in their Respect to the Princess and you are not oblig'd to have any for me I do not in the least doubt but Don Alvaro was the Undertaker of this Enterprize and I judg'd what I ought to fear from him by what his Importunities have already made me suffer He is sure of the King's Protection and he will make him an Accomplice in his Crime but Sir Heaven conducted you hither happily for me and I owe you for the liberty I have of serving the Princess yet longer You will do for Constantia replied the Prince what 't is impossible not to do for you your Goodness attaches you to her and my Destiny engages me to you for ever The modest Agnes who fear'd this Discourse as much as the Misfortune she had newly shunned answer'd nothing but by down-cast Eyes and the Prince who knew the trouble she was in left her to go speak to his Men who brought back one of those that belong'd to Don Alvaro by whose Confession he found the Truth He pardon'd him thinking not fit to punish him who obey'd a Man whom the weakness of his Father had render'd powerful Afterwards they conducted Agnes back to Coimbra where her Adventure began to make a great noise The Princess was ready to die with Despair and at first thought it was only a continuation of the Design this fair Maid had of retiring but some Women that serv'd her having told the Princess that she was carried away by Violence Constantia made her Complaint to the King who regarded her not at all Madam said he to her let this fatal Plague remove itself who takes from you the Heart of your Husband and without afflicting your self for her Absence bless Heaven and me for it The Generous Princess took Agnes's part with a great deal of Courage and was then disputing her defence with the King when Don Pedro arriv'd at Coimbra The first Object that met the Prince's Eyes was Don Alvaro who was passing through one of the Courts of the Palace amidst a Croud of Courtiers whom his favour with the King drew after him This Sight made Don Pedro rage but that of the Princess and Agnes caus'd in him another sort of Emotion He easily divin'd that it was Don Pedro who had taken her from his Men and if his Fury had acted what it would it might have produc'd very sad effects Don Alvaro said the Prince to him is it thus you make use of the Authority which the King my Father has given you Have you receiv'd Employments and Power from him for no other end but to do base Actions and to commit Rapes on Ladies Are you ignorant how the Princess interests herself in all that concerns this Maid And do you not know the tender and affectionate Esteem she has for her No replied Don Alvaro with an Insolence that had like to have put the Prince past all Patience I am not ignorant of it nor of the Interest your Heart takes in her Base and treacherous as thou art replied the Prince neither the Favour which thou hast so much abused nor the Insolence which makes thee speak this should hinder me from punishing thee wert thou worthy of my Sword but there are other ways to humble thy Pride and 't is not fit for such an Arm as mine to seek so base an Imployment to punish such a Slave as thou art Don Pedro went away at these words and left Alvaro in a Rage which is not to be express'd despairing to see himself defeated in an Enterprize he thought so sure and at the Contempt the Prince shew'd him he promised himself to sacrifice all to his Revenge Tho'
the King loved his Son he was so prepossess'd against his Passion that he could not pardon him what he had done and condemn'd him as much for this last Act of Justice in delivering Agnes as if it had been the greatest of Crimes Elvira whom the sweetness of Hope flatter'd some moments saw the return of Agnes with a sensible Displeasure which suffer'd her to think of nothing but irritating her Brother In fine the Prince saw the King but instead of being receiv'd by him with a Joy due to the success of his Journey he appear'd all sullen and out of Humour After having paid him his first Respects and gave him an exact account of what he had done he spoke to him about the Violence committed against the Person of Agnes de Castro and complain'd to him of it in the Name of the Princess and of his own You ought to be silent in this Affair replied the King and the Motive which makes you speak is so shameful for you that I sigh and blush at it What is it to you if this Maid whose Presence is troublesome to me be remov'd hence since 't is I that desire it But Sir interrupted the Prince what necessity is there of employing Force Artifice and the Night when the least of your Orders had been sufficient Agnes would willingly have obey'd you and if she continue at Coimbra 't is perhaps against her will but be it as it will Sir Constantia is offended and if it were not for fear of displeasing you the only thing that retains me the Ravisher should not have gone unpunish'd How happy are you replied the King smiling with Disdain in making use of the Name of Constantia to uphold the Interest of your Heart you think I am ignorant of it and that this unhappy Princess looks on the Injury you do her with Indifference Never speak to me more of Agnes with a Tone very severe Content your self that I pardon what 's past and think maturely of the Considerations I have for Don Alvaro when you would design any thing against him Yes Sir reply'd the Prince with fierceness I will speak to you no more of Agnes but Constantia and I will never suffer that she should be any more expos'd to the Insolence of your Favourite The King had like to have broke out into Rage at this Discourse but he had yet a Rest of Prudence left that hinder'd him Retire said he to Don Pedro and go make Reflections on what my Power can do and what you owe me During this Conversation Agnes was receiving from the Princess and from all the Ladies of the Court great Expressions of Joy and Friendship Constantia saw again her Husband with a great deal of satisfaction and far from being sorry at what he had lately done for Agnes she privately return'd him Thanks for it and still was the same towards him notwithstanding all the Jealousie which was endeavour'd to be inspir'd in her Don Alvaro who found in his Sister a Maliciousness worthy of his Trust did not conceal his Fury from her After she had made vain Attempts to moderate it in blotting Agnes out of his Heart seeing that his Disease was incurable she made him understand that so long as Constantio should not be Jealous there was no Hopes That if Agnes should once be suspected by her she would not fail of abandoning her and that then it would be easie to get Satisfaction the Prince being now so proud of Constantia's Indulgency In giving this Advice to her Brother she promis'd to serve him effectually and having no need of any Body but herself to perform Ill Things she recommended Don Alvaro to manage well the King Four Years were pass'd in that melancholy Station and the Princess besides her first dead Child and Ferdinand who was still living had brought two Daughters into the World Some Days after Pedro's Return Elvira who was most dextrous in the Art of Well-governing any wicked Design did gain one of the Servants which belong'd to Constantia's Chamber She first spoke her fair then overwhelm'd her with Presents and Gifts and finding in her as ill a Disposition as in herself she readily resolv'd to employ her After she was sure of her she compos'd a Letter which was after writ over again in an unknown Hand which she deposited in that Maid's Hands that she might deliver to Constantia with the first Opportunity telling her that Agnes had drop'd it This was the Substance of it I Employ not my own Hand to write to you for Reasons that I shall acquaint you with How happy am I to have overcome all your Scruples And what Happiness shall I find in the Progress of our Intrigue The whole Course of my Life shall continually represent to you the Sincerity of my Affections pray think on the Secret Conversation that I require of you I dare not speak to you in publick therefore let me conjure you here by all that I have suffer'd to come to Night to the Place appointed and speak to me no more of Constantia for she must be content with my Esteem since my Heart can be only Yours The unfaithful Portuguese serv'd Elvira exactly to her Desires and the very next Day seeing Agnes go out from the Princess she carry'd Constantia the Letter which she took and found there what she was far from imagining Tenderness never produc'd an Effect more full of Grief than what it made her suffer Alas they are both culpable said she sighing and in spight of the Defence my Heart wou'd make for 'em my Reason Condemns ' em Vnhappy Princess the sad Subject of the Capriciousness of Fortune Why dost not thou die since thou hast not a Heart of Honour to revenge itself O Don Pedro Why did you give me your Hand without your Heart And thou Fair and Vngrateful Wert thou born to be the Misfortune of my Life and perhaps the only Cause of my Death After having given some Moments to the Violence of her Grief she call'd the Maid who brought her the Letter commanding her to speak of it tono Body and to suffer no one to enter into her Chamber She consider'd then of that Prince with more liberty whose Soul she was not able to touch with the least Tenderness and of the cruel fair One that had betray'd her Yet even while her Soul was upon the Rack she was willing to excuse 'em and ready to do all she could for Don Pedro at least she made a firm Resolution not to complain of him Elvira was not long without being inform'd of what had pass'd nor of the Melancholly of the Princess from whom she hop'd all she desir'd Agnes far from foreseeing this Tempest return'd to Constantia and hearing of her Indisposition pass'd the rest of the day at her Chamber-door that she might from time to time learn News of her Health for she was not suffer'd to come in at which Agnes was both surpriz'd and troubled The Prince had the
Youth continu'd she with a tender Tone to the Cruelty of Don Alvaro Live Sir live and let the unhappy Agnes be the only Sacrifice Alas cruel Maid interrupted Don Pedro why do you command me to live if I cannot live with you Is it an effect of your Hatred No Sir replyed Agnes I do not hate you and I wish to God that I cou'd be indifferent that I might be able to defend myself against the Weakness with which I find myself possess'd Oblige me to say no more Sir You see my Blushes interpret them as you please but consider yet that the less Aversion I find I have for you the more culpable I am and that I ought no more to see or speak to you In fine Sir if you oppose my Retreat I declare to you that Don Alvaro as odious as he is to me shall serve for a Defence against you and that I will sooner consent to marry a Man I abhor than to favour a Passion that cost Constantia her Life Well then Agnes reply'd the Prince with looks all languishing and dying follow the Motions which barbarous Vertue inspires you with take those Measures you judge necessary against an unfortunate Lover and enjoy the Glory of having cruelly refus'd me At these Words he went away and as troubled as Agnes was she would not stay him Her Courage combated with her Grief and she thought now more than ever of departing 'T was difficult for her to go out of Coimbra and not to defer what appear'd to her so necessary she went immediately to the Apartment of the King notwithstanding the interest of Don Alvaro the King receiv'd her with a Countenance severe not being able to consent to what she demanded You shall not go hence said he and if you are wise you shall enjoy here with Don Alvaro both my Friendship and my Favour I have taken another Resolution answer'd Agnes and the World has no part in it You will accept Don Pedro reply'd the King his Fortune is sufficient to satisfie an Ambitious Maid But you will not succeed Constantia who lov'd you so tenderly and Spain has Princesses enough to fill up part of the Throne which I shall leave him Sir reply'd Agnes piqu'd at this Discourse If I had a disposition to Love and a design to Marry perhaps the Prince might be the only Person on whom I would fix 'em And you know if my Ancestors did not possess Crowns yet they were worthy to wear ' em But let it be how it will I am resolv'd to depart and to remain no longer a Slave in a place to which I came Free This bold Answer which shew'd the Character of Agnes anger'd and astonish'd the King You shall go when we think fit reply'd he and without being a Slave at Coimbra you shall attend our Orders Agnes saw she must stay and was so griev'd at it that she kept her Chamber several days without daring to inform herself of the Prince and this Retirement spar'd her the Affliction of being visited by Don Alvaro During this Don Pedro fell sick and was in so great Danger that there was a general Apprehension of his Death Agnes did not in the least doubt but it was an Effect of his Discontent she thought at first she had strength and resolution enough to see him die rather than to favour him but had she reflected a little she had soon been convinc'd to the contrary She found not in her Heart that cruel Constancy she thought there so well establish'd she felt Pains and Inquietude shed Tears made Wishes and in fine discover'd that she Lov'd 'T was impossible to see the Heir of the Crown a Prince that deserv'd so well even at the point of Death without a general Affliction The People who lov'd him pass'd whole days at the Palace-gate to hear News of him The Court was all overwhelm'd with Grief Don Alvaro knew very well how to conceal a malicious Joy under an Appearance of Sadness Elvira full of Tenderness and perhaps of Remorse suffer'd also on her side The King altho' he condemn'd the Love of his Son yet still had a Tenderness for him and cou'd not resolve to lose him Agnes de Castro who knew the Cause of his Distemper expected the end of it with strange Anxieties In fine after a Month had pass'd away in Fears they began to have a little Hopes of his Recovery The Prince and Don Alvaro were the only Persons that were not glad of it But Agnes rejoyc'd enough for all the rest Don Pedro seeing that he must live whether he wou'd or no thought of nothing but passing his days in Melancholly and Discontent As soon as he was in a condition to walk he sought out the most solitary Places and gain'd so much upon his own Weakness to go every-where where Agnes was not but her Idea follow'd him always and his Memory faithful to represent her to him with all her Charms render'd her always dangerous One day when they had carry'd him into the Garden he sought out a Labyrinth which was at the farthest part of it to hide his Melancholly during some hours there he found the sad Agnes whom Grief little different from his had brought thither the sight of her whom he expected not made him tremble She saw by his pale and meagre Face the remains of his Distemper his Eyes full of Languishment troubled her and tho' her desire was so great to have fled from him an unknown Power stopt her and 't was impossible for her to go After some Moments of Silence which many Sighs interrupted Don Pedro rais'd himself from the place where his Weakness had forc'd him to sit he made Agnes see as he approached her the sad Marks of his Sufferings and not content with the Pity he saw in her Eyes 〈◊〉 have resolv'd my Death then Cruel Agnes said he my desire was the same with yours but Heaven has thought fit to reserve me for other Misfortunes and I see you again as unhappy but more in love than ever There was no need of these Words to move Agnes to Compassion the Languishment of the Prince spoke enough And the Heart of this fair Maid was but too much dispos'd to yield itself She thought then that Constantia ought to be satisfied Love which combated for Don Pedro triumphed over Friendship and found that happy Moment for which the Prince of Portugal had so long sighed Do not reproach me for that which has cost me more than you Sir reply'd she and do not accuse a 〈◊〉 which is neither Ingrateful nor Barbarous and I must tell you that I love you But now I have made you that Confession what is it farther that you require of me Don Pedro who expected not a Change so favourable felt a double Satisfaction and falling at the Feet of Agnes he express'd more by the Silence his Passion created than he could have done by the most eloquent Words After having known all his good Fortune
he then consulted with the Amiable Agnes what was to be fear'd from the King they concluded that the cruel Billet which so troubled the last days of Constantia could come from none but Elvira and Don Alvaro The Prince who knew that his Father had search'd already an Alliance for him and was resolv'd on his Favourite's marrying Agnes 〈◊〉 her so tenderly to prevent these Persecuâ—â— by consenting to a secret Marriage that 〈◊〉 having a long time considered she at 〈◊〉 consented I will do what you will have me saiâ— she though I presage nothing but fatal Events 〈◊〉 it all my Blood turns to Ice when I think of this Marriage and the Image of Constantia 〈◊〉 hinder me from doing it The Amorous Prince surmounted all 〈◊〉 Scruples and separated himself from 〈◊〉 with a Satisfaction which soon redoubled his Forces he saw her afterward with the pleasure of a Mystery and the Day of their Union arriv'd Dom Gill Bishop of Guarda performed the Ceremony of the Marriage in the presence of several Witnesses faithful to Don Pedro who saw him Possessor of all the Chaâ—ms of the Fair Agnes She liv'd not the more peaceable for belonging to the Prince of Portugal her Enemies who continually persecuted her left her not without troubles and the King whom her Refusal inrag'd laid his absolute Commands on her to Marry Don Alvaro with Threats to force her to it if she continued Rebellious The Prince took loudly her part and this joyn'd to the Refusal he made of marrying the Princess of Arragon caus'd Suspicions of the Truth in the King his Father He was seconded by those that were too much interested not to unriddle this Secret Don Alvaro and his Sister acted with so much Care gave so many Gifts and made so many Promises that they discovered the secret Engagements of Don Pedro and Agnes The King wanted but little of breaking out into all the Rage and Fury so great a Disappointment could inspire him with against the Princess Don Alvaro whose Love was chang'd into the most violent Hatred appeas'd the first Transports of the King by making him comprehend that if they could break the Marriage of 'em that would not be a sufficient Revenge and so poysoned the Soul of the King to consent to the Death of Agnes The Barbarous Don Alvaro offered his Arm for this terrible Execution and his Rage was Security for the Sacrifice The King who thought the Glory of his Family disgraced by this Alliance and his own 〈◊〉 particular in the Procedure of his Son gave full Power to this Murder to make the innocent Agnes a Victim to his Rage It was not easie to execute this horrid Design Though the Prince saw Agnes but in secret yet all his Cares were still awake for her and he was married to her above a Year before Don Alvaro could find out an Opportunity so long sought for The Prince delivered himself but little and very rarely went far from Coimbra but on a Day an Unfortunate Day and mark'd out by Heaven for an unheard of and horrid Assassin he made a Party to hunt at a fine House which the King of Portugal had near the City Agnes lov'd every thing that gave the Prince satisfaction but a secret Trouble made her apprehend some Misfortune in this unhappy Journey Sir said she to him alarm'd without knowing the Reason why I tremble seeing you to day as it were design'd the last of my Life Preserve yourself my Dear Prince and though the Exercise you take be not very dangerous beware of the least Hazards and bring me back all that I trust with you Don Pedro who had never found her so Handsome and so Charming before embraced her several times and went out of the Palace with his Followers with a design not to return till the next Day He was no sooner gone but the Cruel Don Alvaro prepared himself for the Execution he had resolv'd on he thought it of that importance that it required more Hands than his Own and so chose for his Companions Diego Lopes Pacheo and Pedro Cuello two Monsters like himself whose Cruelty he was assur'd of by the Presents he had made ' em They waited the coming of the Night and the lovely Agnes was in her first sleep which the last of her Life when these Assassins approach'd her Bed Nothing made resistance to Don Alvaro who could do every thing and whom the blackest Furies introduced to Agnes she wakened and opening her Curtains saw by the Candle burning in her Chamber the Poinard with which Don Alvaro was arm'd he having not his Face covered she easily knew him and forgetting herself to think of nothing but the Prince Just Heaven said she lifting up her fine Eyes if you will revenge Constantia satisfie yourself with my Blood only and spare that of Don Pedro. The Barbarous Man that heard her gave her not time to say more and finding he could never by all he could do by Love touch the Heart of the Fair Agnes he pierc'd it with his Poinard his Accomplices gave her several Wounds tho' there were no Necessity of so many to put an End to an Innocent Life What a sad Spectacle was this for those who approach'd her Bed the next Day And what dismal News was this to the Unfortunate Prince of Portugal He return'd to Coimbra to the first Report of this Adventure and saw what had certainly cost him his Life if Men could die of Grief after having a thousand times embraced the bloody Body of Agnes and said all that a just Despair could inspire him with he ran like a Mad-man into the Palace demanding the Murderers of his Wife of things that could not hear him In fine he saw the King and without observing any Respect he gave a Loose to his Resentment after having rail'd a long time overwhelm'd with Grief he fell into a Swoon which continued all that Day They carried him into his Apartment and the King believing that this Misfortune would prove his Cure repented not of what he had permitted Don Alvaro and the two other Assassins quitted Coimbra This Absence of theirs made 'em appear guilty of the Crime for which the Afflicted Prince vowed a speedy Vengeance to the Ghost of his Lovely Agnes resolving to pursue them to the uttermost part of the Universe He got a considerable number of Men together sufficient to have made Resistance even on the King of Portugal himself if he should yet take the Part of the Murderers with these he ravag'd the whole Country as far as the Duero Waters and carried on a War even till the Death of the King continually mixing Tears with Blood which he gave to the Revenge of his Dearest Agnes Such was the deplorable End of the Unfortunate Love of Don Pedro of Portugal and of the Fair Agnes de Castro whose Remembrance he faithfully preserved in his Heart even upon the Throne to which he mounted by the Right of his Birth after the