have of it The minde of Stella considering the several Scenes of Chance she had run through in the space of two days was by this time fluctuating in the midst of many various and doubtful thoughts but when she bethought herself that all these disturbances were but to make way for her to the free enjoyment of her lov'd Carlo she resolv'd to bear them with an undaunted patience Carlo pretended to all that were in the Village that Stella was his Sister lest the Country-people resorting to the City might haply in their common discourses let fall some passage or other tending to their discovery Thus concealing both their Conditions and their Name they liv'd for a while contented and secure But Carlo's malevolent Planet not yet weary of afflicting him found out new and unexpected means to complete the number of his sorrows and to effect this work there was an Agent provided the fittest that could have been imagin'd it was the daughter of him who had the overseeing of Leonardo's Gardens she was a Virgin of person not unhandsom brisk and lively in her behaviour and of a wit more penetrating than from one of her birth could have been expected who seeing in Carlo so many graces attracts worthy both to be admir'd lov'd entertain'd a passion for him so unbridled that it could scarce avoid the suspition of Stella her self But as for Carlo his imagination was so intirely imploy'd in contemplating the perfections of his Mistris that there was no space left void for any other thoughts to enter Leonardo was us'd to visit them every night to see how they far'd in their new habitation and to give them notice how their affairs succeeded but one time above the rest he enjoyn'd Carlo as he tender'd his safety not to stir abroad where he might be seen of any for that Stella's Father having already given his word to the Count ambitious of being advanc'd to so honorable an Alliance was so far from being to be appeas'd by any intreaty or admitting of any of those excuses that were made by many of Carlo's Friends in his behalf that he complain'd to the Magistrate of the City and obtain'd of him to proclaim the reward of two thousand Growns to whomsoever should apprehend him or bring any tydings of him This diligent inquisition did not at all trouble the minde of Cario who thought himself secure in his Country-palace nor did he care for going any whither abroad having at home abundantly enough to content him for in the day time beside the company of his Lady he entertain'd himself with the delicacy of the Flowers which yielded pleasure both to his sight and scent and the soft Musick of the cleer Streams In the night-time he intermitted to be Stella's Brother And thus for a while they enjoy'd one another in security and innocent delight One evening they were sitting together in the Garden to take the benefit of the West-winds cool whispers when they might hear Lucinda for so was the damosel call'd that was before mention'd incited by the violence of Love and secure of any bodies over-hearing her breath forth her Passion in this Song ON a green bank sate a fair Shepherdess From whose Aspect the morn might seem to rise Save that some clouds of care and heaviness Obscur'd the serene lustre of her eyes Her sighs into the empty Air she vented She sighing sang singing thus lamented How shall I shake this tyrant from my heart 'T is death alone I fear can Love remove If then my life be cause of all my smart Cease heart to live that I may cease to love But if thou art deni'd by Fate to die This only's left To suffer constantly Lucinda concluded her Song with so deep a sigh that Stella could not chuse but observe it and being touch'd with a kind of jealousie she beheld Carlo with a look lesse serene than at other times but neither did he take any notice of it nor seem'd she at all to be troubled at it Lovers in the infancy of their enjoyments are scarce at leasure to entertain jealousie or strange Loves yet Carlo his being so passionately lov'd by Lucinda cost him dear for the Servant whom Leonardo had appointed to attend upon the two Lovers having not many days since conceiv'd a passion for Lucinda and not apprehending any other cause of her insensibility than that her heart was prepossest with an affection she bore to Carlo bethought himself of a way either to ingratiate himself into her favour or to be reveng'd of her for her disdain which was to discover to her the whole progresse of the loves of those two persons and the true reason of their living conceal'd in that place As this action of his was most ignoble to betray those that were committed to his fidelity so it far'd with him accordingly he only obtaining the balest of those ends which he had propos'd to himself for this discovery did not at all move in Lucinda any affection for him but only made her despair of that successe which she had promis'd to her self in her love to Carlo which was not long conceal'd from him himself One day as he was sitting to repose himself at the foot of a shady tree there appeared unto him neer to the place where he sate Lucinda in a posture so melancholy that grief seem'd to have made her really what was but feign'd of Niobe which he strictly observing could not forbear to demand of her what might be the cause of her so deep melancholy The cause reply'd she in a troubled and disdainful way is so apparent that do but enquire of these trees these flowers nay toese rocks themselves and they will all declare my sufferings being much more sensible than those that are the Authors of them This purling fountain that you see run whisp'ring along the smooth pebbles about what think ye are all her murmuring discourses but about my love or rather my fondnesse who have suff'red my self to be transported with an affection for him who by reason that he hath dispos'd of his heart already to one that hath more right and title to it is oblig'd to be inflexible toward me I know I ought not as the case stands to expect any milder treatment from you but tell me plainly since your true condition is not altogether hid from me however you have sought to mask it Is not this Stella your Spouse whom you feign to be your Sister are not you Brother to Count Alfredo and is not she daughter to Don Ferdinand of Aragon did not you seduce her from her Fathers house To what end serves this counterfeiting the names of Brother and Sister whenas the night through all her darknesse can discern a different relation Little do you imagine into what inconveniences this disguisement of yours hath plunged me for had you appear'd at first what really you were I had been sufficiently warn'd to fortifie my minde against all unlawful desires it being
him and perswading her self that if she were but once more to have come to the Speech of him her words would have so far prevail'd with him as to have retarded his journey if not to have put an end 〈◊〉 With tears in her eyes and love in her heart Oh Carlo said she if these Complaints of mine which I breath from the bottom of my heart had wings to flye unto you they would doubtlesse be so powerful with you as haply to make you change your resolution of leaving Sevil at least to depart with the greater contentment of mind for now so strong an Ascendant have your perfections upon me that it is in vain for me to flatter my self any longer in thinking that I am able not to love you the truth and reality of this love I have but now began sensibly to feel although many days are past since it first took root within me that to me so fortunate night wherein I had the happinesse to discourse with you there was not any thing you did which I did not admire nor spake you ought which was not wonderfully pleasing and from that time forth I was really yours although I seem'd Alfredo's for it was your valour your prudence and discreer carriage which enamour'd me of him thinking they had proceeded from him It is true when first I knew my self to be lov'd by you I thought I had some reason to be offended thinking it had been your envie toward your Brother that mov'd you to affront me for his sake but since it hath been so cleer unto me that the passion you have for my love hath been so constant and faithful as not at all to grow cold through ill successe and that on the contrary it was rather out of envie to you than any true affection to me that your Brother profess'd himself my Servant be assur'd Oh Carlo that I am not only not offended with your love but even so pleas'd that I am thought worthy of it that nothing but death it self and scarce that neither shall have power to make me prove unthankful In this one thing I account my self happy that I may as justly without danger of being deceiv'd boast my self to have dominion over your heart as she that hath been both an eye and an eare-witnesse of the same But whereas I owing you so much respect can notwithstanding consent to suffer your absence and not yield you the place your vertue deserves I seem to my self to surpasse the cruelty of my own Sex and yet fool that I am how do I know what thoughts you may be apt to conceive of me if I should go about to shew my self but indifferently familiar for a person of quality is above others lyable to bring her fame in question by striving to appear not ungrateful Thus stood she discoursing with Carlo absent as if he had been present and carefully considering with her self that the next morning being determin'd the ultimate time of his stay she could not be permitted the happinesse of seeing him to perform the dear Ceremonies of a parting Lover she reassum'd her old Complaints afresh yet having put on a firm resolution that Alfredo whose Service was utterly hateful to her were he never so imperious never so importunate never so much back'd with her Fathers authority should notwithstanding be constrain'd through her utmost neglect of him to forgo all his interest in her she immediately took in hand although not without some fear of her honour to deal so effectually with Carlo as to possesse him that his long absence from Serail would be a means to bring her life in danger To this end she forthwith dispatch'd short Note desiring him He would be pleas'd the night following to give her the meeting at the back-gate of her fathers house for that she had to communicate unto him a business that would much import him to know before his leaving Sevil and in requital of so great an honor he should receive such satisfaction touching the Effect of his constant love to her as perhaps would be unto him no lesse welcom than unexpected No sooner was the morning come but she deliver'd this Letter to her Maid the confident of all her Secrets bidding her To enquire for Carlo's Lodgings and to present him with the Letter so privately that no body should be present at the delivery of it All that her Mistris commanded the Maid punctually perform'd in every circumstance and came at the very season that Carlo was wholly taken up with his Friends and Kindred when calling him aside she delivered her Message and Letter telling him withal That she was not to stay his Answer partly lest it might be discern'd who she was by some curious pryer into Secrets and partly because the Letter requir'd not to be Answer'd at present but in the evening and that by himself in person He stood for a while astonish'd at this undream'd of news but knowing there was that with him which could easily disdeceive him for he knew it to be Stella's hand he broke up the Seals and after having slightly glanc'd over the contents and ruminated many things to himself he began to enter into a serious debate what might be the reason that mov'd her to send him this request whenas he was fully possest not only that he was not favor'd of her himself but that she having given her hear already to Alfredo was shortly to 〈◊〉 her hand in Marriage Notwithstanding he was altogether impatient tâ—ll he had obey'd her desire he would fam have put off his Journey for a while longer which could difficultly be done both in regard that between him and the Friends who were met together the farewel-Salutations had already past and because almost all the people of the City were flock'd together in heaps to see him passe out of Town so that he was constrain'd at least to counterfeit a departure He went forth accompanied with the chief Gentlemen of the City and was bid adieu by the loud exclamations of the multitude carrying along with him out of Town as much happinesse and prosperity from the voyces of the people as he left troubles and vexations behind him in his Brothers tyranny It was not long before Fame convey'd this unwelcom news unto the ears of disconsolate Stella to think that he should set solittle by her kind proffer afflicted her mind with the bitterest sorrow that could be imagin'd and made her repent that she had any way manifested her love to him resolving thenceforward to hold this for a maxime That for a Lady to confer her favours on any man is the only way to make him prove perfidious and ingrateful She accus'd her self as inconsiderate for ventring over-hastily to impart her courtesies since so unfortunately they had lighted upon one that either distrusted or disregarded them By this time the day-light as it were dismay'd at the blacknesse and deformity of night had hid it self under the shadow of the earth
when Stelia chancing upon some or other occasion to go into that place where the night before she had been a witnesse of Carlo's Gallantry she might discern a man who seeming well acquainted with every part of the Court fixed him self in the middle of it and looking more intently upon him she strongly conjectur'd that either her eyes deceiv'd her or by the Majesty of his person it should be Carlo Nor was she indeed mistaken for he having with some difficulty dis-engag'd himself from the Company that attended him made a shift to return back to see his beloved Stella and to know what she had to command And hearing some little noise about the window he call'd by her name the Maid that had brought him the Letter in the morning upon which Stella knew him by his voice and that she might not lose the opportunity which the time and place offer'd her she immediately discover'd her self and after she had related to him the false Title that his proud Brother pretended to her the mistake that hapned many nights ago the much wherewith his vertue and discretion had enamour'd her the means she took to disdeceive her self the reason that mov'd her to love him and how bitterly she resented his absence she continued thus It was for no other reason Carlo that I writ to you than to endeavour to divert your intended voyage and you may well think that before I could prevail with my self to put such a design in practice it cost me many a sorrowful tear and it is a usual art among women highly born to keep their flames so not to be discover'd by any unlesse by their secret tears and sighs that in time they grow too masterlesse for either their breasts to be able to contain or their eyes to dissemble them Heaven knows what frequent and painful conflicts I have had with my Honor till in the end my Affections prevail'd more with me than my Fame so that I am confirm'd in this truth That to be able to overcome ones self especially in things relating to the vehement desires of the Soul is a work rather of Practice than of Contemplation You see Carlo how much the night befriends me in hiding my blushes which makes me the rather presume to be so plain and free with you as I am not putting any false glosse upon my words In fine I am devoted yours and of all men living you are he alone that shall have power to dispose of my heart The wealth that my Father hath abundantly to spare is of it self so sofficient that you may have where with to live splendidly and yet not need to be beholding to your Brother for the least supply All the favors he can boast to have received from me are so few so slight that to have show'd himself a Gentleman for one nights space would have much more conduc'd to the advancement of his hopes Impute not I request you this my freedom to any impudence in me but rather to those your irresistable Charms that have inflav'd my Affection to you nor think me guilty of any great Grime in laboring to requite him with love of whom I have been so much belov'd who hath been so eminent in constancy as to honour and respect me although rejected by me I appeal to your self whether you think it is ordinary with men to love with so much truth and faithfulnesse I profess to ye That were you not endued with those perfections that cause me to little less than idolize you your loyalty firmness would be sufficient of themselves to endear you to me And be assur'd howsoever Fortune deals with me whether your first Resolution be more powerful with you to hold on your journey or my late invitation to you to alter your mind I am prepar'd to receive either condition with as equal a minde as it is possible for me at least I shall have attain'd to this degree of contentment That I have given a little earnest of the much that I am indebted to you With attentive admiration Carlo heard her speak these things whereby it grew apparent to him by what means it came to passe that Stella was so melted in her rigour toward him with a graceful humility he render'd her thanks for the great and new favour she had done him as far from expected as deserv'd promising that to serve her he was ready to become her very slave The conclusion of this amorous Discourse was that she gave him her hand in token that she unfeignedly desir'd to be his Wife By this the royal Sun had summon'd the day to appear while he with his beams gilded the tops of the western Groves when Carlo took his leave of her with a purpose to divide his time between two esteemed persons in the day-time to hush himself up in the house of Leonardo a Gentleman of quality his intimate friend in the night to visit his Mistress Stella which having vow'd to perform as oft as the night came he went to find out Leonardo to whom he communicated the particulars of his whole successe There past many nights and days wherein there interceded between these two Lovers such familiarity as was not inconsistent with modesty and civility Stella all this while had much ado to forbear betraying by her looks the disturbance which was in her minde seeing Alfredo still continu'd to haunt her with his foolish importunities and her Father having found her at first plyable to his desires she had promis'd him that which both her honour and her second choice injoyn'd her not to consent to The very next time Carlo and she met she declar'd unto him her Fathers cares and watchfulness over her ways and unto what difficult streights their counsels were like to be reduc'd These words sorely perplexed the poor Gentleman who ntistrusting that through Stella's fear and observance of her Fathers pleasure his hopes might be in danger to miscarry told her That if she found her love was not powerful enough to resist those stronger Obligations before mention'd she had best to consult with her own minde and do as she thought fit that for his part he had been so accustom'd to the brunt of adverse Fortune as that he should not count it any new mishap although the greatest that had yet befaln him He would have said somthing more but that through the suddennesse and greatnesse of his passion he became as mute and motionlesse as a marble Statue Whereupon she to take from him all that might give him cause to suspect her reality affirm'd that when she first made her love known unto him it was not out of any other design than an unfeigned intention that he only should enjoy her and therefore she purposed the better to free her self from the persecution of her Fathers carefulnesse and Alfredo's troublesomnesse to let him in at a private gate the night following which should stand ready open for him that so her Father when he should come and
a thing that cannot enter into my thoughts that any woman be she never so wanton or unchaste would give her self liberty to cherish in her breast a passion for one who is intirely anothers But Oh unhappy me that I am not to be inform'd of your true condition until I had lost my self and my liberty in a fond misapprehension now I am disdeceiv'd I shall labour with my whole might to suppresse these unwarrantable flames before they proceed any farther to ruine me Neverthelesse I would not have you ignorant that you owe your safety to the good will which I have born you though now I strive to forget it and do not imagine I speak this to flatter you for is there any one think you that knows the abode of a person whom Justice requires and hearing the reward of two thousand Crowns propos'd to whomsoever should bring tydings of him would have patience to conceal such a person without some great consideration You see I know your abode and who you are having an opportunity both to be rich and to revenge my self of your disdain if I did not approve the reason of it and forgive it but to give you proof how unfeignedly my affection hath been and to let you see that I am not really what these homely garments make me appear to be long may you enjoy your fair Stella with all the tranquillity and happinesse that these Solitudes can afford while I implore Heaven to give me strength to extinguish these flames which my breast hath unfortunately harbour'd so long And I doubt not but Time which is wont to bring about greater miracles will also effect this since we oft-times see that that which is doated on to day to morrow is forgotten Carlo remain'd in a kind of ecstasie to hear from Lucinda's mouth such an exact relation of the important accidents of his life and was somwhat comforted in the assurances she gave him of keeping secret all that she knew of him yet knowing how little confidence ought to be repos'd in one that loves without being beloved again and that his own life and the safety of Stella depended upon her silence he thought it his wisest course to appear outwardly to her not altogether insensible of her love supposing that by a seeming compliance though but for a while she might be lull'd into such a pleasing contentment as might make her forget all thoughts of divulging any thing to his harm And just as he was putting this resolution in practice telling her how much her good esteem of him had oblig'd him and wishing himself in a Condition free enough to entertain her love Stella with whom it was an unwonted thing to be never so little absent from him going to seek him in that fair province of Flowers came to a little thicket of Myrtles and Laurels through which although she could not see him yet by the distinct sound of his Speech she ghess'd him to be but at a small distance from her her curiosity to know who it was that he discours'd with led her to a tree whose branches wider display'd than the rest permitted her plainly to discern Lucinda and him together This unexpected sight inflam'd her with a desire to know what should be the occasion of this so great familiarity so that with a most greedy attention drawing as neer as possibly she could without being discern'd she heard Carlo say but it was rather to engage Lucinda to sec acy than out of any free inclination to serve her That he was no lesse sersible of her passion than deeply affected with her beauty and that if he did not requite her with those real Services which her love deserv'd from him she was to impute it to a Cause that was very well known to her self for that being bound to Stella by obligations of so high a nature that the least of them was her having left her Fathers house to follow him he was utterly depriv'd of the liberty to dispose of himself according to his own minde But that when his troublesome estate should be becalm'd and his affairs quietly compos'd he would contrive things so much to her contentment that she should plainly see how much he was her Servant Lucinda upon this retir'd perceiving some of the Gardiners people coming that way not without reason for her love was not so closely carried but that it was whisper'd among them Stella remain'd a while so lost in astonishment that she had scarce life and sence enough left in her to perceive that she was jealous and when she came to her self she was not able to endure so much as to think of Carlo's treachery or of Lucinda's impudence So transported she was with rage and jealousie to see Carlo not only love a person so much inferiour but with so great a passion as to reveal those things to her which he ought to have kept undiscover'd if it were possible even from himself that she rush'd out in a fury from among the bushes where she had stood exclaiming with loud and conâ—uâ—'d cries against his disloyalty To what end said she ingrateful man serve all these feigned shews of affection whenas I evidently see that you only pretend a love to me in the mean while carrying on a secret design unworthy both of my quality of your many obligations to me and the dangers whereunto I have expos'd my self for your sake you ought to appear what you are Carlo the most perfidious man the earth bears I confesse I shall not be able so far to forget the good esteem I have formerly born you as altogether to refrain from tears and pity if your life should chance to be indanger'd yet this advantage I should have That I should see my self reveng'd of the ignoble dealings of so infamous a person for it is much more agreeable to a woman of a generous spirit to die than to bear the infidelity of a person to whom she hath given her heart How worthy a recompence have you given me for the losse of that which I held more dear than all things in the world beside Is it to this that all those promises are come which flow'd from you in a stream of tears when I permitted you to become master of this unfortunate beauty I am glad however that at length you appear to me in your own colours that although I cannot take from you again what to the prejudice of my honour you have already obtain'd of me I may at least free my self from those your impostures to which hitherto I have liv'd a Victim I am likely to see you shortly expos'd to the vengeance of your Brother and my Father who as they are persons both potent and highly incens'd against you will hardly be satisfied with any thing less than your life therefore I will only deal so candidly with you as to give you warning before-hand that you must look for no greater favour from me than what you would expect from your greatest