's no necessity I should name them are of the most antient and most noble families of any in all the Mountains of old Casteel and the whole issue of their matrimony was onely a Brother of mine and my self My Brother spent the youthful part of his age in courting Ladies and among other young persons like himself he plaid some mad pranks of youth which oblig'd him for fear of falling into the hands of Justice to absent himself from Granada and for my part I made it my onely business to serve and humour those who had brought me into the world I spent the days at my needle not taking example from my companions who onely minded their divertisements nay I was so ignorant what love meant that I laugh'd at whatever related thereto and thought those who spent their time in courtships and entertaining those they call'd their Gallants little better than so many distracted persons But Love it seems would punish this contempt of mine and you shall see how he did it My Father and Mother being one day gone to visit a friend of theirs in the Country who had buried his wife not long before I heard in the street the clashing of swords as if some people had been fighting I look'd out at the window to see what might be the matter I had never been guilty of such a curiosity before and had it been God's pleasure I should have shunn'd it then I should not now be telling you my misfortunes which are such that I shall never think on them without tears I there saw to my sorrow three men with their swords drawn fighting against one who defended himself with so great courage that he not onely made his party good a long time against so many enemies but also hurt two of them in the head he himself having receiv'd onely a slight wound These three Hectors finding themselves so worsted by one person resolv'd to do their utmost to take away his life so that exasperated by their wounds they press'd upon him so much that he was forc'd to retreat within our gate where they gave him two several thrusts into the breast upon which he fell and was left for dead Mov'd with compassion to see so proper a young man so disadvantageously engag'd I came down to the gate calling my Maids about me to see what might be done for him our house being in a lone-street for those who were come upon the noise we made were so few and those unarm'd that they were not able to part them We lock'd the doors and brought him in and a Chirurgeon was immediately sent for His wounds were so great that we thought fit to dispose him into a bed in a ground-room where my Brother was wont to lie The young man thank'd me very civilly for the favour he receiv'd from me but alas that good office began with Compassion but ended in Love The Chirurgeon view'd his wounds but could not presently give any certain judgment of them though he whisper'd me in the ear that he thought they might cost him his life That account of him struck me to the heart for having seen him fight so gallantly I must needs acknowledge that I had even then conceiv'd an inclination for him But his kind expressions afterwards and his thanking me so gentilly for the obligations he said I had put upon him rais'd it into a perfect Love My Father and Mother return'd from their visit and ere they were got to our house were told by one of the Neighbours a person of some quality what had happened in their absence and how that I had put a period to a quarrel by entertaining the wounded party into their house out of compassion and a fear that he might be kill'd whereat they were well satisfi'd and commended the charitable office I had done at such an extremity for they were persons who gladly embrac'd any opportunity to exercise their charity They visited the wounded encourag'd him to take heart assuring him he should want nothing their House could afford and acknowledg'd it well done by me that I had so rescu'd him upon which I took occasion to spend most of my time in waiting on him him I say who is the cause of all the troubles and afflictions which lye so heavy upon me At the second dressing the Chirurgeon assur'd us that his wounds were not mortal which caus'd much joy in our House particularly to me who became every day more and more passionately in love with him As often as I could get out of my Father and Mother's fight I went to pass away the time in his Chamber for which kindness he made me extraordinary acknowledgments This young Cavalier was born at Pampeluna and one of the most eminent in that City His business at Granada was to prosecute a Law-suit against a very powerful person who finding but little justice of his side that the cause was of great importance and that notwithstanding the favour he had in Court the Judges must pass sentence against him would put a period to the Suit by a shorter cut and rid himself of his Adversary by employing three Men to murther him who were his own menial Servants A month slipp'd away ere Leonardo so was the wounded person named got out of his Bed having all that time been attended with as much care as might be The second day after his getting up he had the opportunity to see me for my Mother was gone abroad upon a visit wherein I accompany'd her not because I had a greater mind to be alone with my young Gallant He discover'd himself to me so opportunely and gave me such sensible assurances of his affection that it rais'd a no less in me towards him insomuch that there past mutual promises of fidelity between us I knew nothing all this time that my Father was upon a treaty of Marriage between me and a Gentleman of Granada who was infinitely desirous to enter into our alliance while I was very well satisfy'd with the choice I had made my self Leonardo coming to hear of the others pretensions to me was not a little troubled at it but the onely remedy was patience in regard he would make no discovery of his Estate till his Law-suit were ended which he hoped would be in a short time and I in the mean time kept my Father in play with persuasions that he would not be over-hasty in concluding my Marriage with the Granadine Leonardo being perfectly cur'd and requiting the kindness and noble entertainment he had receiv'd at our House with many considerable presents return'd to his own Quarters to bring his business to a final end For my part my troubles increas'd more and more upon me for my Father never giving me any notice of it as if I had been a person not at all concern'd concluded the contract with the Granadine and pass'd his word he should have me which when I came to understand I was so strucken that I minded not what
the performance of what he was pleas'd out of his own good nature to promise By this time Dinner was set on the Table they both sat down and the entertainment was very noble suitable to the Love of the Founder for where that little Deity comes once to reign the first Act he makes is for the banishment of all baseness and avarice Rufina and Garay had agreed together that he should come to her when he were sure the old Merchant was abroad and that he should disguise himself like a Beggar that he might not be known nor any suspition be conceiv'd of him She had studied several ways to chouse the Merchant of some part of his Treasure but she could not fix on any one she thought might prove effectual the Chamber where it was Lock'd being extreamly fortify'd She had continu'd there three days ere she had either seen or heard from Garay and during the time she express'd so great a discontent as put Marquina to much trouble in regard it kept him from making those free discoveries of his Love which he would otherwise have done In the mean time Rufina who watch'd all occasions cunningly discover'd the place where the Old man hid the Keys of his Iron chests Marquina went according to his custom into the City which being observ'd by Garay he comes to his House in Beggars weeds as they had agreed together with two Crutches Being got under the Window at which Rufina was looking out he begg'd an alms of her She threw him down something and ask'd him whence he came whereto Garay answering that he was of Granada she seem'd to be extreamly glad and thereupon turning to the Gardener's wife Let us go down a little into the Garden said she to her this poor fellow is come out of my Country I would fain have some discourse with him to know what news he hath brought thence The poor Woman suspecting nothing made no difficulty to let him into the Garden Rufina ask'd him how long it was since he had left Granada whereto he answering about nine or ten days she continu'd her questions so long that the Gardener's wife weary of their discourse and having something else to do left them Being rid of her they consider'd what was to be put in execution the night following and agreed upon the course they were to take to possess themselves of Marquina's Treasure That done Garay departed and Rufina went up to her Chamber telling the Gardener's wife she had understood so much from that poor fellow concerning her affairs that it would not be long ere she return'd into her Country The Gardener's wife and the Maid were little pleas'd to hear that news as fearing their Master would upon her departure re-assume his niggardly humour and keep as miserable a a house as he had done before nay haply put himself and all the servants to a greater penance in their diet to get up what had been squander'd away during her aboad there Marquina being come home found Rufina that night more cheerful than at any time before which gave him the confidence to acquaint her more freely with his love then he had done and to assure her of the disquiet he was in upon her account Rufina seem'd not to take it amiss nay by a greater familiarity then she had express'd towards him before she rais'd in him some hopes of seeing his desires satisfi'd whence the old dotard began to presume that the fort would in a short time be taken in upon reasonable tearms Upon this presumption he bestow'd on her a Ring which he had purposely bought for her wherein was a Diamond worth about an hundred crowns set about with little Rubies The Lady gave him many thanks for so noble a present and in requital promis'd him a Lesson on the Lute to which she sung some new Aires though she quarrell'd at the dulness of the Instrument Marquina promis'd her a better the next day They parted for that time but with different thoughts Marquina desirous to obtain those favours he expected from Rufina and to oblige her thereto by presents which overcome the greatest difficulties and Rufina contriving how to compass the robbery she intended The next day Garay a person of great experience in such designs got some others of the same profession to carry on the work and having observ'd Marquina going into his house they staid till he were gone to bed which was somewhat late for Rufina who held a correspondence with them had purposely kept him up About midnight Garay and his Camerades brought a thing that had the figure of a man stuff'd with straw having about him a cloak which cast over his shoulder cover'd his face and pitch'd it over against the principal window towards the garden which was that part of the house where Marquina lodg'd and left it there fastned to a stake they had thrust into the ground The night was somewhat dark and so more proper for their design Having plac'd that figure as I told you they knock'd at the door so loud that it might have been heard from one end of the Garden to the other Marquina awaken'd thereby leaps out of his bed it being strange to him to hear such knocking at his garden door at such an unseasonable time as being a thing had never happen'd to him before He call'd up his servant and bid him see who knock'd at the door The servant went out between sleeping and waking to see what the matter was calling as loud as he could Who knocks there But no body answering and he not minding the figure that stood in the garden told his Master that there was not any body Marquina upon that got into bed again and compos'd himself to rest but it was soon interrupted for Garay knock'd more violently than he had done before which astonish'd him the more and oblig'd him to send down his mâ—n a second time to see what the matter was Bringing his Master the same account he had done before he got up himself puts his cloak about him and calls at the window Who knocks at my door thus unseasonably Whereto no Answer being made he grew the more enrag'd but looking a little more earnestly about the house than his man had done he perceiv'd the figure planted before his windows Marquina was extremely afraid at the sight of a person who as he thought knock'd at his door yet made him no answer and assuming more courage than he was naturally Master of he said to him very loud 'T is basely done of you Sir to abuse me thus you shall find I am not a person to suffer it pray keep on your way and disturb not my rest any more if you think not your self invulnerable and that a brace of good bullets will make no impression in your inchanted skin Having made that bravado he shut to the window and went to bed but he was hardly got warm in it ere they began to knock more violently than they had
Officers of Justice came in who having at a distance seen the Dead person in the Arms of Garay and a Woman standing by and had notice before that two Men were seen going out of the City with a design to fight a Duel presently imagin'd that Garay was one of them and consequently the Murtherer of the other upon which presumption he was sent to Prison and order given the Jaylor to put him fast enough Rufina had more favour being confin'd in the House of one of the Officers who was to have a care to her forth-coming They both us'd all the arguments they could to clear themselves from having any thing to do with the Murther alledging upon what occasion they came to the Body But their own words would not be taken and it was presum'd the Duel had been upon the accompt of Rufina The Judge order'd her to be brought to his own House to be further examin'd which was accordingly done When she came thither there were in the Room several Gentlemen and among others a Genoese a very rich Merchant whom some business of his own had brought thither They had no sooner seen Rufina but they all admir'd her Beauty and the Majesty of her Air but the most satisfy'd of any was the Genoese who to give him his due was of a very amorous constitution Rufina was extreamly troubled that such an affront should be done her by the way as perceiving that if they were staid the next day they should lose the opportunity of continuing their journey The Judge put several Questions to her concerning the Duel and the Gentleman's Death whereto she answered that she knew nothing of it that she was coming in the Sevil-Coach to go for Madrid accompany'd by some other Persons then in the Inn whom she named That as the Coach pass'd by a certain Person who had been Wounded upon the High-way not far from them call'd out for some body to receive his Confession and that a Priest who was with them in the Coach went out to do it with whom also she went out of curiosity accompany'd by an Uncle of hers who came along with her They ordered in regard it was grown late to adjourn the business till the next day that a more exact enquiry might be made into it and in the mean time that all who came along with the Coach should not stir from Corduba without permission This done Rufina was brought back to the Officer's House where she was to continue that night The Genoese who liv'd not far from it accompany'd her but though he had liv'd at a far greater distance he would have thought it no great way to wait on a Lady with whom he was already over head and ears in Love Taking leave of her at the Officer's house he proffer'd her all the Services lay in his power for which she thanked him yet taking it for no more than a Complement The Vexation she conceiv'd at her being thus unexpectedly staid brought her into some fits of a Feaver the first of a Tertian which she afterwards fell into The next day all the persons who came in the Coach being examin'd gave the same account as Rufina had done before whereupon Garay was set at Liberty Other witnesses also who knew somewhat concerning the Duel were heard and gave the Judges a perfect knowledge of the Murther Garay went immediately to visit Rufina expressing himself extreamly troubled at her indisposition he did all he could to cheer her up that they might prosecure their Journey but the Physitian who had visited her advis'd her not to remove thence till she had recover'd her Feaver and told her that she could not travel any further without hazard of her Life which being so the Coach-man was forc'd to leave them behind but they were adjudg'd to defray the charges of their stay and he to deliver up what they had in the Coach The Genoese came often to see the fair Traveller at the Officer's house and began to treat her very nobly an humour the more remarkable in him who for sordid niggardliness might be compared to the covetous Marquina but Love though but a small Deity yet many times does very great miracles turning Avarice into Prodigality and Cowâ—rdice into Courage Rufina kept her Bed fifteen days during which time she was constantly visited by Signor Octavio so was called the amorous Genoese and after the Visit came in a Servant with a treat of Sweet-meats and Wild-fowl which the Officer and his Wife were glad to see for the best share fell to them At last the Lady with her Health recover'd also her good Complexion and her Beauty and the Genoese continuing his civilities proffer'd her a House with a fair Garden which he had on the side of the pleasant River Quadalguemir Garay whom she called her Uncle advis'd her not to refuse that proffer for he had discover'd the Man to be extreamly in Love with her that he was very Rich and that they might get as much out of the Genoese as they had out of the covetous Marquina Rufina accepted the proffer and set things in order to go to the Genoese's and to continue there till she had recover'd her self so well as that she might prosecute her Journey The Genoese would not have it known at Corduba that he had brought her to his Country-house to prevent peoples talk and other inconveniences that might have ensu'd So that with the consent of Rufina he gave out that she had left the City in order to the prosecution of her Voyage Accordingly there were two Mules brought for her and Garay and two others to carry their Luggage and having left Corduba towards the Evening to blind the eyes of the inquisitive they kept on their way towards Madrid but having Rid out about half a League they turn'd back again and took up their quarters at Signor Octavio's which was not above two flight shots from the City There he expected her with a magnificent Supper which he had provided Here the Genoese discover'd his Love to her more freely than he had done before He was a person of about forty years of Age of a good Manly countenance having buried his Wife some two years before by whom he had had no Children He was a whole-sale Merchant and traded in all sorts of Commodities insomuch that all the other Merchants not onely of the City but also of other places thereabouts came to him for he held correspondences in all parts He was a very thrifty person nay to give him his due character I should use other expressions He had some yearly Revenue besides twenty thousand Crowns in ready Money and sixty thousand in Credit and his own Trading which was very great He was a great Student and had studied at Pavia and Bologna before he became Heir to his Brother who Dy'd a very Rich man in Spain and that Inheritance it was that occasion'd his Marriage at Corduba He had so passionate an affection for
thoughts so that concurring in the same desires as Lovers mutually passionate Rufina behav'd her self so freely and familiarly towards him that he might easily perceive she had discarded all modesty insomuch that upon little intreaty she permitted him to invert the order of the Alphabet and to put Q. before P. But in the midst of her enjoyments she remembred her old Acquaintance Garay she reflected on the familiarites had pass'd between them she consider'd how much she was oblig'd to him and that he was look'd on all over the City as her Father She imagin'd to her self the resentment he must needs have at his arrival when he found that she had basely forsaken him She bethought her self to give him a sum of Money privately and to dismiss him but thinking more seriously of it she thought it a better course to leave Toledo before his return and to persuade Don Jaimo to carry her into his Country Valentia She resolv'd within two or three days to declare her mind to him for Garay was not expected home till fifteen days after In the mean time Rufina and her Gallant pass'd away the time very jocundly and he being very heartily in love with her was fully resolv'd to give Crispin the bag and not to proceed any further in his first design 'T was in the Winter-time when the Nights are longest that these Lovers deceiv'd the slow-pac'd Season with an intermixture of Caresses Songs and amorous Discourses nay many times they sung together their several parts to a Musical Instrument which he play'd on One night after they had Sung and Talk'd of several things Rufina entreated her Gallant to entertain her and her Maids with some pleasant Story or Novel if he knew any The young Man who was Vers'd in all things and of an excellent Wit was content to answer the desires of his Mistress to give her a new demonstration of his further perfections and said to her Though to such a Person as you are divine Emerentiana and my dearest Mistress my discourse will seem very ordinary yet so punctually would I obey your Commands as if I knew what you impos'd on me were onely for a trial of my compliance And in regard I do it in this so much of a sudden I hope to find you the more ready to excuse my failings The Novel I intend to tell you I heard from an accomplish'd Cavalier of Valentia I thought it not unpleasant and shall endeavour to present it to you as well dress'd as I receiv'd it Whereupon having recollected himself a little he began his discourse thus THE THIRD NOVEL The Trapanner Trapann'd IN the great and famous City of Sevil the Metropolis of Andalusia Mother of so many noble Families and excellent Wits the Treasury of all the Wealth which flows into Spain from the West-Indies was born Don Pedro de Ribera a very accomplish'd Cavalier of the illustrious Family of the Dukes of Alcala so highly esteem'd all over the Kingdome By their death from whom he deriv'd his being in this world there fell to him an estate of four thousand Crowns annual rent upon which he liv'd very nobly at Sevil being the most remarkable Person at all publick actions done about the City He had at Madrid a Cousin-german who follow'd the Spanish Court and was gone thither about some affairs of great importance which he had brought to a happy issue Having liv'd there a while he lik'd it and the conversation of the Cavaliers inhabiting it so well that he exchang'd the place of his birth for that illustrious City He there became intimately acquainted with an old Cavalier whose name was Don Juan de la Cerda a person who had rais'd himself into a general esteem by the excellent endowments he had Besides which he was honour'd with the illustrious Order of the Patron of Spain with a Commandery of two thousand Ducats of annual rent This old Gentleman was a Widdower having but one onely Daughter to whom all his vast Estate was to fall at his Death Nature it seems had made it her particular business to enrich this young Lady with all the graces and perfections to be wish'd in one of her Sex Which occasion'd the envy of all the Ladies about the Court towards her since she had in point of Beauty the same advantages over them as the Sun hath over all the rest of the Planets Her Father Don Juan wish'd her married with a person to his mind that is one equal to her in estate and extraction Don Rodrigo de Ribera so was called Pedro's Cousin whom I spoke of first might have aspir'd to the honour of making his Addresses to her as well upon accompt of the House from which he was descended as the familiar acquaintance there was between him and her Father Don Juan But being a younger Brother he thought himself too low in point of estate to pretend to so advantageous a match However he thought fit to make some proposal to the old Gentleman on the behalf of his Cousin Don Pedro who liv'd at Sevil whom he highly recommended to him for his excellent Qualities and the greatness of his Estate for he was the onely Son of a Noble house Don Juan took it very kindly from him but thought it withall prudence to make further enquiry into the business knowing that persons speaking for their own Relations are commonly very partial and think it no mortal sin to exceed the truth So that Don Juan immediately writ to a particular friend at Sevil earnestly desiring him to give him an account of the Person and Estate of Don Pedro de Ribera inasmuch as it highly concern'd the honour of his House to meet with a Cavalier worthy his alliance to be Husband to his onely Daughter Donna Brianda 'T was not long ere he receiv'd an Answer wherein his friend confirm'd all that Don Rodrigo had said of his Kinsman with somewhat more protesting in the conclusion that he was so far from being partial or insincere in the accompt he had sent him that he rather told less than truth He thereupon went to Don Rodrigo and told him that he might write to his Cousin and assure him he should be very welcome if he had any inclinations for his Daughter He made him Answer that he would and Don Juan as a further obligation would have his Daughter's Picture sent him that he might therein find some of the rare qualities that were in her permitting his Cousin to be present at the taking of it that he might assure Don Pedro the Painter had not flatter'd her and that the Copy was below the Original Don Rodrigo fail'd not to write to his Cousin to whom he also sent the Picture celebrating the vertues of that amiable person which the Painter could not represent as he had done the lineaments of her beautiful countenance His Cousin Don Pedro was extremely satisfi'd therewith and referr'd it to him to make some overtures in the treaty of Marriage till he came
Estephania remedi'd all Her first business was to treat about his liberty speaking to those persons on whom the business depended and presenting them with certain summs of mony before Trapassa had any knowledge of her design whom he could not have seen as having not yet stirr'd out of the Galley So that he was extremely astonish'd when he came to understand that some persons did not onely use bare solicitations in order to his liberty but were also liberal of their mony to procure it yet could it never come into his thoughts that his old Love Estephania should have chang'd the cruel humour he had left her in into one so mild and obliging All things being concluded and agreed upon for Trapassa's liberty his chains were knock'd off and he was told that he might go whether he would In the mean time he could not imagine who had procur'd him that happiness which was no small one inasmuch as though the poor Slaves have serv'd out the time of their condemnation yet are there some causes found that hinder their being set at liberty nay some are so unhappy that having been condemn'd for four years are forc'd to stay there five or six Seignor Trapassa was extremely astonish'd when he found himself in the presence of his Estephania and understood that it was onely by her means he had recover'd his liberty she receiv'd him into her arms and he to express his gratitude return'd so obliging a reception with the like caresses so that the kindness he then receiv'd of her made him forget the resentment he might have of the miseries she had occasion'd him He was troubled to find her in a much different habit from that he had left her in at Madrid for he knew not that it was out of design she had so disguis'd her self nor could she at that time give him an account of it by reason of the Captain and others being present who had conducted him and whom she was oblig'd to entertain at dinner Having treated them as well as she could all withdrew save onely Trapassa who continu'd still in the Inne with his Mistress Finding themselves alone they reiterated their caresses and outvy'd one the other in assurances of the satisfaction they conceiv'd at that interview Trapassa render'd her his thanks with all the grateful acknowledgments imaginable for the pains she had taken and the goodness she had had to deliver him out of the cruel torments he endured On the other side Estephania begg'd his pardon for the mischief she had done him and all the miseries her malice had caus'd him telling him withall that she could not imagine any other way to repair the injury she had done him than by joyning hands with him in matrimony if he lik'd the proposal since she already had a daughter by him and wealth enough for both of them to live at their ease I leave you to judge whether this motion were not pleasing to Trapassa one that would have snapp'd at the least proffer of good fortune upon his coming out of so severe a School of penance As if he had forgot the former his Answer was in renew'd embraces thereby satisfying her with what joy he accepted of the advantageous offer she made him entreating her to give him an account of his Daughter whom he was passionately desirous to see Estephania over-joy'd to find his sentiments so consonant to her expectation presented him with a noble riding-suit which she had purposely caus'd to be made for him and the next morning betimes they took their journey towards Sevil where Trapassa finding his Daughter who might then be about eight years of age he acted a part he never had done before that is was solemnly married to the Lady Estephania in facie Ecclesiae They chang'd their lodgings and indeed the quarter of the City where they had liv'd being resolv'd to lead another kind of life than they had done before For Estephania imagining that the hardship which her dear Love had endur'd in the Galleys had abated somewhat of his former extravagancies and that the grey hairs he had brought thence would reclaim him from his debauches endeavour'd to get him some creditable employment in Sevil as well to keep him out of idleness as out of a consideration that he should bring in something towards the house But an untoward disposition such as was that of Trapassa is not so easily brought into discipline and if he had as yet behav'd himself with some reserv'dness it proceeded from the influence which the perpetual admonitions and rebukes of his wife had over him and not out of any bent to vertue in his nature so that through his own neglect he could find himself no other employment than that of frequenting Gaming-houses and Plays and those other places where those who are naturally inclin'd to sloth think fit to spend the greatest part of their time This carriage of his extremely troubled his wife who yet willing to avoid all matrimonial discontents wink'd at his disorders and endeavour'd to find some comfort in the conversation of her Daughter whose beauty was already become the common discourse of the City Idleness the seminary of all sorts of vices by degrees brought Trapassa into his former custom of Gaming the Sea wherein so many Estates are wrack'd so that beginning at first to play for little as if it had been rather for Recreation than otherwise but afterwards venturing more and more he in a short time made a shift to lavander whatever he could lay hands on of his wife's She was sensible enough that many of her things were wanting and doubted not but her Husband was the conveyer of them but all she could do was to weep and bemoan her self charging none with her misfortune but her self Trapassa perceiving her so much troubled promised reformation but the damn'd lechery of Gaming prevailing more and more upon him his luck was such that in four years he either sold or pawn'd whatever was worth it in his house Finding himself at last reduc'd to very great necessities he began to cast about how he might recover himself a little he would have been content his wife who was as yet handsome enough should have condescended to lewdnesses unworthy her recover'd reputation but he perceiv'd she was grown so honest and so alter'd from what she had been before that he had not the confidence to speak to her of any such thing For she was so extremely troubled at the disorder'd demeanour of her husband that she grew in a manner careless of all things nay she little minded the education of her daughter who was by this time come into the teens and by reason of these distractions in the family liv'd as she pleas'd her self appearing every day at her window and that not with little affectation The grief and regrets which poor Estephania conceiv'd at her being reduc'd to necessity heightned by the discontent caus'd her by her husband brought her into a sickness whereof she died
about a year after with a perfect repentance for her past mis-carriages reinforcing at that extremity all her spirits that she might die as happy a death as her husband had occasion'd her living an unhappy life She was very poorly buried Trapassa having not the means to bestow any more cost upon her than he did He was in his turn troubled at her death and acknowledg'd but too late his great oversight in that he had so long continu'd his debauches and that if he had follow'd her good advice he might have liv'd handsomely all the rest of his days All the comfort he had now left and all the hope on which he grounded his happiness was the beauty of his Daughter which he thought such as would bring him a Son-in-law that might relieve his necessities never considering that the vertue of the Age consists in wealth and that all perfections and graces have no charm in them if depriv'd of the attractions of riches The unfortunate Trapassa as crush'd as he was with miseries continu'd still a constant frequenter of the Gaming-houses not indeed to play himself for he had not wherewith but to receive what he had sometimes given to wit the Barats a little present the Spaniards are wont to bestow on those who look on them while they are playing when they have had a good hand and this is commonly the surest revenue of those who have ruin'd themselves by Gaming The little aboad which Trapassa made at his own house gave his daughter the greater freedom to follow her own inclinations She would be perpetually at the window which induc'd abundance of young Gallantillos to make their appearances in the street she liv'd in The Father who was not ignorant of what pass'd though he might have prevented yet wink'd at it out of the desire he had to see his daughter advantageously match'd that she might afterwards help him out of his necessities This indeed was the most likely means he had to recover himself He thereupon left the little Rufina so was his daughter called to her own liberty hoping that by her insinuations she would in time have the disposal of their hearts and purses who courted her His design prov'd more fortunate than he had imagin'd inasmuch as among the many who languish'd for her there hapned to be one very rich who was over head and ears in love with Rufina She assum'd the title of Donna a title belongs onely to women of noble extraction because her Mother had taken it before her which if she had not her Daughter would not have balk'd it as being an honour which costs little or nothing The person who was so remarkably her Suitor had the Agency of some affairs of Peru one whose credit much exceeded his estate was accounted very rich in the ensuring Office belonging to the Indies and about fifty years of age Though he knew well enough that his Mistress had no fortune and that he must withall be charg'd with the ruin'd person her Father yet was he resolv'd to take her for better for worse whence may be deduc'd this observation That when Love becomes Master of an aged person it is a very hard matter to dispossess him Laurentio de Saravia so was this amorous Elder called was so besotted with the beauties of Rufina that the Treaty of Marriage was concluded in less than eight daies and he had the earnest of a happiness which he thought would have lasted as long as he liv'd He took his Father-in-law into his house though he knew him to be a great Gamester The first days of the Nuptials were spent as they are wont to be in such Solemnities he gave his wife new cloaths rings and jewels yet suitably to her condition for being a person pretty well stricken in years he was no lover of excess an humour which pleas'd not Rufina who minded nothing so much as gaudy cloaths and long'd for whatever she saw worn by women of a quality much above hers and this abated not a little of the love she bore her husband who was of an Indian disposition covetous and careful to preserve his estate Knowing as I told you that his Father was a great Gamester and a person run out of all he had he trusted not his wife with the keeping of his Cash no not with the management of what was spent in the house which quite defeated the hopes of Trapassa who imagin'd that upon the marriage or his daughter he should command what were in her power so strangely was he possest with the restless spirit of gaming Rufina perceiving her husband was taken up with his affairs took occasion to go abroad every morning upon pretence of a certain devotion she had undertaken that it might please God to make her a Mother With this excuse she blinded her husband but the true motive of her sallies was to shew her self in the Streets and at Church The first of those who upon sight of her fell in love with her was a Citizen's son of Sevil one of the most debauch'd young men of his time one to say all of him in a word who had brought himself almost to the same condition as Trapassa he was descended of vertuous Parents but his disorders had drown'd their good reputation His name was Ruperio a Spark of a goodly presence and one who prov'd so fortunate in the courting of Rufina that she was wholly at his devotion hoping to receive such great presents from him as might put her into cloaths sutable to her beauty which was more than she could have expected from the Miser her husband The first demand she made to him was very modest considering it came from a Merchant's wife to wit that he would bestow on her a Gown of the same Stuff and Fashion as a Neighbour of hers had whom she named and withall a gold-watch to hang by her side promising him in requital of that favour that she would not deny him any that lay in her power Ruperio who by his insolent boastings had raised her into a persuasion of his being a person that had thousands at his command promis'd to do what she desir'd but being not able to perform he set his wits to shew that trick which his purse could not He happened to be well acquainted with her whose Gown was to be his pattern he went to her and intreated her to lend it him pretending it was onely for the representation of a Comedy which was to be acted in a Nunnery It could not be deni'd on such an account so that at the end of three days which time he told Rufina that it would be making he sent it to her house while her husband was abroad in the City about his business The Watch he told her was not yet finish'd but that as soon as it were it should be brought her intreating her in the mean time to accept of another of lesser value as a hostage for the appearance of the other She return'd
Sentinels at the Water-side to give him notice of such an opportunity As soon as they were got into the Boat Rufina unveil'd and the Gallant whom we will call Felician had no sooner seen but he was surpriz'd with her Beauty He thought her so handsome that he persuaded some of his friends who stood on the River-side to come into the Boat and to effect that greas'd the fist of the Water-man Being all got in Felician took his place next to Rufina into whose favour it was his design to insinuate himself He was Son to a person of Quality who had rais'd himself to a vast fortune in the Indies and had no Children but only this who disposing of his wealth as he pleas'd it was conceiv'd it would not be long ere he scatter'd abroad what his Father had not in so short a time raked together For he was a constant Gamester a perpetual Courter of Ladies and he maintain'd a considerable crew of Hangers-on who did him no other service than accompany and encourage him in his debauches Besides these noble qualities he was extreamly extravagant in point of cloaths a vice not extraordinary in those young men of Sevil who have all things at their own disposal as he we speak of had Having as was said seated himself next to Rufina and his Camerades next to her friends the Boat put off and went very leisurely down the River for which the Water-man was so much the better paid Felician thought this time so precious that he lost very little of it he discover'd his Love to Rufina in such obliging expressions that she gave absolute credit to his words and by her attention satisfy'd him that she was not displeas'd with his company Felician was a very ingenious person and of an excellent good humour upon such occasions as those he deliver'd himself with such a smartness and grace that the Ladies were extreamly well satisfy'd especially Rufina who thought nothing comparable to his conversation She gave him her name told him where she liv'd and what profession her husband was of and in a word made him a kind of Confession of her more secret affairs Felician was as open to her concluding his discourse with a thousand protestations of service and obedience The afternoon was spent in complements and courtship and to the great satisfaction of Rufina who had two designs to carry on at the same time one to be reveng'd of Ruperio by the assistance of Felician the other to cajol the latter out of somewhat towards cloaths and her extravagant expences Nor did the business happen otherwise than she had design'd it From that day Felician began to frequent the street where Rufina liv'd especially when he had intelligence that her husband was abroad about his affairs Rufina on the other side resolv'd not to be over-easily conquer'd for when she remembred how she had been serv'd by Ruperio it rais'd in her a certain fear of receiving the like affront from another Before she admitted his entrance into the House she thought fit to make trial of his liberality Of this she was in a short time pretty well satisfy'd for Felician had been a prodigal all his Life but upon this occasion exceeded all he had done before sending her presents of cloaths jewels and other things besides the expences he was at in treatments and collations So that Rúfina was the most satisfy'd Woman in the world 'T is commonly said that the higher a Man's enjoyments are the sooner he is cloy'd but it happen'd otherwise with Felician for his affection to Rufina encreas'd daily and came up to that height it could not well be greater It happen'd about this time that Ruperio got at one time above six hundred Crowns at play He went always very high in cloaths but this unexpected good fortune made him somewhat exceed his former gawdiness But with that good he had this ill fortune to find out that Felician was seen very often in the street where Rufina liv'd and to infer thence that he made some addresses to her This jealousie awoke the love he had sometimes had for her it troubled him that he should have any Rival and thereupon he resolv'd to retrive himself into her favour and repair the injury he was now sensible that he had done her Upon this account he pass'd several times through her street which caus'd not a little perplexity to Felician Rufina was enrag'd to see that the Impostor had the impudence to make any pretence to her favour after the notorious affront she had receiv'd at his hands She consider'd there was no way to be rid of his importunities but to engage her beloved Gallant Felician in her quarrel by persuading him that Ruperio's design was to displace him out of her affection which if he valued he would find some means to check the insolence of his Rival and deliver her from his odious Courtship See what employments Women do many times put on their Gallants setting them on like Cocks to fight till they have destroy'd one the other Rufina thought it not prudence to acquaint Felician with what had pass'd between her and Ruperio No she took a safer course She told him that Ruperio was continually importuning her with very advantageous proffers which yet for his sake she slighted Felician believ'd her and that the rather in regard he met him every day and many times in the night walking the rounds about his Mistress's house To incense him the more she added that were it not for that troublesome person she would see him oftner than she did There needed no more Felician being thus enflam'd into jealousie met with Ruperio one night in his Mistress's street when he knew Rufina was a-bed and her husband looking over some Accounts which concern'd his Agency As soon as Felician had perceiv'd Ruperio he call'd him by his name and having talk'd a little while together to avoid the discovery of any quarrel in the Streets he conducted to a little by-place which happen'd to be over against the room where Saravia kept all his papers and where he then was very busie looking over them The two Rivals being come to the place Felician address'd himself thus to the other Signor Ruperio I have for some days past observ'd that you have frequented this street more than you should have done and I was somewhat at a loss to know what might occasion your coming hither in regard there are several Ladies of worth which might oblige you thereto But I have at last discover'd that Madam Rufina is the cause of your diurnal and nocturnal haunts hereabouts and this I am assur'd of not only by what I have seen my self but also by the relation of her servants to whom you speak and whom you would corrupt by presents to introduce you into their Mistress's favour I have been her Servant a good while and the services I have done her have gain'd me her affection so far that I have receiv'd the greatest
betimes after he had eaten a piece of bread and some of his own Garden fruits and wash'd them down with a glass of spring-water He onely visited that part of the house where he lodg'd himself and came not down to the Gardener's which escap'd not his privy search when he thought of it His family who kept more fasting-days in the year than the Church her self had appointed supp'd that night in imitation of the Master very soberly Marquina gets up the next morning betimes and gives the Slave mony to go to the market while he went about his affairs in the City with order to have dinner ready against his return Rufina was at a loss how to compass her design finding things fell not out according to her expectation but still waiting the opportunity she told her entertainers that she was extremely troubled at her Uncle's stay so she called Garay and that all her sadness proceeded thence The Gardener's wife who was a good hearty woman found her all the diversion she could Marquina comes home at noon with an intention to dine in his garden and before he sate down he would needs take a turn about it to see if any thing were wanting and he observ'd that there wanted some pieces of wood for the more convenient watering of the several Knots As he was going to the Gardeners to see if he had any fit for that purpose the wife perceiving him coming very hastily shuffled Rufina into a little back-room where she was wont to lie but in regard it could not be done so suddenly but that Marquina coming in might hear the ruffling of the silks and see Rufina's shadow he steps into the room where she was retir'd and having found her he led her out by the hand and bringing her into the light he found her so beautiful that he was astonish'd thereat The Gardeners wife wonder'd that her Master instead of chiding her as she expected onely ask'd her who the Lady was She answer'd that the night before passing by their door with an ancient Gentleman who seem'd as sad as her self they had very earnestly intreated she might be lodg'd there but that night to avoid a great misfortune which would have hapned to them if they had gone any further While the Gardener's wife was giving Marquina this account he very attentively consider'd the strange Lady who seem'd to be extremely troubled in mind which added to the attractions of her Beauty Marquina was so taken therewith that discarding his unsociable and covetous humour he told the Gardener's wife that she had done very well in entertaining that Lady though contrary to his orders which in such a case were not to be observ'd where compassion and charity plead for the relief of those that are in trouble This Lady said he deserves a better reception than she hath found in your poor lodgings I heartily proffer her my house if she will but honour it with her presence Rufina thank'd him very civilly for his obliging proffers and intreated him to allow her the privacy of some other lodging for the little time she had to stay there in regard she expected an Uncle of hers to come and fetch her away that night Marquina who began to be enflam'd was sorry to hear that her stay at his house would be so short but after a little pause he told her that though it were but for an hour she would infinitely oblige him in the acceptation of the proffer he made her with so much affection She who expected that cue all the while told him that to make some return to so great civilities she was ready to wait on him With that she went to Marquina's apartment whither he led her by the hand to the great satisfaction of the Gardener's wife who extremely wondred to see her Master contrary to his custom of a civil and obliging humour As she pass'd through the rooms she took particular notice of all things for though Marquina were naturally a very covetous person yet as to the furniture of his house he was otherwise He had very rich Tapestry Chairs sutable thereto and Cabinets of Ivory and Ebony nay indeed many things brought out of the Indics which though they cost him not much there are here of very great price He immediately commanded his Slave to prepare an excellent dinner an employment he undertook with great alacrity as knowing he might make some advantage of that extraordinary liberality of his Master Rufina din'd with him who treated her still with the best the Table afforded with importunate excuses that there were no better for her As soon as they had din'd he conducted her into a chamber set forth with a great number of excellent pictures where there was also a sumptuous bed of China-work and intreated her to repose her self on it a custom the Spaniards have in Summer as soon as they have din'd by reason of the sultriness of the Country He intreated also to give her disquiet some remission out of an assurance that she should be as safe in his house as in any Sanctuary and that she should not want any thing lay in his power She again return'd him her most affectionate thanks and complying with his desires she staid alone in the room which was the same where Marquina took his repose every day He went into another where he laid himself down much troubled and disquieted as being fallen deeply in love with his fair Guest and not knowing by what means he might induce her to favour him in what he desir'd of her which if he could effect he concluded himself the happiest man in the world Before he acquainted her with his design he was desirous to know the cause of her grief and what might occasion her stopping at his Garden and thereby find whether there were any obstruction that might oppose his desires to serve her To be satisfi'd in this it was requisite he staid till she awâ—ke but she slept not at all for she spent the time in considering what Answer she should make him when he came to question her Marquina thinking it now time to speak to her in order to the satisfaction of his curiosity goes into her chamber telling her it was a close day and that he was afraid she might over-sleep her self and craving her pardon that he had taken the boldness to give her that caution She thank'd him for the tenderness he had for her health and assur'd him that she had not refresh'd her self at all the trouble she was in not permitting her to take any rest He begg'd of her that she would no longer smother the cause of her disquiet and renew'd the proffers he had made to serve her to the utmost of his power Having return'd him her thanks and thinking it now time to make some progress in her design she gave him this relation of her adventures Granada one of the most famous and eminent Cities of Spain is the place of my birth my parents there
while her Aunt being so sick that she could not stir out of the room where she lay About fifteen days afterwards the old Gentlewoman being a little recover'd she had the liberty to go and see the Profession of a Nun at the Royal Monastery of Zaida which was not far from the Country-house At which Ceremony all the Gallantry of Valentia of both Sexes was present Donna Isabella came thither also but having her face cover'd with her Mantle and attended onely by one of her Women she got into a little obscure Chappel Alexander on the other side who fail'd not to be there hoping to meet her on whom he had fasten'd his affections wondred very much that he found her not among the other Ladies and suspecting she might be one of those who were retir'd into that Chappel and had their faces cover'd with their Mantles he went in to them with two other friends to whom he said presuming it was she as soon as he saw her The new-made Nun is not much oblig'd to these Ladies who retire to a place whence they cannot see those Ceremonies which all the rest are so desirous to do but I attribute this indifference to the little inclination they have to become Nuns Isabella was not a little pleas'd to see Alexander whom she had before observ'd in the Church and wish'd not so well attended as he then was However changing her Voice she return'd him this answer Being not invited to this Feast we cannot expect the same welcome as those that are And for the little curiosity we discover to see the Ceremonies used at the reception of a Nun having seen the like several times before we do not much mind this in regard the seeing of it but once is enough to satisfie a person inclinable to be a Nun. Nay then I see says one of Alexander's friends that you are not of their number who have a desire to enter into that Profession I have no Answer to make you as to that reply'd she save that a person cannot enter into this state of Life unless he be thereto called by God a favour I do not yet find in my self that she hath done me We may then replies Alexander infer from this discourse of yours that you are not Married but desirous to be so What my inclinations are as to Marriage said she I am not oblig'd to give you any accompt who are very far from being related to me so nearly as that I should acquaint you with my resolution in a business of that concernment However you may satisfie us so far Madam says Alexander as to let us know which condition of Life you would rather choose Which I pray Sir would you advise me to said she to him That of Matrimony says Alexander What whether I have the accommodations requisite to enter into that state or not reply'd she If all be wanting says he to her you must endeavour to forget your self for she who is not born to be a Nun and cannot be Married must remain Newter as being uncapable of both I could very well follow that advice said she But if you please Madam says Alexander to discover what your Mantle permits us not to see I will give you a better advice Coming up nearer her as if he were confident of that favour she met his desires and purposely gave him a full view of one of her fair Eyes which Alexander's two friends also took notice of If the advice you intend to give me said she should prove to my disadvantage 't were better I should still continue undiscover'd though to hear your advice I should not think it much to answer your expectation That can do you no prejudice says Alexander to her in regard we have observ'd some things which assure us that you ought to choose the state of Matrimony in which you would make the person you should think worthy your enjoyments the happiest Man in the world Nay ere I know any more of you than I do already I wish my self the person for whom that felicity is reserv'd His two friends affirm'd the same thing on their own behalf being extreamly satisfy'd with her Wit and the little they had seen of her Face Can there be any happiness comparable to mine said she who have three such handsome Persons at my Devotion of whom it is in my power to make one the happiest Man in the World Well Gentlemen since you cannot expect I should make a sudden choice in a business of this concern you will give me leave to examine your several perfections that I may pitch upon him who in my judgement may pretend to most Upon that every one began to celebrate his own worth and undervalue his Competitors They pass'd away some time in that pleasant discourse without any offence taken though the place they were in should have minded them that some other Conversation would have been more suitable But now a-days young people are grown to that height of Profaneness that they make little difference between Churches and Exchanges But the Lady having had the patience to hear what every one had to say on his own behalf she answer'd them altogether thus I am fully inform'd of the qualities and deserts of Persons every way so excellent I am now to advise with my Pillow to know which of the three I should prefer though to tell you the truth I have in a manner resolv'd upon my choice already finding in my self a stronger inclination for one of the three than for either of the other two The person I mean hath many excellent qualities but the particular inducement I have to think him worthy my approbation is that I know him to be a very great Wit all I have to object against him is that he fears I am already engag'd to some other whence I infer he is jealous and consequently of an ill nature Alexander immediately apprehended she spoke of him reflecting on what had past in their discourse the first time he had seen her The time being come for people to go out of the Church the three Lovers out-vy'd one the other to find out passionate complements to take leave of the Lady Alexander purpofely staying to be the last onely to whisper these words to her 'T is too great a Tyranny Madam towards a Servant so passionately yours in so long time not to vouchsafe him a full sight of you I beseech you be more kind to him hereafter least your further disdain may have some fatal effects on him The indisposition of an Aunt reply'd she whom I must constantly attend I hope you will think an allowable excuse and what I tell you is much more true than the expressions you make to me of your Love But I will endeavour your satisfaction and put a period to your complaints when possibly you least expect it Alexander had not the time to make her any Answer and so he parted from her leaving her deeply in Love and extreamly desirous
Friend of Isabella's to which she with some others had been invited Alexander and some other friends of his were to be there not in order to any Ball but onely to discourse Isabella came there betimes before any of the rest and soon after her a Woman very sumptuously attir'd attended by two Gentlemen-Ushers of her own retinue whom her mother had ordered to wait on her to that Neighbour's house who was very much her friend Alexander coming into the Room was very kindly receiv'd by the Ladies then present whom he endeavour'd to entertain the most lovingly he could till the rest of the Company were come in The Lady who came in last rise from her seat to go and look upon a piece of Tapistry that was in the room wherein there were represented lighted Torches the admiration she express'd at the excellency of the workmanship oblig'd Alexander to come also to see it There was pen ink and paper upon the Table Laodamia so was the Lady call'd took the pen in her hand and drew several stroaks upon the paper Alexander took occasion to commend all she did with such high complements that his Mistress who was already possess'd with a jealousie to see him so near her was almost ready to burst with indignation to hear them He minding onely his own diversion in all he did took no notice of it nay on the contrary being acquainted with Laodamia through her Brother's means whom he often visited and a person of much freedom in his behaviour he continu'd his gamesome humour and snatch'd out of her hand a pen she was making to write withal After which having dash'd a little ink upon her hand he jestingly told her that the blackness of the ink never appear'd less than it did then She pretending to be displeas'd at that freedom gave him a clap on the shoulder with her hand to get off the ink but perceiving he laugh'd at the revenge she had taken she gave him another harder than the former Isabella who minded their jeasting more than what was said to her by the Mistress of the house with whom she was then discoursing starts like a fury from her seat and not considering what she was doing gave Alexander such a blow over the face that his nose bled The poor man was extremely startled at it and all he could do was to take a handkerchief out of his pocket to receive the bloud telling his Mistress very coldly Well Madam you see I have kept the secret you committed to my trust you have first reveal'd it and transgress'd the Law you had made your self Concluding this reproach with a low Congy he quitted the Room and went home Isabella had no sooner given the blow but she was infinitely troubled at it not so much out of the respect she bore to the Mistress of the house who was her intimate friend as for her who had occasion'd her jealousie In this Interval her Sisters upon whose accompt this meeting had been appointed coming into the house Isabella had the opportunity to retire with her friends into another room Being got together onely they two My dearest Isabella says her friend to her what do you think of How are you grown another person than what I have ever known you I have hitherto admir'd your modesty and reserv'dness how you should now be guilty of such a miscarriage in Behaviour is the matter of my astonishment The action you have done assures me without your speaking what in many words you should hardly have persuaded me to I was ignorant of this Affection of yours because you ever kept it secret and since I know it by this discovery I am more oblig'd to your Jealousie than your Friendship Alexander is a person of worth and quality I am very glad he is your Servant You may hence-forward publickly own him for it is to no purpose to dissemble Isabella was at such a loss that she knew not what to answer but having a little recover'd her self I must acknowledge my dearest Acquaintance repli'd she since this eruption of my jealousie and indignation hath betrai'd me that Alexander is my humble Servant my inconsiderate passion hath to my shame discover'd what I kept not onely from your knowledge but that of all others I must acknowledge I say that Alexander serves me with a violent passion which yet exceeds not the affection I have for him I never saw him so indifferent as he discover'd himself in this last action his familiarity with Laodamia touch'd me to the quick That short fury which we commonly call jealousie forc'd me to that extravagant discovery of my love Since what is past cannot be re-call'd says her Friend to her let us find out some remedy to alleviate the inconvenience for it is not fit we should be depriv'd of Alexander's good company nor he of the pleasure of this meeting Besides we should not give Laodamia the time to make any reflection on this accident or conceive apprehensions which would be disadvantageous to you What is to be done in this conjuncture repli'd the jealous Lady The onely way I can think of says her friend is immediately to write to him She follow'd her advice and sent him these Lines THE LETTER JEalousies when they are really the effects of Love though express'd with some harshness are rather to be accounted favours than affronts by a Lover whose soul exhales a sincere passion towards his Mistress The injury I have done my self in wounding my reserv'dness is greater than the violence you will do your self in passing by what is now past It much concerns my reputation that you immediately return to the Meeting But if you persist in your resentment you will have further occasion if the loss of my favour may give you any A Messenger was immediately sent with this Letter to Alexander who express'd much gladness at the receipt of it and without any recollection obey'd his Mistress as being satisfi'd in mind that nothing discovers a real passion more than jealousie He comes very gaily into the room where the Ladies were which Laodamia perceiving was not a little troubled for she doubted not of his being in love with Isabella though she thought so well of him as to wish he had rather address'd his affections to her self Alexander finding himself in the presence of Isabella thought it not fit to speak to any other ere he had first assur'd her of his compliance with her desires Approaching her with a graceful smile he made her this complement I have consider'd this room with as much respect as if it had been a Temple and your person no less since it not onely kept me from profaning the one and offering any violence to the other but also from revenging my self by that kind of Duel which the Law permits between Gallants and their Mistresses Isabella repli'd Being so much as I am a Servant to Madam Laodamia I have taken upon my account the affront you have done her when she would
had made to marry her as soon as his Mother were march'd off But out of an apprehension that even then he might possiblv break his word with her she thought it prudence to give Alexander also a little more line Upon these considerations she suffer'd her self to be courted by both but of this kind of demeanor this Age affords but too many examples which have bred great troubles and disturbances in the most considerable Families Alexander being now more kindly entertain'd by his Mistress than he had been began to conceive a hope to obtain of her within a short time the Grand Favour can be expected from a Woman But he reckon'd without his Hostess for it was her fear that if she oblig'd him in what he so much desir'd he might become absolute Master of those inclinations which she had so dextrously divided between them both However Alexander pass'd away the time pleasantly enough during the absence of Fernand but as soon as he was return'd to Valentia Isabella began to put on a greater reserv'dness and would not be so much as seen by Alexander She made him such plausible excuses for it that he loving her as he did believ'd all she said though not without some suspicion that there might be somewhat else in the wind upon which account he often disguis'd himself that he might undiscover'd visit the street where she liv'd in the night But he never could meet with any person of whom he might conceive any jealousie yet that disguise did him a courtesie for by that means he escap'd being discover'd by the Cavalier who sought to be reveng'd of him That he met not with Fernand in that street proceeded hence that Isabella fore-seeing all inconveniences had ordered that Fernand should come to her house through that of a She-friend of hers which was in another street and had a back-door leading into a Garden joining unto Isabella's in whose embraces he spent the whole night It hapned one night that Alexander being in the street where his Mistress liv'd his Adversary Don Garceran attended by two of his servants comes into it by another way Being not well assur'd it was he they follow'd him at a distance being loath to do another that mischief which they onely intended him Alexander at last observ'd them and finding himself unfurnish'd with Pistols to deal with persons who never went without them as having onely his Sword to defend himself he bethought him to make the signal he was wont at Isabella's door who as good luck would have it was come down stairs after she had put Fernand into bed She looks out at the window to see what her second Gallant would have who as soon as he perceiv'd her desir'd her immediately to open the door otherwise he was a dead man in regard Garceran his enemy follow'd him and he was destitute of weapons to defend himself The Lady imagin'd that Alexander would onely have put a trick upon her and onely said so that he might come in the sooner but Alexander with many oaths affirm'd he said nothing but the truth and that Garceran with two others were coming upon him Isabella was extremely troubled at his discourse and for answer told him that a certain Gentlewoman of her acquaintance was come to see her and to be her Bedfellow that night and that she durst not open the door lest he might be seen by her Alexander press'd her the more to do it aggravating the danger he was in and charging her that she had little love for him when she deni'd him entrance into her house in so great an extremity which the greatest stranger in the world would not have deni'd him Isabella told him again that she could not do it without prejudice to her reputation that as to the Love she bore him be needed not doubt of it since it could not be greater than it was and call'd Heaven to witness that she was extremely perplex'd that she could not satisfie his desires Alexander told her that since her friend was in a room above-stairs she might without any scruple open the door and let him stay below till such time as he might retire with safety Isabella seeing him so importunate imagin'd it proceeded from some suspition he had conceiv'd of her and that he had seen Fernand coming into the House To be assur'd whether it were so or no she look'd into the Street and saw the three Men who pursu'd him and whispering one to another as being in some uncertainty whether it were the Person they look'd for These circumstances fully satisfy'd her that Alexander was in very great danger and to find some expedient to give him entrance she bid him expect a little and she would see whether she could open the door She went up stairs to see Fernand who wondring at her stay ask'd her what occasion'd her going down She told him her Aunt was not fallen asleep and that she could not come to Bed till she were desiring him to have a little patience Having thus satisfy'd him she went into another room to consider with her self what might be done in such an extremity On the one side she saw Fernand possess'd of her Bed a person of a fantastick humour yet one whom she was engag'd to and had made Master of the most precious thing she had and still humour'd out of a hope to be one day his Wife so that her Honour was on his part On the other the Love she bore Alexander would have prevail'd with her not to suffer him to be assassinated by his Enemies which he must run the hazard of if she reliev'd him not it being in her power to do it So that she was strangely distracted not knowing whether she should follow the dictates of Honour or those of Love At last after divers considerations that of Honour prevail'd with her and oblig'd her not to receive Alexander into the house For if she did she reflected that her reputation would be endanger'd two ways one that it could not be done without Fernand's hearing of it who would thence take occasion to break his promise another that if Alexander were pursu'd by his Enemy and that he should see him come into her house he would be apt to make an ill construction of it and that might come to the ears of Fernand even though he saw him not Having thus resolv'd to stick to the surer side she went down stairs and finding Alexander still at the door My dearest Love said she to him Heaven 's my witness how willing I am to satisfie your desires by giving you entrance not onely into my house but even into my heart which is absolutely at your disposal I see you are pursu'd as you told me but it were too great an inconvenience to me that you should be seen coming into my house at such an unseasonable hour being a person yet so unblemish'd in my reputation as I am I beseech you consider with your self what discourses it might
one day made one by marriage and to enjoy those pleasures lawfully and without any sting or remorse which we have upon hopes of the accomplishment of that sacred Tie presum'd to anticipate But since ungrateful creature I find you lost to all modesty and have entertain'd new Gallants I am free to dispose of my self as I shall think most convenient since it were neither just nor rational I should be inseparably bound to a person destitute of all conduct and honour and so live the rest of my days in perpetual jealousies and distrusts Having so said he left the room a little troubled at the distraction of the Women but well satisfi'd in his own thoughts that he had drawn his neck out of the collar that is shifted himself out of an affair which bred him a great deal of trouble since his prosecution of it to that point had been with the dis-approbation of his Mother 'T is not to be imagin'd that the constancy of any Woman should be able to endure so great a shock of misfortune Isabella fell into a swound between the arms of her Friend and continu'd in it a long time but at last being come to her self again she spoke such things as rais'd a great compassion in her who heard them She sought for remedies to her misery and not finding any strong enough to re-engage Alexander who was acquainted with her former engagement nor yet to bring back Fernand whom she knew she had offended she was not able to smother the grief she conceiv'd to find her self so justly slighted by both She imputed all her misfortune to her own mis-government of her self Whereupon she fell a tearing of her hair and spoke what-ever rage could inspire into a Woman exasperated in the highest degree She pass'd away the rest of the afternoon in continual disquiet not finding any comfort in either her friend's discourses or her own In the evening she went to her own house but her distractions went along with her so that it is not to be imagin'd but the night prov'd as restless as the day had been unfortunate Let us a while leave her in her bed now the secret Remembrancer of her former miscarriages in the midst of her troubles and transportations and give an account what became of Alexander As soon as he had dispatch'd away the Maid with his Letter to Isabella he sate down a while to consider with himself what course he should take for he saw there was nothing to be expected there and that it was not for his reputation to continue his visits any longer He had always had a great inclination for the fair Laodamia ever since she had occasion'd Isabella to break forth into that extravagant discovery of her jealousie He consider'd she was a Gentlewoman well descended and of a great fortune and thereupon he resolv'd to make his addresses publickly to her by demanding her in marriage of her Father and Brother which they upon the first motion very willingly granted even with great demonstrations of gladness inasmuch as Alexander was a person generally belov'd in his Country as being endu'd with those qualities which deserv'd the respects and esteem of all The Contract of Marriage was soon drawn up and the business immediately spread over the whole City of Valentia But when this news came to the ears of Isabella imagine whether she were not extremely troubled thereat nay so much the more in that he pitch'd on the person whom of all the world she had most reason to hate ever since that fatal meeting wherein she had express'd so much indiscretion She said a thousand things against her and made many imprecations against him and her self charging Heaven with injustice and sometimes bemoaning her self and sometimes cursing her misfortune But it was not onely one she had to curse for the very same day it was seconded by another yet greater inasmuch as Fernand having had a plausible occasion to break the promise he had made to her treated about a marriage with another fair and rich young Lady whom his mother had long before recommended to him The Contract was in a few days drawn up and though done as secretly as could be yet was it soon known all over the City and it was not long ere the news came to the ears of Isabella She still retain'd a slender shadow of confidence in the love of Fernand which made her imagine he would not break the promise he had made to her conceiving she had sufficiently oblig'd him thereto by the highest demonstrations of love and tenderness Thus she flatter'd her self till the very day that she was clearly convinc'd of the contrary saw his marriage concluded and her self absolutely forsaken But reflecting on the other side what an unworthy breach of trust she was guilty of towards him to whom she had devoted her honour how could she imagine he should not leave her in the lerch How could she expect if they intermarried he should be able to live with her in perpetual disturbances and alarms The very day that certain news was brought her of this Gentleman 's being married she fell into such extravagance that she would be reveng'd of her beautiful face she gave her self several blows tore her hair and did all the actions which could onely proceed from madness and dispair Her fair eyes became two fountains perpetually running and when her sighes and grief gave her a little freedom of speech Wretched woman that I am would she say of whom all good fortune hath taken its last leave how deserv'dly is thy ingratitude requited with ingratitude How justly art thou punish'd for having kept thy faith to a base treacherous and perfidious person after thou hadst entrusted him with the disposal of the dearest thing thou hadst in the world Thou see'st he denies the debt thou see'st he paies it with inconstancy and oblivion Let all easie-natur'd and inconsiderate women take example by me let those who deluded by flatteries and feigned caresses are drawn in to lose what they shall never recover again cast their eyes on my misery and then consider whether there be any other in the world whose affliction may be compar'd to mine I wish for what all others abhor Death but it is deaf and inexorable nay slights me and will not come and put a period to my troubles Having thus bemoan'd her self into some remission of her grief she went to see her Friend through whose house Fernand came into hers who though she endeavour'd all that lay in her power to comfort her yet was her trouble so great the cause of it so pressing and so little hope of any remedy that all her remonstrances prevail'd nothing The onely expedient that seem'd then to offer it self was to forbid the Banes since there was some ground to do it But what proof could be made of so secret a Love without any promise of marriage in writing or any testimony but that of a Servant-maid who belonging to her would
speak to her of it at this time for she would not have it known to any nay would not take it well Garay could not have pitch'd upon a more likely way to bring the Genoese into the gin for his avarice was such that he would have parted with his Soul to find out the Philosopher's stone hoping if he once got that secret ever afterwards to swim in gold Rufina busied her self at the other end of the Closet while Garay made this discourse to the Genoese and was looking upon some other curious and pleasant Books for there were of all sorts Yet was she not so attentive but she heard somewhat of Garay's discourse concerning Chymistry and perceiv'd the Merchant was much taken with it The truth is Garay had some knowledge in that Science and that he had spent a considerable sum of mony to find out the Philosopher's Stone which though many had sought yet could not any affirm they had met with it The success he had had in that business onely satisfi'd him of their folly who spent their time and estates in so ridiculous a disquisition and he was glad to have met with such an opportunity to recover some part of the mony he had squander'd away therein for the Genoese crediting what was told him by Garay imagin'd himself somewhat above a Prince He told him that in that very house he had all things requisite to make the experiment and thereupon brought him into a room full of Furnaces Alembicks Glasses and Crucibles with all the instruments us'd by the Chymists and good store of char-coal Garay seeing that concluded the Merchant would be easily taken and what made him the more confident was that he imagin'd he understood all those Books whereas Garay was satisfi'd he knew onely so much of them as would serve to bring him into the noose In fine they gave over talking of it any further at that time though the Genoese was unwilling to quit the discourse They went down thence into a ground-room the windows whereof look'd into the fairest part of the Garden where dinner expected them After dinner Garay pretending it was his custom to take a nap left the Merchant alone with Rufina to whom he took occasion to make a full discovery of his love assuring her that all he had was at her service and desiring her to dispose of it as she pleased She seem'd to entertain the proffers of his affection with much kindness yet at that time she onely rais'd him into a sleight hope shewing her self very pleasant to him Having seen a Lute in one of the rooms above-stairs she desir'd it might be brought down for her Musick at which she was excellent contributed much to the bringing about of her designs The Merchant who had a little skill at that Instrument himself was very glad to hear that she us'd it and caus'd it to be immediately fetch'd saying that his deceased wife plaid excellently well upon it and that about a sev'n-night before having entertain'd some of his friends with a Collation they had set it in tune The Lute being come Rufina began to play and made it appear that there were very few could excel her at that Instrument The Genoese was astonish'd at her dexterity and to bring him absolutely to her lure she sung an Air to it but with such a grace that he was at a loss whether he should more admire her hand or her voice The truth is she had a particular excellency in both so that his excessive commendations of them were not so full of flattery as might be expected from a person passionately in love With a modest blush which spread it self gently over her face a thing she could command though never acquainted with shame she seem'd to express a certain bashfulness and ere it was quite dispell'd Signor Octavio said she to him what I have done was onely for your diversion be pleas'd to receive it with some regard to the desire I had to endeavour your satisfaction which yet I have not done without much temerity before a person of so delicate an ear as you are and one no doubt wont to hear the best voices in the world I never heard any replies Octavio that came near yours and therefore I beseech you let not your modesty cause you any prejudice nay rather be proud Madam of the excellent endowments you have so liberally receiv'd from heaven and acknowledge the favours it hath done you be more sensible of your own worth and think my approbation below it and yet when I was a young man I was much addicted to Musick and some would needs persuade me that my time was well bestow'd in it I must confess the Spanish Tongue comes not so naturally to me as the Italian the graces and beauties whereof I have better studied upon the Theorbo which I am so far Master of as in some measure to satisfie the hearer Whereupon perceiving that Rufina would have laid by the Lute he desir'd her to make use of it a little longer and to sing one Air more which she to honour him did Octavio took occasion to give his dear Rufina greater commendations for the excellency of her voice than he had done before and she to renew her thanks to him for the favour he did her He thought it time to give her leave to take a little rest and he went himself into another room to do the like Garay on the other side instead of sleeping was contriving how to get the Philosopher's stone not for the credulous Genoese but out of him He had so far persuaded him of his abilities in that Science that he desired nothing so much as to be as knowing in it as he was but all out of no other design than to satisfie his own insatiable avarice He imagin'd that if he could find the Philosopher's Stone a Rock rather against which so many have wrack'd themselves all his houshold-stuff should be of gold that he should become a Croesus and that the wealthiest about the City compar'd to him would be little better than beggars Garay had also a long discourse with Rufina about the means how they should get the Gudgeon into the net he gave her some instructions in writing that the Genoese might find she knew something of the Science at least the tearms of it Rufina got them by heart and to begin the cheat Garay ask'd for some links of a Gold-chain she had brought from Sevil. It was a large one and if there were a dozen links taken from it they would not have been miss'd Being come into the City he goes into a Gold-smith's shop to melt down those links and reduce them into an Ingot which he brought back to the house and communicated his design to Rufina Octavio who had slept all this while as soundly as if he had not been in love comes in to them and they began to talk of several things far from having any relation to the business he had
or his Daughter or any one belonging to them that he might the better compass a design which onely Love could inspire him withall The Kingdom of Galicia is very full of mountains and consequently the way to Saint James's must be troublesome to travel so that the Marquess could make but short Journeys whence Don Pedro inferr'd that he could not be back in less than twenty days presuming he would make some aboad at Compostella to do his devotions and refresh himself ere he set out for his return Accordingly be dispos'd of his affairs in order to the design he had bethought himself of and taking leave of all his acquaintance he went to Pont-ferrada a Town which lay four Leagues further from the Court than Ville-Franche He took up his Quarters at an Inn whence he stirr'd not in the day-time but onely took the air a little in the night yet with such a caution not to be known to any that he discover'd himself to none of the Inhabitants but onely his Land-lord whom he acquainted with his quality and the design had brought him thither He was attended onely by one Servant whose fidelity and courage he had many years experienc'd for he had serv'd him as a Soldier and waited on him from the time of his first departure from Ville-Franche Felician so was this faithful Servant named perceiving his Master more melancholy than he had been wont to be and that somewhat kept him from resting in the night for he heard him disquietly turning in his bed and sighing ever and anon he imagin'd that the cause of his disturbance was not at Pontferrada inasmuch as if it had been he would not have fail'd night or day to discover by his visits what could not be known by his disquiets and sighs Thus this discreet Lover not discovering any thing of his secret passion Felician could not ghess at the occasions which bred such a distraction in his mind nay though he did all lay in his power to pry into it yet could he never meet with any satisfaction One day finding his Master all alone and not able to endure that reserv'dness in him any longer he thus spoke to him I should never have imagin'd Sir that you could be guilty of so great a closeness towards a servant whom you have ever found faithful and to love you even beyond his own life You have heretofore thought me worthy the knowledge of your most important secrets pardon me if I presume to tell you that your silence now gives me just cause to conceive that you have not the same thoughts of me and that I must be guilty of some crime whereof I have not my self the least apprehension Wherein I pray Sir may I have offended you You must needs harbour some ill thoughts of me since you conceal from me the disquiets which deprive you of all appetite to meat or rest Sure they proceed from Love or I am mightily mistaken You close not your eyes all night and spend the day in retirement avoiding all society and giving your self up to perpetual solitude and melancholy which I am extremely troubled to see You have left your Country telling your friends that you were going to Court whereas you continue in an obscure place where you are afraid to be known 'T is impossible for me to forbear grieving at it as long as I am ignorant of the cause thereof Pardon my curiosity Sir which however impertinent is an argument of my faith and readiness to serve you I know it to be the duty of a good and faithful Servant punctually and implicitly to obey the commands of his Master without insinuating himself further into his secrets than he is willing he should be acquainted therewith I have hitherto kept my self within those bounds and have so liv'd with you as that I fear not any reproach you can make me But now at last my ancient fidelity gives me the boldness to ask you what business may have brought you to this place what occasions your disquiet and what you intend to do in this obscure Inn where you admit not of any enjoyments Have you a greater confidence of the happy Master of this House whom you have known but within these four days than of an old Servant of whose zeal and fidelity you have had so many experiences You have heretofore thought my advice worth the asking nay have follow'd it in things for ought I know of as great importance as this is Felician having thus ended his complaint his Master conceiv'd himself oblig'd to make him some Answer which was this Felician I must confess I have look'd on thee and that justly as my friend a title I may well allow one who hath shar'd with me in war the dangers in peace the enjoyments I have been engag'd in It is a very hard thing not to say impossible that any man should in the disposal of himself take a course contrary to that intended him by Heaven though it be said that a wise man shall have dominion over the Stars that is as Astrologers expound it humane Prudence shall elude the decrees of Fate I am born to love a Beauty which surprising my heart hath withall possess'd it self of all the faculties of my Soul I find my self no longer Master of my own liberty that I am not able to make the least disposal of my will and so it were a madness for me to oppose the inclination whereto the sovereign Powers have made me subject I suffer my self to be foolishly carri'd away by my passion though I know well enough that I attempt a thing absolutely impossible and beyond my strength This is the cause of my disquiet musing and melancholy spending the nights without rest and the day in solitude suffering a thousand asflictions which I cannot express and loving where I am not to hope the least return of Love by reason of an invincible obstacle that lies in my way This is that destroys my enjoyments and poisons all my joy I have seen that divine Beauty that mortal Angel that prodigy of miracles who pass'd through our Town with her Father the Marquess Rodolfo the excellent endowments she is Mistris of and which thou maist have admir'd as well as my self are all the excuse I can alledge for the blindness of my passion but they feed it not with any hope There is an obstacle lies between me and the possession of her which I shall find it impossible to remove This transcendent Beauty is already made sure to a Gentleman of great worth who is her Cousin-germane named Leopoldus and me-thinks I see her ready to join hands with him I hear such high commendations of his excellent parts that I find the little hope I had ready to leave me I love her or to say better I adore her and if I may judge by the present agitations of my heart I may say it will never be disengag'd from the passion I have for her I know it is madness in
of the Poets but give me leave to assure you that the business happen'd no otherwise than as I tell you I was brought up by the Nymphs in that secret Mansion and instructed by the God of the River who wish'd I might prove worthy so noble an education He caus'd me to be instructed in all manner of Sciences and spar'd no pains to make me an accomplish'd person I learnt three or four Languages but particularly the Latin above any of the other Being arriv'd to the twentieth year of my Age Love to shew his omnipotency and that all places are under his jurisdiction caus'd his flames to fasten on me even through the water In that Virginal company of Nymphs there was one for whom the God of that watery habitation had a particular esteem and she deserv'd it for she very much excell'd all her Companions her name was Anacarsia Her endowments were extraordinary and her beauty beyond all comparison In complexion and stature she came somewhat near this fair Lady your Daughter and had the same advantage over the rest of the Nymphs as the Delphick Torch hath over the other Planets She play'd excellently well on all kinds of Instruments to sum up all in a word she was a prodigy of all perfections I fell so passionately in love with this beauty that I had not a minute's rest from the time that little Deity had wounded my heart with the mortal darts of her sparkling Eyes I found it a hard business to discover my love to her in regard I could never meet her alone She was perpetually haunted by some of those who liv'd in that Chrystal palace they follow'd her every where and would never be out of her sight But one day when all the other Nymphs were gone to a Musick-meeting at which were also to be read certain Lectures of Poesie being the ordinary divertisements of the God of that River the divine Anacarsia purposely pretended some indisposition to give me an opportunity to speak with her She sent me notice of it by one who came to tell me from her that she kept her Bed onely for my sake than which I could not have expected a kinder complement from one of her Sex I went to her chamber and found her carelessly laid on a Bed of Moss exceeding in whiteness the fine Sheets she lay on and disputing as to splendor and light with the Sun who then beheld her I was startled at the sight of so many charms and was upon the point of losing all Sentiment an effect natural enough in those who are truly touch'd with love But recovering my self a while after though still much troubled and my tongue but as it were newly loosned I took the confidence to make this discourse to her Adorable Nymph the glory of these deep Habitations but the unavoidable Rack of those hearts which are captivated by your Beauty my soul since the first time I saw you is absolutely dispos'd to serve you I have no further power over her she is wholly yours and glories in her slavery Treat her as a thing belongs to you and as I have vow'd her to you with an inviolable fidelity You have done me an extraordinary favour in allowing me to declare the amorous passion I have for you may I further hope that you will allay it and if I should be admitted to that degree of felicity should I not be the happiest and the most glorious of all men The fair Anacarsia infinitely pleas'd with so obliging a discourse and the worth she observ'd in me highly honour'd me with her affection and compli'd with my amorous desires in such sweet and melting expressions as put me in hopes of the happy accomplishment of my Love But it was not long ere our discourse was interrupted by the God of the River who finding neither of us at the Meeting came streight to her Chamber and slunk in so softly that he over-heard some part of our amorous conference which so incens'd him against me that he immediately resolv'd to give a check to my presumption He laid siege with his clear waters to the chamber of Anacarsia and ere he had quite damm'd up the door he cast me out with such violence that I was got to the bank of the River I presently heard a voice saying unto me Guadomarus thou art descended from Kings though it be a long time since they have had Scepters in their hands Princes of another Family have displac'd them Thou art born a Pagan choose what Law thou thinkest best if thou wilt follow my advice thou wilt take that which is observ'd in this Kingdom under which lived thy illustrious Ancestors I have justly banish'd thee out of my dominions because it was not fit I should suffer profane love to be made to a Nymph who had vow'd her chastity to me as I had mine to her I have promis'd her my protection and assistance in all things Keep henceforward within thy Kingdom and assure thy self I wish thy good and advancement so far am I from doing thee any discourtesie Whithersoever Fortune shall dispose of thee be confident thou wilt not be out of the reach of my care With those words the waters of the River seem'd to stir themselves into a gentle curl which being presently laid it became as smooth as it had been before I immediately found my self by what adventure I know not in a Kitchin-garden in the midst of a bed of Marigolds which I look'd on as a good Omen and thought my self oblig'd to derive my name thence Afterwards at my baptism I took the name of Peter Gil of Galicia taking the surname from the Kingdom which had been heretofore in the possession of my Predecessors who have been dead these four hundred years as I have found in History Besides that name I have taken as an additional title that of Knight of the noble Order of the Marigold I have assum'd it my self for an illustrious Hero as I am may be his own Herald and by what appellations he pleases raise himself above the sphere of the common sort of people Thus have I given your Excellence an accompt who I am and discover'd to you my true Original If the qualities and endowments I own deserve the Honour to be receiv'd into your alliance give me leave O most illustrious Marquess to make my addresses to this super-celestial Beauty this Miracle of our age whom Nature was humorously pleas'd to frame for the delight of the eyes and torment of hearts I onely expect your good will give it me I beseech you and thereby satisfie my extraordinary passion I think you so generous that you will not deny it me if you consider that granting it not you bereave me of my life which you know is the most illustrious of any in Europe and are consequently satisfi'd that the world losing in me the most renowned Knight it ever had must withall lose the worthiest Kinsman of his Catholick Majesty King Philip. He
affection a truth I have since heard confirm'd by your self nay though I saw the marriage in a manner concluded yet all could not break the resolution I had taken to disguise my self as you have seen to traverse it and fortune now seems to favour my designes I am not therefore Madam to repent me of the slurre I may have put upon my Bloud and the noble House from which I am descended in acting the Fool 's part in yours into which it was my business to introduce my self by all means imaginable since the imposture hath prov'd so fortunate and that I begin to conceive some hope of attaining my desires You know Madam that I durst not have presum'd to make you a real discovery of my self for besides that I should run the hazard of not finding credit with you I came in at a time when your marriage was in too great forwardness to be easily cross'd by after-applications In fine it was Heaven's pleasure that a strange conjunction of my Sister's misfortune and your own just jealousies should give you a discovery of what haply I should yet a while have kept from your knowledge My true name is Don Pedro d' Osorio and Toledo and consequently I may affirm my self to be of the most eminent Families of Spain since I am descended from the Seignors of Ville-Franche and Astorga I have the honour to be Knight of the Order of Alcantara and I have acquir'd it by some years services done his Majesty in Flanders with hopes ere long to be gratify'd with an advantageous Commandery I have given you an account of my Quality and have not conceal'd from you my presumption All I how now to Apologize for is my Love and I am the more confident of your pardon as to that if you but ever so little consider the unavoidable influence of your own attractions Nay I cannot but account it a happy offence since it hath prov'd the occasion of your being undeceiv'd and when I make a joynt reflection on my own happiness and my Sister's credulity I cannot repent me of a disguise whereof the satisfaction infinitely exceeds the shame For it is in your power to restore me the honour I have depriv'd my self of onely for your sake and I shall force him who hath cajoll'd my Sister out of her Honour to perform the promise he hath made her or it shall cost him his Life The fair Lady was ravish'd to hear these words from her disguis'd Lover and thought her self oblig'd to make an extraordinary return to so extraordinary a demonstration of affection And being now fully undeceiv'd as to the Sycophancy of her Cousin Don Leopold she made him this Answer Signor Don Pedro That you have upon so slight a ground as the little beauty I can pretend to engag'd your self in an enterprize so prejudicial to your reputation and descent I cannot but look on as a transcendent expression of your Love though I do not excuse you as to this that the noble accomplishments you are master of might no doubt have more happily and more worthily been otherwise employ'd I have resented as I ought the little respect my Cousin express'd towards me and therefore it is but just he should not enjoy me since it may be inferr'd from the forwardness of his matching with another that he never truly intended it It must needs be an extraordinary joy to me that I am undeceiv'd before we were joyn'd by that Tye which onely Death can dissolve I am satisfy'd as to the little affection he had for me and I do yours but justice when I assure you that I shall be so far from forgetting it that I shall endeavour all lies in my power to requite it This was deliver'd with so obliging an accent that the amorous Cavalier would have cast himself at her feet would she have permitted it He return'd her his thanks with a thousand submissions for so extraordinary a favour and the sweet encouragement she was pleas'd to give his Love It was not now a seasonable time to expatiate into Complements Donna Blanca was left in the Lady Margaret's Lodgings whose return she expected and Don Pedro look'd for Don Leopold to enquire after the Lady he had recommended to his custody The Lady Margaret went to comfort her whom she had left among her Women and to put in execution what had been resolv'd between her and Don Pedro. About half an hour after her departure thence comes Don Leopold to his Chamber to look after the Lady he had left there Don Pedro told him that he could stay her no longer that she was gone thinking he would not have come to her again Nay then I am glad I staid so long says Leopold since my stay hath occasion'd her to do as I would have had her which was that she might be gone out of the house This Woman plagues me extreamly and it was no small happiness to me that she met not with my Uncle for I should have been much troubled had she had any discourse with him Don Pedro ask'd him some odd questions as he was wont to do to sift something further out of him but Don Leopold would discover no more The other easily apprehended by the little had fallen from him what course he intended to take and the indignation he conceiv'd at his slighting of his Sister was so great that it was not without much violence done himself he forbore calling him to account for it In the mean time the Lady Margaret had visited Donna Blanca of whom she had receiv'd a punctual relation of her Loves which were but too much confirm'd to her by the promise of Marriage she had brought with her And after she had entred into a second admiration at the double perfidiousness of her Cousin Don Leopold she sent to desire her Father to come to her who being alone with her she made him this discourse It hath ever been a laudable custom that Fathers should dispose of their Daughters in Marriage as they either pleas'd themselves or found most convenient for their affairs but with this caution that it should not be absolutely done contrary to their wills and inclinations Many are yet willing to do so out of a presumption that Matrimony will change Men's humours but it is seldome found to work that effect Those therefore may be said to do well who referring the success to the higher Powers by an implicite obedience comply with the disposal of their Parents but those in my judgement do better who use some precaution and endeavour to prevent the inconveniences which they must otherwise fall into I have ever been ready Sir to do whatever you commanded me especially in the business now in agitation though I have found my Cousin Don Leopold to be of a disposition so contrary to mine that I promis'd my self little satisfaction from our being joyned together in the inseparable estate you intended I have endeavour'd to obey you though with some violence
Without any further demurring he gave his consent whereupon the Lady Margaret took him by the hand and Don Pedro was so happy as by odd and unlikely means to see all his desires accomplish'd The solemnities of both the Marriages were put off till eight days after all the Grandees about the Court came to them The Balls thereat and the Tilting were extraordinary but what more nearly touches the story is that the King honour'd these two Cavaliers with great advantages wherewith Don Pedro had also those of a numerous issue for which Don Leopold needed not much to have envi'd him being the most satisfi'd man in the world with his choice whom he infinitely loved and thereby made it appear that the Inclinations of two persons before they are united by Matrimony though by some intervening occurrences somewhat remitted may yet by that sacred Tie be heightned into a noble and vigorous flame of perfect Love THE Novel was lik'd and commended by all that heard it nay Rufina was extremely satisfi'd therewith Brother Crispin who repos'd a very great confidence in her was nothing troubled that she should over-hear the designs laid by him and his Camerades to search those places where they had notice there was anybooty Crispin approved of some of the Robberies propos'd by them and oppos'd others for the inconveniences he found in the execution thereof for they look'd on him as a person of great authority among them His experience in affairs of that kind was such that he assum'd the title of Director or rather Dictator of that famous Society insomuch that not any one durst contradict what he had once decreed It was by this time grown very late so that they would not make a Divident of what they had brought in that night leaving it to be done at the next meeting and committing it to the custody of the Hermit who was their very faithful Steward Crispin's Companions being gone to their quarters he thought it incivility for him to do the like ere he had made a visit to Rufina to wish her a good night's rest He found her a little more chearful than he had ever observ'd her before whereat he was very glad He ask'd her what she thought of the Novel she told him that she thought it very pretty and full of diversion and that if she might often hear the like they would procure some abatement of her melancholy Take a good heart Madam says the Hypocrite to her I hope you will here see an end of your affliction we shall endeavour to find you all the divertisement we can and 't is possible you may not repent your being among us if you will but remit something of your reserv'dness and lay aside as a thing extremely strange in this place some part of your modesty Rufina thought it time to alleviate her severities with some affability and to quit her feigned grief From that time she began to treat the Hypocrite with greater kindness that she might the better execute the design she had to make a Novice of an old Projector Crispin went to bed half laid asleep with her favourable looks and the hopes derived thence that the Fort would within a short time be reduc'd since he had made his approaches so near and taken off the Mask of his feign'd Hypocrisie The next morning at the very break of day Crispin's companions left the Hermitage to seek out their livelihood at their cost who least mistrusted them The Hermit himself was soon after for his march into the City to beg alms where he was wont to receive any He went to take his leave of Rufina who desir'd him to make very diligent enquiry for her Brother giving him the marks of his face person and cloaths much different from those whereby Garay might have been found out He lock'd the door on the out-side and carried away the key with him which Rufina was not much troubled at for she had brought with her from Corduba some of those keys which open all locks an invention better than Picklocks and some other devices which she had used at the Genoese's Thus was she left all alone in the Hermitage having before-hand appointed Garay to come to her as soon as Brother Crispin got to Malaga which he accordingly did mounted on one of the two horses he had brought with him Rufina having heard him open'd the door and gave him a short account what trade Brother Crispin drove of his falling in love with her and how there was a considerable summe of mony in the Hermitage brought thither the night before by his Camerades Rufina had resolv'd to carry away all the ready mony in order whereto she sent away Garay back to the City to get some sleeping-powders to be administred to Crispin at his return that so they might have the whole night to do their work in Garay brought the powder 's before Crispin got home for he spent the whole day in begging and return'd not to the Hermitage till towards night Being got home he was very kindly receiv'd by Rufina whereat he was transported with joy for he grew more and more in love with her He shew'd her what he had gather'd that day and besides what had been voluntarily given him he had very uncharitably taken of his own accord two silver spoons and a neck-lace of pearl The neck-lace he immediately presented Rufina with and put it about her neck with a thousand amorous complements She gave him infinite thanks for his Present after which they supp'd very merrily together he ever and anon entertaining her with some discoveries of his love whereto she gave him very favourable Answers promising it should not be long ere he had of her what he so much desired It had been ordered among the Ferrets that frequented the Hermitage at the last Committee that a general meeting should be had there that night as well for the division of the former booty as the making of new proposals Crispin who was not willing Rufina should be seen and expected some secret kindness of her thought it concern'd him to prevent it As soon as they were come together he found out an evasion to disperse them He told them that he had received notice from the City that there was a strict search made for a person who had treacherously murther'd another and inasmuch as Sacred places were no Sanctuaries for such cowardly Offenders he feared there would be some sent to the Hermitage and if it chanc'd any one of them should be apprehended for some other crimes he might be seiz'd and carried away prisoner and afterwards brought to the Torture confess what he had not been charg'd with at his apprehension Persons of that profession are commonly startled at any thing accordingly they soon credited what their Director said to them and left the Hermitage adjourning the Assembly to the fourth night after By this means Crispin was left alone in the Hermitage with his Mistress who had promis'd to give
that I have otherwise wherewith to satisfie a person of your worth and quality Madam replies Don Jaimo I kiss the very dust you tread on though I think not my self worthy enough it should be touch'd by my mouth when I consider the favour I receive from you Yet can I not but think I have fully satisfi'd whatever I ought you since I have resign'd up to you my heart and soul and so I fear not any Action you may have against me as to that particular As to your forcing of my will you may spare your further trouble I am already sensible Madam that it is at your devotion and therefore you may forbear ineffectual remedies where there needs onely that Sovereign one of your Beauty which is so full of vertue that it hath transported me out of my self that I might be absolutely at your disposal 'T was a happy day to me that I was set upon by those Assassins of my Country since the mischief they intended me hath procur'd me the favours I have receiv'd from you Now I wish Heaven would prolong my Life for if you approve of the affection I have for you as you are pleas'd to assure me in spight of all the storms of my ill fortune I shall get into a haven where I may defie all dangers I mean that of your good inclinations towards me The thought of them gives me respit and fills me with an absolute oblivion of my Country since I must look on a place where such happiness is prepar'd for me as my Paradice These discourses and others yet more amorous pass'd between Don Jaimo and Donna Emerentiana and the crafty Youth had the length of her Foot so rightly that she was easily ensnar'd in the subtle Webb of his cunning insinuations and made it her main business to ingratiate her self more and more with him The time insensibly pass'd away in these amorous conferences insomuch that it was two in the morning ere Rufina retir'd to her own Chamber yet troubled that she was forc'd to do it so soon and the Impostor Jaimo presently went to Bed extreamly pleas'd that his Camerade's plot had taken so well Crispin was extreamly perplex'd that all that Day and the next he had receiv'd no news of what pass'd by reason of Garay's being in the House but as soon as he was gone for Madrid the amorous Rufina gave her self more liberty being still more and more deeply in Love with her Guest Jaimo acquainted Crispin by a Letter brought him by the Slave how he was favour'd by Rufina Crispin answer'd him by the same hand and withall sent him a Purse with a hundred pieces to get her in to Play and to make presents to the Servants that he might be sure of them when occasion serv'd The day of Garay's departure for Madrid Rufina was taken up with the reception of two Gentlewomen of her Neighbour-hood an employment she was not at all pleas'd with for she wish'd them far enough and her self in her Gallant 's company As soon as they were gone she went to her beloved Jaimo whom we shall Don as long as this Scene of the imposture lasts She found him tuning a Lute which her Slave had brought him for he was an excellent Musician and had a smack of Poetry an accomplishment not extraordinary in the Natives of Valentia where there are also admirable Musicians Rufina hearing him at a distance came softly into his Chamber charm'd with the sweet harmony of his Lute which he touch'd with a miraculous dexterity and being not seen by the young Man she hearkned to him a good while perceiving he intended to sing a Song as he afterwards did with an admirable grace and he had made the Verses which were upon the occasion of his Love This added to the flames of her affection which were before grown too violent for to keep within the bounds of modesty but what most ravish'd her was that the Verses he had Sung were made for her and upon the accident which had happened to him VVhereupon the Love-stung VViddow coming up to him What said she Signor Don Jaimo you are Master of those excellencies which I little imagin'd I am extreamly glad of it yet wonder not much thereat as knowing Valentia to be famous for excellent Voices Mine is but ordinary said he and it is rather the words than the goodness of the Voice that induc'd me to Sing I find said she this Song is very new and that it was not made two days since 'T is very true says Don Jaimo yet is it not to be much wondred at since the subject upon which it is made hath such an influence over me as would make me undertake things impossible as transcending whatever yet I thought worth my admiration No flattery I pray you said she to him for though I know that what you say is not true and that you Men allow a distance between your words and thoughts and when you do not love most pretend it yet I cannot but take all kindly from you You may be deceiv'd in both Madam said heâ— and therefore be pleas'd to believe me that I think my self extreamly happy in that unhappy adventure which procur'd me the glory of your acquaintance All I have to beg of you is that you take a more particular notice of my freedome and thence infer that my Soul cannot be fuller of affection towards you than it is In fine these and other insinuating discourses screw'd up the feign'd Widdow to such a height of kindness that the crafty companion began to desist from the enterprize which had occasion'd his coming to her and seriously dispose himself to assure her more and more of his love And thinking her fully satisfy'd with the relation he had made her of himself he became so familiar as to desire her to give him the like accompt of her extraction She thought fit to make her condition equal with his and accordingly she acquainted him in a short discourse how she was descended from the illustrious Counts of Menezez in Portugal though she had been born in the City of Badajos The crafty companion immediately apprehended what Game she would be at and that her design was to oblige him to Marry her This was directly contrary to the sentiments of Crispin who would not by any means that he should think of any such thing but continually reflect on the dangers they are apt to run into who following the profession he was engag'd in are concern'd to be expeditious in the execution of their enterprises lest being by some unexpected accident prevented they come to make their last Wills on a Gibbet before they are willing to remove into the other World The young Gallant grew more and more warm in his love towards Rufina particularly upon this accompt that according to her relation she was nobly descended He thereupon did all lay in his power to heighten her affection towards him She on the other side had the same
it were fit he put himself into other Cloaths before he waited on his Mistress and that he must keep within doors till they were ready Within two days a very fair riding Suit was brought him wherein pretending he was but newly come to Town he goes to the House of Don Juan de la Cerda by whom he was receiv'd with great demonstrations of kindness Notice was immediately carry'd up to Donna Brianda that the person design'd to be her Husband was coming up to her Chamber where she was with her Maids about her who had just made an end of Dressing her Don Pedro coming in conducted by Don Juan and Don Rodrigo was infinitely satisfy'd at the sight of his Mistress whom he very civilly and discreetly saluted for he was a person of an excellent wit and a confident carriage and demeanour He found by the original of Donna Brianda that the Painter had done his work very faithfully a virtue not much practis'd by Painters especially upon such occasions as that was He was ravish'd to see so great a Beauty and she on the other side was well satisfy'd with the handsome personage of Don Pedro. There were yet some things to be done in order to the absolute conclusion of the Marriage at which there was a necessity of Pedro's presence whereupon he Don Juan and Don Rodrigo withdrew into another room where they lock'd themselves in with a Notary and some Friends who were to be witnesses at the Articles of the agreement Donna Brianda continu'd all that time in her Chamber with her Servants talking of Don Pedro her Husband-to-be every one congratulating her good fortune save onely Donna Victoria who saying nothing at all her Mistress observ'd it and being all alone with her Donna Theodorn said she to her that was the name she had assum'd whence comes it that while all the rest celebrate the happiness of my choice you onely are silent Me-thinks you might have contributed somewhat to the publick congratulation though you had done it onely out of complaisance I pray give me some reason for it Donna Victoria had done it purposely in prosecution of her design and this question came as seasonably as she could have wish'd it so that she made her this Answer As to the person of Don Pedro Madam there is not any thing to be said against it nay he is so accomplish'd that there is not any thing to be wish'd in him which he hath not already My silence proceeds hence that I had a particular knowledge of him at Sevil for I liv'd in a Quarter of the City which he much frequented I neither will nor ought to conceal from you the occasion of his so often coming thither for it is my duty to be faithful to you as having no other design than to serve you and endeavour your quiet so as that you may not live in a perpetual dis-enjoyment of your self all the rest of your days Know then Madam that if you match your self with Don Pedro you will be brought to a kind of civil death instead of receiving the satisfactions of wedlock Donna Brianda was much astonish'd at this discourse and press'd her Duenna to discover to her more clearly what she had but too great a desire to tell her Whereupon entreating her to retire into a more secret place where they might not be observ'd by her other Women Donna Victoria gave her this malicious account of the perfidious Don Pedro. I should not live with the respect and duty I owe you as my Mistress nor according to the affection I bear you if I express'd not my self clearly to you in a business wherein you are so highly concern'd and on which depends your greatest felicity in this world Know then Madam that Don Pedro fell in love with a Lady at Sevil one very handsome and well descended in a word wanting nothing but a fortune suitable to her quality He courted her so earnestly that she finding her self oblig'd by so great demonstrations of Affection Letters and continual Embassies attended with presents from Don Pedro satisfy'd his desires upon a promise that he would make her his Wife whereof there are many witnesses But the business was to be kept secret for a time for Pedro's Father was then alive who having receiv'd some intelligence of that Love endeavour'd all he could to prevent Pedro's marriage with Donna Elvira de Monsalvo so was the Lady called The continuance of his visits to her produc'd living proofs which were two Sons and a Daughter who are at this time with the Mother When Pedro's Father was remov'd out of the way which happen'd not long after Donna Elvira expected he should make good his promise and marry her but he for some time came not so much as to see her What inconveniences she was put to from the time of their acquaintance she knows to her sorrow and I am not ignorant thereof for I Liv'd near her and went often to her House Being now convinc'd that he intended to leave her in the Lerch she discover'd the business to two Cousin-Germans of hers who were so enrag'd thereat that they immediately resolv'd to oblige Don Pedro by force to perform the promise he had made to their Kinswoman Don Pedro went to a certain Farm he had not far from Sevil to avoid his Adversaries who knowing he went out of the way purposely because he would not satisfie their Cousin resolv'd to be the death of him Things were in this posture when my Father brought me to Madrid where I have been about these six weeks This is the accompt I can give you of Don Pedro who must not think himself secure in this Court for the Lady's Kinsmen whom I know to be gallant and stout Persons as soon as they hear of his being here will be sure to attend his motion and revenge the affront done to their Cousin nay it will be easier for them to do it here than at Sevil. Donna Brianda heard very attentively the story told her by the Duenna and was extreamly troubled to find Don Pedro so far engag'd with another She ask'd her a thousand questions among others whether he was much in love with that Mistress whether that Donna Elvira was very handsome c. whereto she made such Answers as were suitable to her design which was to put Don Pedro clearly out of her favour Donna Brianda resolv'd to give her Father an account of all and leave it to him to inform himself more fully of the business She immediately went to the Room where he was to speak to him for all things were concluded as to the Marriage In the mean time Donna Victoria was left in the outer-room where the Women and Duennas are wont to wait There came in to them a Servant of Pedro's whom he had sent to the Post for Letters from Sevil. Enquiring for his Master to give him the pacquet Donna Victoria told him that he was within but that as soon as
Widows habit and I must return presently and am afraid she will think I have staid too long If you will return her an Answer you have here all things requisite to do it I think it were fit you should that Donna Brianda may see I have punctually obey'd her commands As to the secret of my disguise I pray keep it such for it concerns me that it should not be discover'd a while I rely on your discretion and knowing you to be a person of Honour and worth I presume you will not discover it This discourse very much surpriz'd Don Sancho who took occasion to commend her courage and generosity and return'd her his most humble thanks for the favour she had done him in entrusting him with the secret of her Love and prayed Heaven to give him life to acknowledge and require so great an obligation He promis'd her not to discover any thing till she commanded him to do it and thereupon seeing her in haste to be gone he writ a Letter in Answer to what he had receiv'd from his Mistress full of amorous complements and proâ—estations of fidelity to the last gasp While he was writing Donna Victoria but on her Widow's habit and made all the haste she could to Juan's In the mean time Don Pedro extremely resenting the imposture put upon him acquainted his Cousin Don Rodrigo with it whereupon they went both together to Juan's He not being within they ask'd for Donna Brianda who came out without any ceremony to receive their visit that it might be the shorter for she had no great mind to see Don Pedro. The poor Gentleman endeavour'd to vindicate himself swearing a thousand oaths that he never heard of any Lady in Sevil of the name mentioned in the Letter and that no doubt some envious person had put this trick upon him and that if Don Juan should upon enquiry find it to be true he would be content to lose his honour and life nay more the hopes of ever enjoying her The earnestness of his discourse put Donna Brianda into some doubt that what she had heard was some imposture advanc'd purposely to obstruct his pretensions and referr'd it to her Father to make a full discovery thereof Her Answer to them was that she was not at her own disposal that it was her duty to comply with that of her Father and consequently she could not quit the ill-impression she had receiv'd of Don Pedro till she were better inform'd of the Truth that her Father would come in ere long and that she could take no resolution without his orders in a business of so great importance While they were engag'd in this discourse Don Juan comes in from the visit he had made to Donna Victoria Don Rodrigo made him a short relation of what had happen'd and renew'd to him the just complaint which his Cousin had reason to make of the crime laid to his charge Whereupon both desiring him to hold his hand at least till there were an exact enquiry made into the business he desir'd them to sit down and gave them this Answer Gentlemen I went out in hopes to be inform'd by some friends of Sevil now here whether that which is imputed to Don Pedro were true and I could not meet with them but if I had found them it 's possible they might know nothing of the business for Sevil is a great City and some parts of it lye at such a distance from others that they may well be accounted different places What I found most certain is that Don Pedro hath made a promise of Marriage to a Lady of Toledo who entertain'd him at a Country-house of hers after he had been robb'd by certain Thieves and what is yet more to be consider'd she thought it not much to secure his affection by the forfeiture of her Honour I have it from the Lady her self who sent for me and shew'd me the promise under his hand which since we all know there can be no evasion He thereupon shew'd it to both the Cousins who were both at such a loss that they knew not what to say especially Don Pedro who sufficiently betray'd his guilt by his astonishment but swore withall that he had not made that promise under his own name but under a feigned But Don Rodrigo knowing all the circumstances of the business was most liberal of his reproaches to his Cousin which raising a certain compassion in Don Juan forc'd this discourse from him Signor Don Pedro We find by many experiences that a young Man once fallen in Love will do any thing to obtain his desires That Love should overcome you I wonder not at all but what occasions my astonishment is that you should have the confidence to address your self to a person of the quality this Lady is of and dishonour her without ever considering that in time she might acquaint her friends therewith who would be sure to revenge the affront And what adds to this astonishment is that you durst do such an action when you were coming hither purposely in order to your matching with my Daughter for whom if any credit may be given your Letters you pretended to have a passionate affection I see not how your heart could be capable of such a competition of passions that you should pretend the greatest inclinations imaginable for one and treat of a marriage with another Being a person of Honour I doubt not but you will make it appear in your actions and that is that you stand to the promise you made to the Lady Victoria though it were onely out of this consideration that it argues a more generous nature to do that willingly which must otherwise unwillingly be done The Lady is not so destitute of Friends as you haply imagine she is now at Madrid come expresly to recover her debt which no doubt she will and her cause being so just 't is not likely she will want assistance My advice is that you endeavour to prevent the ill reports which the business must raise of you perform what you have promis'd and let not your Love to my Daughter blind you any further for I am resolv'd to shut her up in a Cloister for the remainder of her Life rather than she shall ever be your Wife With that he rose up and without any complement went into another room Donna Brianda follow'd him and the two Cousins without so much as a word exchang'd went home where Don Rodrigo fell into bitter expostulations with his Cousin for his engaging himself in so unworthy an action Don Pedro had nothing to reply but that he was astonish'd how that promise came to be sign'd with his own name having made it onely under a supposititious Leaving them in that confusion making several reflections on the adventure let us return to the feign'd Waiting-woman who was got back to Juan's and had deliver'd Sancho's Letter to Donna Brianda She was infinitely satisfy'd with it as fearing he would not have
all he had so as that she might dispose of him and it as she pleas'd Her beauty had given him a kind of Itch and he was mighty desirous to try whether she would be as willing to cure him of it but he knew not well how to acquaint her with his indisposition he resolv'd at last in case he could do no good upon her by his submissions and presents to use the last remedy which was to Marry her This is a Bait that many times takes the shyest of that subtle Sex but when they are so taken he that does it is commonly snapp'd himself I told you before that Rufina had no other design than to examine the Chests of the greedy Merchant and that she would not be any way engag'd till she were secure of her prize for the rascally trick shewn by Ruperio had made her extreamly distrustful Marquina staid all that day in his Garden and neglected his business in the City but the next morning betimes leaving his Guest asleep he takes his Mule and goes about his ordinary occasions having charg'd the Gardener's Wife to get a good breakfast for the Lady as soon as she were awake and to have a care of the House He lock'd the Chamber-door where his Money was and as he went out charg'd the Gardener not to suffer any to come into his Garden but the Old man who had brought Theodora thither for that was the name the dissembling Rufina had given her self That done he went about his business attended by the little Negro whom he gave Money to buy Provisions for a good Dinner Rufina got up and the Gardener's wife punctually obey'd the orders she had receiv'd from her Master treating her the best she could out of this respect that all the Domesticks made their advantage of those magnificences Rufina comes down into the Garden where she took occasion to commend the walks and contrivances of it for the Gardener kept it in very good order and well supply'd with herbs fruits and flowers Finding the Sun beginning to grow hot she went into the House where casually meeting with a Lute on which Marquina's factor was wont to play she set it in Tune and made that her entertainment till such time as Marquina return'd from the City who hearing her at it was not a little glad to find that perfection in her more than he knew before Perceiving that Marquina hearkened to her Musick she joyn'd her Voice to the Instrument to breed one maggot more in his brain than he had already She sung so excellently that Marquina was ravish'd at the melody and acknowledg'd that it was not the Voice of a mortal Creature but an Angel come down from Heaven He continu'd his attention a while imagining she would have begun another Song but perceiving she laid by the Lute he comes into the Room and transported with joy How hath this poor Habitation been felicify'd said he to her by your retirement into it most adorable Theodora What happiness did the hour of your arrival here bring me who never had known any before What honour have I receiv'd in beholding your transcendent Beauty and to observe in you from time to time a thousand unknown excellencies which are not discover'd at the first sight This house may no doubt enter into competition with Heaven it self since such an Angel honours it with her divine presence What I say Madam is but little in comparison of the passion I have for your worth which were it to be commended proportionably to the apprehension I have of it I think the most eloquent persons that ever were would be at a loss for expressions suitable to so adorable a subject You press too hard upon me Dear Sir replies the counterfeit Theodora seeming to blush at those excessive praises I am not such a stranger to my self but that I know it argues excess in the highest degree to bestow such extraordinary commendations on a person that deserves so little Had I mistrusted your being within hearing I would have put off my diversion to another time since 't is not unlikely my Voice may seem harsh to you compar'd to the excellent ones of this City which you often hear unless it be that generous natures have an inclination to favour persons of mean parts by flattering them by their praises into an imagination that their endowments are greater than indeed they are No more complements I beseech you replies Marquina rais'd up to the highest pitch of besotted Love my words come short of my faith and I am to assure you withall Madam that though I have heard excellent Voices in Sevil for I must confess there are some such yet yours is infinitely beyond any of them Your most humble Servant Sir says Rufina your commendations are infinitely beyond my deserts and the honour you do me can do no less than raise in me a hearty wish that my poor abilities might find you some further diversion with this Instrument since you are pleas'd to acknowledge your self so much satisfy'd therewith But my troubles are so great and pressing that in what I did I minded onely my own I must see them at an end ere you leave this House says Marquina to her and therefore let me intreat you if you cannot conclude an absolute peace with your afflictions at least condescend to a short cessation of arms These reiterations of your favours must needs extreamly oblige me replies Rufina and consequently force me to a greatful compliance with your commands as far as lies in my power but I cannot promise it you so fully as I wish finding the person who brought me hither hath forgotten he did it otherwise he would have found some means to have given me a Visit once in three days Let not that create you any trouble replies the amorous Merchant but rather imagine there may be some just cause of his neglect I have some apprehension said she that he may be return'd to Granada out of a fear that being miss'd there he might be question'd as a Complice of my escape and this would prove the greatest of all my misfortunes for if he be gone he hath carried all I had along with him Never fear it says Marquina for he must have more compassion than to forsake you in so great an extremity but though he and all else fail you assure your self I shall not whereof I cannot give you a greater assurance than you may derive from this sincere protestation of my being so passionately your Servant that I imagine not my self to be the same person I was before I saw you This transformation is wholly to be attributed to your Divinity and thence you may inferr the influence you have over me Having so said Marquina made an absolute discovery of his Love the cunning Gypsie pretending she understood not his meaning return'd civil Answers to the proffers he made her acknowledging her self extreamly oblig'd to him for his kindness and that she doubted not of
to discourse with him more at leisure Some few days after Fortune favour'd her with an opportunity to her own wishes at the same Balcony where he had spoken to her the first time As soon as she perceiv'd Alexander she came down and they discours'd a long time together without any interruption The effect of this interview and long conference upon Alexander was that his Love before little better than kindled now broke forth into a flame Isabella came not much behind him yet had that command of her passion as not to grant him the greatest kindness that can happen between persons of different Sexes though it were out of this onely reflection that to have done it at the first interview would have argu'd such a compliance and easiness of Nature as no Violence of affection should ever be able to excuse Alexander being now fully satisfy'd that Isabella was both a great Wit and a great Beauty writ several Love-letters to her and the better to express his passion he also sent her some Verses of his own composure Isabella knew that Alexander among so many other qualities he had acquir'd was also skilful in Poetry and consequently was the more surpris'd and satisfy'd therewith Some of his Missives she very modestly answered in these tearms THE LETTER THose Commendations which transcend the merit of the Person on whom they are bestow'd do rather injure than oblige and disparage the judgement of the Giver in as much as the Receiver thinking her self unworthy the honour justly takes the Elogy for a Satyr I am not so much a Stranger to my self but that I can distinguish between Flattery and Truth nor am I so poorly conceited of my self but that I think I deserve somewhat of the praises you give me I shall think it an obligation if you abate some part of what you tell me and find out a mean between excessive praise and contempt for the former my own imperfections advise me to look on as an abuse I have no great experience of your disposition and therefore think it not strange if I give not the credit you expect to your Poetry because it is the Language of Fiction nor yet to your Prose because it proceeds from the same Author who 't is very likely hath read Romances Whether they were the dictates of a sincere Affection or an obliging Complement it is onely in the power of Time to discover and with all to assure me whether I am to acknowledge your civilities or resent the injury you have done me The fair Isabella found out an expedient to convey this Letter into the hands of Don Alexander her newly caught Gallant who desirous to set himself right in the opinion of his Mistress and assure her of the sluency of his style in things of this kind caus'd the Messenger to stay and take along with him this Answer THE LETTER I See then Madam so that you procure your own satisfaction you care not what inconveniences I may run into since that to be more moderate in your praises as you seem to desire cannot be without so much the greater prejudice to my reputation in that I think my self far short of transcendency in that particular and I am forc'd to bring in the excess of my Love to supply the defects of my Poetry That I may therefore be no more guilty of such a crime I will henceforth express my self in Prose and in some measure do what you command me in your Letter You would find it no great difficulty to believe me if you knew what I feel nay though out of modesty you pretend to be ignorant of it I defie you to do it unless withal you resolve never to consult your Glass any more Well Madam it may be the time of your conversion is not yet come when it shall your eyes will be opened and you shall find that of all the hearts subdu'd by the charms of your Beauty mine may haply be the least but withal the most passionate captive Time which gives all things their birth perfection and period shall be the Touchstone to try whether this be Truth or Fiction nay I leave it to the same old Gentleman to assure you of a thing you yet pretend to be ignorant of which is that while I live you shall be sole Sovereign Mistress and Directress of my Inclinations And then haply good nature gratitude and generosity will rather advise you to acknowledgements of the love I bear you than a resentment of the injuries you charge me withal This Letter gave Isabella that satisfaction concerning her new Gallant which she expected The frequent visits were continu'd of Alexander's side and the Epistolary correspondence on both sides so that the inclinations they had one to another were by these degrees heightned into a noble flame of mutual love His Mistress commanded him above all things to keep his pretensions to her very secret which he inviolably promis'd to do Nay she was so scrupulous as to that particular that if in the Church or some other publick place her Gallant did so much as cast his Eye on her in the company of some friend she immediately imagin'd that he acquainted him with his passion and as if she had heard all their discourse she fail'd not to send him a Letter concerning it if she could not see him time enough that he might receive her reproaches himself Alexander clear'd himself the best he could still assuring her of the contrary and enflam'd with love and indignation all he could do was to dispel that diffidence which troubled him extremely But the same Love which is wont to reconcile the lesser differences and dissatisfactions that happen between Lovers helps them also out of the greatest and most difficult 'T was Alexander's design to marry this Lady though her fortunes were very low but he delay'd the doing of it till he had effected a business he was then engag'd to prosecute His Uncle and himself had done the King very considerable services in Flanders for many years together and he was then making his applications to his Majesty for some Command in compensation thereof And the obstructions and delays he met with in that affair contributed more to his after-happiness than the expedition could have done as will appear anon Isabella had taken order that he should not be seen in the street where she liv'd much less look up to her window to be seen by her and it was punctually observ'd by Alexander who was not known to have given her a meeting any where But she her self was the first forgot what she had enjoin'd it happen'd thus During the time of the Carnaval which in Valentia is celebrated with Mascarades Balls Tiltings and Disguizes Alexander had in some of these met with his Mistress yet without discovery of more than ordinary kindness between them though they had talk'd and danc'd together One evening after the Ball there was to be a meeting of certain Ladies at the house of a
not have been so easily credited A fair warning-piece Ladies for those who at the same time admit the Courtships of several Gallants without making any reflection on their Honours the loss whereof they are not sensible of till by their subtil cajollings they are brought to remediless extremities The last and surest expedient this unfortunate Woman could pitch upon was to become a Nun upon which account she was receiv'd into the Royal Monastery of Zaida three days after the Marriage of Fernand had been fully concluded This sudden change occasion'd a great deal of noise and discourse in Valentia all wondred at it especially those who knew her to be one of the handsomest and the most desirous to be courted of any Lady in Valentia It was indeed a kind of miracle to see a young Lady who spent her time so passionately at Balls Plays and other publick meetings exchange all those nobler enjoyments of life for the imaginary felicity of mortification and retir'dness This sudden resolution was attributed at first not to the true cause thereof for things were carried so closely that very few knew it but to the secret inspirations of that wind which bloweth where it listeth and is pleas'd to amuse mankind with the strange ways it takes to transplant the affections of such as are ordain'd to eternal bliss from the transient vanities of this world to the constant pursuance of the perpetual joys of a better Thus this Lady met with a kinder Spouse than she could have expected else-where and spent the rest of her time with great content blessing her former afflictions and the crosses of her love which had brought her to the tranquillity she now enjoy'd When she seriously reflected on the gracious designs of divine Love upon her she thought it an act of gratitude to acknowledge to some friends how it had made her miscarriages the subject of its indulgence and instead of punishing had rewarded her weakness nay such was her desire to give God the glory of her conversion that she frequently used this expression That in that House wherein there are many mansions she hop'd there was one for such penitent Magdalens as she who by timely repentance expiate the follies of their greener years Nor was this acknowledgment of hers unrewarded even in this life for she became the Oracle and spiritual Directress of all those whose Lovemisfortunes reduc'd them to any extremity especially those of her own sex of whom she so effectually convinc'd many that disgusting the world they embrac'd a Religious life After some years she was advanc'd to the Government of the Monastery after she had put forth several little Tracts of Devotion whereof one was in Verse entituled A Basket of Spiritual Flowers or a Collection of Divine Poems These spread her fame into divers parts of Spain but at Valentia the sanctity of her life and her charitable directions to such as had occasion to address themselves to her were the admiration of all insomuch that she was reputed a Saint even while she liv'd Fernand had a wife but God was pleas'd to punish his perfidiousness with her barrenness for she bore him no children and instead of the great fortunes he expected with her he had many bags full of Law-sutes troubles and differences with other people and not a few discontents with his wife He wish'd but too late that he had rather entred into a Monastery than into Matrimony the inconveniences whereof sufficiently convinc'd him that Isabella had made the better choice He visited her often and was oblig'd to her for her prudent and pious admonitions Nay to satisfie the world that she had left behind her in it all her resentments of his demeanor towards her there are in a volume of Spiritual Letters which she put forth several Letters she had written to him upon occasion of some difficulties he had propos'd to her On the contrary Alexander was the happiest man in the world in his disposal of himself his Laodamia brought him many fine children and by the death of some friends a far greater fortune than he could have expected They also visited their old acquaintance Isabella who received them kindly and gave them occasion to admire the strange attractions of Divine Love in that person and the esteem they had before for the excellency of her endowments was now converted into a reverence of her sanctity and an admiration of her conduct THis pleasant Novel entertain'd the Company till they came to their Inn that night Every one took occasion to commend Doctor Monsalvo as well for the smartness of his Invention as for the excellency of his Stile The old Gentleman told him that if the whole Piece were answerable to the Pattern he had shewn them of it no doubt but his Novels would be very well receiv'd in the World and that he would gain as much Reputation by them as they had had Pleasure and thereupon he earnestly entreated him to communicate somewhat of the others to them that so their Travelling might be the less tedious The Doctor gave him and all the rest of the Company his very hearty thanks for the good opinion they had of him and proffer'd them when they should be weary of discoursing to divert them with some of the other Novels till they came to their Journey 's end provided they thought them not tedious They all with much gladness and thanks accepted of his proffer Being come within a Musket-shot of the antient City of Corduba heretofore the chiefest of the Kingdome while the Moors were possess'd of all Spain after Sun-set an unexpected accident caus'd them to make a little halt Two Gentlemen being come out into the Fields upon a challenge which one had sent to the other and having fought one of them was worsted being run through the Body in two several places which had oblig'd his adversary to make his escape to get into some place of sanctuary The wounded person cry'd out for some body to receive his Confession just as the Coach pass'd by which being heard by the Company Doctor Monsalvo who was a Priest and Confessor could do no less than get out accompany'd by Garay and Mistress Rufina who had a great desire to see the Wounded man They came to him and as soon as the Doctor had receiv'd his Confession and given him Absolution he lost his Speech being supported by Garay The Doctor return'd to the Coach and having called several times upon Rufina who pretended she could not get away Garay the Coach-man perceiving it began to grow dark put on the Horses having sent them word what Inn they should take up Rufina was much troubled to see the Coach gone having left her and Garay behind charitably exhorting the Dying person to recommend himself as much as he could to the mercy of God but he was so far gone that to spare them further Exhortation he gave up the Ghost They were much troubled what they should do with the Body when certain