as Henault and Isabella but at last she prov'd with Child and the Aunt who might reasonably believe so young a Couple would have a great many Children and fonefeeing there was no Provision likely to be made them unless he pleas'd his Father for if the Aunt should chance to dye all their Hope was gone she therefore daily solicited him to obey his Father and go to the Camp and that having atchiev'd Fame and Renown he would return a Favourite to his Father and Comfort to his Wife After she had solicited in vain for he was not able to endure the thought of leaving Isabella melancholy as he was with his ill Fortune the Bishop kinsman to Isabella took him to task and urg'd his Youth and Birth and that he ought not to wast both without Action when all the World was employ'd and that since his Father had so great a desire he should go into a Campagn either to serve the Venetian against the Turks or into the French Service which he lik'd best he besought him to think of it and since he had satisfy'd his Love he should and ought to satisfy his Duty it being absolutely necessary for the wiping off the Stain of his Sacrilege and to gain him the favour of Heaven which he found had hitherto been averse to all he had undertaken In fine all his Friends and all who lov'd him joyn'd in this Design and all thought it convenient not was he insensible of the Advantage it might bring him but Love which every day grew fonder and fonder in his Heart oppos'd all their Reasonings tho' he saw all the Brave Youth of the Age preparing to go either to one Army or the other At last he lets Isabella know what Propositions he had made him both by his Father and his Relations at the very first Motion she almost fainted in his Arms while he was speaking and it possess'd her with so intire a Grief that she miscarry'd to the insupportable Torment of her tender Husband and Lover so that to re-establish her Repose he was forc'd to promise not to go however she consider'd all their Circumstances and weigh'd the Advantages that might redound both to his Honour and Fortune by it and in a matter of a Month's time with the Persuasions and Reasons of her Friends she suffer'd him to resolve upon going her self determining to retire to the Monastery till the time of his Return but when she nam'd the Monastery he grew pale and disorder'd and obliged her to promise him not to enter into it any more for fear they should never suffer her to come forth again so that he resolv'd not to depart till she had made a Vow to him never to go again within the Walls of a Religious House which had already been so fatal to them She promis'd and he believ'd Henault at last overcame his Heart which pleaded so for his Stay and sent his Father word he was ready to obey him and to carry the first Efforts of his Arms against the common Foes of Christendom the Turks his Father was very well pleas'd at this and sent him Two thousand Crowns his Horses and Furniture sutable to his Quality and a Man to wait on him so that it was not long e're he got himself in order to be gone after a dismal parting He made what hast he could to the French Army then under the Command of the Monsignior the Duke of Beaufort then at Candia and put himself a Voluntier under his Conduct in which Station was Villenoys who you have already heard was so passionate a Lover of Isabella who no sooner heard of Henault's being arriv'd and that he was Husband to Isabella but he was impatient to learn by what strange Adventure he came to gain her even from her Vow'd Retreat when he with all his Courtship could not be so happy tho'she was then free in the World and Unvow'd to Heaven As soon as he sent his Name to Henault he was sent for up for Henault had heard of Villenoys and that he had been a Lover of Isabella they receiv'd one another with all the endearing Civility imaginable for the aforesaid Reason and for that he was his Country-man tho' unknown to him Villenoys being gone to the Army just as Henault came from the Jesuits College A great deal of Endearment pass'd between them and they became from that moment like two sworn Brothers and he receiv'd the whole Relation from Henault of his Amour It was not long before the Siege began anew for he arriv'd at the beginning of the Spring and as soon as he came almost they fell to Action and it happen'd upon a day that a Party of some Four hundred Men resolv'd to sally out upon the Enemy as when ever they could they did but as it is not my business to relate the History of the War being wholly unacquainted with the Terms of Battels I shall only say That these Men were led by Villenoys and that Henault would accompany him in this Sally and that they acted very Noble and great Things worthy of a Memory in the History of that Siege but this day particularly they had an occasion to shew their Valour which they did very much to their Glory but venturing too far they were ambush'd in the persuit of the Party of the Enemies and being surrounded Villenoys had the unhappiness to see his gallant Friend fall fighting and dealing of Wounds around him even as he descended to the Earth for he fell from his Horse at the same moment that he kill'd a Turk and Villenoys could neither assist him nor had the satisfaction to be able to rescue his dead Body from under the Horses but with much ado escaping with his own Life got away inspite of all that follow'd him and recover'd the Town before they could overtake him He passionately bewail'd the Loss of this brave young Man and offer'd any Recompence to those that would have ventur'd to have search'd for his dead Body among the Slain but it was not fit to hazard the Living for unnecessary Services to the Dead and tho' he had a great mind to have Interr'd him he rested content with what he wish'd to pay his Friends Memory tho' he could not So that all the Service now he could do him was to write to Isabella to whom he had not writ tho' commanded by her so to do in three Years before which was never since she took Orders He gave her an Account of the Death of her Husband and how Gloriously he fell fighting for the Holy Cross and how much Honour he had won if it had been his Fate to have outliv'd that great but unfortunate Day where with 400 Men they had kill'd 1500 of the Enemy The General Beaufort himself had so great a Respect and Esteem for this young Man and knowing him to be of Quality that he did him the honour to bemoan him and to send a Condoling Letter to Isabella how much worth her
Mortifications on the cold Marble in long Winter Season and all her Acts of Devotion abate one spark of this shameful Feaver of Love that was destroying her within When she had rag'd and struggled with this unruly Passion 'till she was quite tir'd and breathless finding all her forcein vain she fill'd her fancy with a thousand charming Idea's of the lovely Henanlt and in that soft fit had a mind to satisfy her panting Heart and give it one Joy more by beholding the Lord of its Desires and the Author of its Pains Pleas'd yet trembling at this resolve she rose from the Bed where she was laid and softly advanc'd to the Stair-Case from whence there open'd that Room where Dame Katteriena was and where there was a private Grate at which she was entertaining her Brother they were earnest in Discourse and so loud that Isabella could easrly hear all they said and the first words were from Katteriena who in a sort of Anger cry'd Vrge me no more My Virtue is too nite to become an Advocate for a Passion that can tend to nothing but your Ruin for suppose I should tell the fair Ifabella you dye for her what can it wait you What hope can any Man heue to move the Heart of a Virgin so averse to Love A Virgin whose Modesty and Virtue is so very curious it would fly the very word Love as some monstrous Witchcraft or the foolest of Sins who would loath me for bringing so lewd a Message and banish for her Sight as the Object of her Hose and Scorn is it unknown to â—ou how many of the noblest Youths of Flanders have address'd themselves to her in vain when yet she was in the World Have you been ignorant how the young Count De Villenoys languish'd in vain almost to Death for her And that no Persuasions no Attractions in him no worldly Advantages or all his Pleadings who had a Wit and Spirit capable of prevailing on any Heart less severe and barsh than hers Do you not know that all was lost on this insensible fair one even when she was a proper Object for the Adoration of the Young and Amorous And can you hope now she has so 〈◊〉 wedded her future days to Devotion and given all to Heaven nay lives a Life here more like a Saint than a Woman rather an Angel than a mortal Creature Do you imagin with any Rhetorick you can deliver now to turn the Heart and whole Nature of this Divine Maid to consider your Earthly Passion No ' its fondness and an injury to her Virtue to harbour such a Thought quit it quit it my dear Brother before it ruin your Repose Ah Sister reply'd the dejected Henault your Counsel comes too late and your Reasons are of too feeble force to rebate those Arrows the Charming Isabella's Eyes have fix'd in my Heart and Soul and I am undone unless she know my Pain which I shall dye before I shall ever dare mention to her but you young Maids have a thousand Familiarities together can jest and play and say a thousand things between Railery and Earnest that may first hint what you would deliver and insinuate into each others Hearts a kind of Curiosity to know more for naturally my dear Sister Maids are curious and vain and however Divine the Mind of the fair Isabella may be it bears the Tincture still of Mortal Woman Suppose this true how could this Mortal part about her Advantage you said Katteriena all that you can expect from this Disoovery if she should be content to hear it and to return you pity would be to make her mratched like your self What farther can you hope Oh! talk not reply'd Henault of so much Happiness I do not expect to be so blest that she should pity me or love to a degree of Inquietude 't is sufficient for the ease of my Heart that she know its Pains and what if suffers for her that she would give my Eyes leave to gaze upon her and my Heart to vent a Sigh now and then and when I dare to give me leave to speak and tell her of my Passion This this is all my Sister And at that word the Tears glided down his Cheeks and he declin'd his Eyes and set a Look so charming and so sad that Isabella whose Eyes were fix'd upon him was a thousand times ready to throw her self into the Room and to have made a Confession how sensible she was of all she had heard and seen But with much ado she contain'd and satisfy'd her self with knowing that she was ador'd by him whom she ador'd and with a Prudence that is natural to her she withdrew and waited with patience the event of their Discourse She impatiently long'd to know how Katteriena would manage this Secret her Brother had given her and was pleas'd that the Friendship and Prudence of that Maid had conceal'd her Passion from her Brother and now contented and joyful beyond imagination to find her self belov'd she knew she could dissemble her own Passion and make him the first Aggressor the first that lov'd or at least that should seem to do so This Thought restores her so great a part of her Peace of Mind that she resolv'd to see him and to dissemble with Katteriena so far as to make her believe she had subdu'd that Passion she was really asham'd to own she now with her Woman's Skill begins to practise an Art she never before understood and has recourse to Cunning and resolves to seem to reassume her former Repose But hearing Katteriena approach she laid her self again on her Bed where she had left her but compos'd her Face to more chearfulness and put on a Resolution that indeed deceiv'd the Sister who was extreamly pleased she said to see her look so well When Isabella reply'd Yes I am another Woman now I hope Heaven has heard and granted my long and humble Supplications and driven from my Heart this tormenting God that has so long disturb'd my purer Thoughts And are you sure said Dame Katteriena that this wanton Deity is repell'd by the noble force of your Resolution Is he never to return No reply'd Isabella never to my Heart Yes said Katteriena if you should see the lovely Murderer of your Repose your Wound would bleed a new At this Isabella smiling with a little Disdain reply'd Because you once to love and Henault 's Charms defenceless found me ah do you think I have no Fortitude But so in Fondness lost remiss in Virtue that when I have resolv'd and see it necessary for my after-Quiet to want the power of keeping that Resolution No fiorn me and despise me then as lost to all the Glories of my Sex and all that Nicety I 've hitherto preserv'd There needed no more from a Maid of Isabella's Integrity and Reputation to convince any one of the Sincerity of what she said since in the whole course of her Life she never could be charg'd with an Untruth or an
as to have confess'd my Shame but our opportunities of Speaking are so few and Letters so impossible to be sent without discovery that perhaps this is the only time I shall ever have to speak with you alone And at that word the Tears flow'd abundantly from her Eyes and gave Henault leave to speak Ah Madam said he do not as soon as you have rais'd me to the greatest Happiness in the World throw me with one word beneath your Scorn much easier 't is to dye and know I am tov'd than never never hope to hear that blessed sound again from that beautiful Mouth Ah Madam rather let me make use of this one opportunity our happy Luck has given us and contrive how we may for ever see and speak to each other let us assure one another there are a thousand ways to escape a place so rigid as denies us that Happiness and denies the fairest Maid in the World the privilege of her Creation and the end to which she was form'd so Angelical And seeing Isabella was going to speak lest she should say something that might dissuade from an Attempt so dangerous and wicked he persu'd to tell her it might be indeed the last moment Heaven would give 'em and besought her to answer him what he implor'd whether she would fly with him from the Monastery At this Word she grew pale and started as at some dreadful Sound and cry'd Hah what is 't you say Is it possible you should propose a thing so wicked And can it enter into your Imagination because I have so far forgot my Virtue and my Vow to becomes a Lover I should therefore fall to so wretched a degree of Infamy and Reprobation No name it to me no more if you would see me and if it be as you say a Pleasure to be belov'd by me for I will sooner dye than yield to what Alas I but too well approve These last words she spoke with a fainting Tone and the Tears fell anew from her fair soft Eyes If it be so said he with a Voice so languishing it could scarce be heard If it be so and that you are resolv'd to try if my Love be eternal without Hope without expectation of any other Joy than seeing and adoring you through the Grate Fam and must and will be contented and you shall fee I can prefer the Sighing to these cold Irons that separate us before all the possessins of the rest of the World that I chuse rather to lead my Life here at this cruel Distance from you for ever than before the Embrace of all the Fair and you shall see how pleas'd I will be to languish here but as you see me decay for surely so I shall do not triumph o're my languid Looks and laugh at my Pale and meager Face but Pitying fay How easily I might have preserv'd that Face those Eyes and all that Youth and Vigour now no more from this total Ruine I now behold it in and love your Slave that dyes and will be daily and visibly dying as long as my Eyes can gaze on that fair Object and my Soul be fed and kept alive with her Charming Wit and Conversation if Love can live on such Airy Food tho' rich in it self yet unfit alone to sustain Life it shall be for ever dedicated to the lovely Isabella But oh that time cannot be long Fate will not lend her Slave many days who loves too violently to be satisfy'd to enjoy the fair Object of his Desires no otherwise than at a Grate He ceas'd speaking for Sighs and Tears stopt his Voice and he begg'd the liberty to sit down and his Looks being quite alter'd Isabella found her self touch'd to the very Soul with a concern the most tender that ever yielding Maid was oppress'd with She had no power to suffer him to Languish while she by one soft word could restore him and being about to say a thousand things that would have been agreable to him she saw her self approach'd by some of the Nuns and only had time to say If you Love me live and hope The rest of the Nuns began to ask Henault of News for he always brought them all that was Novel in the Town and they were glad still of his Visits above all other for they heard how all Amours and Intrigues pass'd in the World by this young Cavalier These last words of Isabella's were a Cordial to his Soul and he from that and to conceal the present Affair endeavour'd to assume all the Gaity he could and told 'em all he could either remember or invent to please 'em tho'he wish'd them a great way off at that time Thus they passd the day till it was a decent hour for him to quit the Grate and for them to draw the Curtain all that Night did Isabella dedicate to Love she went to Bed with a Resolution to think over all she had to do and to consider how she should manage this great Affair of her Life I have already said she had try'd all that was possible in Human Strength to perform in the design of quitting a Passion so injurious to her Honour and Virtue and found no means possible to accomplish it She had try'd Fasting long Praying ferventlv rigid Penances and Pains severe Disciplines all the Mortification almost to the destruction of Life it self to conquer the unruly Flame but still it burnt and rag'd but the more so at last she was forc'd to permit that to eonquer her she could not conquer and submitted to her Fate as a thing destin'd her by Heaven it self and after all this opposition she fancy'd it was resisting even Divine Providence to struggle any longer with her Heart and this being her real Belief she the more patiently gave way to all the Thoughts that pleas'd her As soon as she was laid without discoursing as she us'd to do to Kalteriena after they were in Bed she pretended to be sleepy and turning from her setled her self to profound Thinking and was resolv'd to conclude the Matter between her Heart and her Vow of Devotion that Night that she having no more to determine might end the Affair accordingly the first opportunity she should have to speak to Henault which was to fly and marry him or to remain for ever fix'd to her Vow of Chastity This was the Debate she brings Reason on both sides Against the first she sets the Shame of a Violated Vow and considers where she shall shew her Face after such an Action to the Vow she argues that she was born in Sin and could not live without it that she was Human and no Angel and that possibly that Sin might be as soon forgiven as another that since all her Devout Endeavours could not defend her from the Cause Heaven ought to excuse the Effect that as to shewing her Face so she saw that of Henault always turn'd Charming as it was towards her with love what had she to do with the World
or car'd to behold any other Some times she thought it would be more Brave and Pious to dye than to break her Vow but she soon answer'd that as false Arguing for Self-Murder was the worst of Sins and in the Deadly Number She could after such an Action live to repent and of two Evils she ought to chuse the least she dreads to think since she had so great a Reputation for Virtue and Piety both in the Monastery and in the World what they both would say when she should commit an Action so contrary to both these she profest but after a whole Night's Debate Love was strongest and gain'd the Victory She never went about to think how she should escape because she knew it would be easy the keeping of the Key of the Monastery often intrusted in her keeping and was by turns in the hands of many more whose Virtue and Discretion was Infallible and out of Doubt besides her Aunt being the Lady Abbess she had greater Privilege than the rest so that she had no more to do she thought than to acquaint Henault with her Design as soon as she should get an opportunity Which was not quickly but in the mean time Isabela's Father dy'd which put some little stop to our Lover's Happiness and gave her a short time of Grief but Love who while he is new and young can do us Miracles soon wip'd her Eyes and chas'd away all Sorrow from her Heart and grew every day more and more impatient to put her new Design in Execution being every day more resolv'd Her Father's Death had remov'd one Obstacle and secur'd her from his Reproaches and now she only wants Opportunity first to acquaint Henault and then to fly She waited not long all things concurring to her desire for Katteriena falling sick she had the good luck as she call'd it then to entertain Henault at the Grate oftentimes alone the first moment she did so she entertain'd him with the good News and told him She had at last vanquish'd her Heart in favour of him and loving him above all things Honour her Vow or Reputation had resolv'd to abandon her self wholly to him to give her self up to love and serve him and that she had no other Consideration in the World but Henault instead of returning her an Answer all Joy and Satisfaction held down his Eyes and Sighing with a dejected Look he cry'd Ah Madam Pity a Man so wretched and undone as not to be sensible of this Blesseng as I ought She grew pale at this Reply and trembling expected he would proceed 'T is not continued he that I want Love tendenest passron and all the desire Youth and Love can inspire But Oh Madam when I consider forraving mad in Love as I am for your sake I do consider that if I should take you fâ—om this Repose Nobly Born and Educated as you are and for that Act should find a rigid Father deprive me of all that ought support support you and afford your Birth Beauty and Merits their due what would you say How would you Reproach we He fighing expected her Answer when Blushes overspreading her Face she reply'd in a Tone all haughty and angry Ah He nault Am I then refus'd after having abandon'd all things for you Is it this you reward my Sacrific'd Honour Vows and Virtue Cannot you â—â—â—â—rd the loss of Fortune to possess Isabella who loses all for you Then bursting into Tears at her misfortune of Loving she suffer'd him to say Oh Charming fair one how industrious iâ— your Cruelty to find out new Torments for an Heart already press'd down with the severities of Love Is it possible you can make so unhappy a Construction of the tenderest part of my Passion And can you imagin it want of Love in me to consider how I shall preserve and merit the vast Blessing Heaven has given me Is my Care a Crime And would not the most deserving Beauty of the World hate me if I should to preserve my Life and satisfy the Passion of my fond Heart reduce her to the Extremities of Want and Misery And is there any thing in what I have said but what you ought to take for the greatest Respect and tenderness Alas reply'd Isabella sighing young as I am all unskilful in Love I find but what â—â— el that Diserâ—tion is no part of it and Consideration inconsistent with the Nobler Passion who will subsist of own Nature and lâ—ve unmix'd with any other Sentiment And'tis not pure if it be otherwise I know had I mix'd Discretion with mine my Love must have been â—â—ss I never thought of living but by Love and if I consider'd at all it was that Grandure and Magnificence were useless Trifles to Lovers wholly needless and troublesom I thought of living in some loanly Cottage far from the noise of crowded busie Cities to walk with thee in Groves and silent Shades where I might hear no Voice but thinâ— and when we had been tir'd to sit us down by some cool murmuring Rivulet and be to each a World my Monarch thou and I thy sovereign Queen while Wreaths of Flowers shall crown our happy Heads some fragrant Bank our Throne and Heaven our Canop Thus we might laugh at Fortune and the Proud despise the duller World who place their Joys in mighty Shem and Equipage Alas my Nature could not beur it I am unus'd to Worldly Vanities and would boast of nothing but my Henault no Riches but his Love no Grandure but his Presence She ended speaking with Tears and he reply'd Now now I find my Isabella loves indeed whâ—n she 's content to abandon the. World for my sake Oh! thou hast named the only happy Life that suits my quiet Nature to be retir'd has always been my Joy But to be so with thee Oh! thou bast charm'd me with a Thought so dear as has for ever banish'd all my Care but how to receive thy Goodness I 'le think no more what my angry Parent may do when he shall hâ—ar how I have dispos'd of my self against his Will and Pleasure but trust to Love and Providence no more be gone all Thoughts but those of Isabella As soon as he had made an end of expressing his Joy he fell to consulting how and when she should escape and since it was uncertain when she should be offer'd the Key for she would not ask for it she resolved give him notice either by word of Mouth or a bit of Paper she would write in and give him through the Grate the first opportunitys and parting for that time they both resolv'd to get up what was possible for their Support till Time shauld reconcile Affairs and Friends and to wait the happy hour Isabella's dead Mother had left jewells of the value of 2000 l. to her Daughter at her Decease which Jewels were in the possession now of the Lady Abbess and were upon Sale to be added to the Revenue of the Monasstery and as Isabella
Speech and Isabella's kept them Company for yet she wanted Words Shame and Confusion fill'd her Soul and she was not able to lift her Eyes up to consider the Face of him whose Voice she knew so perfectly well In one momen she run over a thousand Thoughts She finds by his Return she is not only expos'd to all the Shame imaginable to all the Upbraiding on his part when he shall know she is marry'd to another but all the Fury and Rage of Villenoys and the Scorn of the Town who will look on her as an Adulteress She sees Henault poor and knew she must fall from all the Glory and Tranquillity she had for five happy Years triumph'd in in which time she had known no Sorrow or Care tho' she had endur'd a thousand with Henault She dyes to think however that he should know she had been so lightly in Love with him to marry again and she dyes to think that Villenoys must see her again in the Arms of Henault besides she could not recal her Love for Love like Reputation once fled never returns more ' Tisimpossible to love and cease to love and love another and yet return again to the first Passion tho' the Person have all the Charms or a thousand times more than it had when it first conquer'd This Mistery in Love it may be is not generally known but nothing is more certain One may a while suffer the Flame to languish but there may be a reviving Spark in the Ashes rak'd up that may burn anew but when 't is quite extinguish'd it never returns or rekindles 'T was so with the Heart of Isabella had she believ'd Henault had been living she had lov'd to the last moment of their Lives but alas the Dead are soon forgotten and she now lov'd only Villenoys After they had both thus silently wept with very diffâ—rent Sentiments she thought 't was time to speak and dissembling as well as she could she caress'd him in her Arms and told him She could not express her Surprize and Joy for his Arrival If she did not Embrace him heartily or speak so Passionately as she us'd to do he fancy'd it her Confusion and his being in a condition not so fit to receive Embraces from her and evaded them as much as 't was possible for him to do in respect to her till he had dress'd his Face and put himself in order but the Supper being just brought up when he knock'd she order'd him to sit down and Eat and he desir'd her not to let Maria know who he was to see how long it would be before she knew him or would call him to mind But Isabella commanded Maria to make up a Bed in such a Chamber without disturbing her Fellows and dismiss'd her from waiting at Table The Maid admir'd what strange good and joyful News this Man had brought her Mistress that he was so Treated and alone with her which never any Man had yet been but she never imagin'd the Truth and knew her Lady's Prudence too well to question her Conduct While they were at Supper Isabella oblig'd him to tell her How he came to be reported Dead of which she receiv'd Letters both from Monsieur Villenoys and the Duke of Beaufort and by his Man the News who saw him Dead He told her That after the Fight of which first he gave her an account he being left among the Dead when the Enemy came to Plunder and strip'em they found he had Life in him and appearing as an Eminent Person they thought it better Booty to save me continu'd he and get my Ransom than to strip me and bury me among the Dead so they bore me off to a Tent and recover'd me to Life and after that I was recover'd of my Wounds and sold by the Soldier that had taken me to a Spahee who kept me a Slave setting a great Ransom on me such as I was not able to pay I writ several times to give you and my Father an account of my Misery but receiv'd no Answer and endur'd seven Years of dreadful Slavery When I found at last an opportunity to make my Escape and from that time resolv'd never to cut the Hair of this Beard till I should either see my dearest Isabella again or hear some News of her All that I fear'd was That she was Dead and at that word he fetch'd a deep Sigh and viewing all things so infinitely more Magnificent than he had left 'em or believ'd she could afford and that she was far more Beautiful in Person and Rich in Dress than when he left her He had a thousand Torments of Jealousie that seiz'd him of which he durst not make any mention but rather chose to wait a little and see whether she had lost her Virtue He desir'd he might send for a Barber to put his Face in some handsomer Order and more fit for the Happiness 't was that Night to receive but she told him No Diess no Disguise could render him more Dear and Acceptable to her and that to morrow was time enough and that his Travels had render'd him more fit for Repose than Dressing So that after a little while they had talk'd over all they had a mind to say all that was very indearing on his side and as much Concern as she could force on hers she conducted him to his Chamber which was very rich and which gave him a very great addition of Jealousie However he suffer'd her to help him to Bed which she seem'd to do with all the tenderness in the World and when she had seen him laid she said She would go to her Prayers and come to him as soon as she had done which being before her usual Custom it was not a wonder to him she stay'd long and he being extreamly tir'd with his Journy fell asleep 'T is true Isahella essay'd to Pray but alas it was in vain she was distracted with a thousand Thoughts what to do which the more she thought the more it distracted her she was a thousand times about to end her Life and at one stroke rid her self of the Infamy that she saw must inevitably fall upon her but Nature was frail the Tempter strong And after a thousand Convulsions even worse than Death it self she resolv'd upon the Murder of Henault as the only means of removing all Obstacles to her future Happiness she resolv'd on this but after she had done so she was seiz'd with so great Horror that she imagin'd if she perform'd it she sho sid run Mad and yet if she did not she should be also Frantick with the Shames and Miseries that would befal her and believing the Murder the least Evil since she could never live with him she fix'd her Heart on that and causing her self to be put immediately to Bed in her own Bed she made Maria go to hers and when all was still she softly rose and taking a Candle with her only in her Night-Gown and Slippers
she goes to the Bed of the Unfortunate Henault with a Penknife in her hand but considering she knew not how to conceal the Blood should she cut his Throat she resolves to Strangle him or Smother him with a Pillow that last Thought was no sooner borne but put in Execution and as he soundly slept she smother'd him without any Noise or so much as his Strugling But when she had done this dreadful Deed and saw the dead Corps of her once-lov'd Lord lye Smiling as it were upon her she fell into a Swound with the Horror of the Deed and it had been well for her she had there dy'd but she reviv'd again and awaken'd to more and new Horrors she flyes all frighted from the Chamber and fancies the Phantom of her dead Lord persues her she runs from Room to Room and starts and stares as if she saw him continually before her Now all that was ever Soft and Dear to her with him comes into her Heart and she finds he conquers anew being Dead who could not gain her Pity while Living While she was thus flying from her Guilt in vain she hears one knock with Authority at the Door She is now more affrighted if possible and knows not whither to fly for Refuge she fancies they are already the Officers of Justice and that Ten thousand Tortures and Wrecks are fastening on her to make her confess the horrid Murder the knocking increases and so loud that the Laundry Maids believing it to be the Woman that us'd to call them up and help them to Wash rose and opening the Door let in Villenoys who having been at his Country Villa and finding there a Footman instead of his Friend who waited to tell him His Master was fallen sick of the Small Pox and could not wait on him he took Horse and came back to his lovely Isabella but running up as he us'd to do to her Chamber he found her not and seeing a Light in another Room he went in but found Isabella flying from him out at another Door with all the speed she could he admires at this Action and the more because his Maid told him Her Lady had been a Bed a good while he grows a little Jealous and persues her but still she flies at last he caught her in his Arms where she fell into a swound but quickly recovering he set her down in a Chair and kneeling before her implor'd to know what she ayl'd and why she fled from him who ador'd her She only fix'd a ghastly Look upon him and said She was not well Oh! said he put not me off with such poor Excises Isabella never fled from me when Ill but came to my Arms and to my Bosom to find a Cure therefore tell me what 's the matter At that she fell a weeping in a most violent manner and cry'd She was for ever undone He being mov'd with Love and Compassion conjur'd her to tell what she ayl'd Ah! said she thou and I and all of us are undone At this he lost all Patience and rav'd and cry'd Tell me and tell me immediately what 's the matter When she saw his Face pale and his Eyes fierce she fell on her knees and cry'd Oh! you can never Pardon me if I should tell you and yet alas I am innocent of Ill by all that 's good I am But her Conscience accusing her at that word she was silent If thou art Innocent said Villenoys taking her up in his Arms and kissing her wet Face By all that 's Good I Pardon thee what ever thou hast done Alas said she Oh! but I dare not name it 'till you swear By all that 's Sacred reply'd he and by whatever Oath you can oblige me to by my inviolable Love to thee and by thy own dear Self I swear whate're it be I do forgive thee I know thou art too good to commit a Sin I may not with Honour pardon With this and hearten'd by his Caresses she told him That Henault was return'd and repeating to him his Escape she said She had put him his Bed and when he expected her to come she fell on her Knees at the Bed side and confess'd She was married to Villenoys at that word said she he fetch'd a deep Sigh or two and presently after with a very little struggling dy'd and yonder he lyes still in the Bed. After this she wept so abundantly that all Villenoys could do could hardly calm her Spirits but after consulting what they should do in this Affair Villenoys ask'd her Who of the House saw him She said Only Maria who knew not who he was so that resolving to save Isabella's Honour which was the only Misfortune to come Villenoys himself propos'd the carrying him out to the Bridge and throwing him into the River where the Stream would carry him down to the Sea and lose him or if he were found none could know him So Villenoys took a Candle and went and look'd on him and found him altogether chang'd that no Body would know who he was he therefore put on his Clothes which was not hard for him to do for he was foarce yet cold and comforting again Isabella as well as he could he went himself into the Stable and fetch'd a Sack such as they us'd for Oats a new Sack whereon stuck a great Needle with a Packthread in it this Sack he brings into the House and shews to Isabella telling her He would put the Body in there for the better convenience of carrying it on his Back Isabella all this while said but little but fill'd with Thoughts all Black and Hellish she ponder'd within while the Fond and Passionate Villenoys was endeavouring to hide her Shame and to make this an absolute Secret She imagin'd that could she live after a Deed so black Villenoys would be eternal reproaching her if not with his Tongue at least with his Heart and embolden'd by one Wickedness she was the readier for another and another of such a Nature as has in my Opinion far less Excuse than the first but when Fate begins to afflict she goes through-stitch with her Black Work. When Villenoys who would for the Safety of Isabella's Honour be the sole Actor in the disposing of this Body and since he was Young Vigorous and Strong and able to bear it would trust no one with the Secret he having put up the Body and ty'd it fast set it on a Chair turning his Back towards it with the more conveniency to take it upon his Back bidding Isabella give him the two Corners of the Sack in his Hands telling her They must do this last Office for the Dead more in order to the securing their Honour and Tranquillity hereafter than for any other Reason and bid her be of good Courage till he came back for it was not far to the Bridge and it being the dead of the Night he should pass well enough When he had the Sack on his Back and ready to go with it