find him more formidable when we are less childish It was thus that those two lovely Princes entertained themselves at the Age of twelve Years In the mean while Endeavours were used to inspire Frederick with as much Indifference as was necessary for the Personage he was to represent and more particularly they insinuated into him that to reign peaceably upon his Throne it was requisite he should reign over his own Heart The King his Father had taken Care to instruct him betimes with the Reasons of his Disguise and had made him promise that during his Life and that of Berranger he would never discover what he was for the depriving his Enemy of the Hopes of succeeding him in Sicily Frederick embraced these Sentiments and knew no other Passion than that of reigning At length having attained to the Age of seventeen Years he was instructed in all the Exercises that are in use with Men wherein he so excelled that he seemed the most accomplished Prince of his Time His Stature though tall for a Woman was middle seized for a Man but so full of Sweetness that it was impossible to forbear being charmed with it His Eyes were black sparkling and sweet mingled with a Flame and an engaging Languishing in short all his Person was composed after such a manner as was capable of inspiring the most insensible with Affection Having attained to that Season wherein Love commits so many Disorders he began to observe himself more strictly well knowing that if that Passion was so much to be avoided by all People it was much more so for him who would be obliged to keep very perplexing Measures with those should have rendred him sensible He saw daily a number of handsome Princes and having examined himself he did not yet find any Motions which he could be any ways apprehensive of Besides he imagined that his Disguise sheltring him from the Gallantries of Lovers would likewise secure him against the Attempts of Love but therein he was mistaken in his Accounts He quickly perceived by the Conquests that his good Meen had made that a Passion may be produced without the help of another Several Beauties sighed for him in secret and some openly enough to make themselves understood insomuch that the Crowd of his Mistresses importuning him he imagined that his best Course would be to dissemble an Intrigue by which means he would deprive them of their Hopes and by Consequence divert the Designs they might have upon his Heart Besides being persuaded that Gallantry is very becoming a young Prince he was willing to affect a Passion whose Appearances could be no ways troublesome Yolanda the Lord High Admiral 's Daughter seemed the most proper for his Design she was aimable enough to imagine her self beloved upon the least Declaration and young enough not to distinguish a real from a feigned Passion Nor was he deceived in all these Conjectures Yolandeck loved him in good Earnest and all those who might have been capable of pursuing any Designs against the Liberty of this Prince and who had made too much hast to present him with their Hearts disengaged themselves as soon as they perceived that he payed his Vows to this Lady Only Amedea the Lord Admiral 's second Wife whom her Husband had never acquainted with the Cheat that was put upon all the Earth was deceived therein as well as others and likewise observed more Charms in the Person of Frederick since her Daughter-in-Law had seemed to her to have a Kindness for him She saw him every day and finding his way of loving very delicate she endeavours to divert Vows that were only imaginary She was beautiful and had not yet attained to thirty Years which is not an Age to discard Lovers And tho' her haughty and imperious Carriage would have discouraged all those whom her Beauty had made her Conquests she imagined that by abating something in Favour of the Prince she would make him the more value what she did only for his sake wherefore her Eyes spoke but spoke to no purpose When Love does not make it self known to a Heart it is Death to the Language of the Eyes there wanted a Clearer Explication with Frederick who was free from any amorous Impression But the Admiral 's Lady was not of a Humour to proceed so far and her Passion being constrained to contain it self within the too narrow Bounds which her Haughtiness prescribed it manifested it self by cold and despising Looks which she had the Confidence to treat that Prince with when he came to pay her Visits out of Devoir that he might see at the same time her Daughter-in-law whom she had ever in her Eye since the Discovery she had made of her Amour with Frederick In the mean while the passionate Yolanda was forbidden to look upon the Prince of Sicily as a Lover But she chose rather to deprive her self of so dear a Sight han to consider as an other man the Person whom her Heart had found so excelling and went to a House her Father had some Leagues from Messina where sheltring her self from the Persecution of her Mother-in-Law she imagined that by a little Absence she should the more inflame the Passion of her Lover In the mean time the Prince of Sicily seeing how easie it was for him to engage Hearts he now grew willing to spare them out of Pitty He had no other Intrigue during the time of Yolanda's absence having too little Acquaintance with Love to amuse himself any longer with such kind of Follies Hunting was his greatest Divertisement wherein Prince Leon was his constant Companion As they were one day returning from running a Stag they saw a Vessel strangely battered by the Winds and Waves which having forced it several times against the Rocks notwithstanding the skill of the Pilots it was going infallibly to suffer Shipwrack whereupon they sent their Servant who with Boats took up some Persons from the Wracks of this unfortunate Ship and Frederick having informed himself concerning them with an unusual Curiosity he was told that they were apparently Persons of Quality which their Air did sufficiently bespeak them Frederick by I know not what Instinct being moved and concerned at their Misfortune beseeched the King his Father to send for them to Court Immediately they were provided with all things necessary for all they had been able to do was only to save their Lives and their Baggage was lost with the rest of their Train Leon came to the Palace a little before they arrived there and having found out Frederick they were discoursing of the Pleasure they had had in Hunting when they saw two persons come in equally well made who drew their Eyes and those of all the Court being a man of a very high Appearance accompanied with a very beautiful Lady who notwithstanding the Sadness and Grief that their Shipwrack had caused in them failed not to give Birth to far greater Dangers than that they had newly escaped Leon was dazzled
the Crown of Sicily she found in Recompence a Prince full of Charms a Prince who might be engaged in her Favour she no longer found a Rival and that Obstacle being removed did sufficiently make amends for all that might be contrary to her Thus being in Repose as to her Lover she was no longer disquieted about obtaining him for her Husband Ardalin's Body was sent back to Barcelonna with all the Magnificence that became him and Menfroy And a Poet made his Epitaph which is as follows Within this Tomb Fidelity is laid With the kind Lover who Nature's Debt hath paid Henceforth like him few Lovers will be seen And in my mind Heaven has too cruel been Who dy'd for Love deserv'd here to have stai'd Nothing could recover Camilla and though Remedies had removed her Fever yet her Affliction was as bad as all Diseases Leon having been Witness of all that had passed between Camilla and Frederick all the assurances he receiv'd from this Prince were not capable of satisfying him He could in no wise comprehend the important Mystery he was to expect the issue of Besides this Princess was in love with another which was sufficient to deprive him of all Repose Amaldee whose Heart was free from any Impression was continually repassing in his memory the Events that had newly happened All his mind was full of the shade of Ardalin and all his Actions shew'd him very Melancholy As he often did walk all alone the Princess of Sicily did the same through another motive insomuch that they often met but never joyned company the Princess's Passion rendring her fearful made her avoid the Person whom her Heart sought with too much eagerness and he either took no notice of it or was not very earnest to ask her the reason However one day as Frederick was passing by him and pretending not to see him Lovers are very salvage said Amaldee to him laughing and I think my self very happy in having my heart of a more obdurate temper than yours after what I know of Love I would not for any thing make the Experience of it but will neglect as much as possible those Beauties who excite so intire an application and since we ought to sacrifice all our thoughts to what we love I am resolved never to love any thing The Princess who was strangely afflicted with this Discourse made him however an answer with something a scornful tone Well keep to that indifference you find so very charming She had not the power to say any thing more but went away very much displeased And Amaldee seeing Frederick depart after that manner was something dissatisfied and not believing he had offended him he made Reflection upon all his reserved and unhandsome Procedure and found in his way of living with him something very particular which he could only take for the Effect of some natural Antipathy He admired how a Person could love the Sister whose Brother he so much hated but resolved however to serve him both in his Hatred and his Amour He wrote to the King his Father and endeavouring to melt him by the good Offices that had been done them he proposed to him a Match between Camilla and Frederick saying that it seemed as if Heaven had already assembled their Hearts for the uniting their Families for ever and adding that Menfroy would not oppose it that the Kindness he had for his Son would make him pass over all manner of Interests that this King was of a generous Nature and that provided he would make the least Advance towards an Accommodation a Peace would quickly be concluded This Letter had not all the Success it ought to have had as will be made appear in the Sequel In the mean time Amaldee not being capable of hating Frederick avoided him however for fear his Presence should prove troublesome Some Days after the Conversation that had separated them they met in such another Conjuncture it was nice Amaldee stept back and Frederick sighed to see that Amaldee retired first a Sigh is not to be interpreted I hate you however that Sigh made the Prince of Majorca think so But Frederick in his Turn could not comprehend the Cause why he should so shun his Company thus they were both deceived by very contrary Reasons If Amaldee's Indifference made him take for Hatred what was nothing less the Tenderness of the Princess of Sicily who easily believed what she apprehended made her likewise take for Contempt what was very far from it for though she did not appear under the Figure of a Lover that did not hinder her from being so and if Neglect ought not to have directly offended her Passion yet she failed not to be wounded by the Effects which the Intention did not sufficiently justifie with her Alas said that Princess Why does he not find himself forced to love me though his Reason does oppose it I find I love him without the Consent of mine but he is far from being under such Circumstances Why has not he more penetrating Eyes and why cannot he distinguish the Heart of a Mistriss under the Figure of a Lover The languishing of my Eyes ought methinks to have unravelled to him this Mistery but his were not willing to see it or if they did they have despised the Discovery The Figure of Frederick is it so contemptible that it has not yet been capable of making a Friend of Amaldee since the Princess of Sicily dares not make him her Lover And not daring to entertain any hopes for her self must she needs be reduced to wish some Respects for Frederick whom Amaldee takes so much care to avoid As Love is addicted to making Verses and that Poetry entertains and charms our Amorous Thoughts she fell to making an Elegy which occasion'd many other Disorders The Princess of Majorca began to leave her Chamber and Frederick who through the Conformity of their Destiny and the resemblance she had with Amaldee afforded her a great deal of Complaisance accompanied her the first day she went abroad after a very melting Conversation Camilla seeing this Prince carry himself with so much kindness began to forget the loss of Ardalin insomuch that having thought some moments she asked him for his Table-book wherein she wrote these following Verses she had newly made In vain one lately dead my Heart did claim And yet another with Love it now has fill'd But when with him for whom our Breast does flame We straight forget whom Cruelty has kill'd This was something to insult the Memory of Ardalin but the least reasonable Sentiments are the most meritorious in Love Frederick answered them at that instant by the four following whose Equivocation failed not to be interpreted by Camilla according as he designed You sigh alas but reging is my smart My Soul being charm'd has more of me requir'd You have the Features of what wounds my Heart But what is that to One like me inspir'd The Princess smiled at this answer and seem'd
his Loving her for fear she should likewise Love him but continued he a moment after I am sensible that I apprehend all on the side of Frederick even without Relation to the Princess I am Mad added he in short I am in Love since I am Jealous and I can only be so of the Princess of Mantua However he could not conclude this in good earnest and he was suspended between his Reason and his Sentiments which he could not accord but had very terrible Allarms Frederick not being able to suffer his Rival to make all the Progress she had a mind to while he should amuse himself in complaints he left his Chamber on the morrow and appeared so sad but so lovely that the Princess of Mantua commended him extraordinarily and gave Presentiments of the Truth to the Queen whom experience rendred knowing in Womens thoughts of Frederick she found two Rivals and was not her self Beloved This was sufficient to prompt her to terrible extremities she was naturally Imperious however as Love works great changes in the minds of those it possesses the excess of her Passion made her undertake what she would never have done without its aid Frederick happening to lean upon a Window where he was profoundly Pensive she approached him under the pretext of looking into the Gardens You are unworthy said she to him of the kind thoughts some Persons entertain of you You ought to have perceived that I Love you you Love Camilla and I will give her to you but likewise let this extraordinary effect ingage you to some acknowledgment She did not wait for his Answer and a great Blush covering her Face she went from thence to go find out the King of whom she demanded Camilla's Pardon and told him that his Severity ought to be satisfied and that it was now time to take her again into his Favour The King could hardly be prevailed with to give his consent but after a thousand Caresses for which he had no reason to be much obliged to her she obtained what she demanded upon condition however that his Daughter should not appear in his Presence From thence she went to Camilla's Apartment whom she found under so great a sadness as would have melted with pity any other than a Rival The absence of Frederick whose Company was enjoyed by the Admirals Widdow and all his other Mistrisses was such an affliction as she had been ignorant of till that time and which she had the leisure to feel in all its extent She received the Queens Visit with no small astonishment but her surprise was cruelly augmented when she entertained her with the following Discourse Go thank the Prince of Sicily for your Pardon it is to him that you are indebted for it he sets you free by playing you an Infidelity with the Princess of Mantua Camilla was not willing to purchase her Liberty at that rate and the Queen went away without saying any thing more As by breeding a quarrel between her and Frederick she deprived her of the fruit of the service which she seemingly designed her she was in hopes that all would turn to her own advantage Camilla would rather have chosen to have continued in doubt of what passed between Frederick and the Admirals Widdow than to have the certainty of his being become a Votary to the Princess of Mantua a new Rival revives all our griefs they augment every time we fall under them anew because we add the fresh troubles to those we had already Penetrated with a thousand different thoughts she only followed that which spight inspired her with which was never to speak to Frederick And indeed she had so much address to avoid the occasions of doing so that tho he should have sought them more than he did he would never have found an opportunity Frederick the Princess of Mantua and the Queen did so well justifie all that had been said that there was no place for any doubt The Princess of Sicily was very glad to deprive the Person of a Heart who had deprived her of hers and by that means take revenge for all the torments Amaldee had put her to which she did with success As they one day met said that Prince very dolefully to him Well you are in Love with my Mistress must I yield her to you Do not yield her to me said he scornfully we must dispute for her Heart by Services and notwithstanding the affection I have for her must she necessarily be yours The affection which you have for her answered Amaldee Ah! this I find insupportable How shall I then be betrayed by my best Friend We must quarrel if you Love the Princess of Mantua Let us quarrel said the Princess of Sicily outraged to see motions in him which she did not think herself the cause of for Love had never produced so many Caprices without making himself known as he did in the Soul of Amaldee they spoke no more to one another that day and the Princess of Sicily spending with her Rivals all the hours she would have spent with her Lover did recompence herself for what she might lose because he was also a loser and she imployed her time in putting obstacles to the progresses which his Passion might make if she could not hinder him from being in love too happy in having so useful an occupation This made a diversion to her sentiments which Idleness would have rendred more fervent The Princess of Mantua was Charmed to see so happy a sucsess in her design which at first she did not think capable of being executed she no longer made reflection upon the difficulty she had foreseen therein since it was now removed When we are satisfied with the present we are not inclinable to take views of unacceptable remembrances or when we do make some reflections upon them our passed sufferings do only help to make us find more pleasures by the opposition of the present delightful entertainments The Queen was in a fury to see that a change had been wrought according to her Maxims and that it was not so in her favour she would have found it less cruel to have seen that Frederick had continued to love Camilla than to see that he began to be in love with the Princess of Mantua he might well have sigh'd for her daughter without giving her offence he knew not then that she was beautiful but after having both known her to be so and had received Testimonies of her Affection to sacrifice her to another could not be without a horrible Contempt It is particularly the preference which outrages Camilla for her part had no other Course to take than that of complaining with her Brother and he of complaining with his Sister thus they augmented their griefs by mingling them together The Admirals Widdow who made a strict inquiry after all that concernd Frederick was informed to the very least circumstances of her misfortune she became a friend of the Princess of Majorca since
with that she was even afraid that the Princesses Sex would not secure her from his Suspitions since her prudence had not been able to do so Neither would the Princess of Mantua nor Camilla now see under the proper Figure the Person they had found so pleasing under one that was borrowed They hated the Princess of Sicily from the time that she was no longer Frederick but she did not remain abandoned the Prince of Majorca gave her all his thoughts which did sufficiently comfort her for those she lost elsewhere What a delight was it to her to see her self beloved this was a Novelty she had never seen a Lover at her feet it is very pleasing to see one there but it is the highest Felicity when it is one the Woman Loves Ah! cryed Amaldee all transported Why did you wait so long to triumph over a heart that ought to be wholly yours from the time it was capable of Loving I have felt it is true some tender longings towards you but I lost the Pleasure by not knowing the motions of my heart nor the merit of the Object who inspired me with them A thousand sighs with which he repaired the time he had been without knowing the use of them and a thousand disquiets he was in for her Life did make her sufficient satisfaction for those she had thought to no purpose She had not Courage to make him languish longer without telling him what he had inspired her with As he was one day Comparing before her the sentiments he had had for Frederick and those he had for the Princess of Sicily she was willing likewise to give him a prospect of her own they took delight in examining all their most secret Motions and lived already the Most happily in the world when that the two Kings consented to Consummate their felicity and to make Peace by uniting their two familyes the Princess of Mantua could not oppose it she had loved Frederick at a time she was to have been Amaldee's Wife which was sufficient to hinder her from being able to reproach him with the preference he made of the Princess of Sicily besides that Princess had tryumphed over her heart under the figure of a Rival for to see her tryumph with another under that of a Mistress Insomuch that the Princess of Mantua returned two days after the wound was given without giving the Princess of Sicily one visit she told the King that having a designe to quit the world she thanked him for all the favours he had bestowed upon her and that she should be full of an eternal acknowledgment he was very glad to see her take leave of her self the only obstacle to what he projected being thereby removed thus they were all well satisfied at Majorca Camilla recovered her Lover and a Match was Concluded between her and Prince Leon he had ever Conserved for her a Character of so handsome Passion that he could not fail of being recompensed at the end he had voluntarily deprived him sel of the satisfaction of giving her marks of his tenderness which displeases when a Lover is not acceptable and he gave her a full view of it when that the Princess of Sicily had sent for him by the permission of Menfroy to whom Berranger writ all that had passed demanding of him with great earnestness the honour of his Allyance Leon brought Menfroy's Consent to Berranger those two things whom no endeavours had been able to reconcile were made friends by the intercession of their Chidreu when Prince Leon saw Camilla at the passion he had ever had received and augmented he renewed to her his vowes which she recieved with a most sincere affection the Princess of Sicily was Charmed with that reunion and saying one day to Camilla that Love had made use of her to render her more tractable that Princess made answer that after having examined her self she had observed that the respect and addresses of Leon had at first produced in her soul which it durst not have discovered but under an other Name this being said in the presence of that Lover it filled him full of Joy and Amaldee looking maliciously upon Camilla called to mind those verses which his sister had made for Frederick at the time she thought her self sure of his heart Ah! how vast are the delights Of two hearts whom love Unites When in each others Breast they see Flames that great and equal be Ah! the transports Ah! the joys The bliss the sports and Amorous toys Nought can in short more sweet and happy prove Than hearts who know themselve inspired with Love This put her something to the blush out of a remain of spite she made the application thereof to Prince Leon who cast himself at her feet by way of thanks Amaldee was more and more charmed with his lovely Princess whom he Married shortly after under the name of Constance Queen of Sicily menfroy being dead much about that time the Four Lovers lived in a perfect Union the rest of their days Camila contracted a friendship with the new Queen as soon as Leon had ingaged her heart indifference gives I know not what lukewarmness for all things which ever ceases when it is gone and we are capable of all the fine Sentiments as soon as we begin to entertain such as are Amorous the Queen being uncapable of doing better brought her inclinations under the same confinement they had been in before she saw Frederick the Admiral 's Widdow found a Husband at Majorca and Yolanda one in Sicily in short they all recovered their former Tranquility THE END
left them in Sicily you must know that after the Fleet was returned Victorious although in Consternation upon Frederick's being taken people were divided between Joy and Grief every one was sensible of their particular losses and it was enough that they did not afflict themselves with the Princes imprisonment since they were assured of his being alive without that rejoycing at the gaining a Battle which Sicily paid so dear for several considerable persons had lost their Lives therein and amongst others the Lord High Admiral as we have said was Killed His Widdow whom he left in right to dispose of her self resolved to make use of it in favour of her Lover she had apparently a very sensible Grief for the Death of her Husband and people were not surprised at the Resolution she had taken to leave the World but she had not yet renounced its Pleasures which she still found was not without Charms she was only obliged to go seek them afar off The Object of her Delight was now at Majorca and she resolved to spare no endeavours to find him out After that the first Ceremonies of Mourning were over she pretended to retire into a Convent In the mean while Camilla knowing Frederick to be at Majorca had a great desire to return thither and did not think it convenient to stay any longer in the Dominions of an Enemy against the Will of her Parents she went to the King and told him that it was not Just that Berranger's Daughter should be well treated by a Prince whose Son was in the hands of her Father who did not restore him that Liberty which he had given Amaldee I ought not said she to share in his ingratitude by suffering it I am ohliged to make it my whole endeavour to set the Prince at Liberty send me back to Majorca if you can confide in me Without doubt the King my Father will at length be melted with so much Generosity But in Case he continues Obdurate notwithstanding all your Favours leave me to manage this business with Address and I promise you that you shall see him again in a short time or that I will come and remit my self into your hands Perhaps she did really mean all that she had spoken But Memfroy without much considering her intention told her Madam provided that your intrests may still be preserved I shall not be sorry to be obliged to you for the Liberty of my Son He had already caused an offer to be made Berranger to render her upon very advantagious Conditions but he would in no wise hearken to it Nothing was so advantagious to him as to have the Prince of Sicily in his Dominions insomuch that Memfroy desparing of seeing him without renewing a War the success whereof is ever doubtful adventured to send back Camilla and delivering up voluntarily an Hostage that Chance had given him He fancied that he should thereby oblige Berranger to restore what Fortune had given him likewise Insomuch that all things being prepared for Camilla's departure she was sent back with a Noble Convoy and the Admirals Widdow taking that opportunity to go to Majorca did mingle her self in the Crowd of those who accompanied her She Transvested her self into a Cavalier and was so well disguised that she hardly knew her self Several days passed without any ill success in her Design Camilla was almost ever shut up in her Cabin with one of her Maids in whom she most Confided and without doubt the Admirals Widdow would not have been Discovered if her Love had not betrayed her The Character of a Lover is too remarkable not to be distinguished She bethought her self of making an Acquaintance with the Princesses Confident hoping to know by that means in what terms Frederick stood with Camilla though the Admirals Widdow did believe her self beloved There needs so little to wound a Passion that incertainty has ever been the share of those who are in Love Thus she did all she could to have a clear Information she thought that the best course would be for her to win the Heart of that Maid for the discovering of her Mistresses Secrets and as nothing renders People so dextrous as Love she acted the Lover so naturally that this Confident took delight in believing that she inspired her with some tender motions The habit of hearing amarous Discourse had prepared her Heart to entertain those soft and tender Vows and the sentiments of the Princess had seemed to her to be so sweet that she could not forbear following them The Admirals Widdow made a very pretty Gentleman and seemed very deserving the Ladys Favours Thus a great progress was made in the Heart of that Maid when unluckily she had a desire to speak of her Galant It is impossible for People to forbear starting in all their Discourse something of the Object their Soul is full of and we sometimes meet with such Persons who had rather speak ill of their Victorys than be constrained to say nothing at all of them She was ever hearing Camilla commending hers and it is no small constraint to be always hearing when we have so many things to say She could not forbear breaking so troublesome a silence which she did so dextrously that she both found the means to please her Mistriss and satisfie her self at the same time The Admirals Widdow had often talked to her of Frederick and the Maid made use of that pretext to speak in Commendation of her Galant Madam said she to her I know a Sicilian here on Board who has a most particular Affection for his Prince and I dare assure you that he is the most zealous of his Subjects Camilla was too tender not to be Charmed with the affection that people had for Frederick we think our selves indebted to others for the kind sentiments they have for what we love and she was willing that the pretended Sicilian should know how kindly she took his good will Her Confident was upon the wing to call him but at first he made some resistance yet being obliged to obey he disguised his voice so well that he was not known till speaking of Frederick a blush surprised him and it was easily perceived that he studyed what he had to say his discourse had no relation the one part with another his Motions appeared in their Naturals and his true tone of Voice returned on him The Admirals Widdow was too sincere upon this Subject for to be able to conceal any thing from Jealousy Madam said she to her I thought you very busy in Works of Piety but the Habit of a man which you have put on does not persuade me that you have had any such Motive The Admirals Widdow made her a very smart Answer for there is no keeping of rank amongst Rivals and the Conformity of Sentiments does in some manner equal persons their Conversation was very bitter during some time but at length they were appeased being there was no Remedy and agreed hoping to deceive
have deferred so long the telling you that you are Free but now hence forward nothing shall detain you all things shall be ready for your going on Board and that to Morrow if no Body stay you here I pretend to render Civility for Civility to the King of Sicily by restoring him his Son And indeed Berranger had found his Glory to revive extreamly upon the Queens being in disorder and accusing himself of having not too well managed it He managed at the same time his own repose He paid great Civilities to Frederick who only answered him with a profound bow he had not the power to thank him for a thing which puts him into despair and for the restoring him to a Liberty which he found would be insupportable How sensible was the Princess of Sicily's grief to depart in a time when her Presence might support the Sentiments that Amaldee would infallibly have entertained of her To depart without making her self known or to make her self known when she was to depart were such tumultuous reflections that some time was requisite for her to come to a determination the Queen being no less to be pitied than she The Idea of never seeing what we Love is the most cruel thing that imagination can represent it was requisite that she should see him at least once more Yet the King besieged continually and the thing was almost impossible In this pressing need she was constrained to run some risque She Confided in the discretion of one of her Maids of Honor whose Chamber she thought most convenient for the interview being there was a way to it by a back pair of Stairs This Woman took care to conduct Frederick thither who was resolved to imploy his Credit with the Queen being ignorant of the share she had in that adventure The King having set spies to watch him that Evening he failed not to have notice given him of the way he had taken The Queen finding her self indisposed had placed her self upon a Bed of repose where all bathed in Tears she saw Frederick at her knees being as full of grief as her self he conjured her tenderly to imploy her credit for the deferring a departure which would be so fatal to him they were in that posture when they heard the Chamber door thundred open and saw the King with his Sword in his hand he made a full pass at Frederick who happened to be first in his reach the Queen made her escape by the back pair of Stairs he ran to persue her but not finding her he met with Amaldee and Camilla whom we sent to the place where all this disorder passed finding that his vengeance would be the more compleat if all the World knew it and that he added to it the trouble of all such Persons as took part in Frederick the Princess of Mantua was likewise informed of this accident by the rumors that were spread of through all the Palace Her tenderness was now revived and she no longer found him culpable since he had now expiated his Crime by his Bloud that was shed Insomuch that she ran thither as well as the rest their shrieks were heard on all sides in that Chamber and it was a very lamentable spectacle to see Frederick weltring in his own bloud The Princess of Mantua and Camilla embraced one another in shedding a torrent of Tears These two Rivals were no longer Enemies and their common misfortune left them no other Sentiments than for the lamenting what they Loved It being necessary to undress Frederick they withdrew and his wound was searched But how dangerous a one did Amaldee receive when he saw an admirable Bosom tinctured in several parts with bloud yet heightned its natural Whiteness This cannot be expressed Love making himself known to him in that cruel Moment he made him feel it with all its Violence The Princess of Sicily was Fainted away she was thought to be dead she no longer breathed But Amaldee approaching her heard her still Sigh he having caused that heart to move again which he had so much agitated she opened feebly her Eyes and cast a piercing look upon the amorous Amaldee and immediately shut them again Ah! Lovely Eyes cried he are you closed for ever He imagined she had given her last Sigh he did the Actions of a Mad-man and being no longer capable of governing himself he suffered those Persons to conduct him whom the Queen had sent to give help to Frederick to the Apartment of those afflicted Beauties he did not acquaint them with so surprising an adventure he little thought of comforting them or of telling them a piece of News which would only have served to the redoubling his own despair they were all in a gloomy silence which being caused by a violent grief did lively express it there remained in those Princesses a ray of hopes which tormented them more than the entire assurance of their misfortune could have done We suffer our selves to be transported with rage when the mischief is without Remedy and there is at least but that Motion which hurries the Soul away with that Violence and which leaves it not the leisure to be sensible of all its torments but when we are divided between small hopes and a great deal of fear we feel a thousand Conflicts which as it were tore us and cannot be calmed but by the loss of the one or other They quickly lost them both to make way for something that was much more afflicting Word was brought that Frederick had been discovered to be the Princess of Sicily then all the motions which they had so improperly entertained dissipating themselves on a sudden they fell into a kind of Lithurgy in comparison of which they found all their Allarms to be soft and pleasing In the mean while the Princess of Sicily's wound being searched was found not to be Mortal which News being carried to the King he received it as the cure of all his ills The Queen no longer gave him any embraces nothing hindred him from joyning the Crown of Sicily to his own and finding his Honour secure and his ambition satisfied he learnt with great satisfaction a thing that was necessary both for his own repose and that of his People He sought out the Queen to ask her pardon for his rage and was willing to believe that it was only to the Princess of Sicily that the Assignation had been given since it was but effectually her The Queen was so confused with so many changes that she knew not what answer to make she was in fear that it was a surprise that the King would put upon her and could perhaps have wished it Nothing was so disagreeable to her as to learn she had no longer a Lover and what was more that she had not had one It was in vain that he endeavoured to render her a Witness of that Truth she excused her self telling him after a spightful manner which her Virtue too well justified inspired her
THE FEMALE PRINCE OR FREDERICK OF SICILY In Three Parts LONDON Printed for H. Rodes next door to the Bear Tavern near Bride Lane in Fleetstreet 1682. TO THE Right Honourable THE COUNTESS OF CONWAY Madam IT is now become so general a Custome to Devote things of this nature to some eminent Patronage that such as appear in the World without a considerable Protector seem like men abandoned by their good Genius run a kind of Gauntlet and lye exposed to the lashes of every Satirical Wit Thus Madam having found so much Innocence and Beauty in this Story as made me think it Merited a better Destiny I have presumed to make an Offering of it to your Ladyship in hopes that the entertainment it may afford will both atone for the confidence of this Address and ingage your Ladyship to allow it your Favour and Countenance I was easily made sensible that it could be no where so sure as in such a Sanctuary since so many Illustrious even Divine Qualities conspire to the Composing your Ladyships Character that it would be a kind of Prophanation to attach it when owned by a Person of your Fame and Merit For it is not only Madam all the advantages of Wit and Beauty of Alliance and Extraction that have procured you that Universal admiration in the World your Ladyship is as much renowned for the Qualities of your Mind as you are for those of Body and Fortune insomuch that all the Incense the Age can afford is not sufficient to Celebrate so much Merit and Virtue nor am I able to express the respect and Devotion with which I am Madam Your Ladyships most Humble and most Obedient Servant F. S. THE FEMALE PRINCE OR FREDERICK OF SICILY PART I. SIcily enjoyed great Satisfaction in the Reign of Menfroy that Prince having all the Qualities which obtain the Admiration of the People He had render'd himself formidable both in Spain and Italy and tho' he had no other Enemies than those his Valour had occasioned he had already given several Battels and it is certain that he conquered as often as he fought Queen Cassandra his Wife Daughter of Roger King of Naples was likewise an accomplish'd Princess having all the Virtues that can be wish'd for in a Great Queen and the King who loved her with an extraordinary Affection would have had nothing more to desire if Heaven had not deprived him of several Princes whom the Queen had brought into the World This misfortune of their Family made a great part of their Lives very afflicting Daughters not being capable of Succeeding in the Crown that Kingdom must inevitably have fallen into the hands of Berranger King of Majorca Minorca and Terra Nova his Cousin-German and greatest Enemy These two Kings being extraordinarily animated against one another would never have suspended the Effects of their Hatred if Prince Ordogne Count of Barcelonna and their Allies had not made them agree to a Truce which they represented to be necessary for the Repose of their People The King of Sicily notwithstanding the Advantages he had over Berranger was prevailed with to consent to this Proposition for indeed continual Victory does almost as much weary the Conquerour as the Vanquished and the King of Majorca being brought into Despair through the ill Success of his Arms accepted though with Repugnance all the Conditions that the King of Sicily imposed upon him hoping that by the Length of the Truce he might the better put himself in a Posture of resisting the Forces of Menfroy who had almost exhausted all those of his Kingdom Those kind of Treaties that are made out of Necessity do not put an end to Quarrels they only help to foment them and the Moment of seeing them revived is impatiently expected Such were the Sentiments of Berranger and which he endeavoured to inspire as much as possible in young Amaldee his Son and the young Camilla as soon as they came out of their Nurses Arms. The King of Sicily being returned to Messina the place of his usual Residence found the Queen his Wife ready to lye in This Princâ—ss who through the loss of her Children was become insensible of any Joy received the King with all the Tenderness she was capable of but with a Languishing and Dejectedness that cannot be conceived The King made it his Business to divert her Grief putting her in hopes that Heaven would be more favourable to them and that it would perhaps conserve the Child with which she went but if by Misfortune she was delivered of a Girl he was resolved to conceal her Sex and to bring her up as a Prince Majeur a Name consecrated in Sicily as the Prince of Wales in England for to exclude Berranger from hopes of succeeding in his Crown The Queen did willingly agree to this Design and some days after she was brought to Bed of a Princess who was called Frederick a Name famous in Sicily The Nurse Governess and the Lord High Admiral were the only Persons who had the Secret of this important Mystery The Queen dyed some time after whose Loss occasioned a publick Affliction the King being infinitely grieved and received no Consolation but what the sight of Frederick afforded him of whom he took a most particular Care And indeed never was Prince better bred than this his Natural Endowments being polished by a good Education quickly rendred him the most accomplished of all those of his Age. He was a Prodigy of Beauty but his Wit surpassed the Charms of his Person whereof he gave early and considerable Instances The young Prince of Naples called Leon who was brought up with Frederick walking one day with him and seeing a Number of fair Ladies attended by a Throng of Courtiers they continued their Walk with great Indifference as to those who followed them which Prince Leon taking notice of You must confess said he to Frederick that we are no great Gallants since we are so solitary in the Presences of so many Beauties You are in the right replyed Frederick we might at least agreeably employ our Eyes though our Hearts are not yet in a State of being sensisible but it is perhaps the little Peril we should thereby run that makes us so negligent of pursuing it The Truth is dear Cousin said Leon to him with an Ingenuity altogether charming I am very far from running any such Danger and hitherto I find in my self so little Disposition to Love that it would require a great deal of time to prepare me for the least Sence of it There needs no more replyed Frederick gallantly than two Eyes and perhaps not so many Years to make you change your Stile But you said the Prince of Naples once again Do not you find something surprizing in what they tell us of Love whom they describe to us as an Infant and however would persuade us that he is a dreadful Enemy I know not what to think of it said Frederick to him but perhaps we shall
Amaldee he had a terrible Aversion for all the Nation and which this Princess did not fail to apply to her self in particular through the singular Interest she took therein though she looked upon Camilla as her Rival she failed not to pay her Visits very often that she might see there her Lover who notwithstauding his Indifference appeared to her very lovely She came once thither just as Prince Leon in Despair of having found Camilla so ill disposed to hear him was rising for to be gone Camilla changed colour at the sight of Frederick who blushed at the sight of Amaldee and Leon out-raged to see all this Disorder resolved to stay there still that he might observe Motions that put him upon the Rack Amaldee alone had so satisfyed an Air that the Princess of Sicily thought him the most happy of all men and after a light Coversation her Heart full of Sighs which she found difficult to stifle and her Eyes moist with Tears which she could no longer contain she went away not being able to support the sad Reflection she made upon Amaldee's Happiness But the Princess Camilla had other Sentiments of this so precipitated Departure and having well observed the Disorder of Frederick in the Presence of her Brother she imagined and applauded her self in secret for being the Cause of it Amaldee being left alone with his Sister for Leon went away a Moment after Frederick proposed to her the continuing of their Voyage and told her that they had remained too long in an Enemies Country that it was requisite they should be gone with the soonest and that too towards Barcelonna where Prince Ardalin impatiently expected them Camilla trembled at this Discourse and putting all in practise for the deferring still for some Time that terrible Departure she made him consent though with great Repugnance to all she had a Mind In the mean while he resolved to dispatch privately some one to the King his Father for to give him notice of all that had happened since their Departure and going out something dissatisfied with his Sister's Change of Humor he went to walk alone in the Palace Gardens Immediately he heard some confused Voices and approaching something nearer he distinguished that of Frederick and that of Leon who were parleying something sharply I congratulate said the Prince of Naples your having made a Conquest without being at the Trouble of the least Advance your Vows are received before they are declared and there is no pretending to any other than the Quality of an unfortunate Lover if a Man had a mind to engage in Sicily Frederick had too many Affairs in his Mind to think of undeceiving him insomuch that he replyed with some Sharpness As you did not consult me about the Choice of your Engagement I do not think my self obliged to give you an Account of the Progress I shall make in mine but believe me let us continue Friends a strange Lady should not disunite us you ought not to understand me all together but you shall know the rest when it is fitting for me to tell it you Then he quitted him for to go into a gloomy Alley where letting a Loose to his Melancholy Humor he remained in a certain Scituation wherein the Soul as it were being preyed upon by it's Lanquour is rendred almost insensible wherein we fly if I may so say from our selves to give our selves up to the beloved Object the Crowd of Thoughts hindring us from being able to distinguish any one and by having too much to resolve on we resolve on nothing In the mean while the Prince of Majorca imagining that the two Princes were his Sisters Lovers he went to inform her of it without thinking that such Advertisements do ever further an amorous Passion instead of preventing it Sister said he gallantly to her You ought to be upon your Guard the Princes of Sicily and of Naples have felt the Power of your Eyes if I am not deceived their Amour will put you to some Trouble Brother said Camilla to him with a little Blush if my Eyes could revenge us of all the Desolation that the Sicilians have committed in our Territories why are not you willing I should employ them against the Prince of Sicily Ah! Sister said Amaldee to her How zealous are you to take up a Quarrel whose Vengeance ought not to be your Province and in all Probability How weakly would you defend your Heart against an Enemy whom your Eyes are willing to attach I confess replyed the Princess hurryed away by her Passion Frederick appears lovely to me and if he was sensible Ah! it is too much interrupted Amaldee let us get out of the Hands and Dominions of a Prince whose Merit is fatal to the Liberty of a Princess who is to command elsewhere It is no longer time to think of that said she to him all in Tears I am no longer Mistriss of my Heart and all the Favour I demand of you is to prevent my becoming Princess of Barcelonna Ah! Sister said he to her your Reason is asleep when you ought to think of defending your self it is yet time enough the first Motions are easiest to vanquish Absence may secure your Resistance content your self with the Delight of seeing the Power of your Charms and do not employ them against your self This was the Counsel of a Prince whose Experience was but small in Love For we cannot stop there we are willing to enjoy the Fruit of a Conquest and to what Purpose is being beloved if we have not a Design to love Camilla was well acquainted with these Maxims she was not ignorant of her Tenderness and only aimed at being beloved that she might not love in vain How tender and moving an Idea did she represent to her self of the Sweets of a reciprocal Love and notwithstanding the little Repose that these agreeable Thoughts afforded her how beautiful did she appear the next Day to the amorous Leon This Prince not knowing what to comprehend of Frederick's Discourse came to inform himself of his Mistress and to repair the Occasion he had failed of the Day before Camilla had too tender Thoughts to keep up that haughty Air which makes the boldest Lover tremble there appeared so much Sweetness in her fair Eyes that the Prince imagined that it was a fit Occasion to declare himself he wavered more than once to speak through the inseparable Respect of a great passion and through the Address of Camilla who knowing his Thoughts diverted the Conversation of them with all the Liberty of a contented Mind She proposed to him to go a walking which he durst not refuse and Prince Amaldee at his Sisters Desire kept them Company They came to a place where was an admirable Eccho and Amaldee prevailed with his Sister to sing a Tune she had made some time before whereto the Words were as follow Vnmov'd I saw a thousand Charms each Day But when a Heart like some young tender Deer Careless
and wanton here and there does play That it 's in Danger one has Cause to fear So soon as Love it's Innocence perceives He streight employs all his enticing Art Each Instant him some new Advantage leaves And at the last it gives him all the Heart When she had done singing she heard another Person likewise exercising his Voice which was Frederick who was entertaining his Melancholy and without having heard Camilla was singing these words at some distance When that a Heart under fierce Flames does faint T' affect being gay and brisk and most at ease Is a severe a hard a sad Constraint But when with strict est Bonds Love does it seize It 's Tyranny is likewise to restrain By soft Complaints to ease it's cruel Pain Camilla imagined that she had so great a Share in what he sung as obliged her to make an Answer so that very seasonably remembring some Verses that Prince Ardalin had formerly learnt her and which suting admirably well with the Subject she sung them as they were couched in these Terms Though that a Heart is seen all on a Fire And that it 's secret Martyrdom is sure There still remains to perfect the Desire The sweet Delight it to be beg'd to Cure Which when deferred who can alas endure Amaldee did but too well know the Vivacity of this so just Application which his Sister made in Answer to Frederick's Verses and Prince Leon imagined that she had made them at that very Instant Frederick alone understood nothing of this Mystery he was so possessed with his Pensiveness that nothing but the Cause was capable of diverting it They approached him by little and little and the Prince of Majorca having some Indulgence for his Sister whom he saw was forced to love by her Star was willing to render her an Office that he would have done himself if he had known what had passed in the Heart of Frederick insomuch that he dexterously drew aside Leon though with terrible Violences Camilla had immediately an agreeable Transport to find her self alone with the Prince of Sicily but he made but ill Returns and she maintained much better the Character of a Mistress than he of a Gallant His Eyes followed Amaldee and pursued him by languishing Looks which endeavoured to draw the Prince of Majorca to him Leon was ever casting his Eyes towards Camilla who took little Notice of his amorous Actions neither knew she what to think of Frederick's Procedure and was upon the Point of preventing what he ought to have said to her and encourage by her Kindness that Lover whom she could only accuse of too much Circumspection Her Haughtiness whereof Women have little when they are in Love would not have been sufficient to have made her keep Measures she would have spoken if Prince Leon had not had too much Tenderness for to suffer hers to take it's Course Being become knowing in a short Time he was easily inclined to think that Love had a great share in their mute Conversation and believing that he had but too long permitted his Rival to enjoy what he imagined to merit as much as he his Return was something precipitated This Incivility did not at all amaze Amaldee but Camilla did sufficiently let him know her Displeasure to hinder him another Time from such Importunate Interruptions if Lovers can be ever more circumspect Though Frederick was overjoyed at his being so happily freed from so perplexed an Encounter yet he fell immediately into an other of no less Intricacy Yolanda as we have already said being concealed in Messina gave him notice that same Evening of her Arrival conjuring him to meet her in an Arbour which her Friend had judged proper for the Assignation Frederick was obliged to go thither and knowing the Afflictions of an ill-rewarded Affection he was not willing to be the Occasion of suffering them Well Prince said Yolanda to him at his coming are not you full of Acknowledgment for the Sentiments I have ever entertained of you and of the Troubles your Absence has given me Frederick by deceiving her agreeably being willing to give a Loose to his own Passion made Answer Yes my dear Yolanda I have been tormented since your Absence by all the Cruelties of Love and I never knew what Grief was till after I had been deprived of the Delight of seeing you He was going to continue when he heard at a little distance the most lamentable shriek that can be Camilla whom her ill Destiny had conducted just to the Place of the Rendevouz which was not far from her Apartment had heard the Princess's Voice and discovered a Rival at a time when she was so tenderly possessed with the sole Idea of Frederick she was not able to support this Reverse and fell into a swoon just at the place from whence the Voice came Frederick ran thither and Yolanda withdrew not being in a condition to give help to others that might have hazarded her own Reputation she only gave notice to her Friend of what had passed who came thither in all haste tho however too late Berranger's Daughter had received without knowing it that assistance from the most cruel of her Persecutors he took Water from a Fountain that was hard by and having sprinkled some of it upon her Face he made her easily come to her self Perhaps that the Delight which her heart tho in despair felt at the approaches of the Person who had rendred her sensible did contribute very much towards the making her recover the Use of her Senses she opened her Eyes and seeing her self in the hands of a Person who caused all her trouble Vexation seized her soul and following her first motion she withdrew something rudely and got to her Apartment without turning towards him who had newly rendred her that good Office Where Love is outraged it often takes every thing for Affronts In short the Princess of Sicily being left alone with her Mind full of its own Disquiets she made but a Moments reflection upon all these capricious Incidents which she also did with relation that to her the like might happen What a Night did Camilla pass all the torments of Jealousie presented themselves to her Imagination and tho her Choller had no Object to fix it self upon she entertained a thousand Designs against whomsoever it was that usurped from her that Heart which she had thought her self in possession of then repenting on a sudden she felt all those touching Motions that a generous and an afflicted Soul can be sensible of How said she is my Affection less violent for being concealed and ought it to be ill rewarded for being produced something later than that which my Ungrateful is so fond of Mad that I am added she Shall I disturb the Peace of two Lovers whom Heaven had united before I dream'd of being engag'd No let us leave them to enjoy all those Delights which I had vainly figured to my self and let us not one moment
spare you the Regret that you would have for the Loss of me by defacing my self out of your Memory too happy if the Confession of my Weaknesses do not render it odious to you I am no longer that severe Camilla who made a Scruple of proceeding farther than Esteem for a Prince who was to have been her Husband I have felt the most lively Sentiments of Love if I may so say for an other than your self but Care has been taken to revenge you on my Ingratitude by having my Affection despised Farewel said she to him forget me if you can and pardon me my Errors I pardon you them Divine Princess said Ardalin I know the Fatality of the Inclination which forces us to love but I cannot pardon my self for not having known how to gain your Affection my Heart is without doubt irritated to find that you refuse it that Tenderness which you are capable of but it is against my self and I alone ought to expiate the Crime of not having been able to please you At this sad Thought he fainted away and lost with all his Senses that of the Infidelity of his Mistriss but they brought him to himself by the help of Remedies which made him enjoy still for some Moments all the Malignity of his Fate The Alarums he had had for Camilla's Life whom he had believed to have been swallowed up by the Waves and the Certainty of her Change penetrated him with so lively a Grief that it is no Wonder if he fell under the weight of it in that so fatal Moment and the Violence of the Motions of his Soul was so great that the Wound he had received did re-open in that Instant he did not perceive that his Spirits dissipated and indeed he was wounded in a more sensible part Ah! Princess said he to her I am sensible that your Indifference does abridge a Life that I had devoted to you and which has not been so happy as to please you I dye and may it please the Cruelty of Love to content it self with my Life and not extend it's Vengeance upon the Days of so beautiful a Princess It is sufficient that I sacrifice mine to it which was wholly yours but let at least my last Sigh draw some from you at least let them be out of Pity and do not refuse them to a Lover who ready to expire out of Tenderness demands of you nothing else after he had spoken these Words a mortal Languishing surprised him his Eyes fixed upon Camilla shewed still by their dying Looks all the Fervency imaginable and caused a Torrent of Tears to gush out from those of that desolate Princess Amaldee endeavoured to succour Ardalin and to recal his Spirits which had entirely abandoned him The Rumour of all that passed was quickly spread about one of the Princesses Maids could not forbear blaming Frederick openly and he himself came thither as well as others and mixing his particular Misfortunes with those of the publick he was willing to try if he could at the same Time change the Face of things Camilla seeing the Author of so many Miseries was not able to support the Sight of him and turned her self on the other side Frederick observing that Action came and cast himself at her Feet and following his natural Propensity made her remark so much Passion in his Eyes that Camilla notwithstanding her Dejection did quickly perceive it What would you have Prince said she to him with a low Voice Ah! Madam how late is it to declare my self said the tender Frederick to her I love but alas I could never have resolved to have let you know it till this Extremity Ah! Prince said she to him do not constrain your self the too certain Knowledge I have of the Sentiments you have for an other has brought me into this Condition but I lose it with my Life Ah! Madam cryed Frederick I attest Heaven that I have no Sentiments prejudicial to what I owe you and you will one day see that I am only unhappy These Words which so easily insinuated themselves into her Soul made her sigh and thinking of what she owed the Prince of Barcelonna withdraw said she to him with some Difficulty withdraw and leave me to die less criminal if I cannot die altogether innocent In the mean while Ardalin being come again to himself and taking a new Vigour from the Sight of the Prince of Sicily whom he then knew for his Rival he used all his Efforts to speak but not being able to do so he melted the Hearts of all those who saw him His Gaspings re-doubling the Company perceived that he was ready to breath his last and having made them comprehend by most moving Demonstrations imaginable that he had a Desire to approach the Princess they brought him to her Bed-side whereupon his Forces returned to him when he was upon the Point of losing them for ever and looking upon Frederick and Camilla live said he to them happy Lovers so beautiful a Princess could only be born for so accomplished a Prince I am not at all ashamed to yield to a Rival who excells me by so many Advantages and whom I can only surpass by my Tenderness At these Words having fixed his Mouth upon Camilla's Hands he seemed inseparable from that afflicted Person and his Soul being detained by that Pleasure had all the Difficulty imaginable to fly away Thus Love terminated the Days of a Prince who by the Greatness of his Passion ought to have been reserved for a better Destiny So sad a Spectacle put all the Assistants into a Consternation and their gloomy Silence was only interrupted by the lamentable Cries of Camilla they caused his Corps to be removed who occasioned all this Sadness he seemed still animated by his Love and his greedy Looks which appeared not altogether extinguished seemed as if they could never be satiated with seeing what he had so much loved During all this Confusion they had forgot to dissemble Ardalin's Attendants Train discovered him by their Regrets for the Prince of Barcelonna and Amaldee and Camilla were likewise known to be the Children of King Berranger though they did not expect to be discovered They could not have chosen a more favourable Moment for Peoples Minds were altogether disposed to Pity there was no Room for Hatred and the King continued to them the same Kindness he had already afforded them as he only considered them by themselves he did not change the Sentiments he had of them though they had changed their Names as to him But the Princess of Sicily was over-joyed to hear that Amaldee and Camilla were only Brother and Sister and filling her Soul with the soft Motions which succeeded in the place of the cruel Suspicions that had agitated her her Tenderness was thereby considerably augmented If she found in him the Son of Menfroy's Enemy a Prince for whom she was forced to that so singular Disguise in short one who ought never to wear
the Constancy of the Prince herein being deceived by the Relation that these Words had with the good Opinion she had of her self touching Frederick In short being returned to her Mother-in-Law she found her disarmed of that severe and salvage Air which Women quickly lay aside when they have a Lover who pleases them she took upon her the Air gallant and reproaching her self in secret with having lost by her little Understanding in Love those Moments which she might have spent with great Delight had she known Frederick's Inclination she had a Mind to recall them and was contriving how to embolden him whom she had rendred fearful by her too great Severity and thought good to open the way her self to his Pursuit Knowing that he often walked all alone she designed to meet him in his Passage which she accordingly performed the same Day Frederick had stol'n from the Crowd and leaning upon one of his Hands let some Tears tricle down his Cheeks which the amorous Sicilian thought worthy of her Pity she approached him softly and told him blushing alas Prince is there no way to put an end to Sufferings which afflict all the Court Joy dares no longer appear there since you have banished it from your self All our Ladies are penetrated with the Languishing which oppresses their Prince That Languishing answered he something indifferently ought not in any wise to concern all the Ladies you reproach me with since the only Person whom it ought to move with Pity Proceed Prince said she to him seeing that he stopped there I very well understand that some too severe fair one does make you fearful of ill Success in a Passion that must needs however be successful But Why do not you speak There is not a Beauty how haughty soever she may be but would willingly share with you in all the Sentiments you entertain of her But Frederick made her no Reply and after having returned several Times to the Charge seeing she made no Progress and Frederick irritating her by his too great Reservedness she quitted him with some kind of Displeasure The End of the First Part. THE FEMALE PRINCE OR FREDERICK OF SICILY PART II. LONDON Printed for Hen. Rodes next door to the Bear Tavern in Fleet-street near Fleet-Bridge 1682. THE FEMALE PRINCE OR FREDERICK OF SICILY PART II. IN the mean time the Truce was upon the point of being at an end Berranger had taken very ill the Propositions of Amaldee and the Commendations he had given of Menfroy he commanded him to return home with all speed to show if the Prince of Majorca ought to speak like the Son of the King of Sicily This Prince well fore-seeing after what manner he should be treated by his Father would not however be disobedient and beseeched Menfroy to give him the liberty to leave his Dominions which was granted him with the same facility that he was suffered to come into them They embraced very affectionately being charmed with one another's Virtue From thence Amaldee went to Frederick's Apartment being to take his leave of him tho he had sent to inquire if his Visit would not prove importunate and that he was prepared to receive it yet he was however disordered at his arrival Be pleased to give me leave said Amaldee to him to render you Thanks for all Your Civilities which I have very well distinguished notwithstanding what a Sentiment of Hatred may inspire you with against a Prince whom his misfortune has borne your Enemy At these words the Princess was extremely troubled she would have stifled some sighs but that she found impossible and her Confusion was thereby so much the more augmented Amaldee not knowing what to think of this asked her the cause of her Disorder this put her quite out of Countenance and though the Habit she wore did secure her from the suspicions that might have been had of the truth it was sufficient to be culpable in her self to believe she appeared so to others For though she had some thoughts of unbosoming her self that Design did not continue long and her Severity did hinder her from putting it in execution Leave me Prince said she sadly to him and if possible give no credit to what you see This was certainly a great Mistery to him and he went and related to his Sister all that had passed between them She thought she comprehended it better than he did and imagined that it might be the Remorse of having betrayed the Sister whose Brother treated him with that Civility and that a return without doubt would follow it This was sufficient to overturn all that had been projected against him and thereupon she wrote him a Letter that might do more than re-assure him The Princess of Sicily received it after having undergone terrible Conflicts having accused her self of weakness in not having known how to undeceive the Prince of the aversion she was in no wise capable to entertain of him for this was what she most apprehended he would believe It is impossible for a Person in Love to leave the Party beloved in a Belief of being hated She had judged very well after her first Motion that he would know nothing more and resolved at all Adventures to remove the Impression of what might prepossess him against her and be injurious to what he might perhaps one day know of the Course of her Inclinations Remaining fix'd in this Design she enjoyed some Repose and read the Letter that was brought her from Camilla which was conceived in these Terms To the Prince of Sicily IT is very difficult for People to keep up their Resentments when they have once lost their Hearts and since you have made a Conquest of mine can it have any Motions to your Disadvantage I am however very much ashamed that I have not been able to resist either your feigned Passion or your real Neglect I ought at least to have given them the same Destiny But alas it lay not in my Power I should find it much more easie to be insensible to your Ingratitude than to all that speaks in your Favour notwithstanding I have found such ill Returns Love me or love me not you may do either without making me change my Sentiments But will you misuse this Power And will you leave a Princess to love alone when you would find it very delightful to love reciprocally But I must explain my self further with you to which Purpose I desire you would meet me in the great Alley that leads to the Oval Camilla did not expect that her Letter should have proved so kind but when a Woman is writing to her Lover it is Love that conducts the Pen and she cannot oppose the rapidity with which it paints what the Heart inspires and dictates Frederick was making some Reflections upon this Letter when another was brought him and the Person who delivered it vanished at the same instant without expecting any Answer but it came from the Admiral 's Lady and he found
riâ—â—ng He made her a profound â—ow and withdrew seeing Company come in without making Reflection upon what his too little obliging Conduct with the Queen might produce The End of the Second Part. THE FEMALE PRINCE OR FREDERICK OF SICILY Part III. LONDON Printed in the Year 1682. THE FEMALE PRINCE OR FREDERICK OF SICILY PART III. FRederick no other Prospect now than the Marriage of Amaldee he Walked Pensive all alone and tho impatient of his return yet it was not long enough deferred in his Opinion He could not see but too soon the Princess of Mantua she seemed to him so Beautiful and Amaldee so Complaisant tho he only did what meer Civility required that he perceived his grief was capable of increasing The King received her according to her Quality and the views he had for her did merit Yet the Queen did not see her that day and gave out that she was Indisposed But the Princess of Mantua viewed Frederick with great application and hardly took any notice of all the honours that were done her She could have wished that he had been the Prince of Majorca and tho' that Amaldee was admirably well made she was not destined to have those Sentiments for him which she began to have for Frederick They had conceived a great esteem for one another but nothing more and never two hearts were at that distance when they were to have been united they met it is true at the same point in what concerned Frederick but that was not the way to join them On the Morrow they were each of them full of such Capricious Sentiments that it seemed as if Love had changed place for the better exercising his vengeance but this Princess did still bear the source and all afflictions were mean in comparison of hers She had a sensible redoubling of them through the Jealousie she had of Amaldee which she had hitherto been unacquainted with and that so violent passion in all others was only doleful in her and by consequence much more oppressing It is a great case when we can complain of a Person with Justice And those terrible Motions which makes us believe that we hate him who loves a Rival are more supportable than those tender languishing which only tends to the accusing our selves of all our Sufferings Ah! how feeble is that Accusation and how Afflicting at the same time Why did I not make my self known said she before he made his Addresses to another it is now too late to show him the Princess of Sicily after he has seen the Princess of Mantua and that he has already received the impression of her Charms Why did I not take the opportunity of gaining his heart during his happy indifference I complained of this alas but I still deferred the procuring being beloved I see my self now prevented Why did he not keep to that indifference which he would not quit for me I never had any other than the trouble of not being beloved but that seeing him Love anther is a thousand times more Cruel She was not able to go abroad that day and pretended a sickness which she had only in her mind The Queen was very well again when there was an occasion to visit Frederick who though he had offended her by his faint Behaviour she found the means of justifying him He had some reason on his side the unjust proceedure of the thing wherein he might think that she had some share by reason of Camilla was very capable of putting him out of humor but tho all should have been against him she found in her heart what spoke in his defence It is very natural to believe Innocent what is so much our Interest to have so In short she disposed her self to make him a Visit after having received one from the Princess of Mantua whom she gave to understand that she was obliged to have great regards for that Forreign Prince and tho she could not approve in her self of all the managements she had for him she endeavoured to make them be approved of by others The Princess of Mantua asked her several Questions concerning Frederick telling her that she had not taken notice of such a Person and obliged her to carry her with her tho she had no great desire to do so This young Princess had had a certain disquiet all the Night which had hindred her from sleeping and which had put her into a condition of keeping her bed if she had not been to see the Queen she flattered her self that Frederick's Sickness might be something approaching hers She fancied that he had viewed her very earnestly and that he frequently sighed while he was in her Presence and the desire of seeing him do so again filled her Imagination with a Delight which vanished at her coming into his Chamber they found him in so lamentable a Condition his Eyes being all bathed with Tears which he hardly thought of Wiping away notwithstanding their Presence It was easie for them to Judg that they had neither of them any share in that great grief The beginnings of a Passion are not so violent and the Princess of Mantua was with reason apprehensive that the Person whom she was so desirous to render sensible was but too much so already The Queen on her side having no reason to applaud her self for that profound affliction it made her conceive a furious spight the Conversation was faint on all sides and the Visit short As they were going away Amaldee came likewise to make Frederick a Visit who could not forbear giving him an unkind Reception and though he would not willingly give him any offence yet he did for the Princess of Sicily imagined she robbed her of that heart when they did not give it her tho she had so well merited it She could not be satisfied with him who gave it to another Does the Princess of Mantua send you hither said Frederick to him after something a slighting manner Amaldee without making him any answer upon that asked him only what he thought of her and if she was not very beautiful I did not take so much notice of her answered he in the same tone I am much afraid said Amaldee now something displeased that you have seen her but too much for your repose and for mine and that affectation of not speaking of her seems to me a fear of augmenting that tenderness by commending a Princess who has inspired me with it Frederick was so disordered and in such dispair to see him so inflamed that he had not the Courage to give him an Answer and Amaldee was more and more confirmed in the suspicion he had of his being faln in Love with his Mistress this troubled him without knowing the reason of his own Thoughts He perceived that he should not be much concerned tho she should Love Frederick but he could not endure that Frederick should love her I am deceived said he and Jealousie disturbs my mind I ought only to apprehend
they had nothing more to fear of one another and since they equally did dread a Rival They likewise concerted together the means of doing her an Injury The Admirals Widdow could not resolve to lose the fruit of her Voyage she would at least speak with the ungrateful Frederick but she could not meet with an oppertunity He kept the Princess of Mantua Company the most he could and was more frequently with the Queen than he was willing to have been who endevouring not to make any noise made use of the same Artifices he had practized in regard of Amaldee and stole from him moments which he had designed for the Princess of Mantua thus was he tortured on all sides By these means the Queen did share in his assiduities or rather payed them to him or at least extorted them from him much against his will His Complaisance for her was onely constrained nothing could move him to have any but only in consideration of her Rank Thus his devises having not the same Motive which made him act for the Princess of Mantua they had a notable difference Frederick had four Mistrisses at the same time he was the Lover of his Rivals and the Rival of his Lover and he particularly maintained those two last Characters to the heighth As Amaldee would have seen without trouble the Passion of his Mistriss if his Friend had not repaid it with reciprocal flames He neglected very much to complain of her he frequently entertained her only with indifferent things but one day observing the uneasiness of Frederick who was Walking with the Queen and who endeavoured to approach him to hear what he said to the Princess of Mantua he resolved in his turn to put him upon the Rack for some moments and raising his Voice Ah! Madam said he to her have we nothing that is more delightful to entertain our selves with it seems as if we were afraid that Frederick should over-hear us as he did indeed She made him Answer in a kind of slighting manner The more indifferent the Conversation is the more it ought to be agreeable What a rigour cryed Amaldee in a trouble that was not feigned since he judged that her indifference for him only proceeded from the affection that Frederick had for her Is it continued he by such indifferent things that the Prince of Sicily has found the way to please you and has he so little accustomed you to amorous Conversations that you cannot bear with them Frederick was too knowing in motions not to observe that those of Amaldee had a very tender Principle without diving into the cause of that tenderness since he who felt it could not dive into it himself this inspired him with all the rage which the Princess of Mantua ought to have conceived insomuch that the Queen took notice of it and was no less concerned than he And those four Lovers two of whom had only a good Title to that Appellation shared themselves very injudicially for want of knowing the truth of their own Sentiments Frederick who was drawn to Amaldee did by little and little draw the Queen to him likewise who attributing this violence to the Princess of Mantua she was willing to divert him and turned suddenly into an opposite Alley The Conversation of the Princess of Majorca and of the Princess of Mantua did insensibly come again to be flat and faint when they were no longer animated by Frederick's presence she was not very eager to justify her self of Amaldee's suspitions and he fell into a certain Malancholly humour which hindred him from proceeding any further upon that point On the other side Frederick and the Queen were in an inconceivable disorder Frederick was in despair that he was no longer witness of a Conversation which he imagined to have proceeded much further and the Queen was in despair to see that he was so But tho they hardly interchanged a word yet it was a good while before they parted The Queen detained Frederick as long as Civility would permit her and he at length withdrew so outraged with what he had heard that he resolved according to the Custome of those who are in love to hear henceforward all that he might wish never to know he never parted from Amaldee who innocently gave him a thousand occasions of Jealousy he could not endure that Frederick should speak to the Princess of Mantua he interrupted the Conversation as soon as he saw them together the Prince of Sicily did as much on his part thus they vexed one another by a hundred little tricks and irritated their reciprocal tenderness by the marks they gave thereof to the Princess of Mantua their redoubled addresses importuned her two passions proved troublesome to hers it was necessary that she should rid herself of the one or other and without doubt the lot would have faln upon that of Amaldee but as it was not she who had given birth to it her power did not extend so far and it was in vain that she undertooke the curing him of it As he one day according to his custome had interrupted their conversation she sell to discourse upon the point of jealous Lovers for my part said she I beleive that the assiduities of a Lover of that Character do as much diminish the esteeme that a Mistrisse has for him as the devoirs of a more circumspect Lover do augment it it is a first sight that gives birth to an inclination when it is happy those which follow do only serve to confirme what it had already done but when it produces nothing all the other only help to irritate our durity by the obstacles we are willing to raise It seems as if he would take our heart by main force It is born free and when it does not give it self nothing deprives us of it that is very true replyed the Prince of Majorca when we do not please at first it is in vaine that we endeavour to do so afterwards â—â—constancy is as displeasing in an unwelcome votary as it is charming in a Lover who pleases but when we cannot be successeful in Love we are willing to be so at least in jealousy and it is sufficient if we can but hinder a Rival from taking advantage of our disgrace and certainly he has a greater share in our assiduities than a mistresse to whom we no longer owes them from the time that she permits them in an other Frederick without knowing who found so much sweetness in these words that eying Amaldee after a very obliging manner A dexterous Lover said he to him ought not to be scandalized at a procedure which showes the value which is put upon his merit and it is much for him to have procured the esteeme of his Rival The Princess of Mantua looked upon him at that word with astonishment and without comprehending why he tooke Amaldees part to the prejudice of his own even in a point apparently so contrary to his interests we may say that he