was going home sooner than ordinary he was call'd by his Name out of a Parlour in a great House He went near the Window which was lâ—â—â—ic'd and knew by the Voice that call'd him that 't was his invisible Mistress who told him Come near Don Carlosâ— I expect you here to decide our Controversie You are but a Brag said Don Carlos you challenge with Insolence and yet you hide your self eight Days together and then appear only through a Lattice Windâ—w We shall see one another nearer in time answer'd she 'T is not for want of Courage I have delay'd being with you but I had a mind to know you before I discover my self You know that in Duels the Combatants ought to fight with Arms that are alike Now if your Heart was not as free as mine you would fight with advantage and therefore I have made Enquiries about you And what Information had you answer'd Don Carlos That we are much upon the same Terms return'd the Invisible Lady But said Don Carlos there 's yet a great inequality for added he you both see me and know who I am whereas I neither see you nor know who you are Now think with your self what I can judge of your concealing your self Since People seldom do so when they have a good Design it is an easie Matter to impose at first upon a Man that mistrusts nothingâ— but he is not to be cheated twice if you make use of me only to make another jealous I must freely tell you that I am the most unfit Person for it in the World and that I am good for nothing besides loving you Have you now done with your rash Suspicions said the Invisible Lady You may call them rash if you please reply'd Don Carlos but however they are not unlikely I would have you know said she that I am sincere you will find me such in all our Intercourse and I expect you should be so too That 's but reasonable answer'd Don Carlos but 't is just likewise that I should see you and know who you are You shall be satisfied e're it be long said the Invisible Lady and in the mean time hope with Patience for that 's the only way for you to obtain what you expect from me Now that you may justifie your Love to your Discretion I am willing to let you know that my Birth is not Inferiour to yours that I have a Fortune sufficient to make you live with as great Magnificence as any Prince in the Kingdom that I am rather Handsom than Ill-favour'd and as for Wit you have too much of that your self not to discover whether I have any or no. She had no sooner made an end of her Speech but the withdrew leaving Don Carlos with his Mouth open ready to answer her so very much in love with a Person he never saw and so perplex'd about this odd way of Proceeding which might prove at last to be a Cheat that he stood on the same place for above a Quarter of an Hour not knowing what to think of this extraordinary Adventure He was not ignorant that there were a great many Princesses and Ladies of Quality in Naples but he knew likewise that there were abundance of greedy Courtezans eager after Strangers great Jilts and the more dangerous as they were Handsom I cannot positively tell whether he had Supp'd or went to bed without Supper Neither do I care to imitate the Writers of Romances who mark with great exactness all the hours of the Day and make their Heroe's rise betimes relate their Adventures by Dinner-time eat but little at Dinner then resume their Story after Dinner or retire into the thickest part of a Wood in order to entertain their own selves unless when they have something to say to the Rocks and Trees As Supper-time they make them repair at the usual Hour to the place where they Diet there they sigh and look pensive instead of eating and thence they go to build Castles in the Air on some Terrass-walk that looks towards the Sea whilst the Trusty Squire reveals that his Master is such a one Son to such a King that he is the best Prince alive and thô he be still the handsomest of all Mortals that he was quite another Man before Love had disfigur'd him To return to my story Don Carlos repair'd the next day to his Post where the invisible Lady waited his coming She ask'd him if he had not been much perplex'd about their last Conversation end if he had not doubted the truth of what she told him Don Carlos without answering her question desir'd her to tell him what danger she fear'd in discovering her self since they were upon even Terms and that the end of their Amours being honourable it would have the approbation of every Body The danger is very great and you will have it in time said the invisible Once more be satisfi'd that I am true and that in the account I gave you my self I was rather modest than vainâ— Don Carlos did not press her any further other Conversation which continued some time longer encreas'd the mutual Love they had for each other and so they parted with promise to meet every Day â— at the appointed hour and place The next day after there was a great Ball at the Viceroy's where Don Carlos hop'd to know his invisible Charmer in the mean time he endeavourd to know at whose House she gave him those favourable Audiences and was told by the Neighbours that the House belong'd to an old Lady Widow to a Spanish Captain who had neither Daughters nor Neeces and liv'd very retir'd He desir'd to wait on her but she sent him word that since her Husband died she admitted of no Visits when still perplext him more and moreâ—â— Don Carlos went in the Evening to the Viceroy's where you may imagine there was a very fine and numerous Assembly and nicely observ'd all the Ladies 〈◊〉 hopes to find out his unknown Mistriss He engag'd in Conversation with several but was disappointed in his search Aâ— last he keâ—â— close to a Marquis's Daughter of I know not what Marquisdom for 't is the most dubious thing in the World especially at that time when every body sets up for a Marquess She was young and handsom and her Voice not unlike that of the Person he lookt for But at the long runâ— he found such great disproportion betwixt her Wit and his Invisible's that he was sorry that in so little time he had made such progress with this fine Lady that without any flattery to himself he had reason to believe she did not hate him They danc'd several times together and the Ball being over to the small satisfaction of Don Carlos he took his leave of his Captive whom he left full of Pride for having had to her self in so fine an Assembly a Cavelier who was envied by all the Men and esteem'd by all the Women As soon as he came out of
no means come to know what Resolves they had agreed on We were put on our March again and from that time forward I had less respect paid me than before They quarrel'd with me as often as they saw me uneasie and Curs'd me as if I had been some great Offender They carried me away as you might perceive speaking to Leander with a Players Habit on but which they hid by throwing one of their Cloaks over me They met a Man upon the Road of whom they endeavour'd to inform themselves of some Matters I was surpriz'd to see it was Leander and I believe he was no less astonish'd to see me for he knew me assoon as ever I discovered my Habit as well as by my Face He may inform you if he pleases what he did For my part seeing so many Swords drawn upon him I fainted away in the Arms of him that held me upon the Horse and when I came to my self I found we were again upon our March but saw Leander no more till now Hereupon I began to redouble my Cries but my Ravishers whereof there was one Wounded little regarding me took their way cross the Country and Yesterday Night stop'd at a little Village where they lay and passed for Soldiers This Morning at the entrance of a Wood they met a Man with a young Gentlewoman on Horseback her they immediately unmask'd and having so done it seems knew her when taking her from her Guardian and bestowing on him a few blows of a Cudgel they rid away with her as they had done with me she making as great if not greater Lamentations than I had done When I heard her Voice I fancied I knew her but could not be positive After we had got about Fifty Paces into the Wood the Man that seem'd to have the Command of the rest rid up to the Person that carried me and cried to him set down that slabbering Milksop you have behind you and let her shift for her self Herein he was immediately obey'd and I was all of a sudden left alone upon the Ground The dread I had to be thus alone would have certainly been the Death of me had not this Gentleman here meaning Leanders Servant who brought me hither followed me at a distance and found me in that Condition The rest he has acquainted you with But continued she addressing her self to Destiny I believe that same Lady which was preferr'd to me might be your Sister my Companion and the reason I have for it is not only the resemblance of her Voice with that I heard but likewise the Man that carried her I dare be positive was the Servant you took last What 's that you tell me quoth Destiny somewhat disturb'd I tell you my Thoughts reply'd Angelica but I may be deceived one Person may be like another yet still I fear it was she I fear so too reply'd Destiny with his Countenance all chang'd for I have some reasâ—â— to apprehend a certain Person in this Province for an Enemy that would do me such a good turn But how came she at the entrance of a Wood continued he when Ragotin left her yesterday at Mans I 'll go send away one of my Friends thither presently pursu'd he to know the Truth while I stay behind to determine a Resolution suitable to the News he brings As he had just done speaking he heard some body call him out of the Street and stepping to the Window perceived it was Monsieur de la Garouffiere who was just then return'd from his Visit and who told him he had something of Importance to communicate to him He went down to wait on him and thereby left Leander and Angelica together to enjoy each other after so tedious an Absence and to pour out their Sighs and Vows into one anothers Bosoms I fancy 't would have been no small Pleasure either to have seen or heard them but still their greatest Happiness was to have been alone During this Destiny demanded of la Garouffiere what he had to say to him Do you know a certain Gentleman called Verville quoth Garouffiere and is he one of your Friends He is the only Person that I have been most oblig'd to in the World reply'd Destiny and whom I honour most and who I â—elieve has the like kindness and respect for me I believe it answered Garouffiere for I met him to Day at the Gentlemans where I dined and all his Discourse was of you He asked me a Hundred Questions concerning you without my being able to satisfie him in any and if I had not promised to send you to him he would certainly have come hither to wait on you before now altho' he has a great deal of business upon his Hands where he is Destiny thanked him heartily for his kind Information and having learnt farther from him where his Friend Verville was to be found resolv'd to go to him that Minute hoping to learn from him some News of his Enemy Saldagne whom he knew very well to be the Author of the carrying away of Angelica and provided she were not mistaken in the Voice she heard of the ravishing of his dear Star likewise He desired his Companions therefore to return immediately to Mans and to Congratulate Mrs. Cave in his Name for the News of the finding of her Daughter and moreover desired of them â—â—ther to send a Man on purpose or else some one of them to come back speedily and bring him Word how his dear dear Madam Star did providing he could hear any News of 〈◊〉 there He inform'd himself farther of Garonffiere which was the way to the Town where Verville was to be found After which having made the Curate to promise that his Sister should take care of Angelica till such time as he sent for her from Mans He took Leanders Horse and got about Night to the Town where Verville was He did not think it proper 〈◊〉 go to look after Verville himself for fear he should meet with saldagne at his first coming whom he knew to be thereabouts 〈◊〉 therefore going to a litte Hedge-Inn hardby he sent the Boy to Verville to let him know that the Gentleman whoâ—â— he had desired to see was there waiting for him Verville came and throwing his Arms about Destiny's Neck continued for some time embracing him being scarce able to shew the Love and Tenderness he had for him Let us leave them in each others Arms for a while as Persons that thought they should never see one another again and proceed to the following Chapter CHAP. XII Which perhaps will entertain its Reader as little as the foregoing VErville and Destiny gave an account to each other of all matters concerning them which they were seperately ignorant of Verville tells Destiny of the wondrous Brutality of his Brother St. Far and of the great Patience of his Wife in bearing with him Thence he takes an occasion to extol his own Happiness in having so good a Woman to his
for a Crime which is only a Misfortune common to us both Pity me added I instead of accusing me and bethink of means to preserve me yours rather than reproach me with a Fault I am no ways Guilty of I believe I may have better reason to reflect on you for not having sufficiently loved me since I find you have not yet sufficiently known me But we have no time to lose in vain Words continu'd I carry me whither you please for you shall always find me disposed to follow you At these Words Don Carlos was more transported with Joy than he had been before depressed with Grief and therefore having beg'd my Pardon for the injustice he had done me he proposed to fetch me away the Night following For this purpose he spent all that Day in ordering his Affairs He got together a good Sum of Money and hired a Barcelona Vessel which would be ready to put to Sea at what time he desired For my part young as I was I had Wit to manage the Secret so well that no Body ever so much as mistrusted us I got all my Mothers Jewells and scrap'd up what Money I could get At the Hour appointed Carlos's his Page Claudio waited for me at the Gate He told me that his Master had sent him to conduct me on Board and that he could not come himself for Reasons he would satisfie me in when he saw me At the same time came a Slave that belong'd to Don Carlos and who was likewise very well known to me to accompany me We got easily out of the City by means of the good contrivance we had laid and were not gone far before we saw a Vessel riding in the Harbour whose Boat waited for us on the Shore The Seamen told me that my dear Don Carlos would come immediately and that I had no more to do but to go into the Boat I was carried in by the Slave but had no sooner been set down than I perceived the Seamen forcing in Claudio whom I observed to be unwilling to enter This encreased my concern for the absence of Carlos and thereupon I immediately demanded of the Slave where he was He surlily answer'd that wherever he was he was no more for me Having said this he left me and in a little while after I heard Claudio above upbraiding the Slave after this manner Is it thus Traitor Amet that you perform your Promise to rid me of a Rival and leave me with my Love To which the Slave reply'd Imprudent Claudia am I oblig'd to keep my Word with you when yuu have not scrupled to betray your Master and how could I expect you would be true to me and not send the Guards out after me to take my dear Sophy from me whom I love more than my Life when I have observ'd how Villanously you have served both him and her These Words spoken to a Woman whom I took always for a Man and concerning matters which I knew nothing of raised so fierce a discorder in me that I fell dead for the present in the Arms of the perfidious Moor. By that time my Fit was over our Vessel had got a good way to Sea You can't imagine when I came to my self what a confusion I was in for then I plainly perceiv'd I was in the Hands of Moors and Enemies to our Faith I knew that the Slave Amet had all sort of Authority and that his Brother Zaide was Captain of the Vessel Amet no sooner saw me in a condition to hear him but he made me a short declaration of his Love professing he had had a kindness for me a long time and that his Passion was the cause of his carrying me away Moreover that he design'd to carry me to Fez where it should be my own fault if I were not as happy if not happier than I could have been in Spain And lastly he had the Impudence to urge to me that he did not doubt but in a short time I would have no reason to regret the loss of Don Carlos I had scarce patience to hear him out before I flew upon him with all the Vigour and Courage that my Fit had left me and by an Address which I told you before I had learnt from my Education snatching his Scymitar out of the Scabbard I was going to punish his Perjury with the loss of his Life had not his Brother Zaide timely stept in and provented me I was presently Disarm'd for having once missed my blow I could not possibly defend my self against so great a number of Enemies Amet whom my unexpected Attempt had frightned commanded all but me to go out of the Room and afterwards followed himself He left me in such a condition as you may imagine after so cruel a reverse had happen'd to my Fortune I spent all that Night in Tears and the Day following I nothing but greived and took on Time that generally alleviates other Peoples Misfortunes had no effect upon mine The second Day was as Uncomfortable to me as the first or rather more tormenting for when I reflected upon the never seeing Don Carlos more how could I propose to my self any future Consolation Amet always found me so terrible whenever he offer'd to accost me that he came no more near me From time to time they brought me Victuals to eat but which I refused with that obstinacy as made the Moor to fear that he had brought me away to no purpose In the mean time the Ship had pass'd the Streights and was not far off the Coasts of Fez when Claudio entring the Room assoon as I perceived him I began with him after this manner Villain said I you have betray'd me and what could induce you to so base an Action after you had been so well used both by me and Don Carlos you were too well beloved answer'd he and since I lov'd Don Carlos likewise what ill have I done in endeavouring to â—id my self of a Rival But if I have betray'd you added he Amet has also betray'd me and I shall have as great reason to lament as you if I do not think of some way not to remain alone miserable ' Explain these Riddles reply'd I and learn me who you are that I may know of what Sex I have you for my Enemy Sophy then continu'd he I am of â—he same Sex with you and like you have been in Love with Don Carlos but if our love has been equal its success has been different he always lov'd you and was ever inâ—linable â—o believe that you returned his Passion whilst me he neither lov'd nor could think I loved him so dearly as I did by reason that he never knew who I was I am of Valencia â—â—ke you and was not born so low but Don Carlos might have married me without disparagement but his Mind was all set upon you and you were the only Object of his Vows and Wishes It was not but I endeavoured to make my
according to his custom cajol'd her and said the same soft things to her as he ought to have done if in all the love qurrrels he had had with her he had never trespass'd against the respect and tenderness he ow'd her He made new protestations of Love to her and straining hard to surprize her by some topping Compliments he made very impertinent ones for he wish'd her all sorts of Adversities that he might have an opportunity forsooth of convincing her how much he was her humble Servant For God's sake Madam said he to her in a passionate tone why are you not out of favour at Court Oh that you were still persecuted by Roger Oh that you were yet out of your Principality of Tarento that you might see with what zeal and ardour I would sollicite the King for you with what vigour I would espouse your cause against your Enemies and whether I should be afraid to venture my Person and all that I am worth in the world to re-instate you in what was usurp'd from you Come come says the Princess there 's no necessity that I should be more unfortunate than I am to give you the opportunity of shewing your generosity and I would not willingly put your Love to so dangerous a proof They were engag'd in this discourse when a noise of confus'd and dreadful voices that cry'd out fire made them run to the windows where they saw all the lower part of the House under them vomiting fire and smoke and at the same time the flames began to enter the Chamber by the Stair-case and took from them all hopes of saving themselves that way as Prosper was preparing to do The Princess all in a fright conjur'd him not to abandon her in so great a danger and propos'd to him to make use of the Sheets and Hangings to get out of the window The Prince as much affrighted as she told her that they would not have time to do it and measuring with his eyes the height of the windows and considering which would be the best way to leap into the Court he told Mathilda very plainly that upon these occasions every one ought to shift for himself But thou shalt not go without me said she to him very resolutely and I will run no danger here which the most ungrateful and ungenerous Man alive shall not partake with me She had no sooner said these words but she caught hold of Prosper and her indignation at his baseness gave her so much strength that in spite of all his striving and struggling he could not disengage himself from her He swore he call'd her names he was Brute enough to threaten to drub or kill her I don't know which of the two it was and had certainly been as good as his word if at the time as he was tugging with her as rudely and fiercely as if he had been to deal with an Enemy the generous Hippolito had not come into the Room The Princess seeing him left Prosper at liberty and came up to Hippolito who without giving her time to speak to him cover'd her with a wet Sheet which he had brought on purpose and taking her in his Arms he threw himself like a Lion with his prey through the flames which now fill'd all the Stair-case He had no sooner set her down in a place of safety but was so generous to do the same service for his Rival 'T is true he burnt his Cloaths sing'd his Hair and his Eye-brows but I would fain know what signifies the burning of ones Cloaths or the singing of ones Hair to a Man whose Heart was burnt to a coal by Love While Mathilda recover'd her Spirits and Prosper got back to Naples without so much as thanking his Deliverer the other beheld his House burnt down to the ground and with that his Furniture and Horses in short all that his former profuseness had left him Mathilda was afflicted at it I will not say more than he was for alas he scarce thought at all of it but as much as if she had seen all that she had dear in the world destroy'd She look'd upon herself to be the occasion of this misfortune to him and indeed she was not mistaken Her Cousin Roger who had reconcil'd himself to her with no other intention but to accomplish her ruine more easie had brib'd some of Hippolito's Servants that were Villains enough to take his Money to lay a great deal of combustible stuff in the Vaults and Cellars of his House and set it on fire in the dead of the night when all the Family was asleep This unjust Favourite made no conscience to ruin a poor Gentleman nay procure his death too provided he could do the same to a Relation whose Estate he hop'd by this means to inherit and as if her death would not satisfie him which had most infallibly happen'd in case his design had succeeded he likewise endeavour'd to make her Memory odious At the time when Hippolito's House was on fire Roger had manag'd his Cards so dexterously that Messengers were order'd to search Mathilda's Palace and opening her Closet found some forg'd Letters there which seem'd to be written to the Duke of Anjou and plainly convinc'd her of keeping a private intelligence with that dangerous Enemy of the Government Our unfortunate Princess receiv'd this unlucky News just as she was going to send to Naples for her Coaches to bring her home She was extreamly troubled at it and without staying a moment longer ran to Naples with all her Servants a foot in the most lamentable condition that can be imagin'd Hippolito offer'd to accompany her but she positively forbid him fearing I suppose to disoblige her musty Spark Prosper and thus our unhappy Lover saw her depart and was infinitely more concern'd at this last Misfortune which had befal'n the Princess and at her commanding him to leave her than at the burning of his House Mathilda no sooner came to Naples but she was taken into custody She demanded to speak with the King but it was refus'd her She sent to speak with Prosper but the old Gentleman pretended to be wondrous sick and thus Mathilda beheld herself all at once abandon'd by all her Friends as if she had been infected with the Plague The very same day she receiv'd an Order from the King to leave Naples Her own Domesticks basely and scandalously deserted her her Creditors without any respect to her Quality persecuted her most unmercifully In short she was reduc'd to so wretched a condition that she could not procure Coach nor Horse to carry her to a certain Prince of Italy who was the nearest Relation she had in the world next to Roger and who had always espous'd her quarrel against that haughty Favourite Being thus forsaken by all her Friends destitute even of the necessaries of Life and uncapable of obeying so rigorous an Order she took sanctuary in a Convent where they would not receive her without his Majestyâ—s
a gulity Conscience that any other Provost less forward than he would have arrested him without any more a doc He therefore commanded his Men to help to get him up and bound Hand and Foot on his own Horse He soon afterwards met the Curate of Domfront in that Disorder you have read of with a dead Person Murther'd and a Horse shot thorough which confirm'd him in his Suspicions to which the Prisoner's greater Disorder and change of Colour was no small Addition Destiny survey'd him more earnestly than the rest imagining he knew him though where he had seen him he could not perfectly call to mind He scratch'd his dull Pate all the way he rode to awake his drowsie Memory yet could not remember where he had seen him At length they Arriv'd at Mans where La Rippiniere committed the suppos'd Malefactor to Prison whilst the Strollers who were to open the stage the day following retir'd to their Inn to get all things in readiness They were reconcil'd to the Inn-keeper and the Poet who was as generous as any Poet of 'em all would needs Treat 'em at Supper Ragotin who was then in the Inn and could not refrain coming to it ever since he was smitten with Madam Star was invited by the Poet who was so much a Fool as to invite also those that had been Spectators of the Combate which was fought the Night before betwixt the Players and the Inn-keepers Family in their Shirts and Smocks A little before Supper begun the jolly Company was further incens'd by the Arrival of an Operator and his Retinue which consisted of his Wife an old Blackamore Maid a Monkey and two FootMen Rancour was of his Acquaintance of a long standing and therefore there past great Civility betwixt 'em Nor would the Poet who was easily acquainted with the People part with him nor his Wife before he had prevail'd upon 'em by his high Compliments which sounded loud and signified little only to come and honour him with his Presence at Supper Well Sup they did where nothing happen'd that is Remarkable only they drank plentifully and eat in proportion Ragotin ' fed his Eyes on Madam Star's Face which intoxicated him more than the Liquor he swallow'd He spoke but very sparingly all the time they were at Table thô the Poet gave him a fair Opportunity of Wrangling flatly Condemning Theophilus's Verses of which Ragotin was a great Admirer The She Players engag'd a while with the Operator's Wife a Spanish Woman pretty agreeable They afterwards withdrew to their Chamber whither Destiny waited on 'em to prosecute and end his story which Cave and her Daughter died with Impatience to hear Star in the mean time was studying her Part and Destiny having taken a Chair near the Bed-side whereon Cave and her Daughter sat went on with his story after this manner Hitherto you have found me very Amorous and much in pain to know what effect my Letter had wrought in Leonora's and her Mother's Mind 's you shall see me more in Love yet and in the greatest Despair imaginable I waited every day on Madam La Boissiere and her Daughter so blinded with my Passion that I did not take notice of the coldness of their Reception nor did I consider that my too frequent Visits would become importunate Madam La Boissiere was weary of my Company ever since Saint Far acquainted 〈◊〉 who I was Yet she could not civilly forbid me the House after what I had suffer'd on her account As for her Daughter if I may judge by what she has done since I may say she pitied me thô contrary to her Mother's Will who kept so watchful an Eye upon her that we could never have an Opportunity to meet in private But to speak the Truth thô this fair Virgin would have been less cold to me than her Mother she durst not shew me the least token of her Favour before her Mother so that I was on the Rack and thy assiduous Visits serv'd only to make me more hateful to those whom I design'd to please One day Madam de la Boissiere having receiv'd some Letters from France which oblig'd her to go abroad as soon as she had read the Contents of 'em she sent immediately for a Coach and Signior Stephano accompany her not daring to go alone after the unlucky Rencounter wherein I was engaged upon her account I was my self nearer at hand and more fit to be her Squire than the Gentleman she sent for but she would not accept of the least Service from a Person whom she intended to rid her self of As luck would have it Stephano was not to be found so that she was compell'd to shew before me how uneasie she was that she had no Body to go along with her that I might offer my self which I did with as much Joy as she could have Regret to be necessitated to take me along with her I Conducted her to a certain Cardinal who was then Protector of the French who by good fortune gave her Audience upon the first Motion she made The Business was doubtless of great Importance and no small Difficulty for she was a long time with him in a private Grotto or cover'd Fountain in the midst of a fine Garden whilst all the Cardinal's Followers walked into those parts of the Garden they had most fancy to Now was I got into a large Walk of Orange-Trees alone with the Beautiful Leonora a Blessing I had often wish'd before in vain and yet more Modest and Faint-hearted than ever I had been I cannot tell whether she took notice of it or not or whether it was her Goodness which made her speak first to me in this manner My Mother said she will have just reason to quarrel with Signior Stephano for failing us to day and being the occasion of the trouble we give you to wait here so long And I am infinitely oblig'd to him reply'd I for procuring me thô without Design the greatest Happiness I ever hope to enjoy I am too far upon the score of Obligation towards you said the to omit any thing that may prove your Advantage therefore pray lot me know where the Happiness consists you mention as procur'd by him that I may share your Joy if it be such as will not offend a Maiden's Ear. I fear said I lest you make that Joy cease I answer'd she No I never was envious of any Man's Prosperity much less of a Person who has ventur'd his Life on my account 'T is not your Envy that I fear answer'd I What other Motive return'd she can there be to make me oppose your Felicity Your Disdain said I. I shall be much perplex'd added she till you let me know what I should Disdain and which way this Disdain may concern you I could soon unâ—old this Riddle said I but I cannot tell whether you will be pleas'd to understand it Do not let me hear it then reply'd she for when we have such Doubts it
of Murdering both Hereupon I had notice given me that I must soon come to my Trial and that if I escap'd it was more than any Body expected I knew the home-Proofs they had against me and hop'd only for a Miracle from Heaven to acquit me but at last Despair got the upper-hand and my Hopes consequently vanish'd I resolv'd therefore not caring to trust my deliverance to the course of Justice to join with some Highway-Men my Fellow Prisoners in the execution of a design they had laid to procure it for us all Accordingly we one Night forc'd the Gates of our Prison and by the assistance of our Friends got to the Mountains that were nearest Valencia before the Vice-Roy could possibly be inform'd of our Escapes We here continued a long time Masters of the Roads My Sophy's Infidelity and her Parents merciless Prosecution together with the loss of my Estate and Reputation made me so desperate that I car'd not at what rate I hazarded my Life and therefore in all cases of resistance I behav'd my self with so great Resolution that my Companions thought fit to chuse me for their Captain I continued in this Post so succesful for some time that our Troop became formidable even to the Kingdoms of Arragon and Valencia which Countries we were so bold as to put under Contribution I herein make you acquainted continu'd Carlos to Sophy with a Secret that concerns my Life but the Honour you have done me of your Friendship and the Opinion I have of your Integrity makes me not to doubt in the least of my security At length proceeded he I was weary of this wicked course of Life and forsook my Companions at a time when they least expected it I made my way for Barcelona where I listed a private Trooper in the Recruits that were just then raising for Africa I had hitherto had no grreat reason to be in love with Life and therefore having made so ill use of it as to infest my Country I thought I could not do better than to employ the remainder of my Days in its Service and more especially seeing the kindness I have received at your Hands has been the only Comfort I have had since I have been made the most miserable of Men by the most ungrateful Woman in the World The unknown Sophy hereupon took the part of Sophy unjustly accus'd and omitted nothing to persuade her Lover against passing rash Judgments on his Mistriss before he was thorowly inform'd of her Crime She told the unfortunate Gentleman moreover that she was very sensible of his Misfortunes and would do all that lay in her power to alleviate them and to give him a better Proof of her good Will than what lay in Words she desired of him to come and be with her and that assoon as occasion serv'd she would employ all her own and her Friends Interest with the Emperour to get him deliver'd from the Prosecution of Sophy's Parents as likewise from that of the Vice-Roy of Valencia Don Carlos was not at all mov'd with what the Counterfeit Don Fernando could say to him concerning the justification of Sophy but to accept of the offers of his Table and House he was The same Day this faithful Lover spoke to Don Carlos's Captain to permit him to come and serve under him I should have said her Now was our Lover under the command of his Mistriss whom he took to be either dead or Faithless He was very easy from the begining under this new Commander and would often wonder how he came to be so much in her Favour in so short a time He was at once her Intendant Secretary Gentleman and Confident The other Domesticks paid not a greater respect even to Don Fernando himself than they did to him and he would no doubt have been exceeding happy had not the lost Sophy the treacherous Sophy come so often into his Mind Whatever kindness Sophy had for him she always took a great deal of Pleasure to see him griev'd not doubting but it was upon her account At last she had justified Sophy so often and sometimes with that heat that Don Carlos came to suspect that she had either been formerly her Lover or was so still These Wars in Africa ended as you may read in the History These Emperour afterwards made them in Germany Italy Flanders and other Places Our experienc'd She-Warriour under the name of Fernando still kept up or rather encreas'd her Reputation for Courage and Conduct tho' the last of these qualities be seldom to be met with in a Person so young as this valiant Lady's Sex made her to appear The Emperour was oblig'd to go into Flanders and for that purpose demanded leave of the King of France to pass through his Dominions The great King that then reign'd in that Country had a Mind to excel in Generosity a Mortal Enemy who had always surmounted him in Fortune tho' he had not made the best use of it Charles V. was received in Paris with as great Magnificence as if he had been King himself The brave Don Fernando was one of the small number of Persons of Quality that attended him and 't is more than likely that if he had continued long at that Court this fair Spanish Lady being taken for a Man would have enamour'd all the French Ladies and raised Jealousie in the most accomplish'd of Courtiers While this happen'd the Vice-Roy of Valencia died in Spain Don Fernando through his great Merit and Interest with the Emperour doubted not but he should quickly obtain that charge and as he thought so it soon after fell out for he had no sooner ask'd than he had it given him without the least opposition from any Competitor This his good success he immediately thought fitting to acquaint Don Carlos with and at the same time gave him reason to hope that assoon as he was gotten into possession of his new Employment he would not only reconcile him with Sophy's Relations and procure him Pardon of the Emperour for having been chief of the Vandoleros Highway-men but likewise undertake to restore him to his Lands and Estate Don Carlos might very well have receiv'd comfort from these Promises of his Friend had not his Love made him uncapable of it The Emperour soon after arriv'd in Spain and went directly to Madrid while Don Fernando made what hast he could to his new Government From the very Day after his arrival in Valencia Sophy's Friends continually pester'd him with Petitions against Don Carlos who at the same time was both his Steward and Secretary The Vice-Roy promis'd to do them speedy Justice but at the same time let Carlos privately know that he would not fail to protect his Innocence The Cause was quickly prepar'd for Hearing and in five or six Days time both Parties were ready to go to Tryal The Prosecutor demanded of the Vice-Roy that the supposed Criminal might be sent to Prison but which Don Fernando would not
before Early in the morning I received the most passionate Letter from him that I ever read accompany'd with a pretty Copy of Verses upon the Tyranny of Husbands He spent the remainder of the night after he had parted with 〈◊〉 writing them and next day when I receiv'd them 〈◊〉 could hardly do any thing else but read them over and overâ— as oft as I could do it in private Neither of us sufficientâ—â— reflected upon the hazard we had run to make it a wanting to us not to expose our selves so any more But althoâ— had not been inclin'd of my self to grant him all that â— asked of me or had loved Andrada less than I did or had not yielded to the insinuating flattery of his Letters yet could not have resisted the perswasion of my Chamber-maid who talkt to me incessantly in his favour She repreach'â— me with want of resolution which had made me think no more of Andrada and talk'd of the passion he had for me with the same vehemence as she could have told a Sweet-heart of her own what a kindness she had for him By this I found that she was not to learn her Trade now and likewise saw of what importance it is to be careful in the choice of those persons that are plac'd about those of my age and condition But I was resolv'd to ruin my self so that if she had been more vertuous than she was she had enjoy'd a less share in my confidence At last she over-perswaded me to receive Andrada in a Dressing-room near my Chamber where she lay by herself and we agreed that so soon as my Husband was fast asleep she should lye by him in my place while I pass'd the night with Andrada Thus we got him conceal'd into my Dressing-room my Husband fell asleep and I prepar'd to meet my Lover with all the emotions of one whose desires are violent yet who has a great deal to fear when a terrible noise of confus'd voices that cry'd out Fire Fire alarm'd my ears and wak'd my Husband At the same time my Chamber was all in a smoke and I cou'd perceive the flames through my Windows A Negro Maid that serv'd in the Kitchen had set it on fire being drunk and it was not perceiv'd till it had taken hold of some dry Wood and the neighbouring Stables and now had seiz'd the boards of my apartment My Husband was very well belov'd In an instant the house was full of neighbours that came to help us to quench the fire My Brother-in-law Don Lewis whom the common danger had made more active and diligent than the rest was one of the first that helpt us with his Servants and push'd on by his passion made his way into my Chamber through the flames that had already seiz'd the Stair-case He was in his shirt and had nothing over it but his Night-Gown in which he wrapt me up and taking me between his arms who might more properly be said to be dead than alive for the danger to which Andrada was expos'd rather than for my own he carry'd me to his own room through the communication his house had with ours and setting me down upon his bed left me there accompany'd 〈◊〉 some of my Women In the mean time my Husband and all that had concern'd themselves in this accident that had 〈◊〉 us bestirr'd themselves so notably that the fire was â—ut out after it had done a great deal of damage Andrada made his escape without difficulty among the crowd and 〈◊〉 of people that came to help us and you may imagine how joyful I was when Marina told me the agreeable news He writ to me a hundred foolish things the next day which I answer'd with more transport than he had shewn and thus we made a shift by writing to one another to soften and relieve that pain which absence gave us After we had repair'd all the mischief that the fire had done us and I had left Don Lewis's room to return to my own Andrada easily perswaded me to let him try the same way once more which had not fail'd the last time but for so unfortunate and unexpected an accident That very night we pitcht upon to make ourselves full amends for the time which the fire had made us lose a Cavalier of my Husband's acquaintance who was in some trouble about a Duel and had fled to an Ambassadors house where he did not think himself safe enough from the Civil Magistrate was oblig'd to abscond somewhere else My Husband carry'd him privately to his own house and took himself the key of the street door which he caus'd to be lock'd before his face lest any servant through treachery or indiscretion shou'd discover the place of his retirement This order at which I was equally surpriz'd and troubled was unluckily put in execution just as Andrada made the signal in the street which he had told Marina of before The poor Maid was in a strange confusion what to do and made him a sign from a low Lattice Window to stay a moment We deliberated upon the matter a little and afterwards she went and told him in a low voice what new obstacle our ill-natur'd destiny had trumpt up to oppose our design so she propos'd to him to stay till all our people were gone to bed and then he should try to get in through one of the Kitchin Windows which she wou'd open for him Nothing seem'd difficult or dangerous to Andrada provided he cou'd satisfie his love My Husband saw his friend to bed and went to bed himself in good time after the example I set him all our Servants did the same and Marina when she thought the whole family was fast asleep open'd the little Window for Andrada who with all the ease in the world got half way through but so indiscreetly or unfortunately that after several efforts which rather did him a mischief than helpâ— him he stuck fast by the wast between the Iron bars of the Window without being able to stir backward or forward His Valet could not help him from the street no more cou'd Marina from the place where she was without some one else to assist her So she went to call up one of the Maids in whom she cou'd repose confidence and told her that she had been over-perswaded that night by her Sweet-heart whom she lov'd intirely and was to marry in a little time to try to let him in at the Kitchin Window but that he stuck so fast in the Iron Bars that there was no getting him out without filing them or wrenching them out of their place She desir'd her therefore to assist her in this extremity to which the other readily consented but for want of a Hammer or some such Iron utensil Andrada had not been a farthing the better for the help of these two wenches if he had not be thought himself of his Ponyard which did the business so effectually that after a great deal of
the Court prepar'd Lists before Mathilda's window and for eight days together run at the Ring against all people Gallantries of this nature generally make a great noise Several Princes of Italy and most of Mathilda's Relations and Friends were present at it and signaliz'd themselves nay the King himself who passionately admir'd this sort of Exercise was pleased to honour it with his Royal Presence Roger had interest enough with his Master to have hinder'd him but by a cunning fetch of his politics he had reconcil'd himself to Mathilda and declar'd to all the world that unless he had really thought that Tarento belonged to him he would never have attempted to make himself Master of it The King was mightily pleas'd with him for so readily submitting to the sentence of the Judges and that he might recompence him for the loss of his trial and his pretensions upon Tarento gave him one of the most important Governments of the Kingdom besides the places he had before Hippolito perform'd wonders at running at the Ring and carry'd away the honour of it Prosper had a mind to dispute it with him so all be-plumb'd and be-feather'd that any one would have taken him for an American Prince But he was thrown the very first course either through his own fault or that of his Horse's and was sufficiently bruis'd or at least pretended so to be He was carry'd to Mathilda's house who for vexation quitted her Balcony and curs'd the amorous Hippolito a hundred times for his pains He came to hear of it and was so concern'd that he broke up the Assembly and retir'd in the greatest despair to a fine house he had within a league of Naples In the mean time Prosper was so enrag'd at his fall that he treated Mathilda after a most terrible manner telling her that she was the cause of his disgrace and reproach'd her with being in love with Hippolito Mathilda always gentle always humble and always blindly fond of her haughty Tyrant begg'd his pardon and in short was as chicken-hearted as he was brutal Hippolito had a Sister that was bred up with the Queen of Spain and was lately return'd to Naples for reasons that I don't know and signify nothing to our history Besides that she was beautiful to a miracle she was a Lady of extraordinary merit that rendred her deserving of the vows of the best men in the Kingdom At her return from Spain she found her Brothers Affairs in so low a condition that when he set up the running at the Ring she would not appear at Court because she wanted an Equipage suitable for a person of her quality but always kept at her Brother's house which was all that was left him of his Estate for he had parted with his Lands She came Incognito to see the running at the Ring and observing her Brother break up the Company and leave Naples so abruptly follow'd him home and found him in the most lamentable condition that could be He had broke his Lances tore his Feathers and his Hair mangl'd his Cloaths and his Face in short he was in such a distraction that she would have despair'd of ever seeing him come to his Senses again had she not known very well that a smile nay an indifferent look from Mathilda would have made him forget a thousand ill treatments She did all that lay in her power to bring him to a good humour gave way to his passion instead of combating it rail'd at Mathilda when he storm'd against her and said all the good things she could think of her when after all his Transports the Scene chang'd and she found him the most amorous Lover that ever was But the surly Prosper had not the same complaisance for Mathilda his fall still broil'd in his Stomach and he daily laid it to her charge tho' she was by no means accessary to it One day when after having thank'd her Judges she went to wait upon the King to thank him likewise altho he had been against her but a Court 't is a point of indiscretion to speak one's real thoughts or receive a denial otherwise than with fawning and cringing One day therefore when she was in the King's Anti-Chamber she saw the obsequious Prosper come in Ever since his fall he had never made her a visit but to scold and quarrel with her for suffering Hippolito to run at the Ring under her window Nothing could be more unjust than Prosper's complaints It was not in Mathilda's power to hinder a publick diversion even tho it had not been design'd for her sake since her Palace took up one side of the great square and altho it had been in her power yet she ought not to have done it unless she resolv'd to be thought a woman of no manners nor gratitude Prosper was the only man who by his false way of his reasoning fancied that she had done him an irreparable injury and his anger sowr'd him to that degree that he went no more to visit her as if he had broke off with her for good and all The poor Princess was ready to run distracted about it and no sooner saw this Tyrant of hearts who was just going into the King's chamber but she threw herself in his way and stopt him He endeavour'd to avoid her and press'd forward she caught hold of him by the arm and casting a look at him that was enough to charm any one but this haughty Brute she ask'd him what she had done to him that he should shun her thus What have you not done repli'd this Prince arrogantly and how can you ever retrieve the reputation you have lost by suffering the Gallantries of Hippolito I cannot hinder them nor hinder him from loving me answers Mathilda but 't is in my power not to approve either his Love or his Gallantry and I think continues she that I have sufficiently testified my dislike of them when I went from my Balcony before the show was over You should not have appear'd there at all replies Prosper and the reason why you went a way at last was only because you saw all the company pointed at you for being there But your love for Hippolito has made you lose all your reason and his Gallantries have quite effac'd all the services I am capable of doing you Mathilda was vext to the heart to hear this and was going to answer him but he wou'd not give her time besides the anger that appear'd in his countenance made the Princess so afraid of him that she was perfectly speechless When you were no more Mistriss of Tarento said he to her and the King order'd you to be apprehended I had a mind to see how far your indiscretion and mean spirit would carry you and whether Adversity could cure your faults For this reason I made no Feasts like your Gallant nay I pretended to be no longer in your Interesta In the mean time Hippolito made a mighty bustle and did you little service
greatest Talker of his age Our Ladies were so well pleas'd with the Chase that they resolv'd to take their pleasure the next day and in order to change their Diversion they design'd to go by Sea to Puzzolo where the Princess Mathilda promis'd to give them a Collation and Musick They no less spruc'd themselves up for their Voyage by Water than they had done the day before for hunting The Boats that carried them were finely adorn'd cover'd with rich Tapestry whether of Turky or China I won't be positive and the meanest Cushions were of Silk or Velvet Prosper would needs go thither by land and had none but his dear self to accompany him either to save Money or because he was melancholy for some folks are so out of pride He was mounted upon his finest Horse had dress'd himself in his richest Campaign Suit and loaded his head with the spoils of many an Ostridge Hippolito's House lay in the road to Puzzolo near the Sea and the Prince of Salerno must of necessity ride just by it He no sooner saw it but a noble thought came into his head He knew that Hippolito was at home and alighted from his Horse to have a little Conversation with him Hippolito receiv'd him with all the respect and civility that was due to his Quality altho' the other had not the manners to return it Prosper made him a very rude Compliment upon his presuming to be in love with a Princess who was to be his Wife Hippolito bore all his impertinence for a long while and answerâ—d him with all the sweetness imaginable that he ought not to be offended at his Gallantry which a Love without hopes put him upon But at last Prosper's Insolence forc'd him to change his Language and he had already call'd for his Horse to go out and fight him when word was brought him that the Sea was very tempestuous and that the Boats wherein the Ladies were which they could behold from the shore were in danger of being dash'd against the Rocks Hippolito did not doubt but that these Ladies were Mathilda and her Company he perswaded Prosper to run to the relief of their common Mistriss who excus'd himself upon his not being able to swim and that he was not yet recover'd of the bruise he receiv'd when he run at the Ring The generous Hippolito detesting in his Soul the ingratitude of his Rival ran or rather flew to the Sea-shore His Servants follow'd him threw themselves into the Sea after his example and by the assistance of some Fishermen who happen'd by good luck to be upon the Coast they made a shift to save Mathilda's Life and the Ladies in her company Their Boats were overturn'd within a hundred Yards of the shore and Naples had bewail'd the loss of all its Beauties at once if it had not been for this seasonable relief Hippolito was so happy that Mathilda ow'd her life to him His love made him soon distinguish her from the other Ladies whom the waves were going to dash against the rocks that bound the shore While the Fishermen and his Servant help'd the first persons they found he caught hold of the Princess just as she rose above water and holding her with one hand while he swum with the other towards the shore he happily gain'd it without any one to help him Mathilda found herself much more ill after her Shipwrack than the rest of the Ladies that were sav'd with her After they had vomited their salt-water chang'd their Cloaths and recover'd their fright they were able that very day to take Coach for Naples As for the Princess of Tarento it was a long time before they brought her to herself Even then they much doubted her Life and Hippolito and his Sister Irâ—ne took all the care of her that was possible He sent to Naples for the ablest Physicians besides him belonging to the Princess and quitted his House intirely to Mathilda and to some of her Domesticks that came to wait on her He and his Servants made a shift to lodge at a little Farm not far from his own House and sent every other moment to enquire how the Princess did when he could not go thither himself As for Prosper very well pleasâ—d with the rough Compliment he had pass'd upon Hippolito he left Mathilda and the rest of the Ladies to swim for themselves as well as they could without troubling his head what became of them thinking perhaps that since he was none of the fittest man to help them he ought not to pollute his eyes with so 〈◊〉 a spectacle and so jogg'd on gently to Naples expecting the doubtful event of the Shipwrack to rejoice at it or otherwise according as it would have made him happy or unhappy In the mean time Mathilda assisted by her youth and the remedies that were given her recover'd her Health and Beauty all at once and was extreamly satisfied with the great care of Hippolito and his Sister who dexterously insinuated to her with what indifference Prosper had beheld the peril she was in Mathilda did not discover the least mark of resentment in her face or discourse whether it were because her love master'd it or because she dissembled her ill usage The Night before she design'd to leave Hippolito's House and return to Naples she could not sleep and call'd for a Book and a Candle Her Women were gone out of her Chamber to sleep or do something else when she saw Prosper come into the Room We may readily guess what a surprize she was in to see him at so unseasonable an hour and how much she look'd upon herself affronted by so disrespectful a visit She spoke to him of it with some warmth Prosper was warmer than she and as if this Princess had thrown herself into this danger of losing her life on purpose to give Hippolito the glory of saving it he reproach'd her with her Shipwrack as a blemish to her honour and tax'd her with infidelity because she was in the House of one that was in love with her lodgâ—d in his Chamber and lay in his Bed Mathilda wou'd not condescend to shew him how unjust his reproaches were but retorted upon him for not having endeavour'd to save her and in a cutting way of raillery complain'd of him for not being able to swim as also for not being fully recover'd of his late dangerous fall Prosper redden'd with anger and confusion treated her with opprobrious language and told her he would never see her any more since Roger the King's Favourite offer'd him his Sister and with her all the advantages he might expect from the alliance of a Man in his Post. Mathilda could not hold out against so terrible a menace her Blood curdl'd within her and her Love soon conquer'd her Indignation She had began to exert herself a little but all on the sudden became a suppliant He relented too on his side when he saw her humbl'd as much as he thought convenient and
little Orlando for your sake 'T is true I should not with one single Stroak of my Sword fell so many thumping Trees or commit so many Ravages as my Brother Hero in Ariosto My Follies should give more Diversion than his tho' they were nothing near so Terrible and perhaps they would not excite less Compassion You see Madam I have made use of the Permission your Majesty gave me as being a Gallant of no Consequence to be that for the greatest Queen that ever was which this Romantick Blusterer was for a Queen that was never in being 'T was well your Majesty gave me this Permission for otherwise I might have taken it and by refusing it you might have seen your self Dis-obey'd by one who would not do it upon any other Occasion tho' it cost him his Life Setting aside Majesty you are Madam one of the most Admirable Women in the Universe Whereever you go your Eyes make you more Subjects than a great Kingdom gave you and as they do of themselves all those Miracles we have seen them do without your taking any Pains to Teach them we must be forc'd to own they are the Finest and most Charming Eyes in the World but withal the most Dangerous Thus I behold nothing but Rivals in all the Persons that come to see me and I behold no fewer Rivals among the Ladies which is none of the least Miracles your Majesty has perform'd I mean your makinâ— them so Just to you who are naturally Envious to the 〈◊〉 their Sex I should fear Madam that I took too much 〈◊〉 with your Majesty if you did not know better than â—y one that a great deal of Icarus and Ixion enters into the Composition of a Poet and that the History of these two rash Adventurers tho' by the by their end is not very much for the Advantage of these Traders in Immortality is of all Fables that which pleases them most and is of the greatest use to them There is not a Poet to be found who would not prefer the Reputation of being a Modern Ixion to that of turning a Stanza handsomely and a happy Boldness for so they are pleas'd to Christen their Love of Contemplation to the Laurel or Mony or both together But Madam perhaps I begin to abuse the Command your Majesty laid upon me to write to you if I have not already abused it I beseech you therefore that if you think fit to continue this Honour to me you would let me know how far my Letters may be privileged with you that they may never go beyond the Respect I owe you I am Your most humble most obedient and most dutiful Servant Scarron To the Countess de Brienne Paris August 7. 1657. Madam YOU had the Curiosity to see me as well as the Queen of Sweden you ought therefore like her to give me leave to be in love with you and allow me the Honour of a Passion which now perhaps no longer depends upon your consent If you are of opinion that I ask more than you ought to grant me or that I undertake more than I am able to perform I will content my self with being one of your Friends and conceal the Lover from you Unless you think fit to allow me this Favour you must e'en discard me your Service which will be a severe Mortification to me for I have a furious desire to please you with all my Might After so frank a Declaration you may very well imagine that I would not deceive you for all the World I will therefore honestly acquaint you with all the good and ill Qualities of the Person who is resolv'd to devote himself to you while he lives His Body in truth is somewhat ill-shap'd and out of sorâ—s as you could not but observe when you saw him and Women with Child are forbidden to make him any Visits As for his Soul he is so well satisfy'd with it that he would not exchange it with any but yours When he is in love he loves with so much violence that he is sometimes asham'd of himself for it and since all must out although he is nicely punctual in discharging the Offices of Friendship yet he is a little remiss in writing to his Friends But then he speaks well of them upon all Occasions with a sort of Fury too and sometimes so much as to tire his Hearers and when he is oblig'd to espouse a Man's part whom he pretends to love a Lyon and he are one and the same thing If you like me after this Description I am entirely at your Service Thus expecting that you 'll pronounce either my good or bad Destiny I am and always shall be after what rate soever you think fit to treat me Your Languishing Ladyship 's most Passionate Admirer Scarron LETTER VII To the Countess de Brienne Paris Aug. 8. 1657. Madam IT was in your Power I own it to chuse whether you would receive a Declaration of Love from your humble Servant but as it was not in your Power to hinder him from being so bold and presumptuous as to make one allow me to doubt whether you have rejected it till such time as you absolutely Command me to believe the contrary If you a Common Beauty were One Frown might make your Slave forbear But Madam who can you behold Made of Nature's richest Mould A Nymph so Charming who can see And not with Love transported be And when with his resistless Dart The little God has pierc'd the Heart What Mortal can conceal the smart No the poor Wretch is forc'd to show it By sad Experience I know it Come let us go to Confession Madam and honestly own that neither of us were so sincere as we ought to have been in the first Letters we writ to one another and that if it is impossible not to speak to you of Love being so Beautiful as you are 't is no less so for me who pretend to an indifferent Judgment to content my self with only being one of your Friends as I intimated to you in my last If the Conclusion of your Letter is as sincere as the Beginning of it is otherwise the good Opinion you promise to have of me will produce tragical Effects at Court and you will see hundreds of Pretenders there cripple themselves and all to rival me For my part I can't help it if they do and tho' I shall strive by the Violence of my Passion to deserve what your natural Goodness permits me to hope yet I shall not be so love-sick neither as to attempt to please you at the Loss of my Understanding LETTER XVII To the Count de Vivonne June 12. 1660. IN vain my Lord you post it away And kill your Brace of Steeds a day And o're the dusty Plains come pouring Like Husband for a Midwife scouring Or Winds the Clouds before them driving Or Parson scamp'ring for a Living You 'll come too late to see that * The Marriage of Lewis XIV of
Country-Squires the most troublesom Race of Men all great Talkers most of 'em very impertinent and amongst whom there were some newly return'd from the University Among the rest appear'd a little Man who was a Widower a Lawyer by Profession and an Officer in a small Court of Judicature in the Neighbourhood Since the Death of his little Wife he sometimes threatned the Women to marry again and sometimes the Clergy of the Province to turn Priest nay even a preaching Prelate He was the greatest little Fool that ever ran madding since Rollando He had studied Books all his Life-time and though the chief end of Scholarship be the Knowledge of Truth yet he was as great a Lyar as a Page proud and obstinate as a Pedant and so bad a Poet as to deserve to be drown'd if the Government would take care to rid the Kingdom of the troublesom Vermine of Rhiming Fools Assoon as Destiny and his Comrades came into the Room without giving them the time to know who he was he offer'd to read to 'em a Poem of his own making call'd The Deeds and Atchievements of Charlemain in four and twenty Books This Proposal put all the Assistants into such a frighâ—â—s made their Hair stand an end but Destiny who in this general Terror preserv'd a little Judgment told him smiling that 't was not possible for them to give him the hearing before Supper Well quoth he I will read to you a Story taken out of a Spanish Bookâ— which was sent me from Paris and of which I design to make a regular Play They shifted the Discourse three or four times â—â—on purpose to avoid hearing a Story which they suppos'd to be an Imitation of Guy of Warwick or Tom Thumb But tho' they often interrupted him yet our little Man did not lose Courage and with often beginning his Story he at last forc'd them to hear him out however they did not repent because the Story prov'd to be a good one and bely'd the ill Opinion they had of all that came from Ragotin for so was call'd out Iack-in-a-Box You will see the said Story in the following Chapter not such as Ragotin told it but such as I had it my self from one of the Hearers Therefore 't is not Ragotin that speaks but my self CHAP IX The History of the Invisible Mistress DON Carlos of Aragon was a young Gentleman of the Family that bore that Name He perform'd Wonder at the Publick Game with which the Viceroy of Naples entertain'd the People upon the Marriage of Philip the Second Third or Fourth for I forgot which The next Day after a Running at the Ring whereof he carried the Prize the Viceroy gave liberty to the Ladies to go about the City in Disguise and to wear Masks after the French way for the Conveniency of Strangers whom the Publick Rejoycings had invited thither Upon that Day Don Carlos put on his finest Clothes and with many other Conquerors of Hearts repaird to the Churâ—â— of Gallantry Churches are prophaned in these Countries aâ— well as in ours and the House of God serves for a Meeting Place to the Beaux and the Cocquets to the eternal Shame 〈◊〉 those who have the curs'd Ambition of drawing Customerâ— from other Churches to their own These Abuses ought to bâ— reform'd and there should be Persons appointed to turn Beauâ— and Cocquets out of Churches as well as to drive away Dâ— and Bitches I may be ask'd What makes me concern 〈◊〉 self about it Truly you will see more of this anon Howâ—ever let the 〈◊〉 who is offended at it be satisfied that all Mâ— in this World are Fools as well as Lyars some more some lessâ— and I my self perhaps a greater Fool than the rest though have more Frankness in owning it And my Book being but heap of Folliesâ— I hope every Fool will find his own Charâ—â—â—â— in it unless he be blinded by Self-love To return to my Story Don Carlos was in a Church with several other Italian and â—nish Gentlemen viewing themselves in their fine Feathers 〈◊〉 proud Peacocks when three Ladies in Masks accosted him 〈◊〉 midst all these fierce and gay Cupids and one of 〈◊〉 spoke to him thus or to the same effect Signior Don Carlosâ— there is a Lady in this City to whom you are very much â—â—lig'd for at all the Justs and Turnaments her Wishes weâ— still along with you in all those Exercises whereof you caâ—â— the Prize What I find most advantageous in what you tell me answerd Don Carlos is to have it from the Mouth of a Lady who seems to be a Person of Merit yet had I so much as hop'd that any Lady had been on my side I would have taken more care to deserve her Approbation The unknown Lady reply'dâ— he had given all the Proofs imaginable of his being a most dextrous and accomplish'd Gentleman and that by his Black and White Liveries he had shewn he was not in love I never was well acquainted with the meaning of Colours answer'd Don Carlos but this I know that if I am not in love 't is not so much because I am indifferent as because I am sensible I do not deserve to be belov'd They said to one another a Thousand fine Things more which I shall not relate because I know nothing of 'em and that I would be loath to compose others lest I should wrong Don Carlos and the unknown Lady who had a great deal more Wit than I can pretrend toâ— as I was dately inform'd by a young Neapolitan who knew 'em both In short the Lady in a Mask declar'd to Don Carlos that 't was she who had an Inclination for him He desir'd to see her Face which she refus'd and told him That he must not expect it yet that she would look for a more proper Opportunity and thatâ— to let him know she fear'd not to trust her self alone with him that she would give him a Token At these Words she pull'd off her Glove and shew'd the Spaniard the finest Hand in the World and presented him with a Ring which he receiv'd with so great a Surprize at the Adventure that he almost forgot to make a Bow and thank her when the went from him The other Gentlemen who out of Civility were gone from him being come to him again he told 'em what had happen'd to him and shew'd them the Ring which was of considerable Value Every one spoke his Thoughts about the Adventure and Don Carlos was deep in love with the unknown Ladyâ— as if he had seen her Face So great is the Power of Wit on those who have their Share of it He was eight long Days without hearing from the Lady but whether or no he was uneasie at itâ— I could never be well inform'd In the mean time he went every Day to divert himself at the House of a Captain of Foot where several Men of Quality met to play One Night when he had not been at Play and
the Ball he went in great hast to his House to take Arms and from thence to the fatal Graâ—e which was not far off His Lady who was there already ask'd him news of the Ball although she had been there her self He told her very ingenuously that he had danc'd with a very beautiful Person and entertain'd her all the time the Ball lasted She ask'd him several questions in relation to her which discover'd her jealousie and as for Don Carlos he let her understand that he begun to doubt her Quality by reason she was not at the Ball she having taken notice of it us'd all the charms of her Wit to remove his Suspicioâ—s and favour'd him as far as 't was posible in a Conversation that past with a Grate between adding withal that in a short time she would become visible Hereupon they parted Don Carlos very much in doubt whether he ought to believe her and she somewhat jealous of the fine Person whom he entertain'd during the Ball. The next day Don Carlos going to hear Mass at a certain Church the Name of which I have forgot offer'd Holy Water to two Ladies vail'd who went to take some at the same time with him She who appear'd in the better Cloaths of the two told him she never accepted of any Civility from one with whom she had a quarrel to decide If you are not too much in hast answer'd Don Carlos you may have Satisfaction this very Moment Well said the unknown Ladyâ— follow me then into the next Chappel She led the way to it and Don Carlosâ— follow'd 〈◊〉 very much in doubt whether she was his unknown Mistressâ— forâ— though her shape was the same yet he found some difference in their Voices this new Lady speaking something thickâ— This is the substance of what she told him after she had shut â—her self with him in the Chappel All the City of Nâ—ples Signior Don Carlos talks of the high Reputation you have gain'd during that little time you have been here and every Body looks upon you as the most accomplisht Gentleman in the World The only thing that People wonder at is your not taking notice that there are in this City some Ladies of Quality and Merit who have a particular esteem for you they have discover'd it to you as far as Decency will allow and though 't is their eager desire to make you sensible of it yet they had rather you had not taken notice of it through insensibility than if you despis'd their Favour through indifference Among the rest there 's one of my Acquaintance who has so much value for you as to hazard her own Reputation to â—ell you that your Night-Adventures are discover'd that you rashly engage in an Amour with one you do not know and that since your Mistress conceals her self she must either be asham'd of her Lover or afraid of not deserving to be belov'd her self I question not but the Object of your Contemplative Love is a Lady of great Quality and Wit and that your fancy has fram'd such a Mistress as is worthy of Adoration upon all Accounts But Signior Don Carlos believe not your Imagination at the expence of your Judgement trust not a Person who conceals her self and engage no more in those Night-Conversations But why should I disguise my self any longer I my self am jealous of your Phantom I cannot bear you should speak with her and since I have declared my self so far I will so thwart all her Designs that I shall carry the Prize to which I have as much Right as she since I am not inferior to her either in Beauty Richesâ— Quality or any thing that can bespeak Love If you are Wise you will make use of my Adviceâ— As â—he was speaking these last Words the went away without giving Don Carlos time to answer her He was going to follow her but he met at the Church Gate a Man of Quality who engaged him in a tedious Conversation and of whom he could not rid himself â—he reflected the remainder of the day upon this Adventure and suspected at first the Lady of the Ball to be the vail'd Person that appear'd last to him But then calling to mind that the shew'd abundance more Wit than he had found in the other he was at a loss what to think of it and wish'd almost not to be engag'd with his unknown Mistress that he might give up himself entirely to this last But then again considering that he knew her no better than his invisible whose Wit had charm'd him in all the Conversation he had with her he firmly resolv'd to be constant to his first Choice without minding in the least the Threats of the last Lady for he was not to be wrought upon by Fear or Compulsion That very Night he fail'd not to repair to the Grated Window at the usual Hour where in the height of the Conversation with his Mistress he was seiz'd by four strong Men in Masks who having Disarm'd him carried him by force into a Coach that waited for them at the end of the Street I leave the Reader to think how many abusive Names he gave to those Men in Disguise and how he Reproached them for attacking him to Disadvantage on his side Nay he endeavour'd to win 'em by promises but instead of persuading them he only made them take more care of him and put him out of hopes of being able to shew either his Strength or Courage In the meanâ—time the Coach and six Horses drove on a full Trot and having got out of the City after an hours Riding came into a great House the Gate of which was kept open in order to receive it The four Maskers alighted with Don Carlos holding him under the Arms like an Ambassador introduced to salute the Grand Signior He was carried up one pair of Stairs in the same manner where two Gentlewomen in Masks came to receive him at the door of a large Room each a Candlestick in her Hand and the four Men in Disguise took their leave of him with a profound Reverence 'T is probable they left him neither Sword not Pistol and that he did not forget to thank 'em for their extraordinary care of his Person And yet perhaps he never thought on 't not but that he was a Man of good Breeding but upon a Surprize a flip in point of Civility ought to be forgiven Neither will I tell you whether the Candlesticks the Gentlewomen had in their Hands were Silver that they were at least if not rather Silver-guilt ingraven As for the Room it was the most Magnificent in the World and if you desire it as well furnisht as some Apartments of our Romances Namely the Ship of Zelman in Polexander the Palace of Ibrahim in the Illustriâ—us Bassa or the Room wherein the King of Assyria receiv'd Mandane in the Cyrus which together with the others I nam'd before is certainly a Book that has the best Furniture in the World
Now imagine what Surprize our Spaniard was in to find himself in this stately Apartment with two speechless Gentlewomen in Masks who Conducted him into another Chamber still better furnisht than the great Room and there left him all alone Had he been of Don Quixot's Humour he would have found sufficient Matter to please his Fancy and imagin'd himself to be no less than Esplaâ—dian or Amadis But our Spaniard was no more concern'd at it than if he had been in his Inn save only that he had a great Regret for his Invisible Lady and as he kept his Thoughts continually employ'd about her he found that Chamber more Melancholy than a Prison which looks never pleasant but on the outside He was easily perswaded that these who had provided him so fair a Lodging were none of his Enemies and doubted not but the Lady who spoâ—e to him the day before in the Church was the Conjurer that rais'd all those Enchantments He admir'd within himself the Fancy of Women and how soon they put their designs in Execution as for him he resolv'd to wait patiently the end of this Adventure and be Faithful to his invisible Mistress in spite of all the Threats and Promises he might receive in his new Lodging A little while after Servants in Masks and in very good Cloaths came to lay the Cloth and then serv'd up Supper Everything belonging to it was Magnificent Musick and Persumes were not forgotten and Don Carlos not only gratifyed his Smelling and Hearing but his Tast also for he eat and drank more than I thought a Man in his condition could have done But what 's impossible to so great a Courage I forget to tell you that he wash'd his Mouth for I am inform'd he took great care of his Teeth The Musick play'd yet a while after Supper and all being withdrawn Don Carlos fetch'd many a turn about the Room reflecting on all these Enchantments or perhaps on something else then came in two Gentlewomen and a Dwarf all in Masks who without asking him whether he had a mind to go to Bed spread a Magnificent Toilet in order to undress him He comply'd with them in every thing The Gentlewomen turn'd down the Bed-Cloaths and then withdrew The Dwarf pull'd off his Shooes Stockings or Boots and then his other Cloaths all which being done without exchanging a word Don Carlos went to Bed and slept pretty well for a Man in Love At break of Day he was wak'd by the singing of Birds that fluttâ—r'd in an Aviary the Dwars came to wait upon him land brought him the finest Linen in the World and the best wash'd and perfum'd If you think it fit I shall not mention what he did till Dinner which was at least as good as Supper has been but pass to the first breaking of that profound Silence which had been observ'd to that very hour A Gentlewoman in a Mask began to speak by asking him if he would be pleas'd to see the Mistress of that Inchanted Palace Don Carlos said the should be welcom And a little while after she came in attendedâ— by four Gentlewomen very richly Drest Such are not Cythera's Charms When Drest in Gay and Loose Attire She flyâ—s to a New Lovers Arms Upon the Wings of soft desire Never had our Spaniard seen a Person of more Majestick Mâ—inâ— than this unknown Urganda He was so Transported and Surpriz'd at the same time that he stumbled at every Bow and Step he made as he led her into the next Room whither she directed him All the fine things he had seen in the other Rooms I mention'd before were nothing in comparison to what he found in this last which still receiv'd a new brightness from the Lady in a Mask They walk'd on the finest Foot-Carpet that ever was seen since Foot-Carpets have been in Fashion There the Spaniard was plac'd on an Arm-chair in spite of himself and the Lady sitting by her self on I know not how many fine Cushions over against him she ravish'd his Ears with a Voice as sweet as an Harpscical speaking to him to this effect I doubt not Seignior Don Carlos but you are much surpriz'd with what has hapn'd to you in my House since yesterday but if all that is not able to move you yet by it you may see I am as good as my Word and from what I have done you may guess what I am able to do Perhaps my Rival both by her Artifice and the Advantage she has of having Attackâ— you first has made her self Absolute Mistress of that Heart which I pretend to dispute with her But a Woman is not to be Discourag'd by the first Disappointment and if my Fortune which is not to be despis'dâ— with all that goes along with my Person cannot perswade you to love me yet I shall have the Satisfaction of not concealing my self out of Shame or Deceit and to chuse to be Despis'd through my Defects rather than belov'd through my Artifice As she spoke these last Words she pull'd of her Mask and shew'd Don Carlos the Heavens with all their Glories for if you please a Heaven in Miniatuâ—e The finest Head in the World supported by the best shape he ever admir'd before â— in short 〈◊〉 Person all over Divine By the freshness of her Complexion one would not have thought her to be above sixteen years of Age but by a certain free and Majestick Air which young Persons generally want she appear'd to be near twenty Don Carlos paus'd a while before he answer'd her being almost angry with his invisible Lady who hinder'd him from surrendringâ— himself 〈◊〉 to the finest Person he ever saw and diâ—bious what he should say or do At last after an inward Conflict which lasted so long as to make the Mistress of the inchanted Palace uneasie he took a firm Resolution not to conceal from her his inmostâ— Thoughts which without any manner of question was the best thing he ever did in his Life This is the answerâ— he gave â—her which some have found a little too blunt Madam I could not but own my self extream happy in your Esteem if my Sâ—â—â—s would suffer me to love you I see well enough that I leave the finest Person in the Universe for one who perhaps is only such 〈◊〉 Fancy but Madam would you think me worth your Affection if you found me capable of Infidelity And how can I be Faithful if I love you Therefore Madam pity me but blame me not Or rather let us pity each other and complain both you of not obtaining what you desire and I of not seeing what I love He utter'd these words with such a Melancholy Face that the Lady might easily take notice he spoke his true Sentiments She used all the Arguments she could think of to persuade him but he was deaf to her Prayerss and unconcern'd at her Tears She renew'd the Attack several times but met still with a stout Resistance At last she began
about his Novel He recited several Lampoons he had made upon most of his Neighbours upon some Cuckolds that were nameless and upon some Women He sung drunken Songs and shew'd him abundance of Acrosticks and Anagrams which are generally the first things with which your paltry Rhimers being to plague Men of Sense Rancour made him a compleat Coxcomb for he cry'd up all he heard with Eyes lifted up to Heaven and swore like a losing Gamester that he never heard any thing so fine Nay he was so transported that he made a shew of pulling off his Hair He told him now and then 't is a great Misfortune both for you and us that you do not leave all other Business to write for the Stage for in two or three Years time Corneille would be no more talk'd of than Hardy is now adays I am added he an absolute Stranger to Flattery but to encourage you I must needs own I no sooner saw you but I read in your Face that you were a great Poet and you may know of my Comrades what I told 'em about it I am seldom mistaken I smell a Poet at two Miles distance and therefore as soon as ever I cast my Eyes on you I was acquainted with you as well as if I had brought you up All this fulsom Stuff went down with Ragotin as glib as several Glasses of Wine which he drank at the same time and which intoxicated his Brain as much as Rancour's Commendations swell'd his Vanity As for Rancour he eat and drank very briskly erying out now and then for God's sake Monsieur Ragotin improve your Talent Once more let me tell you you are much to blame not to make your Fortune and ours For my part I scraul a little Paper as well as other People but if I made Verses half so good as these you have been reading to me I should not be so hard put to it to keep Life and Soul together but would live upon my Income as well as Mondors Therefore Monsieur Ragotin pray write and if this next Winter we do not eclipse the Companies of the Hostel de Bourgoyne and des Marez may I never tread the Stage again without breaking one of my Arms or Legs I 'll say no more and so let 's drink He was as good as his Word and having pet a double Measure into a Glass he drank Monsieur Ragotin's Health to Monsieur Ragotin himself who did him Reason accordingly and return'd it with the Health of the Women Players This he drunk Cap in Hand and in such a Rapture that as he laid the Glass on the Table he broke its Foot without taking notice on 't and went three or four times to set it upright but finding it impossible he at last flung it over his Head and pull'd Rancour by the Sleeve to let him know he had the Honour of breaking a Glass in drinking the Players Health It vex'd him a little that Rancour did not laugh at it but as I said before he was rather an envious than a risible Animal Rancour ask't him What he thought of their Women The little Man blush'd without giving him an Answer But Rancour putting the same Question to him again at last what by his Sturtering his Blushing and his broken Speech he let Rancour understand he lik'd one of the Players extremely But which of em said Rancour The little Man was so disorder'd for having said so much that he answer'd I don't know Nor I neither said Rancour This Reply cast him into greater Disorder and with a bewilder'd Look he said 'T is 't is He repeated the same Word five or six times over again at which the Stroller growing impatient I like your choice said he she 's a very beautiful Person This put him quite out of Countenance insomuch that he could never tell which he lov'd most though it may be he knew nothing of it himself or that his Passion was rather Lust than Love At last Rancour naming Mrs. Star to him he said 'T was she with whom he was in love For my part I verily believe that had he nam'd either Angelica or her Mother Cave he had forgot the Blow he had receiv'd with a Busk from the one and the Age of the other and given himself Body and Soul to the very first that Rancour had nam'd So great was the Trouble of Goatish Ragotin The Stroller made him drink a great Bumper which carried off part of his Confusion and pledg'd him with another which done he looking about the Room whisper'd as though it were a great Secret though there was no Body Well your Wound is not mortal and you have address'd your self to one who is able to cure you provided you will be rul'd by him and keep Counsel not but your Enterprize is very difficult for Mrs. Star is a very Tygress and her Brother Destiny a Lion But she does not see Men every Day like you and I know what I can do Let 's drink out our Liquor and to morrow will be Day They drank each a Glass of Wine which interrupted their Conversation for a while After that Ragotin had recounted all his Accomplishments and Riches and told Rancour that a Nephew of his was Clerk to a Financier that this Nephew had contracted a great Friendship with the Partisan de Ralliere during the time he was at Mans to settle an Excise-Office there and by the means of his Nephew's Interest he endeavour'd to give him Hopes that he would procure him such a Pension from the King as his Players in Ordinary had He told him likewise That if any of his Relations had Children he would prefer 'em in the Church because his Niece was married to the Brother of a certain Miss kept by the Steward of an Abbot of that Province who had good Livings in his Gift Whilst Ragotin was thus relating what great Interest he had who the more he drank the more thirsty he grew was still filling both the Glasses which were emptied in an instant Ragotin not daring to refuse any thing from the Hands of a Man from whom he expected such a great piece of Service In short they swill'd till they had both their fill Rancour according to his custom grew more serious and Ragotin so dull and heavy that he laid his Head down on the Table and fell asleep Rancour call'd one of the Maids to make a Bed ready for him because no Body was up at his Inn. The Maid told him she had as good make two for she was sure Monsieur Ragotin wanted one In the mean time he slept and snor'd as well as ever he did in his Life for all the Noise they made while they were putting clean Sheets to two of the three Beds that were in the Room But when the Maid came to wake him and acquaint him his Bed was ready he call'd her a Thousand Whores and threatned to beat her At last Rancour having turn'd him in his Chair towards the Fire
before she died and so was no sooner Husband than Widower He came two or three days after to our Town with the Parents of his Wife There they began to weep afresh and were like to stifâ—le the Child with Kisses my Father had reason to be thankful to the Scotch Lord for his Generosity and the Parents of the Child did not forget him They return'd to Paris very much satisfied with the Care my Father and Mother took of their Son whom they would not yet take to Paris with them because the Marriage was still kept Secret for some Reasons which never came to my Knowledge As soon as I was able to walk my Father took me home to keep the young Earl of Glaris Company for so he was call'd by his Father's Name The Natural Antipathy which is said to have been between Iacob and Esau in the very Womb of their Mother was never greater than that which was between the young Earl and me My Father and Mother lov'd him tenderly and had an Aversion for me though I was the more hopeful Boy of the two There appear'd nothing but Mean in him As for me I seem'd to be what I was not and rather an Earl's Son than Gariquet's and if I am at last no more than a wretched Player 't is undoubtedly because Fortune had a mind to be reveng'd upon Nature for designing to make me something without her help or if you please because Nature is sometimes willing to favour those whom Fortune is cross to I shall pass over in Silence the Infancy of two young Clowns for Glaris was such by inclination as much as my self since our most Memorable Adventures were nothing but abundance of Fisty-cuffs In all the Quarrels we had together I always got the better of him except when my Father and Mother sided with him which they did so often and with so much Heat that my Godfather Monsieur Saint Sauveur by Name was highly offended at it and demanded me of my Father He made him a present of me with great Joy and my Mother had yet less Regret than he to lose me Thus I was at my Godfathers well Clad well Fed much Caress'd and never beaten He spar'd no Cost to make me learn to Read and Write and as soon as I was fit to learn Latin he obtain'd of the Lord of the Village who was a very civil Gentleman and very Rich that I should study with two of his Sons under a Learned Man he had from Paris and to whom he gave a very good Salary This Gentleman the Baron d'Arques by Name took great care to have his Sons well brought up The eldest call'd Saint Far was a handsom Gentleman but as untractably rough and brutish in his Nature as ever any Man was to make amends the young Brother was both handsomer than Saint Far and had a Vivacity of Mind and a Greatness of Soul equal to the Beauty of his Body In short I do not think there ever was a more hopeful young Gentleman than Vervelle for this was the younger Brother's Name He honour'd me with his Friendship and as for me I lov'd him like a Brother and ever respected him as a Master As for Saint Far he had none but ill Inclinations and I cannot better express the Sentiments he had both for his Brother and me than by telling you that he lov'd not his Brother more than me for whom he had a great indifference and that he hated me no more than he did his Brother whom he lov'd but little His Diversions were indifferent from ours for he lov'd nothing but Hunting and quoted Books of Morality whereas Vervelle seldom went out a Hunting and took great delight in Reading wherein I agreed wonderfully with him as in every thing else without being put to the trouble of doing any thing out of Complaisance as in Duty I ought The Baron d'Arques had a large Library of Romances Our Tutor who had never read any in his College who at first forbad us the reading of 'em and had condemn'd 'em a hundred times before the Baron d'Arques to render 'em as odious to him as he found 'em Delightful grew at last so much in Love with 'em himself that having devour'd both the old and the new ones he confest that the reading of good Romances was as Instructive as Pleasant and no less proper to inspire young People with Noble Sentiments than the reading of Plutarch He therefore encourag'd us to read 'em as earnestly as he had discourag'd us before and first of all advis'd us to peruse the Modern but these were not yet suitable to our Palate and till we were fifteen we were much more delighted by the reading of Amadis de Gaul than Astrea and other fine Romances that have been made since by which the French have shewn to the World as by a thousand things besides that if they do not invent so much as other Nations yet they bring the Inventions of others to a far greater Persection We therefore bestow'd upon the reading of Romances the greatest part of the time we had allow'd us for Diversion As for Saint Far he call'd us the Ruyters and went abroad every day either to Hunt or to beat the poor Country Fellows which he did with wonderful Succesâ— The Inclination I had to do well gain'd me the Favour of the Baron d'Arques who lov'd me no less than if I had been his near Relation He would not suffer me to leave his Sons when he sent 'em to the Academy but sent me thither along with 'em rather as a Companinon than a Servant There we stay'd about two year to learn our Exercises at the end of which time a Man of Quality Related to the Baron d'Arques raising Soldiers for the Venetians Saint Far and Verville persuaded their Father to let 'em go to Venice with their Kinsman The good Gentleman desir'd that I should accompany 'em still and Monsieur de Saint Sauveur my Godfather who lov'd me extreamly gave me very gener ously Bills of Exchange for a considerable Sum to make use of 〈◊〉 in case those I had the Honour to accompany should be unwilling to bear my Charges We went the longest way about on purpose to see Rome and the other fine Cities of Italy in each of which we staid a considerable time excepting those which are in the Spaniard's Hands I fell sick at Rome and the two Brothers went on their Journey the Gentleman under whose Conduct they were being willing to lay hold on the Opportunity of the Pope's Gallies which were putting out to Sea to joyn the Venetian Army near the Streights of the Dardanells where they waited for the Turks Verville was extraordinary sorry to leave me and I almost mad to part from him at a time when by my Services I might in some measure have deserv'd the Love he had for me As for Saint Far I believe he lest me with as much indifference as if he had never seen me
and I never thought on him but only because he was Brother to Verville who left me as much Money as he could spare but whether Saint Far was consenting I cannot tell Thus I was sick at Rome having no other Acquaintance besides my Landlord a Fleming Apothecary who took extraordinary care of me during my Illness and who as far as I can judge had more Skill in Physick than the Italian Doctor who look't after me At last I recover'd and gather'd strength enough to go and view the most Remarkable Places in Rome where Stranger 's find abundaâ—â—ly wherewithal to entertain their Curiosity I took a singular delight in veiwing the Vines thus are call'd several Gardins finer than the Tuilleriâ—s in Paris which Cardinals and other Persons of Quality keep with much cost in Rome rather out of Vanity than for their own Entertainment since they never or at least very seldom go there themselves One day as I was walking in one of the finest I saw at the turning of a Wall two Women very genteelly drest whom two young Frenchmen stopt and would not let go unless the youngest of 'em unvail'd her Face One of those two Frenchmen who look'd like the Master of the other had even the insolence to offer to unvail her by force whilst his Man held the other who was barefac'd I was not long debating what I should do on this occasion but told presently to those rude Men that I was resolv'd not to suffer the Violence they offer'd to those Women They were both very much surpriz'd for I spoke with such Resolution as would have daunted 'em had they had their Swords as well as my self The two Women came over to me and the young Frenchman chusing rather to be balk'd than beaten told me as he went away Sir for all your Hectoring we shall meet you in some place or other where the Swords shall not be all on one side I answer'd I would not hide my selfe His Man follow'd him and so I staid with the two Women She that had no Vail on look'd to be about five and Thirty She return'd me thanks in good French without any Mixture of Italian and told me amongst other things that if all Frenchmen were like me the Italian Women would not scruple to live after the French 〈◊〉 After that to reward the Service I had done 'em she added that since I hindred that rude Frenchman from seeing 〈◊〉 Daughter against her Will 't was reasonabled should see her of her own accord Therefore said the 〈◊〉 take up your Vail and let the Gentleman know that we are not altogther unworthy of the Honour of being under his Protection She had scarce done speaking â—â—t her Daughter drew her Vail or rather discover'd a Sun which dazl'd my Eyes I never beheld so Beautiful an Object in my Life she cast three or four times her Eyes on me as it were by stealth and as they still met with mine the innocent Blushes which over-spread her Face made her look as handsom as an Angel I perceiv'd the Mother was very fond of her for she seem'd to share the Pleasure I had in looking upon her Now by reason I was little us'd too these Adventures and that young People are easily dash'd out of Countenance in strangs Company I made 'em but indifferent Complements when they went away and gave 'em perhaps but an ill Opinion of my Wit I was angry with my self for 〈◊〉 asking their Habitation and that I did not offer to wait upon 'em thither but 't was Preposterous to run after ' em I went to the Door-keeper to inquire whether the knew 'em but we were 〈◊〉 long while before we could understand one another because he spoke no better French than I did Italian At last rather by Signs than otherwise he gave me to understand that they were unknown to him at least he would not own he knew'em I return'd to my Fleming Apothecary in a very different Disposition of Mind from what I was in when I came out that is to say very Amorous and very much in Pain to know whether that beautiful Leonora was a Courtezan or an honest Woman and if she had as much Wit as her Mother who seem'd to have a great deal I abandoned my self to thinking and flatter'd my self-with a Thousand fair Hopes which entertain'd me a little while but disquieted me much more when I consider'd the Impossibility of my Wishes Having fram'd a Thousand frivolous Designs I resolv'd at last to seek 'em out not thinking it possible for 'em to remain long invisible in Rome which is not a populous City especially to a Man so much in love as I was That very Day I look'd for 'em where-ever I thought it most likely to find 'em and return'd home more tir'd and uneasie than I was when I went out The next Day I sought 'em still with more diligence but did nothing but tire and disquiet my self yet more By my peeping through the Lattice Windows and my hasty running after all the Women that bore the least Resemblance to my Leonora I was taken an Hundred times both in the Streets and in the Churches for the greatest Fool among those Frenchmen who have contributed most in disparaging their Nation at Rome 'T is Matter of Wonder how I could gather Strength at a time when I suffer'd like one in Hell However my Body recovered whilst my sick Mind remained so divided betwixt Honour and Love which kept me at Rome that I often doubted whether I should obey the frequent Letters I receiv'd from Verville who conjur'd me by the Ties of our Frienship to come to him without using the Right he had to command me At last all my Endeavours to find out my unknown Ladies proving ineffectual I paid my Landlord and got my little Eqâ—ipage ready in order to depart The Day before I was to go Signior Stephano Vanberge for so was my Landlord call'd told me he design'd to give me a Dinner at a Mistress's House and make me confess he had not made an ill Choice for a Fleming adding withal that he would not carry me to her before I was to go away because he was a little jealous I promis'd to wait on him rather out of Complaisance than Inclination and accordingly we went about Dinner-time The House we went into had neither the Appearance nor the Furniture of an Apothecary's Mistress We travers'd a very fine Parlour from whence I entred first into a Magnificent Room where I was receiv'd by Leonora and her Mother You may imagine how much I was agreeably surpriz'd The Mother of that Beautiful Daughter came towards me to be saluted after the French way and I must needs own that she kiss'd me rather than I her I was so amaz'd that I scarce could see any thing neither did I hear one Word of the Compliment she made me At last I recover'd both my Senses and my Sight and saw Leonora more Beautiful and Charming
represented to me how unworthy I was of your Love However that would have serv'd only to exasperate my Disease with unprofitable Remedies and after having strugled a while I must at last have yielded to the irresistible Necessity of loving you which you impose on all that see you Well I love you my charming Leonora but with so much Respect that you ought not to hate me for it although I have the Boldness to discover it to you But how is it possible to die for you without boasting of it And how can you refuse to pardon a Crime with which you cannot reproach me long I own your being the Cause of a Man's Death is a Recompence not to be merited but by a great Number of Services and you will perhaps cnvy me an Happiness which you procure me without Design But do not grudge it me lovely Leonora since 't is no more in your Power to make me lose it and that 't is the only Favour I ever receiv'd from Fortune who will never sufficiently reward your Merit but by procuring you Adorers as much above me as all other Beauties in the World are below yours Therefore I am not so vain as to think that you will bestow the least Sentiment of Pity on I was not able to make an end of my Letter my Strength fail'd me on the sudden the Pen fell from my Hand for my Mind went so fast that my Body could not keep pace with it else that long beginning you have heard had been but a small part of my Letter so much was my Imagination warm'd by my Fever and by my Love I was a long time in a fainting Fit without giving the least Sign of Life which Signior Stephano perceiving he open'd the Chamber Door to send for a Priest In that very Moment Leonora and her Mother came to visit me having been inform'd of my being wounded Now as they thought this Accident besel me upon their Account and therefore that they were the innocent Cause of my Death they did not scruple to come to see me in the Condition I was in My Trance lasted so long that they went away before I was come to my self again very much afflicted as one may imagine and fully persuaded that I would never recover They read what I had been writing and the Mother more curious than the Daughter perus'd also the Papers I left on the Bed amongst which there was a Letter from my Father Garignes I was a long time struggling betwixt Life and Death but at last Youth got the better on 't in a Fortnight's time I was out of Danger and in five Weeks I began to walk about the Room My Landlord entertain'd me often about Leonora He acquainted me with the charitable Visit which she and her Mother had given me at which I was over-joy'd And if I was a little troubled at their reading my Father's Letter I was highly pleas'd that my own had been read also As often as I happen'd to be alone with Stephano I could talk of nothing but Leonora One Day calling to mind what her Mother told me that he could inform me who she was and what Reasons oblig'd her to stay in Rome I desir'd him to acquaint me with what he knew about it He told me that she was come to Rome with the French Ambassador's Lady that a Man of Quality a near Relation of the Ambassador was fallen in Love with her that in time she lov'd him too and that being married clandestinely she had the beautiful Leonora by him He inform'd me likewise that that Nobleman was fallen out with all the Family of the Ambassador upon this Account which oblig'd him to leave Rome and go to Venice with Madam la Boissiere for this was her Name till the time of the Embassy was expir'd that having brought her back to Rome he furnish'd her a House and gave her all Necessaries to live like a Person of Quality whilst he staid in France whither his Father call'd him back and whither he durst not carry his Mistress or if you please his Wife well knowing that none of his Relations would approve his Match I must confess I could not sometimes forbear wishing that Leonora were not the Legitimate Daughter of a Person of Quality that the Blemish of her Birth might excuse the Meanness of mine but soon repented so Criminal a Thought and wish'd her Fortune were answerable to her Merit Tho' this last Thought cast me into Despair for as I lov'd her more than Life it self I plainly foresaw that I could never be happy without enjoying her nor enjoy her without making her unhappy When I began to recover and that there was no other Remains of my Distemper but a great Paleness in my Face occasion'd by the vast quantity of Blood I lost my young Masters return'd from the Venetian Army the Plague which infected all the Levant not suffering them to signalize their Courage there any longer Verville had still the same Affection he ever had for me and Saint Far did not yet shew he hated me as he has done since I recounted to them all my Adventures except my falling in Love with Leonora Both express'd a great desire of being acquainted with her which my exaggerating the Merit both of the Mother and the Daughter encreas'd A Man ought never to commend the Person he loves before those who may love her also since Love enters at the Ears as well as at the Eyes This Folly has often been pernicious to those who were guilty of it which my own Experience will justifie as you shall see anon Saint Far ask'd me every Day when I design'd to carry him to Madam la Boissiere One Day when he was more pressing than ordinary I answer'd I could not tell whether she would admit of his Visit because she liv'd very retir'd Nay reply'd he I now plainly see you are in love with her Daughter and adding he knew how to go to see her without me in a very blunt manner I was so daunted◠that he firmly believ'd what he did scarce suspect before Afterwards he pass'd an Hundred silly Jests upon me and dash'd me so out of Countenance that Verville pity'd me He took me away from his unmannerly Brother and carried me to the * Place to take the 〈…〉 Coach as Hide-Park Course where I was extremely Melancholy though Verville out of a Kindness extraordinary in a Person of his Age and so much above me by his Quality us'd all possible Means to divert me In the mean time the ill-natur'd Saint Far endeavour'd to satisfie himself or rather to ruin me He went strait to Madam la Boissiere where they took him at first for me because he had my Landlord's Servant with him who had often accompanied me thither but had it not been for that I believe he had never been admitted Madam la Boissiere was very much surpriz'd to see a Man she did not know She told Saint Far she could not
accepted of us by the Recommendation of Rancour You are acquainted with the rest of my Adventures which since that time have been common with us all as far as Tours where I think I saw the Devil Saldagne and if I be not very much mistaden I believe it will not be long before I meet him again in these Parts which I fear less for my own part than for Leonora's who would lose a most faithful Servant if I should miscarry or be forc'd to part from her by my unlucky Stars Thus Destiny ended his Story and after having comforted Madam Star a while whom the Relation had a little disorder'd by renewing the Remembrance of her Misfortunes which made her weep as if they but newly happen'd he took his leave of the Actresses and went to Bed CHAP. XIX Some Reflections which are not amiss Ragotin's new Disgrace and other Things which you may read if you please LOVE which make the young undertake any Thing and the old forget every Thing Love which occasion'd the Wars of Troy and many others besides which I do not think worth my while to mention here would needs make it known in the City of Mans that he is as much to be dreaded in a pitiful Inn as in any Place whatsoever He was not therefore contented with depriving the Amorous Ragotin of his Appetite but inspired 〈◊〉 Rappiniere with a Thousand irregular Desires a Man very susceptible of them and made Roquebrune languish for the Operator's Wife adding a fourth Folly to his Vanity Bravery and Poetry or rather obliging him to commit a double Infidelity For he had made his Amorous Addresses a long while before both to Star and Angelica who often advis'd him to desist and not throw away his Courtship But all this is nothing to what I shall now relate Love triumphed likewise over the insensibility and Misanthropy of Rancour who became enamour'd of the Operator's Wife too and by Consequence a Rival to the Poet Roquebrune a Punishment for his Sins and an Atonement for the cursed Writings he had publish'd This Woman's Name was Donna Inizella del Prado a Native of Malaga and her Husband or reputed such Signior Ferdinando Ferdinandi a Gentleman of Venice born at Caen in Normandy There were several other in the Inn besides the above-nam'd infected with the same Disease as dangerously if not more than those whose Secrets I have revealed but they shall be discover'd too in due Time and Place La Rappiniere fell in Love with Madam Star when she acted Câ—imene and intended then to have declar'd his Distemper to Rancour whom he thought capable of doing any thing for Money The Heavenly Bard Raquebrune design'd the Conquest of a Spaâ—ish Lady worthy his Courage But as for Rancour I cannot imagine by what Potent Charms this Foreign Lady could inflame with Love a Man who hated all the World This worn-out Stroller being in Hell before his time I mean in Love before his Death was still in Bed when Ragotin troubled him with his Passion as it were the Belly-ake came to desire him to mind his Business and take pity on him Rancour assur'd him that ere that day were over he would do him a Notable piece of Service with his Mistress La Rappiniere entred at the same time Rancour's Chamber who was still dressing himself and having taken him aside confest his Infirmity to him and vowed if he could bring him into favour with Madam Star there was nothing in his Power but he would do for him even to the making him one of his Assistants and bestowing his Neece in Marriage on him whom he design'd to make sole Heiress after his Death because he had no Children of his own The cheating Rogue promiss'd him yet more than he had done Ragotin which put this Hangman's Purveyor in good Hopes Roquebrâ—ne came likewise to consult the Oracle He was the most incorrigible presumptuous Coxcomb that ever came from the Banks of Garonne and one who thought every Body believ'd what he Romanc'd about his good Family Riches Poetry and Valour insomuch that he slighted all the dry Jests and Bobs that Rancour perpetually put upon him presuming that what he did was only for Conversation's sake And besides he understood Raillery as well as any Man alive and bore it like a Christian Philosopher even when it touch'd to the very quick He therefore imagin'd he was admir'd by all the Players nay even by Rancour himself who had experience enough to admire but few things and was so far from having a good Opinion of this poor Brother of the Quill that he made a full inquiry into his Extraction thereby to discover whether those Bishops and great Lords his Countrymen whom he quoted ever and anon for his Relations were the true Branches of that Genealogick Tree this Fool of Noble Alliances and Coats of Arms together with many other things had caus'd to be drawn in an old Roll of Parchment He was very sorry to find Rancour in Company though he had less need to be troubled at that than any one besides it being his ill Custom to be ever whispering in Peoples Ears and to make a Secret of every thing sometimes of nothing However he took Rancour in a Corner and at first very gravely desir'd to know whether the Operator's Wife was a Person of a great deal of Wit or not because he had lov'd Women of all Nations but the Spaniards and if she were worth his Labour he should not be much the poorer if he presented hâ—â— with a hundred Pistols which he as often mention'd upon every trifling Occasion as the great Family from whence he was Descended Rancour told him he was not so well acquainted with Donna Inezilla as to answer for her Wit though he had often met her Husband in the chiefest Cities of the Kingdom where he sold his Antidotes but if he desir'd so much to be inform'd about her Wit 't was but joining Conversation with her since she began to speak Erench tolerably well Roquebrune would needs entrust him with his Pedigree in Parchment that he might dazle the Spanish Donne with the splendor of his Race but Rancour told him his Pedigree would sooner make him a Knight of Maltha than a happy Lover Whereupon Roquebrune with a smiling Countenance added Well Sir you know what I am Yes yes replied Rancour I know well enough what you are now and what you will ever be to your dying Day The Poet went away as he came and Rancour his Rival and Confident at the same time drew near to La Rappiniere and Ragotin who were Rivals also though unknown to each other As for old Rancour besides that we naturally hate any one that endeavours to rob us of what we design for our selves and the general quarrel he had against all Mankind besides all this I say he ever had a particular Aversion to the Poet which this Discovery was not likely to abate Rancour therefore absolutely resolv'd from that
have to laugh for Company 's sake are all Advantages it cannot have now Cave made no further Apology and resuming her Story where she had left off After continued she that both the Actors and the Audience had laughed as much as their risible Faculty would let them the Baron de Sigognao order'd his Page to come again on the Stage in order to mend his Fault or rather to make new Sport for the Company But the Page the greatest Looby that ever I saw refus'd to obey the positive Commands of the severest Master in in the World The Baron took his denial as he was prompted by his hasty Temper that is to say very ill and his Resentment which ought to have been small had he been rul'd by Reason prov'd afterwards the fatal Cause of the greatest Misfortune that could befall us Our Tragedy was honour'd with the Applause of the whole Audience and the Farce was still better receiv'd than the Tragedy as it generally happens every where except in Paris The Baron de Sigognac and the rest of the Gentlemen his Neighbours were so well pleased with it that they desired to see us act again All the Gentlemen clubb'd to make a Present to our Company every one according to his Generosity the Baron shew'd them the way and the Play was given out for the next Holy Day We play'd a whole Month before this Perigordine Gentry during which time we were Treated and Caress'd both by Men and Women and besides our Company was presented with some old Cloaths half worn out The Baron entertain'd us at his own Table his Servants were extreme officious in waiting upon us and told us often how much they were oblig'd to us for their Masters good Humour whom they found quite alter'd since Plays had Civiliz'd his rough Manners The Page alone look'd upon us as People who had blasted his Reputation for ever and the Line he had spoiled and which every Body in the House to the very Scullion repeated to him ever and anon was a cruel Stab to him of which he at last resolv'd to be reveng'd upon some body of our Company Upon a certain Day when the Baron de Sigognac had assembled his Neighbours and Tenants to rid his Woods of a great number of Wolves that Harbour'd there and by which the Country was very much annoy'd my Father and his Fellow-Strollers accompanyed him each with his Gun as did also his Servants The unlucky Page went along with them and having found the opportunity he lookt for to put his ill Design against us in Execution he no sooner espyed my Father and his Comrades separated from the rest and giving one another Powder and Shot to load their Guns but he let his Piecefly at them from behind a Tree and Shot my unhappy Father with two Bullets His Comrades were so busie in supporting him that they never thought at first to pursue the Murderer who made the best of his Way and since ran the Country Two Days after my Father dyed of his Wounds My Mother resented her loss to that Degree that it almost broke her Heart she fell Sick again and I was as much afficted as 't was possible for a Girl of my Years My Mother's illness proving a lingring Disease the Men and the Women that belong'd to our Company took their Leaves of the Baron de Sigognac and went to seek their Fortune with some other Strollers My Mother lay sick for above two Months but she recovered at last having during that time receiv'd such Tokens of Generosity and Kindness from the Baron de Sigognac as were little to be expected from a Man who had the Reputation of being the greatest Tyrant that ever made himself fear'd in a Country where every Squire pretends to huff and domineer His Servants who never found any Humanity or Civility in him before wondred ro see him Converse with us in the most kind and obliging manner One might have thought he was in Love with my Mother tho' he seldom spoke to her and never came into our Room where we us'd to take our Meals since my Fathers Death only he often sent to know how she did However the Country did talk as if he was great with her as we have since been inform'd But my Mother considering she could not with Decency stay any longer in the House of a Man of his Quality had already design'd to leave it and retire to her Fathers at Marseilles She therefore acquainted the Baron with it return'd him Thanks for all his kind Usage to us and desired him to add a new Favour to all those we had receiv'd from him which was to lend us Saddle-horses for her self and me till we came to a certain Town and a Cart to carry our little Baggage which she design'd to Sell to the first Man that would give her any thing for it The Baron was much surpriz'd at my Mothers Design Nor was she in a less surprize than he finding he would neither grant nor deny her Request The next Day the Curate of one of the Churches within his Lordship came to Visit us in our Chamber accompanied by his Neice a good-natured and agreeable Girl with whom I was intimately acquainted She and I went out to fetch a Walk in the Garden of the Castle and left her Uncle alone with my Mother The Curate had a long Conversation with her and did not leave her till Supper-time As I came back I found her Melancholy and full of Thoughts and ask'd her three or four times what the matter was but could get no answer from her only she fell a Weeping and so I Wept for Company not knowing why nor wherefore At last she bid me shut her Chamber-door and told me Weeping still more than before that the Curate had inform'd her that the Baron de Sigognac was desperately in Love with her and assur'd her besides that he had so great a Respect for her that he never durst declare by himself or others his Passion to her without offering her Marriage at the same time Here she stopt being almost suffocated with Sighs and Sobs I ask'd her once again What ail'd her What! Daughter said she to me have I not said enough to let you understand that I am the most wretched Woman in the World I told her I did not think it so great a Misfortune for a Player to become a Lady of Quality Alas Dear Child said she you speak like a young Girl that knows nothing of the World What added she if he should deceive the Curate in order to deceive me If he does not design to Marry me as he would perswade me he does have I not Reason to fear all manner of Violence from a Man so much a Slave to his Passions And if he really designs to Marry me and I consent to it What Woman in the World can be more Miserable than my self when his Fancy is over How great is his Hate like to prove if
vvhether he vvas vvilling to admit of his Visit but he vvas not a little surpriz'd vvhen at the first Words he spoke the other rose from his Bed ran to embrace him discovering himself to be his Servant Leander vvho vvas gone from him vvithout taking his leave four or five Days before and vvhom Cave suspected to be the Ravisher of her Daughter Destiny vvas at a stand not knovving in vvhat sort of Tone he should speak to him by reason he savv him look like a Gentleman both in his Person and Dress Whilst he vvas vievving of him Leander had time to compose himself for he seem'd something disorder'd at first I am asham'd said he to Destiny I dealt not so frankly and sincerely with you as I should have done with one whom I value so much as I do you but you must excuse an unexperienc'd young Man who before he was well acquainted with you thought you to be of the same Make as are generally those of your Profession and who upon that Score durst not trust you with a Secret on which depends the Happiness of his Life Destiny told him he could not imagine in what particular he had distrusted him unless 〈◊〉 would let him know it I have a great many things bendes to tell you if so be you are not acquainted with 'em already answer'd Leander but first of all let me know what brought you hither Destiny told him how Angelica was Stollen avvay that he pursued her Ravishers and was inform'd as he came into the Inn that he had met with one that could give him an account of them 'T is true I met with 'em reply'd Leander with a sigh and that I did as much against 'em as a single Man can do against many but my Sword happening to break in the Body of the first Man I wounded I could neither rescue Mistriss Angelica nor die in her Defence tho' I was fully resolv'd to do either They left me in the Condition you see me in and thinking they had killed me with a Back-stroke I receiv'd on the Head but which did only stun me for a while they went on their way in great haste This is all I know about Mistriss Angelica but we shall hear more from a Servant who is to meet me here and whom I sent to follow 'em at a distance after he help'd me to mount my Horse which they left me because I suppose they did not think him worth Stealing Destiny ask'd him why he went from him without giving him Warning From whence he came and Who he was Not doubting but he conceal'd his Name and Condition from him Leander confest there was some such thing and having laid himself down because the Blows he receiv'd gave him a cruel Pain Destiny sat on the Beds Feet and then Leander recounted what you shall read in the following Chapter CHAP. V. The History of Leander I Am a Gentleman of a Family pretty well known in the Province and hope to be worth one Day at least Four thousand Crowns a Year provided my Father be pleas'd to Die for tho' 't is now fourscore Years since 〈◊〉 Plagues all those who have any dependance upon him yet he is so well in Health that I have more reason to fear he will never Die than to hope to inherit three fine Lordships which make up all his Estate He designs to make me a Counsellor in the Parliament of Brittany tho' against my Inclination and 't is for that purpose he sent me to School betimes I was at the College of La Fleche when your Company came there to Act there I saw Mistriss Angelica and fell in Love with her to that degree that I could mind nothing else Nay I went farther for I had the Assurance to acquaint her with my Passion at which she was not offended I Writ to her she receiv'd my Letter and did not look more coldly than before upon me the next time I saw her Afterwards Mistriss Cave being fallen Sick and oblig'd to keep her Chamber whilst you were at La Fleche her Daughter and I had frequent Opportunities of Discoursing together which she would have prevented had she not been ill for you know how severe and reserv'd she is for a Woman of a Profession which seems to dispense with those that follow it for not being over nice or scrupulous From the first Moment I feâ—â— in Love I never went to School more nor mist a Playâ— The Iesuits endeavoured to bring me back to my Durâ—â— but having chosen the most charming Mistress in the Worlâ—â— I refused to obey those troublesome Masters Your Servaâ—â— was kill'd at the Play-house Door by the Scholars of Briâ—tany who made that Year a great Disturbance at La Flecâ—â— because they were very numerous and that Wine happen to be cheap which was in some measure the Reason 〈◊〉 you went from La Fleche to Angiers I did not speak Angelica to bid her Farewel because her Mother never 〈◊〉 sight of her all I could do was to appear before her as 〈◊〉 went away with Despair in my Face and Tears in my Eyâ—â— A pitying melancholy Look which she cast on me was 〈◊〉 to break my Heart I lockt my self in my Room We bitterly the remaining part of the Day and all the Night and the very next Morning changing Cloaths with my Man who is about my Size I left him at La Fleche to sell my School-boys Equipage and gave him a Letter for a Tenant of my Fathers who supplies me with Money whenever I ask him for it with orders to come to me at Angiers I began my Journey thither after you and overtook you at Duretail where several Gentlemen who Hunted the Stag oblig'd you to stay seven or eight Days There I offer'd my Service to you and you entertain'd me as your Man either because you was loth to be without one or because my Face and Mien which you seem'd to like engaged you to hire me My Hair which I cut very short hindred me from being known again by those who had often seen me with Angelica Besides my Man 's bad Coat which I put on to disguise my self made me look quite another Man from what I look'd in my own Cloaths which were finer than a School-boy's generally are However Mistriss Angelica knew me at first sight and own'd to me since that she did not doubt but the Passion I had for her was very violent since I abandon'd all to follow her She had the Generosity to disswade me from it And to recall my wandring Reason She made me feel those Rigours which would have cool'd a Man less Amorous than my self but by my constant Love I insensibly engaged her to Love me as much as I did her As you have the Soul of a Man of Quality of such a Man of Quality I mean as is truly Noble 't was not long before you found out that I had not the Inclinations of a Servant I soon gain'd your
favour and the esteem of all the Gentlemen of your Company nay Rancour himself did not hate me tho' he has the Reputation amongst you to love no body I shall not waste much time in relating to you all the fine Things which two Persons equally in Love may say to one another as often as they happen to be together you know it well enough by your own Experience I will only tell you that Mistriss Cave suspecting our private Correspondence or rather having certain Proofs of it charg'd her Daughter never to speak to me that her Daughter did not obey her and that having surpriz'd her Writing to me she us'd her so roughly both before People and in private that since that time I found no great difficulty in perswading her to consent to be stollen away I fear not to make this plain Confession to you knowing you to be as Generous as any Man and at least as Amorous as my self Destiny blush'd at these last Words of Leander who went on with his Discourse and told Destiny that he left the Company in order to put his Design in Execution that one of his Fathers Tenants promis'd him to furnish him with a Sum of Money and that he hop'd to receive some at St. Maloes from a Merchants Son his intimate Friend who was lately come to his Estate by the death of his Parents He added that by the assistance of this Friend he hop'd to go easily over into England and from thence to make his Peace with his Father without exposing to his Anger either Mistriss Angelica or her Mother whom in all probability he would prosecute with all the advantage that a Man of Wealth and Quality may take over two poor Players Destinyâ— made Leander sensible that by reason of his Youth and Quality his Father would certainly have Indicted Mrs. Cave for a Rape He did not endeavour to make him forget his Mistriss for he was sensible that Persons in Love are not capable to follow any Counsels but what are suggested by their Passion and are more to be pittied than to be blamed but he highly disapproved his Design of going over into England and represented to him what People might think of two young Strangers in a foreign Country the Hazards and Fatigue of a Sea-voyage the difficulty of being supplied with Money in case he should want and lastly the Attempts to which they would be exposed by Mistriss Angelica's Beauty and the Youth of both Leander did not endeavour to defend a bad Cause He ask'd once more Destiny's Pardon for having conceal'd himself so long from him and Destiny promis'd him to use all the Interest he had with Mistriss Cave to incline her to be favourable to him Moreover he told him that if he was fully resolv'd never to marry any Woman but Mistriss Angelica he ought not to leave their Company adding that in the mean time his Father might die or his Passion abate or perhaps be quite extinguish'd Oh! never never cry'd Leander Well then said Destiny to secure your Mistrisses Heart your best way is never to lose Sight of her Be a Player with us for you are not the only Man that treads the Stage when he could follow a better Employment Write to your Father make him believe you are in the Army and try to get Money from him in the mean time I will converse with you as if you were my own Brother and by that means endeavour to make you forget the indifferent Usage you receiv'd from me whilst I was unacquainted with your Quality and Merit Leander would have thrown himself at his Feet if the violent Pain he felt all over his Body from his Bruises would have let him However he return'd him Thanks in so obliging a manner and made him such hearty Protestations of Friendship that from that moment he had as great an esteem for him as one Gentleman can have for another They Discours'd afterwards which Way they should go in Search of Angelica but a great Noise interrupted their Conversation and caus'd Destiny to go down into the Kitchen where was transacting what you shall hear in the next Chapter CHAP. VI. A bloody Fight at Cuffs The Death of the Inn-keeper and other memorable Occurrences TWO Men one of which was in Black like a Country School-Master and the other in Gray who look'd like a Catch-pole laid hold of one another by the Hair and the Beard and now and then Box'd one another in a most cruel manner Both were indeed what their Habits and their Looks shew'd 'em to be He in Black the School-master of the Town Brother to the Curate and the other in Gray a Bailiff of the same Town and Brother to the Inn-keeper This Inn-keeper was then in a Chamber next to the Kitchen ready to give up the Ghost being Sick of a violent Feaver which so disorder'd his Senses that he broke his Head against the Wall and this Wound join'd to his Distemper brought him so low that when his Frenzy left him he was fain to part with Life which perhaps he regretted less than his ill-gotten Money He had been a long time a Soldier and was at last come home loaden with Years and so light of Honesty that he might be said to have less of it than Money altho' he was extraordinary Poor But because Women are very often catch'd by those very things they ought least to be catch'd by his twisted Hair longer than any Peasants in Town his Cursing and Swearing like a true Son of Mars a bristling Feather which he wore on his Hat upon Holy-days when the Weather was Fair and a rusty long Sword that flap'd against the old Boots he had on altho' he never bestrid a Horse all these I say gain'd him the Heart of an old Woman that kept an Inn. She had been Courted by the richest Tenants in the Country not so much on account of her Beauty as because she got an Estate with her first Husband by exacting upon People and cheating in the Measure both of Wine and Oats yet she couragiously resisted all the Assaults of her Woers but at last an old-beaten Soldier triumph'd over an old Hostess This Tayern-Nymph had the least Face and the biggest Belly of any Woman in Mayne thâ— which Province aboundâ— in Big-bellyed People I leave it to the Naturalists to find out the Reason of it as well as of the Fat of the Capons of that Country To return to this short Big-Woman whom I fancy to see as often asâ— I think on her She married her Warriour without acquainting her Relations with it and having liv'd to a crazy old Age and undergone great Hardships with him she had the Satisfaction to see him Die of a broken Scull which she look'd as a just Judgment upon him for his repeated Attemps of breaking hers When Destiny came into the Kitchen mine Hostess and her Maid helpt the old Curate of the Town to part the Combatants who grappled one another like
hard by which his curiosity enclining him to know the occasion of he spur'd forwards his Horse which if you please shall be 〈◊〉 Barbary Courser and rid to the place whence he thought thâ— Noise came He there discovered a Woman defending her selâ— with all her might against a Man that endeavour'd to binâ— her Hands whilst another Woman at the same time was 〈◊〉 gling with her to stop her Mouth with a piece of Linneâ— The coming of the young Prince prevented all farther 〈◊〉 lence from being offer'd her and occasion'd an in volunâ—â— Truce on the Assualters sides Muley at his first arrival 〈◊〉 manded of the assaulted Woman What made her to 〈…〉 And of the others What they were going to do But 〈◊〉 of an Answer the Man that was the Aggressor stept up to him with his drawn Scymeter and launch'd at him such a terible stroke as would have undoubtedly Wounded him 〈◊〉 dangerously had he not dexterously avoided it by the â—â—â—â—â—ness of his Horse Villain cry'd Muley to him turning 〈◊〉 Horses Head How durst you Assaidt the Prince of Fez I 〈◊〉 not well know you to be he reply'd the Moor but since you happen to be so it is because you are my Prince that I will eithâ— have your Life or loose my own With that he immediately upon him with that fury that the Prince as Valiant as was thought less of Chastizing his Subjects Insolence than defending his own Life The two Women at the same time were at Fisticuffs and she that a Moment before had been almost over-power'd was now become couragious and kept her Adversary from flying hoping that her Champion would get the Victory Despair ever augments Courage and oftentimes gives it to those whose natural Timidity made them uncapable of having it before Altho' the Valour and Conduct of this Prince were incomparably greater than those of his Adversary yet did the self-Conviction of this Moor together with the dread of Punishment so animate his Spirits and direct his Arm that the Combat remained for some time doubtful But at last Heaven that always is ready to protect those it raises above others caused the Princes Attendants to come near that way who being allarum'd at the noise of the Combatants and the cries of the Women immediately rid Post to see what was the matter and arrived just at the time when their Master by a lusty blow had brought his Enemy to the Ground They presently knew their Lord and therefore run with great Fury to have dispatcht his vanquish'd Adversary but the Prince calling out to them bid them to forbear killing him and ordered them only to tie him to a Horses Tail it being his Intentions to have him reserved for a more exemplary Punishment Two of the Horse-men took up the two Women behind them and with this Equipage Muley and his Company return'd to Fez much about Day-break This young Prince commanded in Fez as absolutely as if he had been already King Soon after his arrival he commanded the Moor whose name was Amet and Son to one of the richest Merchants in Fez to be brought before him the two Women were order'd to be brought likewise but they were known to no Body by reason of the Custom of concealing that Sex which is observ'd here stricter than in any other Parts She of the two whom the Prince had reliev'd surpriz'd both him and the Court with her Beauty it being so great that all Africa had not the like to boast of and withall so Majestick that even a Slaves Habit which she wore could not obscure it The other Woman was cloath'd like to those of this Country which are of some Quality and who likewise had Beauty but which could not stand in competition with that of the other and had it been possible the paleness of her Cheeks alone occasion'd by her Fear would have lost her the Victory when the other would have rather received advantage by a guiltless Blush and a fearless Mind The Moor appear'd before Muley with Guilt in his Countenance keeping his Eyes all the while fixt upon the Ground The Prince commanded him to confess his Crime if he would not die in Torments I know those that are prepared for me answered he boldly all which and greater I have deserved yet still had I thought it would have been for my Advantage even the greatest could be inflicted on me would not have been able to have extorted the least Confession from me But since I know that nothing can avail to save my Life seeing I would have been the Instrument of your Death Know great Prince that the qnger I have conceived against my self for not having killed you torments me more than the utmost of Tortures can do As for these two Spanish Women here added he they have both been my Slaves whereof one who knew best how to play her Cards has married my Brother Zaide when the other more obstinate would never yet change her Religion nor except the frequent Proffers of Love which I have made her Here he stopt and would give no farther account either of them or himself notwithstanding the great Meanaces made him This caused Muley to have him immediately thrown into a Dungeon loaded with Irons the Renegado Wife of Zaide was order'd to another Prison But the fair Slave the Prince commanded to be conducted to a Moors House nam'd Zulema a Man of Quality and by birth a Spaniard but who had left that Country because he would not be forced to turn Christian. He was of the illustrious Family of Zegris heretofore so renown'd in Grenada and his Wife Zaraide likewise of the same Lineage was reputed to be the finest Woman whether for Beauty or Wit in all Fez. She was at first charm'd with the Beauty and Conversation of this fair Christian Slave and therefore if she had been capable of being Comforted she might have found sufficient Consolation in her Caresses but on the contrary as if she had forsworn all manner of Comforts she always desired to be alone thereby to give the better vent to her Grief for when she was in Zoraides Company she underwent no small torture by retaining her Sighs and her Tears All this while Prince Muley was very desirous of having an account of her Adventures He had made his Mind already known to Zulema and who being a Person from whom he could conceal nothing he had likewise acquainted him that he had a sort of Love for this fair Christian and which he would before have let her known had not he apprehended from her great Afflictions some unknown Rival in Spain who might be too luckily prepossess'd of her Favour Zulema having receiv'd this hint from his Lord immediately gave Orders to his Wife to get what particulars she could out of this fair Christian concerning her Life but especially how she came to be a Slave to Amet. Zoraide was as desirous as the Prince of knowing these Particulars and therefore was not long before
Eyes save the labour of my Tongue and take the shameful Confession of my Love upon them I always laid my self in his way and used all those little Artifices that he would have done to Captivate me had it been his own Case I might have often disposed of my self in Marriage to Advantage had not the hopes I had of one Day winning him over always prevented my Fortune Insomuch that instead of being discourag'd at his repulse I found them a means to love him the more At length being resolv'd to neglect nothin that might serve to bring him about I put my self into Mans Apparel and cut my Hair and so disguiz'd caus'd my self to be presented to Don Carlos for a Page by an old Woman who told him that my Father was a poor Gentleman that lived upon the Mountains of Toledo My Face and Meen it seems pleased your Lover so well that he presently resolv'd to take me He was as well satisfied with my Wit as pleased with my Voice and manner of Singing as likewise with my skill in playing on all sorts of Instruments that Persons of Quality are wont to divert themselves with He believed he had met with Qualifications in me that were not to be commonly found in Pages and I gave him so many Proofs of my Fidelity and Discretion that he treated me more like his Friend and Confident than Servant This you are able to tostific better than any Person breathing and you know besides how often you have commended me to Carlos both behind my Back and to my Face and likewise done me several other good Offices with him but I was mad to think that I must be indebted for all these to a Rival and that at the same time that they render'd me more agreeable to Don Carlos they made you more Hateful to the unfortunate Claudia for so is my true Name In the mean time your Marriage advanc'd and my Hopes went back but assoon as it was concluded they went utterly lost The Italian Count who became about that time in Love with you and whose Quality and Estate gain'd as much upon your Father as his bad Mien and Conditions lost him in your Esteem gave me nevertheless the Pleasure to see you disturb'd and which caused me to flatter my self with those Foolish hopes which change always offerâ— to the unhappy At last your Father preferr'd the Stranger whom you loved not to Don Carlos whom you loved and I had then the satisfaction to see one that made me unfortunate unfortunate himself and my Rival that I hated yet more unhappy My Pleasure was only augmented when I confider'd that I lost nothing in him because he never was mine but that you were depriv'd of all in losing him by reason that he was all yours But this imaginery Happiness of mine or to call it better unfinish'd Hope lasted not long I learnt from Don Carlos that you were resolved to go away with him and I was employ'd for that purpose to hire s Ship to carry you to Barcelona from whence you were to go either to France or Italy I can't tell which All the force I had hitherto made use of to support me in my Misfortunes forsook me at this Moment I could now bear against the torrent of my unhappy Fate no longer and therefore was forced to yield to it My Griefs upon this occasion were so great that they made me downright Sick and caused me to keep my Bed One Day as I was lamenting my hard Usage to my self and speaking louder than ordinary out of a Confidence that I was not over-heard the Moor Amet appear'd before me who after he had suffer'd me to recover out of the surprize he had occasion'd in me Address'd himself to me in these Words I have known you Claudia even before the time that you disguiz'd your Sex to become Page to Don Carlos and if I have all this while conceal'd that knowledge from you it was because I had a Design to bring about as well as you I have overheard you enter into Resolutions of Despair You have a mind to discover your self to your Master for a young Woman that dies for Love of him and afterwards to kill your self in his Presence whereby you think to incline his Pity where you cannot otherwise engage his Heart Poor Girl What advantage wilt thou get by killing thy self but assuring the possession of Carlos the firmer to thy Rival I have beter Advice to give thee if thou hast Courage enough to take it Deprive thy Lover of Sophia the means of accomplishing it are easy and tho' it requires a good deal of Resolution yet has it occasion for no more than thou hast already had to Habit thy self like a Man and thereby to hazard thy Honour to content thy Love Hearken to me then with attention continued the Moor and I will reveal to thee a Secret which I have never yet discover'd to any Person and if the Proposal I am about to make thee be disapprov'd thou art at liberty either to receive or reject it I am of Fez pursued he and a Man of Quality in my own Country My Misfortunes made me a Slave to Don Carlos and the Beauty of Sophia made me the like to her I have told you a great deal of matter in few Words Consider your own Unhappiness without remedy if you suffer your Lover to carry off your Mistriss to Barcelona It is both yours and my Interest to prevent it therefore let us lay hold on the occasion that offers I have bargain'd for my Ransom and have paid it A Galliot from Africa waits for me in the Road not far off that which Don Carlos has provided for the Execution of his Design He has put it off for a Day longer therefore let us interpose our Project to carry her away before him in the aforesaid Galliot In order to accomplish which do you go immediately to Sophia as from your Master and let her know that he requires that she should depart this Night For this purpose bring her away forthwith to my Vessel and I will carry her to Africa whereby you will remain behind alone to possess your Lover and who 't is very likely will be inclin'd to favour your Passion when he understands what you are how well you love him and moreover that the recovery of his Sophia is impracticable At these last Words of Claudias continues Sophia I became all of a sudden so oppress'd with Grief that I fainted away and had scarce the least sign of Life left The cries that Claudia made for help who it may be now repented of what she had told me brought Amet and his Brother into the Room They made use of all the means that were proper to recover me when coming at length to my self I heard Claudia still persisting to reproach Amet with his Treachery Infidel said she to him How could you have the baseness both to betray me and to bring this
Officer in the whole Army but who either sought her Friendship and Acquaintance or humbly declin'd aspiring to it as unworthy It must not be wondred at then since all the World spoke so much for her and yet more her renown'd Actions if she came to be so much in favour with her Prince About this time divers Recruits of Men and Amunition arriv'd from Spain The Emperour would have them all drawn up by themselves that he might have a view of them with the principal Officers of the Army amongst whom was our Female Warriour Among these new come Soldiers she fancied she had espy'd Don Carlos and as it happen'd she was not deceiv'd This made her to be uneasy all the remainder of that Day She sent out often to look after him but could not find him by reason he had changed his Name When Night came she could not sleep a wink and therefore rise by Day-break to go in search of her dear Lover who had cost her so many Tears At length she found him but was not known by him by reason she was grown taller and had besides her Complexion much alter'd by the scorching heats of Africa She made him believe she took him for another of her Acquaintance and began to ask him News from Seville as likewise concerning an imaginary Person that came first into her Head He told her he knew no such Person was never at Seville and that he was born and liv'd in Valencia You are nevertheless much like a Person that I knew and had a great esteem for reply'd Sophy and therefore you must give me leave to be ranked in the number of your Frieds With all my Hear answer'd Don Carlos and for the same reason you urge I must beg the like Liberty from you as you have done of me for you no less resemble a Person I loved long since and do still love you have the same Visage and Voice but you are not of the same Sex and certainly you cannot be of the same Humour added he sighing At these last Words of Carlos Sophy could not forbear blushing which he nevertheless took no notice of by reason that he then had his Eyes over charged with Tears which hindred his observing her change of Countenance This extraordinary Tenderness of Carlos mov'd her so extremely that she was ready to discover her self to prevent which at that time she desired him to come visit her in her Tent and bid him to enquire for Don Fernando At the hearing of this name Don Carlos began immediately to be affraid well knowing what Honours the Emperour had done that Person and fearing he might not have shew'd him sufficient Respect He met with little difficulty in finding the Tent for it was but what every body could direct him to He was there received with all the civility that a private Gentleman could expect from a general Officer He again discover'd the Countenance of Sophy in that of Don Fernando but was more amazingly surpriz'd at the resemblance of their Voices which immediately sunk into his Soul and brought to his Remembrance the Idea of the Person in the World that he lov'd best Sophy yet unknown to her Lover made him to Dine with her and after Dinner commanding her Domesticks to retire and giving Orders that she would be seen by no more Visiters she caus'd him to tell her over again that he was of Valencia and afterwards occasion'd him to relate all the Adventures that had happen'd between him and her which to be sure she knew as well as he from their first Acquaintance to the time of his Contrivance for carrying her away Would you believe quoth Don Carlos that a Woman of her Quality who had received so many Proofs of my Love and return'd me reciprocally as many of hers could yet be so void of Sense or Honour to prefer a young Page who had little or nothing to boast of to his Master But are you sure of what you say reply'd Sophy Chance often controuls our Designs and oftener takes pleasure to confound our reasoning with Events the least expected Your Mistriss may have been forc'd to leave you continu'd she and is it may be more Unfortunate than Blamable Would to God answer'd Don Carlos that I could in the least doubt of her Guilt All the Misfortunes which I have hitherto undergone on her account would be easy to me could I but believe her still Faithful But alass she is only so to the Traytor Claudio and pretended an Affection to Don Carlos but to ruin him It seems to me reply'd Sophy that you could but have little kindness for her since you can thus condemn her unheard Can I have greater Proofs of her Baseness cry'd Don Carlos than appears by a Letter she sent her Father the Night she went off whereby I suppose she thought to take away all suspicion of her going away with the Page But to the end you may be the better Iudge of it added he I have the Letter to shew then he read the Letter which was in the following Words The Letter YOU ought not Sir to forbid my loving Don Carlos since you had once commanded me to do it A Desert so great as he has to pretend to must needs Captivate the wariest Heart and where so much Worth and Merit reigns Interest must not think to get place I fly then away with him whom you have thought fit I should Love from my Youth upwards and without whom it is as impossible for me to live as it would be not to greive my self to Death in the Arms of a Stranger I hate altho' he were yet Richer than he boasts himself to be Our Crime therefore if any deserves at least your Pardon which if you are dispos'd to afford us we will return as willingly to receive as we have shewn Disposition to retreat from the unjust Violence you would do us SOPHIA You may imagine proceeded Carlos what a Hurricane this raised in the old Peoples Breasts They hop'd I was either yet in Valencia conceal'd with their Daughter or else that I was not far off from it They kept their loss a Secret to every body but the Vice-Roy who was their Relation I was surpriz'd to find the Constable and his Mirmidons enter my Chamber at Day-break rudely asking me for Sophy and whom I having demanded the same Question of they immediately hurried me away in a violent manner to Prison I was Question'd and yet could say nothing in my Defence concerning Sophy's Letter it thereby appear'd that I was to carry her away but it was likewise manifest that my Page disappear'd also Sophy's Relations made all imaginable search after her and my Friends did what they could to find whither the Page had carry'd her which they were certain he must have done somewhither At length it being found impossible to meet with either one or th' other which was the only thing that could have clear'd my Innocence I was accused by my Enemies
nevertheless consent to giving instead thereof his Word that he should not stir out of his House till the Day assign'd for the Tryal came The Night before that fatal Day which kept the whole City of Valencia in suspence Don Carlos desir'd a private Audience of the Vice-Roy and which being granted he threw himself at his Feet and broke out into the following Words 'To Morrow my Lord quoth he you will be able to let the World know that I am Innocent and altho' some of the Witnesses that you have already heard in my Defence clear me absolutely of the Crime yet I do here presume to Swear once more to your Highness as Religiously as I would do before God at the sacred Altar That I not only have not carry'd away Sophy as my Adversaries maliciously alledge against me but likewise did not lay Eyes on her from the Day before she was so carried away and have never heard the least News of her since I own I was to have carried her away continued he had not a Misfortune too obscure for me to unriddle prevented me in that Design Enough Don Carlos reply'd the Vice-Roy go to Bed and take your rest I am both your Master and Friend and perhaps am better inform'd of your Innocence than you can imagine You are come along with me from Africa under my Protection and I will not fail to defend and clear you against all your Enemies in this matter Don Carlos after having return'd his most-hearty Thanks to so obliging a Master went to Bed but could not sleep for thinking on what was to ensue He got up by Day-break and dressing himself more gallant than ordinary went to wait on the Vice-Roy at his Levée but I should mistake if I told you that he entred the Chamber before she was drest The before mentiond Dorothy that came with her disguiz'd from Fez still continu'd to be her Confidente and Companion and did those Offices for her which if another had done she must have quickly been discover'd Don Carlos therefore gained not admittance till Dorothy had set open the Door as well to him as any Body else The Vice-Roy no sooner perceiv'd him than he began to reproach him with rising so early alleging that his not sleeping was no great token of his innocence To which Don Carlos being a little disturb'd reply'd that the fear of being Convicted did not so much hinder him from sleeping as the hopes he had of soon seeing himself deliver'd by the Justice his Highness would do him ' But you are mighty Spruce and Gallant quoth the Vice-Roy Nay seem indifferent even on the Day that you are to be try'd for your Life I know not what to think of the Crime you are accus'd of As often as we discourse of Sophy you seem more negligent and unconcern'd than I who am no party nor ever have been suspected to have been belov'd by her nor to have made away with her and possibly the young Claudia likewise as you have been You say you have lov'd her continu'd the Vice-Roy and yet you survive the loss of her and endeavour nothing so much as to get your self acquitted that you may forget her and live at ease you that ought rather to hate Life and destroy those very Charms that have render'd you so aimable to her Ah! inconstant Don Carlos proceeded he It may well be suspected that you have some other Love to supply the place of Soply you have been so much oblig'd to At these Words Don Carlos in a great agony was going to Answer but which the Vice-Roy not thinking fit to hear interrupted him in and with a severe Countenance said to him Hold your Peace and reserve that Eloquence which you are about to make use of here for your Judges As for my part I shall give little Ear to it and I will not for the sake of one of my Servants let the Emperour have reason to have an ill Opinion of my Justice In the mean time continued he turning towards his Guards let some one of you secure his Person I should indeed be very imprudent added he to believe that one who had broke Prison would not seek to avoid Justice by his flight This said Don Carlos's Sword was immediately seiz'd which rais'd a great deal of Pity in the standers by to observe what a sudden change of Fortune he had undergone While the poor Gentleman was repenting of confiding too much in great Mens Favours his Judges entred the Chamber and took their places after the Vice-Roy had seated himself The Italian Count who yet continued at Valencia together with Sophy's Father and Mother appear'd against him and produc'd their Witnesses whilst Carlos was almost ready to despair of his Cause and had scarce the Courage to Answer They alleg'd the Letters that he had formerly writ to Sophy and prov'd his Hand they he had formerly writ to Sophy's Servants with him and lastly they produc'd against him the Letter which she had written to her Father the Night before the Day on which they pretended he had carried her away Carlos caus'd his Servants to be heard likewise who Swore that they saw their Master go to Bed but then he might have risen again afterwards which they could give no account of In his Defence he said That it was not likely that he should carry her away to live separate from her and much less that he would Murther one whom he had always lov'd so dearly But all this avail'd him not for Sentence was just going to be pronounc'd against him when the Vice-Roy commanding him to be brought nearer him said to him Unfortunate Don Carlos you may well think from all the tokens of Friendship I have shew'd you that if I had in the least suspected you had been guilty of the Crime you were accus'd of I would never have brought you to Valencia But now after what has been so plainly prov'd against you I am more than oblig'd to Condemn you if I would not begin the Execution of my Office by Injustice You may easily be convinc'd of my concern for you by the Tears that unavoidably come into my Eyes If your Prosecutors were not of that Quality they are of I might be inclinable to think they were byassed by Malice but as they are there are no Exceptions to be made to them and therefore if Sophia does not appear suddenly her self to release you I am to give you notice that you must prepare for Death Carlos despairing at these Words to be saved threw himself at the Vice-Roys Feet and after some time said to him You may remember my Lord that all the while I have had the Honour to serve your Highness both in Africa and here as often as you have engag'd me in the tedious recital of my Misfortunes I have always told them after the same manner and you may likewise be assur'd that what I have told you that have been so good a Master to me I
would scorn to deny afterwards before any Iudge I have all along told your Highness the Truth as I would have done to my God and therefore I shall not stick to repeat what I have so often profess'd that I not only ever have but also ever shall to my Lives end Love and adore Sophy What say you Interrupted the Vice-Roy with Concern in his Countenance do you pretend to adore her I do reply'd Don Carlos not a little surpriz'd at the manner of the Question and have not only promiss'd to marry her but likewise to carry her off to Barcelona But if I have carried her away or know where she is at present may I be put to the cruellest of Deaths As for dying continued he I know it is impossible for me now to escape it but I shall nevertheless dye innocent if it be not a Crime to have lov'd so faithfully so Persidious and Inconstant a Woman But cry'd the Vice-Roy with a stern Countenance What is become of this Woman and your Page Are they mounted up to Heaven Are they conceal'd in the Earth Or whether are they gone The Page answer'd Don Carlos was a spruce Gallant and she a fine Lady he was a Man and she a Woman Ah Traytor reply'd the Vice-Roy now you discover your base Suspicions and the small esteem you entertain'd for the unfortunatd Sophy Curs'd be that Woman continued he that confides in the Promises of Men and suffers her self to be abus'd by too easy a Belief Neither was Sophy a Woman of common Vertue added he nor your Page Claudio a Man Sophy was a constant Maid and your Page a ruin'd Woman that had been in Love with you and consequently stole away and betray'd her as a Rival to her I am Sophy unjust and ungrateful Lover Proceeded he I am Sophy who have undergone incredible Hazards and Hardships on the account of a Man that deserves not to be so well belov'd since he could think me guilty of the very worst of Treacheries Sophy found it not in her power to say any more Her Father immediately knew her and catch'd her up into his Arms her Mother Swoon'd away on one side and her Lover Don Carlos on the other She soon disengag'd herself from her Fathers embraces to run to the two that were fainted away and who coming quickly to themselves she was in doubt which to embrace first Her Mother all bedew'd her Cheeks with Tears and she return'd the like She embrac'd her Dear Don Carlos with all the Passion imaginable and who was like to have swoon'd away again with the excess of it He nevertheless held her fast and not yet daring to approach her Lips he endeavour'd to satisfie himself on her Hands both which be kissed above a thousand and a thousand times Sophy was scarce able to withstand all the Kindnesses and Complements made her The Italian Count on his part going to profer his still insisted on his former Pretensions to her as being promis'd him both by her Father and Mother this Don Carlos hearing and having at the same time one of her Hands greedily kissing at his Mouth he instantly quitted it and laying his Hand on his Sword which had been just then brought him he put himself into a posture enough to have frighted an Army and swore that rather than suffer himself to be depriv'd of his dear Sophy provided she would still continue to Love him he would hew down the City of Valencia and bury its Inhabitants in its Ruins She on her part declared she would have no other Husband but her dear Carlos and therefore conjur'd both her Father and Mother either to resolve to approve of him or to expect to see their only Daughter speedily Cloyster'd up in a Convent Her Parents hereupon soon gave her liberty to make choice of what Husband she pleas'd which the Italian Count perceiving he immediately took Post and rid away for Italy Sophy afterwards gave an account of all her Adventures which being so very extraordinary were admir'd at by every body A Courier was soon after dispatch'd to carry the News of this wonderful Discovery to the Emperour who thereupon sent Orders that Don Carlos after he had married Sophy should be invested with the Vice-Royship of Valencia and moreover as a recompence for all the great Services his Lady had perform'd under the name of Don Fernando he gave to this happy Lover a Principality which his Heirs enjoy to this Day The City of Valencia was at the charge of the Wedding which was perform'd with all the Magnificence and Splendour imaginable and Dorothy who had resum'd her Female Habit much about the same time with Sophy was married not long after her to a near Relation of Don Carlor's CHAP. XV. A matchless piece of Impudence in the Sieur de la Rappiniere THE Councellor of Rennes had just done reading his Novel when la Rappiniere arriv'd at the Inn. He entred the Room boldly where he had been told Monsieur de la Garrouffiere was but assoon as he perceiv'd Destiny standing in a corner both he and his Man that came along with him began visibly to change their Countenances La Garrouffiere after having shut the Door demanded of the bold la Rappiniere if he could not guess upon what account he was sent for Is it not upon account of a Comedian reply'd the Villain laughing whom I had a mind to have my share of How do you mean your share answer'd la Garouffiere with a serious Countenance Does it become a Iudge as you are to talk after that rate And did you ever yet condemn a Person to be hang'd that deserv'd it more than your self La Rappiniere continu'd to turn the thing to Ridicule and would needs make it pass for the Act of a good Companion But the Senator urg'd it so home to him and after so severe a manner that he at last forc'd him to confess that it was an ill Action and for which he immediately made some trifling Excuses to Destiny who notwithstanding could scarce forbear calling him to an account for offending him so basely after he had been oblig'd to him for his Life as you may find he had been in the beginning of these Comical Adventures But Destiny had another Quarrel to debate with this wicked Provost of greater Consequence which he had communicated to Monsieur de la Garrouffiere and who had promis'd to make him give him satisfaction Whatever Pains I have taken to dive into la Rappiniere I could never yet discover whether he were more wicked towards God or towards Man more unjust to his Neighbour or more vicious in himself I know only this to be true that never any Man had more Vices heap'd up together nor in a more eminent Degree than he He confest he had had a Design to carry away Madam Star as boldly as if he had reason to boast of a good Action and farther he impudently told the Councellor and the Comedian that he
to hers which two Houses have a Door of Communication betwixt them Now conrinu'd she these Houses stand in a By-part of the Town and tho' it may be observ'd that we go oftner to visit our Relation than ordinary yet it will not be taken notice of that Don Sancho goes to a Surgeons besides he may take the opportunity of the Night or else go disguiz'd to avoid Discovery Whilst Dorothea was contriving this Intrigue by the help of her Sister and instructing her Kinswoman and Mariana in what they had to do Don Sancho's Thoughts were wholly taken up about his unknown Lady He could not satisfie himself whether she had made those Promises of farther Discovery to abuse him or not or whether he did not see her every Day tho' Disguiz'd either at Church in her Window or else where receiving the Adoration of her Gallants Whilst he was thus in doubt and one Morning dressing himself in order to look after her a Veil'd Lady came to the Door to ask for him Being admitted she delivered him the following Billet The Billet Sir I Should have sooner let you heard from me had it been in my Power But if the Desires you have shewn to be acquainted with me be not yet wholly vanish'd be pleased to accompany the Bearer about the dusk of the Evening to a place where she shall conduct you and where it is probable you may find Your humble Servant You may better imagine than I express the Joy that Don Sancho conceiv'd at this News He embrac'd the Ambassadress with all possible acknowledgments and moreover presented her with a Gold Chain which she after a modest refusal accepted She appointed him a remote place to meet her in without Attendants in the Evening and so departed leaving him the best satisfied tho' at the same time the most impatient Man in the World At length Night came and she fail'd not to be at the place of Assignation richly Habited and Perfum'd He was conducted by her first into an ill-favour'd little House and afterwards into a very fair Apartment where he found three Ladies veil'd He presently distinguish'd his unknown Mistriss from the rest by her Shape and Stature and therefore immediately Addressed himself to her entreating her to pull of her Veil She made no great difficulty to comply with his Request and therefore both she and her Sister forthwith discover'd themselves to the happy Don Sancho to be the two Beautiful Ladies Dorothea and Feliciana de Montsalva You may now perceive I told you true said Dorothea to him throwing off her Veil when I assur'd you that a Stranget might sometimes obtain more kindness from us Women in a Minute than the most importunate of our Lovers could do by many Years Courtship And continu'd she you would be the most ungrateful Person of your Sex did you either not highly esteem the Favour I have done you or mis-interpret it to my disadvantage I shall ever value what I receive from you reply'd Don Sancho Passionately as if it came from Hea ven and you may be able to guess by the Care I shall take to preserve to my self the Favour you have done me that if I ever am so unhappy as to let it be known it will rather be the effect of my Misfortune than Crime They said in short without controul All what such Lovers use to say When Love is Master of the Soul The Mistriss of the House and Feliciana who had been before Instructed what they had to do were retir'd to a convenient distance from the two Lovers whereby they gave them an opportunity to exchange their mutual Affections with greater Ardency than they had time to do at their first meeting as likewise to appoint another Assignation to enflame them yet more if possible Dorothea promised Don Sancho to give him as many Meetings as she could conveniently for which he returned her all the acknowledgments he was capable of making The two other Ladies entertain'd each other apart for some time but at length Mariana thought her self oblig'd to acquaint the Lovers that it was time to separate at which Dorothea was presently concern'd and Don Sancho visibly chang'd Countenance but however part they must The gallant Cavalier wrote the next Day to his fair Mistriss and had an Answer suitable to his Wishes but I cannot pretend to give you a sight of their Letters by reason that none of them ever came to my Hands What I can satisfie you in is that they met often in the same place and after the same manner and at length arrived to that fervency of Affection that without Murdering themselves like Pyramus and Thysbe they might well be said to be as passionate Lovers It is a common saying That Love Fire and Money cannot lie conceal'd Dorothea who had the gallant Stranger continually in her Mind could not forbear talking of him frequently taking all occasions to set him so much above all other Gentlemen of Seville that at last some Ladies who had conceal'd Affections as well as she and who observ'd her continually crying up Don Sancho not only took notice of but were piqu'd at it Her Sister Feliciana had often advis'd her to be more cautious and above a Hundred times in Company when she was even transported in his Praise would often tread upon her Toes till she had almost crippled her to desist At last through her Indiscretion her Intrigue came to one of her Admirers knowledge by means of a Lady a Friend of his He had reason enough to believe her in Love with Don Sancho since from the time that Stranger first appeared in the City neither he nor any of her other Humble Servants could obtain the least favourable look from her This Rival of Don Sancho's was Rich of a good Family and very well received by Don Manuel who nevertheless had not yet pressed his Daughter to Marry him because as often as he had talked any thing to her tending that way she had always conjur'd him not to Marry her so young This Gentleman I begin to recollect his Name was Don Diego had a mind to be fully assur'd of what he had yet but suspected He had one of those Valets de Chambre which we call Spruce Fellows who wear as good Linnen as their Masters and sometimes that of their Masters and who bring up Fashions among the inferiour Servants and are as much or rather more envy'd by the Waiting-Women than belov'd This Fellows name was Gusman who having a small tincture of Poetry compos'd those sorts of Sonnets as Madrid which London and Paris we call Ballads He was accustom'd to Sing them to his Guittar but that never plain and downright but always attended with the ridiculous Gestures of his Head and Body He moreover danc'd the Sarabande was never without Castagnets would more than once have got to be a Player had he not been as often refused and to make up the Composition of his Character was something inclinable
in being none of the wisest Men in the World that du Val-Rochet might have an opportunity to kill him which she fancyed no hard matter and then she propos'd to Hang him out of the way for his pains But as Fortune would have it it hapned quite otherwise for Val Rochet trusting to his skill in Fencing seem'd to dispise du Lac thinking he durst not make a Thrust at him but herein he was extremely deceiv'd for whilst he put himself out of guard du Lac made a home Thrust at him and run him thro' the Body whereof he instantly dyed This done du Lac went home to his House and acquainted his Wife therewith who was not only surpriz'd but concern'd at so unexpected an Accident He after this fled away privately to a Relation of his Wives who as I have told you before had several Persons of Quality to her Kindred who labour'd incessantly to obtain her Husbands Pardon from the King Madam Fons-blanche was not a little astonish'd when she was first told that her Husband was kill'd but coming afterwards to herself she was advised to Bury him quickly and privately to prevent his Body being Arrested by the Bailiffs Thus in less than six Weeks time Fons-blanche had been a Widow twice Du Lac not long after obtain'd his Pardon which was confirmed by the Parliament of Paris notwithstanding all the opposition the deceas'd Person 's Widow could make This made her to entertain a wilder Design than Madam du Lac had done before and that was to Stab du Lac as he walked in the Market-place with some of his Friends For this purpose she provided herself of a Ponyard and marching up to him attackt him so furiously that before he could get himself into a Posture of Defence or have any of his Friends turn about to help him she had Stabb'd him mortally in two Places vvhereof he died three Days after His Wife immediately got this Virago seiz'd and clapt up in Prison Her Tryal came on and she was Condemn'd to Die but her Execution was respited by reason of her being with Child nevertheless not long after the Stench of the Prison did the Work of the Hang-man for she dyed of a Disease caus'd thereby after having been first delivered before her time and her Child being Baptiz'd died likewise soon after Madam du Lac began afterwards to reflect on what she had been the occasion of and therefore forthwith resolv'd to turn Nun which she did after having put her Affairs in order in the Nunnery of Almeneche in the Diocess of Sées where she now continues if she be not yet dead of her Austerities which she voluntarily inflicted on her self The Actors and Actresses countinu'd their Attention even while Monsieur de la Garrouffiere had done speaking so well they lik'd the Story he had entertain'd them with Roquebrune starting up all of a sudden told the Company after his usual way that this was a rare Subject for a Grave Poem and he would make an excellent Tragedy of it which he would reduce to Dramatick Rules The Company took little notice of what he said but all admir'd at the wonderous Courage of the Women who being push'd on by Jealousie did not boggle at the most hazardous Attempts Then it was Disputed whether Jealousie were a Passion or not and all concluded that whatsoever it was it ruin'd the Noblest of Passions Love There was a good while yet to Supper when all the Company agreed to go and Walk in the Park which they did and afterwards sat themselves down on the Grass Then Destiny said he thought nothing so pleasant as Novels which Leander confirming offer'd to relate another concerning a Neighbour's Daughter of his which was accepted and after three or four times Coughing he began as follows CHAP. XVI The Capricious Lady a Novel THere liv'd in a small Town of Britany call'd Vitray an ancient Gentleman who had been Married a great while to a very virtuous Lady without having any Children by her Amongst other Houshold-Servants he had a Steward and a Housekeeper thro' whose Hands most matters relating to the Family passed These two Persons as most Servants do sooner or later made Love and promiss'd each other Marriage They had so well play'd their Parts in their several Stations that both the good old Gentleman and his Lady died not long after very much incumber'd As for the two Servants they became Rich and Married having little or no regard to their Masters Misfortune Some Years afterwards a certain ill Accident fell out that caused the Steward to fly his Country and which to do the more securely he listed himself in a Troop of Horse leaving his Wife without Children She having waited for his return about two Years and hearing nothing of him caus'd a Report to be spread abroad that he was Dead and accordingly went into Mourning for him When this was a little over she was sought after by several Persons in Marriage and among the rest by a rich Merchant who marry'd her and at the Years end had a Child by her who might be about four Years old when her Mothers first Husband return'd home to his House To tell you which was the most surpriz'd the two Husbands or the Wife is not in my Power but certain it is that the first Husbands occasion of going away still continuing against him he was easily prevail'd upon by the other Husband to take a small sum of Money to be gone again 'T is true he every now and then return'd secretly for a little Subsistance from his Wife which was not refus'd him In the mean time the Daughter whose Name was Margaret grew up and being Rich tho' she was not handsome did not want for Sparks to Court her Among the rest was a rich Merchants Son who did not mind his Fathers Business but lov'd to frequent Gentries Company where he often met with his Mistress Margaret who was received among them on account of her Riches This young Man whose Name was Monsieur de St. Germain had a good Countenance and Courage enough to engage him often in Duels which at that time were very frequent He Danc'd very gracefully Gam'd with all the better sort of Company and was always well drest In the many meetings he had with this young Lass he took all opportunities to let her know what a kindness he had for her and how desirous he was to be her Husband This she seem'd to approve of well enough and consequently invited him to come and see her at home which he did by permission of her Father and Mother who extremely favour'd the Match But afterwards when he was about to ask her of her Parents he would by no means do it till he had her consent likewise not believing when she had yeilded so far in other things she would oppose him in that but to his great surprize upon putting the Question to her he found her to repulse him furiously both in Words and
Actions Hereupon he went his way and forbore visiting her for five or six Days hoping that thereby he might in some measure abate his Passion but to his disappointment he found that it had taken too deep root to be so easily remov'd insomuch that he was quickly forc'd to go see her again He had no sooner enter'd her House but she went out of it among her Companions in the Neighbourhood and whither he followed her after having had a promise from her Father and Mother to do their endeavours to make her more sociable This nevertheless they durst not attempt to do with rigour she being their Darling and only Daughter and therefore they chose rather to represent to her mildly what Injustice she did the young Man to use him so ill after having once profess'd to love him To this she gave no Answer and notwithstanding all was said continu'd still in her ill Humour for whenever he offer'd to come near her she would change her place Then he would follow her but she always flew from him One Day as she was getting away he caught her by the Sleeve she told him he rumpled it and that if he offer'd to come near her any more she would give him a box o'th'Ear In a Word the more he follow'd her the more she avoided him When she was at the Ball and he would have danced with her she affronted him telling him she was out of order and at the same time danc'd with another She at length arriv'd to that pitch of Ill-nature that she occasion'd him Quarrels and he above four times accepted Challenges upon her account in all which Duels he nevertheless came off safe which she seem'd to be very sorry for All this ill usage did but enflame his Passion the more like as Oyl thrown upon the Fire insomuch that his Visits were made the more frequently for his being discourag'd One Day above the rest he fancy'd his Perseverance had wrought an alteration in her for that she suffer'd him to come near her and seem'd to hearken attentively to what he said to her His Language was this Why do you thus fly from me Insensible Fair one that cannot live without you If I have not Merit sufficient to deserve you yet consider at least the excess of my Passion and the many Indignities I have born from you with Patience Very well answer'd she you may flatter your self with that Fancy if you please but I would have you to know that the best way for you to win upon me is to get as far out of my sight as you can and because you cannot well do it as long as you continue in this Town I command you which if you have that respect you pretend for me you will obey me in to list your self in the Troops that are now raising and after you have made a few Campagnes it may be you may find me more kind This small pittance of Hope which I afford you ought to encline you to obey me but if you will not do it lose me for ever Then she drew off a Ring from her Finger and gave it him saying Keep this Ring to put you in mind of me but remember that I forbid you to come any more tho' to take your leave of me This said she suffer'd him to take a parting Kiss of her and then went into an adjoining Chamber locking her self in Then this wretched Lover went to take leave of her Father and Mother who pity'd him extremely promising to continue always his Friends and next Day he listed in a Troop of Horse that was raising to go to the Siege of Rochelle His Mistress having enjoin'd him not to see her again till after his return he durst not pretend to attempt it but however the Night before his Departure he gave her a Serenade under her Window with this Complaint at the end of it which he Sung to the Melancholly strains of his Lute The Words of the Serenade IRis Inexorable Fair Whom neither Love nor Friendships sway Will you not pity my Despair Rather than Innocence betray Will you for ever cruel prove And must I think your Heart of Stone Will you not yet consent to Love But suffer me to be undone Alass Fair Nymph at length I yield To Fate and take my last Adieu Never was Lover surer kill'd Nor Mistress less concern'd than you When I am Dead some Friend of mine Shall rip up this unhappy Breast And to your Power my Heart resign But leave to Earth and Worms the rest The capricious Creature at the sound of this Serenade got out of her Bed and opening the Shutters of the Window peep'd thro' the Glass and set up so hearty a Laugh as might well make the poor Lover think that he was not like to succeed in his Design Just as he was about to express his Mind farther she clapt to the Shutter crying out to him aloud Keep your Promise Sir for your own sake and it may be I may not be worse than mine With this Answer poor St. Germain retir'd and a few Days afterwards set out with his Troop for the Siege of Rochelle This Town as you may have heard held out very obstinately for some time till at length it was forc'd to surrender upon Discretion Then it was that the Troop wherein St. Germain rid was disbanded and return'd to Vitray He no sooner arriv'd but he went to wait on his unkind Mistress Margaret who permitted him 't is true to Salute her but afterwards told him that he had return'd too soon and that she was not yet dispos'd to receive him and therefore desir'd him to be gone again His Answer was in these mournful Words You are certainly the most cruel Person of your Sex and I plainly perceive that you desire nothing more than the Death of him that has approv'd himself the most faithful Lover in the World You have put me four times upon single Trials of my Courage and I have always had Honourable Escapes You then would have me hazard my Life in the Army and I have come off safe there even where many a less unhappy Wretch than I has met his end But since I find you so ardently covet my Ruin I will go seek my Fate in so many places that it shall be out of Fortunes Power to afford me any Escape but it may be you will not be able to forbear repenting of having occasion'd this since my Death shall be of that kind as will not only surprize but encline you to pity me Adieu then added he most Cruel of your Sex Adieu for ever Having utter'd these Words he was rising to be gone but which she would not suffer till she had told him that she did not by any means desire his Death and that what she had done to engage him in Duels was only to be the better convinc'd of his Courage that he might be the more worthy of her And lastly she let him know that she was
Water of every Tankard-bearer that passed by and thus furnished himself with water enough to serve him several days He wou'd often come into the common Hall where his Masters other Servants used to take their repasts and whatever he saw them eat he was sure to commend it to the Skies to give him some sort of a privilege to taste it He never laid out a farthing in Wine yet drank more or less every day either by sipping some of that which was publickly cryed about the Streets or stopping Porters that were carrying it to the Taverns whom he wou'd ask to give him a taste of their Wine that if he liked it he might know where to send for it Once upon a time riding to Madrid upon a Mule he so dexterously cheated the eyes of his Innkeepers that he fed trusty Dapple with the Straw of the Beds where he lay but the very first day of his journey being weary of paying for his Servants dinner who was the first he ever had he pretended that he cou'd not drink his Landlords Wine and sent the poor fellow to find out better a full league at least from the Inn where he then was The Servant accordingly beat the hoof thither relying upon his Masters Honour who fairly gave him the slip and so the wretch was forced to beg all the way to Madrid In short Don Marcos was the living picture of avarice and filching and was so well known to be the most coâ—etous Devil in Spain that at Madrid he advanced himself â—nto a Proverb and they called a pinching miser a Don Marcos His master and all his friends told a thousand merry stories of him and even before his own face because he understood raillery to perfection and wou'd stand a jest as well as a managed Horse will stand fire 'T was an usual saying with him that no woman cou'd be handsom if she loved to take not ugly if she gave money and â—hat a wise man ought never to go to Bed unless for the satisfaction of his Conscience he had turned the penny in the day time His excellent Theory seconded by a most exact practice had brought him together by that time he was forty years old above 10000 Crowns in Silver a prodigious summ for a Grandees Gentleman to get but especially in Spain But what may not a man save in the compass of many years who steals all that he can from himself and other people Don Marcos having the reputation to be rich without being a Debauchee or Gamester was soon courted in marriage by abundance of women that love the money more than the man whose number in all parts of the world are great Among the rest that offered to carry the marriage yoke with him he met a woman whose name was Isidora who passed for a Widow altho in truth she had never been married and appeared much younger than she was by patching and painting and tricking herself in all which mysteries she was skilled to admiration The world judged of her wealth by her way of living which was expensive enough for a Woman of her condition and people who frequently guels at random and love to magnify matters gave her at least three thousand Livres a year and some ten thousand Crowns in Plate and Jewels and the like convenient moveables The fellow that proposed her for a Wife to Don Marcos was a notable sharper one that trucked in all sorts of merchandize but his principal subsistence was selling of Maidenheads and making of Matches He spoke in such advantageous terms of Isidora to Don Marcos that he set him upon the tenter-hooks to see this miracle a curiosity he had never expressed for any woman before and so effectually perswaded our unthinking Cully that she was rich and the Widow of a certain Cavalier descended from one of the best Families in Andalusia that from that very instant he had an itch to be married to her The same day this proposal was made to him our Marriage-pimp whose name was Gamara came to call upon Don Marcos to introduce him into Isidora's Company Our covetous Hunks was ravish'd to see the neatness and magnificence of the House into which Gamara conducted him but he was much more so when this Master of the Ceremonies assur'd him that it belonged to Isidora He was perfectly transported at the richness of the Furniture the Alcoves and Rooms of State and a profusion of sweet Seems that rather seem'd proper for a Lady of the highest quality than for one that was to be the Wife of a Grandee's Gentleman and no better then as for the Mistress of this enchanted Castle he took her for a Goddess Don Marcos found her busy at work between a Damosel and a Chamber-maid both so beautiful and pretty that whatever aversion he had to expensive living and a great number of Servants he resolved to marry Isidora if it were only for the vanity to be Master of two such charming Creatures Whatever Isidora said to him was utter'd so discreetly that it not only pleas'd but perfectly ravish'd Don Marcos and what contributed to make an entire conquest of his heart was a collation as nice as neatly serv'd in where the clean Linnen and the Silver Plate were all of a piece with the other rich Moveables of the person that gave it There sat down at this Entertainment a young Gentleman very well drest and well made whom Isidora pretended to be her Nephew His name was Angustine but his good Aunt call'd him Augustinet altho the pretty Baby was above twenty years old Isidora and Augustinet strove who shou'd make Don Marcos most welcome and during the repast helpt him to all the choicest bits and while our trusty Miser laid about him like a Harpy and cramm'd his half-starv'd Guts with Victuals enough to last him eight days his ears were charm'd by the melodious voice of the Damosel Marcella who sung two or three passionate airs to her Harpsicord Don Marcos lost no time but fell on like a Devil it being at another's expence and the Collation ended with the day whose light was supplied by that of four large Candles in Silver Sconces of admirable workmanship and weight which Don Marcos at that moment designed within himself to reform into one single Lamp so soon as he was marry'd to Isidora Augustinet took a Guittar and plaid several Sarabands and Tunes to which that cunning Jilt Marcella and Inez the Chamber-maid danced admirably well striking their Castanietta's exactly to the time of the Guittar The discreet Gamara whispered Don Marcos in the ear that Isidora never sat up late but went early to Bed which hint our civil Gentleman took immediately and rising from his Seat made her a thousand Compliments and Protestations of Love more than he had ever done to any Female before wish'd her and the little Augustinet a good night and left them at liberty by themselves to talk of him what they thought Don Marcos who was up to
with a thick Cord that was let down from the Vessel in a Pully And now it was that Don Marcos forgot himself he saw his Trunk ty'd up just by him and did not stir but at last seeing it mount up in the air he caught hold of it with both hands by one of the iron rings that served to lift it up from the ground being resolved not to part with it And perhaps he had accomplish'd his ends for what will not a covetous Wretch do to preserve his Pelf But by ill fortune this Trunk parted from the rest and falling plumb upon the head of our unlucky Gentleman who for all that wou'd not quit his hold beat him down to the bottom of the Sea or if you please to the regions of Erebus Isidora Inez and Augustinet knew him just at the very minute he sunk down with their dear Trunk the loss of which troubled them infinitely more than any apprehensions from the revengeful Don Marcos Augustinet enraged at the loss of his Money and not able to master his passion struck the Seaman who had tyed the Trunks so carelessly with all his force The Tar in requital gave him a heartier blow which threw him into the Sea As he fell over-board he took the unfortunate Isidora with him who held her self by nothing and thus accompanied her beloved Augustinet who against his inclination accompany'd Don Marcos Inez imbark'd in the Vessel with the rest of the Goods which she spent in a short time at Naples and after she had for a long while exercis'd the laudable profession of a Whore she went off like a Whore that is to say she dy'd in an Hospital NOVEL II. The Useless Precaution A Gentleman of Granada whose true name I don't think fit to discover but will call him Don Pedro de Castile Arragon or Toledo or what you please Courteous Reader since after all one name costs a man no more than another And 't is for this reason perhaps that the Spaniards not content with their own names bestow upon themselves the most magnificent ones they can think of and sometimes tack two or three together that are as long as a Welsh Pedigree but to quit this digression the above-mention'd Don Pedro at the age of twenty found himself without Father and Mother and exceeding rich which circumstances when they meet in the same person very often help to spoil him if he is born with no great stock of brains but if 't is otherwise put him in a capacity of making what figure he pleases During the year of mourning he discreetly abstained from most of those diversions to which young Gentlemen of his age are addicted and wholly employ'd his time in taking an exact survey of his Estaâ—e and settling his affairs He was well made as to his person had abundance of Wit and behaving himself young as he was with the prudence and circumspection of an old man there was not a fortune in all Granada which he might not justly pretend to nor a Father that thought so well of his Daughter but wou'd be glad with all his heart to accept him for a Son-in-law Among several handsome Ladieâ— who at that time disputed the Empire of hearts in Granada there was one that had charms enough to conquer that of Don Pedro. Her name was Seraphina beautiful as an Angel young rich and of a good family and altho her fortune was not altogether so great as that of Don Pedro yet every thing considered there was no such mighty difference between them He did not question but that at the first proposal of Marriage he made to her Parents he should find them ready to comply with him however he rather chose to owe his success to his merit and resolvâ—d to court her in the gallantest way that he might make himself master of her affections before he was of her person His design was generous and noble if fortune that often delights to break the measures of the wisest Politicians had not raisâ—d him a Rival who had already taken possession of the Town he design'd to invest before he had so much as made his approaches 'T is to no purpose to tell you his name but he was very near Don Pedro's age perhaps he was likewise as handsome as he but all Historians are ageeed that he was much more belov'd Don Pedro was soon sensible that he had a Competitor to remove but this did not much alarm him knowing few were able to dispute Estates with him He gave Consorts of Music in his Mistress's street while his happy Rival had the pleasure to hear them in her Chamber and perhaps was revelling in her arms while our poor Lover was cooling his heels and making melancholy reflections below But at last Don Pedro was weary of throwing away so much Powder in the Mines that is to say of making all this bustle and courtship without advancing his affairs However his love did not slacken upon his ill success but made him so impatient that he thought fit to lay aside his first design of winning his Mistress's heart before he demanded her of her friends In short he ask'd their consent which they granted him upon the spot without deliberating further on the matter being extremely pleas'd to be ask'd that which they so earnestly desired and indeed cou'd hardly hope for They acquainted Seraphina with the good fortune that was offer'd her and preparâ—d her to give Don Pedro a kind reception and marry him in a short time She was troubled at this news that ought to have given her all the satisfaction in the world and not able to conceal her surprize from them she dissembled the occasion of it pretending that it griev'd her to part from persons so dear to her as they were She manag'd this point so dexterously that they wept out of meer tenderness and much commended the sweetness of her temper She conjur'd them to put off her Marriage four or five months representing to them that she had been a long time indisposed as her looks sufficiently discover'd and that by her good will she wouâ—d not marry till she was perfectly recovered of her illness that so she might come more agreeable to her Husband and not give him any occasion to be disgusted with her in the beginning of his marriage and consequently to repent of his choice 'T is true indeed she had look'd somewhat sickly of late which made her Friends well enough satisfy'd with her request and they took care to acquaint Don Pedro with it who for his part was so far from taking it ill that he lik'd her the better for giving so good a proof of her discretion In the mean time the Articles of Marriage were propos'd examin'd and agreed on However Don Pedro did not think himself excus'd from omitting any of his usual Gallantries which every man is obliged to observe that courts his Mistress in the common forms He entertain'd her often with Letters and did not
for four or five days following as he pass'd to and fro before her Windows she was not to be seen there according to her custom so inconsolable had the death of her lovely African made her Don Pedro was mighty desirous to know how she fared One day as he was discoursing with Don Iuan one of Elvira's Slaves deliver'd him a Letter from his Mistress He open'd it with impatience and read what follows LETTER TWo persons who are minded to marry don't need a third to put them in mind of it You wou'd perswade me that you don't dislike me and I must own that you please me well enough to grant you this moment what I did not promise you till the year was ended You may make your self as soon as you please Master of my Person and Estate and I request you to believe that altho I cannot deliberately embark in such an affair as this yet your merit and my love will render it easie to me and make me break through all difficulties whatsoever Elvira Don Pedro read over this Letter twice or thrice and cou'd hardly believe he was awake He bethought himself that this was the second time he had run the danger of being marry'd as ill as any man in Spain and thank'd Heaven with all his heart that deliver'd him from two such imminent misfortunes by discovering to him two secrets of so great importance As the Negroâ—s death had put Elvira upon this sudden resolution to be marry'd Don Pedro as suddenly resolv'd to get out of her sight as soon as he cou'd He told Don Iuan that it nearly concernâ—d his life and honour to leave Sevil within an hour and that he wou'd only take one Servant with him that he had brought from Granada he desir'd him to sell his Coach and Horses and to pay his Servants with the Money and conjur'd him not to ask the reason of so sudden an alteration and a Journey so hurry'd promising to write to him the very first Town he stopt at He writ to Elvira while they went to hire two Mules for him he gave his Letter to the Slave and when the Mules came took the road to Madrid being confirm'd more than ever in his first opinion and resolving to stand upon his guard against all witty women nay even to detest them While he jogg'd gently on full of these vertuous resolutions Elvira open'd his Letter and read the following lines LETTER AS violently in love as I am with you yet I always prefer the care of preserving your honour to the pleasure of possessing you Thus you cou'd not but observe with what discretion I always managâ—d my Gallantry I am somewhat scrupulous in my own nature and therefore cannot in Conscience ask you to marry me so soon since you are a Widow of but a day's standing You owe more than that comes to Madam to the memory of the poor Negro defunct and you cannot take less than a year to lament the loss of a person who did you so considerable services In the mean while you and I shall have time enough to consider what we have to do Don Pedro. Elvira had like to have run distracted when she read this Letter and it touch'd her more to the quick than even the â—oss of her Guinea Lover but considering that Don Pedro had left Sevil and another Gallant that had all the qualifiâ—ations to please her offering at the same time to marry her she took him to supply the Negro's room Not but that she cou'd have found Negroes enough to have done her business â—ut some body had told her that there was a difference in Negroes as well as other folks and that every thing is not â—herefore the Devil because it is black In the mean time Don Pedro and his trusty Mule got to Madrid and â—he went â—mmediately to an Unkle's house who receiv'd him very courteously This Unkle of his was a rich Cavalier that had an only Son that was betrothed to a young Cousin that was an only Daughter likewise and who being but ten years â—ld past her time in a Convent till she came to be of age to marry him His name was Don Rodrigo and he possessed â—ll the good qualities that can make a man amiable Don Pedro enter'd into a stricter league of friendship with him â—han men usually do with a Relation tho they love him â—ever so well for they are not always our Relations whom 〈◊〉 love best Don Rodrigo seem'd to be disturb'd in his â—ind and Don Pedro perceiving it related all his adventures to him that he might oblige him by this confidence to communicate his to him and if he had any occasion for his service to let him see that he was much more his Friend than his Relation After this he told him that he had observ'd that somewhat sat uneasy upon him and therefore he begg'd him to let him know what it was otherwise he must believe that his friendship was not so hearty as his Don Rodrigo desir'd nothing more hoping to receive some relief in his inquietude when he had once communicated it He therefore acquaints Don Pedro that he was passionately in love with a Damosel of Madrid who was promis'd to a Kinsman whom she expected every hour from the Indies but had never seen just as he was engag'd to a Cousin and waited till she was of age of whom he had but little knowledge This conformity of Adventures said he to Don Pedro has very much contributed to encrease the affection we have for one another altho at the same time it keeps us both in our duty whenever our passion advises us to prefer our satisfaction to those engagements wherein the interests of our Families have link'd us Hitherto my love has made as fair a progress with her as I cou'd wish tho I have not as yet been able to compass my desires which she puts off till her Husband's arrival when her Marriage may secure both of us from any ill consequences that may follow upon an Assignation when we may probably do something else than discourse and talk I will say nothing to you of the beauty of Virginia since 't is impossible to say too much of it and because I shou'd be apt to say so much of it that you wou'd not believe me However this I am certain of that wheâ— you have seen her and her Cousin Violanta who lives with her you will readily own that all Spain cannot show any thing more beautiful than this incomparable pair and wheâ— you have convers'd a few moments with them I will leave you to tell me whether you ever saw wittier Women in your life 'T is this that makes me pity you says Don Pedro to him And why so reply'd Don Rodrigo Because a woman of Wit cries he will most infallibly jilt you either sooner oâ— later You cannot but know continues he by the recital â— have made you of my own adventures what has happen'd to my self and I
marry'd is never out of his Wive's Company and watches all her motions He talks of taking a journey to Valladolid shortly without me I will then justify myself and pay my debts This Billet which they kist a hundred times by the same token that they strove which shou'd out-do the other gave them fresh encouragement and made them easie enough for a few days But at last hearing no news from their cruel Mistresses they began after their old laudable custom to walk to and fro a hundred times a day before their Windows they pass'd whole nights in the street but cou'd not see a soul stir out of the house no more than if it had not been inhabited One day as these despairing Lovers happen'd to be at Church they had the good luck to see our young Bride come towards them Don Rodrigo kneel'd down by her under the nose of an old Gentleman Usher that had Squir'd her to Church He made his complaints to her in a few words she excus'd herself in like manner and at last told Don Rodrigo that her Husband was not to go to Valladolid altho he daily talk'd of it that she was â—mpatient to have a private conversation with him and that she only knew one way of bringing it about which wholly depended upon Don Pedro. My husband says she sleeps as sound as if he took Opium every night and we have not exchang'd a word with one another these four or five days by reason of a small quarrel between us which is not yet made up I had prevail'd with my Cousin Violanta to take my place but she 's unhappily sick and since none are privy to our love but she and Don Pedro and I wou'd not for all the world have it communicated to more youâ— must eâ—en get him if you think he loves you well enough to venture it to supply her room and go to bed to my Husband This attempt seems to be somewhat dangerous at first sight but if you consider that my good man and I are at odds as I have already told you and that he does not easily wake I don't question buâ— it will succeed to our expectation and this is all I can do for you This happy Love-Stratagem which Don Rodrigo so earnestly desir'd to know cool'd him in a minute when he heard it He not only doubted whether his Cousin wou'd take upon him to act this dangerous part but he likewise doubted whether he ought so much as propose it to him His Mistress continu'd inflexible in her resolution and as she took her leave of him she protested to him that in case the Proposal she had made him was not well received and executed in the manner she directed him he had nothing more to hope from her nay that she gave him full leave to banish her out of his remembrance altho at another time she wou'd as soon consent to her own death Neither the time nor place wou'd permit Don Rodrigo to talk any longer with his Mistress She went home and Don Rodrigo repair'd to his companion who cou'd not get a word out of him so much confounded he was at the unhappy Dilemma wherein he found himself either to make so unreasonable a request to his friend or to live without enjoying that happiness which is always more esteem'd before possession than after it At last shutting themselves up in their Chamber Don Rodrigo after he had for a whiâ—e refus'd to declare his grievance open'd the above-mention'd proposal to Don Pedro gilding the Pill as well as he bou'd to make it go down the better with him At first Don Pedro thought that he had a mind to banter him but his Cousin protesting the contrary in a very serious air and confirming it by so many Oaths that he cou'd no longer doubt of it he must needs turn the thing into raillery and told him he was exceedingly oblig'd to his Mistress for designing him such good fortune with so lovely a Bed-fellow and that it was undoubtedly the effect of Violanta's gratitude who not being in a condition to reward his services because she was sick and being prest to pay her debts turn'd it over to her Cousin's Husband with whom he shou'd certainly pass the night very agreeably He talk'd much to the same purpose and jested a long while sometimes well and sometimes but indifferently But Don Rodrigo was not in a humour to be merry and he appear'd so dejected and melancholy to his Cousin that he heartily pity'd him and was afraid that his despair wou'd carry him to some dangerous resolutions Don Pedro was bold in his temper a great lover of Intrigues and no man so ready as he to engage in any extravagant adventure he lov'd Don Rodrigo tenderly so that all this joyn'd together made him resolve to supply the room of the beautiful Virginia whatever her jealous Husband might do to him being therefore fully determin'd upon the matter he embrac'd his Cousin and put fresh life into him when he assur'd him that he wou'd hazard all that he might enjoy his beloved Mistress You will not added he be so much oblig'd to me as you think I consider it as an honourable action wherein I pretend to get as much reputation as if I shouâ—d signalize my self at a breach Word was sent to Virginia that her proposal was accepted she appointed that very evening to put it in execution The two Cousins went to her house and were introduc'd with as little noise as was possible Don Pedro was oblig'd by the fair Lady of the Enchanted Castle to undress himself before her being resolv'd that her orders shou'd not be transgress'd in the least Don Pedro having nothing on now but his shirt was conducted by her with all the care and circumspection imaginable to the fatal room and opening the Curtains the softly put the bold Don Pedro between the sheets who perhaps at that very moment repented for having gone so far and one may swear did not throw himself into the middle of the Bed She went away lock'd the Chamber door which put Don Pedro into cruel apprehensions and repaired to Don Rodrigo to whom I suppose she paid like a woman of honour all that she ow'd him or at least as much as he demanded of her In the mean time Don Pedro was in different circumstances from those of his Cousin who threw himself into the arms of his charming Mistress while our too charitable and adventurous Friend fear'd nothing so much as the embraces of a detestable man whom to his great sorrow he was like to find a very uncomfortable Bed-fellow He then began to consider but it was somewhat of the latest to what hazards his foolish rashness had carried him He blamed himself he called himself Fool a thousand times in his thoughts and was sensible that to transgress thus against any Husband was an unpardonable crime tho even he himself were to be judge These melancholy reflexions were disturbed and his just
reason to apprehend any of those ill offices which witty women are able to do their Husbands I have an estate continues he that is far from being contemptible and tho the woman I marry does not bring me a farthing provided she has been well educated and is not deform'd I shall make no scruple to choose her altho to deal ingenuously with you I wou'd much sooner choose a woman that is deform'd provided she is fool enough than one that is handsome and is not so You are certainly wrong in your notious replies the Dutchess but what do you mean by being well educated I mean a woman of vertue answered our Traveller And how is it possible for a Fool to be a woman of vertue cries the Dutchess if she neither knows what vertue is nor is capable of being taught it Besides how can a Fool love you that has not sense enough to know your merit She will trespass against her duty without knowing what she does whereas a woman of Wit altho she shou'd distâ—ust her honour will know how to avoid those occasionâ— where she may run any danger of losing it They argued along while Pro and Con upon this subject our Don maintaining that all the knowledge required in a woman was to love her Husband to be faithful to him and carefully look after her Family affairs and Children and the Dutchess endeavouring to convince him that a Fool was not capable of doing it nay that tho she was beautiful she wou'd certainly disgust him at last They gave one another several proofs of their Wit and the good opinion they had of one another soon improved into esteem nay and something better than that Our Spaniard did not only differ from the Duke in age wit and person but was one of the handsomest best-shaped men in the World and if he appeared as such to the Dutchess he thought her the loveliest woman he had ever beheld He was as bold as a Lyon and never found himself alone with a woman but he presented his service to her If she accepted it he did his best to acquit himself and if she took snuff at it he wou'd fall you down upon his Marrow-bones and calling himself the horridst Sinner in the world ask pardon so ingeniously and with so much Hypocrisy that the Lady must needs pardon his transgression or perhaps by way of atonement make him trangress again I cou'd never have imagined says he to the charming Dutchess that any one was able to make me throw up an opinion the truth of which so many experiments have confirmed to me but it was never yet opposed by so extraordinary a person as your self whose Soul without being beholden to her beauty which however is not to be matched in the Universe may acquire her as large an Empire as she pleases over all those that have wit enough to discover that she has a greater share of it than all her Sex put together You have cured me of an errour added he but you leave me troubled with an illness which is so much the more dangerous and hard to cure as I am pleased to have it and by suffering it gratify the noblest ambition that a mortal is capable of I cannot positively tell you how many other Hyperboles he shot against the Dutchesâ—es virtue and whether he did not speak abundance of pathetical impertinences for upon such occasions as this a man is most terribly given to be impertinent Neither do I know in what manner the Dutchess received a declaration of love which her Gallant delivered in due form I mean whether she seemed to like it by an answer suitable to the occasion or whether by answering nothing she made good the old Proverb Silence gives consent But this is certain that a Maid of hers who died of the Kings Evil in France often owned before several credible Gentlemen that the closet door was shut for some two hours upon them that they were together till Supper time and altho this Maid whom I suppose to have been an Andalusian had never told me this yet I know full well that opportunity makes a Thief The night came that favourable Goddess to stolen love but neither was Don Pedro nor the Dutchess the better for it for partly out of good manners and partly not to give the Servants an occasion to guess who generally guess beyond the truth to which they have a natural Antipathy they called for Candles which were almost eclipsed by the brighter eyes Heaven had bestowed upon the Dutchess and which at that moment twinkled prettier than any pair of Stars in the Firmament The vermillion of her Cheeks was double to what it used to be which made her appear brighter than the Sun on a fine Summers day to Don Pedro whose visage too was a little inclined to Scarlet Thus they merrily past away the time in exchanging glances with one another when a Servant came to acquaint the Dutchess that his Grace her Husband was below in the Court All that she cou'd do in this surprize was to shut up the thrice astonished Don Pedro in a large gilt cup-board where she kept her perfumed waters and putting the Key in her pocket to throw herself upon the Bed The Duke who was at least threescore years old came into his Wive's Closet and found her as gay and fresh as a Rose upon the stalk He told her that he had received a Letter from the King which obliged him to return sooner than he thought He was very hungry and ordered the Servants to bring whatever they had ready in the House into the same Closet and the Dutchess who had no great Stomach to eat while her Traveller perhaps wished himself ten foot under ground took a chair near the Table She was exceeding chearful and brisk and of a gayety that bestowed new youth upon her old Husband so much did it revive his Spirits It was a customary thing for her to lay extravagant wagers with him but especially when she wanted money which her good man took a pleasure to loose to her being perfectly charmed with so agreeable a Wife He never fancied her more beautiful than then she told him a hundred merry stories by the same token that our Duke had like to have choaked himself with laughing at 'em for eating heartily and laughing heartily at the same time a bit of meat happened to go down the wrong way but Heaven be praised it did him no harm At last the Dutchess who was of a humour to turn every thing into merriment had a mind to divert herself at the expence of her gallant in the Sweating-tub Says she to the Duke methinks it is a long while since we laid a wager last now I would fain lay a hundred Pistoles that I have occasion for upon the first subject that offers itself The Duke told her he was ready and that he wou'd leave it to her to propose any subject The Dutchess proposed several to him which
no reason the Boy got to the door and blinded by his passion ran directly to the Magistrates to inform against these three Hypocrites whom the world took for Saints Helen's diabolical Spirit misgave her what would happen so she advised Montafar to rub off with all the Gold they had in the house and retire to some place of security till this Tempest which threatned them had spent itself It was no sooner said but put in execution They carry'd off the most valuable things they had and walking down the Street as unconcern'd as if they dreaded nothing they went out at one gate and came in at another on purpose to lose the scent of their Pursuers Montafar had insinuated himself into the good graces of a Widow as vicious and as rank a Hypocrite as himself He had communicated this secret to Helen who was no more jealous of this Matron than Montafar would have been of a Gallant that would have promoted the good of their little Commonwealth Here they absconded in safety and lived luxuriously the Widow loving Montafar for his own sake and Helen for Montafar's In the mean time the Justice was conducted by the vindicative Valet to the fam'd Mansion of our pretended Saints When he came there he found the Birds were flown and the Maid was not able to inform him whither they were gone However he sealed up all their Trunks and took an exact Inventory of all that was in the House The Serjeants found more Provision in the Kitchen than would serve to regale them one day and you may be sure took care to lose nothing of what they might privately sink to their own use without being observed In the midst of this bustle the venerable Mendez entred the House little imagining what had happen'd The Serjeants apprehended her and carried her to prison with a vast concourse of people at her heels The Servant and Maid were likewise sent thither to bear her company and having talked too much as well as the old Matron they were condemn'd as well as she to receive two hundred lashes on the back Mendez died three days after this Chastisement it being somewhat of the severest for a person of her age and the Servant and Maid were banishâ—d Sevil for their lives Thus the foreseeing Helen preserv'd her dearly beloved Montafar and herself from the hands of the Magistrates who searâ—chd after them in vain both within and without the City The people were all asham'd to be so notoriously cheated and the Ballad-singers who had sung their praises the week before employâ—d their Hackney-Sonnetiers to expose these pretended Saints in lamentable Doggerel These Insects of Parnassus exhausted all their little Stock of scandal upon this subject and the wretched Rhymes they composâ—d against these godly Cheats who not long before were the Idols of the people are still sung in Sevil. Montafar and Helen took the Road to Madrid as soon as they could do it with safety and arrivâ—d there rich and in the circumstances of Husband and Wife The first thing they did was to enquire after Don Sancho de Villefagnan and finding that he was not in Madrid they appear'd in Publick he drest as fine as a Lord and she in the Equipage of a woman of quality and as beautiful as an Angel She was marry'd to Montafar as has been said above but it was upon this condition that like a Husband of good sense and great patience he should not take ill the visits of her beauty occasion'd her and she on the otherwise Promoters of a good intelligence between the two Sexes vulgarly call'd Bawds or to speak more honourably of them women of intrigue soon came acquainted with Helen and directed her how to manage herself One day they made her shew herself at the Play-house the next day in the Park and sometimes in the high Street of Madrid in her Coach where bestowing a glance upon one a smile upon another and giving hopes to all she soon furnish'd herself with a set of Lovers enough to man a Galley Her dear Husband religiousâ—y observ'd every Article of the Original Contract he encourag'd his Wife's bashful Gallants by his obliging behaviour and led them as it were by the hand to her Apartment where he was so courteous and discreet that he always pretended some extraordinary business or other call'd him out in order to leave them by themselves He scorn'd the acquaintance of any that were not rich and wou'd not spend their money freely and never knock'd at the door till he was assur'd by a certain Signal that always hung out of his window when his virtuous Spouse was taken up in private business that his presence wou'd spoil no sport and if the aforesaid Signal forbid his coming in he trooped off merry and well satisfy'd as knowing business went on in his absence and pass'd away an hour or so at some gaming Academy where every one caress'd him for his Wife's sake Among the rest that paid Tribute to Helen a certain Gentleman of Granada surpass'd all his Competitors in his excess of love and his expences He was descended of so good a Family that the Titles of his Nobility were to be found in the Archives of the Capital City of Iudea and those that were particularly acquainted with his pedigree have affirm'd that his Ancestors were the Hang-men of Ierusalem both before and after Caiphas His great affection to Helen made him release a great number of Pistoles ouâ— of an obscure Dungeon where he had imprison'd them for many years In a short time Helen's house was the best furnish'd of any in Madrid A Coach and Four that cost her nothing the keeping came punctually every morning to her door to receive her orders and waited on her where she pleas'd to command them till night This â—rodigal Lover took one of the side Boxes at the Play-house â—or her for a whole Twelvemonth and scarce a day pass'd over â—is head but he provided some magnificent collation for her â—â—nd her Friends at one of the Summer-houses near Madrid Montafar who lov'd his belly like a Church-man never â—all'd to make one of the number He went as fine as a â—rince had as much Money in his Pocket as a Clerk of the â—reasury eat like a French-man and drunk like a German â—e pay'd a wonderful deference to our Granada Gentleâ—an who was so liberal of his Money and indeed had naâ—rally an esteem for persons of that character But at â—st the wind veer'd about and rais'd a terrible storm Heâ—â—â—â— now and then us'd to receive visits from a young Swagâ—ring Spark one of those furious Heroes that never made Campaign in their lives tho they talk of nothing but slashâ—â—g and killing but live upon some wretched Harlot whom they insult at discretion who go every day to the Play-house to pick Pockets or make quarrels there and at night draw their Swords and hack them against some passive wall swearing next morning that they were engag'd
creature this beautiful creature was as much Conâ—â—n'd to see herself in her present circumstances in the â—wer of an unknown Gentlemen who seem'd not to be 〈◊〉 twenty five years old He was sensible of it and did 〈◊〉 that in him lay to perswade her that she had no reason to 〈◊〉 any ill usage from a man who should think himself 〈◊〉 to dye in her service In the mean time his Footâ—â—â— made a little Coal-fire for in Spain they use scarce any 〈◊〉 firing which by the by is none of the best in the world 〈◊〉 laid a pair of clean sheets or at least he ought to have 〈◊〉 them on his Master's Bed who wishing the Lady a 〈◊〉 night left her in possession of his Chamber which he able lock'd and went to lye under what pretence I can 〈◊〉 tell you because our History is here silent with a 〈◊〉 of his acquaintance that lodg'd in the same house slept in all probability much better than his Guest who at all night long The day appear'd Don Garcias arose drest himself as spruce as a Courtier for a Ball. He listâ—â—â— at his Chamber door and hearing the poor Lady still 〈◊〉 herself he made no difficulty to come in As soon 〈◊〉 saw him her grief attack'd her with new violence You see says she to him a woman who was yesterday the most esteem'd in Valladolid now infamous to the last degree and that more deserves to be pity'd than ever she did to be envy'd but let my misfortune be never so great the charitable protection you have so seasonably given me may still alleviate it in some measure if at night you will see me conducted in a Chair or Coach to a certain Convent I shall name to you But continu'd she after so many obligations ought I to beg the favour of you to step to my house and inform yourself what is said and done there and in short to know in what manner the Court and City talks of an unfortunate woman whom you have so generously protected Don Garcias offer'd to go where-ever she wou'd be pleas'd to command him with all the eagerness of a man who begins to be in love She gave him all the instructions that were necessary upon this occasion he took his leave of her promising to return immediately and the poor Lady fell a weeping and lamenting herself as violently as if she had begun but that very moment Don Garcias did not stay a full hour before he came back and finding his beautiful Guest as much afflicted as if she already knew that he had ill news to impart to her Madam says he to her if you are Eugenia the Wife of Don Sancho I have something to tell you which nearly concerns you Eugenia is not to be found Doâ— Sancho is in the hands of the Magistrate accus'd for the death of his Brother Don Lewis Sancho is innocent cries she I am the unfortunate Eugenia and Don Lewis was the most wicked of all men Her tears which trickled down a pace and her sighs which redoubled their violence woulâ— not give her leave to say any more and in all probability Don Garcias was not a little perplexed all this while 〈◊〉 put on a sorrowful air to keep her company At last â— violent things are never of long continuance Eugenis grief began to abate she wip'd her tears her sighs 〈◊〉 gentler than before and she reassum'd the discourse in 〈◊〉 following words 'T is not enough that you know 〈◊〉 name and quality of the unhappy Woman whom you haâ—â— so highly oblig'd in so short a time she is willing to 〈◊〉 quaint you with the particulars of her life and to testify 〈◊〉 some manner her gratitude to you by reposing this coâ—â—dence in you I am continu'd she descended from one 〈◊〉 the best Families of Valladoliâ—d I was born rich and 〈◊〉 beauty enough to make me proud of it with some 〈◊〉 The charms of my person brought me more Lovers 〈◊〉 those of my Fortune and the reputation of both togetâ—â—â— gave me adorers in the remotest Cities of Spain Among the rest who believ'd they should be happy in possessing me Don Sancho and Don Lewis two Brothers equally befriended by Fortune and Nature signaliz'd themselves by the excess of their passion and by the mutual emulation there was between them who should render me the most important services My Relations declar'd themselves in favour of Don Sancho who was the eldest and my inclination following their choice I gave up my self intirely to a man of above forty years old who by the sweetness of his temper and the extraordinary care he took to please me had made as great a progress in my affections as 't was possible for any person whose age had been better suited to my own The two Brothers notwithstanding they were Rivals had all along liv'd very amicably together and Don Sancho when he had marry'd me did not lose the Friendship of his Brother Don Lewis Their Houses were contiguous or properly speaking were but one house for â—he Wall that divided them had a door which by comâ—on consent was always left open Don Lewis did not â—orbear to pay the same devoirs to me before his Brother as 〈◊〉 had done while he was his Rival and Don Sancho whose â—ove encreas'd after possession and who lov'd me better â—an his life was not in the least offended at his Gallanâ—â—y He himself was us'd to call me the Mistress of his Broâ—â—er who on his side made a real love pass for a feign'd â—e with so much address that I was not the only person â—at was deceiv'd by it In short after he had accustom'd 〈◊〉 to hear him talk of his passion before company he â—oke to me of it in private with so much importunity â—d so little respect that I no longer doubted that his â—ssion was criminal As young as I was I had discretion â—ough to make him still think that I took his love to be onâ—meant in mirth I made a jest of what he spoke in earâ—t and though I was never more enrag'd than at that 〈◊〉 yet I forc'd my self as well as I could not to lose my â—inary temper He was provok'd at it instead of 〈◊〉 a right use of it and looking upon me with his eyes 〈◊〉 his wicked designs had made wild and staring No 〈◊〉 Madam says he to me I feign much less since I have 〈◊〉 you than I did when I had some hopes to possess you 〈◊〉 tho your rigour is great enough to deliver you soon â—n the importunities of your Lover yet you have so long â—â—stom'd me to suffer that you will do much better Never to be alone with you if I can help it said I interrupting him One of my women that came into my room at that time hindred him from carrying his insolence farther and me from shewing him my resentment of it as it deserv'd and I was going to do I was afterwards very glad that
herself against so many noble qualities nor was she willing to be any longer in his debt after she had received so many obligations from him In short she marry'd him Both Court and City approved her choice and that she might not have any reason to repent of it not long after it so happen'd that the King of Spain bestowed a Commandery of St Iago upon Don Garcias And before that happen'd it so happen'd that our Bridegroom convinc'd Eugenia the first night of his bedding her that he was another sort of a man than Don Sancho and she found in him what she had not found in the Portuguese Andrada They had abundance of Children because they took abundance of pains to get them and the people of Spain to this day tell their History which I have given you here for a true one as it was given me NOVEL V. The Generous Lover OR The Man of Deeds and not of Words UNder a King of Naples whose name I cannot tell however I suppose it might be Alphonso Leonard de St Severin Prince of Tarento was one of the greatest Lords of his Kingdom and one of the most celebrated Generals of his time He died and left the Principality of Tarento to his Daughter Mathilda a young Princess about seventeen years old as beautiful as an Angel and as good condition'd as she was beautiful but so extremely good condition'd that those that did not know she had an infinite deal of wit would have been apt to call it in question Her Father long before his death had promis'd her in marriage to Prosper Prince of Salerno This latter was a man of a haughty disagreeable temper and the sweet and gentle Mathilda by virtue of being long accustomed to bear with him was so well prepared to love and fear him that never did Slave depend more upon the imperious will of his Master than this young Princess did upon that of old Prosper I think a man at the age of forty-five may very well be call'd old when he is mention'd with one so young as Mathilda Her affection to this superannuated Lover may be said to proceed rather from custom than inclination and was as sincere as his was interressed Not but that he was as fond of her too as 't was as possible for him to be and this was no more than what any man would have done as well as himself for indeed she was all amiable but 't was not in the nature of the beast I beg his pardon but 't is out to love very much and he rather esteem'd a Mistress for her dirty acres and unrighteous Mammon than for her merit and beauty The truth is he made love but awkwardly however he was so happy or to express my self more properly she was so easy to be pleased that altho he did not pay her half the respect and complaisance which one might expect from a generous Lover yet for all that he was absolute master of her heart and had brought her to such a pass as to submit to all his ill conditions He found fault with all her actions and plagued her incessantly with those musty advices that old men in their great wisdom so often inculcate to the young and the other so little care for In short he would have been a greater thorn in her side than a peevish malicious Governante if he could have found out any faults in her conduct It is true that when he was in a good humour he would tell her stories of the old Court play on his Guitarre and dance a Saraband before her I have already told you his age but to go on with his Character He was spruce in his Person and Cloaths curious in his Pertiwigs an infallible sign that his hair was none of the best he took mighty care of his Teeth tho time began to play tricks with them he valued himself upon his Lilly-white hands and suffer'd the Nail of his left little Finger to grow to a prodigious length by the same token he thought it one of the prettiest sights in the world He was nice to admiration in his Feathers and Ribbonds punctually twisted up his Mustachio's every night was always perfum'd and always carry'd some tid bit in his pocket to eat and some Verses to read As for himself he was an execrable versifyer was a walking Magazine of all the new Songs play'd upon most Instruments perform'd his Exercises with a grace but his chief Talent was Dancing He lov'd the wits that ask'd him nothing had perform'd some actions in his time that were brave and some that were otherwise and as one might say he had two Buzzards to one Hawk or if you please two Blanks to one Benefit In short I may properly apply to him a burlesque Song of my own making the latter part of which is almost worn into a Proverb SONG HEre lies a sine wight That cou'd sing you at sight And dance like a sprite And verses indite And bravely recite What 's more he cou'd fight I swear by this light Like Fury or Knight He knew what was what Cou'd gallop and trot And toss off his Pot And swear at the Shot Yet with all he had got It was the hard lot Of this boaster God wot To be a damn'd sot With all these fine qualities one of the loveliest Princesses in the world was desperately in love with him 'T is true indeed she was but seventeen years old but our Noble Prince of Salermo did not stand much upon that There is no doubt but the Princess Mathilda being so rich and beautiful as she was would have had a hundred Gallants more if it had not been universally believed in Naples that her Marriage with Prosper was as good as concluded in her Father's time or if that Prince's quality had not discouraged other pretenders who tho they wanted his Title were men of fortune and birth good enough to be his Rivals Thus the greatest part of these Lovers either govern'd by a principle of fear or discretion were content to sigh for her in private without daring to speak Hippolito was the only man that had the courage to own himself in publick the Rival of Prosper and the respective Lover of Mathilda He was descended from one of the best Families in Spain and came in a direct line from the great Ruis Lopezâ—dâ— Avalos Constable of Castile who was so remarkable an instance of the inconstancy of fortune since from the richest and most powerful Grandee of his own Country he was turned out of it poor and miserable forced to borrow money of his Friends and fly to the King of Arragon who took him into his own protection and gave him a fortune sufficient at Naples to support him according to his quality This Hippolito was one of the most accomplish'd Cavaliers of his time His valour had gain'd him reputation in several parts of Europe and all the world own'd him to be a man of the nicest honour As I
and your affairs for a long time seem'd to be in a desperate condition Then you cou'd condescend to make some advances towards me in order to bring me back to you again but this was only a copy of your countenance since you still preserv'd your Hippolito Your Politicks I confess were not amiss You drain'd this poor despicable Gallant while he had a drop to part with flattering your self that after you had exhausted him to all intents and purposes you should do me an extraordinary favour to take me in his room and you made account that although you should lose Tarento at your Trial yet your Beauty would make you Princess of Salerno when ever you pleas'd But no sooner did a favourable Decree revive your hopes but you chang'd your Maxim of State with your Maxim of Love You thought that a young ruin'd Prodigal would better fit your turn than me and consider'd that if you married the Prince of Salerno you must expect to live with a Master authoriz'd by Custom and the Laws whereas you would find in Hippolito a supple Slave that would make it all his business to please you Imprudent Princess continued he durst such a poor needy wretch as Hippolito pretend to make love to a Woman of your Quality unless she gave him encouragement and can any one believe that for bare hopes only he would have put himself to such an expence that he 's utterly beggar'd and so foolishly too that he enrich'd with one single Present the Man that came from you to bring him the news that you had gain'd your cause Yet after all these Testimonies I have of your indiscretion and infidelity you are vain enough to believe that I love you never the worse for them Be happy if you can with your Hippolito but delude your self no longer that I will be unhappy with Mathilda He would have left her after he had spoke these words but the Princess still kept her hold and once in her life had the courage to contradict him Ungrateful Prince said she to him one of the greatest proofs I can give thee that I yet love thee is not to hate thee after thou hast said so many disobliging things to me They rather make against thee than me and I cannot employ them better to thy confusion and my own advantage than by confessing that they are true Yes continued she Hippolito has lov'd me Hippolito to serve me neither fear'd the hatred of a Favorite nor the indignation of a King he respects me he does every thing to please me He would have protected me when I was abandon'd by all the world nay he has done more for he has ruin'd himself for my sake What didst thou ever do like this Thou wilt tell me that thou lovest me how love me and not show common civility to me thou who ought'st to have shewn it to my Sex altho' it was not due to my Quality And yet what ill-condition'd Master ever treated a Slave more unworthily than thou hast treated me and who would have thus trampl'd on a person who loves thee so well as I do No no Prince thou hast no reason to complain and thou art oblig'd to me that I don't But I will go farther than this I will own if thou wilt have me Crimes that I never committed I will never see Hippolito more nay I will be ungrateful to him that thou mayst not be so to me In fine to regain thy Heart there is nothing so difficult but I will put it in execution And there is nothing impossible to those bright eyes says the Prince to her adjusting his Perriwig They have disarm'd me of all my anger and provided they always keep their favourable glances for me the too happy Prosper will never adore any one but the beautiful Mathilda The amorous Princess thought herself more than paid with these few Compliments of her old Gallant In a less publick place perhaps she would have thrown herself at his Feet to thank him for this mighty condescension but neither time nor place would give her leave to answer him The King came out of his Chamber She begg'd of Prosper to stand by her when she spoke to him but he shrinking away from her told her that it was not convenient for them to be seen together for some reasons that he could tell her She perceived well enough that he was afraid of making his Court ill but she was so near the King that she had not time to reproach Prosper with being a better Courtier than a Lover She presented herself to the King paid her respects to him and made her compliment of thanks The King receiv'd her very coldly and his answer was so ambiguous that it might be interpreted as well to her disadvantage as otherwise But the sweet things that Prosper had said to her gave her such satisfaction that his last ingratitude in refusing to introduce her to the King made no impression upon her mind no more than the ill reception his Majesty gave her so much transported she was to be reconcil'd to her imperious Lover That day she was visited by all the Ladies of Quality in Naples who agreed to go a hunting the next morning a Horseback in a Campaign dress and Caps set off with Feathers The greatest Gallants at Court were there so we may easily imagine that the Prince of Salerno who was Gallantry it self made one of the Company This was not all he resolv'd to make the Princess a Present which he had never done before He sent her a most passionate Letter attended with a fine Cap but to tell the truth he himself sorted and order'd the Feathers by the same token that there was not one new Feather amongst them As I take it I have already observ'd that he had an admirable fancy at Feathers This was the only Vanity on which he would lay out any Money tho' to do him justice he husbanded his Plumes to a miracle for he would often diversify them transplanting them from one Cap to another and as old as they were knew how to make them appear fresh and new upon occasion as well as if he had serv'd seven Years Apprenticeship to the Trade I am willing to believe that he sat up the best part of the night to put it in order that nothing might be wanting to so magnificent a Present The Princess receiv'd it as if it had been sent her from Heaven gave him a hundred more thanks than it deserv'd and promis'd him in a Letter she sent in answer to his that she would honour herself with this miraculous Cap as long as she liv'd I will not tell you what sport they had in the Chase because the particulars never arriv'd to my knowledge But we may reasonably suppose that some of their Horses founder'd that the Cavaliers were so well-bred as to wait upon the Ladies that Prosper display'd all his Gallantry and that he engross'd the whole talk to himself being the
permission for so doing who granted it upon condition that she should leave it that very night She went out of it in disguiseâ— and so secretly that with all the search and enquiry Hippolito cou'd make he could not meet the least information which way she was gone However he resolv'd to follow her just as chance directed him rather than sit still at home and make no enquiry after her While he was in quest of her or at least fancied he was she thought no more of him and Prosper thought no more of her He represented her as a Criminal of State made his Court very regularly to the King and his Favourite and as the generality of Mankind use to alter their Measures with the time he made love to Camilla Roger's Sister and begg'd of the King to help on the Marriage The King who look'd upon it as an advantagious Match for the Sister of his Confident whom he lov'd the best of any Subject in his Dominions spoke about it to his Favourite who always likes that which his Master likes This Sister of Roger was one of the most beautiful Ladies of Naples and tho' she shar'd in her Brother 's good Fortune yet she had no hand in his wicked designs As she was look'd upon at Court to be the best Match in the Kingdom she look'd upon Hippolito to be the compleatest Gentleman of his time and perhaps lov'd him or at least would have lov'd him if she had not beheld him so passionately in love with another She took Mathilda's misfortune so to heart and was so generous in her temper that if she had in the least suspected that it was all owing to her Brother she would most undoubtedly have reproach'd him with so black an action and been one of the first to exclaim against it She was so afflicted at Hippolito's late loss that not valuing what the World would say of her she went to find him at his Habitation that was burnt down to the ground to offer him Money or whatever he wanted that lay in her power She met with his Sister there who little expected such a visit much less to be invited to take up her Quarters at Camilla's House This beautiful Lady could not refuse so obliging an offer and went with her to Naples What better course could a young person of her Sex and condition take who found herself without a Farthing to relieve her without a House to cover her without hopes of mending her Fortune in a Country too where she scarce knew any one but her Brother who was as good as lost to her since as soon as he was inform'd that Mathilda had left Naples he ran in quest of her like a Mad-man without knowing whether she was gone That day on which Camilla went to find Irene at her Brotherâ—s House with a design to carry her home with her the King was pleas'd to honour her with a visit and presented to her our gallant Prince of Salerno and all his Gallantry Camilla who had Hippolito always in her thoughts receiv'd Prosper's Compliments with as much indifference as she express'd thankfulness to the King for condescending to see her The sorrowful Irene bore her company and under all her affliction appear'd so charming to the eyes of the young King that he fell in love with her His Love was violent in its very infancy He approached her with as much respect and awe as if she had been in his condition and he in hers He said a thousand fine things to her upon her beauty and this lovely young Lady who demean'd herself neither with too much haughâ—ness nor submission discover'd at once so much wit prudence and modesty that he consider'd her from that very moment as the only happiness that was wanting to his fortune He stay'd at Camilla's house as long as possible he cou'd and the pleasure he took in conversing with Irene was so much the more taken notice of as the young King had alwâ—ys seem'd insensible to love and behaved himself with great coldness towards all the most celebrated beauties of Naples Irene was so charming that it was impossible for a man tho never so little inclin'd to Love and never so uncapable to judge of her merit to avoid falling in love with her Camilla before she knew her intended to serve her for her Brothers sake but no sooner came she acquainted with her but she lovâ—d her for her own She easily believ'd that the King was in love with her because she desir'd it and far from envying her good fortune as any other handsom Lady but herself wou'd have done she rejoyc'd at it exceedingly She congratulated Irene upon so important a Conquest and had without question flatter'd the vanity and hopes of any Lady less presuming than her But this modest Damosell cou'd not be perswaded but that the King was more a Gallant than a Lover that he had no other design but only to divert himself and that he wou'd think no more of her when he was out of her sight But she was mistaken it was not long before the King came again to her to acquaint her with his passion which was so impetuous that it wou'd not suffer him to be longer without seeing her than that very evening after he fell in love with her He told the Prince of Salerno that he was resolv'd to go incognito after the Spanish mode to make love to Irene under Camilla's Balcony Prosper was mightily pleas'd to be made the confident of his Master's Pleasures and accompany him in an amorous Adventure In all probability Roger had been chosen for this affair or at least had bore his share in it but that very day he had taken his leave of the King to go to Tarento whither some important business callâ—d him The Night came and the King accompanied by Prosper who was armed like himself after the Italian manner that is to say with more offensive Arms than a single man can be supposâ—d to want came under Camilla's Balcony who had been before hand acquainted with his coming by Prosper She knew the method and good breeding of the Court too well not to leave the King at liberty to entertain himself with his Mistriss in private For this reason she retir'd to another Balcony notwithstanding all the intreaties of Irene to stay with her The King reproach'd this young Lady for her uneasiness to be alone with him and told her that she â—ow'd at least some complaisance to a King who had for her something above it I should owe all to your Majesty reply'd Irene if I did not likewise owe something to my self which I cannot owe to any one else And what do you owe to your self says the King which you do not owe to my Love Why not to believe that you have any for me answers Irene Alas cries the King sighing there is nothing so sure and there is nothing I would not willingly do to hinder you from doubting it If I
Or Gamester that loses and has not a Rag on The Spirit of Versifying being spent I return to my Prose to tell you that I am Madam Your most humble Servant Scarron LETTER IV. To Monsieur Sarrazin YOU must certainly have little or no Business upon your hands in your Kingdom of Bourdeaux since you can condescend to Write to such a mean Fellow as I am or else Madam de Viger has got entire Possession of your Heart and Soul since you could put your self to the Expence of so many Lines to let me know what famous Exploits she has perform'd in Peace and War For my part if she is so handsome as you tell me she is I must freely own to you that I would much rather break my Leg than have known her when I was able enough to lead up a Country-Dance and I would advise you dear Friend of mine not to meddle there since you have not much time to lose But after all is not this Miracle of Beauty purely fram'd in your own Imagination For you tell me such strangeâ— Stories of her that I protest I should not believe 'em but that I know you too well to think you would say so many fine things for nothing Till you thought fit to undeceive us 't was an Article of Faith with us at Paris that nothing at Bourdeaux was capable to inspire Love but M. Guyonet Whose Smiling Looks and Charming Air The Hearts of ev'ry Nymph ensnare But since we have read your Letter we easily believe that if Madam de Viger makes a right use of her Charms she will at least make as many Slaves as Guyonet has made unhappy Damosels and will abundantly revenge her self upon the poor Men for all those Ravages which that dangerous Hero of Bourdeaux has made on her own Sex But tell me dear Friend of mine fairly and honestly tell me are you not afraid to make one of those Slaves you that pretend to be such a Servant to Love As for me were I now what you tell me you are Qualis eram bonae Sub regno Cinarae And were at this present Writing upon the Banks of the Garonne where she makes so many Flowers spring under her Feet it would let me see it would at least cost me two or three Thousand Inquietudes seven or eight Hundred Jealousies the Devil and all of restless Nights and uneasie Days and numberless Tuns of Tears for you must know I have as good a hand at Crying as any Man in the World nay even as your self tho' you can cry like any Priest in a Lent-Sermon But to return to Madam de Viger 't is a thousand pities that she is Wiser than Solomon to my knowledge there are abundance of Men in the World that would be content with all their hearts to be as great Fools for her as the Queen of Sheba was for the aforesaid King of Ierusalem For instance your humble Servant who does not pretend to be so Wise as the Son of Bersheba as she it seems tells you I am tho' for my part I think her ten times more Amiable than the Queen of Sheba would immediately ride Post to Bourdeaux to see her if I went to Bareges as I design'd but a confounded Planet that breaks all my Measures will force me in my own Defence to set sail for America within this Month. What fortifies me in this Resolution is that we are eternally plagu'd here in Town with a New Crop of Sots who call themselves Platonists forsooth and are perpetually plaguing us with their damn'd airy Doctrines Theyâ— no longer trouble their heads to enquire whether a Man is a Man of Honour or Worth and so forth but whether he is a Wit of the new Stamp and can talk Platonically I don't doubt but we should soon see these Platonick Rogues hooted out of the World but some of the most considerable among them give out that they are countenanc'd by a certain great Princess whose Wit in truth is equal to her high Rank otherwise these refin'd Platonists with a Pox to them had been hiss'd off the Stage long ago Thus my most Witty Frienâ— I have laid before you my Reasons why I am resolv'd to go to the West-Indies I have been tempted too for a Thousand Crowns to enter my self in our New West-India Company which is going to settle a Colony within 3 Degâ— of the Line upon the Banks of the Lorillaine and the Lorenoque So adieu France adieu Paris adieu ye She-Devils in the Shape of Angels adieu ye Menages ye Sarrazins and ye Marignies I take my leave of Burlesque Verse of Comedies and Comical Romances to go to a Happy Climate where there are no Affected Beaus no Godly Canting Rascals no Inquisition no Rheumatisms to Cripple and no confounded Wars to Starve me LETTER V. To Madam de Sevigny I Have liv'd the most Regular Life in the World and have taken as much Care of my self as a dying Pope and all in Obedience to the Commands you were pleas'd to lay upon me not to Die till you had seen me But Madam with all my Care and Caution I find my self a Dying out of the impatient desire I have to see you If you had better consider'd your own Strength and mine you would never have put me upon so unrighteous a Task You Ladies forsooth with your Charms and other Merits imagine that you have nothing to do but Command and carry all before you but we poor Wretches forsooth cannot dispose of our Lives just as you would have us In my Opinion now you may content your selves to kill those Gentlemen that see you sooner than they desire without obliging those to Live who are depriv'd of your Sight as long as you desire it You may e'en thank your self if I cannot Obey this first Command of yours since you have hastned my Death though one would have thought that to please your Ladyship I should have had as good a Stomach to live a Hundred Years as any Man else But Madam can you not change me this kind of Death for if you cou'd you 'd infinitely oblige me These foolish Deaths that come from Love and Impatience are by no means proper for one of my Age much less are they things I have a fancy for and if I have Wept a hundred times in my life for those unhappy Gentlemen that dy'd of these Distempers pray consider how lamentably I shall bewail my self who take it for granted that I shall die this pretty Death But 't is impossible for a Man to avoid his Destiny and whether I had been your Neighbour or liv'd a thousand Miles from you 't is all one for I am fated to receive my Deaths Wound from you What comforts me is that if I had seen you my Death had been ten times more cruel than now it is like to be I am inform'd on all hands that you are a very Dangerous Person and that those who look upon you without due Care grow
in the following Chapter CHAP. II. Where you 'll find Ragotin's Design THE Criers of Aqua Vitae had not yet wak'd those that were in a profound sleep when Ragotin being already drest was going to propose to the Strolling Company his Inclinations to be admitted amongst them He went then to the Players Lodgings whom he found neither up nor awake and happen'd to have the Discretion to leave them as he found them Nevertheless he could not help entering one Chamber where he found Olive abed with Rancour This last he desired to get up and walk with him to la Cousture a fine Abby in the Suburbs of the same Name and thence to go to Breakfast at the great golden Star where he had order'd a Collation to be prepared for them Rancour who was one of those who love to eat at other Mens costs was almost assoon got ready as the proposition was made him and which you may be easily enclin'd to believe if you consider that these sort of People are accustom'd to dress and undress behind the Scenes to Act different Parts which will admit of but little delay Ragotin and Rancour then march'd on towards the Abby of la Cousture but we must suppose that they called at some Church by the way to say a short Prayer for Ragotin's Thoughts that he had in his Head would not admit of a long one He nevertheless acquainted Rancour with nothing of the matter for fear it might have kept him from his Breakfast which he knew he had a greater Inclination for than to give Ear to any thing he could tell 〈◊〉 They came to the Inn where being enter'd the little Man 〈◊〉 to fly in a great Passion because the petits pâtéz he had order'd were not yet got ready To which the Hostess answer'd without rising off from the seat where she sat Truly Monsieur Ragotin I know not how you could expect that I should divine when you would come but since you are now here the Pâtéz shall not be long after you Pray walk into the Hall where you 'll find a Cloth laid and a Westphalia Ham to stay your Stomach This she spoke after a grave Hostess-like manner and which inclined Rancour to be on her side who turning to Ragotin cry'd Sir pray let us comply with my Hostesses Proposal and take a Glass or two while our Breakfast is getting ready They sat down to Table which in a very short time after was cover'd and they Breakfasted after the Mode of Mans that is to say very heartily They Drank the same and put about several Healths among which the Reader may imagine Madam Stars was not forgot Little Ragotin tost up above a dozen Glasses successfully sometimes sitting and sometimes standing with his Hat in his Hand But at last he would needs drink his Mistresses Health on his Knees and bare-headed which made him to look just for all the World as if he had been doing Penance at the Door of some Church It was then that he earnestly reminded Rancour of his Promise to assist him in the Conquest of Madam Star's Heart Whereupon Rancour half angry or at least feigning to be so answered him a little roughly I thought Monsieur Ragotin you had known that I was a Man that never embark'd without Ammunition I mean engaged in any thing that I were not able to bring about Be satisfied I will omit no Opportunity to serve you I tell you so again and have ways in my Head whereby to compass it But I see one great Obstacle in our way and that is our sudden departure from hence the only method therefore that I can advise you in to bring about your Ends is to be resolv'd to be admitted amongst us You have all the Qualifications for it that can be desired You have a good Mien a strong Voice a good Tone and a better Memory and in a Word you seem to have nothing about you that looks Country You appear to have lived all your Life time at Court having so much the Air of it that you might be known for a Courtier above a Mile off You need not proceeded he to Act above a dozen times before you 'll be able to out-start all our young Pretenders who must resign up the chief Parts to you and then leave the rest to me As for the present quoth he you 'll have but a tough bit of her you must manage her with Policy wherewith I know you to have sufficient but however a little Instruction may not be amiss I would advise you therefore not to let her know your design at your first entrance into our Company for that would certainly be the way to lose her but rather to keep her in suspence till you have a convenient opportunity to make your Addresses and after you have sufficiently won upon her by your Conversation which I dare promise you 'll soon do The little Man had been so attentive to Rancour's discourse that he was almost ravish'd into an Extasy imagining that he had already as we say the Wolf by the Ears when coming to himself all of a sudden as it were out of an Apoplexy he started from the place where he sat and went to the other side of the Table to embrace Rancour whom he thanked heartily for his Councel and begged of him to continue his Friend in this Affair protesting at the same time that his only Design in inviting him to Breakfast was to have declared his Mind to him concerning his being admitted of his Society and which he resolv'd forthwith to be After this they reckon'd with their Landlady and Ragotin paid all When they were out of Doors they took their course directly towards the Scrollers Lodgings which was not far off from where they had been They found the Women up and drest but Rancour had no sooner open'd Rogotin's design to them than he was interrupted by a Messenger from Leander's Father who sent his Son Word by him that he was Sick to Death and desired to see him before he paid that Debt to Nature which all Men must This obliged all the Company to lay their Heads together and consult how they should bear against an Accident so unexpected Leander took Angelica aside and told her that his time was now come to live Happy if she would but contribute towards it otherwise he must be unfortunate tho' Rich and Poor tho' he had a good Income She promised him all the Favours that lay in her Power and particularly those you will meet with in the next Chapter CHAP. III. Leander's Project and Harangue together with Ragotin's Admission among the Strollers THE Jesuites of la Fleche not having been able to make Leander continue his Studys and perceiving his Inclinations ran high to be a Player presently concluded that he must be in Love with some Actress or other and which they were altogether confirm'd in when after the departure of the Company they found he had followed them to Anvers
They therefore thought themselves oblig'd to acquaint his Father therewith by a Messenger on purpose which they soon after did and who arrived just as a Letter was delivered the old Gentleman from Leander whereby he gave his Father to understand that he design'd for the Wars and therefore desired a sum of Money to accoutre himself This Stratagem had been laid between Destiny and him when he first discovered his Quality to him at the Inn where he was Wounded His Father soon discovering the Cheat flew into an excessive Passion which together with his great Age threw him into a Distemper that quickly concluded his Life Perceiving his end to approach he called one of his Tenants to him and commanded him immediately to go find out his Son which he told him he was most likely to do among the Strollers This the Farmer knew as well as he having been the Man that had furnish'd Leander with Money from the time that he had left the College so that understanding that there was a Company of Strollers at Mans he made all the haste he could thither and found his young Landlord as you have heard in the foregoing Chapter Ragotin was desir'd by the Company to leave them for some time to confer with the Tenant newly arriv'd which you may imagine he was very unwilling to do yet at last he retired into an adjoining Chamber where he waited with great impatience till their Business was over They had no sooner got him out of the Room but Leander brought in his Father's Tenant who immediately related the bad Condition the old Gentleman was in as likewise his earnest desire to see his Son before he died Thereupon Leander immediately craved leave to comply with his Father's dying Request which was judg'd reasonable to be granted by the whole Company It was then that Destiny revealed the Secret of Leanders Quality which he had all along kept private and which he did not come to the knowledge of till after the ravishing of Madam Angelica as you may have read in the Second Part of this true History He thought it now high time to let it be known as well to disabuse Mrs. Cave who could not get it out of her Head but that Leander was either the Principal or Accessory in the carrying off her Daughter as to oblige him who had done him the Honour to be his Serving-Man and would have continu'd so had he not found himself oblig'd to tell who he was while he was in quest of Madam Angelica He was moreover so far from consenting to the carrying away of Angelica that having met with her Ravishers he had hazarded his Life in her Assistance but that not having been able to resist so many People he had been dangerously Wounded and left for dead upon the place All the Company then immediately asked his Pardon for not having treated him according to his Quality which they thought themselves the more excusable for by not having any knowledge of the Matter Madam Star added farther that she had always suspected something from the great store of Wit and Merit she had observ'd in him and which she was afterwards confirm'd in especially when she saw her Mother Mrs. Caves Letters from him nevertheless she did not know what to think when she saw him so employ'd in her Brothers Service Then began Mrs. Cave to speak Addressing her self to Leander after the following manner Truly Sir after I had in some measure discover'd your Quality by the Letters you writ to my Daughter I had no small reason to distrust your Sincerity being not enclinable to believe that a Person who was to have so good an Estate after his Fathers death would ever condeshend to marry a poor Stroller But continued she I thank God the time is at length come that you are to be made happy in plentiful Possessions and I am to be deliver'd from a future possibility of being any more impos'd upon by your false Pretentions Leander being extremely surpriz'd at these Words quickly reply'd All that you say Madam I am likely to possess would not render me a jot happy if I were not assur'd at the same time of the Possession of your Daughter Angelica Without her I renounce all the Fortune which Nature and my Father's Death shall cast upon me and I declare to you before all this good Company that I go with so much willingness to enter upon my Succession upon no greater account than to return speedily to perform my Promise to Marry your Daughter which I here once more confirm and will speedily accomplish providing both she and you will do me the Honour to afford your Consents And if so added he I would not have you to think that I design to carry her to my own Home that is not at all in my Intentions for I have found so much Pleasure in a Strolling Life that I could never be perswaded to quit so many worthy Companions that have so largely contributed towards it After this obliging Declaration both the Actors and Actresses speaking altogether return'd him their most humble Acknowledgments averring at the same time that Mrs. Cave and her Daughter would not be a little to blame if they refused so advantageous a proffer Angelica for her part said no more than became one that was at her Mother's disposal only she bid Leander at parting to Hope if he continued in the same mind at his return After all the mutual Endearments and Tears that commonly pass between parting Friends it was agreed that Leander should go the next Morning upon one of the Horses that had been hired but which he refused chusing rather that of his Tenant which he thought would carry him better and would leave the Hackny for his Companion But we forget all this while quoth Destiny that Monsieur Ragotin is waiting without to speak with us Is there none among us added he that knows what he would have Hereupon Rancour who had been silent for some time open'd his Mouth to let them know that he knew and that that very Morning he had treated him with a Breakfast to procure himself an opportunity to acquaint him that he had a mind to be admitted of the Company without pretending to any share in the Profits having sufficient of his own and which he would rather chuse to spend in seeing the World than to live altogether at Mans as he had been advised to do Hereat Roquebrune presently advanced to give his Opinion that he ought not to be admitted and that for these Reasons Because said he two Poets under one Roof never agree it being with them as with Women where there are more than one there are too many Besides quoth he Ragotin ' s shape would never suffer him to be an Ornament to the Stage but would rather disgrace it For added he What Parts could he propose to Act As for the principal ones Monsieur Destiny would not permit him to undertake them and for the second best