truth I did not know whether Alonso mocked me or no. In fine after a long suspension of minde the apprehensions of hate gave place to those of love and as I went to demand her pardon for my errour there came into the chamber the servant that came to seeke me from her â—ccompanied with Feliciane her first confident who â—ame running at the clamour of Teodore thinking that I would take away the life of her that had ravished from me my liberty and seeing me yet have the ponyard in my hand which glissened by the light of the candle they fled crying murder and for help I went after them to stay them and upon the staires I met lascivious Eufemie coming up with a torch in her hand to know from whence proceeded this great disorder For me I confesse that when I knew her my whole body begun to tremble being ready to discharge it self of the heavy burden of my affront but as soone as she saw me with the ponyard in my hand feare of death so violently transported her that she cast her selfe out of a window of the staires which looked into the Court I was very glad to see her resolution thinking that in saving her selfe from my rigour she would chastise her selfe but it happened otherwise I put my head out of the window thinking to have seen her broken to pieces upon the pavement and I saw her in the armes of Don Pedro he who had debauched her who happened to be directly under the window at the instant of her fall he saved her in receiving her into his armes for he was strong and the window not very high I ran hastily to take the occasion that was offered me to be revenged of them both in the same time and ponyard them both together but the two servants had shut the doore of the stairs which entred into the court Seeing then so many obstacles to the execution of my design choler so violently surmounted me that I went up the staires to cast my selfe out of the same window I did it as soone as thought it but my fall was not so happy as that of Eufemie I hurt so extreamely one of my legges that when J would have gone to have ruined my enemies it was impossible for me to goe which gave them leisure to save themselves Teodore altogether confused with this prodigious rumour got quickly to her lodging wherein she entered without wakening her father J doubt not Gentlemen but that you desire to know by what accident Teoddre came into this place but J will tell you the reason thereof Eufemy was lodged neare her house and Teodore knowing the life which she led determined to be acquainted with her by the intermission of Feliciane who went to make complements to her from her in the quality of a neighbour At the end of some few dayes she demanded permission of her Father for her Mother was deceased to goe see one of her cosens that was sick The good man seeing his daughter excited with so charitable a desire gave her leave upon condition that Feliciane should accompany her for he confided in her and thought the Chastity of Teodore in great safeguard with her They went abroad together made some turnes in the streets and stayed under a doore where they disguised themselves as well as they could for feare of being known and so entered into the house of Eufemie She seeing Teodore at her house was ravished with that honour as they are ordinarily who meddle with the trade she did when other women come to visite them Eufemy imbraced her a thousand times transported with joy and admiration and after many faire words given and received of one and the other Eufemie prayed Teodore to tell her wherefore she had taken the pains to visit her Then without suffering her selfe to be much entreated she â—ngeniously declared to her that she had made choice of her lodging to satisfie an extreame passion that she loved a Cavalier which shee was a going to send for and for that purpose she prayed her to lend her a chamber for a little time that passing for a Courtizan she might without being known content her amorous desires Consider a little how this Gentlewoman prostituted her honour to adhere to her sensual fantasies but what is it that a woman animated with love wil not prove to make easie the things that seem to her impossible let us now return to the house of Eufemie to see what happened there after the hurt which I had received in leaping out of the window Her servant which fled away seeing mee with the Ponyard in my hand went in a fright to fetch a Justice who being arrived made me be carryed to prison without any formalitie in a chaire Before that this officer was entered into the house the Pregnotory had received the depositions of two witnesses who said that I had given to a woman three great stabs with a Ponyard and that they had seen the wounds The vulgar are such lyars that they affirme to have seen that they onely dream'd of and hold for truth what they have heard say as if they had seen it They would then know in what estate the hurt person was but they found nothing but witnesses of my justification neverthelesse I remained three weekes a prisoner Doe but see a little how rigorously the innocents are handled by those people they call Justices In the mean while Eufemie her protector changed either the country or quarter but if they were in Madrid they were well hid for in six moneths that I stayed there it was impossible for me to hear news of them what diligence soever I could use As long as my captivity lasted Teodore sent often Feliciane to see me and to offer me assistance and mony but not having need neither of the one nor other both because of my justification and not being in want I thanked her remaining alwaies extreamly obliged to her good will and indebted to her affection whereof she rendered me sufficient proofes during my imprisonment If my body was set at libertv my soule was enchained the beauty of Teodore captivated all my powers my understanding understood nothing but of her my memory had no other image my will walked not but by the shadow of hers She simpathized to all my feelings I failed not to be every night at the foote of her walls and she never wanted to be at her window I lived not but by her presence nor her heart was ever at ease but when she saw me One night when I went to prattle with her and give nourishment to my flames her father surprised her which was the cause that the window was walled up and that this Sun was long time eclipsed from me After having suffered much for her absence I had a Packet brought to me from the Poste wherein was a Letter directed to the Father of Teodore I presently imagined that this was not done without mystery in this thought
be very ingrate if I should not give you the satisfaction you desire And for to avoyd this shamefull reproach I had rather in discovering my secrets to you hazard my selfe to be accounted light then to be thought to undervalue the amity which you have testified unto me in concealing them And letting go a sigh that seemed to come from the center of his heart he said THE HISTORIE OF DON LOUIS NEere to the River of Tage Nature gave me for Father and Mother two high Rocks I may well call them so since the two persons that brought me into the World having denied me paternall kindnesses these Rocks received me amiably into their laps where as by miracle heaven was willing to save my life although I might almost wish not to have been obliged to it for so many favours knowing well that I might have been exempt from many pains which I have suffered it was not only content to do me this grace but it yet permitted that Timante a shepherd of this towne should wander into a grove to finde me and should lose himselfe to get me in him a new father and he in me an adoptive and obedient son Hee tooke me from the unpitifull hardnesse of these rockes where I was abandoned carryed me away in his armes and gave me to a peasant who gave me the first nourishment of infancy By little and little I grew up amongst the other children of the towne making appeare daily the markes of a noble extraction for although this rustique education hath rendered my behaviour rude and grosse yet it hath not taken from me the feeling of honour and generositie In the flower of my youth fearefull death came to knock at the doore of Timante and he receiving his advertisments with humilitie prepared the jewell of his soule for a more pretious inchasement he gave me by his will the best part of his goods and having taken those spirituall refections which the Church giveth to those Pilgrims who finish the passage of the tempestuous Sea of this world and come to the straites of Death he rendred his last sigh But before he came to that extremity he called me privately to him and told me that which I have told you of my birth and gave me at the same time a little purse wherein were certaine papers which he said he had found with me and told me my name was Don Louis and that I was of another linage then I thought my selfe to be This narration did so elevate my courage that I resolved to search some other occupation then those of a village so that within a short time after the decease of Timante I sold his goods some flocks of sheepe and some lands of inheritance which he had left me and left my village life and country to travell into forraine nations Having seene many townes in Spaine clothed like a cavalier of the court I arrived at Barcelon with designe to passe into Italy and from thence into Flanders to exercise my selfe in warlike affairs but this proposition was vaine for a beauty which I saw in the towne of Barcelone hindred all my projects and made it impossible for me to passe further If I determined to see faire Italy and begun to thinke of this maid I found her so faire that I beleeved there was nothing beyond her here was my Hercules pillers on the other side if my courage reanimated the desire I had to seeke Laurells in the hazards of the warres of Flanders I found neere her so many Mirtles Palmes and glorious victories to be obtained in remaining overcome by her charmes that I might have beene thought to have wanted judgment if I had neglected those delitious conquests As soone as this adorable object appeared before mine eyes respect seised me which in mine opinion is one of the graces that renders a lover most commendable but not to give occasion to the common people to talke I thought it best to use the diligence of a servant to goe after this beauty and follow her coach unto the place where she dwelt to the end I might endeavour to get accesse there but either the impertinence of my servant or my proper misfortune made him lose the fight of it and presently tooke from me all possibilitie of offering her my service Rare loves had never happy beginnings it was also necessary that mine which had a strange issue as you shall see should have a difficult entry The negligence of an houre cost me almost three monthes for love alwayes delights to give heavy punishments for light faults so during this long space it was impossible for me to have knowledge of the cause of my inquietudes This made me resolve to take againe my first intentions and seeke my fortune in divers Countries since that she is not alwayes to be found in the place of a mans birth The night before my departure I went to suppe with a gentleman one of my friends for to take leave of him from whom I departed very late in passing by one of the best streetes I found my selfe neere unto five or six men who without saying a word set upon two who came innocently the same way with me they seeing themselves surprised put themselves into a posture of defence and I considering the inequalitie of the combatants ranged my selfe with my sword in my hand on the weaker side but after a few blowes of one side and the other one of the defendants was hurt and fell to the ground at the same time those that had wounded him retired themselves the companion of him that was hurt pursued them I stayed there to assist the wounded and speaking to him I knew him to be an old gentleman of qualitie I helped him up and conducted him to his lodging by the way he gave me a thousand thankes for my assistance and at every step asked me what was become of Filendre which made me beleeve that that was the name of him who was run after the enemyes I not knowing what to answer him told him to comfort him that he was gone to fetch a Chirurgion thereupon we arrived at his house those of his family knowing that he was hurt were all frighted and amongst others a young Lady whom the griefe of this accident had put into great confusion I regarded curiously her gestures and actions and knew her by the light of a torch to be the very same that had caused my torments then a respectfull feare seized my heart and I felt certain pricking griefes in my breast as if the wound which she had first given me with her eyes was opened again O Beauty that thou art so powerfull so to astonish those hearts which the most perilous hazards cannot affright All the domestiques lamented the disaster that had befalne their Master whilst I was ravished in the admiration of the features of this Lady when there came in a young man who had his countenance full of alteration and his spirit animated
number of the fairest not onely of the towne but of the Province as they grew up my cares augmented and in truth it is a dangerous charge to guard a fair Maid I had an eie perpetually to conserve their honours because besides my fraternal obligation mine was therin engaged I was alwaies putting them in minde of the vertues of the illustrious Ladies of our linage to induce them to imitate the puritie of their lives The eldest was called Eufemie and if I be not a partiall Judge I may say that her graces and beauty were incomparable Seeing her fit for marriage there passed not many dayes before I desired her to resolve thereupon and to excite her thereunto I represented unto her that the beauty of a Maide was a flowre exposed to the desires of a thousand Gallants who would endeavour to staine the purity thereof She was so easily perswaded by my reasons and rendered her will so conformable to mine that I sometimes doubted if wee had two soules I propounded unto her parties which I thought most convenient for her condition for to dispose her selfe thereunto according to her liking for a maide ought never to be constrained she should be free in that election After that she had maturely considered thereof in her particular shee made choice of a Cavalier called Don Alonso de Vlloa whose Merits and Qualities were correspondent to hers At that time when I treated of these affaires liberty of youth which makes almost all young men commit extravagancies carryed me in the day to the conversation of my friends and in the night to those Academies where they cut away the renowne of the most honest men where they ravish the goods of others and where many vices are learned I alwayes lost my money when I set downe to play it is true that there is not much difference betwixt playing and losing since that to expresse that a man hath lost his estate we ordinarily say that he hath played it One night a Gentleman with whom I played quarrelled with me almost without cause from words we came to a challenge and being agreed upon the place where we were to fight we met there almost at the same instant Fortune was more favourable to me than to my adversary I doe not say that I had more valour for he that hath a heart to measure his sword with anothers ought to be esteemed as valiant although he hath the worse The combat was so advantagious to me that I tamed the pride of mine enemy and made him kisse the same place he had already bedewed with his blood This Cavalier had a brother which had a design to affront me to ravish from me the glory I had gotten to the confusion of his Kinsman who seeing he could not execute his vengeance upon me he invented the most infamous and cowardly one that is possible to be conceived by the most infamous of men He resolved to make love to my Sister to defame her honour and ruine mine a new and cruell method to kill a man He found occasions enough to execute this mischievous project he tooke the time of my absence in a voyage which I must needs make to the Court so that not being able to continue the necessary watch to guard the Citadell this traytor most industriously made himselfe master thereof Eufemye rendered her self at his discretion but let us excuse this fault which might be caused by her youth liberty beauty delights solitude amorous discourses inflamed letters services witnesses of deceitfull sinceritie the perswasions of others her proper passions or those who have heretofore experimented those things tell me what resistance can a maide make that is set upon so many wayes Don Pedro so was this perfideous called did not content himself with taking from her that which was most pretious but stole her away from my lodging and being furnished with things necessary carryed her to Madrid where being arrived he told her he had no intention to entertaine her there But Gentlemen be not astonished if in telling you the rest I hide my face for shame He provided her a house proper to receive visits it is the fashion to speak thus of such kinde of people to disguise their infamy I take the boldnesse to speak thus freely hoping in the consequence of this discourse you will see that I am not guiltie of these enormious delights and that you shall by and by know the diligence that I have taken to deface them from my gentilitie In a word Eufemy who might now more properly be called infamy became one of the most famous Curtizans the most courted and the least reserved Oh prodigious change of life what astonishment was it to those who had before seen her in her retained course of life and then abandoned to all sorts of liberty to those who had praised her honesty and now considered her so disordered to those I say who had seene her make scruple to be regarded onely by the sun now to see her so visited that she was never one moment without company Don Alonso the cavalier that I told you sought her in marriage having heard the deplorable neweâ— of her absence not knowing no more then I what was become of her absented himselfe from Valence sad almost to despaire And I abandoning my house went to Madrid to endeavour to divert the melancholy which consumed me yet ignorant that the Traitor and my infamous sister were there Having stayed there some time a young gentlewoman of condition and very rich bore me some affection and by this meeting I was confirmed in the opinion which I had that love is a conjunction of starts whose conformity infuseth affections into the soule I wholly imployed my selfe then to search after the tyrants of mine honour I enquired after them of all my friends presuming to heare something in Madrid amongst the confusion of the court which for refuge to so many sortes of persons but all my diligences were vaine During this exercise one day as I went in the towne a woman came to me and asked me my name and I having told it her she drew a letter from her bosome put it in my hand and without giving me leisure to informe my selfe from whence she came reade this letter said she and neglect not your good fortune when she is so inclined to favour you I was astonished with this short speech opened the paper and read this discourse A LETTER FROM AN VNKNOWNE LADY TO LEONARD YOur good countenance hath given me notice of your valour the former testifieth your originall and both excites me to the boldnesse to beseech you to meete me to morrow at seaven a clocke in the morning in Saint Heirosmes meadow I will there tell you more amply what I desire from your generositie I imagine that the merit of a gentlewoman of honour may oblige you to this courtesie but I hope more from the noblenesse of your courage This bearer will serve you for a
of a meane greatnesse which leaned upon her mouth finally all her body was an originall of death and a lively image of a sharpe pennance Our Cavalier beheld this body with a great deale of pitty and a great desire to have a more cleare knowledge thereof When Aurora begunne to lend him her feeble light the better to distinguish the particulars of this strange solitude or rather this living Sepulcher he saw upon a seate of the Rock a bloody discipline and a larum bell under which were written these words Remember thy end neare the Lampe from whence proceeded the light he had seen was a Crucifix accompanyed with the images of the Virgin and Saint John the well-beloved Disciple where these Letters were engraven T. I. T. B. O. A. P. W. I. D. T. R. A. Fenise would have given them divers interpretations but hee could not finde one that would come neare the signification of what he saw After hee had a long time contemplated these sad objects not daring to touch the body for feare of prophaning it He judged that since there was fire maintained by oyle there must needs bee some one about this cave that had care to furnish and entertaine it with that element He went out for to satisfie this desire but he was scarcely out of the den when the mouth thereof was suddainly shut by a great peece of stone which seemed to be miraculously falne from the Rock for that purpose as he went by little and little from this cave by the same paces he came which were printed in the slimy earth he perceived the day being then begunne a man of so strange a forme that hee had doubted what creature he was if his motion had not given him a more particular knowledge having approached him he saw an old man tall his hair white and very long his face leane his beard reached unto his girdle a patched coate that covered his body unto his knees holding a Rozaire in one hand and a little book in the other Fenise called him he lifted up his eyes for yet he had not seen him and stayed astonished to see another man then himselfe yet hee was not froward nor fled but approached softly to Fenise and informed himselfe by what adventure he was come into a place so farre from the highwayes then he carried him into his Cell made betwixt two Rockes the doore whereof was so little that with great difficultie could a man enter therein without going upon his knees there was a window made by nature by which hee had so much light as was necessary although he enjoyed almost none thereof he made him sit downe upon his bed which was a long stone made like a Tomb and after many discourses this good penitent to satisfie the desires of the Cavalier recited unto him this prodigious history THE HISTORY OF SOLITARY SIMEON ABout threescore yeares agoe I was borne in the City of Capoue issued of rich Parents and at the same time a Magistrate of the towne of Luques had a sonne so like me as if nature had formed us in the same mould his face hair voice proportion and gesture did so much resemble mine or mine so paralell his that it was wonderfull In receiving Baptisme I was called Charles and my paralell Albert we grew up during our tender age in equalitie of manners and also of constellations which disposed of our persons in such sort that having attained the age of twenty yeares we met at Venice where we grew acquainted one with another or rather with our selves From this perfect resemblance grew a strict amitie which was never broken we dwelt together we had but one table and one bed After a little time there happened an affliction to me which obliged me to absent my selfe my mother dyed in the middle of her youth and quit this sad habitation to goe to heaven I may so presume from her vertues and beauty for there is no commendation so proper to expresse her worth as to say she was faire and also vertuous Albert left Venice with me and went to Luques We conserved our affections by the means of Letters which are the sweetest entertaines of absent friends but we were not absent one from another for Albert never looked in his glasse nor I in mine that hee saw not me and I likewise him I was twenty two yeares old when my Father followed my Mother leaving me his benediction for heritage with some small temporall goods which he possessed he charged me with the feare of God Charitie towards the poore and fidelitie to my friends and principally towards Albert and gave up the ghost in giving me this wholesome counsell he was laid in the Sepulcher of his ancient predecessors I succeeded him in his possessions which I enjoyed not long in quiet the malice and envy of some of my kindred so rigorously persecuted me that I was forced to spend the greatest part of my goods in suites and pettifoggings untill I was forced to leave my country I left it to seeke repose elswhere and being followed with tenne men which I treated as my friends I went towards Luques where I thought to finde my deare Albert but he was gone to comfort me having heard of the death of my father This testimony of his affection made mee sweare not to returne into my country untill I had found him to give him thankes and renew our sored vowes He did the same having learned that I was gone to seeke him for it seemed our soules had consulted their designes together In execution of this project I visited many townes where amongst others I met with one of the antient friends of my father who having courteously received me and kept me a long time at his house he gave me his onely daughter in marriage called Lesbie with a great portion A yeare and a halfe after I had married her I was told that Albert was in France in the Province now called Gascoigne and that one might heare of him at Bourdeaux or at Tholouse This news awakened the designe and desire I had to see him I departed accompanyed with the same men that came with me from Capoue and as we approached neare Tholouse wee met in a spacious field near to the side of a wood a little troope of men of equall number to ours they stayed as soon as they had perceived us we believing they were theeves whereof this country was full and they having the same opinion of us our ignorance made us betake our selves to our armes and came to the shock one against another where there had been a bloody encounter if Gob had not put himselfe into the middle The greatest part of us as well of the one side as of the other had upon our heads as they then commonly wore in France and wherewith they serve themselves to this day Bocquincans or Tapabors which covers the most part of the face so that we being mingled together wee could scarcely know one another
great storme At this fearfull advertisement every one quit the attention of these prophane discourses and begunne to looke to his conscience and to be troubled with the apprehension of shipwrack They entered into the Gulfe of Leon when Heaven begun to be troubled with a double obscuritie that of the night and that of the storme wherein the windes were so violent that they seemed to move the sea unto the very bottome In a little time the tempest became so furious that all in the ship were fearefull every one cryed out with a good heart for divine assistance and demanded pardon for his faults The Mariners themselves were so amazed that they knew not their compasse nor what to doe or command the cords masts and sailes were broken one from another sometimes the waves lifted up the ship to the clouds and then again cast it down into the most profound deeps It thundered and hailed and the aire produced lightning which served them but for to see things fearfull In the end after having suffered a long storme a wave cast them against a Rock where the ship was split and then some were buried quick in the waves and others ranne to the last remedy of Shipwrack endeavouring to prolong their lives as long as they could floating upon tables and packs Fenise seised upon a square chest wherein was his equipage and so abandoned himselfe to divine mercie and to the misericord of the waves Heaven favourable to his vowes would not let him serve for food to the sea Monsters but had care to conduct him for after having felt all the evils that feare could cause about break of day he saw himselfe neare to shoare which yet he could not come to because the waves seemed to sport with him sometimes they made him almost to touch the land and then cast him much further off then he was before In the end having againe invoked divine assistance the necessity wherein he was taught him to make use of his armes in stead of oares he employed the last vigour of his courage and tooke port betwixt two Rocks kissing the ground and giving God thankes for the miracle he had done in delivering him and from this instant he accounted himselfe a second time borne into the world The sea grew calme and the day by little and little grew light and let him see the pittifull relicts of the Ship and the spoiles of his companions which floated upon the waters He looked about him of all sides to see if he could perceive the top of some Towre or Steeple of some Towne or Village that he might go thither to demand some sustenance but he saw nothing that could give him any hope of relief he had wherewithall to recompence those that should assist him for in this extreame misfortune he had resting a good summe of money which he had in gold about him and in his coffer but at this time it was unserviceable unto him After he had consulted what he ought to doe he left the sea shore sometimes turning back as well to lament his companions who were drown'd as for fear the sea should yet follow him to make him suffer the same shipwrack hee advanced into a field not knowing whither he went nor in what land he was he heard in approaching to a grove a man lamenting which spoke Spanish then joy glided into his heart thinking that he was arrived upon the coast of Spaine and coming neare him by little and little he heard him speake these words Oh great God! the onely recourse of afflicted soules hast thou resolved to abandon me amongst these barbarians for to finish here my daies without enjoying that dear consolation administred unto those who are born under the knowledge of thy Lawes and the true Religion Lord thy will be done if it bee thy pleasure I must resolve to suffer it Ending these last words he gave a great sigh and held his peace because he had perceived our unfortunate Cavalier Fenise who at first imagined himselfe to be in Spaine his owne country now learning the contrary by these words converted his joy into sadnesse presuming that he was upon the coast of Barbary he approached to him that complained and thus saluted him My friend if you finde alleadgement to your troubles in complaining to these trees do not leave to continue behold here another infortunate which may keep you company and helpe you to weep if you please since that it seems by your language that we are of the same country For me I am a Spaniard and native of Madrid Oh God answered the other who was a venerable old man a strange encounter And in embracing him with teares in his eyes what misfortune continued he or what divine power is it that hath conducted you hither Then Fenise asked him in what countrey hee was and then told him of his Shipwrack the most succinctly that hee could for he was so weak that he could scarcely speak After he prayed him to give him something to eat and presently Fredrikc so was this old man called prayed Fenise to expect him amongst the trees and went in diligence to fetch him bread and drinke made of Lemmons and Sugar wherewith Fenise refreshed himself Having thus taken acquaintance one of the other our Cavalier prayed Fredric to tell him by what accident he came there and was obliged to passe the rest of his life in that barbarous region as his complaints had let him understand The old man desiring to satisfie the curiositie of Fenise made him this discourse THE HISTORY OF FREDERICK The illustrious towne where the Court of Spaine is ordinarily kept is the place where I saw my first day as well as you if you be of Madrid as you say I am of noble linage yet I never saw my father he being taken from me by a dangerous sickness before I could have knowledge of him He left me his onely heire and under the conduct of a mother who neglected too much to keep in my youth to which my riches gave mee more libertie than was reasonable Amongst these liberties I made such debauches as I will not recount unto you having been so excessive that to compare that time with the life I lead now I have cause to esteeme my selfe happy although I am farre from it and besides it would augment your wearinesse by a troublesome attention In this age my heart begun to be warmed by love by the perfections of a Gentlewoman of a great family whose carriage was civility it selfe and whose beauty was the object which made all admire its author It Would be superfluous to tell you the arts inventions and subtilties I used to declare unto her my passion and the paines I tooke to finde a favourable occasion to perswade her to compassionate my torments you may imagine them in representing unto your self that she was the most recluse of her time You shall only know that whatsoever services or testimonies of fidelity I could render
like to have swounded with this suddaine apparition Ah God! said she then remaining as if she had beene charmed she begun to contemplate him and felt upon the instant a motion at her heart which confirmed the veritie of what she heard On the other side Fernand was in so strange a confusion that he knew not how to interpret these words and actions In fine after she had remained a good space in this enchantment she broke silence and said that she knew him to have a perfect resemblance of his father but to make her the more certaine of the truth she remembred that at the houre of the birth of Fernand and Charitie they being twins they were fastened together by the heele and having disjoyned them there then rested to either of them a marke in that place then Don Fernand begun to understand all his history being overjoyed to know that he was issued of so noble a linage fell upon his knees before Eugenie Madame said he if there neede no other testimony but that to make me to be acknowledged your â—onne permit me to kisse your feete in that qualitie have the signe you speake of Eugenie transported to â—ee so many marvels upon the sudden had like to have given up her soule in kissing and embracing Don Fernand having a little given over their embracing they went into another chamber and in the presence of Don Ariel he let them see the marke which gave the last clearing to their doubts and made Don Fernand to be acknowledged lawfull heire of the estate which his uncle had possessed so many yeares After this Charitie was brought into the chamber to augment this great joy and to take part thereof Eugenie made her to imbrace Don Fernand as her brother whom she had heard her mother so often lament In briefe they were all so full of felicitie in this prodigious encounter that they scarcely knew themselves They made amongst themselues some short recitalls of their adventures for their proper satisfaction untill they should come into a more convenient place to declare them at large as I have done Don Ariel brought them all three againe into the hall publishing to all the company the miracle which God had done in their favour so that all their friends participated of their contentment and I more then their kindred themselves After this Don Fernand came to me sir said he very modestly I did not thinke I had beene so much interessed in the discourse I held you but even now I made it being urged thereunto by aâ— instinct whose cause I knew not but at the present since the affaire toucheth me so neerely and that see that it was blood which excited me to solicit you I begin it againe and with much more affection I cannot think that a generous soule as I have alwaies knowne yours to be would disguise a treachery under honest promises where heauen was called to witnesse the designe you had to accomplish them Words tye men before they are spoken they are voluntary but being given they are necessary If you be of another opinion you wrong the noblenesse of your courage and much prejudice your honour and being your friend so much as I am iâ— would extreamely trouble me that you should doe any action whereby your reputation might be stained You know the discourse you have held to my sister and the scandall that is thereupon arrived you are now obliged to effect it as well for her proper satisfaction as the generall reputation and honour of our familie And for my part I am perswaded that you had already done it if you had knowne whereto have found Charitie She is of condition equall to yours her vertue was in a high degree of perfection before the fault you made her commit her beauty cometh not short of the most considerable and if I say not that she is incomparable it is because I would not offend the respect which I beare to Cleonte Besides all these considerations you will adde to the qualitie of friend which you honour me with that of brother and most humble servant If you have any scruple for her absence although you are the cause thereof I will oblige my selfe to render you satisfaction All these reasons seemed to me so honest and just and my conscience was so moved therewith that â—estifying unto him my consentment by my silence I went to embrace Charitie and in the presence of the whole company renewed my vowes to her wherewith her mother and uncle were greatly rejoyced Don Ariel made a voluntary resignation to Don Fernand of all the estate which by right appertained to him and moreover he made him his heire fâ—er his death the more to oblige me to esteeme t is neece and to take away the trouble I might haue for being excluded from the riches which I might have possessed in marrying Cleonte he augmented the portion of Charitie with eight thousand pounds part of the profits which he had received in enjoying Fernands estate who approved this liberality I went to make complements to Don Baptiste and Cleonte excusing my selfe upon the beliefe which I had that Charitie was dead when I sought for their alliance but she being living my conscience obliged me to maintaine to her the promises which I had made her That if they would receive Don Fernand in my place they would gaine much by the change and thereupon I exaggerated the prayses of his good countenance and merit Don Baptiste liked well this proposition he communicated it to Don Ariel who testified that he esteemed himselfe most happy if Cleonte would permit that friendship and kindred might be united and that for his nephew he did not doubt but to finde him wholly disposed thereunto it being the greatest honour and fortune he could aspire unto Cleonte formed easily her obedience unto the will of her father and Fernand praising my invention consented to the desires of his uncle so that wee weere married at the same time by the approbation of all our friends and kindred Behold deere Fenise the successe of my loves if the recitall thereof hath beene too long pardon me I did it but to divert you from thinking of what you have lest at Cartagene It is now my brothers part to tell us the occasion which made him absent himselfe from Madrid and not participate of all these marvellous felicities Fenise found this history extreamly pretty and well entermixed saying that for its raritie it merited to be consecrated to posteritie which gave subject to Charles to endeavour to merit like praise in recounting his fortunes which he thus begun THE HISTORY OF DON CHARLES AND VIOLANTE BEing gone out after my brother upon the opinion that we had that Don Fernand had called him out to fight with him as he hath already told you I made many turnes in the towne without meeting with him In the end I met a servant of a gentleman a friend of mine that was in the assembly at Don