the King loved his Son he was so prepossess'd against his Passion that he could not pardon him what he had done and condemn'd him as much for this last Act of Justice in delivering Agnes as if it had been the greatest of Crimes Elvira whom the sweetness of Hope flatter'd some moments saw the return of Agnes with a sensible Displeasure which suffer'd her to think of nothing but irritating her Brother In fine the Prince saw the King but instead of being receiv'd by him with a Joy due to the success of his Journey he appear'd all sullen and out of Humour After having paid him his first Respects and gave him an exact account of what he had done he spoke to him about the Violence committed against the Person of Agnes de Castro and complain'd to him of it in the Name of the Princess and of his own You ought to be silent in this Affair replied the King and the Motive which makes you speak is so shameful for you that I sigh and blush at it What is it to you if this Maid whose Presence is troublesome to me be remov'd hence since 't is I that desire it But Sir interrupted the Prince what necessity is there of employing Force Artifice and the Night when the least of your Orders had been sufficient Agnes would willingly have obey'd you and if she continue at Coimbra 't is perhaps against her will but be it as it will Sir Constantia is offended and if it were not for fear of displeasing you the only thing that retains me the Ravisher should not have gone unpunish'd How happy are you replied the King smiling with Disdain in making use of the Name of Constantia to uphold the Interest of your Heart you think I am ignorant of it and that this unhappy Princess looks on the Injury you do her with Indifference Never speak to me more of Agnes with a Tone very severe Content your self that I pardon what 's past and think maturely of the Considerations I have for Don Alvaro when you would design any thing against him Yes Sir reply'd the Prince with fierceness I will speak to you no more of Agnes but Constantia and I will never suffer that she should be any more expos'd to the Insolence of your Favourite The King had like to have broke out into Rage at this Discourse but he had yet a Rest of Prudence left that hinder'd him Retire said he to Don Pedro and go make Reflections on what my Power can do and what you owe me During this Conversation Agnes was receiving from the Princess and from all the Ladies of the Court great Expressions of Joy and Friendship Constantia saw again her Husband with a great deal of satisfaction and far from being sorry at what he had lately done for Agnes she privately return'd him Thanks for it and still was the same towards him notwithstanding all the Jealousie which was endeavour'd to be inspir'd in her Don Alvaro who found in his Sister a Maliciousness worthy of his Trust did not conceal his Fury from her After she had made vain Attempts to moderate it in blotting Agnes out of his Heart seeing that his Disease was incurable she made him understand that so long as Constantio should not be Jealous there was no Hopes That if Agnes should once be suspected by her she would not fail of abandoning her and that then it would be easie to get Satisfaction the Prince being now so proud of Constantia's Indulgency In giving this Advice to her Brother she promis'd to serve him effectually and having no need of any Body but herself to perform Ill Things she recommended Don Alvaro to manage well the King Four Years were pass'd in that melancholy Station and the Princess besides her first dead Child and Ferdinand who was still living had brought two Daughters into the World Some Days after Pedro's Return Elvira who was most dextrous in the Art of Well-governing any wicked Design did gain one of the Servants which belong'd to Constantia's Chamber She first spoke her fair then overwhelm'd her with Presents and Gifts and finding in her as ill a Disposition as in herself she readily resolv'd to employ her After she was sure of her she compos'd a Letter which was after writ over again in an unknown Hand which she deposited in that Maid's Hands that she might deliver to Constantia with the first Opportunity telling her that Agnes had drop'd it This was the Substance of it I Employ not my own Hand to write to you for Reasons that I shall acquaint you with How happy am I to have overcome all your Scruples And what Happiness shall I find in the Progress of our Intrigue The whole Course of my Life shall continually represent to you the Sincerity of my Affections pray think on the Secret Conversation that I require of you I dare not speak to you in publick therefore let me conjure you here by all that I have suffer'd to come to Night to the Place appointed and speak to me no more of Constantia for she must be content with my Esteem since my Heart can be only Yours The unfaithful Portuguese serv'd Elvira exactly to her Desires and the very next Day seeing Agnes go out from the Princess she carry'd Constantia the Letter which she took and found there what she was far from imagining Tenderness never produc'd an Effect more full of Grief than what it made her suffer Alas they are both culpable said she sighing and in spight of the Defence my Heart wou'd make for 'em my Reason Condemns ' em Vnhappy Princess the sad Subject of the Capriciousness of Fortune Why dost not thou die since thou hast not a Heart of Honour to revenge itself O Don Pedro Why did you give me your Hand without your Heart And thou Fair and Vngrateful Wert thou born to be the Misfortune of my Life and perhaps the only Cause of my Death After having given some Moments to the Violence of her Grief she call'd the Maid who brought her the Letter commanding her to speak of it tono Body and to suffer no one to enter into her Chamber She consider'd then of that Prince with more liberty whose Soul she was not able to touch with the least Tenderness and of the cruel fair One that had betray'd her Yet even while her Soul was upon the Rack she was willing to excuse 'em and ready to do all she could for Don Pedro at least she made a firm Resolution not to complain of him Elvira was not long without being inform'd of what had pass'd nor of the Melancholly of the Princess from whom she hop'd all she desir'd Agnes far from foreseeing this Tempest return'd to Constantia and hearing of her Indisposition pass'd the rest of the day at her Chamber-door that she might from time to time learn News of her Health for she was not suffer'd to come in at which Agnes was both surpriz'd and troubled The Prince had the
of the Injustice imaginable He had an extreme good and graceful Mien and all the Civility of a well-bread Great Man He had nothing of Barbarity in his Nature but in all Points address'd himself as if his Education had been in some Europaean Court. This great and just Character of Oroonoko gave me an extreme Curiosity to see him especially when I knew he spoke French and English and that I could talk with him But though I had heard so much of him I was as greatly surpriz'd when I saw him as if I had heard nothing of him so beyond all Report I found him He came into the Room and address'd himself to me and some other Women with the best Grace in the World He was pretty tall but of a shape the most exact that can be fansy'd The most famous Statuary cou'd not form the figure of a Man more admirably turnâ—d from Head to Foot His Face was not of that brown rusty Black which most of that Nation are but a perfect Ebony or polish'd Jett His Eyes were the most awful that cou'd be seen and very piercing the White of 'em being like Snow as were his Teeth His Nose was rising and Roman instead of African and flat His Mouth the finest shap'd that cou'd be seen far from those great turn'd Lips which are so natural to the rest of the Negroes The whole Proportion and Air of his Face was so noble and exactly form'd that bating his Colour there cou'd be nothing in Nature more beautiful agreeable and handsome There was no one Grace wanting that bears the Standard of true Beauty His Hair came down to his Shoulders by the aids of Art which was by pulling it out with a Quill and keeping it comb'd of which he took particular care Nor did the Perfections of his Mind come short of those of his Person for his Discourse was admirable upon almost any Subject and who-ever had heard him speak wou'd have been convinc'd of their Errors that all fine Wit is confin'd to the White men especially to those of Christendom and wou'd have confess'd that Oroonoko was as capable even of reigning well and of governing as wisely had as great a Soul as politick Maxims and was as sensible of Power as any Prince civiliz'd in the most refined Schools of Humanity and Learning or the most illustrious Courts This Prince such as I have describ'd him whose Soul and Body were so admirably adorn'd was while yet he was in the Court of his Grand-father as I said as capable of Love as 't was possible for a brave and gallant Man to be and in saying that I have nam'd the highest Degree of Love for sure great Souls are most capable of that Passion I have already said the old General was kill'd by the shot of an Arrow by the side of this Prince in Battle and that Oroonoko was made General This old dead Hero had one only Daughter left of his Race a Beauty that to describe her truly one need say only she was Female to the noble Male the beautiful Black Venus to our young Mars as charming in her Person as he and of delicate Vertues I have seen an hundred White Men sighing after her and making a thousand Vows at her Feet all vain and unsuccessful And she was indeed too great for any but a Prince of her own Nation to adore Oroonoko coming from the Wars which were now ended after he had made his Court to his Grand-father he thought in honour he ought to make a Visit to Imoinda the Daughter of his Foster-father the dead General and to make some Excuses to her because his Preservation was the occasion of her Father's Death and to present her with those Slaves that had been taken in this last Battle as the Trophies of her Father's Victories When he came attended by all the young Soldiers of any Merit he was infinitely surpriz'd at the Beauty of this fair Queen of Night whose Face and Person was to exceeding all he had ever beheld that lovely Modesty with which she receiv'd him that Softness in her Look and Sighs upon the melancholy Occasion of this Honour that was done by so great a Man as Oroonoko and a Prince of whom she had heard such admirable things the Awfulness wherewith she receiv'd him and the Sweetness of her Words and Behaviour while he stay'd gain'd a perfect Conquest over his fierce Heart and made him feel the Victor cou'd be subdu'd So that having made his first Complements and presented her an Hundred and fifty Slaves in Fetters he told her with his Eyes that he was not insensible of her Charms while Imoinda who wish'd for nothing more than so glorious a Conquest was pleas'd to believe she understood that silent Language of new-born Love and from that moment put on all her additions to Beauty The Prince return'd to Court with quite another Humour than before and though he did not speak much of the fair Imoinda he had the pleasure to hear all his Followers speak of nothing but the Charms of that Maid insomuch that even in the presence of the old King they were extolling her and heightning if possible the Beauties they had found in her so that nothing else was talk'd of no other sound was heard in every corner where there were Whisperers but Imoinda Imoinda 'T will be imagin'd Oroonoko stay'd not long before he made his second Visit nor considering his Quality not much longer before he told her he ador'd her I have often heard him say that he admir'd by what strange Inspiration he came to talk things so soft and so passionate who never knew Love nor was us'd to the Conversation of Women but to use his own words he said Most happily some new and till then unknown Power instructed his Heart and Tongue in the Language of Love and at the same time in favour of him inspir'd Imoinda with a sense of his Passion She was touch'd with what he said and return'd it all in such Answers as went to his very Heart with a Pleasure unknown before Nor did he use those Obligations ill that Love had done him but turn'd all his happy moments to the best advantage and as he knew no Vice his Flame aim'd at nothing but Honour if such a distinction may be made in Love and especially in that Country where Men take to themselves a many as they can maintain and where the only Crime and Sin with Woman is to turn her off to abandon her to Want Shame and Misery such ill Morals are only practis'd in Christian Countries where they preferr the bare Name of Religion and without Vertue or Morality think that sufficient But Oroonoko was none of those Professors but as he had right Notions of Honour so he made her such Propositions as were not only and barely such but contrary to the custom of his Countrey he made her Vows she shou'd be the only Woman he wou'd possess while he liv'd that no
but for his Folly with this infamous Creature that at last by assuring him of all their Assistance if he abandon'd her and to renounce him and deliver him up if he did not they wrought so far upon him as to promise he would suffer her to go alone into Banishment and would not follow her or live with her any more But alas this was but his Gratitude that compell'd this Complaisance for in his Heart he resolv'd never to abandon her nor was he able to live and think of doing it However his Reason assured him he could not do a Deed more justifiable and one that would regain his Fame sooner His Friends ask'd him some Questions concerning his Escape and that since he was not beheaded but only wounded why he did not immediately rise up But he replied He was so absolutely prepossessed that at the third lifting up his Hands he should receive the Stroak of Death that at the same instant the Sword touch'd him he had no Sense nay not even of Pain so absolutely dead he was with Imagination and knew not that he stirr'd as the Heads-man found he did nor did he remember any thing from the lifting up of his Hands to his Fall and then awakened as out of a Dream or rather a Moment's Sleep without Dream he found he liv'd and wonder'd what was arriv'd to him or how he came to live having not as yet any Sense of his Wound tho' so terrible an one After this Alcidiana who was extreamly afflicted for having been the Prosecutor of this Great Man who bating this last Design against her which we knew was the Instigation of her Sister had oblig'd her with all the Civility imaginable now sought all Means possible of getting his Pardon and that of her Sister tho' of an Hundred thousand Crowns which she should have paid her she could get but Ten thousand which was from the Sale of her rich Beds and some other Furniture So that the young Count who before should have marry'd her now went off for want of Fortune and a young Merchant perhaps the best of the two was the Man to whom she was destin'd At last by great Intercession both their Pardons were obtain'd and the Prince who would be no more seen in a place that had prov'd every way so fatal to him left Flanders promising never to live with the fair Hypocrite more but e'er he departed he writ her a Letter wherein he order'd her in a little time to follow him into Holland and left a Bill of Exchange with one of his trusty Servants whom he had left to wait upon her for Money for her Accommodations So that she was now reduced to one Woman one Page and this Gentleman The Prince in this time of his Imprisonment had several Bills of great Sums from his Father who was exceeding rich and this all the Children he had in the World and whom he tenderly loved As soon as Miranda was come into Holland she was welcom'd with all imaginable Respect and Endearment by the old Father who impos'd upon so as that he knew not she was the fatal Occasion of all these Disasters to his Son but rather look'd on her as a Woman who had brought him an Hundred and fifty thousand Crowns which his Misfortunes had consum'd But above all she was receiv'd by Tarquin with a Joy unspeakable who after some time to redeem his Credit and gain himself a new Fame put himself into the French Army where he did Wonders and after three Campaigns his Father dying he return'd home and retir'd to a Country-House where with his Princess he lives as a private Gentleman in all the Tranquility of a Man of a good Fortune They say Miranda has been very penitent for her Life past and gives Heaven the Glory for having given her these Afflictions that have reclaim'd her and brought her to as perfect a State of Happiness as this troublesome World can afford Since I began this Relation I heard that Prince Tarquin dy'd about Three Quarters of a Year ago The End of the Fair JILT AGNES de CASTRO OR THE FORCE OF Generous LOVE Written in French by a Lady of Quality Made English by Mrs BEHN LONDON Printed by W. Onley for S. Briscoe 1697. THE HISTORY OF AGNES de CASTRO THough LOVE all soft and flattering promises nothing but Pleasures yet its Consequences are often sad and fatal It is not enough to be in Love to be happy since Fortune who is Capricious and takes delight to trouble the Repose of the most Elevated and Virtuous has very little respect for passionate and tender Hearts when she designs to produce strange Adventures Many Examples of past Ages render this Maxim certain but the Reign of Dom Alphonso the Fourth King of Portugal furnishes us with one the most extraordinary that History can produce He was the Son of that Dom Denice who was so successful in all his Undertakings that it was said of him that he was capable of performing whatever he design'd And of Isabella a Princess of eminent Vertue who when he came to inherit a flourishing and tranquil State he endeavour'd to establish Peace and Plenty in abundance in his Kingdom And to advance this his Design he agreed on a Marriage between his Son Don Pedro then about eight Years of Age and Bianca Daughter of Don Pedro King of Castile and whom the young Prince married when he arrived to his sixteenth Year Bianca brought nothing to Coimbra but Infirmities and very few Charms Don Pedro who was full of Sweetness and Generosity liv'd nevertheless very well with her but those Distempers of the Princess degenerating into the Palsie she made it her Request to retire and at her Intercession the Pope broke the Marriage and the melancholy Princess concealed her Languishment in a solitary Retreat And Don Pedro for whom they had provided another Match married Constantia Manuel Daughter of Dom John Manuel a Prince of the Blood of Castile and famous for the Enmity he had to his King Constantia was promised to the King of Castile but that King not keeping his Word they made no difficulty of bestowing her on a young Prince who was one day to Reign over a Number of fine Provinces He was but five and twenty Years of Age and the Man of all Spain that had the best Fashion and Grace And with the most advantagious Qualities of the Body he possest those of the Soul and shew'd himself worthy in all things of the Crown that was destin'd for him The Princess Constantia had Beauty Wit and Generosity in as a great Measure as 't was possible for a Woman to be possest with her Merit alone ought to have attach'd Don Pedro eternally to her and certainly he had for her an Esteem mixt with so great a Respect as might very well pass for Love with those that were not of a nice and curious Observation but alas his real Care was reserv'd for another Beauty Constantia brought
Discourse and the Tears of Agnes press'd her hand which she held in hers and fixing looks upon her capable of moving pity in the most insensible Souls If I have committed any Offence my dear Agnes answer'd she Death which I expect in a moment shall revenge it I ought also to protest to you That I have not ceas'd loving you and that I believe every thing you have said giving you back my most tender Affections 'T was at this time that the Grief which equally oppress'd 'em put the Princess into such an Extremity that they sent for the Prince He came and found himself almost without life or motion at this sight And what secret Motive soever might call him to the Aid of Agnes 't was to Constantia he ran The Princess who finding her last Moments drawing on by a cold Sweat that cover'd her all over and finding she had no more business with Life and causing those Persons she most suspected to retire Sir said she to Don Pedro If I abandon Life without Regret it is not without Trouble that I part with you But Prince we must vanguish when we come to die and I will forget myself wholly to think of nothing but of you I have no Reproaches to make against you knowing that 't is Inclination that disposes Hearts and not Reason Agnes is beautiful enough to inspire the most ardent Passion and vertuous enough to deserve the first Fortunes in the World I ask her once more Pardon for the Injustice I have done her and recommend her to you as a Person most dear to me Promise me my dear Prince before I Expire to give her my Place in your Throne it cannot be better fill'd you cannot chuse a Princess more perfect for your People nor a better Mother for our little Children And you my Dear and my faithful Agnes pursu'd she listen not to a Vertue too scrupulous that they may make any opposition to the Prince of Portugal Refuse him not a Heart of which he is worthy and give him that Friendship which you had for me with that which is due to his Merit Take care of my little Fernando and the two young Princesses let 'em find me in you and speak to 'em sometimes of me Adieu live both of you happy and receive my last Embraces The afflicted Agnes who had recover'd a little her Forces lost 'em again a second time Her Weakness was follow'd with Convulsions so vehement that they were afraid of her Life but Don Pedro never remov'd from Constantia What Madam said he you will leave me then and you think 't is for my Good Alas Constantia if my Heart has committed any Outrage against you your Vertue has sufficiently reveng'd you on me in spight of you Can you think me so barbarous As he was going on he saw Death shut the Eyes of the most generous Princess for ever and he was within a very little of following her But what loads of Grief was this for Agnes when she found that in that Interval when Life and Death were struggling in her Soul that Constantia was newly expir'd She would then have taken away her own Life and have let her Despair fully appear At the noise of the Death of the Princess the Town and the Palace was all in Tears Elvira who saw then Don Pedro free to engage himself repented of having contributed to the Death of Agnes who thought herself the cause of it promis'd her Griefs never to Pardon herself She had need of being guarded several days together during which time she fail'd not incessantly to weep And the Prince gave all those days to deepest Mourning But when the first Emotions were past those of his Love made him feel that he was still the same He was a long time without seeing Agnes but this Absence of his serv'd only to make her appear the more charming when he did see her Don Alvaro who was afraid of the Liberty of the Prince made new Efforts to move Agnes de Castro who was now become insensible to every thing but Grief Elvira who was willing to make the best of the Design she had begun consulted all her Womens Arts and the delicacy of her Wit to revive the Flames with which the Prince once burnt for her But his Inconstancy was bounded and it was Agnes alone that was to reign over his Heart She had taken a firm Resolution since the Death of Constantia to pass the rest of her days in a solitary Retreat In spight of the Precaution she took to hide this Design the Prince was inform'd of it and did all he was able to dispose his Constancy and Fortitude to it He thought himself stronger than he really was but after he had too well consulted his Heart he found but too well how necessary the Presence of Agnes was to him Madam said he to her one day with a Heart big and his Eyes in Tears Which Action of my Life has made you determine my Death Though I never told you now much I lov'd you yet I am perswaded you are not ignorant of it I was constrain'd to be silent during some Years for your sake for Constantia's and my own but 't is not possible for me to put this Force upon my Heart for ever I must once at least tell you how it languishes Receive then the Assurances of a Passion full of Respect and Ardour with an Offer of my Fortune which I wish not better but for your Advantage Agnes answer'd not immediately to these Words but with abundance of Tears which having wip'd away and beholding Don Pedro with an Air which made him easily comprehend she did not agree with his Desires If I were capable of the Weakness with which you 'd inspire me you 'd be oblig'd to punish me for it What! said she Constantia is scarce bury'd and you wou'd have me offend her No my Princess added she with more Softness No no she whom you have heap'd so many Favours on will not call down the Anger of Heaven and the Contempt of Men upon her by an Action so perfidious Be not obstinate then in a Design in which I will never shew you Favour You owe to Constantia after her Death a Fidelity that may justifie you And I to repair the Ills I have made her suffer ought to shun all Converse with you Go Madam reply'd the Prince growing pale go and expect the News of my Death in that part of the World whither your Cruelty shall lead you the News shall follow close after you shall quickly hear of it and I will go seek it in those Wars which reign among my Neighbours These words made the fair Agnes de Castro perceive that her Innocency was not so great as she imagin'd and that her Heart interested itself in the Preservation of Don Pedro You ought Sir to preserve your Life reply'd Agnes for the sake of the little Prince and Princesses which Constantia has left you Wou'd you abandon their
he then consulted with the Amiable Agnes what was to be fear'd from the King they concluded that the cruel Billet which so troubled the last days of Constantia could come from none but Elvira and Don Alvaro The Prince who knew that his Father had search'd already an Alliance for him and was resolv'd on his Favourite's marrying Agnes 〈◊〉 her so tenderly to prevent these Persecuâ—â— by consenting to a secret Marriage that 〈◊〉 having a long time considered she at 〈◊〉 consented I will do what you will have me saiâ— she though I presage nothing but fatal Events 〈◊〉 it all my Blood turns to Ice when I think of this Marriage and the Image of Constantia 〈◊〉 hinder me from doing it The Amorous Prince surmounted all 〈◊〉 Scruples and separated himself from 〈◊〉 with a Satisfaction which soon redoubled his Forces he saw her afterward with the pleasure of a Mystery and the Day of their Union arriv'd Dom Gill Bishop of Guarda performed the Ceremony of the Marriage in the presence of several Witnesses faithful to Don Pedro who saw him Possessor of all the Chaâ—ms of the Fair Agnes She liv'd not the more peaceable for belonging to the Prince of Portugal her Enemies who continually persecuted her left her not without troubles and the King whom her Refusal inrag'd laid his absolute Commands on her to Marry Don Alvaro with Threats to force her to it if she continued Rebellious The Prince took loudly her part and this joyn'd to the Refusal he made of marrying the Princess of Arragon caus'd Suspicions of the Truth in the King his Father He was seconded by those that were too much interested not to unriddle this Secret Don Alvaro and his Sister acted with so much Care gave so many Gifts and made so many Promises that they discovered the secret Engagements of Don Pedro and Agnes The King wanted but little of breaking out into all the Rage and Fury so great a Disappointment could inspire him with against the Princess Don Alvaro whose Love was chang'd into the most violent Hatred appeas'd the first Transports of the King by making him comprehend that if they could break the Marriage of 'em that would not be a sufficient Revenge and so poysoned the Soul of the King to consent to the Death of Agnes The Barbarous Don Alvaro offered his Arm for this terrible Execution and his Rage was Security for the Sacrifice The King who thought the Glory of his Family disgraced by this Alliance and his own 〈◊〉 particular in the Procedure of his Son gave full Power to this Murder to make the innocent Agnes a Victim to his Rage It was not easie to execute this horrid Design Though the Prince saw Agnes but in secret yet all his Cares were still awake for her and he was married to her above a Year before Don Alvaro could find out an Opportunity so long sought for The Prince delivered himself but little and very rarely went far from Coimbra but on a Day an Unfortunate Day and mark'd out by Heaven for an unheard of and horrid Assassin he made a Party to hunt at a fine House which the King of Portugal had near the City Agnes lov'd every thing that gave the Prince satisfaction but a secret Trouble made her apprehend some Misfortune in this unhappy Journey Sir said she to him alarm'd without knowing the Reason why I tremble seeing you to day as it were design'd the last of my Life Preserve yourself my Dear Prince and though the Exercise you take be not very dangerous beware of the least Hazards and bring me back all that I trust with you Don Pedro who had never found her so Handsome and so Charming before embraced her several times and went out of the Palace with his Followers with a design not to return till the next Day He was no sooner gone but the Cruel Don Alvaro prepared himself for the Execution he had resolv'd on he thought it of that importance that it required more Hands than his Own and so chose for his Companions Diego Lopes Pacheo and Pedro Cuello two Monsters like himself whose Cruelty he was assur'd of by the Presents he had made ' em They waited the coming of the Night and the lovely Agnes was in her first sleep which the last of her Life when these Assassins approach'd her Bed Nothing made resistance to Don Alvaro who could do every thing and whom the blackest Furies introduced to Agnes she wakened and opening her Curtains saw by the Candle burning in her Chamber the Poinard with which Don Alvaro was arm'd he having not his Face covered she easily knew him and forgetting herself to think of nothing but the Prince Just Heaven said she lifting up her fine Eyes if you will revenge Constantia satisfie yourself with my Blood only and spare that of Don Pedro. The Barbarous Man that heard her gave her not time to say more and finding he could never by all he could do by Love touch the Heart of the Fair Agnes he pierc'd it with his Poinard his Accomplices gave her several Wounds tho' there were no Necessity of so many to put an End to an Innocent Life What a sad Spectacle was this for those who approach'd her Bed the next Day And what dismal News was this to the Unfortunate Prince of Portugal He return'd to Coimbra to the first Report of this Adventure and saw what had certainly cost him his Life if Men could die of Grief after having a thousand times embraced the bloody Body of Agnes and said all that a just Despair could inspire him with he ran like a Mad-man into the Palace demanding the Murderers of his Wife of things that could not hear him In fine he saw the King and without observing any Respect he gave a Loose to his Resentment after having rail'd a long time overwhelm'd with Grief he fell into a Swoon which continued all that Day They carried him into his Apartment and the King believing that this Misfortune would prove his Cure repented not of what he had permitted Don Alvaro and the two other Assassins quitted Coimbra This Absence of theirs made 'em appear guilty of the Crime for which the Afflicted Prince vowed a speedy Vengeance to the Ghost of his Lovely Agnes resolving to pursue them to the uttermost part of the Universe He got a considerable number of Men together sufficient to have made Resistance even on the King of Portugal himself if he should yet take the Part of the Murderers with these he ravag'd the whole Country as far as the Duero Waters and carried on a War even till the Death of the King continually mixing Tears with Blood which he gave to the Revenge of his Dearest Agnes Such was the deplorable End of the Unfortunate Love of Don Pedro of Portugal and of the Fair Agnes de Castro whose Remembrance he faithfully preserved in his Heart even upon the Throne to which he mounted by the Right of his Birth after the
my Weakness and Indiscretion and I hope Damon finds the same For should he have any of those Attachments I should have no Pity for him The Example Damon if you wou'd have me true Be you my President and Guide Example sooner we pursue Than the dull Dictates of our Pride Precepts of Vertue are too weak an Aim 'T is Demonstration that can best reclaim Shew me the Path you 'd have me go With such a Guide I cannot stray What you approve whate'er you do It is but just I bend the Way If true my Honour favours your Design If false Revenge is the Result of mine A Lover true a Maid sincere Are to be priz'd as Things Divine 'T is Justice makes the Blessing dear Justice of Love without Design And she that Reigns not in a Heart alone Is never safe or easie on her Throne Four a Clock General Conversation IN this Visiting-Hour many People will happen to meet at one and the same time together in a Place And as you make not Visits to Friends to be silent you ought to enter into Conversation with 'em but those Conversations ought to be General and of General Things for there is no necessity of making your Friend the Confident of your Amours 'T would infinitely displease me to hear you have reveal'd to them all that I have repos'd in you tho' Secrets never so trivial yet since utter'd between Lovers they deserve to be priz'd at a higher rate For what can shew a Heart more indifferent and indiscreet than to declare in any Fashion or with Mirth or Joy the tender Things a Mistress says to a Lover and which possibly related at Second Hand bear not the same Sence because they have not the same Sound and Air they had originally when they came from the soft Heart of her who sigh'd 'em first to her lavish Lover Perhaps they are told again with Mirth or Joy unbecoming their Character and Business and then they lose their Graces for Love is the most Solemn Thing in Nature and the most unsuiting with Gaiety Perhaps the soft Expressions suit not so well the harsher Voice of the Masculine Lover whose Accents were not form'd for so much Tenderness at least not of that sort for Words that have the same Meaning are alter'd from their Sence by the least Tone or Accent of the Voice and those proper and fitted to my Soul are not possibly so to yours tho' both have the same Efficacy upon us yours upon my Heart as mine upon yours and both will be misunderstood by the unjudging World Besides this there is a Holiness in Love that 's true that ought not to be prophan'd And as the Poet truly says at the latter end of an Ode of which I will recite the whole The Invitation Aminta fear not to confess The charming Secret of thy Tenderness That which a Lover can't conceal That which to me thou should'st reveal And is but what thy lovely Eyes express Come whisper to my panting Heart That heaves and meets thy Voice half way That guesses what thou wou'dst impart And languishes for what thou hast to say Confirm my trembling Doubt and make me know Whence all these Blushings and these Sighings flow Why dost thou scruple to unfold A Mystery that does my Life concern If thou ne'er speak'st it will be told For Lovers all things can discern From every Look from every bashful Grace That still succeed each other in thy Face I shall the dear transporting Secret learn But 't is a Pleasure not to be exprest To hear it by the Voice confest When soft Sighs breathe it on my panting Breast All calm and silent is the Grove Whose shading Boughs resist the Day Here thou may'st blush and talk of Love While only Winds unheeding stay That will not bear the Sound away While I with solemn awful Joy All my attentive Faculties employ List'ning to every valu'd Word And in my Soul the Sacred Treasure hoard There like some Mystery Divine The wondrous Knowledge I 'll enshrine Love can his Joys no longer call his own Than the dear Secret's kept unknown There is nothing more true than those two last Lines and that Love ceases to be a Pleasure when it ceases to be a Secret and one you ought to keep sacred For the World who never makes a right Judgment of Things will misinterpret Love as they do Religion every one judging it according to the Notion he had of it or the Talent of his Sence Love as a great Duke said is like Apparitions every one talks of 'em but few have seen 'em Every Body thinks himself capable of understanding Love and that he is a Master in the Art of it when there is nothing so nice or difficult to be rightly comprehended and indeed cannot be but to a Soul very delicate Nor will he make himself known to the Vulgar There must be an uncommon Fineness in the Mind that contains him the rest he only visits in as many Disguises as there are Dispositions and Natures where he makes but a short stay and is gone He can fit himself to all Hearts being the greatest Flatterer in the World And he possesses every one with a Confidence that they are in the Number of his Elect and they think they know him perfectly when nothing but the Spirits refin'd possess him in his Excellency From this difference of Love in different Souls proceeds those odd fantastick Maxims which so many hold of so different Kinds And this makes the most innocent Pleasures pass oftentimes for Crimes with the unjudging Crowd who call themselves Lovers And you will have your Passion censur'd by as many as you shall discover it to and as many several Ways I advise you therefore Damon to make no Confidents of your Amours and believe that Silence has with me the most powerful Charm 'T is also in these Conversations that those indiscreetly civil Persons often are who think to oblige a good Man by letting him know he is belov'd by some one or other and making him understand how many good Qualities he is Master of to render him agreeable to the Fair Sex if he wou'd but advance where Love and good Fortune calls and that a too constant Lover loses a great part of his time which might be manag'd to more Advantage since Youth hath so short a Race to run By this and a thousand the like indecent Complaisances give him a Vanity that suits not with that Discretion which has hitherto acquir'd him so good a Reputation I wou'd not have you Damon act on these Occasions as many of the easie Sparks have done before you who receive such Weakness and Flattery for Truth and passing it off with a Smile suffer 'em to advance in Folâ—◠〈…〉 gain'd a Credit with 'em and 〈…〉 all they hear telling 'em they do 〈…〉 senting Gestures Silence or open 〈…〉 For my part I shou'd not conâ—◠〈…〉 that shou'd answer a sort of ciâ—◠〈…〉 for Love somewhat briskly
your Hair That plays about with wanton Grace With every Motion of your Face Disdaining all that dull Formality That dares not move the Lip or Eye But at some fancy'd Grace's cost And think with it at least a Lover lost But the unlucky Minute to reclaim And ease the Coquet of her Pain The Pocket-Glass adjusts the Face again Re-sets the Mouth and languishes the Eyes And thinks the Spark that ogles that way dies Of Iris learn O ye mistaken Fair To dress your Face your Smiles your Air. Let easie Nature all the Bus'ness do She can the softer Graces shew Which Art but turns to Ridicule And where there 's none serves but to shew the Fool. In Iris you all Graces find Charms without Art a Motion unconfin'd Without Constraint she smiles she looks she talks And without Affectation moves and walks Beauties so perfect ne'er were seen O ye mistaken Fair Dress ye by Iris Mien The Discretion of IRIS BUT O Iris The Beauties of the Body are imperfect if the Beauties of the Soul do not advance themselves to an equal height But O Iris What Mortal is there so damned to Malice that does not with Adoration confess that you O charming Maid have an equal Portion of all the Braveries and Vertues of the Mind And who is it that confesses your Beauty that does not at the same time acknowledge and bow to your Wisdom The whole World admires both in you and all with impatience ask Which of the two is most surprising your Beauty or your Discretion But we dispute in vain on that excellent Subject for after all 't is determin'd that the two Charms are equal 'T is none of those idle Discretions that consists in Words alone and ever takes the Shadow of Reason for the Substance and that makes use of all the little Artifices of Subtilty and florid Talking to make the outside of the Argument appear fine and leave the inside wholly mis-understood Who runs away with Words and never thinks of Sence But you O lovely Maid never make use of these affected Arts but without being too brisk or too severe too silent or too talkative you aspire in all your Hearers a Joy and a Respect Your Soul is an Enemy to that usual Vice of your Sex of using little Arguments against the Fair or by a Word or Jest make your self and Hearers pleasant at the Expence of the Fame of others Your Heart is an Enemy to all Passions but that of Love And this is one of your noble Maxims That every one ought to love in some part of his Life And that in a Heart truly brave Love is without Folly That Wisdom is a Friend to Love and Love to perfect Wisdom Since these Maxims are your own do not O charming Iris resist that noble Passion And since Damon is the most tender of all your Lovers answer his Passion with a noble Ardour Your Prudence never fails in the Choice of your Friends and in chusing so well your Lover you will stand an eternal President to all unreasonable fair Ones O thou that dost excel in Wit and Youth Be still a President for Love and Truth Let the dull World say what it will A noble Flame 's unblameable Where a fine Sent'ment and soft Passion rules They scorn the Censure of the Fools Yield Iris then Oh yield to Love Redeem your dying Slave from pain The World your Conduct must approve Your Prudence never acts in vain The Goodness and Complaisance of Iris. WHO but your Lovers fair Iris doubts but you are the most complaisant Person in the World And that with so much Sweetness you oblige all that you command in yielding and as you gain the Heart of both Sexes with the Affability of your noble Temper so all are proud and vain of obliging you And Iris you may live assur'd that your Empire is eternally establish'd by your Beauty and your Goodness Your Power is confirm'd and you grow in Strength every Minute Your Goodness gets you Friends and your Beauty Lovers This Goodness is not one of those whose Folly renders it easie to every Desirer but a pure Effect of the Generosity of your Soul such as Prudence alone manages according to the Merit of the Person to whom it is extended and those whom you esteem receive the sweet Marks of it and only your Lovers complain Yet even then you charm And though sometimes you can be a little disturb'd yet through your Anger your Goodness shines and you are but too much afraid that that may bear a false Interpretation For oftentimes Scandal makes that pass for an Effect of Love which is purely that of Complaisance Never had any Body more Tenderness for their Friends than Iris Their Presence gives her Joy their Absence Trouble and when she cannot see them she finds no Pleasure like speaking of them obligingly Friendship reigns in your Heart and Sincerity on your Tongue Your Friendship is so strong so constant and so tender that it charms pleases and satisfies all that are not your Adorers 'T is therefore Damon is excusable if he be not contented with your noble Friendship alone for he is the most tender of that Number No! Give me all th' impatient Lover cries Without your Soul I cannot live Dull Friendship cannot mine suffice That dies for all you have to give The Smiles the Vows the Heart must all be mine I cannot spare one Thought or Wish of thine I sigh I languish all the Day Each Minute ushers in my Groans To e'ry God in vain I pray In e'ry Grove repeat my Moans Still Iris Charms are all my Sorrows Themes They pain me Waking and they wreck in Dreams Return fair Iris Oh return Lest sighing long your Slave destroys I wish I rave I faint I burn Restore me quickly all my Joys Your Mercy else will come too late Distance in Love more cruel is than Hate The Wit of Iris. YOU are deceiv'd in me fair Iris if you take me for one of those ordinary Glasses that represent the Beauty only of the Body I remark to you also the Beauties of the Soul And all about you declares yours the finest that ever was formed that you have a Wit that surprizes and is always new 'T is none of those that loses its Lustre when one considers it the more we examine yours the more adorable we find it You say nothing that is not at once agreeable and solid 't is always quick and ready without Impertinence that little Vanity of the Fair who when they know they have Wit rarely manage it so as not to abound in Talking and think that all they say must please because luckily they sometimes chance to do so But Iris never speaks but 't is of use and gives a Pleasure to all that hears her She has the perfect Art of penetrating even the most secret Thoughts How often have you known without being told all that has past in Damon's Heart For all great Wits are Prophets too
a removal to his own House All their Care and Diligence was however ineffectual for she languish'd even to the least hope of Recovery till immediately after the first Visit of Don Henrique which was the first he made in a Month's time and that by Night incognito with her Father her Distemper visibly retreated each day yet when at last she enjoy'd a perfect Health of Body her Mind grew sick and she plung'd into a deep Melancholy which made her entertain a positive Resolution of taking the Veil at the end of her Novitiate which accordingly she did notwithstanding all the Entreaties Prayers and Tears both of her Father and Lover But she soon repented her Vow and often wish'd that she might by any means see and speak to Don Henrique by whose help she promis'd to her self a Deliverance out of her voluntary Imprisonment Nor were his Wishes wanting to the same effect though he was forc'd to flie into Italy to avoid the Prosecution of Antonio's Friends Thither she pursu'd him nor cou'd he any way shun her unless he cou'd have left his Heart at a distance from his Body Which made him take a fatal Resolution of returning to Sevil in Disguise where he wander'd about the Convent every Night like a Ghost for indeed his Soul was within while his Inanimate Trunk was without till at last he found means to convey a Letter to her which both surpriz'd and delighted her The Messenger that brought it her was one of her Mother-in-Laws Maids whom he had known before and met accidentally one night as he was going his Rounds and she coming out from Ardelia with her he prevail'd and with Gold oblig'd her to Secrecy and Assistance which prov'd so successful that he understood from Ardelia her strong desire of Liberty and the continuance of her Passion for him together with the Means and Time most convenient and likely to succeed for her Enlargement The Time was the Fourteenth Night following at Twelve a clock which just compleated a Month since his return thither at which time they Both promis'd themselves the greatest Happiness on Earth But you may observe the justice of Heaven in their Disappointment Don Sebastian who still pursu'd him with a most implacable Hatred had trac'd him even to Italy and there narrowly missing him posted after him to Toledo so sure and secret was his Intelligence As soon as he arriv'd he went directly to the Convent where his Sister Elvira had been one of the Profess'd ever since Don Henrique had forsaken her and where Ardelia had taken her Repented Vow Elvira had all along conceal'd the Occasion of her coming thither from Ardelia and though she was her only Confident and knew the whole Story of her Misfortunes and heard the Name of Don Henrique repeated an hundred times a day whom still she Lov'd most perfectly yet never gave her Beautiful Rival any cause of suspicion that she Lov'd him either by Words or Looks nay more when she understood that Don Henrique came to the Convent with Ardelia and Antonio and at other times with her Father yet she had so great a command of her self as to refrain seeing him or to be seen by him nor ever intended to have spoken or writ to him had not her Brother Don Sebastian put her upon the cruel necessity of doing the last who coming to visit his Sister as I have said before found her with Donna Ardelia whom he never remembred to have seen nor who ever had seen him but twice and that was about Six Years before when she was but Ten Years of Age when she fell passionately in Love with him and continu'd her Passion till about the Fourteenth Year of her Empire when the unhappy Antonio first began his Court to her Don Sebastian was really a very desirable Person being at that time very Beautiful his Age not exceeding Six and twenty of a sweet Conversation very Brave but Revengeful and Irreconcileable like most of his Countrey-men and of an Honourable Family At the sight of him Ardelia felt her former Passion renew which proceeded and continu'd with such Violence that it utterly defac'd the Idea's of Antonio and Henrique No wonder that she who cou'd resolve to forsake her God for Man shou'd quit one Lover for another In short she then only wish'd that he might Love her equally and then she doubted not of contriving the means of their Happiness betwixt ' em She had her Wish and more if possible for he Lov'd her beyond the thought of any other present or future Blessing and fail'd not to let her know it at the second Interview when he receiv'd the greatest Pleasure he cou'd have wish'd next to the Joys of a Bridal Bed For she confess'd her Love to him and presently put him upon thinking on the means of her Escape but not finding his Designs so likely to succeed as those Measures she had sent to Don Henrique she communicates the very same to Don Sebastian and agreed with him to make use of 'em on that very Night wherein she had oblig'd Don Henrique to attempt her Deliverance the Hour indeed was different being determin'd to be at Eleven Elvira who was present at the Conference took the Hint and not being willing to disoblige a Brother who had so hazarded his Life in Vindication of her either durst not or wou'd not seem to oppose his Inclinations at that time However when he retir'd with her to talk more particularly of his intended Revenge on Don Henrique who he told her he knew lay somewhere absconded in Toledo and whom he had resolv'd as he assur'd her to sacrifice to her injur'd Honour and his Resentments she oppos'd that his vindictive Resolution with all the forcible Arguments in a Virtuous and Pious Lady's Capacity but in vain so that immediately upon his retreat from the Convent she took the opportunity of writing to Don Henrique as follows the fatal Hour not being then Seven Nights distant Don HENRIQUE MY Brother is now in Town in pursuit of your Life nay more of your Mistress who has consented to make her Escape from the Convent at the same Place of it and by the same Means on which she had agreed to give her self entirely to you but the Hour is Eleven I know Henrique your Ardelia is dearer to you than your Life but your Life your dear Life is more desir'd than any thing in this World by Your Injur'd and Forsaken ELVIRA This she deliver'd to Richardo's Servant whom Henrique had gain'd that Night as soon as she came to visit Ardelia at her usual Hour just as she went out of the Cloister Don Henrique was not a little surpriz'd with this Billette however he cou'd hardly resolve to forbear his accustom'd Visits to Ardelia at first but upon more mature Consideration he only chose to converse with her by Letters which still press'd her to be mindful of her Promise and of the Hour not taking notice of any Caution that he