approving of my Design of leaving the Kingdom furnish'd me with Money for my Journey and Verville who did not forget though now married presented me with a good Horse and a Hundred Pistols I took my Journey towards Lyons to pass into Italy with design to go once more to Rome and after having taken my last Farewel of Leonora to repair with speed to Candy there to put an end to my wretched Life At Nevers I lodg'd at an Inn which stood near the River and coming thither very early and not knowing how to spend my time till Supper were ready I went to take a Walk on a great Stone-Bridge which lies cross the River Loir There were a couple of Women walking there at the same time one of which that look'd as if she were sick lean'd on the others Shoulder and had much ado to crawl along As I past by 'em I pull'd my Hat off to 'em without taking notice of their Faces and continued walking for some time on the said Bridge still keeping my Thoughts employ'd about my Misfortunes and chiefly about my Amours I was well enough clad as all those ought to be whose Quality cannot excuse an indifferent Habit. When I came again near these Women I over-heard one of 'em say For my part I should believe it had we not heard he was dead I cannot tell how I came to look behind me having no Reason to think they spoke of me and yet no Man but my self was the Subject of their Discourse I presently found the first Lady was Madam la Boissiere grown very pale and wan who rested upon her Daughter Leonora's Shoulder Thereupon I made directly towards them with more assurance than I had in Rome having improv'd my self both as to my Person and Wit during my stay in Paris I found 'em so surpriz'd and amaz'd that I verily believe they would have fled from me had Madam la Boissiere been able to run and this surpriz'd me no less I ask'd them what happy Chance brought me to the Presence of two Persons whom I esteem'd above all the World These Words dispell'd their Fears Madam de la Bossiere told me I ought not to wonder to see 'em look upon me with some Astonishment since Signior Stephano had shew'd 'em a Letter from one of those Gentlemen I waited on at Rome by which he was inform'd of my being kill'd in the War of Parma adding she was overjoy'd to find that News false which had been so unwelcome to her I replied That Death was not the greatest Misfortune that could befal me and that I was going to Venice to court it and if possible spread the Report of my Death with more certainty than before They grew sad at my Resolution and the Mother began to express a great deal of Tenderness to me the Cause of which I cou'd not well guess At last I learnt from her self the Ground of her Civility I was now in a Capacity to serve her and her present Condition would not allow her to despise and look coldly on me as she had done in Rome They had met with a Misfortune which had put them to great Streights For having turn'd all their Furniture into ready Money they left Rome with a French Maid that had serv'd 'em a long time and Signior Stephano's Man a Fleming like himself who would needs return to his Native Country This Fellow and the Wench it seems lov'd each other enought to venture a Match and yet they kept their Amour so private that no Body ever discover'd it Madam la Boissiere being come to Rouenne went by Water thence At Nevers she found her self so very ill that she could go no further During her Sickness she was somewhat hard to be pleas'd and her Maid more unwilling to humour her than ever she had been before One Morning the Wench and her Paramour were missing and which was more grievous still the poor Lady's Money was missing also Her Grief encreas'd her Distemper and she was forc'd to stay at Nevers till she receiv'd Letters from Paris from whence she expected a Supply to proceed in her Journey Madam la Boissiere told me this sad Adventure in few Words I led 'em back again to their Inn which was the same where I had taken up my Quarters where after I had brought 'em to their Chamber and stood a while with 'em I retir'd to my own leaving 'em to their Supper For my own part I could not eat a Bit but thought it was at least five or six Hours while I was at Table I waited upon 'em as soon as they had given me notice that I should be welcome I found the Mother in Bed and the Daughter receiv'd me with a Countenance as sad as it appear'd joyful a Moment before The Mother was still more sad than the Daughter and I griev'd for Company We star'd a while upon one another without speaking a Word At last Madam de la Boissiere shew'd me a Letter she had newly receiv'd from Paris which cast both her and her Daughter Leonora into the deepest Affliction in the World She express'd the Reason of her Grief with a Flood of Tears and her Daughter Leonora wept also most bitterly which mov'd me so sensibly that I thought I did not express my Sense of it enough though I proffer'd 'em all I could possibly do for their Assistance with such a Freedom as put my Sincerity out of all douht I am as yet unacquainted with the Cause of your Grief said I But if my Life may any way contribute to your Relief you may set your Mind at rest Tell me therefore Madam what I must do to serve you Money I have if you want any and Courage likewise if you fear any Enemies and the Satisfaction of having serv'd you is the only Recompence I expect for doing you Service My Words and my Countenance gave them so full an Assurance of the reality of my Sentiments that their Affliction was somewhat abated Madam de la Boissiere gave me a Letter to peruse wherein a Gentlewoman of her Acquaintance inform'd her that a certain Person who was nameless but whom I judg'd to be Leonora's Father was commanded to leave the Court and had retir'd himself into Holland Thus this poor Lady found her self in a strange Country without either Money or the least Hopes of getting any I made her a second Proffer of the small Stock I had which might amount to Five Hundred Crowns and told her I would wait upon her into Holland or any other Part of the World she had a mind to go to In short I assur'd her she had found in me a Person that would do her all the Service she could expect from a Valet and serve and honour her like a dutiful Son I blush'd extremely at this Word of Son But I was no more that hateful Man who was denied Admittance to their House in Rome and to whom Leonora was invisible for now Leonora was much
she set about it she had little reason to think she should be refus'd because she had been so wonderfully Civil to her Agreeable to her Wishes the fair Spaniard answer'd her that she would satisfie her Curiosity whenever she pleased but having nothing but Misfortunes to acquaint her with she feared she would find her Relation somewhat tiresom You will be convinc'd reply'd Zoraide that is cannot be so when you see the attention I shall give to it and by the concern that I shall infallibly shew for your bad Portune I dare say you will be apt to believe you could entrust your Secrets with no truer Friend This said they threw their Arms over each other Necks and embraced so heartily as if they never dosigned to quit that Posture Afterwards the fair Slave wiping her Eyes which shed Tears abundantly at the remembrance of her Misfortunes began her Story in the following manner I am said she a Spaniard by Birth was born at Valencia and my name is Sophia I was Educated with that Care and Charge as would become a rich Father and Mother to bestow on the first Fruits of their Marriage I had a Brother younger than I by a year He was lovely as may be and loved me dearly as I loved him our mutual Friendship was so great that we were never easy when we were asunder aud therefore our Parents took care that we should seldom be so We learnt together all those Exercises that are usually taught Youth of either Sex and thence it came to pass to the surprize of every Body that I was equally skillful with him in the Manege as he was with me in the Arts of the Needle This extraordinary sort of Education of ours caused a Gentleman our Neighbour to desire of my Father that his Children might be bred along with us His Request was granted and having only a Son and Daughter about the Age of us it gave occasion to the Town of Valencia to think that there would one Day be a Counter Marriage between us Don Carlos and Lucy were the Names of these two young Companions of ours The former was handsom and loved me dearly which I reciprocally returned Our Parents observ'd it but were so far from either disliking or opposing it that they rather encouraged and approved it and I believe would certainly have soon married us together had not they thought us too young At length our delusive Happiness was stifled by the Death of my Brother a violent Feavour carried him off in eight Days and from his Death sprung the first cause of my Misfortunes Lucy was so affected with it that she obstinately re'solv'd to turn Nun. I had brought my self even to Deaths door for Grief and Don Carlos likewise had so great a share of Concern that he gave his Parents little hopes to believe he would survive it so much the loss of my Brother the danger I was in and the Resolutions of his Sister had wrought upon him At last thanks to our Youth we all recover'd and Time in some measure moderated our Afflictions The Father of Don Carlos died not long after and left him both Rich and out of Debt His Riches furnisht him with Ability to gratifie his gallant Humour and his Gallantry flatter'd my Vanity expos'd his Love to publick knowledge and augmented mine Don Carlos was often found at my Parents Feet conjuriug them not to defer his Happiness any longer and my Father was inclinable to hearken to his Request for fear his profuse Courtship might in time diminish his Fortune he gave him Hopes therefore that he should speedily be his Son-in-law This raised Don Carlos to so high a pitch that he lavisht out his Love at an extraordinary rate and which would have been alone sufficient to have convinced me of his Sincerity had I not had so many preceding Proofs of his Passion To add to his other profuseness he presented me with a Ball and invited all the Town of Valencia to it But to his Misfortune as well as mine thither came among the rest a Neapolitan Count whom some Affairs of Importance had brought into Spain This Count it seems took so great a fancy to me that he must needs be in Love with me and in order to gratific his Passion was not long before he demanded me in Marriage after having been inform'd of the quality of my Father in the Kingdom of Valencia My Father was so dazl'd with the Title of this Stranger that he immediately consented to all he ask'd and from that very Hour forbid Don Carlos to pretend any more to me He likewise strictly enjoined me to receive no more of his Visits and moreover Commanded me for the future to look upon the Italian Count as a Person that was to marry me at his return from Madrid whither he was then going and would come back in a short time I dissembled my dislike for the present to my Fathers Proposals but when I was alone Don Carlos would sincerely come into my Mind whom I thought the most aimable Man in the World while I could not find with my utmost endeavours the least thing agreeable nay scarce tolerable in his Rival so that it was equally impossible for me to Love the one and to forget the other I had recourse upon this occasion to Tears but sound those a feeble remedy against so great a Malady as mine While I was in this Condition Don Carlos entred the Room but that without his usual Custom of asking leave He found me all in Tears which made him to lose the Power of witholding his own however great had been his Resolutions not to betray the Sentiments of his Heart till he had dived into the utmost of mine He threw himself at my Feet and taking me by the Hand which he all bathed with his Tears Sophy said he to me What must I loose you then Must a Stranger who has scarce the Honour to be known to you be notwithstanding prefer'd to me Shall he possess you Sophy and will you consent to it You whom I have loved so dearly and who have always endeavoured to make me believe that you loved me likewise Shall your Father pretend to dispose of you when he has already given you me Your Father the most unjust Man living If you were a Person continued he whose Merit could be valued my Fidelity alone would be able to purchase you But pursued he since you are inestimable I beg you to believe that if I have had the ambition to aspire to you I shall not want the Courage to revenge my self on him whom you causeless prefer to me But however added he sighing If it be your pleasure that my Rival should live happy in your Favour I will forego all attempts upon him and only Revenge your unkindness upon my self by some cruel and suddain Death Don Carlos answered I will you join with an unjust Father and a hated Lover to torment me and do you impute that to me
that I should never have dar'd to have ask'd his Daughter in Marriage as well considering my small Merit as the inequality of our Conditions To which he answer'd that as for Merit he was well satisfied that I had sufficient and for Quality every body knew I had that would very well supply it meaning I suppose my Estate I don't remember what reply I gave but this I know well that he invited me to Supper that Night and where it was concluded that the Sunday following we should have a Meeting of our Friends to finish the Nuptials He acquainted me likewise what Portion he design'd to give with his Daughter but as for that I told him I had sufficient for us both and therefore required her Person only Then I thought my self the most happy Man in the World But alas That Happiness did not last long for the Night before the Day that we were to be Marryed as du Lys and I were sitting upon a Grass-plat we perceiv'd at a distance a Councellor of the Presidial-Court coming to pay a Visit to the Sieur du Fresne his Kinsman whereat both she and I conceiv'd the same thought at a time and began to be both concern'd tho' we knew not well at what which nevertheless the event of what we feared made but too perspicuous For next Day when I went to meet the Company at du Fresne's House according to Agreement I found du Lys at the Court-gate crying Upon asking her what she ail'd I could obtain no answer whereupon I enter'd into the House and found her Sister in the same Condition I ask'd her likewise what was the meaning of so many Tears She answer'd sobbing that I would know but too soon Then I went up into the Chamber and found the Mother but she no sooner saw me than she went out without scarce speaking a Word to me for Tears Sobbs and Sighs had so disturbed her that all she could do was to look pittifully upon me and cry Ah poor young Man I resolved to know the Cause of this sudden Change and therefore immediately went to Monsieur du Fresne's Chamber where I found him sitting in an Elbow-chair At my coming in he told me bluntly that he had alter'd his Mind and would not now Marry his younger Daughter before his elder and tho' he did Marry her it should be sure not to be before his return from Court I answer'd upon these two Heads first That his elder Daughter would not at all be displeas'd to have her younger Sister Marryed before her providing it were to me since she had always loved me as her Brother and more than once professed as much And secondly I acquainted him that I would willingly stay for her ten Years instead of three Months that he should be from home At last he told me in plain Terms that I must think no more of his Daughter and so turn'd from me Having heard this I immediately determin'd to go home and kill my self But as I was drawing forth my Sword for that purpose the aforesaid Widow that had formerly been our Confidence came in upon me where I was and prevented me in that Design by telling me that she came from du Lys and that she desired me by her not to afflict my self but have Patience and Matters might perhaps change to my advantage She farther inform'd me from her that I had her Mother and Sister sure to my Interest and above all herself whose Kindness and Constancy to me was unalterable She likewise told me that the Sisters had resolved as soon as their Father was gone that they would give me an opportunity to continue my Visits as before Tho' this Discourse was extremely pleasing to me yet could it not altogether comfort me for I afterwards fell into so deep a Melancholy that Despair suggested to me to consult the Devil about my Fate Hereupon a little before Monsieur du Fresne's Departure I went to a large Copse about half a League from the Town where it was the Vulgar Report that evil Spirits inhabited and where 't is certain the Fairies who are no doubt the Devil's Imps had formerly been I went a great way into this Copse and when I thought I was far enough I began to call upon and invoke the Spirits to Assist me in this worst of Misfortunes but after I had Pray'd and Bawl'd for some time to no purpose and only heard the Birds warble which I interpreted to be their concern for my Misfortune I return'd home to my House not at all satisfied when throwing my self upon the Bed I was immediately seiz'd with such a wild Frenzy that I even lost my Speech insomuch that 't was thought I could never have escap'd Death Du Lys was ill at the same time and much after the same manner which has inclin'd me to believe ever since that there is something in Sympathy more than ordinary for as the Cause of our Sickness was the same so was its effect which we understood by our Doctor and Apothecary having both the same but as for our Surgeon 's they were several I grew well a little before du Lys which made me to go or I might rather say be carryed to see her When I came to her House I found her a Bed and her Father gone to Court She no sooner saw me but she seem'd to recover which made me desire her to rise but she was no sooner got out of Bed than she fainted away in my Arms. This made me extremely sorry that I had desir'd so unreasonable a thing of her and therefore I had her immediately put to Bed again where after some time I left her to recover by Sleep which perhaps she would not have done had I staid with her Not long after we were both entirely recovered and pass'd our time very pleasantly all the while her Father continued absent till at last returning again he was inform'd by some secret Enemies of ours that I had kept his Daughter company ever since he had been from home This made him to rave extremely and to forbid his Wife and Daughters seeing me any more which I learnt afterwards by our Confidente as likewise that they had notwithstanding engaged in a Resolution to see me often and inform'd me of the means by this Widow The first was that I should observe when this unkind Father came into the City when I might go to his House and continue there till his return which was well enough known by his Knock. Then were I to step behind the Tapistry and afterwards while either a Man or Maid or one of his Daughters took off his Cloak I might easily slip out behind him which he could never hear by reason as I have told you before that he was Deaf This contrivance I frequently made use of but which being at length discovered I was forc'd to have recourse to another which was to meet my Mistriss and Friends in our Confidentes Garden which I did several
not yet dispos'd to receive his Addresses but that time for ought she knew might make an alteration upon her to his Advantage With these Words she left him and retir'd The small Hopes she gave him put him upon a Stratagem which was like to have spoil'd all and that was to make her Jealous He consider'd with himself that since she had shew'd some good Will towards him she would not fail to be Jealous if she really lov'd him He therefore sought out a Comrade of his that had a Mistress that lov'd him as much as his slighted him He desir'd him to give him leave to make his Addresses to her and he to do the like to his that he might observe how she would take it His Comrade would by no means grant his request till he had his Mistresses consent which nevertheless soon after demanding he easily obtain'd The first time that these two Ladies came together which I should have told you they did almost every Day the two Lovers made their exchange according to Agreement St. Germain stepping up to and Courting his Comrades Mistress whilst his Comrade did the like to the Haughty Margaret who received him but very coldly But assoon as she perceived her former Spark and his Mistress laugh'd she began to fly out into a great Passion well knowing then that this exchange had been concerted on Agreement and therefore immediately flung out of the Company with Tears in her Eyes This caused the obliging Mistress to go after her and endeavour to appease her telling her that this Stratagem of her Lovers was only to know her Mind the better and not to circumvent or affront her and therefore earnestly entreated her to take no farther notice of it but rather to favour the constant Addresses of so sincere a Lover as St. Germain had long been to her All this notwithstanding gain'd little upon the humoursom Margaret whereupon the unfortunate St. Germain was driven to so fierce a despair that for the future he fought nothing so much as to shew the violence of his Love by some rash Action which he hop'd might procure his Death This Resolution one Night not long after he had an occasion to put in Practice for whilst he and Seven of his Comrades were coming out of a Tavern half Drunk and with their Swords by their sides they chanc'd to meet three or four Gentlemen amongst whom was a Captain of Horse With these they began to dispute the Wall and which they obtain'd by being the greater number but the Gentlemen returning immediately after with four or five more of their Company they pursued these Persons that had so greatly Affronted them and overtook them in the High-Street when St. Germain being the foremost and having been the forwardest in the Affront the Captain discovering him to be a Trooper by his Hat stept up to him and gave him such a lusty blow with a Back-Sword that he cut thro' his Hat and cleft part of his Scull Having done this and thinking themselves sufficiently reveng'd the Captain and his Companions march'd off leaving St. Germain for dead in the Arms of his Friends He had little or no Pulse left and less Motion insomuch that they immediately carried him home and sent for several Surgeons who found Life yet remaining in him These drest his Wound stitch'd up his Scull and then bound it up The noise of this Contest had at first allarm'd the Neighbourhood but they were much more surpriz'd when they heard a Man had been so dangerously wounded The thing was talk'd about from one to t'other after a different manner but however all concluded that St. Germain was a Dead Man This Report quickly got to his cruel Mistresses House who tho' undrest yet immediately ran to see him and whom she found in the condition I have told you As soon as she saw Death begin to show its self in his Face she fell down in a Swoon and it was found no easy matter to recover her When she came to her self the Neighbours began to accuse her of being the Cause of this disaster and that if she had not been so unkind to him he would never have been so desperately rash this being but the result of what he had frequently threaten'd Then began she to tear her Hair wring her Hands and do all that Mad People are wont to do She afterwards proceeded to serve him with that diligence that all the time of his Illness she would neither undress her self nor lye down on the Bed not permit any of his Sisters to do any thing about him After he came to himself and began to know People it was judged necessary that she should absent herself which she was nevertheless with great difficulty prevail'd on to do He at length was cur'd and when he came to be perfectly well he was Married to his capricious Mistress Margaret to the satisfaction of every body but much more of himself After Leander had finish'd this Novel the Company return'd to the Town where having well Supp'd Danc'd and the like they put the new marry'd Couples to Bed These Weddings had been kept so secret that they had no Visitors for two Days after but on the third Day they were so embarras'd with them that they had not leisure left them to Study their Parts After a little time they all continu'd their Exercise as before except Ragotin who was fallen into a perfect Despair as you will find in the following Chapter CHAP. XVII Ragotin's Despair and Death with the end of the Comical Romance RAncour perceiving that he as well as Ragotin had no more hopes left of succeeding in his Love to Star got up betimes and went to the little Man whom he found likewise risen and Writing at the Table Upon his enquiry what he was doing he told him he was writing his own Epitaph How quoth Rancour Do People use to make their Epitaphs before they are Dead But what surprizes me most of all continu'd he is that you make it your self Yes I have made it my self answer'd Ragotin and will shew it you He thereupon open'd a Paper which was folded and read these Verses Ragotin's EPITAPH HEre th' unlucky Ragotin lies Who liv'd a Slave to fair Stars Eyes Yet Destiny him of her depriv'd Which made him take a Iourney strait To th' other World compell'd by Fate For needs must where the Devil driv'd For her a Stroller he became And here with Life concludes the same This is fine indeed quoth Rancour but you will never have the satisfaction to read it on your Tomb for it is the common Opinion that dead People neither see nor understand any thing of what we do that survive them Ah! answer'd Ragotin you have partly been the cause of my Misfortunes for you always gave me hopes I should succeed and yet I am very well assur'd you all along knew the contrary Then Rancour protested to him that he knew nothing certainly of it but confess'd that he
telling them she was very melancholy nay and assuring them that she had occasion to be so But the Damosel whom Don Pedro's presents had gain'd putting a Lute into her Mistressâ—s hand Elvira was so complaisant as to sing which she did in so charming and graceful a manner that Don Pedro was within an ace of throwing himself at her heavenly feet and there acting the ravishâ—d Lover The Song was soon over and then she went to bed The Maids retir'd to their own Apartments and Don Pedro who made the best of his way to the street was strangely surpriz'd to find the great Gate lock'd He had nothing left him to do but to stay there till day which wou'd soon appear He sat upon the side of a Well which was in a corner of the Court being strangely perplex'd lest he shou'd be discover'd and incur his Mistress's displeasure for so bold an attempt He had not been here long but he made a thousand attempts and wish'd as often to no purpose that he was safe in the street when he heard a door open in Elvira's Apartment He immediately turn'd his head towards the place whence the noise came and was strangely surpriz'd to see the beautiful Widow come into the Court whom he thought to be fast asleep By the light of a Wax-Taper which she carry'd in a little Silver Candlestick he saw that her Night-dress was nicely adjusted her Breasts open and unguarded a fine Necklace of Pearl about her Neck and that over her Smock which had more Lace than Linnen about it she wore nothing but a rich Simarre She carry'd in her hand a great Viol full of Jelly Comfits and Conserves and in this surprizing equipage she apper'd so charming that Don Pedro had like to have preferr'd the pleasure of discovering himself to her to all the ill effects which so bold a presumption might have drawn upon him But he was wise in his love and hid himself behind the Well tho he kept his eyes upon his Mistress all the while flattering himself sometimes that it was he she came to look for She walk'd directly towards the Stable Don Pedro follow'd her at some distance and saw her go into a little room At first he was of opinion that his pious and charitable Mistress went to visit one of her Domesticks that was sick ' tho without doing any wrong to her Charity she might have left that affair to any of her Women He crept behind a Horse that stood not far from the Chamber-door and from thence observing his dear Widow he saw her put the Candlestick and Glass-Viol and in short all she carry'd in her Ivory hands upon a little Table and in a sorry Bed which in a manner took up all the Room â—he beheld a sick Negro who seem'd to be about thirty years old but so deform'd and ghastly that he was frighted at the sight of him His face was as meagre as that of a Skeleton and the poor fellow had much difficulty to fetch his breath Don Pedro admir'd the unparallell'd goodness of the beautiful Elvira who took off all the Negro's Blankets and having made his Bed sate down by the sick wretch and put her hand upon his forehead that was all over in a cold sweat The Negro cast a dismal look upon the charitable Angel that came to comfort him and seem'd to pity him with her eyes full of tears Don Pedro cou'd not tell what to think of so unexampled a strain of Charity and after he had first admir'd it he began to alter his opinion and concluded it was carry'd too far But as yet he had seen nothing The charming Widow first broke the silence and weeping at such a rate as if it were to be her last she ask'd the Black how he found himself My dear Antonio says she to him in a voice interrupted with frequent sobs art thou then resolv'd to die and wilt thou make me die too for company Thou dost not speak to me my Life my Jewel Take courage if thou wou'dst have me live and eat a little of this Jelly for my sake Thou wilt not so much as afford me one kind look cruel creature me I say that love thee me that adore thee Kiss me my dear Angel kiss me and get well if thou wou'dst not have me to attend thee in thy death after I have so passionately lov'd thee in thy life As she spoke these tender words she joyn'd her Angel's face to the diabolical visage of the Moor which she moisten'd with her tears I fancy that any man that had seen so odd a sight wou'd have thought he had seen an Angel caress a Devil As for Don Pedro he began to think the beautiful Elvira as ugly as her Negro who at last casting his eyes upon his importunate Lover whom he did scarce vouchsafe to look upon before and with his lean bony hand turning away her face from his he thus spoke to her in a low feeble tone What wou'd you have me do Madam Will you not let me die in quiet Is it not enough that you have brought me to the condition I am in but must you force me now I am just dying to throw away the little snuff of life that is left me to satisfie your libidinous appetite Take a Husband and expect no more drudgery from me I will see you no more nor eat any thing you have brought me but am resolv'd to die since I am good for nothing else When he had said this he sunk down in his bed and the unfortunate Elvira cou'd not draw the least word from him in answer to all the tender things she spoke whether he was already dead or refus'd to speak to one whom he believ'd the cause of his death Elvira wept like a Church-Spout when it rains and afflicted at the sad condition wherein she left her beloved Negro but much more at his unkindness took back with her every thing she had brought and walk'd towards her Chamber but with so sorrowful and sad an air that it was her great misfortune that her future Cuckold did not see her in that pickle In the mean time Don Pedro hid himself in the obscurest part of the Stable so confounded that he was not half a quarter so much when she was witness to Seraphina's happy delivery He saw this monstrous Hypocrite go back the same way she came afflicting herself like any Widow at the Funeral of her dear Husband and some time after he heard the great Gate open and got into the street not at all caring whether he was seen or no since he thought it not worth while to have any regard for such a woman's reputation as Elvira However he treated her like a Gentleman of Honour and did not discover what he had seen to his friend The next day he happenâ—d to pass by Elvira's Gate at the very instant the Moor was carry'd out to be bury'd Her Women told him that their Mistress was sick and