hath about her and you shall see how this perfidious Person became thereby Master of her Honour Coming hither to speak with you and Complain of the affront intended her she met him who giving her fair words lock'd her into Don Philip's Chamber under pretence that you were busie and that it would require some time to stay ere she could see you some little curiosity occasion'd my my going to that door which is between my Lodgings and his and there I came to the knowledge of this Business having over-heard some part of their discourse I thought fit to bring this Lady to my Chamber to give you further satisfaction of so pressing a truth her quality is great since she is of the House of Gamboa and Toledo two of the most Illustrious Families in Spain She is resolved to make the Case known to her Friends who are very Noble and of great Credit in this Court that they may oppose my Marriage and prevent our common Affront I have hitherto obey'd you as a Father I now appeal to you my Judge and I beseech you discharge me of so unjust an obedience for the future for I am resolv'd rather to confine my self the remainder of my days in the most Austere Monastery about this City than ever be Wife to a man so insensible of Worth and Honour The Ambassadour was extremely astonished at both what he saw and what he had heard he examin'd the promise made to Donna Cornelia and found that that discovery alone was sufficient to prevent his Daughters Marriage with Henrick he immediately resolv'd to break all to pieces and to dismiss his Nephew that there might be no more talk of the business he caused the Ladies to withdraw and sent for his Nephew whom he shew'd the Schedule he had made to Donna Cornelia asking him whether he knew the Hand he not a little troubled and changing Colour began to deny it but the Ambassadour told him that as he could not do it sincerely so it would be very unhandsomly proffer'd since the truth would be prov'd by several of his Letters written with the same hand at last Don Henrick not without extreme Confusion acknowledg'd that blinded by Love he had indeed made that promise but he would lose his Life ere he performed it Don Philip having quitted his Fool 's Coat and put on a very rich suit with the Cross of Alcantara on his Coat and Cloak heard this Discourse from a corner of the Room where he was dispos'd and not able to contain himself any longer Seignior Henrick said he coming up to him have a better care what you say and consider her quality whom you injure her Birth is at least as Noble as yours she is my Sister and as such I am oblig'd to vindicate and protect her if you perform not the promise you have made her I wear a Sword by my side which shall force you to do it if Honour will not I have already consider'd what I am in Duty oblig'd too as to that point replies Don Henrick and no Man shall force me by menaces to do any thing against my Will This so enrag'd Don Philip that he gave Don Henrick a Challenge the Dispute grew higher and higher which oblig'd the Ladies to come in between them and to give orders the doors should be shut least they should put the Challenge in Execution While these things pass'd the Ambassadour minded not the Person of Don Philip but imagin'd him some other Person come thither after his Sister for seeing him so well habited with the Cross of Alcantara and without Spectacles which he constantly wore he knew him not but having consider'd him better he found that he who challeng'd his Nephew was the same person who by his pleasant Extravagances had found him so much sport the Lady Eleanora perceiving her Father had his Eyes fasten'd on him with some astonishment imagin'd the cause of it and gave it a check in these Words He Sir whom you see in a Habit so different from that he was wont to wear and who seem'd so ridiculous to you is Don Philip de Gamboa and Toledo when this dispute is over you shall know the motives oblig'd him to that disguise The Ambassadour was the more astonish'd at that and would have press'd his Daughter to make a further discovery of that Secret had he not seen the two Cavaliers with Swords drawn ready to make that Room the place of their Duel he ran in between them and endeavour'd by mildness to perswade his Nephew not to contest in a business which was not to his advantage that if he satisfi'd not the injur'd Cavalier mischief would attend it that he should not rely on any protection he might hope for from him inasmuch as seeing the little reason he had on his side and the affront he intended that Lady he should rather be against him by assisting his adversary than countenance him in so unjust a Cause that as to his Daughter he might quit all hope of her that he should never be her Husband and that it would discover a great poorness of Spirit in her if she had any thoughts of kindness for him after he had so unworthily treated her Don Henrick finding himself press'd with reproaches on all sides and withal harkning to the Advice of his Conscience thought it best to follow his Vncle's Counsel he thereupon went with open Arms to his true Wife to whom he once more gave his Hand as a Husband and then Embrac'd his Brother-in-Law whom he yet knew not the Lady Eleanora thought it a good opportunity before the whole Company to give her Father an Account how Don Philip had fallen in Love with her how he got into his retinue in the Quality of a Jester that she conceived her self oblig'd to requite the Extraordinary demonstration of his Affection to her by an Exchange of hers to him if her Father approv'd of it the Old Gentleman had so much Mettle left as to admire the strange Conducts of Love in all its Operations and particularly how it made the wisest Man Mad and the Mad Wise making its Advantages of Extravagance it self to compass its design without any further demurring he gave his Consent Whereupon the Lady Eleanora took him by the hand and Don Philip was so happy as by odd and unlikely means to see all his desires accomplished The Solemnities of both the Marriages were put off till eight days after all the Grandees about the Court came to them the Balls thereat and the Tiltings were Extraordinary but what more nearly touches the Story is that the King Honor'd these two Cavaliers with great advantages wherewith Don Philip had also those of a numerous Issue for which Don Henrick needed not much to have envi'd him being the most satisfi'd man in the World with his choice whom he infinitly Lov'd and thereby made it appear that the inclinations of two person before they are United by Matrimony though by some intervening
faithfully promised to do so taking their Leaves of each other they departed to their respective Lodgings for their Repose Carola repeated all to her Brother what Angelia had related at which he was much surprized but told her were there a Confirmation of what she had then spoke she was for Beauty and Riches one of the Noblest Ladies in all Andaluzia and now said he we must use our utmost skill in preventing her speaking first to Don Manuel for though the Writing may be lost yet the remembrance of it will be found Carola having heard her Brothers Discourse retir'd to her Bed thinking to take her rest but that raging Torment of Jealousie would not permit her the least Repose Sometimes Angelia's Beauty and the Perfidiousness of Don Manuel appeared to her Imagination in the highest Magnitude and then the Writing that appeared so dreadful that nothing but Blood was seen instead of Ink. Such Agonies as these perplext her dubious Thoughts and hindred Sleep which proves a Friend to Care Her Brother was kept waking by Torments of another Nature for no sooner did he hear who Angelia was but his Heart was all on Flame such force has Beauty that it conquers Hearts and never ceases but in a happy fruition He did not imagine Angelia could be us'd so barbarously as to be tied to a Tree or clad in a Tattered Habit but in her Rich Apparel in her Father's House and now wishing for the welcome day that he might pursue his Journey and find out Don Manuel not so much to make him his Brother as to prevent his Marrying Angelia desiring rather to see his Sister Comfortless and Don Manuel fairly Buried than to see himself Hopeless Thus all with differing Thoughts at the Approach of Day they all forsook their Beds but Don Sebastian being first up sent for a Habit to fit his dearest Angelia she putting them on Girded her Sword about her with that Lively Grace and Vigour as surpriz'd Don Sebastian's Admiration and multiply'd a thousand Jealousies in Carola About Eight in the Morning they departed their Inn setting forward on their Journey for Barcelona and here I want Words to express the Thoughts which the two Brothers entertain'd touching Angelia Carola wishing her Death and Don Sebastian desiring her Life Carola seeking to find out Faults in her that she might not despair of her Hopes and Don Sebastian finding out those Perfections which more oblig'd him to love her All these thoughts hindred not their Journey for they reach'd Barcelona before Sun-set But as they entred into it there was a Tumultuous Noise and great Numbers of People were gathering together but upon enquiry into the Cause of it answer was made it was a Quarrel between the Seamen and some of the Inhabitants of that City Then riding up to the Sea-Shore they saw several Weapons drawn and Multitudes of People Hewing and Hacking one another and could distinctly discern the Faces of some that fought all this while Don Sebastian beholding this Cruel Scuffle observ'd amongst those that took part with the Seamen a Young Gallant that laid about him like a Tyger the Briskness and Valour of this young Gentleman together with the richness of his Cloths caused all those that beheld the Fight to fix their Eyes upon him and in such stedfast manner did Carola and Angelia behold him that at one Instant both cry'd out Heavens bless me Either I have no Eyes or that 's Don Manuel Then with great Nimbleness they alighted and drawing their Swords they cleared their way through the Croud and placed themselves on each side of Don Manuel Fear nothing Don Manuel cry'd Angelia for you have one by your side who with the loss of his own Life will rescue yours Who doubts it reply'd Carola while I am here Don Sebastian saw and heard what had pass'd but followed close resolving to take his share Don Manuel being busie in defending himself took little notice of his two Seconds but continued still eager in Fighting till at last he was forc'd to retreat with his two Valiant Amazonâ—… on each side The Fray it seems was not ended but Stones the Instruments of Popularity were thrown plentifully whereof one very unluckily with a well directed force hit Don Manuel full on the Breast and struck him backwards Angelia no sooner saw him fall but presently catch'd him in her Arms and Carola did the like Don Sebastian was likewise defending himself from the Showres of Stones which rained about his Ears yet saw the Accident which happened to Don Manuel and desirous withal to approach to his Souls delight a certain Catalonian Knight of great Authority in the City call'd to him to keep along by his side with a Promise to save him from the Insolency of the Unruly Rout Don Sebastian returned the Knight hearty thanks for his friendly proffer but besought him that he might pass forwards telling him he saw that in great danger which he valued more than his Life This stop was a great hinderance to Don Sebastian for before he could reach to 'em the Long-Boat belonging to the Admirals Galley had taken in Don Manuel and Angelia who would never let him go out of her Arms But as for Carola he arriv'd seasonably enough she being either weary or overcome with Grief to see Don Manuel Wounded or else inrag'd with Jealousie to see her Rival gone along with him had neither Power nor Strength to get into the Boat and doubtless had fallen into a Fit and dropt into the Water had not her Brother at that juncture of time appear'd to her Relief who indeed himself felt no less Torment than his Sister did Pain to see that Angelia was gone away with her Lover Don Manuel The Catalonian Knight being very much taken with the goodly Presence of Don Sebastian and his Brother call'd them from the Sea Shore where Multitudes were still thronging and desired them to go with him for he would Conduct them safe from the Rabble thus forced by necessity and being afraid of the People not yet pacify'd they willingly accepted of his friendly kindness Thereupon the Knight alighting from his Horse with his Sword in his Hand made way for 'em through the midst of that Tempestuous Croud The Knight having thus preserv'd the two Brothers brought them to his own House which was one of the chiefest in all the City Then he enquir'd of Don Sebastian in which of the Gallies he came who replying that he was newly come into the City as the Hurly-Burly began and espying in the Engagement a Gentleman who was wounded on the Breast with a Stone but could not by any means come to his assistance Moreover added he this Gentleman is a Person on whom depends all my Felicity in this World and therefore if I might obtain that favour from a Person so obliging I could wish he might be brought on Shore Thereupon the Knight freely told him that he would go himself and see him safe brought hither which
who but two years since had seen this famous and rich Island of Cyprus in its Prosperity and peaceable State the Inhabitants thereof enjoying all that Humane Happiness and Felicity Heaven could afford or themselves desire and now should behold them banish'd from it or made miserable Slaves within it could not have such Impenetrate Hearts as to forbear bewailing their Calamity But let us leave discoursing of things that are not to be remedy'd and come to your own Bosom Sorrows for I long to know if they be such as you express them to be and therefore I earnestly entreat nay Conjure thee by that which thou owest for those Services I have done thee the good Will I bear and the Love I have shewn thee seeing we are both of the same Country and bred up in our Childhood together to deal freely with me and acquaint me with the cause of this thy Melancholy For though Captivity alone be sufficient to afflict the stoutest Heart in the World yet I imagine the Current of your Disasters has a deeper Bottom For Generous Minds such as thine is do not use to render up themselves to common Misfortunes in such a measure as to make shew of Sorrows so extraordinary which I am the rather induced to believe because I know that Poverty is not so much your Master but you may pay your Ransom upon reasonable terms nor are you immur'd up in the Towers of the Black Sea as a Prisoner of Note or Captive of Consideration who late or never obtains his desired Liberty For which Reason your ill Fortune has not yet depriv'd your hopes of seeing your self set free and therefore when I see thee so much overcharg'd with Grief and making such doleful Lamentations I am forc'd to believe that the pain proceeds from some other cause than thy lost Liberty which I intreat thee to discover to me upon the faithful promise of all the assistance I am able to afford thee Who knows but that Fortune in her Wheeling hath brought this about that I should Proteus like be clad in this Habit which I so much abhor to the end I may be serviceable to thee Thou knowest already Gasparino that my Master is a chief Minister in this City thou likewise knows the great Sway which he bears here and how much Interest I have in him together with this thou art not ignorant of the servent desire I have not to die in this State which I thus seem to profess for my own Heart can testifie if ever I should come to the Test I am resolved openly to confess the Christian Faith from which my few Years and less understanding separated me From all this that has been said I leave it to thy self to infer the Conclusion and to consider seriously whether my proffered Friendship may be useful to thee Now that I may know what Remedy thy Misfortune requires it is requisite thou should'st recount it to me the Relation of it being as necessary for me to hear as the Rich Patient's mind to his Physician And I assure thee by all the Fidelity that belongs to Friendship to secure it in the deepest Silence To all these Words of his Gasparino gave an attentive Ear though his Tongue was silent and seeing himself obliged by those kind Expressions and his own necessity return'd this Answer My dearest Pyrrhus said he for so was this Turk called if as thou hast conjectur'd aright at my Misfortunes thou could'st prescribe as well the Remedy I should think my self happy in my lost Liberty and would not change my State for the greatest Felicity imaginable but I understand well the Cause is such that all the World may take notice whence it proceeds though that Man is not to be found who dares undertake to find out a Remedy much less to give me the least Relief and that thou may'st be inform'd of the verity of my Discourse I will relate as briefly as I can the Cause of my Woes but before I enter into this confused Labyrinth of my Miseries I would first desire thee to acquaint me with the Cause why Bazon Bashaw hath pitch'd here in this Field these Tents and Pavillions before he makes his entry into Nicosia being deputed to be Vice-roy or Bashaw there I will said Pyrrhus answer your demands in a few Words and therefore you must know that it is a Custom among the Turks that they who come to be Vice-roys of some Province do not immediately enter into the City where their Predecessor resides till he departs out of it and leaves the Place free to his Successor For when the new Bashaw has made his Entrance the old one stays without in the Field expecting what Accusations shall come against him and what Misdemeanours during his Government they shall lay to his Charge which being alledged and proved are recorded and a note taken of them now the other being setled in his Residence he gives to him that leaves his Charge a Scrole of Parchment seal'd up very close and therewith he presents himself at the Gate of the Grand Seignior which being seen and perused by the Visier Bashaw and by those other inferiour Bashaws they either reward or punish him according to the Relation that is made of his Behaviour For this Reason thy Master Bazon Bashaw has remained in this Field four days but he of Nicosia is not as yet come forth having been very sick but being now upon the mending hand he will without fail come forth either to day or to morrow at the farthest and is to lodge in certain Tents which are pitched behind this rising Hill which as yet thou hast not seen and thy Master is forthwith to enter the City Thus much to your first Question now in the Prosecution of my promised Relation But let me first ask you whether you know in our Town of Trepana a Virgin to whom Fame hath given the repute of being the fairest in all Sicily in whose praise the most transcendent Wits have expressed themselves and of whom the most Judicious have concluded that she was the perfectest Pattern of Beauty that the past Age had the present has and that which is to come can hope to have Nature indeed had bestowed on the whole composure every thing so perfect that envy it self could not tax her in any one particular And it is possible Pyrrhus that all this while thou hast not told me yet who she â—…s nor her Name I verily believe either â—…ou dost not lend an Ear to me all this while or when thou wast in Trepana thou â—…ert senceless Pyrrhus replyed That if she whom he had set forth with such incomâ—…arableness of Beauty were not Graciana â—…e Daughter of Pisaura Sorescos he knew â—…ot who she could be for that she alone â—…ad all that fame to attend her he had spoke 〈◊〉 'T is she Pyrrhus reply'd Gasparino 't is â—…he my dearest Friend who is the princiâ—…al cause of all my Felicity and Misfortune 'T is she and
not speak of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to what she should ask him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you may be sure our Lady hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and may over-hear our Discourse and to deal plainly with you has acquainted me that she is a great Admirer of you and has employed me to interceed with you in her behalf if you answer her Desires your days here in Captivity may seem more easie to you though in the end prove pernicious However for the present you must counterfeit your Embracements first for my desire and next it is a piece of rudeness to despise any Lady's Addresses To this Gasparino reply'd I never could harbour any such Thought Fair Graciana that any Service you should ever command me to undertake should prove so hard a Task for me to perform as this which you lay before me neither is it agreeable to the Honour and Faith of a Gentleman or the Reputation of a good man to feign and dissemble in such weighty Consequences However because you shall not say I gave a refusal to your first Request your Commands shall be obeyed I 'll Ianus like look two ways pursue the ill because it is for good to come of it I will to satisfie your desire and Albuma's Pleasure Lust I should have call'd it comply as far as a counterfeiting yielding will permit so that thereby I may gain the Happiness of seeing you to which purpose do you study for my Answers to her according to your Discretion which having said he entreated her briefly to tell him how she escaped from the hands of the Pyrates and how she came inâ—…o those of the Iew who so lately sold her The Story of my Misfortunes answered Graciana require more leasure than time will now permit yet will I not leave you wholly unsatisfied Know then that the very same Evening we parted Rozak's Galley was carried with a strong Wind to the same Isles of Pantanalea where we likewise saw your Vessel but ours we being not able to hinder it ran unavoidably upon the Rocks â–ª However Rozak foreseeing his own Destâ—…uction and mine before his Eyes beâ—…e the fatal ruine happen'd took care to have â—…e rowed on Shore between two Câ—…ks fastened together which was done at first by the Captain himself who had ventur'd his Life to save mine till an unfortunate Billow threw him upon the Rocks and dash'd out his Brains After which two others which were endeavouring to save themselves took hold of my Cable and hall'd me to Land where I lay in a Swoon for some time but of this I know nothing my self but by information With me eight other Persons sav'd themselves who though Turks us'd me with as much respect as if I had been related to them We kept our selves close in a Cave for eight days the Turks fearing the Christians should espy 'em which had command of the Fort in the Island and all that time we fed upon nothing but the wet Bisket which the Sea had cast upon the Shore from the broken Bins of the Galley which the Turks gathered up by Night that they might not be discover'd At the eight days end there arrived upon that Coast a Vessel of the Moors which came to an Anchor a little off the Land upon which the Turks made such signs to the Vessel which lay not far off that they which were in her perceiv'd they were Turks that call'd to ' em Thereupon they sent out their Cock-Boat and receiv'd them into their Bark wherein was an exceeding rich Iew a Merchant all the Lading of the Vessel or the most part of it was his being Freighted with Carpets and Hides with other Commodities which they carry from Barbary to the Levant In that Vessel the Turks sail'd for Tripoli and in that Voyage they sold me to the Iew for two thousand Ducats an Excessive Price if his Love towards me had not made him so generous as he afterwards declared to me Leaving the Turks after all this in Tripoli the Vessel Tack'd about to perform her Voyage and the Iew began to be very hot in his Sollicitations At length despairing to obtain his lustful ends he resolved to make the most of me the first opportunity that should offer it self At last he understood that the two Bashaws were in this Island where he might sell and vend his Merchandize as well as in Xio whither he was bound and intending to sell me to one of the Bashaws he put me in this Habit which I have on to make me the more Sailable and Amiable to the Eyes of those that bought me And now I understand this Cadi or Iudge has purchas'd me with a design to send me as a Present to the Great Turk of which I am not a little fearful Here I heard of your supposed Death and I must now declare to you if you dare believe me That it grieved me to the very Soul though I rather envied than pity'd your Misfortune not out of any disrespect but because I knew you were then happy while I continued still in misery Dear Graciana reply'd Gasparino you judged aright in what you have now spoken only Death had deprived me of this Happiness which I now enjoy in seeing of you once more a Felicity which I esteem more dear than my Life But Fairest of Creatures I am now to acquaint you the Iudge my Master by no less various Accidents than yours entertains the same Affection to you as Albuma your Lady declares she has for me and he has made choice of me to be the Interpreter of his Thoughts I received the Motion though not to do him that piece of Service but to gain the happy opportunity of conversing with the Joy of my Life Thus you may see Dear Graciana to what hard measure our Misfortunes have hurried us you to be Agitator in working such Impossibilities and me likewise to be Sollicitour in such a Pâ—…odigious Cause as this which rather than obtain I would forfeit Life and all I have which now I value since it has afforded me this great Happiness I am doubtful what to say or imagine reply'd Graciana how we shall be able to get out of this Labyrinth but you see what our Condition constrains us to make use of I am sure our Inclinations never tended to Dissimulation and Deceit we must now make a Vertue of necessity and therefore I will acquaint Albuma with some feeling Expressions pretended to be yours that shall rather entertain her with Hopes than drive her to Despair You shall likewise report of me to the Iudge what you think most convenient that may not prove prejudicial to my Honour but prevent his designs and since I wholly intrust you with it you may assure your self it never was yet violated though indeed those Difficulties I have endured might call it in question As for our Conversing one with another will by their means appear very easie provided you declare to none your Pretensions to me for in that very hour you do that you
of what they had projected by dispatching his Wife out of the way that he might allay the heat of that Fire which by degrees consumed his Bowels But in Conclusion to what they proposed he at length condescended In this space of time Albuma had discover'd her Design to Pyrrhus and Gasparino and they were ready to put it in Execution as soon as they had doubled certain points they were to Sail by but the Judge was so hasty with them and so sharp set that they were forc'd to promise him to perform the task they undertook upon the first opportunity that should offer it self And now the day began to appear wherein according to the Contrivance of Pyrrhus and Gasparino they were to accomplish their Desires or to end their Days when upon a suddain they descry'd a Vessel which with Sails and Oars made briskly after them at first they were afraid they had been Christian Pyrates from whom neither the one nor the other could expect any Benefit Thereupon they prepar'd to defend themselves and to do all that might be done in such a Case of Necessity three hours afterwards they drew nearer to them till they came within Cannon-Shot Perceiving this they immediately struck Sail and loosed their Oars and put themselves in a posture fit to receive them But when the Vessel came within sight the Judge bid them chear up and fear nothing for the Vessel was Turkish and would do them no prejudice withal he commanded a White Flag should presently be hung out which they in the other Galley already blinded with greediness of gain took no notice of but made up with greater fury to Board the Bregantine At the approach of this danger Pyrrhus by chance turning his Head aside perceiv'd from another point of the Compass another Galley bearing up with full Sails carrying Christian Colours Now I am apt to believe the Iudge would have given all the hopes of his Pleasure to have found himself again in Nicosia so great was his Confusion and Amazement more especially to see himself so fiercely attack'd by the first Vessel that they wanted very little of sinking his Brigantine But when he saw them to be Soldiers of Nicosia he soon guess'd the Cause of their coming and by whom set on work and gave himself for a lost Man Indeed had it not been that the Soldiers more minded the Spoil than the Slaughter not a Man had escap'd alive But by this time when they were most busie about their Pillaging the Vessel bearing Christian Colours came up with the Victor Galley and began to batter it very rudely but before she came to grapple with her the Captain demanded what Vessel that was and from whence They made answer that it belong'd to Hazen the Bashaw Vice-roy of Cyprus How comes it then to pass that you being Musselmen have robb'd this Vessel which carries the Iudge of Nicosia To which they answer'd that they were commanded to take her by their Superiour and therefore they were to obey without asking any Questions The Captain of the last Vessel thus satisfied with that which he desir'd to know fell off from Hazen's and made towards that of the Iudge and with the very first Volley of Shot he kill'd him ten of his Men and presently after entred her with great Courage and speed But they had scarce set their Feet upon the Hatches but the Iudge instantly knew Bazon the Bashaw who with the same Design as Hazen had pursu'd him and that he might not be known had put forth Christian Colours The Iudge understanding the Intentions of both these Lovers finding himself thus set upon began to shew his Anger reviling one reproaching another and threatning others and so severely rebuk'd the Soldiers for drawing their Swords against a Iudge and Minister of Mahomet and their Natural Soveraign the Grand Signior that the Seamen began to consider what they had done and were about to put up their Scymeters only Bazon shut his Eyes and Ears to all that he saw or heard and falling upon the Iudge gave him such a cut on the Head that if the blow had not been born off by the thickness of his Turbant he had cleft his Scull in sunder for it came with such a force that it strook him down between the Banks of the Vessel This Action caused Bazon's Soldiers to follow the Example of their General so that all was now again in worse Confusion than before Bazon's Men fell upon the Iudge and Hazen's Soldiers fearing that Bazon's Men should get their Plunder from them entred Bazon's Vessel that in Conclusion the Slaughter was so great that there was hardly a Turk left alive but what was much wounded Gasparino and Pyrrhus observing that the Turks were in a manner all slain and those which remain'd alive were sore wounded now thought it their only opportunity and therefore calling to their Assistance two Kinsmen of Albuma's and being aided by the Volunteers who were Venetians with a great deal of ease and without receiving so much as one Wound they cut the Throats of all the rest and Boarding Bazon's Galley which they found without Defence they took it with all that was in it Of those that dyed in the second Encounter was Bazon the Bashaw whom a Turk in Revenge to the Iudge ran through the Body Being now Masters of all the three Vessels by Pyrrhus's Advice they took out all things that were of any price or value both in their own and Hazen's Vessel and stow'd them in Bazon's Galley which was a Vessel of far greater Burthen and fitter to take in the Lading nor did they want Rowers for they being most Venetian Slaves were glad of the opportunity to return home after they had carried the Vessel where Pyrrhus should require them But before they set Sail Pyrrhus and Gasparino full of Expressions of Joy for their good Success went to Albuma and told her that if she would return to Cyprus they would man her own Vessel and give her one half of the Goods which she had imbark'd But she having not yet lost that Amorous Affection which she bare to Gasparino told him she would go with him to Venice or elsewhere The Iudge was by this time come to himself having drest and bound up his Wound as well as the place would permit they likewise inform'd him that he should take his choice either to go with them or to return in the same Vessel he set forth to Nicosia To which he replyed that since his ill Fortune had been so great he would rather accept of his Liberty and supplicate the Grand Signior to redress those Injuries â–ª he had received from Bazon and Hazen two of his Bashaws In the end they mann'd his own Vessel and furnish'd him with all things necessary for his Voyage they gave him some Chequins of those which once had been his own and so having taken his leave he begg'd that Graciana would vouchsafe but only to imbrace him which he would
Quarters at an Inn whence he stirr'd not in the day-time but only took the Air a little in the Night yet with such a Caution not to be known to any he discovered himself to none of the Inhabitants but only his Land-lord whom he acquainted with his Quality and the Design had brought him thither He was attended only by one Servant whose Fidelity and Courage he had many years Experienc'd for he had serv'd him as a Soldier and waited on him from the time of his first departure from Ville-Franche Marco so was this faithful Servant nam'd perceiving his Master more Melancholy than he had been wont to be and that somewhat kept him from resting in the Night for he heard him disquietly turning in his Bed and sighing ever and anon he imagin'd that the Cause of his Disturbance was not at Pont-Ferrada inasmuch as if it had been he would not have failed Night or Day to discover by his Visits what could not be known by his Disquiets and Sighs Thus this discreet Lover not discovering any thing of his secret Passion Marco could not guess at the Occasions which bred such a Distraction in his Mind Nay though he did all lay in his Power to pry into it yet could he never meet with any Satisfaction One day finding his Master all alone and not able to endure that Reserv'dness in him any longer he thus spoke to him I should never have imagin'd Sir that you could be guilty of so great a closeness towards a Servant whom you have ever found faithful and to love you even beyond his own Life You have heretofore thought me worthy the Knowledge of your most importunate Secrets Pardon me if I presume to tell you that your silence now gives me just cause to conceive that you have not the same thoughts of me and that I must be guilty of some Crime whereof I have not my self the least Apprehension Wherein I pray Sir have I offended you You must needs harbour some ill thoughts of me since you conceal from me the Disquiets which deprive you of all Appetite or Rest. Sure they proceed from Love or I am mightily mistaken You close not your Eyes all Night and spend the day in Retirement avoiding all Society and giving your self up to perpetual Solitude and Melancholy which I am extreamly troubled to see You have left your Country telling your Friends that you were going to Court whereas you continue in an obscure place where you are afraid to be known 't is impossible for me to forbear grieving at it as long as I am Ignorant of the Cause Pardon my Curiosity Sir which however impertinent is an Argument of my Fidelity and Readiness to serve you I know it is the Duty of a good and faithful Servant punctually and implicitely to obey the Commands of his Master without insinuating himself further into his Secrets than he is willing he should be acquainted therewith I have hitherto kept my self within those bounds and have so lived with you as that I fear not any reproach you can make me But now at last my ancient Fidelity gives me the boldness to ask you what Business may have brought you to this place what occasions your Disquiet and what you intend to do in this obscure Inn where you admit not of any Enjoyments Have you a greater Confidence of the happy Master of this House whom you have known but within this four days than of an old Servant of whose Zeal and Fidelity you have had so many Experiences You have hitherto thought my Advice worth the asking nay have follow'd it in things for ought I know of as great importance as this Marco having thus ended his Complaint his Master conceiv'd himself oblig'd to make him some answer which was this Marco I must confess I have look'd on thee and that justly as my Friend a Title I may well allow one who hath shar'd with me in War the Dangers in Peace the Enjoyments I have been engag'd in It is a very hard thing not to say impossible that any man should in the disposal of himself take a Course contrary to that intended him by Heaven though it be said that a Wise Man shall have dominion over the Stars That is as Astrologers expound it Humane Prudence shall elude the Decrees of Fate I am born to love a Beauty which surprising my Heart hath withal possess'd it self of all the Faculties of my Soul I find my self no longer Master of my own Liberty that I am not able to make the least disposal of my Will and so it were a madness for me to oppose the inclination whereto the Sovereign Powers have made me subject I suffer my self to be foolishly carried away by my Passion though I know well enough that I attempt a thing absolutely impossible and beyond my strength This is the cause of my disquiet musing and melancholy spending the Nights without rest and the Day in Solitude suffering a thousand Afflictions which I cannot express and loving where I am not to hope the least return of Love by reason of an Invincible Obstacle that lies in my way This is that which destroys my Enjoyments and poisons all my Joy I have seen that Divine Beauty that Mortal Angel that Prodigy of Miracles who pass'd through our Town with her Father the Marquess Grimani The excellent Endowments she is Mistress of and which thou may'st have admir'd as well as my self are all the Excuses I can alledge for the blindness of my Passion but they feed it not with any hope There is an Obstacle lies between me and the possession of her which I shall find it impossible to remove This Transcendent Beauty is already made sure to a Gentleman of great Worth who is her Cousin-German named Henrick and methinks I see her ready to joyn Hands with him I hear such high Commendations of his Excellent Parts that I find the little hope I had ready to leave me I Love her or to say better I Adore her and if I may judge by the present Agitations of my Heart I may say it will never be disingag'd from the Passion I have for her I know it is madness in me to think of her and that I cannot without Extravagance ever hope she may be mine to the disappointment of a young Lord who with the advantages of Blood hath all those of Nature Nay I think it almost impossible to find out some means to acquaint her with my Love and to get a Letter convey'd to her I know that the Houses whence I derive my Extraction are not inferiour to those of Grimani and Henrick and consequently that I am as Nobly descended as she is that would not be the greatest Obstacle if I could but make my self known at Court I hear that she intends thither when she returns from her Pilgrimage I have but three Months to carry on this Business which is the time requisite to get the Dispensation from Rome I have a long
permitted him to dispose of her as he pleas'd in fine she gave him a particular account of all that happen'd between them whereupon he to add no more to her affliction put her in some hope ' that Henrick should be forc'd to perform the promise he had made to her The fair Lady Eleanora had heard all this discourse at the Door which was between her Lodgings and Don Philip's Chamber extreamly astonish'd how a Person of Quality such as she found Don Philip to be by his discourse and one of such an excellent Wit could put on a Fool 's Coat and behave himself as an Extravagant in their House and all about the Court She was ignorant of the cause of that strange Metamorphosis and yet she had a certain suspicion that it might be upon her account on the other side she reflected on the double Treachery of her Cousin Don Henrick in treating of a Marriage with her having given a promise of the same thing to another and to a person so highly qualified as Dona Cornelia seem'd to be Being fully satisfied as to those two things she would not stand to hear them any longer but rush'd into the Room so of a sudden as that she had not the time to put any thing over her Face nor he to dissemble his indignation Seeing her coming towards them Ah Madam said he to her what mean these Ambushes What 's your Design therein Soveraign Princess of my Soul and absolute Directress of my Inclinations Do you use such a Treachery against those who could not so much as imagine you guilty of any such thing I wish so great a Beauty would not give me any more such Apprehensions for another surprise of this Nature would make me die out of pure Joy as it hath been the Fortunes of others to die out of an excess of Grief There is no Dissembling any longer replies the Lady for I am fully assur'd that you are not the Person you seem to us to be and that the Affliction you are in requires rather secret and real Resentments than personated Extravagances My Curiosity heightned by a little Jealousie procured me the Discovery of more than you imagine I have found the Perfidiousness of my Cousin Don Henrick greater towards me than I could have expected considering his pretended Kindnesses I would fain be delivered out of the Confusion I am in and I earnestly entreat you to resolve me this Riddle for its Obscurity Perplexes me very much But before you take that Trouble upon you give me leave to carry this Lady your Sister to my Lodgings and if my Cousin comes in the mean time to enquire after her you may tell him that she went away much displeased at his long stay and leave the rest to me Having so said she took Donna Cornelia along with her assuring her she would do all lay in her Power to serve her which put her in hope of a better Success in her affairs than she could have deriv'd from either her Brother's Indignation or Henrick's Treachery The Lady Eleanora left Donna Cornelia among her Women and returns to Don Philip who though at first surpriz'd at the sight of her and the thought of her having over-heard the Infamy of his Sister yet was he withal glad of it since her Jealousie and Curiosity had discovered his Transformation and the unhandsome Carriage of her Cousin Don Philip therefore was very glad to see his Mistress return'd as might be seen by the Chearfulness of his Countenance She desir'd him to take a Chair and doing the like her self she opened her mind to him in these Words I have been in an extraordinary Confusion for some days past and so incens'd against my Cousin Don Henrick to see the strangeness of his Behaviour towards me that I come to receive your Advice how far I ought to resent it and withal to be satisfied in some things whereof I must yet Acknowledge my self Ignorant One is and that much raises my wonder to see you counterfeiting the Fool and Extravagant in a Court where you might rather act the Part of a Person of Honour and Gallantry as having the advantage of being Brother to so fair a Lady as Donna Cornelia who besides the Recommendation of Beauty seems to be Mistress of many other good Qualities You may infer from my Discourse that being of the Quality I suppose you to be you dishonour your self in representing the Natural and Ridiculous Person as well in regard of the Habit you have assum'd as the extravagant Actions wherewith you amuse the World Which since I cannot imagine you would do but that there must be some Mystery in it I am the more desirous to know your Motives thereto in that I conceive it will be a means to clear my mind of certain doubts which now lie somewhat heavy upon it Having delivered this with the best grace in the World the fair Lady was silent and left Don Philip the Liberty to make this reply If you find me at any loss Madam in satisfying your Desires as to this particular I question not but you will have the goodness to attribute it to that Distraction poor Mortals are Subject to when they Address themselves to the Objects of their Vows and Adorations You cannot be Ignorant though you knew it not by Experience that Love is a powerful Divinity to whom Men Sacrifice all things no Intrigues but he is Author of no Difficulties but he overcomes to compass his Designs This premised I am in the next place freely to acknowledge that the day you passed through Ville-Franche which is the place of my Birth I found my self wounded by the Lightning of your fair Eyes I did all lay in my Power to oppose that Passion but it still proved predominant and the Engagement I knew there was between you and your Cousin Don Henrick could not abate on tittle of it Nay though I knew all the particulars of that Engagement wherein you rather complied with the Commands of a Father than your own Inclinations inasmuch as you looked on that too happy Kinsman as a fickle Person unworthy your Affection a truth I have since heard confirm'd by your self nay though I saw the Marriage in a manner concluded yet all could not break the Resolution I had taken to disguise my self as you have seen to traverse it and Fortune now seems to Favour my Design I am not therefore Madam to repent me of the slur I may have put upon my Blood and the Noble House from which I am descended in acting the Fool 's part in yours into which it was my Business to introduce my self by all means imaginable since the imposture hath prov'd so fortunate and that I begin to conceive some hope of attaining my Desires You know Madam that I durst not have presum'd to make you a real Discovery of my self for besides that I should run the hazard of not finding credit with you I came in at a time when your
was put into his Hands found out the Disposition of Don Antonio and concluded him a fickle imprudent Person who pursued his Enjoyments without any thought of the Consequences thereof and thereupon he resolved there should be no farther talk of any Marriage between him and his Daughter Opening the Paper which Donna Olivia had given him he found in it these Words THis present Writing written with my own Hind and Sealed with my Seal Witnesseth that I Don Antonio de Mendoza an Inhabitant of Sevil acknowledge my self to be the Lawful Husband of Donna Olivia de Priola an Inhabitant of Toledo and that I will perform the present Promise I make her of Marriage whensoever I shall be by her thereto required Sign'd and Sealed in the presence of Dilario and Flora Servants to the said Donna Olivia Don Antonio de Mendoza Having read this promise and knowing the Hand and Seal of Don Antonio Don Alonzo said to her Madam I am very much troubled that Don Antonio a Person so well descended as he is should be guilty of so unworthy an Action and a Demeanour so full of Treachery for at the time when he gave you this Writing he was coming hither purposely to be Married to my Daughter But the Account you have given me of him is such that I assure you I will have no more to do with him since you have so much Reason to oppose it Prosecute your own Right and leave him not till you have obtained your Desires and be assured I shall assist you to the utmost of my Power since I find your Honour so highly concerned in it I have some Friends here and those powerful I will engage them all to serve you that you may find I am a Person who prefers a just Cause before all Self-Interest Donna Olivia gave him very humble thanks for so great a Favour and the Tears that fell from her at the close of her Discourse heightned his Zeal and Tenderness towards her Don Alonzo took along with him the Writing which Donna Olivia had shewn him that he might thereby induce Don Antonio to an Acknowledgment of his Fault With those Protestations he took leave of Donna Olivia promising to see her again within a short time and to return the promise of Marriage reiterating the Desires he had to serve her He thereupon left her giving Don Valerio the Liberty to come upon the Stage As soon as he had taken his seat you have understood says Donna Olivia to him if so be you have heard the Discourse between Don Alonzo and my self what hath passed between me and Don Antonio Upon which account as you have heard from her Father you find he is never like to be Husband to the fair Donna Catharina She sent me hither to acquaint you that what hath been done on her part in order to the Marriage between her and Don Antonio was purely out of Compliance with the Commands of her Father and that she is glad of the Occasion she now hath to quit him and re-assume that Kindness and Affection she ever had for you What I say you will find in Writing under her Hand when you have perused this Letter Don Valerio having read it was the most satisfied Man in the World to find his blasted hopes now beginning to spring again Donna Olivia perceiving it to confirm his Satisfaction continued her Discourse to him thus I know Signior Don Valerio you will be astonished in your self how this Letter should fall into my Hands it is my self only can unriddle it Being in Love as you are you know that that little Divinity is the Author of many Disguises and Transformations as you are taught by Ovid in his Metamorphosis and consequently you doubt not but that I Loving an Unconstant Person who had had such precious Pledges of my Affection should leave nothing unattempted to recover my Honour and oblige him to the Satisfaction of what he owes me I am come to this Court with a Design being what I am to get into the Service of Donna Catharina and have effected it For though you see me in this House which was taken upon my account I live in hers waiting on her in the Quality of a Duenna a part I have assum'd the better to elude Don Antonio and to do all lay in my Power to put him out of my Mistress's Favour and I have also brought that so far about that I am Confident there will never be any Marriage between them and she is wholly inclined to Favour you Now consider with your self what you would have me to say to your Mistress for I am just going to put on my Widow's Habit and I must return presently and am afraid she will think I have stayed too long If you will return her an answer you have here all things requisit to do it I think it necessary you should that Donna Catharina may see I have punctually obey'd her Commands As to the secret of my Disguise I pray keep it such for it concerns me that it should not be discovered a while I rely on your Discretion and knowing you to be a Person of Honour and Worth I presume you will not discover it This Discourse very much surprised Don Valerio who took Occasion to commend her Courage and Generosity and return'd her his most humble thanks for the Favour she had done him in entrusting him with the secret of her Love and prayed Heaven to give him Life to acknowledge and requite so great an Obligation He promised her not to discover any thing till she commanded him to do it and thereupon seeing her in hast to be gone he writ a Letter in answer to what he had received from his Mistress full of Amorous Complements and Protestations of Fidelity to the last gasp While he was Writing Donna Catharina put on her Widow's Habit and made all the hast she could to Don Alonzo's In the mean time Don Antonio extreamly resenting the Impostour put upon him acquainted his Cousin Don Martinio with it whereupon they went both together to Don Alonzo's He not being within they asked for Donna Catharina who came out without any Ceremony to receive their Visit that it might be the shorter for she had no great mind to see Don Antonio The poor Gentleman endeavour'd to vindicate himself swearing a thousand Oaths that he never heard of any Lady in Sevil of the name mention'd in the Letter and that no doubt some envious Person had put this trick upon him and that if Don Alonzo should upon enquiry find it to be true he would be content to loose his Honour and Life nay more the hopes of ever enjoying her The earnestness of his Discourse put Donna Catharina into some doubt that what she had heard was some Impostour advanced purposely to obstruct his Pretentions and referred it to her Father to make a full discovery thereof Her answer to them was that she was not at her own disposal that it was her duty
Curiosity before and had it been Heaven's Pleasure I might have shunned it then I should not now be telling you my Misfortunes which are such that I shall never think on them without Tears I there saw to my sorrow three Men with their Swords drawn fighting against one who defended himself with so great Courage that he not only made his party good along time against so many Enemies but also hurt two of them in the Head he himself having received only a slight Wound These three Hectors finding themselves so worsted by one Person resolved to do their utmost to take away his Life so that exasperated by their Wounds they pressed upon him so much that he was forc'd to retreat within our Gates where they gave him two several thrusts into the Breast upon which he fell and was left for dead Moved with Compassion to see so proper a young Man so disadvantageously engaged I came down to the Gate calling my Maids about me to see what might be done for him Our House being in a lone-Street for those who were come upon the noise we made were so few and those unarmed that they were not able to part them We locked the Doors and brought him in and a Chirurgeon was immediately sent for His Wounds were so great that we thought fit to dispose him into a Bed in a Ground-Room where my Brother was wont to lie The young Man hanked me very civilly for the Favour he received from me but alass that good Office began with Compassion but ended in Love The Chirurgeon viewed his Wounds but could not presently give any certain Judgment of them though he whispered me in the Ear that he thought they might cost him his Life That account of him struck me to the Heart for having seen him sight so gallantly I must needs acknowledge that I had even then conceived an Inclination for him But his kind Expression afterwards and his thanking me so genteelly for the Obligations he said I had put upon him raised it into a perfect Love My Father and Mother returned from their visit and ere they were got to our House were told by one of the Neighbours a Person of some Quality what had happened in their Absence and how that I had put a period to a Quarrel by entertaining the wounded Party into their House out of Compassion and a Fear that he might be killed whereat they were well satisfied and commended the Charitable Office I had done in such an Extremity for they were Persons who gladly embraced any opportunity to Exercise their Charity They visited the wounded encouraged him to take Heart assuring him he should want nothing their House could afford and acknowledg'd it well done by me that I had so rescued him upon which I took Occasion to spend most of my time in waiting on him him I say who is the Cause of all the Troubles and Afflictions which lie so heavy upon me At the second dressing the Chirurgeon assur'd us that his Wounds were not Mortal which caused much Joy in our House particularly to me who became every day more and more passionately in Love with him As often as I could get out of my Father and Mother's sight I went to pass away the time in his Chamber for which Kindness he made me extraordinary Acknowledgements This young Cavalier was Born at Barcelona and one of the most Eminent in that City His Business at Granada was to prosecute a Law-Suit against a very powerful Person who finding but little Justice of his side that the Cause was of great Importance and that notwithstanding the Favour he had in Court the Judges must pass Sentence against him and would put a period to the Suit by a shorter cut and rid himself of his Adversary by Employing three Men to Murther him who were his own menial Servants A Month slipped away â—…ere Calphorus so was the wounded Person named got out of his Bed having all that time been attended with as much Care as might be The second day after his getting up he had the opportunity to see me for my Mother was gone abroad upon a visit wherein I accompanied her not because I had a greater mind to be alone with my young Gallant He discovered himself to me so opportunely and gave me such sensible Assurances of his Affection that it raised a no less in me towards him insomuch that there past mutual Promises of Fidelity between us I knew nothing all this time that my Father was upon a treaty of Marriage between me and a Gentleman of Granada who was infinitely Desirous to enter into our Alliance while I was very well satisfied with the choice I had made my self Calphorus coming to hear of the other's Pretensions to me was not a little troubled at it but the only remedy was Patience in regard he would make no Discovery of his Estate till his Law Suit were ended which he hoped would be in a short time and I in the mean time kept my Father in play with Perswasions that he would not be over-hasty in concluding my Marriage with the Granadine Calphorus being perfectly cured and requiting the Kindness and Noble Entertainment he had receiv'd at our House with many considerable presents returned to his own quarters to bring his Business to a final end For my part my Troubles increased more and more upon me for my Father never giving me any notice of it as if I had been a Person not at all concern'd concluded the Contract with the Granadine and passed his Word he should have me which when I came to understand I was so surpriz'd that I minded not what I did This new Servant of mine who expected ere long to be my Master came to give me a visit But I soon satisfied him that he had reckoned without his Hostess for whereas he had flattered himself into a foolish Imagination that he should have found the kindest Reception in the World from me he met with such a Repulse as he himself concluded must rather proceed from the Aversion then any Indifference I had for him In a word being not one of Fortunes Favourites who promise themselves the Attainment of things impossible he easily discovered that my Refusal was the effect of some other Cause than the Modesty which a young Maid ought at least to pretend upon such Occasions and knowing withal that the wounded Calphorus had lodged sometime in our House he presum'd that my disdain towards him was occasion'd by the Love I had for the other and thence inferred that having not been so happy as to prevent him in the Acquisition of my Favour he had at best but a hazardous after-game to recover it The Jealousie he conceived upon this Presumption oblig'd him to make tryal of all the ways he could imagine to be assured of it so as that he might not do any thing that should cause him afterwards to repent of I was in an extraordinary Confusion during these overtures I acquainted
the dissembling Corrina went by That done he went about his Business attended by the little Negro whom he gave Money to Buy Provisions for a good Dinner Corrina got up and the Gardeners Wife punctually obey'd the Orders she had received from her Master treating her the best she could out of this respect that all the Domesticks made their advantage of those magnificences Corrina comes down into the Garden where she took occasion to commend the Walks and contrivances of it for the Gardener kept it in very good order and well supply'd with Herbs Fruits and Flowers finding the Sun beginning to grow hot she went into the House where casually meeting with a Lute on which Mercator's Factor was wont to play she set it in Tune and made her entertainment till such time as Mercator return'd from the City who hearing her at it was not a little glad to find that perfection in her more than he knew before perceiving that Mercator hearkned to her Musick she joyned her Voice to the Instrument to breed one Maggot more in his Brain than he had already and so Sung these following Stanza's While on those lovely looks I gaze To see a Wretch pursuing In Raptures of a blest amaze And pleasing Happy ruin 'T is not for pity that I move His Fate is too aspering Whose Heart broke with a Load of Love Dyes Wishing and Admiring But if this Murder you 'd forego Your Slave from Death removing Let me your Art of Charming know Or learn you mine of Loving But whether Life or Death betide In Love 't is equal Measure The Victor Lives with empty Pride The Vanquish'd dye with Pleasure She Sung so excellently that Mercator was ravish'd at the Melody and acknowledg'd that it was not a voice of a Mortal Creature but an Angel come down from Heaven he continu'd his attention a while imagining she would have begun another Song but perceiving she laid by the Lute he comes into the Room and transported with joy how hath this poor Habitation been felicify'd said he to her by your retirement into it most adorable Artemiza What happiness did the Hour of your Arrival here bring me who never had known any before What Honor have I received in beholding your transcendent Beauty and to obscure in you from time to time a thousand unknown excellencies which are not discover'd at the first sight This house may no doubt enter into Competition with Heaven it self since such an Angel Honors it with her divine presence what I say Madam is but little in Comparison of the passion I have for your worth which were it to be â—…ommended proportionably to the appreâ—…ension I have of it I think the most Eloâ—…uent Persons that ever were would be at 〈◊〉 loss for expressions suitable to so adorable a â—…ubject You press too hard upon me Dear Sir reâ—…lies the Counterfeit Artemiza seeming to â—…lush at those excessive praises I am not such 〈◊〉 stranger to my self but that I know it arâ—…ues excess in the highest degree to bestow â—…uch extraordinary Commendations on a â—…erson that deserves so little had I mistrustâ—…d your being within hearing I would have â—…ut off my diversion to another time since â—…tis not unlikely my voice may seem harsh to you compar'd to the excellent ones of this City which you often hear unless it be that generous Natures have an inclination to favour Persons of mean parts by flattering them by their praises into an Imagination that their Edowments are greater than indeed they are No more Complements I beseech you replies Mercator rais'd up to the highest pitch of â—…esotted Love my words come short of my Faith and I am to assure you withal Madam that though I have heard excellent voices in Sevil for I must confess there are some such yet yours is infinitely beyond any of them Your most humble Servant Sir says Corrina your Commendations are infinitely beyond my deserts and the Honor you do me can do no less then raise in me a hearty wish that my poor abilities might find you some further diversion with this Instrument since you are pleas'd to acknowledge your self so much satisfied therewith but my troubles are so great and pressing that in what I did I mended only my own I must see them at an end ere you leave this House says Mercator to her and therefore let me intreat you if you cannot conclude an absolute peace with your afflictions at least Condescend to a short cessation of Arms. These reiterations of your Favours must needs extremely oblige me replies Corrina and consequently force me to a grateful compliance with your Commands as far as lies in my Power but I cannot promise it you so fully as I wish finding the Person who brought me hither hath forgotten he did it otherwise he would have found some means to have given me a visit once in three days let not that create you any trouble replies the Amorous Miser but rather imagin there may be some Cause for his neglect I have some apprehensions said she that he may be return'd to Granada out of a fear that being miss'd there he might be question'd as a Complice of my Escape and this would prove the greatest of my misfortunes for if he be gone he hath carried all I had along with him Never fear it says Mercator for he must have more Compassion than to forsake you in so great an extremity but though he and all else fail you assure your self I shall not whereof I cannot give you a greater assurance than you may derive from this sincere protestation of my being so passionately your Servant that I imagine not my self to be the same Person I was before I saw you this transformation is wholly to be attributed to your Divinity and thence you may inferr the influence you have over me Having so said Mercator made an absolute discovery of his Love the cunning Gipsie pretending she understood not his meaning return'd civil answers to the proffers he made her acknowledging her self extremely oblig'd to him for his kindness and that she doubted not of the performance of what he was pleas'd out of his own good Nature to promise By this time Dinner was set on the Table they both sat down and the entertainment was very noble suitable to the Love of the Founder for where that little Deity comes once to reign the first Act he makes is for the banishment of all baseness and avarice Corrina and Vasquez had agreed together that he should come to her when he were sure the Old Merchant was abroad and that he should disguise himself like a Beggar that he might not be known nor any suspicion be conceiv'd of him she had studied several ways to chouse the Miser of some part of his Treasure but could not fix on any one she thought might prove effectual the Chamber where it was lock'd being extremely fortify'd she had continu'd there 3 days ere she had either seen or heard from