and though she thought she had no cause of being in fear for her Shepherd yet she could not rid her self of the fear that follows things done in private Had the King taken notice of her looks they had all been undone She had not then learnt the Art of concealing or commanding her passion but by good fortune the King's Eyes were fixt on the Marchioness who assisted with the readiness of Wit which never fails an able Woman at need entreated him to stay a moment till she had put the Closet in a condition to receive them every thing being out of order there The King though in never so great haste believing Ladies Closets are often full of several things that belong to their dresses and they are very willing Men should not see and that this was the cause of her blushing gave her leave to put it in order She went into the Closet and not well knowing where to hide the poor Shepherd she put him under a bed of Repose where he lay coop'd up in a very narrow room This done she came out to make way for the King who entred with Dorothy and made her sit with him on the same Bed Well Dorothy says the King you will never love me The poor Girl who knew not what was become of Antonine surprised to miss him in the Closet looked all about sometimes this sometimes that way without answering the King who continued his discourse I may tell you I sigh and die for love of you you can give me the hearing without pittying my sufferings for you Dorothy heard not a word he said 't was kindness thrown away she was troubled for her Shepherd and her sense as well as mind was wholly taken up with thinking what was become of him The King thinking 't was the Ornaments the guilding and rarities of the Closet amused her took her by the hand to make her look towards him Look upon me and answer what I ask you you little Baggage will you never love me Yes Sir says she if you will promise me not to send away Antonine from Aranjuez And who told you replies the King I design to send him away No Sir says she I was not told so but I know not why they will not let me see him and I am afraid if I love you you would not have me love him too And if I allow you to love him answers the King will you love me in good earnest or at least as well as your Shepherd Dorothy made him no answer not knowing how to resolve that point without having Antonine's advice in that case The King fell a-laughing and pressing her farther Is it possible says he you should think it so hard a matter to allow a King a share with the Shepherd in your heart Any other but you would have quickly ended the difference and no other but my self would be content with what I ask You are not just Dorothy you demand of me what I ought not to grant you and you make a business and a difficulty to grant me what cannot but be for your Glory You are afraid I should send away Antonine you complain you cannot see him you would if you love me have me allow you to love him too these are strange conditions And yet if I ask you whether you will love me as much as him you will not answer me What are you afraid of I would not have you consider me as your King among Lovers matters should be equal at least Let 's come to Articles Dorothy addes he smiling and if I grant you yours you must not refuse to sign mine Antonine shall stay at Aranjuez you shall see him and love him This is for you Now for my part you must love me as well as him and do me the same favours you do him and if in time you find my care and my passion for you greater than the duties he pays you without bringing my Character or your duty to me into account you will be content to be intirely mine This Prince who was infinitely witty would not make use of a Court-gallantry to gain the affection of an innocent Countrey-Girl He was above it and made use only of plain native simplicity so much the more delicate as it suited her capacity and wrought more effectually on her The truth is it shook her So that the Monarch to take th' advantage of the agreement began with kisses which she could not refuse him after the promises he had made her in favour of Antonine But the Shepherd scarce heard the smack of 'em but all in a rage he pinch'd her by the Leg. This so frighted the poor Girl that she skrick'd which astonisht the King He ask'd her what the matter was she told him something had bit her By good luck for Antonine there stood between the King and Dorothy a little Bitch of the Marchioness's which came with them into the Closet the King thought her guilty of the assault and with great animosity drove her out of the Closet But Dorothy having had time to recover her self a little from the fear she had been in judg'd her hurt came by the hand of a Man rather than the teeth of the little Bitch And reflecting immediately on Antonine she made no doubt but 't was he and that he lay hid under the Bed of Repose The King having assur'd her she need not fear being bit any more would have been at his former sport but Dorothy would not agree to it having understood by her Shepherd's action what she had already done had not pleas'd him The Prince press'd her and ask'd why she would be so cruel but all was lost labour she would not be brought to 't for fear Antonine should bite her the second time You know our Agreement Dorothy says the King seeing her obstinacy I shall not be oblig'd to keep my promise with you if you refuse what I demand of you You must love me as well as you do Antonine and express the same complaisance for me as for him if you have a mind I should allow him a a sight of you and not send him away from Aranjuez Dorothy much troubled at these threats knew not what to answer In the mean time she granted nothing but defended her self still against the King's importunity who thinking her lightness an effect of her humour and attributing to it her refusing him so obstinately what she had granted at first without any difficulty he easily flatter'd himself with hopes to obtain it another time and without pressing her further that evening retir'd Antonine no sooner saw him gone but he crept out of his prison grievously tir'd with staying so long there Dorothy to make him amends was liberal of her caresses but found him not so well pleas'd with her as to return them His heart smarted still with the sound of the kisses the King had received of her or at least given her which made Antonine requite her caresses with reproaches
not to lose moments so precious exprest more by actions than words how sensible he was of the favours she did him and opening the Closet-door was extremly surpris'd at the sight of the fair Dorothy drest all over with Jewels The young Lover ravish'd with joy run presently to him But he received her with that coldness and sadness her heart was almost froz'n with fear And she forbore her caresses to quarrel him for expressing no more joy at the sight of her after so tedious an absence He sigh'd and made no other answer Dorothy more troubled than before ask'd him as one affrighted what the matter was he us'd her so The Shepherd was unwilling to be the first should reproach her for what she perhaps did not yet know and and he had need enough to be better inform'd of not to accuse her without cause He ask'd her first whence she had all those Jewels he saw about her Dorothy answer'd the King had given them her and very ingenuously told him all the Visits and fine promises he had made her and in a word all that past since her coming to the Marchioness Antonine heard her out without saying a word then turning another way in a mortal affliction he lift up his eyes and hands to Heaven without further explaining himself But Dorothy frightned at the action pray'd him so earnestly adding so many caresses and tears to her prayers that the Shepherd could no longer deny her the explication she begg'd of him who was sufficiently concerned without her intreaty to ease his heart a little by speaking his mind Dorothy says he the King is in love with you Well I know it answers she but if he loves me he loves you too and what harm in that What harm replyes the dejected Antonine with a deep sigh None but that I shall never see you more but die with despair And why should you die says she alarmed at these words and why see me no more when the King who loves you takes so much pleasure to see us together Yes replyes Antonine do not you see that these three or four days I am not allow'd the liberty to enter this Appartment But 't is over I am undone and you are to expect no more of me but my death Poor Dorothy opprest with grief at this Discourse gave free course to her tears and embracing him tenderly ask'd him what reason he had to wish for death since she loved him above her Life What am I the better for your Love answers the Shepherd when my Rival is possessed of you all day and courts you and is a King and can do what he pleases Ah! how unfortunate am I Never fear the King says the innocent Dorothy for he hath promised me he will never do any thing to displease me Antonine asked her on what account he made her that promise she told him it was upon occasion of some little Favours he would have obtained of her A cruel explication for one so deeply in Love He look'd upon her with a languishing Eye and dying away for fear of hearing more than he desired to know he fell into a mournful and sad silence he was just expiring for grief when on the sudden he heard the King's voice in the Marchionesses Chamber Nothing could have happened more effectual to fetch him again than the approach of his Rival jealousie being the passion that best quickens and most heightens the courage of a Lover This Prince was under an Amorous impatience too strong to permit him to stay long in the Councel Affairs of State and of Love never agree well not that they are incompatible or that a Great Genius is incapable to bear at once the burthen of both But this is very rare and 't is commonly seen he that acquits himself well of the one is a little negligent of the other This Prince having very able Ministers rely'd on them for the conduct of the State that he might intirely apply himself to his affairs of Love He was much addicted to that passion and more sensible of the Pleasure that attended it than ambitious of the Glory of good Government while they treated in his Closet of the most important affairs of his Crown his mind was in the Marchionesses Chamber where he had left his Heart with his Mistriss but he was not a little surprized not to find her there at his return He asked the Lady what was become of her she answered very coldly she knew not I thought Madam answers the King having left her to your Care a few minutes I might have had a better account from you I desir'd it of you 't is an innocent Creature and knows not how to behave her self you might without wrong to your self have instructed her a little and told her she was to wait my coming But I perceive what the matter is I did not think Sir replies the Lady that in leaving with me a Gardiners Daughter you desir'd I should be her Governess No indeed says the King but if you should be her Governess think you that to be employ'd so on my account could be a dishonour to you Ah Sir answers she with an affected smile I come of a Blood And you might have come says the King interrupting her angrily of the best Blood of Castile and have esteemed it an Honour to serve a King as I am in any manner whateever With that he went out very little satisfied with the proceedings of the Marchioness and sent for Don Austin to make his complaints to him Antonin and Dorothy were in very great perplexity having heard part of the discourse but the Shepherd was the more troubled of the two The Lady bid Dorothy come into the Chamber that if the King came back again as she feared he would he might find her there As for Antonin she thought it not convenient to let him come out for fear of being seen and perhaps met by the King who was not far off the mean time she fell to instructing Dorothy what to say to the King if he should question her for the little Eclipse she had been under but she was forc'd to cut off her Lesson short for the Amorous Prince impatiently desirous to know if she were returned came presently back and entred the Chamber with anger in his Face and much discomposed but at the sight of Dorothy his Choler vanisht and he recovered his good humour The Marchioness would have helped Dorothy to make her excuse and at the same time make her own peace with the King But he could not hear her but said he was satisfied but entreated her to lend him her Closet to pass a few minutes with Dorothy there This put the Lady into an extraordinary perplexity with all her coldness and indifferency she could not forbear blushing she knew not on what pretence to deny him the key was in the door and she was ruin'd if the King found Antonin in the Closet Poor Dorothy was no less disordered
her to be Dorothy and I must be broad awake to believe her my Wife The King made him no answer and the discourse was carried on so far that at last they promised one another mutual Offices of Friendship and agreed to watch Antonine narrowly and give one another intelligence of all passages that concerned either to find out who was deceived The King made the proposal Don Austin accepted it with a great deal of indifference thinking the King had done it only to amuse him The King no sooner left him but he returned to his Wife who at first sight of him fell to exclaiming against that Prince who not content to have made her Apartment the Scene of an Amorous Intrigue came disguised to surprise her when he knew she was sick a-bed and had no help at hand but her Voice and her Tears That it was an action unworthy a King who had so much reason to know her by the proof he had made of her virtue But she saw clearly enough that the complaisance of a base Husband was the thing encouraged him to make a new attempt upon her honour and they were agreed together to destroy her It being impossible the King would have ventured coming into her Chamber as he did had he not known the Windows were shut and no light in the room And he could not know this but from him The Marquess much troubled to hear himself charged with so much baseness by his Wife of whom he thought he had reason to complain did all he could to justifie himself to her But all to no purpose the more he justified himself the more guilty she made him calling him Traytor a Man of no Honour unworthy to possess a Lady so virtuous as she But all this noise could not keep the suspicious Don Austin from resolving to have the honour to lye with her that night for he thought her dream of the monstrous Child boded him no good And a Vow so much to the purpose attended with a little indisposition which obliged his Wife to have her Chamber Windows shut up and the King 's coming to her in a Shepherd's Habit gave cause for conjectures which pointed directly to his Forehead he needed no more motive to have her absolved that Evening of so delicate a Vow He sent presently to pray the Bishop of Carthagene his particular Friend to do him the honour of coming to his Lodgings the Bishop came who not only absolved the Lady from her Vow but according to the duty of his Character applyed himself to make Peace between the Marquess and his Lady and happily effected it to the satisfaction of both And their Union after the Bishop's Benediction being greater than ever they began to ask one another in good earnest the whole truth of the story The Marchioness was to speak first of common right as having more cause of complaint than Don Austin She told him it was most true that in the dark as he had left her she heard one come in without saying a word which surprised her very much But more when she found he came and sate on the Bed which made her trembling for fear call in Alice to her aid and that he came in himself the next moment Don Austin believed all this to be true as the Gospel not thinking it possible his Wife could have the Conscience to tell a Lye the next minute after receiving Episcopal Benediction He told her on his part the conference he had had with the King who assured him he had no other design but to surprise Dorothy which in truth might be true But the most pleasant jest of all is adds he he would fain have made me jealous of Antonine And because he hath reason to be jealous of that Shepherd he would have all the World be so too And since he cannot get rid of him he would set on another to do him that piece of service The Marchioness hereupon plaid her part excellently well making a thousand exclamations clapping her hands lifting her eyes to Heaven laughing with all her force and doing all other Actions of a Woman amazed at the strangeness of the News which afforded them matter of discourse most part of that Night In the mean time the Marquess according to the agreement between the King and him to watch over Antonine failed not at his rising to give the necessary orders as to Dorothy as for his Wives part he feared nothing The King on the other side eager for the sport and desirous at any rate to convince the incredulous Marquess of the new Title his Wife had given him placed his Scouts abroad to observe Antonine's motions towards the Marchioness But she was before-hand with him having that Evening sent orders by the Duenna to the Shepherd to retire and not approach the Palace especially her Apartment till notice from her So that the Spies for some days could give their Masters no account But absence is the greatest of torments for Lovers and the loss of the company of what you love is little less then the loss of Life Antonine was in torment not only on the account of Dorothy but of the Marchioness who served for a kind of amorous consolation for him when he could not see Dorothy The Marchioness was no less afflicted and Women as 't is said being more violent in their passions than Men 't is credible this Lady who loved the Shepherd so well had a very ill time on 't She had none but Alice her Universal Confident to comfort her And the poor old Wretch was as much afflicted as her Lady to see her languish and grow melancholy She would by all means go seek out Antonine to make her chearful promising the Marchioness to bring him in so safe and so secretly that no one should know of it But the Marchioness had more Wit than to run such a hazard and chose rather to go see him at his Lodging than expose him to discovery by being surprised in hers She asked the old Duenna if ever she had been at the Gardiners and Alice having made Answer she was acquainted with him and his Wife one of her best Friends I tell you says the Marchioness the reason of my Question and the design I have laid I know your fidelity and the affection you have always had for me therefore I confide in you I will go see Antonine at his Lodging I take that to be the surest course Dorothy is much about my pitch I will take a suit of hers and I doubt not but I shall be taken for her when I am seen go to her Fathers we need only order things so that when I am got thither Antonine may have notice and the Gardiner and his Wife both sent out of the way for they would wonder at the visit This must be done to morrow Morning when the Physicians have prescribed me a Bathing for my pretended indisposition The Duenna answered all this would be easily done that the