adores you as a Divinity I wish that with last nights garments you may have depos'd some of your coyness which rendred you so adverse to my love Know besides that cruelty is an improper attribute to the Divinity of your beauty and beauty which is not communicable to all opposeth it self directly to the will of Heaven Should Heaven replies the Masker command me to love you perhaps the laws of honesty the danger of my life and the inconstancy of men would not be bridle sufficient to the debility of my affections The beauty of your looks answers Epidoro is a record of Heaven which admonisheth you not to be avaritious of its favours when enriching you with beauty it hath impoverish'd of praise the Fairest conceptions Le ts forbear hiperbolies replys the Masker I as I know I am not fair so I could wish my self so that I might be the more grateful to those that love me but your craft and my simplicity have made me deposite my secrets in the heart of a person who laughing at my folly perhaps meditates how to deceive the felicity of my thoughts I ought not to hazard my reputation to so evident a danger I have spoken too much were my face discover'd my blood should bear witness by my grief and repentance the blushing my heart hath sent thether are the reproofs of my soul which threaten the seerity of those chastisements the thought alone of which terrifies me Saying so she retires amongst the Maskers leaving Epidoro in the hight of his thoughts where a long while he would not have been removed if Love who commonly is not wanting to the necessities of Lovers had not relieved him so that having again taken the Masker by the hand he so much entreated her so much promis'd that at last he gets leave to speak with her the following night which was the beginning of Lent at a little window which lookt on an unfrequented street With this hope he pleasantly passeth the rest of the night expecting the other with a thousand imprecations against the stars for staying so long from celebrating the obsequies of the day Scarce had the light given place to the dark but he comes to the appointed window although he thought he had anticipated the hour he findes himself prevented his beloved expecting him accusing him in her self for want of love that he had not prevented her The complements which past amongst them were many and the amorous conceits numberless They discours'd of constancy fidelity and severity with so great an insatiety that the darkness seem'd weary to hear them which even for the cause invited the light The day comming they part with promise to meet every time when Epidoro should see a cloth hang at the grate which succeeded twice or thrice a week with so great a contentment to Epidoro that in respect of that all other entertainment seem'd but his anoyance and then thinking that felicity full without participating the rest he grew to that impudency to trust the mouth of many with the secret of his loves he bragg'd that he possest Leena's heart who had made the patience and love of a thousand Lovers despair He vaunted himself a possessor of that fair one who had oblig'd to adoration even those minds which were incapable of love unless it were that of themselves This rumor past from the ears of one who fill'd with incredulity and envy would spy Epidoro He hearkens to him one night when he had appointed to get the possession of the fruits of love Having no patience to suffer the felicities of one who was no waies his superiour by the favour of Fortune carried by envy which conspires alwaies against the satisfaction of men he vomits forth in a paper the effects of his madness conveying it afterwards to Leena's husbands hands Opening the Note he saw this written CORDELIO NOT to discover to you treachery is to be a complice in the guilt I who by the excess of your favours and by the obligations of my heart am call'd to the protection of your honour cannot filence it in the hands of dishonesty The night when the infamy of your reputation is to be practised hath not darkness to hide your shame My zeal implores the testimony of your eyes which confess Leena unchast and my self a loyal friend I remit to you the discovery of the truth It troubles me to disquiet the repose of your minde with so unthought of an advise But he deserves praise onely who discovering it leaves you the means to think on the remedy Your faithful Friend This rais'd an infinite many thoughts in the minde of Cordelio and all cruel nothing was in his heart but blood slaughters and murthers yet being perswaded by the love he bore Leena and like a wise man knowing the fruits of malice he condemn'd all other testimony but that of his own eyes He faigns that he was hastily call'd away by his business into the Country and parts not without Leena's tears who regreeted for every moment of his absence Cordelio lay hid all the remainder of the day and at night he goes to observe who it was that betray'd his honour Leena in the mean time had given her self in prey to a most sweet sleep not without being disturb'd by her Nurses voice who told her that Cordelio was to return in a short time to the embraces of Cinissa her Chamber-maid and that she her self had told her so that she would not be her hinderance Leena's minde soon gave credit thereto knowing her husbands genius and her servants little honesty and the sooner having been before jealous not without some affliction She quickly clothes her self and would not be followed by the Nurse that with the more liberty she might blame Cordelio's inconstancy She goes neer her servants Chamber and there she meets her husband who with naked sword in hand came against her to kill her He did it not either that she might first see her Lovers death or the pitty of Heaven permitted not that her innocency although suspected guilty should suffer Leena though full of disdain yet thought intreaties fitter then reproofs for her own safety Casting her self at his feet mixing her words with her tears she thus bespake him Sir If the dishonest embraces of a servant please you more then those of your wife I oppose not my self against your pleasure I would offer my self to procure your pleasures would you but do me the honour but to command it me but when with the loss of my own due I see my self in danger of my life I cannot but complain at the rigour of my destiny which hath caused me to be born unhappy The unbeseeming dishonesty of a wench can then do more then the chast delights of a wife who hath no other desires but those which are subject to your beck Alas how hath Cordelio forgot himfelf Alas how hath Heaven to torment me chang'd the temper of the man Cordelio interrupting her telling her The falseness of thy lips and tears O thou impudent woman would have introduc'd some perswasion in my heart had not these eyes been witnesses of thy dishonesty Prepare therfore to dy for 't is unreasonable that she should live who hath prepared the funerals of my reputation But first of all tell me Where hast thou hid that wicked wretch who had the boldness to defile my bed Leena being unable to suffer such words as those which wounded the most sensible part of her soul Sir To excuse your amorous thefts make not my honesty guilty with faign'd pretences 't is unbecoming your prudence and my love I am yours and I am chast Malignity and Envy can finde no colour to criminate my thoughts so far are my actions from wronging your honour I appeal to your self whether the treacherous desire of enjoying a servant or the displeasure of having been interrupted have not now the possession of your minde Cordelio grew the more disturb'd and with violence askes her of what maid or of what love she talk'd Whereto Leena answer'd all what her Nurse had told her and having understood as much from her mouth also he runs without delay to seek the Chamber-maid and findes her in the wrastlings of love fast clasp'd with Epidoro He was going to sacrifice them to his fury but his wives perswasions diverted him So that at last he was content that Epidoro should marry Cinissa who was a servant rather by the injury of Fortune then by the condition of her birth Whereto Epidoro without more to do consents the fear of death making him yield to any agreement Cordelio then embraces Leena excusing himself of what he had done out of zeal to his own honor having heard Epidoro call'd with a whistle from the grate and seeing him afterwards introduc'd his hous Leena's discretion was satisfied with these justifications glad to have escaped the danger which was the greater being hid which at the same time threatned both her life and reputation This may serve to warn husbands not to run precipitously to suspect their wives of unchastity And to teach wives not to allow a treacherous liberty to their maids And finally its an example to all those who voluntarily seek to betray the honesty of other mens wives FINIS
temerous and put far from you the hopes ever to possess ERMELINA This letter having been subtilly conveyed to the hands of Alexio insteed to rejoyce him rais'd a confusion of thoughts in his minde and bereft him of his rest were it either out of his little practise in love matters or that he saw the possession of the fair so easily granted him which he valued by so much the more as he supposed the access difficult he confessed himself penitent to have advanced so far Whilst without resolution he was thus solicited with a thousand doubts the Count of Bellombra came to visit and entertain himself with him a youth of a great birth but of a mean fortune at first encounter having discovered Alexio agitated with some passion he with some resentment and extraordinary commotion enquires the cause Alexio with a like facility both in being disturb'd and in discovering of it communicates all the motives to the Count which engaged him in those troubles of his minde desiring him as a friend by his advise to reduce him to the best resolution The Count perswading himself that it was a good occasion to better his own condition and coveting that for himself which was offered to another admonisheth Alexio not to venture on the invitation of a child rather deserving disdain then love since with so much facility she prostituted her self to the will of a lover that to introduce one at night whom she intends for a husband gave an evident sign that she had admitted others Besides he being not assured of the il which might happen he run the hazard to lose himself if following the lusts of his sense he should accept of the offer he added thereunto so many considerations which meeting with Alexio's little courage easily perswaded him to resolve absolutely to abandon the enterprise and so much the more for that with so much difficulty and displeasure her mother had denyed him leave to go from thence The Count a while after taking leave pretending some imployment and the night being come he goes to Aurelia's Garden door who received him with open arms beleeving it to be Alexio he being no less deceived supposing her to be Ermelina after some short complements with a low voice both fearing to be discover'd without light they retired themselves to a ground Chamber where on a narrow pillow they gave their senses liberty to enjoy the fruits of love At last Ermelina beleeving her mother drown'd not in pleasures but in sleep gets out of her loathed bed by reason of her struglings for sleep and goes to the window at the very same time when Alexio was come thither disturb'd with no less agitations Ermelina sometimes sigh'd both for the injuries she had receiv'd from her mother and for that she despair'd the end of her loves since they had had so unfortunate a beginning Alexio perswaded himself that these sighs proceeded cause he had not answered her defires not without violence to himself told her Madam I know not whether I should complain of Fortune or of my little merit which renders me unworthy to receive the favours of love Ermelina thinking he reprov'd her for not having sent him an answer replies Love is the greatest of all things and since for my satisfaction he is unlike himself I know not what to criminate but destiny which will that I should love without hopes He answers there is no love without hopes since from them alone he acknowledgeth the true substance of his being And what would you says she have me hope since all accidents conspire my mischief to render me desperat He replies to be fully answeredin love is it not then enough to quit you here in a full calm But who assures methat says she the promises of Lovers are the frisks of the wind I replies Alexio who dedicate my self unto you These said Ermelina are words which lose themselves in the air where they are fomr'd You shall see the effect says he did I not fear to be too temerous And what would you do said she I would get into your Chamber and there conclude our loves and save my heart from the shipwrack of hopes and fears Hereat Ermelina paused a while doubtful whether she should refuse or receive this offer and then she tells him to so great a proposition I have not courage enough at this time to answer He who by the vertue of love had cast off all fear and cloathing himself with boldness which was the more hightned perceiving himself passionately lov'd Answers her Who will be wary loves not love admits of no consults and in love matters all that is deferred is lost there was no way left either she must grant his demand or confess she lov'd him not Ermelina answered although my desire to be yours is far beyond my expression I can never consent that you should resolv to enter this casement to bring equally your reputation and my life in danger Alexio considering these words were rather injurious although they seem'd denials by the help of a stool climb'd to Ermelina's window and so enters the Chamber there after some faign'd disdains and repulses which the more incited him Ermelina was content he should reap those fruits which Lovers most defire In the mean time Aurelia had partly satisfied those itchings which proceed from no other reason but that of fense when fearing least her action might be discover'd leaving the Count to his rest she softly visits the house at last she arrived at the furthest parts which was her daughters Chamber at that time when with a struggling murmur of kisses the Lovers were preparing themselves to new amorous assaults It seem'd strange to her that her daughter being in so tender an age durst be so bold as to give her self up to the embraces of a lover But considering that errors of love deserv'd all indulgence and also knowing her self guilty of the same escapes she resolv'd in her self to dissemble the faults of others that she might not discover her own Yet for all this she would needs know who was her daughters choice whether with a fit election she in some sort civiliz'd her bold resolution Scarce did she perceive him to be Alexio when being deceiv'd beleeving him her Lover she sacrificed her self to fury rendring her self like those who are tormented with a legion of Spirits she tears her hair beats her self strikes her brest neglects no demonstration to discover her disdain and express her grief and at last with injuries and reproofs she thus declares her passion Perfidious man After having enjoy'd the mother must thou contaminate also the daughters innocency Why did Nature or Fortune render this wicked deceiver so lovely Are these the promises of the love you made me but now are these treacheries the testimonies of thy Faith O Heavens I shall beleeve your motions insensible and your influences hid if you do not thunderstrike this wicked sacrilegious fellow Ermelina at the hearing of her mothers
Characters of assurances of hatred He then would by several replies be certified whether that were Rosalia's house he could not but beleeve himself deceiv'd thinking it impossible that he should be come thither to receive favours when he purposely came to beg pardon When at last he was undeceived of all error either from himself or the servants he begins to doubt least those incitements of security were not directed onely to betray him He suspects least snares to revenge herself were hidden under that faign'd appearance of love and that heaven appear'd serene the more grievously to punish him with the thunder of her disdain Having pull'd up his courage he went up the stairs considering that he ought not to abhor to fall a victim immerc'd in his own blood in her house whom he had ador'd Being come to the top he meets Emilia who taking him fast by the right hand without saying any thing to him leads him alone with her into a Chamber At this action the Gentleman had a greater occasion to ground his suspitions He with reason doubted that she being offended by his refusals and thereupon out of disdain had with the other conspir'd his ruin He condemns the fallacy of such thoughts when the door being shut Emilia begins with sweet kisses and affectionate embraces to express the tenderness of her exviscerated passion His civility was confounded with these replicated encomiums professing to gratifie his favours so much the more did these move Irlando to astonishment not knowing what obligation of gratitude she could have unless she was of his race who esteem'd offences and slights favours The Lady seeing this sullen starchness in her Lover and appropriating the cause to a coldness of Nature even to a chilness she thought to warm him with using the more carresses and courtships the exhalations of an amorous fire Yet he stifning himself the more at this heat insteed to liquifie a sweet tenderness of heart she toucheth him with the iron of reproof to try of what stuff he was made since he obstinately resisted the flames which every way issued to fire him since he neither restrained the knot of her embraces nor returned the strokes of her kisses nor counterchang'd the words of her carresses Perhaps says she I am a Medusa since with the shield of my looks I change them who look upon me into stones What novelty renders you insensible What change renders you immoveable to my amorous effects Did you then so curteously consent to my invitation and do you now despise the guift Did you admit into the brest of your civility my offers and now do you refuse the favours Let it not invigorate your passion answer'd Irlando that you see your self deprived of your preceded contents since your hopes are unjustly clothed with the spoiles of my affection I am astonish'd that the denials I sent you in my Letters advised you not what a correspondence you might expect in the most evident expressions of love What denials says she with the signes of astonishment do you speak of what Letters Rather because I credited yours now I may say scorns which before I thought the acts of a Gentleman whom I have but too much favour'd In saying so she shews him the Letter which discovers the deceit to his understanding In looking over those lines which were paths of love made for his heart to make way to Rosalia Do you call these said the Lady denials Are these demonstrations of love importunate and unfit Alas either the remembrance betrays the intention to have scorn'd me or the pen in writing betrays the heart which refuseth me Afflict not your self Madam says Irlando as despis'd by me who may rather complain as having been abus'd by Fortune There is no crime in this that your hopes should rise where the accomplishment cannot succeed Mine was to give flight to these amorous Characters that they might nest my affections in Rosalia bosom Chance brought them to yours which was his mistake to whom I trusted my Letters for their safe delivery You are not therefore to think your self offended since he doth not despise the desert of a Lady whom he cannot love chiefly because his affections are oblig'd to another This passion naturally knowing no curb or rule thinks it its property to run whether its genius or sense inclines it I am forc'd by your civility and love to be oblig'd to you though I cannot be a Lover Love as an act of free will knows no other laws but election If this gratifie not your desires condemn Destiny or Cupid and not me who respect and admire in you your admirable qualities Emilia's thoughts being undeceived she oblig'd them to aspire to another sphere for that there they could not fix the Center of their felicities She lets him go faigning a disdain with all possible appearance that she might not be seen in a necessity to beg a mans love The Gentleman goes out of the house thinking he went out of hell where his stay every moment had increas'd new griefs The cause being already understood of the revolution of Rosalia's affections had fixt in his thoughts the recovering of the loss of her love by assuring her that not his own despight but the abuse of Fortune had provok'd his disdain He assured himself of regaining her favour when from the quality of the accident she should acknowledge the bonds of his sincerity Her fury not suffering her to attend to words he determines to discriminate himself in a Letter wherein he describ'd what hapned by anothers and not by his fault Yet they came not in a prosperous time according to his desires Rosalia being sollicited by these recriminations to her beleev'd disdain at the coming of Armando's Letter she was perswaded to give her self with her affections to him since by his refusal Irlando had already rendred himself undeserving To oblige these she consider'd that there resplended more in him the conditions of a compleat Cavalier and consequently that he more deserv'd to be lov'd Resolving at last to employ her thoughts which being kept idle might perhaps reconcentrate again in Irlando she wrot for an answer to his as followeth SIR BEing honor'd by your favours I ought to be grateful by my correspondence Should I refuse to be lov'd by you I should prejudice my self by depriving my self of a greater glory then I can pretend to deserve If even it were grateful to me to be beleved without returning you love it would be unjustly to enjoy those graces without exchange of obligation Be therefore assured of my affection for a pledge of which I to night invite you to the Chamber of Emilia my Neighbour where the comfort of your presence shall be expected by ROSALIA The news of so much felicity came late to Armando yet he speedily transports himself to take possession Whereupon at the same time wherein Irlando contested with Emilia he enjoy'd his practice with Rosulia Being pleas'd with her fashions he long entertains himself
swearing you will beleeve me that I pretend not thereby the least jot of merit towards you So that if your civility in its own respect affords me any power over you I will not that it should extend it self farther then to beg of you that you should never suffer grief to afflict you for whatever fatal accidents happen to me Forasmuch as if the knowledge of the actions of the living is granted to the dead beleeve me that your torments will for ever be my hell Octavio was violenc'd with so sensible an affection but profering an answer he was hindred by his Fathers arrival So that he parted readily to meet him Odoardo tenderly imbrac'd his son which being with excess it shall suffice to speak it was fatherly He doubly rejoyced to see his son recovered of his feaver and beleeving him wholy cured of his amorous passions he esteem'd himself the happiest that liv'd Unsatisfied with kissing him and asking him of his health and journey related him the newes of the Citie amongst which he told him he was in good time come to enjoy the Festivals which were preparing for the marriage of Florida Truly Sir answered Octavio in the house of Horatio you perhaps may sooner see a Funerall then a Bridall and thereupon discovered the whole successe of his love Florida's resolution with his own intention to enjoy her to the venture of his life and honor The Father was astonished at so strange a relation and bold a proposition being afterwards quite enraged he went about beating the ground with his feet and wringing his hands Patience exclaimes he O Fortune I my selfe in begetting a sonne have provided my self an instrument of mortification to afflict me Which having said he retires himselfe into another Chamber leaving Octavio alone in great confusion If Odoardo's distemper were great the fury of Horatio that very night was farre greater forasmuch as Florida having been as much inspired by the presence of Octavio as she had been disheartned by his absence boldly confest her amorous escapes But what above measure inrag'd his paternall mind was her sixt resolution never to have Fernando for her Husband Horatio at that instant would have run her through had he not thought to have pleas'd her when she with artificiall tears beg'd of him rather to give her into the hands of Death then into the Spaniards He afterwards rail'd on her with a thousand injuries and threatned to correct her as a Girle but the remedy appeared too vulgar for so desperate a case so that he the more laboured with disdain by reason he found no meanes to qualifie it He consum'd all the night in studying vengeance which is the legitimate child of fury and the illegitimate satisfaction of a generous spirit The following day which succeeded this troubled night hee imprisons Florida in a Cloyster yet in the same where was her sister Bellaria who was in time to be made a Nun and be obedient to that vocation which her Fathers avarice and cruelty had inspir'd Octavio having heard the newes of her imprisonment hee could neither retain his teares nor remit his griefe The counsell of his friends nor the prayers of his parents were sufficient to consolate him so that his unhappy Father confidently beleeved that his sonnes health would shipwrack on the rock of despaire yet did he not forbeare to perswade him to desist from that passion with well-season'd admonitions of wisdome but he well perceiv'd he had sown salt since he reaped no fruit Fernando on the other side rampant with rage swore to bee reveng'd of Octavio threatens murthers marshalls defies and chalenges Duels but in such a manner that that fury which ought to appear in action vanished in words imitating Heaven which the more it thunders it intends the lesse to lighten Horatio who had truly bound the hopes of his advantages with the bond of this Marriage seeing them fled away to his losse in tends his revenge providing a bravo snare to murther Octavio But wiser advice restrain'd him perswading him to make use of dissimulation which is the ordinary net wherein without noyse we may ensnare our enemies Having therefore feign'd it fit for him to change aire by reason of an accustomed indisposition which befell him he parts from Parthenoye having for a while suspended his intentions In the mean time Odoardo that he might not lose his sonne who was already fallen into a high fit of melancholy resolved to lose himselfe with him promising all his endeavours for the successe of his desires With these promises Octavio respires again from his troubles and having already provided himselfe of armed men to attend him he begins to walk about the City Fortune leads him to the encounter of Fernando who at that time stir'd not at all whether it was that the poore Cavalier had forgot the oaths he had sworn to be revenged or that hee remembred that Oaths of doing ill are not obligatory Octavio thus seeing himself victorious without Fighting puts by all suspition and begins to frequent the Monastery of Florida using a faign'd Devotion as if his Object were Idolatry not Adoration There he daily entertain'd himself to see the fair Prisoner but shee appear'd not being guarded by her Superiours so that the miserable man would willingly have chang'd his Nature with that of the Lynx so as hee might have gotten Eyes whose looks would pierce the walls which hid his Fairest from Him At last having tempted much and desired more that he might but be introduc'd to speak with Bellaria who being as 't was thought within a while to bee a Nun had liberty to appear at the Grate to take her leave of the World Octavio relates the series of his Love and with so much passion exagerates his Affections that the Maid was forced to shew her self pitifull least she should discover Her self inhumane Shee was of such corrected Manners that she rather would have chosen death than to engage Her self in an action any wayes dishonest Yet shee thought that to serve Octavio in his Love was the same thing as to serve Justice it self since Florida appear'd due to Him who had purchas'd her with so many Pearles of his Tears and Sweat So that shee modestly offers it protesting That it was as detestable for her to have Fernando for her brother-in-Law as hee was abominated by Florida for a Husband Octavio thanks her darting forth by a treacherous Joy a most affectionate sense of the obligation but confus'd He then begs her to kiss for him his Florida's Hand which being readily executed by Her gave our Lover meanes afterward to trust her with his Letters Ambassies and Presents to her Sister The curious Inquisitiors of Parthenope discours'd the reasons of Florida's Imprisonment to the wonder of all and delight of those who alwayes making an ill interpretation of other Mens actions use the least occasion they can to give cause of speaking ill and to divulge Satyrs But the common Friends of HORATIO and
OCTAVIO perceiving that there was a fire kindling betwixt the two Families which without blood could not bee quench'd thought to suppresse it at its birth Whereupon they wrote to Horatio obliging him to return far sooner then he intended and being come they calmly treated a Reconciliation and Horatio although He were very perverse was at last content So as Octavio would renounce Florida to Fernando in her stead take Bellaria to Wife The Party was propos'd to Octavio who discovering nothing seem'd well satisfy'd as the onely way whereby hee hoped to release his Lady out of her Prison The peace was thus concluded and the Weddings appointed by the false promises of the Lover who deferr'd not to come according to his Custom to the Monastery to acquaint Florida with his incorrupted Faith delivers a Letter to Bellaria shee who was already advis'd of his promises upon the Treaty of Peace believ'd her self to be his Spouse denies the Delivery desiring him to excuse her for shee resolved to serve him hereafter no longer then under the notion of his Wise Octavio sigh'd and esteem'd himself unhappy at the newes but laments Florida as more unfortunate beleeving her self betray'd and supposing her self scorn'd by an Idolatrous Lover Wherfore hee despair'd as one without a Remedy forasmuch as 't was impossible for him to speak with his cruell Dear and to write to her was denyed him by Bellaria who was already become her Rivall diffident and jealous of her Being thus at a losse she went about the Cloysters bewayling her desperate hopes and cursing her owne Fortune which had induc'd her to preserve her Life for so ungratefull a Person and so long to lose her Liberty But above all the memory of her Octavio most of all tormented her Dear although she even esteem'd him a Traytor Fernando was then at Rome when the reconcilement was made which nevertheless was treated with his consent So that when all men expected the solemnizing of the Weddings Octavio freely frequented Bellaria with his Visits still importuning her with intreaties to induce her to favor him as she had formerly towards Florida Nevertheless Bellaria resisted the temptation for as much as her interest rendred her constant although even shee was a Woman But at last when shee saw shee could not with hers resist the others perseverance she chang'd her resolution whence being become kind she afresh carries his salutes to her sister embassies and letters the lover sweetly respired in this calm of fortune which lasted no longer then the coming of Fernando to Parthenope who being come Bellaria in all hast sends for Octavio and tells him that Florida in despite of fortune being resolved to have him onely for her husband pray'd him to expect her that night neer the gate of the Convent for that she resolved that very night to fly away with him The glad Lover as any man may imagine as he who had long expected happily to reap the fruits of his pains parted having trusted his design to a confident servant of his with whom that night he comes to his determin'd post It happened that Fernando that very day arrived in Town the same which Bellaria had appointed who had not visited his spouse being hindred by Domestick affairs and diverted by a kinsman who forcibly led him away with him to dinner and detain'd him even the supper it being then late and having taken leave of his kinsman so that to guard himself from the sinister encounters of the night for his own security he had with him a train of armed servants His way necessarily was by this Convent so that seeing Octavio stand immoveable neer the gate he knew him but was undiscovered by him and then imgining that he stayed there for some amorous booty he curious to know the truth to that end watcheth behind the corner of the wall He had not long with great silence expected when he hears the door open'd and advancing a step or two he sees Octavio who was coming away with the Lady when with a raging fury having unsheath'd his sword he assails him treacherously pursues him so that the miserable man was forc'd to forsake his prey that he might not lose his life Fernando being very well pleased with the victory follows his way being highly oblig'd by fortune who had brought him so happily to be reveng'd of his rival by ravishing his pretended spouse even out of his arms But being come home holding the Lady by the hand who sad and pensive went along with him he saw by the light of a torch that he handed a deceit forasmuch as it was Bellaria and not Florida which ne had gotten He was astonish'd Chang'd countenance And with disdain having demanded the reason of her which oblig'd her to fly She answered That finding her self despis'd by Octavio contrary to the obligation of his promise she had endevor'd to gain by deceit what was denied her by his rigid obstinacy whereupon she faign'd her self the beloved Florida and so was flying away with him Fernando then answers Madam Revenge your self once more of your despiser by despising him and since Fortune hath given you as a prey into my hands do you make a prey of me binding me with the bonds of marriage and matrimonial faith Bellaria thank'd him and being uncertain of Octavio's life and fearful to remain without a husband she soon grants his offer and the same night concludes the wedding although without her Fathers consent Octavio on the other side being ful of gref and the fright being over he finds his body without wounds but his mind was doubly transfixd with jealousie shame What furies that night tormented him his resolution may witness which was to fly from Parthenope that he might behold that heaven no more which had been so cruel to him in his loves Florida even she also having understood of her sisters departure was already grown wild holding it for undoubted that she was fled with her disloyal Octavio So that abominating the fallacies and treacheries of this world she resolved with her self to abandon it and to become a Nun and willingly would that very night have cut off her hair but that the action required a publick solemnity but the succeeding day banished those shadows from both Lovers stopt their grief and bridled their resolutions the fame of the deceit being rumor'd about the City and withal of Fernando's Nuptials Horatio to whom it equally imported to gain Fernando for his son in law aswel by Bellaria's as Florida's means was nothing mov'd at that nights accident but accommodating himself to the necessity granted Octavio his long lamented and dearly beloved Florida so that both Marriages were joyfully Solemnized And Fate witnessed in the person of Octavio that by unknown wayes she directs Men to the acquest of those felicities whereto they could never aim by the Conduct of humane prudence ALERIA NOVEL II. The ARGUMENT Aleria being immoveable to the prayers and services of the