more than that of the Mightiest Kings and would gladly have followed his Warlike Ardour without renouncing the respect he had for her While his Mind floated between these two Motions the Governour he had put into Arsilla sent him word that Moluc had vanquished his Nephew a third time in a set Battel that with a handful of Men he led he had defeated in that last Battel an Army of sixty-thousand Horse and ten thousand Foot that he had newly constrained Mahumet to fly the Kingdom and 't was to be feared that this Conquerour after having drove away his Nephew out of Africa would recover the Places the Portugals had in that Country This piece of News inspired Don Sebastian with so much Courage and Emulation that he considered the Glory which Moluc had acquired as a Jewel he had robbed him of and which he was resolved to make him restore he impatiently longed to signalize himself against him and the occasion was but too soon offered for the good of the State Mahumet being drove out of his Country came sometime after with Almeida to take refuge in Portugal The King learn't with an expressible Joy that he should suddenly have the happiness of seeing that Princess again who had Charmed him and who he had never seen but in that Instant and had so often desired to see since that moment He would immediately have made them a Magnificent Entry but that the King and Princess let him know that Pomp and Triumph were not very suitable to the deplorable condition they were then in The King went to meet 'em with all his Court he Embraced Mahumet a thousand times he rendred profound respects to Almeida and after the first Civilities were passed on both sides You see Sir said that Princess to him I am come to Demand the Succours you offered me so obligingly in Arsilla Have you not forgot that Goodness continued she in a Modest and Languishing Air or rather do you remember you have seen me Never any first sight made so much impression upon a Heart Madam answered Don Sebastian passionately as that rencounter did upon mine and you have acquired absolute Power over me from that moment Don Sebastian continued this Conversation till they were arrived at the place that was prepared for their reception After that Mahumet had made known to the King the Justice of his Cause he represented to him the Moors being divided it would be easie for him to vanquish them that if the Portugez's would but descend into Africa tho with but mean Forces they might render themselves Mesters of all the Kingdom he had newly been stript of how the Enterprizes the King had already made and the Glorious Successes he had had there terrified all those People and when they should see him who was born their King joyn'd to those who had already Vanquished 'em they would come of their own accord and range themselves under their Power Glory and Love incited Don Sebastian much more to that War than all the reasons Mahumet could invent His Valour had a long time disposed him to make some Enterprize in Africa and Almeida's Beauty had rendered him too sensible of her Misfortunes to neglect the attempt of revenging her The Council of Portugal opposed his Design with all its might Almeida knew it she went to the King she Employ'd all her Charms she lamented her Disgrace A sensibe Heart makes little resistance against the Tears of a Beautiful Person he promised to Aid her notwithstanding these Obstacles she gave him some hopes of being beloved and he caused Troops to be raised in all parts for the Execution of this Enterprize How great a Comfort was this to Almeida in her Misfortune She saw her self Adored by the most accomplished King that was then in the World she saw that her Beauty Triumphed over all Policy and over all the Forces of Portugal she was persuaded that Don Sebastian would Sacrifice all to her Revenge Her Brother often told her that she was Mistriss of his Fate and hoped they should suddenly be Re-established upon the Throne But that which still Augmented the pleasingness of these hopes was that she found Don Sebastian as Lovely as he was Amorous and that she was yet more sensible of the Affection he had for her than in the Cares he took in her Favour She would have been sorry that any other had rendred this Good Office to her Brother and esteem and acknowledgment conspiring in her Heart in favour of Don Sebastian gave Birth there to a Passion little different from that the King felt for her If he spoke to her passionately she heard him with delight if he continually and eagerly sought her out she never met him but with an extream joy The most fatal Amour has ever in its beginning a thousand Pleasures to engage us this at first laid only Charms to view in the sight of those Lovers All the Court was with Justice alarmed at it Queen Katherine used all her Efforts to destroy it Cardinal Henry opposed it with all his Power but the King was absolute these Obstacles the more enflamed him and they were constrain'd to leave a free Course to his Passion Don Sebastian thought it convenient to take a Journey into Spain to implore Succours of his Uncle in Favour of Mahumet He departed after the Ambassadour he had in that Court had agreed with Philip that Guadalouppe should be the Place of their Interview and gave Order at his Departure that the Moorish King and his Sister whom he left at Lisbon should be Treated and Respected as himself The King of Spain came to the Rendezvous accompanied with one of his Daughters and all the Lords of his Court and received Don Sebastian with great Testimonies of Joy and Affection He endeavoured to dissuade him from so dangerous an Enterprize But danger does but the more enflame Great Souls He then Prayed him not to go in Person to that War but it was to no purpose being he would have exposed his life a thousand times for Almeida's sake Philip at length being desirous to try if Pleasures would not have more Power than Reasons over the Mind of that young King caused Turnaments Lists of Combates to be made for to Divert him He even caused Catharina Michela one of the Daughters he had by the Deceased Queen Elizabeth his third Wife and whom he had brought with him to Guadelouppe to conceive some hopes of the Crown of Portugal And as Philip was then Married again to Anne of Austria his Niece and Sister to Maximilian II the Princess Catharina Michela would have been glad to have freed her self from the Power and ill humour of a Mother-in-law she was Ambitious and the King of Portugal being handsome she took care to engage him and even engaged her self a little But Don Sebastian thinking of nothing but of Re-establishing Almeida's Brother upon the Throne was not much moved with all these attempts and would quickly have returned to that
Guide in a rage if they only changed my Prison and if they believed an alteration of sufferings would be a Comfort to me he bid me follow him without informing me whither I went and when I was entred a Chamber neat enough for a Prison he left me alone and returning shut all the Doors I had hardly been there a Quarter of an Hour but I saw Abdeliza come out of a Neighbouring Chamber leaning upon one of her Slaves and was so changed and so dejected that I fancied I rather saw her Ghost than her Person What! an Enchantment cried I at the sight of her and casting my self at her Feet Princess is it possible that I see you again I am Comforted for all my misfortunes seeing you are still alive tho I had been told the contrary and can delare to you how sensible I am of all you have done for me Sir said she to me raising me and embracing me tenderly I could have wished to have freed you out of Captivity even at the Expence of my life I have suffered my Prison with patience when I considered the occasion of it and I have been more sensible of the rigours of yours than of all I have endured in mine I Pardon my Brother continued she bathing my Face with her Tears all that his anger could make me suffer since he has granted me the happiness of seeing you once again Go begone Sir I will not regard your Joy nor your Liberty you have been too long in our Prisons and I ask you Pardon for all the Cruelties you have suffered there Pardon them for my loves sake 't is violence enough to renounce the happiness of seeing you for you to make it that Sacrifice Begone Sir said she to me Embracing me my Confinement is not so strict but that I have given Orders for all which is necessary for your departure You will find at your going from hence a Slave who will Conduct you to a Ship I have caused to be prepared for you and will furnish you with all you have occasion for in the Voyage This Slave is faithful to me give him leave to follow you every where that he may send me Tydings of you and put you in Mind of me if you should forget me Adieu Sir I am loath to detain you any longer in Prison the pleasure I have had costs you very dear Adieu repeated she several times sheding a torrent of Tears live happy and remember me After having said these Words she quitted me leaning upon the Maid that attended her I saw her fall into a Swoon a moment after up-the Cushions of her Chamber that were nearest to the Door I would have run to have helpt her but my Guide forc'd me from thence and told me he had orders not to suffer me any longer in that place Having much more pity of the Condition I left that poor Princess in than joy for having recovered my Liberty I enquired secretly at the Port as soon as I was arrived there of the Place you were retreated to No one could tell me any thing certain and some Marriners acquainted me they had seen you in the Isles of Terceras I Embarqued in the Vessel the Slave Abdeliza had given me had brought me to We arrived at Angra where the rumour of my return being arriv'd sooner than my self I perceived a far off being still at Sea that all the People were at the Port to see us Disembarque I did not think it convenient to make known my arrival to all that Populace who are more Inconstant and Seditious in that Country than in any other place I went into the long Boat after having told the Captain of the Ship that he should go a-shore with all his Equipage at an Island farther of and not divulge my arrival and I went in the Night to a Convent the Cordeliers have in that Island I remained there eight days causing search to be made for you in all the Neighbouring Islands but Abdeliza's Slave venturing to go out was of a suddain environed by a Crowd of People who asking him where I was taking him for King Mahumet and reproaching him that he was the cause of all the Wars they assassinated him Cruelly in that place This Sedition made me know there was no safety for me in those Ports and hearing you were not there I went from thence as unknown as I came thither I Embarqued again in my Ship and having at length learnt with a great deal of pain and care that you were at Venice preferring the pleasure of seeing you before the Care of my re-establishment and longing with impatience to know what share I had in your heart I come to render you all my love and assure you that I shall only endeavour to get again upon the Throne for the placing you there with me Almeida transported with joy to see the Constancy and return of Don Sebastian had all those Complaisances for him that a tender and an acknowledging heart can be capable of They Deliberated together about returning into his Kingdom of making Cabals in Portugal and procuring Troops for the re-entring it He resolved to give notice of his return to the Ministers of his Kingdom whom he had found the most Zealous and sent into several places to demand Succours of the Princes who had been his Friends Don Henry was released out of Slavery by the Cares of Eugenia and Souza in that time Upon his return he learnt that Eugenia was Married again and when he was arrived at Lisbon not daring to enter his own House nor ask to see his Wife he went to lodge at one of his Friends who acquainted him with all the particulars that could Justifie her and give him some Consolation in this misfortune She came to him as soon as she had learnt where he was cast her self at his Feet and watered them with Floods of Tears She told him all that her Affection and Innocence could Suggest in her Vindication He was moved but her delicacy could not rely upon all these reasons She prayed him with all the earnestness imaginable to permit her to pass the rest of her time in a Convent and he could not refuse her so just a demand notwithstanding all the kindnesses he had for her The Count of Souza who since the News of Don Henry's being alive had passed his days in the greatest Grief imaginable and had abstained from seeing Eugenia since that time disgusted with the World and having no tie that could retain him resolved to put himself into the Order of S. Dominick and was shut up the rest of his days in the Convent of Benesiges half a League from Lisbon where he died in the Sweets of a Holy Life as the Gravest Authors do assure who have written the History of Portugal What Care soever Don Sebastian had taken to conceal his return the reumour ran quickly at Venice that a Stranger was arrived there who had the Name and Resemblance of Don Sebastian
had explained his budding Passion Wherefore she passed over Formalities and went the next day with her Son to see Elvira You will find perhaps said she to her entring my Visit rash and too hasty Madam this is not the only fatigue your Beauty will cause you and the Duke to whom I made Yester day the recital of it has forced me to come and importune you with so much precipitation But he is still Young Madam continued she smiling and knows not what he demands Elvira answered with a thousand Civilities At this meeting the Conversation was less serious and more warm than usually those are of the first Visits and the Duke de Barcellos shewed so much admiration for Elvira that the Count de Tavora who was then there fancied he had conceived a great Passion for her and said the day following in Entertaining some Persons that came to see him with the News of the Court that Elvira's Beauty made a great noise there that the Duke de Barcellos was extreamly in love with her had been to see her and declared to her a great deal of kindness Leonora was present at this Discourse and could not hear it without shivering For above two Years that the Duke de Barcellos saw her with assiduity he had not dared to declare what her Charms had made him suffer and their hearts having been used to love one another from their tenderest Infancy upon the credit of their sighs without having otherwise explained themselves they had spared themselves the vexation that Reflexions give at the birth of a Passion and the confusion which these forts of Declarations cause in those that hear them She returned into her Chamber to conceal her trouble and as soon as she was at liberty she let some tears fall without knowing the reason that made her weep She saw her self opprest with a grief that she had never felt sometimes she abandoned her self to all imaginable hatred against Elvira sometimes she complained confusedly of the Duke of Barcellos and not knowing what Motions to keep to Why should I complain of him said she did he promise me never to love any one has he told me he had a kindness for me does he know that I have an inclination for him or rather have ever loved him Alas I know nothing of it my self continued she but I know very well I have been deceived in the opinion I had of the care he took to purchase and preserve my favour She had not yet so strictly Examined the Sentiments she had of the Duke de Barcellos she durst not even in that moment tell her self that she loved him and attributed to the hatred she had for Elvira all that the strongest Jealousie made her suffer I should not care said she sometimes though he loved another but I have so great an Antipathy for Elvira that I cannot suffer the Passion he has for her he must renounce it or never see me more I 'le rather from this present deprive my self of the pleasure of seeing him without asking him any thing continued she and likewise the sacrifice that I pretend from him would oblige me to too much acknowledgment Ah! what would my Father say if I should engage my self without his Consent Alas perhaps he has already discovered my trouble and perhaps he attributes to Jealousie the disorder I have made appear This fear for some time suspended the violence of her Motions and made her at length take the resolution of concealing her grief from the Eyes even of those who caused it The Duke d' Avero rely'd much upon the merit of his Daughter and hoped to see her one day Queen of Portugal She likewise conceived great hopes of her Charms and both in concert without imparting to one another their Designs laid Ambushes for the liberty of a Prince who came and cast himself into Chains Don Sebastian distinguished Elvira from all those that endeavoured to please him He paid her a thousand little passionate addresses that are never offer'd but to one Person and are the forerunners of the tenderest Passion Elvira's heart was too sensible and her Soul too ambitious not to be touched at the distinctions and the eagernesses of a Prince so gallant so well made and so lovely as Don Sebastian but how prone soever he was for Love his domineering Passion was Glory He impatiently suffered the prudent Zeal of Cardinal Henry who opposed the boyling ardour with which he sought out dangers he often stole from the vigilance of his Guards and quitted the company of Ladies and tender Conversations to go encounter the most Savage Beasts in the midst of the Forest He passionately loved Hunting the more dangerous it was the more Charming it seemed to him And as Queen Katherine and Cardinal Henry did with all their power mollifie the violence of that Exercise and the ardour which he gave himself up to it they got the Ladies of the Court to be often of the Parties and endeavoured to make a Diversion of so rude and so dangerous an amusement He was one day at Queen Katherine's and proposed a Match to go hunt Lions the next day The Queen whom this Proposition had caused to tremble and who knew very well that directly to oppose this Princes Designs would but so much the more irritate his desires cunningly made use of the Power she saw Elvira had over the King and told him gently The only name of Lions has made Elvira tremble my Son and I believe if you hunt them to morrow you will have but few Ladies in your train I love hunting passionately answered Elvira having penetrated into the Queens Design but the truth is this Chace seems to me too terrible and there are much gentler wherein I made the greatest delights of my solitude consist Well then we will run a Stag to morrow answered the King hastily the Ladies shall be of the party and you will be there Madam pursued he looking tenderly on Elvira The Queen had a great deal of joy she had made her Son change his design Elvira was much pleased she had served the Queens intentions and she had received this mark of Complaisance from Don Sebastian The Dutchess of Braganza who was present at this Conversation could not see without blushing for spight this slight proof of the Kings tenderness for another than her self and every one retired some moments after to give Orders for all that was necessary for that Match The King sent one to tell the Duke d'Avero the next day that as Elvira had not perhaps had time to prepare her Hunting Clotths he prayed him to give her those he sent her which was a Justicore covered with Spanish Point of Gold and Silver the Flowers of which were raised to the life with Jewels of several Colours a Riding Petticoate of the same Fashion and a Cap loaded with a number of long and very beautiful Blew Feathers The Duke accepted this Present for his Daughter with a great deal of
from Elvira any favourable Answer made him pass very troublesome Moments He sometimes Figured to himself that he could never be beloved by her The Languishing and the Tenderness which Elvira made appear to him in her Eyes when she left him could not reassure him against this fear but he was not long in his Suspicions and he had all manner of reason to believe in the Conversations he had afterwards with Elvira that she had no aversion for him She even assured him in several Rencounters that she could suffer that Passion with joy provided it might sute with her Duty and told him all these things with all the sweetness and complaisance that though she cunningly referred her self to her Father as to all the sentiments of her heart the King conceived hopes that he should be beloved and even sometimes flattered himself with having some part in her tenderness their Commerce became at length so great and so manifest that the Dutchess of Braganza seeing she could not break it feigned to second it and fancied that introducing her self to those two Lovers by the Title of a Confident she might on some occasions of falling out or inconstancy recover her favour with the King rather than by the Jealousie she might make appear She quitted the Design she had taken of Engaging her Son in an Intreague with Elvira rightly judging that in the posture things were this enterprise would be more disadvantageous than profitable to her Projects And the young Duke having never had any inclination but for Leonora and seeing himself treated with more rigour than usnally without having yet penetrated into the Cause of it endeavoured to clear this point with her He saw her all alone Vexation did in her what all his Tenderness had not been able yet to do and Jealousie made known to the Duke the love she had for him He first complained of her and then comforted her with a great deal of affection for all that unlucky juncture had made her suffer and gave her a thousand assurances of fidelity against her suspicions All these Lovers enjoy'd with Tranquility enough during some time the pleasures of their inclinations But how accomplished soever Don Sebastian was he was not born to be happy and the most civil Man of the Court was the innocent cause of these first misfortunes The Count de Souza having worthily acquitted himself of his Embassy abandoned the Court of Spain loaded with Glory and Presents The News of his speedy return was immediately spread about Lisbon As he had a great deal of Merit and a great many Friends he was only heard spoken of in all Companies and the Conversations were almost all composed of his Praises Elvira heard his fine Qualities cry'd up in several Places She had never seen him and conceived a great desire to know him Don Lewis had a very fine Country House two Leagues from Lisbon and near unto a Lordship that belonged to Souza whither he often carried Violanta and her Friends Elvira was one of her most intimate acquaintance and Don Lewis Treating them there one day after the Ball was begun four Persons were seen to enter disguised like Slaves who drew the Eyes of all the Assembly by the Magnificence of their habit But one among 'em charmed all People by his Air and his manners they took him at first for Don Henry because Eugenia having never had any great kindness for Violanta they were not of that Assembly and could only come in Masquerade but they afterwards observ'd that Don Henry was much fatter and of a less advantageous shape than this Slave He at first placed himself at Elvira's Feet and told her with the best Grace imaginable that he came from the farthest part of Africa to have the honour of wearing her Chains She answered him very Obligingly And by the discourse she had with him she easily observed that this Slave had as much Wit as he had a good Meen Violanta took him out to dance and he acquitted himself in the most seemly and pleasing way that can be fancied He took out Elvira who danced better with him than she had done before None knew him and they all impatiently longed to see his Masque off At length Elvira so earnestly begged it of him that he was constrained to retire apart and shew her his Face She was much surpriz'd she did not know him but much more at his Lustre Ah! since I do not know you said she to him being somewhat recovered out of her astonishment and you are so well formed you must be the Count de Souza I beg you would not name me Madam said he to her I am unwilling to be known I had a desire to pass this night at my Country-House and have not been yet at Court Elvira promised she would not discover him and kept her Word As no body knew that the Count de Souza was Arrived at his House none of them suspected any thing of the truth He made his Court to her during the Ball as to the Mistress of his King whose favour he ought to manage She hearkned to him with a delight that caused an emotion in her and found a secret Charm in his Words and Actions The Ball being ended Elvira returned to Lisbon with a numerous Train of Coaches and Souza came several times into her mind in the Night under the most agreeable Idea that can ever be formed of an accomplish'd Man He appeared the next day at Court and went to give an account of his Commission to the King who was with Elvira She could not forbear blushing at the sight of him she found him yet more charming than he had appeared to her but she so well knew how to conceal her Blushes and Emotions that no body perceived ' em They discoursed of the Court of Spain the Count de Souza of whom they asked the News of it said that Don John Natural Son to Charles the V. was lately Arrived there and appeared in great Splendour that he was a Prince equally understanding in War and in Policy that he had shewn him a great deal of kindness and had a particular Esteem of his Merit That King Philip who had been three times a Widdower was going to Marry Ann of Austria his Niece and Sister of Maximilian II. and that Katherine Michela Daughter to Philip and the late Deceased Queen was one of the most Beautiful Persons of Europe He was going to tell several other particulars more of that Court but Don Henry entring in that moment caused him so much trouble that he could not continue his Discourse He received his kindnesses with the greatest Civility having resolved to avoid as much as he could the meeting with his Mistress and his Rival and being afraid that Eugenia would suddenly come to see Elvira he took leave of the King and retired to his House where he employ'd all the Efforts of his Reason to stifle a Passion that he perceived was ready to revive notwithstanding
all the Cares he had taken to extinguish it In the mean while Elvira no longer gave her thoughts up to Greatness and was not so much dazled with the Crown of Don Sebastian but that she considered of the merit of the Count de Souza with much admiration Her Heart engaged it self by degrees in seeing him and Love evermore usurping somewhat upon Ambition she begun to have more desire to please the Count than care to engage the King She saw Souza every day and always discovered in him some new Quality capable of pleasing She found that he did the most indifferent thing with a most particular Charm Not any Man about the Court appeared to her so well Made so Active or so Witty as he the greatest Divertisements tired her when he was not there and the inclination she was sensible of at first for him in a short time augmented after such a manner that it became at length a most violent Passion It is true that the Assiduities and Complaisances which this Count rendred her contributed very much to the Violence of her Love As he no longer made Visits to Eugenia and had resolved to apply himself entirely to the cares of his Fortune Elvira had with joy observed that she was the Person of all the Court whom he oftenest Visited she took for amorous Addresses the Devoirs he rendred her as the Mistress of his King and so ardently desired to be beloved by him that she easily imagined he had a love for her There appeared so much affectation in the Complaisances she had for Don Sebastian and she answered his tender respects with so great a Constraint that the King quickly perceived he was not beloved and as he loved with all the fervency that a first Passion can be capable of these coldnesses did very sensibly aggrieve him Sometimes he openly complained and walking one day with her and those that were the Companions of his Pleasures in the Gardens of Don Lewis After having proposed to her several sorts of Divertisements none of which she would accept of he reproached her for the indifference she seemed to be in to Pleasures She defended her self and told him there were a thousand Recreations capable of diverting her They are those then that I have no part in said the King to her and I do not believe that of a long time any of those has pleased you which I have proposed Elvira could not hold from blushing at these Words and Violanta who loved her tenderly perceiving her disorder and the King's vexation told him for to make up the business Ah! Sir it is impossible to be more gay than Elvira was at the Ball you gave two days ago And in truth she was in a very good humour in that Assembly because the King had Commanded Souza to do the Honours of it I must confess said Leonora that Elvira found the Ball very Charming I remember that at a Regal which Don Lewis gave to the Ladies sometime since she appeared the merriest of the Company I remember too said Don Lewis and I believe the four Moors who came to be her Slaves had put her into that humour These last Words put Elvira so out of Countenance that she would never have been able to have concealed her trouble if she had not luckily made a stumble which gave a pretext to this disorder The King after having lent her his Hand to hold her up enquired very earnestly who those Moors were the Count de Souza Arrived when the King asked this Question He himself was struck dumb and the sight of him redoubled Elvira's disorder they were both of them in an equal pain though they had different Sentiments and this trouble would without doubt have discovered Elvira's secret Passion if Cardinal Henry whom Don Sebastian still considered as his Tutour had not arrived at that instant and broke off that Conversation by his presence The King going to Supper presently after the Ladies retired and as Souza had perceived he was the cause of Elvira's trouble he very prudently avoided any particular Conversation with her and pretended he was obliged to be at the Kings Supper that he might be dispensed from leading Elvira as he was used to do But what Address and Care soever he employ'd to avoid the assurance of a thing which his Zeal and Modesty ever refused it was impossible for him to be long in suspence of what he feared Elvira loved him with too much Passion to be able to constrain her self When she ever talked with him she was strangely disordered she was even sometimes so bold as to let him know how much the Kings Cares and Complaisances fatigued her and what a torture it was to her that she could not follow her inclinations with an entire Liberty she began several times to talk to him of the disorder the Moors Conversation put her in the Count came always off from these perplexities with a great deal of Prudence and Civility but at length Elvira fan cying to her self that he had some affection for her and that respect hindred him from telling it she believed it was her part to encourage him She resolved one day in the violence of her Passion to declare to him openly what she was sensible of but the occasion could not easily be found because the Count carefully avoided her and saw her but at the Kings whither he could not dispense himself from going A light indisposition had detained this Prince in Bed that day Elvira was to see him the Dorekeepers told her he was asleep whereupon she stepped into the Antichamber and perceived near the Window Count Souza in all likely hood expecting Don Sebastian's waking and seemed to be profoundly pensive She approached him trembling and as they were far enough off from those who were present as not to be understood May I ask you what you think of at present Count said she to him all amazed Souza being surpriz'd at her presence would have retired after some Civilities No no stay said she to him stopping him I will Discourse you about something concerns you I participate too much in all that touches you to leave you in the trouble I have seen you in for some time Do you love are you ambitious continued she my Credit may equally serve you in those two things and I offer it you all entire if you will tell me what it is that makes you sad The Count de Souza was much out of Countenance to hear this Discourse and told her after having thanked her for her Civilities that he had no other ambition than that of maintaining himself at Court in the rank his Birth had placed him You are then in Love reply'd she immediately with an extream disorder I assure you Madam interrupted Souza gently I Love only my King A little affection is not incompatible with a great deal of Zeal reply'd Elvira tenderly A Heart all entire is not too much for so great a Prince answered he firmly we
reasons had made him think of Marrying him to Eugenia that he took upon himself the care of making her Consent to that Match and that he should prepare himself for it A Thunderbolt could not have astonished Souza more than this Discourse did He made no other answer by a low Bow and a prompt Retreat The Count de Sanzay being then at the King 's and having heard the Order Souza had newly received made use of that occasion for the fully clearing his suspicions He went to Elvira's and told her this News with so much art that she was not able to conceal either her trouble or her weakness The Count of Sanzay took advantage of her disorder and pitied her with a great deal of kindness Compassion is the surest way to insinuate ones self into the favour of the unhappy he pressed her with so much address and so obligingly offered her his Service for the preventing this Match that she Ingenuously Confessed to him the Affection she had for Souza he murmered against the Ambition of the Duke d'Avero he extolled the Constancy of Elvira and in fine when he took his leave he promised her to use his endeavours to deliver her out of this perplexity When Souza was returned to his House he felt a thousand different motions of Grief and Joy He at first suffered himself to be lured with the hopes of possessing Eugenia which was the greatest of all happinesses to him but making reflexion that if he obtained her it would be against her Will he found something so culpable and so base in those hopes as he laid them by immediately He search'd into the cause of that Proposition he saw that to Marry Eugenia would be to make himself her Tyrant he foresaw that the disobeying Don Sebastian would make all the Court believe he had some Engagement with Elvira and it would be to expose himself to all the fury and hatred that a Jealous and Offended King can be capable of But in short the Count being ever a Compleat Wellbred-Man chose rather to be Unhappy than Criminal and resolved to lose rather the favour of his Prince than to Tyrannize over his Mistriss he would however speak to her before all things He went to her House the next day where having found her alone he asked her a moments Audience without being interrupted and told her with the most Submissive and Passionate Air Imaginable I come to declare to you a secret which I conceal from all the World For above four years I have lov'd you Madam with the purest and most violent Passion that ever was I have in vain endeavoured to stifle this Flame I went away from Lisbon I depriv'd my self of seeing you I used a thousand Efforts every day and all that I have been hitherto able to gain upon my self was not to let any thing escape from this Passion that might displease you No Madam continued he respectfully I could not yet have made a Confession of it to you if I were not constrained by the most pressing necessity that can be imagined My Lord reply'd Eugenia very much surpriz'd at a Discourse whose end she did not foresee if my Heart was not engag'd I know it Interrupted Souza Don Henry loves you and you love him by my sighs I never troubled a Commerce that did not displease you I have ever respected your choice I would die a thousand times rather than Traverse the Joys of your Vnion However Madam however for reasons I cannot tell you the King would constrain you to Marry me Ah Count answered Eugenia all disordered I cannot persuade my self that the King would use violence upon any one I do not believe Madam reply'd Souza penetrated with grief that you suspect me capable of any Artifice and what I am ready to do for you well merits that you had other sentiments 'T is the Kings Will that we Marry one another These Words set you a shivering as they do me a trembling not but that it would be the greatest happiness of my life for I adore you My Lord interrupted Eugenia impatiently these repetitions are useless and I will believe all you would have me Ah! Madam reply'd Souza passionately let me have at least the pleasure of telling you this time I suffer so much that I fancy it might very well be permitted me and 't is the only satisfaction I shall have in the misfortunes that are ready to oppress me I vow to you Madam the Passion I have for you has not exacted the Order which the King has given me more Powerful Motives have obliged him to resolve of this Marriage and our disobedience will draw upon us all his anger And of what importance can this match be to the King answered Eugenia who begun to suspect him guilty of Artifice No Cruel Man continued she in a Fassion 't is you who misuse the Royal Authority for the dividing two Hearts whom you thought took pleasure in being united How have I been deceived in the esteem I have had for you How are you changed All your Friendship is only Artifice you have seduced the King and would seduce me But this is not the securest course for you and by these means you will draw upon your self all my hatred Eugenia spoke these Words with a great deal of Grief and Anger and accopamed them with some Tears What a Spectacle and what a Discourse was this to poor Souza He was ready to renounce what he loved to disobey the King to be accused of a Criminal Infidelity in regard of his Prince to lose his Reputation his Fortune and perhaps his Life and all this in favour of a Rival and a Mistriss who accused him of Imposture and Cruelty He was so lively pierc'd with her reproaches and tears that he could not forbear shedding some himself And after having eyed Eugenia some time without being able to answer her No no said he to her do not fear any thing from the King nor my Artifices Madam I deserved a kinder Treatment but you are resolved to compleat my misfortune and deprive me of the pleasure of being pittied by you which was the only one I durst aspire to I do not pretend to force you from Don Henry I never had even the least hopes you would change your sentiments in favour of me and I would only have been a little more certain of my misfortune Yes Madam continued he with an extream Grief I love you too much to make you unhappy Our Marriage could not make you happy wherefore I must Renounce it and though this refusal perhaps will cost me my life I would rather run to death than lose your esteem and sooner endeavonr your Happiness than my own Fortune I do not desire you should come before the King and joyn your disobedience to mine I should be but a little better justified and I shall expose my self alone to his Choller as soon as you shall have have made me a litle more certain of your
aversion My Lord answered Eugenia in Confusion at what she had said and what she had newly heard so far from hating you I have ever had a perfect friendship for you I esteemed your Merit as soon as I knew you but I was not acquainted with your Love before I was engaged and I did not believe the Kings Orders would be so fatal to us Alas they are only so to me answered Souza you will injoy in Peace what you love and I am deprived of what I adore and opprest with the hatred of my King I shall wait for death with impatience Ah Count said she to him in suspence I would not have my happiness cost you so Dear and if your Life be concerned I will do all I can to save you 'T is enough Madam said the Count to her falling at her Feet I am content and I am going to think how to satisfie you No my Lord said Eugenia stopping him it is not just you should make me happy by your unhappiness Duty and Friendship conspire against my Passion I must obey I must follow your Example I have not so much force and so much firmness as you But what Torments soever it may cost me you may tell the King that if your Life be concerned I am ready to do all that is necessary to save you She could not speak these Words without an extream constraint and grief The horrour she figured to her self in losing Don Henry put her into a Condition to have raised pity And Souza who saw all sort of grief painted in her Face told her in reassuring her Madam it is for me to conquer my self my love has ever been concealed in silence and this season is very improper to make it appear You love Don Henry he loves you you have both conceived great hopes to enjoy your happiness you never loved me I never had any hopes you would let me die I shall be content provided the King believes me innocent and you allow some Tears to my Misfortunes The Count went our having spoken these Words and did not wait for Eugenia's answer who was in the Cruellst perplexity that ever was admiring Sanza's Gnerosity fearing the Kings Power and infinitely concerned for her love Don Henry came to her House as she was still in these Reflexions and asked her the reason of the sadness he saw in her Face She made him a sincere recital of all the Count had newly said to her commending his Generosity and his Constancy But as we ever fear to lose what we love Don Henry could not assure himself of Souza's Resolution he fancied there was never such an Honest Wellbred-Man as could resist an ardent love and so favourable an occasion he could not suffer himself to be convinc'd by the strong reasons Eugenia brought to reassure his affection He said to her the most touching things imaginable upon his fears he would have gone and flung himself at the Kings Feet and offered him his life instead of his Mistriss But she let him know that it was to expose two Heads instead of one to the anger of Don Sebastian and this Declaration would without doubt include him in the same disgrace there needed no more than this Declaration to stop Don Henry they both agreed that they ought to content themselves with employing all the Friends they had at Court to serve the Count de Souza in the misfortune that threatned him Souza was to make his Court the day following The King did not fail to ask him if he had executed those Orders He answered with a profound respect that he should be ever ready to obey his Highness but he had acquired so little Reputation and had yet so feebly served the State that he could not resolve to Marry and that such Engagements evermore took up the better part of the Cares that are due to ones Prince The King much displeased at this refusal did no longer doubt but he had an Intrigue with Elvira and told him furiously That a disobedient Subject could not render him good Services and bid appear no more in his presence The Count went away opprest with sorrow and was no sooner at his House than a Captain of the Guards came to Command him from the King to leave the Kingdom with the soonnest He received this Order with all the respect imaginable and not reproaching himself with any Crime nor imputing any thing to the King of his misfortune and Sacrificing all to his love he went out of the City some moments after without murmering and without going to any Friends House for fear of being oblig'd to see Elvira The Count de Souza's Exile being spread a little time after through all the City the best sort of People pitied him and in the Grief that Elvira was in for his a fence she could not forbear having a secret joy being he had refused Engenia she fancied as it is usual to flatter ones self that she might well be the Cause of that refusal and entertaing her self with that thought she resolved to employ all her Friends secretly to solicite Souza's return not daring to ask it her self This incident did help much to encourage the Confidence and Friendship she had for the Count de Sanzay she imagined that in the offers of Services and the promises he had made her he contributed very much towards the hindring the Execution of this Match she imparted to him all the Griefs that Souza's absence gave her she even confessed to him one day that the indifference she had before for the King was even changed into an aversion since this Exile Sanzay laboured in Court with her to cause Souza to be recalled All the better sort of People at Court begged the same of the King but their Prayers were useless Jealousie is not appeased like other troubles and the King being ever inexorable Elvira had coldnesses for him that they would have been capable of revenging Souza if he had known them and if he had been a less good Subject He was some time deliberating into what Kingdom he should go into Banishment and for what Quarrel he should expose his Life The End of the First Part. Don Sebastian KING OF Portugal An Historical Novel PART II. Done out of French by Mr. FERRAND SPENCE LONDON Printed for R. Bentley and S. Magnes in Russel-street in Covent-garden 1683. Don Sebastian KING OF PORTUGAL FRance had at length in a General Peace lulled asleep the Rage and Fury of the Civil-Wars all things were preparing in that Kingdom for the Marriage of Charles IX with Elizabeth Daughter to the Emperour Maximilian II. Queen Margarite who in the intestine troubles of the most Cruel Wars had ever carried along with her Divertisements and Pleasures prepared to Celebrate this Marriage by such Sports and Rejoycings as were worthy of the Princess But what Souza sought was quite different from Joy And Pius V had in his Politick Zeal obliged the King of Spain and the Venetians to joyn
neglected by her King abandoned by her Lover returned into the Convent the Duke d' Avero had caused her to come out of and there gave her self up so to grief that a lingring Feaver took her that was not judged dangerous at first but in a short time made a considerable change in her Person Though the King had neither Forces nor Ships enough to undertake a great War against the Moors who were in their own Country and had beaten an Army much more numerous he did things that surpassed all hopes and expectations He gave in all Places Testimonies of his Valour he was in Person in the least Attacks He went into the very Ports of the Enemies to burn their Ships He Attacqued all that he found without being daunted at the number of the Moors Coming near Arsilla he immediately resolv'd to Besiege it That City is Situated upon the Sea side its Out-works and In works being Fortified with all things necessary for its desence it had been taken formerly by the Portuguez The King had not Troops enough to undertake that Siege But the vexation he was in when he considered how the Moors had gained from him that Conquest and when he made reflexion upon the Glory which would follow that enterprize made him pass over all difficulties he caused with a great deal of Expedition to be prepared all things necessary for the Execution of that attempt he surpriz'd the Garrison entred the City by Scaling the Walls and was in the midst of its Inhabitants with two hundred Men at most of his Attendants The Arsilians somewhat recovered from their first surprize sold their Liberty very dear and Defended themselves veey vigorously This Fight was Bloody several were killed on both sides upon the spot and the King having at length made himself a passage thro all his Enemies and got to the Castle of the City which vielded without fighting upon Condition all the Moorish Women should be left at Liberty that had taken Refuge there and no outrage should be done them the King willingly granted them this Condition and entred the Castle followed only by his Principal Officers He went to see the Ladies who were retired thither and offered safe Conduct for what way soever they would take One amongst others by an Air of greatness and Majesty made him desirous to consider her more nearly He found that the Charms of her Face were answerable to the Beauty of her Shape She was brown and her Features were so fine her Complexion so delicate and her Eyes so piercing that Don Sebastian was amazed He forgot Elvira in that moment and afterwards Comparing the Idea he had of her Beauty with hers he saw he found that African a thousand times more Charming he asked her Pardon for appearing with Arms in his Hands before her and offered her all the Succours she should have occasion for But she received his Compliments with so haughty an Air and retired with so much Maiesty that Don Schastian inquired who she was They told him that she was a Princess called Almeida Sister of Mahumet that this King having already lost two considerable Battels against Moluc his Uncle had sent her to that City where he believed her in more safety than in the midst of his Kingdom which Moluc furiously ravaged He had no sooner learnt the Name and Quality of that African than he remembred that the Cardinal his Uncle had spoke to him of her formerly He was vexed he had not shew'd her more respects He asked to see her but she let him know by the Governour of that City that the greatest mark of goodness he could give was to consent to her retreat without seeing her and she prayed him not to make use of the Rights of Victory against her Liberty The King made known to this Governour that he impatiently longed to pay her the Devoirs he could not acquit himself of before he knew her but this Envoy told him so plainly that his Visit would be so extream a violence to the Princess that this King consented at that instant to her departure notwithstanding all the desire be had to see her again She departed immediately and retired towards her Brother Don Sebastian could not lose the Idea of her Beauty he thought of her night and day and sometimes repented he had let her depart if there had been no more required than Besieging of Placea and Taking of Cities for the having her again he would have undertook the most difficult Sieges but he could not learn to what Place she was retired He feared he should displease her if he pusht his Conquests farther and his Council of War was not willing to let him engage farther in an Enemies Country His Principal Officers remonstrated to him how the Troops he had left were not sufficient to keep and defend the Places he might Conquer and if he went on at this rate he must employ all his Army in Garrisons He was obliged to return to Lisbon Crowned with Honour and full of the Idea of Almeida The other Lovers put on their Chains again and Souza not being able to see without grief the happiness of Don Henry and being evermore in fear of being disgraced at Court retired to one of his Country Houses where he became so much in Love with solitude that there was no less requisite than an Order from the King to make him leave it Notice was given to the Duke d'Avero that his Daughter was dangerously Sick in the Convent where she made her abode He went to see her but did not find her in a Condition to be brought to Lisbon She died four days after Her Father was a long time in the deepest affection having passionately loved her and not quite lost all the hopes he had conceived from her Charms The King was sensibly grieved at her Death but as his Mind was possessed with another Idea his grief was not so violent as 't would have been at another time The Duke d'Avero seeing that Love had not been Assistant to his Ambition was willing to see if War would make it more successful He did all he could to enflame the Passion Don Sebastian had for Arms. The King had given him Orders to cause Forces to be raised in all Parts he zealously seconded his Designs how troubled and averse soever Queen Katherine and Cardinal Henry seemed to be to them The Duke was perpetually representing to this Young King the Glorious Success he had in Africa and the Conquests he had made with a little handful of Men. He assured him that if he would return thither with a considerable Army he would render himself Master of all Tituan and Alarache in a little time Don Sebastian's Courage needed not to be raised and never Man loved Arms so much as he but he could not resolve to make War upon Almeida's Countrey She still returned into his Mind with that Majestick Air with which she had received him in Africa he feared her Indignation
all killed or drowned being deceived by the River of Mucasen which ebbing and flowing as the Ocean does whose Waters it receives was almost dry when the Army passed it on their march thither but the Tide being high at their return the Christians did not know the places where they had all forded it The Defeat was so General that of thirteen or fourteen thousand Men the Portugal Army was composed of there hardly escaped an hundred from that Battel In the mean while the less fearful and most zealous seeing this General Rout they sought the King on all sides But Christopher de Tavora who carried his Standard having been killed they could not find him and deceived by a Colours that very much resembled it which Edward de Menezes had they followed it instead of the other fancying that Don Sebastian had ranged himself near it Thus the King remaining alone among his Enemies was notwithstanding his Valour opprest with numbers and his Forces not being capable of seconding his Courage he was constrained to yield to the fury of the Moors All the Christians who returned from this Battel did affirm that he had received only one wound in his Shoulder which was not Mortal that he fell not among the dead and that they had seen the Enemies take him Prisoner In the mean time this Battel became famous for the loss of three Kings Moluc died there in performing all that a Wise Conquerour is capable of in such an Exigence Mahumet seeing the Portuguezes routed and willing to avoid the Cruelty of his Enemies who would not have failed to have Sacrificed him to the repose of the State endeavouring to escape was drowned in the River of Mucasen Don Sebastian was lost there and so many rare Qualities that were observed in him made his Subjects and all those who knew him extreamly regret his loss and lest a great Example to all young Princes who keep not their Courage within the bounds of Prudence which ought to preserve Kings for the advantage of their State and the affection of their People While Don Sebastian was giving the Bloody Battel which occasioned his own ruine the destruction of his Kingdom and the death of so many famous Warriers the Count de Souza Signalized himself as much as the few Men that were in his Ships could make him capable of doing He made oftentimes Descents upon the Land with his Troops burnt the Burroughs and Villages he met with in his way put to flight all those who Guarded the Coast Besieged the City of Allarache and battered it so Vigorously that the greatest part of the Moors abandoned it and had only left in it a weak Garrison Almeida being nearer the Naval Army than the other Forces learnt Souza's Conquests with an incredible joy and fancied that Don Sebastian fought with no less advantage against Moluc She slattered her self with the hopes of seeing her Brother within a little time again upon the Throne and her Lover covered with Glory But these thoughts did not last long Souza quickly received the News of the Kings Defeat and the rout of all his Army he instantly acquainted Almeida therewith and told her it was necessary of thinking to secure themselves What a sad piece of News was this to that Princess she remained as motionless and lost the use of her Senses at this Discourse After which she made reflexion upon the Valour of Don Sebastian upon the ardour he had made appear to revenge her and not being able to figure to her self that he was to be Conquered having so much Courage and so much Love she sent for him who had brought the sad Tydings to Souza who confirmed what Souza had told her He related to her all had past in that Battel and when she saw this misfortune was no longer to be doubted of and that she had lost her Brother and her Lover she fell into such a despair as gave reason to fear it would cost her her life She had ever loved Mahumet very tenderly and often shed Tears for his death but when she remembred his Interest had caused the ruine of Don Sebastian she murmured against that Brother and imputed to him all the misfortunes of this King It is I alone alas said she a moment after who am the cause of Don Sebastians ruine had it not been for the Love of me he would not have succoured my Brother nor lost his life It is I that drew him out of the Heart of his Dominions to Sacrifice him to my Ambition and the Cruelties of Moluc He was adored by his People contined she beloved by his Allies feared by his Enemies Never any Prince gave such hopes of a happy Reign as he did He was ardent in Glory fearless in Dangers indefatigable in labour and all these fine Qualities have only helped to advance the misfortunes I have plung'd him into How fatal was the Conquest of Arsilla to him it was there I saw him Victoriously Charming he saw me and loved me I fancied that Victory would ever have attended him he did not think I was to be so fatal to him into what an abyss of mischiefs has this interview precipitated us While Almeida made all these Reflexions the Count de Souza sensibly concerned at the Kings loss was thinking with a great deal of prudence and care of the means of repairing or at least hindring its fatal Consequences he raised the Siege of Alarache to go Rescue the Portugals that were beaten he reassured the Governours of those places Portugal had in Africa he augmented the Garrisons with all the Troops he could put into the City he gave out that Don Sebastian was not dead and the Christians assured he was only taken Prisoner He promised the Colonels and Officers who had escaped this Defeat that the Kings Ransom should be shortly Treated for and that he would recompence at his return the fidelity of those who should have rendred him service during his absence He run over all the Coasts as far as Tangier to gather up the Remnants of the Portugal Army which that Defeat had dispersed He was acquainted by those who had escaped from the Battel that above three thousand Christians were killed upon the place that above six thousand Portuguezes were taken Prisoners and above four thousand wounded that all the Foreign Officers had lost their lives that entire Families of People of Quality were extinguished there that the Bishops of Porto and Coimbra were likewise dead that Don Lewis was killed that the Dukes de Braganza and d'Avero had lost their lives that the Duke de Barcellos and Anthony Son of Don Lewis were Prisoners and that Don Henry was dead Souza having still a strong Passion for Eugenia and having never been able to forbear looking upon Don Henry's happiness but with Envy was overjoy'd at first when he heard his Rival was dead but his Reason correcting immediately the first motions of his Passion he deplored Don Henry's misfortune He was extreamly