he not inferr'd from her extraordinary affliction that he might have an unknown Rival in Spain who though at a great distance might prevent his being happy even in that Country where he was an absolute Prince Zulema thereupon gave his wife order to enquire of the Christian the particulars of her life and by what accident she came to be Slave to Amet. Zoraida was as desirous to do it as the Prince and found it no hard matter to induce the Spanish Slave to satisfie her the other not knowing how to refuse any thing to a person from whom she had receiv'd so many assurances of tenderness and friendship She told Zoraida that she would satisfie her curiosity when she pleas'd but that having onely misfortunes to acquaint her with she fear'd the account thereof would be very tedious to her You will find it otherwise replies Zoraida by the attention I shall give you and my concerns therein will satisfie you that you may safely entrust the secret thereof to a person who infinitely loves you Embracing her with these words she entreated her not to put off any longer the satisfaction she desir'd of her They were all alone and the fair Slave having wip'd off the tears which the memory of her misfortunes drew into her eyes she thus begâ—n â—he relation thereof My name is Sophia said she I am a Spaniard born at Valentia and brought up with all the care and tenderness which persons of quality such as were my Father and Mother could express towards a Daughter who was the first fruits of their marriage and soon appear'd worthy of their affection I had a Brother younger than my self by a year as lovely a child as could be seen he lov'd me as much as I lov'd him and our mutual friendship grew up to such a height that when we were not together there might be observ'd in our countenances such a sadness and disquiet as the most pleasant divertisements of persons of our age were not able to disperse Order was thereupon taken that we should not be asunder we learn'd together whatever is commonly taught children well descended of both sexes â—nd so it happen'd to the great astonishment of all that I came to be as skilful and dextrous as he in all the violent exercises of a Cavalier and he as ingenious in whatever is performed by young Gentlewomen This extraordinary kind of education took so much with a Gentleman an intimate acquaintance of my Father's that he desir'd his children might be brought up with us The business was propos'd to my Friends who approved thereof and the nearness of their houses promoted the design of both parties That Gentleman was not inferiour to my Father either as to quality or wealth He had also onely a Son and a Daughter much about my Brother's age and mine insomuch that it was not doubted but the two Houses would be united one day by a double marriage Don Carlos and Lucia so were the Brother and Sister call'd were equally amiable my Brother lov'd Lucia and she him Don Carlos lov'd me I him as much Our Parents knew it and were so far from being displeas'd thereat that had we not been too young they would then have seen us married together But the happy state of our innocent Loves was disturb'd by the death of my lovely Brother a violent Feaver snatch'd him from hence in eight days and this was the first of my misfortunes Lucia was so troubled thereat that no persuasions could keep her from embracing a Religious life I was sick to death and Don Carlos was so far given over as that his Father began to fear he should see himself without issue so great a grief did he conceive at the loss of my Brother whom he lov'd the danger I was in and his Sister's resolution Don Carlos's Father di'd soon after leaving his Son a vast estate Now was he in a condition to discover the nobleness of his nature the gallantries he invented to please me prevail'd on my vanity made his love more publick and added much to mine Don Carlos often addreâ—s'd himself to my Parents desiring them to consummate his happiness by bestowing their Daughter on him He in the mean time continu'd his extraordinary expences which my Father perceiving and considering his estate could not hold out long at that rate resolv'd we should be married He therefore put Don Carlos in hope that he should ere long be his Son-in-law at which News he discover'd such an extraordinary joy as would have persuaded me that he lov'd me above his own life though I had not been so fully assur'd of it as I was He appointed a Ball for me and invited all the Gallantry of the City to it but to his misfortune and mine there happen'd to be at it a Neapolitan Count whom some affairs of importance had brought into Spain He thought me handsome enough to fall in love with and having enquired what quality my Father was of he went and without any other ceremony demanded me of him in marriage My Father dazled at the wealth and quality of this Stranger promis'd him what he desir'd and that very day sent Don Carlos word that he might forbear all further addresses to his Daughter forbad me to receive his visits and commanded me to look on the Italian Count as the person I should be married to as soon as he weâ—e return'd from Madrid I dissembled my affliction before my Father but as soon as I was got alone Don Carlos presented himself to my imagination as the most aimable person in the world I reflected on all could be quarrel'd at in the Italian Count I conceiv'd an implacable aversion against him and I felt my self so possess'd with the love of Don Carlos that it was equally impossible for me to live without him and to be happy with his Rival My recourse was to my tears but what remedy were they in so great a misfortune While I was in this distraction Don Carlos comes into my chamber without first demanding my permission as he was wont to do He found me as it were dissolv'd into tears nor could he forbear his though he seem'd willing to conceal what lay heavy on his soul till he had discovered the true sentiments of mine He cast himself at my feet and taking me by the hands which he bedew'd with his tears I must then loose you Sophia and a stranger whom you hardly know shall be happier than I because he is somewhat richer He will be possess'd of you Sophia and you consent thereto you whom I have so infinitely lov'd you who would persuade me that you lov'd me and were promis'd me by a Father but alas an unjust Father an interess'd Father and one that hath basely recoyl'd from his word If you are continu'd he a Jewel that may be set at any price 't is onely my fidelity that can purchase you and it is upon the account of that you should be yet mine rather than
Mistress Nevertheless they thought it not amiss to put things in order as to the contract of marriage and the settlement to be made thereupon But though things were brought to this pass the amoroâ—s Don Pedro omitted not any of those Expressions of Gallantry and Courtship expectâ—d in the carrying on of a Match with consent of all parties He sent his Mistress many presents and writ to her every day She on the other side return'd him such answers as were at least very civil thouh they betrai'd much less of passion than was visible in his Letters But she would not by any means be seen in the day time excusing her self by reason of her indisposition nay in the evenings was seldom seen at her window which rais'd in Don Pedro a great admiration of her reserv'dness He was better conceited of his own worth than any way to question the success of his applications or doubt his being deeply in the favour of his Mistress when he should be better known to her than he was even though she might have had an aversion for him before she knew him His affairs hitherto went on smoothly without any rub but on a suddain it happen'd that he could not get a sight of his Mistress in four or five days He was extremely troubled at it or at leâ—st pretended it he writ verses upon that occasion or it may be hired or bought some and caus'd them to be sung under her window but notwithstanding these great attempts of a most passionate Loveâ— all he could do was to speak with one of the Chamber-maids who told him that his Mistress was much sicker than she had been His Poetick vein swell'd at this account of hâ—r or if not his that of his mercenary Poet must breathe and bleed for it for I could never be truly inform'd whether he himself had any gift in rhiming Having got what he had set to some doleful tune and loaden besides his offensive and defensive arms with a Guitarrhe which I am apt to believe was the best the City could afford he took his way very boisterously towards his Mistress's either to move her to compassion or to set the dogs thereabouts a barking 'T is not unlikely he should have done one of the two or both together and yet it so happen'd he did neither Being come within fifty paces short of the blessed mansion of his Divinity he perceives the door open and a woman coming out who seem'd much like his almost-invisible Angel He could not imagine what should oblige a Woman all alone and at such a time of the night to enter of set purpose into a great desolate building destroy'd not long before by a fire that had happen'd To find out what the matter should be he walk'd round about those ruins into which there were several ways to get in so with as much convenience as he could to get near the person whom he had follow'd in thither It came into his imagination that it might be his Mistress who had appointed his Rival a meeting in that strange place as not daring to be seen at her house and haply unwilling to have any third person privy to an action which it concern'd him so much to be kept secret and if what he did as yet but onely suspect should prove truâ— his inviolable resolution was to be the death of his Rival and to be reveng'd of Seraphina by loading her with the greatest reproaches he could think on He thereupon crawl'd along with as little noise as he could till he came to a place whence he saw her for it was she sitting upon the ground bemoaning her self as a person ready to give up the ghost or what signifies little less to give it you in a word in Labour and with inexpressible pain upon the delivery of a little creature in the making whereof she had haply taken a great deal of pleasure She no sooner saw her self disburthen'd but deriving strength from her courage she return'd the same way she came without taking any further thought what should become of the Child she had brought into the world I leave you to judge what astonishment Don Pedro was in at this strange accident Now was he satisfi'd what was the true cause of his Mistress's sickness he was a little frighted at the danger he was likely to have fallen into and made his acknowledgment to Heaven that he had escap'd it And being of a noble and generous disposition he would not be reveng'd of one that had put such a treacherous trick upon him to the dishonour of an illustrious Family nor in his just resentment suffer the innocent little creature to perish which he saw at his feet expos'd to the mercy of the first dog or swine that had come that way He took it up in his handkerchief for want of something else to wrap it in and with as much haste as he could went to a Midwife of his acquaintance to whose care he recommended the Child he put into her hands and gave her mony to buy all things necessary for it The Midwife well paid did what might have been expected from her insomuch that the very next day the Child was put out to nurse christned and proving a girl named Laura In the interim Don Pedro went to see a certain Kinswoman of his one in whom he repos'd very much confidence he told her that he had chang'd the design he had of marrying so young into that of travelling entreated her to take upon her the management of his estate and to entertain into her house a little Girl whom he made her believe was his own to be very liberal in what concern'd her education and for certain reasons which she should one day know as soon as she were three years old to put her into a Nunnery and above all things to take order that she should have no acquaintance with the things of this world He gave his kinswoman Letters of Atturney and what else was necessary for her management of his estate furnish'd himself with mony and jewels got a trusty servant and before he left Granada writ a Letter to Seraphina She receiv'd it much about the time that she was acquainting her Friends that her sickness would not any longer delay her marriage but Don Pedro's Letter wherein he discover'd what he knew of her condition fill'd her with other thoughts And those were wholly directed towards God insomuch that not long after she went into a Nunnery never to come out again it being not in the power of her Friends with all their entreaties and tears to divert her from that resolution which they thought so much the more strange the more they were to seek what the motives of it should be But we will leave them bewailing their daughter now turn'd Nun Her on the other side bewailing her own miscarriage the little Laura gâ—owing up and blooming forth and overtake Don Pedro upon his way to Sevil not able to divert his
Nephew should give him all the satisfaction he could expect for he was but young and of the most docile and compliant nature of any she had ever known They fell into some other discourse upon the coming in of Augustine and the Dancing-women and they spent some part of the night in dancing and singing Dom Marcos to spare himself the trouble of returning to his own lodging would have persuaded Isidora to condescend that they might from that time live together as man and wife or that at least he might lie in her house in regard it was grown later than he had imagin'd But she put on a severe countenance and earnestly protested that ever since the unhappy day that had reduc'd her to the condition of Widdow-hood never had any man set his foot into the chast bed which had sometime been her dear Lord's nor should any till the Church had interpos'd her authority and that while she were a widow no person should ever lie under her roof but her Nephew Augustine Dom Marcos was much pleas'd with her resolution notwithstanding his amorous impatience He bid her good-night return'd to his lodging accompani'd by Gamara took out of his pocket the candle's end stuck it to the point of his sword lighted it at the Lamp before the Crucifix in a word did all he had done the night before so punctual was he in all things unless it were that he said not his prayers as he had done haply because he thought his business effected and that he stood not in any need of Heaven's further assistance The Banes of Matrimony were soon ask'd out for there happen'd to come two or three holy-days together At last the marriage so much desir'd on both sides was consummated and the solemnity thereof occasion'd a greater expence then was expected from the penuriousness of the Bride-groom who out of a fear of making any breach in his ten thousand Crowns borrow'd mony of his friends The chiefest of his Master's servants were at the wedding and took occasion ever and anon to commend the good choice he had made The cheer was extraordinary though at the charge of Dom Marcos who for that time was content to defray all and by a prodigy of affection had caus'd very rich cloaths to be made for Isidora and himself The Guests departed in good time and the coast being clear Dom Marcos went himself and lock'd the doors and shut to and barr'd the windows not so much for the security of his wife as that of the Trunks wherein his mony lay which he order'd to be brought into his own room and set close by the nuptial bed The young couple went to bed and while Dom Marcos was groping for what he could not find Marcella and Inez were grumbling in their own chamber at the strange humour of their Master and blaming the forwardness of their Mistress in taking a husband Inez burst forth into down-right swearing and said she had rather be a Lay-Sister in a Monastery than Servant in a house whereof the doors were lock'd up at nine of the clock And what would you do were you in my condition says Marcella to Inez for your business is to go up and down to provide for the house but for my part who am a Gentlewoman made up in haste I must leâ—d a retir'd life with the chaste spouse of a jealous husband and of all the Serenades which were given under our windows I must hear no more talk than of the pleasures of the next world And yet we are not so much to be bemoan'd as our friend Augustinetto says Inez He hath spent his youth in waiting as a Gentleman-usher on her whom he call'd his Aunt though she were no more so than I am and now that he is come to write Man she puts him under the tuition of a Paedagogue who no less than a hundred times a day will reproach him with his diet and cloaths and God onely knows and himself whether he came honestly by them Thou tell'st me in that somewhat I knew not before replies Marcella and I give over wondring at the severity our Mistress pretended to when her Nephew ad honores grew a little more familiar with us than she would have had him Had I been any thing forward to believe his protestations I should soon have depriv'd the Aunt of the Nephew but she hath bred me up from a child and it is a certain gratitude for us to be faithful to those whose bread we eat To tell thee the truth continu'd Inez I cannot find in my heart to have any avâ—rsion for that young fellow and I must confess that it rais'd a great compassion in me when I saw him onely dis-satisfi'd and out of humour among so many others who enjoy'd themselves and were merry In these discourses did the two Waiting-women spend the time after they were got into bed and such were their comments on the marriage of their Master Honest Inez fell asleep but Marcella had somewhat else to do As soon as she perceiv'd that her companion was asleep she puts on her own cloaths and made up a great bundle of those of Isidora's and some of Dom Marcos's which she had slily got out of their chamber before the over-cautious Signor had lock'd the door Having dispatch'd her business she went her ways and because she had no intention to return agâ—â—n she left open the doors of that part of the house where Isidora liv'd A while after Inez awakes and not finding her companion a-bed with her she was very desirous to know what should become of her at that time of the night She hearken'd a while at Augustine's chamber-door not without some distrust and jealousie but not hearing any noise within she went to search for her in all those places where she conceiv'd she might be and found her not but all the doors through which she had pass'd wide open She went and knock'd at that of the new-married couple and did it with so much noise as put them into a fright She told them that Marcella was run away that she had left the doors open and she was afraid that she had carried somewhat with her whereof she intended not ever to make any restitution Dom Marcos starts out of bed as a person out of his wits ran to look for his cloaths but could not find them nor Isidora's wedding-gown But what compleated his distraction was that after a light was brought into the room he found what he least suspected his dear spouse of a far different figure from that under which he had been so much taken with her nay so dreadful was the spectacle that the narrow-hearted fellow was ready to swound The poor Lady sitting up half-asleep half-awake in her bed never minded that her periwig was fallen off At last she sees it on the ground fallen down by the bed-side and taking it up would have put it on but a thing is never well when it is done