Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A58713
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The history of the loves of Lysander and Sabina a novel.; Lisander
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T. S., fl. 1681-1688.
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1688
(1688)
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Wing S165; ESTC R1329
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33,545
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124
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constitution and a severer vertue than that of mine could never have been able to resist Once indeed I thought I dream'd I talk'd of nothing but Sabina and vainly resolv'd in spite of all the little stops and lets I might meet with in the way to carry the respect I had for her pure and undivided to my Grave But length of time I see and absence which is my own sin has almost obliterated those old Idea's 'T is this Stranger this new Face which I alas must never never see again which has given me my mortal Wound And yet I am resolv'd that as soon as I have deliver'd the Regiment at Barcellona and obtain'd my Discharge I will I must return to Flanders in quest of that Face whose Smiles and Frowns determine the issues of my life and death These and such like were the pastimes of his Solitude For as all other Melancholy in its deepest and most retired speculations is not without some mixture of pleasure and satisfaction so especially in Love the contemplation and remembrance of a Beauty we have lov'd though unsuccesfully fills and extends the heart with warm blood and fresh spirits even in Despair it self And this was the only consolation which never quitted the perplexed Lisander in all his march to Barcellona The Colonel and Clarinda made several little stops in their Journey through France but the Love-sick Lady found nothing there that pleas'd her Now and then she met with some Amorous Addresses and those from Persons very considerable too but they only serv'd to fan and blow the Fire which Lisander had kindled in her bosom and which had now seiz'd upon her very bones and marrow Every new City furnish'd her with new Admirers but their Applications always recoyl'd into their own bosoms and did them most mischief at the rebound Clarinda stood like a Rock in vain importun'd by the Waves all the effect their fine speeches had with her was only to teach her how to set a just value upon her self Seven days after the Colonels arrival at Barcellona came Lisander with the weary Regiment He was welcom to the Colonel as an Angel and he deserv'd to be so indeed not only for his former good Service but for his ready compliance with him to leave Flanders and the great discretion and diligence he had us'd in the March. The day that the Regiment arriv'd the Lieutenant-Colonel and some other of the Officers din'd with the Colonel when after Dinner drinking a Glass of Wine rather like Souldiers than Spaniards Lisander as if his good Angel had whisper'd him something in his Ear was observ'd to be gayer and liker himself than he had been all the March. Clarinda according to the Ceremony of Spain was not seen among the Gentlemen at Dinner but eat in her own Chamber where the Servants were so lavish in representing Lisanders Accomplishments that the talk cast her into a deep sit of Melancholy with bringing to her mind the Image of that man whom she could never forget When the Company parted Lisander was invited to lodge there till he was provided of convenient Quarters and you may easily believe that when he accepted the motion Venus and her Son smil'd at the Omen Lisander had heard of Clarinda in Flanders and understood that she was now at home with her Father but little did he think that she was the Lady that had cost him all the quiet and content he had in the World for these last two months However to do his breeding right he resolv'd to Court the first opportunity to bear up to her and make her a Reverence The next morning at a good hour as if the Destinies had now repented of their anger and were resolv'd to make our Lovers satisfaction for their past sufferings Clarinda went to walk in the Garden where Lisander as he was dressing himself in his Chamber was quickly aware of her At another time he had needed no other admonisher to dispatch and make himself ready for the encounter than the warmth of his own temper and inclination though now the last impression his heart had receiv'd made him use the occasion with a great deal of indifference As soon as ever Lisander enter'd the Garden says the Governante who was waiting on Clarinda Here 's the Lieutenant-Colonel for she had seen him and describ'd him to the young Lady as I was saying the day before and as modesty and good manners oblig'd them they walk'd softly into a by-Walk as it had been on purpose to avoid him for it was early and the Lady was in her morning Dress Lisander thought it no point of his civility to go directly the next way up to them as if he had had no other design in the Garden but intended to drop on them as it were by chance and so he began to round them as one would do a Covy of Partridge He was just come so near that Clarinda knew him to be the same Gentleman she had seen at the Play at Brussels though by the favour of her morning Dress he knew not her And just as he pull'd off his Hat and said Good morrow fair Ladies the Colonel who had been taking the Fresco steps forth of an Arbour at the end of the Walk and saluted him they two fell immediately into Discourse which gave Clarinda a fair occasion to march off without making him any answer but a Curtesie She was certainly much beholding to her morning Cloths and more to the seasonable interruption of her Father for the prevention of that surprize and disorder which must needs have attended the discovery on both sides and infallibly have given the Governante who was well acquainted with the vanities of this wicked World just occasion to suspect even more than the very truth As they walk'd off the Governante ask'd Clarinda What think you now of my judgment Is it not as I told you Is not the Lieutenant-Colonel a very fine man Has he not a brave Port And twenty other little Questions of the same sort to which when she observ'd Clarinda made no answer and seem'd not to mind her She went on laughing I warrant your heart has taken wing already and you are in love with him at first sight Truly says Clarinda if one may be forgiven for falling in love with any man at first sight this is he for I think him the handsomest and goodliest person of a man that ever I saw in my life You have reason says the Governante and I must confess that such sights to a young Lady in a morning next her heart are oftentimes of very dangerous consequence What dangerous consequence do you mean says Clarinda As long as Ladies confine themselves within the Laws and Obligations of their Sex what danger can there be in an Honourable Love The Governante presently fancy'd and well she might that Lisander's presence had a little mov'd the young Lady but she never so much as dream'd of any former Acquaintance For though she
Don was a Spaniard and was so much asham'd to have suffer'd such an affront and so tamely before his Mistress that he durst sooner thought of dying than of ever coming in to her sight again Lisander having by this action confessed the power of his Love and his impotence to dissemble it presented himself the next day to Clarinda made a profound submission and beg'd her pardon She found her own strength and his weakness and intending to make her own use of both she told him that his relation to the Colonell and his own merit should at any seasonable hours open him the doors of that House and make him welcome as a Friend But if he still persisted to pretend any farther she must be forc'd to make use of those Expedients which she was not willing to think of Lisander had enough to say but durst not answer one word at that time for fear of moving her displeasure which was more terrible to him than a Cannon in a breach charg'd with small shot However he still frequented the House and was as familiar there as if he had been at home And though it was directly forbidden him yet when he found Clarinda in a good humor he could not chuse but give the old string now and then a gentle touch and let her see by Some passing Trope that his Love was above her rigour When he spoke so plain that she was oblig'd to take notice of it he was sure to lose her Company for that time which made him day and night beat his brains and weary himself to find out some desperate Remedy that might either kill or cure Some Expedient to set Clarinda on the rack and force her with one breath to determine the success of his weary Love. For a downright Despair he knew could make him dy but once whereas that doubtful hope that temper'd Cruelty those corrected Poysons made him ready to give up the Ghost once or twice a day And what gave him very wonderful apprehensions his utmost diligence could never yet learn who as she told him she had dispos'd of her Heart for he never heard that she entertain'd any Gentleman but himself In the midst of this perplexity Love and Fortune who had long pittyed his sufferings laid their heads together and undertook his Deliverance which was thus Lisander having a mind to see the Regiment together and exercise them Commanded them to be in Arms by the Sea-shore next morning at the opening of the Gates It happen'd the same Evening that four tall Ships were come to anchor near the shore to take in fresh water and as soon as ever it was light in the morning loos'd their foretop-sails and were weighing anchor intending within two hours to be under Sail again Lisander who was upon the shore with the Regiment gave his Captain Commandant instructions what to do till he came back and went privately into the City to try his last practice upon Clarinda He came up to her Chamber door and knock'd in more hast than he us'd to do and the Governante opened him the door for her Lady was just up As soon as he enter'd the room the Governante withdrew imagining he might have some extraordinary business because it was so early and he seem'd to be in such hast Now Madam says he to Clarinda I am come to take my leave of you and as I have often done in jest bid you Farewel for ever in good earnest And with that he led her to the window shew'd her the Regiment on the Shore the Ships with their fore-topsails loose and their anchors on peak And then told her that last night late he had received News that there were great appearances of another War with France and an Order to embarque in those Ships with the Regiment for Flanders again where the Colonell was to meet them That he had not a moment to stay but beg'd her a thousand pardons for all the indiscretions which his passionate Love might ever have been guilty of and wish'd her all the satisfaction she could ever hope or promise her self in her own unmovable Inclinations Clarinda during this Narration turn'd her eyes I know not how many times from Lisander to the Ships and from the Ships to Lisander And seeing the trouble and confusion he was in which indeed was for fear his Project should have miscarry'd She threw her arms about his neck and fell on weeping most pittifully Had it been to save both their lives She could not have spoken one word but with the same hold She kiss'd him a thousand times and wet all his face with her tears Lisander seeing the fury of her Passion began to mistrust the Effects of it and was ready to repent the Experiment And though he knew there was no reason for it yet he could almost have found in his heart to have wept for company Dear Madam says he speak and let me go Never Never my dear Lisander says she and so she fell on weeping again with that violence that she could not get out another word As soon as she was come a little to her self False and perfidious man says she could thy Cruelty find no other way to put an end to this miserable life of mine Is this the fruit of all your Vows and Oaths Is this indeed the end of all your pretended Love and Constancy Dear Lisander let me in pitty die by your hand to prevent that more cruell and unfortunate death which I shall meet in your absence Madam says he with no little amazement If all this be Love it is either very young or you have been extremely in the wrong to dissemble it all this while For now Dear Madam I must tell you the time is pass'd and 't is too late to recall it Bear your fate as well as you may though I am sure in a very little time to sink under mine And whereas a seasonable freedom might have made us both happy this ill-tim'd Love of yours worse than Disdain shews it self too late like a flash of Gunpowder after the Execution is done May my grief and hard fate says she light on them that first impos'd this uneasie modesty this self-murdering reservation upon the frailty of our Sexe I have lov'd you my Dear Lisander as my own Soul ever since the first time I saw you it is to you I have dispos'd my Heart and methinks a man of your reason might have read as much in my very Eyes Dear Lisander either stay here or take me with you or do something and then her sorrow interrupted her again that she could go no farther Madam says he I had been the happiest of all mortal men had I but known you Inclinations a little sooner but it 's now to late I can neither take you along with me nor yet disobey the Kings Order and stay here All I can say is this If I have but one half hours leasure before we set Sail I will wait upon you again