have of it The minde of Stella considering the several Scenes of Chance she had run through in the space of two days was by this time fluctuating in the midst of many various and doubtful thoughts but when she bethought herself that all these disturbances were but to make way for her to the free enjoyment of her lov'd Carlo she resolv'd to bear them with an undaunted patience Carlo pretended to all that were in the Village that Stella was his Sister lest the Country-people resorting to the City might haply in their common discourses let fall some passage or other tending to their discovery Thus concealing both their Conditions and their Name they liv'd for a while contented and secure But Carlo's malevolent Planet not yet weary of afflicting him found out new and unexpected means to complete the number of his sorrows and to effect this work there was an Agent provided the fittest that could have been imagin'd it was the daughter of him who had the overseeing of Leonardo's Gardens she was a Virgin of person not unhandsom brisk and lively in her behaviour and of a wit more penetrating than from one of her birth could have been expected who seeing in Carlo so many graces attracts worthy both to be admir'd lov'd entertain'd a passion for him so unbridled that it could scarce avoid the suspition of Stella her self But as for Carlo his imagination was so intirely imploy'd in contemplating the perfections of his Mistris that there was no space left void for any other thoughts to enter Leonardo was us'd to visit them every night to see how they far'd in their new habitation and to give them notice how their affairs succeeded but one time above the rest he enjoyn'd Carlo as he tender'd his safety not to stir abroad where he might be seen of any for that Stella's Father having already given his word to the Count ambitious of being advanc'd to so honorable an Alliance was so far from being to be appeas'd by any intreaty or admitting of any of those excuses that were made by many of Carlo's Friends in his behalf that he complain'd to the Magistrate of the City and obtain'd of him to proclaim the reward of two thousand Growns to whomsoever should apprehend him or bring any tydings of him This diligent inquisition did not at all trouble the minde of Cario who thought himself secure in his Country-palace nor did he care for going any whither abroad having at home abundantly enough to content him for in the day time beside the company of his Lady he entertain'd himself with the delicacy of the Flowers which yielded pleasure both to his sight and scent and the soft Musick of the cleer Streams In the night-time he intermitted to be Stella's Brother And thus for a while they enjoy'd one another in security and innocent delight One evening they were sitting together in the Garden to take the benefit of the West-winds cool whispers when they might hear Lucinda for so was the damosel call'd that was before mention'd incited by the violence of Love and secure of any bodies over-hearing her breath forth her Passion in this Song ON a green bank sate a fair Shepherdess From whose Aspect the morn might seem to rise Save that some clouds of care and heaviness Obscur'd the serene lustre of her eyes Her sighs into the empty Air she vented She sighing sang singing thus lamented How shall I shake this tyrant from my heart 'T is death alone I fear can Love remove If then my life be cause of all my smart Cease heart to live that I may cease to love But if thou art deni'd by Fate to die This only's left To suffer constantly Lucinda concluded her Song with so deep a sigh that Stella could not chuse but observe it and being touch'd with a kind of jealousie she beheld Carlo with a look lesse serene than at other times but neither did he take any notice of it nor seem'd she at all to be troubled at it Lovers in the infancy of their enjoyments are scarce at leasure to entertain jealousie or strange Loves yet Carlo his being so passionately lov'd by Lucinda cost him dear for the Servant whom Leonardo had appointed to attend upon the two Lovers having not many days since conceiv'd a passion for Lucinda and not apprehending any other cause of her insensibility than that her heart was prepossest with an affection she bore to Carlo bethought himself of a way either to ingratiate himself into her favour or to be reveng'd of her for her disdain which was to discover to her the whole progresse of the loves of those two persons and the true reason of their living conceal'd in that place As this action of his was most ignoble to betray those that were committed to his fidelity so it far'd with him accordingly he only obtaining the balest of those ends which he had propos'd to himself for this discovery did not at all move in Lucinda any affection for him but only made her despair of that successe which she had promis'd to her self in her love to Carlo which was not long conceal'd from him himself One day as he was sitting to repose himself at the foot of a shady tree there appeared unto him neer to the place where he sate Lucinda in a posture so melancholy that grief seem'd to have made her really what was but feign'd of Niobe which he strictly observing could not forbear to demand of her what might be the cause of her so deep melancholy The cause reply'd she in a troubled and disdainful way is so apparent that do but enquire of these trees these flowers nay toese rocks themselves and they will all declare my sufferings being much more sensible than those that are the Authors of them This purling fountain that you see run whisp'ring along the smooth pebbles about what think ye are all her murmuring discourses but about my love or rather my fondnesse who have suff'red my self to be transported with an affection for him who by reason that he hath dispos'd of his heart already to one that hath more right and title to it is oblig'd to be inflexible toward me I know I ought not as the case stands to expect any milder treatment from you but tell me plainly since your true condition is not altogether hid from me however you have sought to mask it Is not this Stella your Spouse whom you feign to be your Sister are not you Brother to Count Alfredo and is not she daughter to Don Ferdinand of Aragon did not you seduce her from her Fathers house To what end serves this counterfeiting the names of Brother and Sister whenas the night through all her darknesse can discern a different relation Little do you imagine into what inconveniences this disguisement of yours hath plunged me for had you appear'd at first what really you were I had been sufficiently warn'd to fortifie my minde against all unlawful desires it being
strangely infest all sorts and degrees of men thou not onely frequentest Courts Palaces Universities and Religious Societies themselves but even taintest the blood of persons most neerly related But whereas Alfredo was of so uncontrol'd a power so respected and so fear'd of all what reason had he to bear so great an envie toward one so curb'd and depress'd that there seemed no great difference between him and one of his servants There needs no other answer but that famous saying of an ancient Author The Envious man hates all his Inferiours because they do not equal him his Equals because they do not exceed him his Superiours because they are above him so that neither brothers nor dearest friends are exempted from his malice It was Envie which put so great a difference between the two Romane twins who had the self-same Cradle upon the banks of Tyber and the self-same Couch in the Hostile field that Romulus to assume the whole Empire to himself gave license to the murthering of his brother Remus It was Envie which so dis-united the affections of powerful Mithridates from his brother that Mithridates to enlarge his power and dominion commanded his brother to be publikely beheaded To conclude where this Monster ruleth neither means nor honours nor even life it self can promise any to themselves security Carlo that he might set himself to resist the discourtesies of Fortune and not depend any longer upon his brothers cold courtesies he resolves to engage himself in the love of some fair and rich Lady of that Citie whose portion might dis-enthral him from that servile estate which he liv'd in under his brothers tyranny But among all the Illustrious Dames which that famous place afforded and it afforded not a few he thought none more fair and there was none more rich than a Lady whose name was Donna Stella whose father was of the noblest and wealthiest Gentlemen of the Citie having acquir'd a great estate in the Indies This Stella was doubly fair as being both fair and rich both these respects make Carlo desirous to be her servant both these respects render Stello worthy of his service but as yet he is resolv'd to communicate his degsines to no body but his own thoughts There is nothing that abateth the courage of Lovers more then Poverty nothing that more restraineth them from revealing the secrets of their minds If the riches of Stella mov'd him at first to seek her love no less powerful with him is her beauty now to perswade him to persevere in that minde but the means and oportunity of discovering his faithful flames and preferring his amorous suit to her were denied him by the malevolence of his stars He knew he was not able to promote his designe nor have access to his Mistress without employing the industry and fidelity of some of her servants and to have made use of their assistance without the demonstration of his own liberality would have been a great dishonour to him not having wherewithal to reward them according to the greatness of his Generosity and Birth as being Brother to him who was absolute Lord of the whole Country To prove ungrateful the generousness of his minde made him scorn to appear coâ—ferable and in want the greatness of his spirit made him disdain therefore the language of his eyes only had liberty to express that which his tongue was constraâ—â—ed to conceal The day came nor more certainly then he was certain to dispose of himself in some secret Walk neer the back part of her house that if at any time shâ— câ—me forth that way he might obtain his wished sight and there pass'd not a night wherein he did not duely walk by the door of her house that at least if he might not be so happie as to enjoy her sight he might in some sort please himself with seeing the place made happie by her presence But when he consider'd with himself what an airy contentment he now enjoy'd and that time was trifl'd away â—â—d his loves labour lost while his affections were kept unreveal'd from her who was the Mistress of his affections and that he had small reason to expect favours from her who scarce knew him much less knew him to be her servant he saw himself constrain'd for want of other means to cast himself upon the courtesie of his discourteous Brother and to impart those counsels to him which he had purpos'd to lock up in the most secret Arcanum of his brest presuming he should come off with the more credit and his address to his Mistress finde greater acceptance being back'd by his brothers authority whom although he knew not to stand so well-affected to him or his proceedings yet he assur'd himself that he might haply be led to it if not by any other respect yet at least by a willingness to be rid of his company he so little car'd for and to be freed from the charge he was at in maintaining him with this assurance he repairs to Alfredo represents to him the exquisiteness of Stella's beauty and effectually sets forth with what passionate desires her beauty had enflam'd him and how extremely it perplex'd him not to obtain that which he so infinitely desir'd His Brother outwardly commended his discreet choice inwardly maligned it promis'd to further him in it what he might intended nothing less for having consider'd well the excellent feature and the rare endowments of Stella he purpos'd to obtain her for himself nor did he seek her more for his own love and her deserts sake then out of a desire to deprive his brother of that contentment and felicity he aim'd at so great was his envie toward him whose mean and lowe condition if it were so much the object of his envie how much more would he have been envi'd being advanc'd to a contented and prosperous estate wherein he should not any longer have stood in need of him He was not in times past so much not his friend as now he is resolv'd to become his mortal adversary so that making his brothers desires the promoters of his own designe he often frequented the house of Stella's father and after a few visits reveal'd to him his minde No marvel if the old man willingly consented knowing that to accept of the Counts profer imported him no less then the marrying of his daughter to the greatest Fortune in that Country In all haste he goes to Stella and tells her the happie news who grown to womans estate and thinking the time long till she were married embrac'd the motion with much gladness Carlo perceiving his brother to be much at the house of Stella's father rested secure of his good success He whose minde is free from traiterous intentions is least apt to suspect others for being guilty of the like Stella by some means or other became acquainted with Carlo's affection to her which could not finde any place in her heart being prepossest already by that of Alfredo And there wanted not
THE IMPERIOUS BROTHER Dedicated to the COUNTESS OF STRAFFORD LONDON Printed by J. C. for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhil 1656. To the Right Honourable THE COUNTESS OF STRAFFORD MADAM THe Boldness which I presume in suffring this little Volume to make its Humble Address to your Honours fair Hands is so great that I should despair of ever finding Pardon were it not that the Vertuous Stella a Lady both Noble in Extraction and in the Lustre of her Beauty and Soul yet in all these infinitely inferiour to your Honour lies prostrate at your Feet imploring a forgiveness for this Presumption and to make it known That she owes her Description to a more Noble Author since all the Glory I pretend to is to have the Honour of Presenting Her to You in the English Dress Yet when I consider that among the Old Greeks the meanest Off'rings which with a pure Heart they Consecrated to the Temples of their Divinities found no less favourable Acceptance than those Statues and Vessels of massy Gold which were Offer'd by that Lydian Monarch the Envie of his Age for Riches unto the Temple of Jupiter Hammon when his Thoughts had devour'd all Asia with his Numerous Army I am the more Fortified in the Confidence of this Address it being made unto a Greatness equal to those who have been esteemed Deities and to a Goodness incomparably more Obliging Especially having assum'd the Confidence to Dedicate the Illustrious Shepherdess to your Noble Sister the Marchioness of Dorchester to whom the Relation is the same in Merit as in Nature both being Daughters to that most honour'd Lady who is known to the World as much by the Greatness of Her Vertues as Her Quality It had been the highest of Errors to have Presented this to Any but Your Self whose Illustrious Affiances since I have had the happy occasion to mention I ought not to forget to pay a just Adoration unto the Memory of that Renowned Lord whose High Prudence and Heroick Magnanimity still Survive in the perfect Image of his Vertues your Noble Husband And Madam I am bold to Affirm That Montalvan Himself the Grandeur of whose Air and Spirit in all his Writings have render'd him an Admiration to all men that have been so fortunate as to reade Him would had he had the like Opportunity have thrown himself and all his Works at your Feet with a Devotion as equal to that wherewith the Famous Scudery Presented his Cyrus to the Dutchess of Longevile as all those Glories and Transcendencies of Mind and Body which he Attributes to that Great Princess are equall'd if not excell'd by those Divine Rays of Vertue which Crown you with unspeakable Brightness And it is but just that this Piece which small as it is hath not many fewer Examples of Vertue and Heroick Actions in it than the most Voluminous Romance containeth should be Consecrated to a Personage who alone Comprizeth all that 's Great and Noble in the World But Considering how small the Advantages are which this Version hath Contributed to it and that what there is of Handsom in it it Derives from the Original to hope that an Essay so little Worth coming from a Person less worthy out-shin'd and Eclips'd by so many nobler Productions should finde an Acceptance equal with the Devotion wherewith it is Presented were an Arrogance as Great as the Person against whom it is Presum'd But on the other-side not to repose a Confidence on those Extensive and Vniversal Civilities which you equally distribute to all men were to call in question that high Complaisance that generous mildness of Nature which hath gain'd you so large an Empire over the Spirits of all the Vertuosi whenas the Sun your Emulatour in the large diffusion of his Favours indifferently upon all Objects shines as well upon the ignoblest Weed as on the most radiant Flower at leastwise I may Hope That Stella being of a middle Nature between your heighth of Glory and my Imperfections as the Moon is between the purity of the Sun and the grosseness of the Earth may receive the light of your Rays and reflect it back upon this Humble Address for a meaner Excellency which requires the presence of Deformity to set it off would yet enjoy a considerable Felicity if it should be thought to deserve the Condition of being a Foil to your more exalted Brightness And perhaps there are in Stella such Advantages as may allow her a pretension to that Honour and admit her to wait upon your Triumphal Chariot an Advancement in which she will shine more gloriously than any of those bright Creatures whose Name she bears do in the Heavens and whatever Defects she may be thought culpable of I am perswaded they are neither so Many nor so Great but that they may be capable to Merit your Condescention and Forgiveness and thereby Confirm you Eminent by the Discovery of one Vertue more for whom all Noble Attributes are reserv'd of which there can be none Greater than that of your Goodness in cherishing a Vertue which Offers her self up to your Service with so perfect and zealous a Resignation And it is with the same Devotion to your Service though far less pretensions of Merit that I Passionately Aspire to be Admitted into the Glorious Quality of being MADAM Your Honours most Humble most Faithful and most Obedient Servant E. P. The Illustrious SHEPHERDESS The Imperious BROTHER Written originally in Spanish Now made ENGLISH And Dedicated to the MARCHIONESS Of DORCHESTER And the COUNTESS Of STRAFFORD BY E. P. LONDON Printed by J. C. for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhil 1656. The Imperious BROTHER IN Sevil a place both otherwise famous and for being the capital Citie of Andaluzia was born Carlo the second son of Count Horatia who for his vertuous qualittes was so well belov'd that all that knew him were afflicted that he was not the chief Heir of his fathers estate He was in his deportment gentile and pleasing of a comely graceful person in his apparel not exceeding the moderation that became a younger brother but that which was chiefly commendable he was of a clear and candid Judgment a gift which doth not always speak men fortunate His Brother whole name was Alfredo though superiout in years yet in vertues far inferiour by the death of his father became possess'd of all his honor'd Titles and great Possessions his right pre-existing above his brother Carlo's by the priviledge onely of one years Seniority He was more envious than for one of his quality might seem possible proud and above sufferance imperious and in so despightful and haughty a manner treated he Carlo as that he might well have been thought rather his utter enemy then his brother If any thing may be said in favour of Alfredo it is this That since he would needs be envious his Envie could not have sound a nobler object O powerful Disease how generally dost thou reign over the whole world and how
such variety of misfortunes that he might in some sort have been said to be a gainer if he had not gain'd the accomplishment of his hopes It hapned while Stella was deciding the quarrel between the two Brothers that her Father having been wakened by the noise which their stirring in the house had made not long before and not being able again to compose himself to sleep for thinking what might be the cause of it he chose rather to rise and satisfie himself of his doubt than to watch the whole night out in such a tedious suspension of minde and so taking his Hat and Cloak and calling one of his Servants to light him he went to all the avenues and search'd every corner of the house being resolv'd either to pacifie or confirm his jealousies nor did he leave any probable cause unsuspected except his daughters entertaining Carlo the decency of her words the modest composure of her countenance the reservedness and decorum which she duely observ'd in all her actions render'd her reputation so unspotted that it would have been the most hard thing in the world to have possest him with the least prejudice against her integrity That which he had most to suspect was lest some one who thirsted after his wealth had watch'd an opportunity to ease him of as much of it as they could willing rather to purchase it at so easie a rate than to take a journey for it to the Indies as he had done At length he came to the place where the centinel-Maid stood expecting the return of the two Lovers who well aware of her Masters coming before he could approach neer enough to see her had betaken her self to a secret place to hide her from his sight but so distracted she was with this sudden surprizal that she forgot to take the Key out of the door the Old man wonder'd at it but imputed it to the carelesnesse of the Servant that had been imploy'd that night to shut the doors and so leaving them fast lock'd himself he took out the Key and returned back to his Chamber to compose himself again to his rest In the mean while Carlo and Stella were come back secure of any such great misfortune Carlo call'd to the Maid to open them the door but seeing himself after many call's unanswer'd he concluded that she was fallen asleep but she as soon as she was assur'd of her Masters being retir'd was about to have return'd again to the discharge of her Office which his coming had interrupted and to see if she could discover the return of the two Lovers But when she came and found the Key missing she presently call'd to minde the error she had committed in leaving it in the door when she went to hide her self and going into the Balcone she found them arriv'd and related to them all that had hapned Stella whether it were that she saw Carlo too much troubled already to be farther afflicted with her lamentations or that the excess of her grief obstructed the passage of her words uttered nothing but sighs which she fetch'd from the very bottom of her heart and lifted up her eyes to heaven to which she seem'd to complain of the many injuries wherewith Fortune had treated her Carlo beheld her with pity and wish'd her to consider that all these crosses came upon her meerly for his sake and that it was only because she lov'd him that she was so toss'd upon the waves of adversity and that he was so much more afflicted for her misfortunes than his own that he could willingly have consented to sacrifice his life to her quiet and to the freeing her from those crosse influences which she participated of with him Ye do well Carlo answer'd Stella knowing that I am so much yours as that I sleight all dangers to make sure of your safety to be so ready to forsake your life to please me presenting me with the greatest of discomforts at a time when I stand most in need of encouragement But what is it I beseech you that causeth in you this willingnesse to die if as you say no afflictions are grievous to you otherwise than I am concern'd in them whenas you ought to be confident that your life is the sole cause that makes me have a desire to live Ah my Carlo what greater content can there accrue to me than to see you live long and happie Consider that I am devoted to you and that if I have express'd a deep sence of this misfortune it is for your sake that I resent it more than for what I my self suffer so long as I am with you there can nothing so sad or disastrous befal me that shall have power to move me to any great dejection of minde Dispose of me according to your pleasure and bring me to what place you shall think most convenient where I may live conceal'd from my Fathers sight until his displeasure be over pass'd and he at length finding me dispos'd of so much to my content may applaud both his own Fortune and mine for having given him a Son-in-law so noble me a Husband so vertuous Carlo expressing himself infinitely joyful gave her thanks for the high favours wherewith she had oblig'd him as briefly as the time and place requir'd and musing a while with himself what course they were best to take it was not long ere he resolv'd upon the house of his friend Leonardo for a safe retreat to him and his Lady where they might consult at leasure for their own advantage The maid was unwilling to remain in her Masters house to run the hazard of those inconveniences that attended her in case it should be discovered that she was a party in her yong Ladies fault and therefore being let down from the Balcone by the help of Carlo she went along with him and Stella being arriv'd at Leonardo's house they related to him all that had hapned and reposing much confidence in the counsel of so faithful a friend they besought him to give them his best assistance and advice in this extremity whereinto they were plunged which he faithfully did telling them That being it could be no way safe for them to remain there he thought it would be most expedient for them before the morning light to retire to a pleasant Country-house of his about three Leagues from the City beautified with Fountains and delightful Gardens And to that end he immediately gave order to one of his Servants to make ready his own Coach and commanded him to wait upon them and to observe them with the same respect as if it were to his own person Carlo and Stella having rendred him thanks in such affectionate expressions as shew'd how highly they resented this so great Favour took their leaves and pray'd him That he would be careful to give them notice from time to time what rumors or effects this flight of theirs would produce in the City and what apprehensions the Old man would
a thing that cannot enter into my thoughts that any woman be she never so wanton or unchaste would give her self liberty to cherish in her breast a passion for one who is intirely anothers But Oh unhappy me that I am not to be inform'd of your true condition until I had lost my self and my liberty in a fond misapprehension now I am disdeceiv'd I shall labour with my whole might to suppresse these unwarrantable flames before they proceed any farther to ruine me Neverthelesse I would not have you ignorant that you owe your safety to the good will which I have born you though now I strive to forget it and do not imagine I speak this to flatter you for is there any one think you that knows the abode of a person whom Justice requires and hearing the reward of two thousand Crowns propos'd to whomsoever should bring tydings of him would have patience to conceal such a person without some great consideration You see I know your abode and who you are having an opportunity both to be rich and to revenge my self of your disdain if I did not approve the reason of it and forgive it but to give you proof how unfeignedly my affection hath been and to let you see that I am not really what these homely garments make me appear to be long may you enjoy your fair Stella with all the tranquillity and happinesse that these Solitudes can afford while I implore Heaven to give me strength to extinguish these flames which my breast hath unfortunately harbour'd so long And I doubt not but Time which is wont to bring about greater miracles will also effect this since we oft-times see that that which is doated on to day to morrow is forgotten Carlo remain'd in a kind of ecstasie to hear from Lucinda's mouth such an exact relation of the important accidents of his life and was somwhat comforted in the assurances she gave him of keeping secret all that she knew of him yet knowing how little confidence ought to be repos'd in one that loves without being beloved again and that his own life and the safety of Stella depended upon her silence he thought it his wisest course to appear outwardly to her not altogether insensible of her love supposing that by a seeming compliance though but for a while she might be lull'd into such a pleasing contentment as might make her forget all thoughts of divulging any thing to his harm And just as he was putting this resolution in practice telling her how much her good esteem of him had oblig'd him and wishing himself in a Condition free enough to entertain her love Stella with whom it was an unwonted thing to be never so little absent from him going to seek him in that fair province of Flowers came to a little thicket of Myrtles and Laurels through which although she could not see him yet by the distinct sound of his Speech she ghess'd him to be but at a small distance from her her curiosity to know who it was that he discours'd with led her to a tree whose branches wider display'd than the rest permitted her plainly to discern Lucinda and him together This unexpected sight inflam'd her with a desire to know what should be the occasion of this so great familiarity so that with a most greedy attention drawing as neer as possibly she could without being discern'd she heard Carlo say but it was rather to engage Lucinda to sec acy than out of any free inclination to serve her That he was no lesse sersible of her passion than deeply affected with her beauty and that if he did not requite her with those real Services which her love deserv'd from him she was to impute it to a Cause that was very well known to her self for that being bound to Stella by obligations of so high a nature that the least of them was her having left her Fathers house to follow him he was utterly depriv'd of the liberty to dispose of himself according to his own minde But that when his troublesome estate should be becalm'd and his affairs quietly compos'd he would contrive things so much to her contentment that she should plainly see how much he was her Servant Lucinda upon this retir'd perceiving some of the Gardiners people coming that way not without reason for her love was not so closely carried but that it was whisper'd among them Stella remain'd a while so lost in astonishment that she had scarce life and sence enough left in her to perceive that she was jealous and when she came to her self she was not able to endure so much as to think of Carlo's treachery or of Lucinda's impudence So transported she was with rage and jealousie to see Carlo not only love a person so much inferiour but with so great a passion as to reveal those things to her which he ought to have kept undiscover'd if it were possible even from himself that she rush'd out in a fury from among the bushes where she had stood exclaiming with loud and conâ—uâ—'d cries against his disloyalty To what end said she ingrateful man serve all these feigned shews of affection whenas I evidently see that you only pretend a love to me in the mean while carrying on a secret design unworthy both of my quality of your many obligations to me and the dangers whereunto I have expos'd my self for your sake you ought to appear what you are Carlo the most perfidious man the earth bears I confesse I shall not be able so far to forget the good esteem I have formerly born you as altogether to refrain from tears and pity if your life should chance to be indanger'd yet this advantage I should have That I should see my self reveng'd of the ignoble dealings of so infamous a person for it is much more agreeable to a woman of a generous spirit to die than to bear the infidelity of a person to whom she hath given her heart How worthy a recompence have you given me for the losse of that which I held more dear than all things in the world beside Is it to this that all those promises are come which flow'd from you in a stream of tears when I permitted you to become master of this unfortunate beauty I am glad however that at length you appear to me in your own colours that although I cannot take from you again what to the prejudice of my honour you have already obtain'd of me I may at least free my self from those your impostures to which hitherto I have liv'd a Victim I am likely to see you shortly expos'd to the vengeance of your Brother and my Father who as they are persons both potent and highly incens'd against you will hardly be satisfied with any thing less than your life therefore I will only deal so candidly with you as to give you warning before-hand that you must look for no greater favour from me than what you would expect from your greatest