unkindnesses the slights that are put upon a Beauty do vex her more than all those that can be done to the most Amorous of all men she accused Frederick with Justice of the injury he did her Charms and for the making him believe at least that she was not so contemptible and that she received consolation for the loss of him she sent him back his Letter with orders to say That Prince Amaldee had given it her and that she made him restitution of it this is the having so favourable an appearance when all was contrary to her went a great way towards the satisfying her vanity And indeed the Princess of Sicily was pensive all alone when his Letter was brought her How great was her surprise Ah! cried she though I do not seem a Lover must I needs be Treated like the most contemptible Mistress and must I be Sacrificed to my Rivals His last stroke compleats all the other I have nothing more to hope since I am used as if I were the Princess of Sicily I must likewise do us she should and reproach that Person with baseness whom alas I cannot accuse of Perfidy seeing he never loved me Thereupon she ran to seek out Amaldee whom she found in the Palace Gardens and calling him all the names that rage inspires Art thou satisfied with all these names said she to him And art thou not better pleased with them than with my silence He was so afflicted that he was not able to give her one word in answer and leaning against a Tree he looked upon her tenderly and shedding a torrent of Tears he at length drew the like from the lovely eyes of that irritated Princess she suffered her self to fall upon a grass-plat over against him they made a mute conversation more melting than all they could have said but she retired as soon as Amaldee would have spoken and went into a gloomy Alley where she met with Camilla and the Admirals Widdow who were in pursuit of her who joined together to ask the reason of the Treachery that Frederick had done them they had for a long time tormented themsleves they could no longer forbear venting their fury and were desirount of having the cruel delight ofs putting him some moments upon the rack who had made them spend so many hours in torture they come thither together for we are only desirous of being private when we have something that is agreeable to say Moreover they encouraged mutually one another and pretended to put him into the greater confusion by convicting him both together of the Treacherous Tricks he had served each of them in particular they made him a Hundred Reproaches which he could not make any answer to he knew himself so well by their motions that he was terrified that he newly came from doing the same thing they would never have done talking they found still something to say and people are inexhaustible when they are to give a loose to their Passion the violence of their passing into their discourses caused them to make so much noise as that they were heard by Amaldee who apprehended that his dear Frederick was engaged in some peril being drawn by the sighs he gave he answered him by others and run to the place where there passed an adventure almost like to that he had newly been engaged in He first saw a Cavalier who disappeared and perceiving his Sister all bathed in tears Cruel Friend said he to him see the sufferings you bring upon us Cruel Friend your self replyed the Princess of Sicily sadly Why do you Sacrifice me to the Princess of Mantua I Sacrifice you said Amaldee to her I who treat her daily with so much Contempt upon your account See said she to him shewing him the Letter what you gave her and which she restored to me Amaldee protesting that he knew not what it was did very earnestly beg of her to give him that Letter Frederick could not resist the desire he had of seeing him read it And Amaldee making a stop at the end how said he to him you do not love the Princess more than you do me How replyed Frederick and do not you love her would to Heaven that I were in a Condition to love her Cryed they both at a time But in good earnest do not you love her said Frederick to the Prince of Majorca No Replyed he coldly and if I was sorry that you loved her it is apparently because I do not find her aimable but if you do not Love her why are you in fear that I do you must needs have some concealed interest I have one without doubt said Frederick but still do not you Love her repeated he again let me be sure of your indifference for her before I confess any thing I answer you I do not ask her said the Prince of Majorca Frederick could no longer hold out against such flattering appearances and the presence of Camilla could not put a stop to what so favourable a Moment furnished him with I have been in Love said he from the moment that I saw you and I should still have had all my indifference if you had never arrived in Sicily Camilla being charmed with this discourse did secretly make him reparation for all she had said and thought against him but Frederick stopping found himself in a fair way and blushing at what Love had made him do he would perhaps notwithstanding all his reflections have said something more if the King had not interrupted him he was amazed at his taking him aside to discourse him but the business passed in this manner The Queen whom a too long absence from Frederick rendred uneasie had sent to seek for him her imagination being full of him figured him always with another it was necessary for her to see him for the calming all her Suspicions she was told that he was with Amaldee and Camilla which was sufficient to allarm her The King being present when this Word was brought she blushed at the indiscretion of the Person she had imployed which Berranger taking notice of he looked upon it as a very ill augure What she added afterwards with some kind of transport made him the more apprehensive Camilla said she to him renews her Persuits and it is very convenient to have a Watching Eye over her Your Virtue is very Austere Madam said he to her with some disdain I perceive that you are not willing to allow your Daughter a Lover but as for Frederick I shall take order about him and he may possibly be on his way to Sicily by to Morrow for preventing the consequences of an Amour at which your severity is so much allarm'd Thereupon he went down into the Palace Garden thinking upon the Discovery he had newly made he met there with Frederick and breaking of the conversation that had so much pleased him he entertained him with one that was very afflicting Prince said he to him you may possibly be surprised that I
Amaldee he had a terrible Aversion for all the Nation and which this Princess did not fail to apply to her self in particular through the singular Interest she took therein though she looked upon Camilla as her Rival she failed not to pay her Visits very often that she might see there her Lover who notwithstauding his Indifference appeared to her very lovely She came once thither just as Prince Leon in Despair of having found Camilla so ill disposed to hear him was rising for to be gone Camilla changed colour at the sight of Frederick who blushed at the sight of Amaldee and Leon out-raged to see all this Disorder resolved to stay there still that he might observe Motions that put him upon the Rack Amaldee alone had so satisfyed an Air that the Princess of Sicily thought him the most happy of all men and after a light Coversation her Heart full of Sighs which she found difficult to stifle and her Eyes moist with Tears which she could no longer contain she went away not being able to support the sad Reflection she made upon Amaldee's Happiness But the Princess Camilla had other Sentiments of this so precipitated Departure and having well observed the Disorder of Frederick in the Presence of her Brother she imagined and applauded her self in secret for being the Cause of it Amaldee being left alone with his Sister for Leon went away a Moment after Frederick proposed to her the continuing of their Voyage and told her that they had remained too long in an Enemies Country that it was requisite they should be gone with the soonest and that too towards Barcelonna where Prince Ardalin impatiently expected them Camilla trembled at this Discourse and putting all in practise for the deferring still for some Time that terrible Departure she made him consent though with great Repugnance to all she had a Mind In the mean while he resolved to dispatch privately some one to the King his Father for to give him notice of all that had happened since their Departure and going out something dissatisfied with his Sister's Change of Humor he went to walk alone in the Palace Gardens Immediately he heard some confused Voices and approaching something nearer he distinguished that of Frederick and that of Leon who were parleying something sharply I congratulate said the Prince of Naples your having made a Conquest without being at the Trouble of the least Advance your Vows are received before they are declared and there is no pretending to any other than the Quality of an unfortunate Lover if a Man had a mind to engage in Sicily Frederick had too many Affairs in his Mind to think of undeceiving him insomuch that he replyed with some Sharpness As you did not consult me about the Choice of your Engagement I do not think my self obliged to give you an Account of the Progress I shall make in mine but believe me let us continue Friends a strange Lady should not disunite us you ought not to understand me all together but you shall know the rest when it is fitting for me to tell it you Then he quitted him for to go into a gloomy Alley where letting a Loose to his Melancholy Humor he remained in a certain Scituation wherein the Soul as it were being preyed upon by it's Lanquour is rendred almost insensible wherein we fly if I may so say from our selves to give our selves up to the beloved Object the Crowd of Thoughts hindring us from being able to distinguish any one and by having too much to resolve on we resolve on nothing In the mean while the Prince of Majorca imagining that the two Princes were his Sisters Lovers he went to inform her of it without thinking that such Advertisements do ever further an amorous Passion instead of preventing it Sister said he gallantly to her You ought to be upon your Guard the Princes of Sicily and of Naples have felt the Power of your Eyes if I am not deceived their Amour will put you to some Trouble Brother said Camilla to him with a little Blush if my Eyes could revenge us of all the Desolation that the Sicilians have committed in our Territories why are not you willing I should employ them against the Prince of Sicily Ah! Sister said Amaldee to her How zealous are you to take up a Quarrel whose Vengeance ought not to be your Province and in all Probability How weakly would you defend your Heart against an Enemy whom your Eyes are willing to attach I confess replyed the Princess hurryed away by her Passion Frederick appears lovely to me and if he was sensible Ah! it is too much interrupted Amaldee let us get out of the Hands and Dominions of a Prince whose Merit is fatal to the Liberty of a Princess who is to command elsewhere It is no longer time to think of that said she to him all in Tears I am no longer Mistriss of my Heart and all the Favour I demand of you is to prevent my becoming Princess of Barcelonna Ah! Sister said he to her your Reason is asleep when you ought to think of defending your self it is yet time enough the first Motions are easiest to vanquish Absence may secure your Resistance content your self with the Delight of seeing the Power of your Charms and do not employ them against your self This was the Counsel of a Prince whose Experience was but small in Love For we cannot stop there we are willing to enjoy the Fruit of a Conquest and to what Purpose is being beloved if we have not a Design to love Camilla was well acquainted with these Maxims she was not ignorant of her Tenderness and only aimed at being beloved that she might not love in vain How tender and moving an Idea did she represent to her self of the Sweets of a reciprocal Love and notwithstanding the little Repose that these agreeable Thoughts afforded her how beautiful did she appear the next Day to the amorous Leon This Prince not knowing what to comprehend of Frederick's Discourse came to inform himself of his Mistress and to repair the Occasion he had failed of the Day before Camilla had too tender Thoughts to keep up that haughty Air which makes the boldest Lover tremble there appeared so much Sweetness in her fair Eyes that the Prince imagined that it was a fit Occasion to declare himself he wavered more than once to speak through the inseparable Respect of a great passion and through the Address of Camilla who knowing his Thoughts diverted the Conversation of them with all the Liberty of a contented Mind She proposed to him to go a walking which he durst not refuse and Prince Amaldee at his Sisters Desire kept them Company They came to a place where was an admirable Eccho and Amaldee prevailed with his Sister to sing a Tune she had made some time before whereto the Words were as follow Vnmov'd I saw a thousand Charms each Day But when a Heart like some young tender Deer Careless
his Loving her for fear she should likewise Love him but continued he a moment after I am sensible that I apprehend all on the side of Frederick even without Relation to the Princess I am Mad added he in short I am in Love since I am Jealous and I can only be so of the Princess of Mantua However he could not conclude this in good earnest and he was suspended between his Reason and his Sentiments which he could not accord but had very terrible Allarms Frederick not being able to suffer his Rival to make all the Progress she had a mind to while he should amuse himself in complaints he left his Chamber on the morrow and appeared so sad but so lovely that the Princess of Mantua commended him extraordinarily and gave Presentiments of the Truth to the Queen whom experience rendred knowing in Womens thoughts of Frederick she found two Rivals and was not her self Beloved This was sufficient to prompt her to terrible extremities she was naturally Imperious however as Love works great changes in the minds of those it possesses the excess of her Passion made her undertake what she would never have done without its aid Frederick happening to lean upon a Window where he was profoundly Pensive she approached him under the pretext of looking into the Gardens You are unworthy said she to him of the kind thoughts some Persons entertain of you You ought to have perceived that I Love you you Love Camilla and I will give her to you but likewise let this extraordinary effect ingage you to some acknowledgment She did not wait for his Answer and a great Blush covering her Face she went from thence to go find out the King of whom she demanded Camilla's Pardon and told him that his Severity ought to be satisfied and that it was now time to take her again into his Favour The King could hardly be prevailed with to give his consent but after a thousand Caresses for which he had no reason to be much obliged to her she obtained what she demanded upon condition however that his Daughter should not appear in his Presence From thence she went to Camilla's Apartment whom she found under so great a sadness as would have melted with pity any other than a Rival The absence of Frederick whose Company was enjoyed by the Admirals Widdow and all his other Mistrisses was such an affliction as she had been ignorant of till that time and which she had the leisure to feel in all its extent She received the Queens Visit with no small astonishment but her surprise was cruelly augmented when she entertained her with the following Discourse Go thank the Prince of Sicily for your Pardon it is to him that you are indebted for it he sets you free by playing you an Infidelity with the Princess of Mantua Camilla was not willing to purchase her Liberty at that rate and the Queen went away without saying any thing more As by breeding a quarrel between her and Frederick she deprived her of the fruit of the service which she seemingly designed her she was in hopes that all would turn to her own advantage Camilla would rather have chosen to have continued in doubt of what passed between Frederick and the Admirals Widdow than to have the certainty of his being become a Votary to the Princess of Mantua a new Rival revives all our griefs they augment every time we fall under them anew because we add the fresh troubles to those we had already Penetrated with a thousand different thoughts she only followed that which spight inspired her with which was never to speak to Frederick And indeed she had so much address to avoid the occasions of doing so that tho he should have sought them more than he did he would never have found an opportunity Frederick the Princess of Mantua and the Queen did so well justifie all that had been said that there was no place for any doubt The Princess of Sicily was very glad to deprive the Person of a Heart who had deprived her of hers and by that means take revenge for all the torments Amaldee had put her to which she did with success As they one day met said that Prince very dolefully to him Well you are in Love with my Mistress must I yield her to you Do not yield her to me said he scornfully we must dispute for her Heart by Services and notwithstanding the affection I have for her must she necessarily be yours The affection which you have for her answered Amaldee Ah! this I find insupportable How shall I then be betrayed by my best Friend We must quarrel if you Love the Princess of Mantua Let us quarrel said the Princess of Sicily outraged to see motions in him which she did not think herself the cause of for Love had never produced so many Caprices without making himself known as he did in the Soul of Amaldee they spoke no more to one another that day and the Princess of Sicily spending with her Rivals all the hours she would have spent with her Lover did recompence herself for what she might lose because he was also a loser and she imployed her time in putting obstacles to the progresses which his Passion might make if she could not hinder him from being in love too happy in having so useful an occupation This made a diversion to her sentiments which Idleness would have rendred more fervent The Princess of Mantua was Charmed to see so happy a sucsess in her design which at first she did not think capable of being executed she no longer made reflection upon the difficulty she had foreseen therein since it was now removed When we are satisfied with the present we are not inclinable to take views of unacceptable remembrances or when we do make some reflections upon them our passed sufferings do only help to make us find more pleasures by the opposition of the present delightful entertainments The Queen was in a fury to see that a change had been wrought according to her Maxims and that it was not so in her favour she would have found it less cruel to have seen that Frederick had continued to love Camilla than to see that he began to be in love with the Princess of Mantua he might well have sigh'd for her daughter without giving her offence he knew not then that she was beautiful but after having both known her to be so and had received Testimonies of her Affection to sacrifice her to another could not be without a horrible Contempt It is particularly the preference which outrages Camilla for her part had no other Course to take than that of complaining with her Brother and he of complaining with his Sister thus they augmented their griefs by mingling them together The Admirals Widdow who made a strict inquiry after all that concernd Frederick was informed to the very least circumstances of her misfortune she became a friend of the Princess of Majorca since