her to be Dorothy and I must be broad awake to believe her my Wife The King made him no answer and the discourse was carried on so far that at last they promised one another mutual Offices of Friendship and agreed to watch Antonine narrowly and give one another intelligence of all passages that concerned either to find out who was deceived The King made the proposal Don Austin accepted it with a great deal of indifference thinking the King had done it only to amuse him The King no sooner left him but he returned to his Wife who at first sight of him fell to exclaiming against that Prince who not content to have made her Apartment the Scene of an Amorous Intrigue came disguised to surprise her when he knew she was sick a-bed and had no help at hand but her Voice and her Tears That it was an action unworthy a King who had so much reason to know her by the proof he had made of her virtue But she saw clearly enough that the complaisance of a base Husband was the thing encouraged him to make a new attempt upon her honour and they were agreed together to destroy her It being impossible the King would have ventured coming into her Chamber as he did had he not known the Windows were shut and no light in the room And he could not know this but from him The Marquess much troubled to hear himself charged with so much baseness by his Wife of whom he thought he had reason to complain did all he could to justifie himself to her But all to no purpose the more he justified himself the more guilty she made him calling him Traytor a Man of no Honour unworthy to possess a Lady so virtuous as she But all this noise could not keep the suspicious Don Austin from resolving to have the honour to lye with her that night for he thought her dream of the monstrous Child boded him no good And a Vow so much to the purpose attended with a little indisposition which obliged his Wife to have her Chamber Windows shut up and the King 's coming to her in a Shepherd's Habit gave cause for conjectures which pointed directly to his Forehead he needed no more motive to have her absolved that Evening of so delicate a Vow He sent presently to pray the Bishop of Carthagene his particular Friend to do him the honour of coming to his Lodgings the Bishop came who not only absolved the Lady from her Vow but according to the duty of his Character applyed himself to make Peace between the Marquess and his Lady and happily effected it to the satisfaction of both And their Union after the Bishop's Benediction being greater than ever they began to ask one another in good earnest the whole truth of the story The Marchioness was to speak first of common right as having more cause of complaint than Don Austin She told him it was most true that in the dark as he had left her she heard one come in without saying a word which surprised her very much But more when she found he came and sate on the Bed which made her trembling for fear call in Alice to her aid and that he came in himself the next moment Don Austin believed all this to be true as the Gospel not thinking it possible his Wife could have the Conscience to tell a Lye the next minute after receiving Episcopal Benediction He told her on his part the conference he had had with the King who assured him he had no other design but to surprise Dorothy which in truth might be true But the most pleasant jest of all is adds he he would fain have made me jealous of Antonine And because he hath reason to be jealous of that Shepherd he would have all the World be so too And since he cannot get rid of him he would set on another to do him that piece of service The Marchioness hereupon plaid her part excellently well making a thousand exclamations clapping her hands lifting her eyes to Heaven laughing with all her force and doing all other Actions of a Woman amazed at the strangeness of the News which afforded them matter of discourse most part of that Night In the mean time the Marquess according to the agreement between the King and him to watch over Antonine failed not at his rising to give the necessary orders as to Dorothy as for his Wives part he feared nothing The King on the other side eager for the sport and desirous at any rate to convince the incredulous Marquess of the new Title his Wife had given him placed his Scouts abroad to observe Antonine's motions towards the Marchioness But she was before-hand with him having that Evening sent orders by the Duenna to the Shepherd to retire and not approach the Palace especially her Apartment till notice from her So that the Spies for some days could give their Masters no account But absence is the greatest of torments for Lovers and the loss of the company of what you love is little less then the loss of Life Antonine was in torment not only on the account of Dorothy but of the Marchioness who served for a kind of amorous consolation for him when he could not see Dorothy The Marchioness was no less afflicted and Women as 't is said being more violent in their passions than Men 't is credible this Lady who loved the Shepherd so well had a very ill time on 't She had none but Alice her Universal Confident to comfort her And the poor old Wretch was as much afflicted as her Lady to see her languish and grow melancholy She would by all means go seek out Antonine to make her chearful promising the Marchioness to bring him in so safe and so secretly that no one should know of it But the Marchioness had more Wit than to run such a hazard and chose rather to go see him at his Lodging than expose him to discovery by being surprised in hers She asked the old Duenna if ever she had been at the Gardiners and Alice having made Answer she was acquainted with him and his Wife one of her best Friends I tell you says the Marchioness the reason of my Question and the design I have laid I know your fidelity and the affection you have always had for me therefore I confide in you I will go see Antonine at his Lodging I take that to be the surest course Dorothy is much about my pitch I will take a suit of hers and I doubt not but I shall be taken for her when I am seen go to her Fathers we need only order things so that when I am got thither Antonine may have notice and the Gardiner and his Wife both sent out of the way for they would wonder at the visit This must be done to morrow Morning when the Physicians have prescribed me a Bathing for my pretended indisposition The Duenna answered all this would be easily done that the
a better pretence for parting the two Lovers And not to lose the advantage of it would have presently sent Dorothy back into her own Chamber to keep the King there but he came in telling her upon the news he had from Don Austin she had had an ill night on 't he thought nothing but Love could have broken ones sleep but since it happen'd the most insensible Persons could not rest it was some comfort to him for the many ill nights that Passion had caused him The Marchioness who wanted neither Gallantry nor Wit return'd him an answer suitable to the subject But the King thinking she needed rest told her he would not add a new disturbance to that she had been afflicted with and taking Dorothy by the hand led her into her Chamber The Marchioness happily deliver'd at once of two Persons who troubled her more than all the World besides run straight into the Closet to bring her dear Shepherd the news but he was no less griev'd at it than she was joyful It was not in his power quite to conceal from her the rage he was in for jealousie of the King He spoke with some heat of the Amorous persecution that Prince afflicted a young Maid with insomuch that he let fall a word That it was the part of a Tyrant rather than a Just Monarch to force one to love him The Marchioness did but laugh and railly at him to be so passionate But taking notice of those last words and the action he exprest them with she discovered a boldness and hardiness in his countenance which did but too clearly evidence the Greatness of his Soul 'T was not the first time she had suspected him to be of quite another Quality than what he pretended to her passion and opinion of Honour having perswaded her he was not of ordinary Birth But in the transport he was in on that occasion there flash'd out such a fire out of his Eyes which with the liberty he took in speaking of the King appear'd so extraordinary that she begun thenceforwards to use him as she believ'd he deserved And after she had for some moments fixt her Eyes on him Sir says she for I cannot call you Antonine any longer I am your Friend and you cannot doubt it If the freedom I use with you deserve any confidence from you deny me not a request I am making to you Let me know the truth of a thing you can no longer conceal from me This Shepherd's Habit you are in suit better with your love to Dorothy than your Birth you have not sufficiently disguised your self from me or rather I have too long and too studiously observed you not to see your actions and your words the Ayr and Grace of your Person belye the habir you have taken Had you confin'd your self to playing on the Flute and keeping Sheep you might have past for a Shepherd but when you meddle with othes things you are discovered with half an eye Hide your self no longer from me who trust my self with you I confess I am much concerned in it and this makes me so curious If you fear only my revealing the secret assure your self I will keep it as religiously as you could desire from the best Friend you have in the World for I am certainly she Antonine who was a little disordered at the Ladies first words having by this time recover'd himself fell a-laughing and told her it was her excess of goodness made her use him better than he deserved that he was no more than the Son of a poor Shepherd near Toledo And that if there were any thing in him extraordinary beyond those of his condition he was beholding for it to Nature not Birth All this could not perswade the Lady from the opinion she had of his Quality but she told him that she would if he desir'd it still call him Antonine and use him in publick like a Shepherd but as for her particular she very well knew the difference she was to make And that he might have already concluded from the freedom she had used with him she had not been long deceiv'd Antonine made but a weak defence telling her at last she might rest assured if there were any thing in his Life that deserv'd confidence she should be the first that he would impart it to The Marchioness understanding what it meant pressed him no further And Dinner-time being come she sent for it into her Chamber as being indisposed that she might have the pleasure of seeing Antonine dine with her The Duenna told them the King did as much with Dorothy having dined in his Chamber to have her Company the whole day The Marchioness was ravished at the News and Antonine began to be less troubled at it Not but that his passion for Dorothy was still very great but that the thoughts he then had of the King had filled him with rage and vexation that he was glad of the opportunity he had to be revenged of Dorothy or at least to be even with her He saw her Innocence could not long hold out against the love of that Prince and he was so mad at her for it he began to form a design to abandon her quite But how unjust are Lovers in these cases What could a poor innocent Girl do that had in a manner not seen the World above three days who knew nothing of Love but what he had taught her nor could distinguish what did from what did not belong to a Lover but believed that except one thing all was free for the King as for Antonine what could she do Besides she was to deal with a King who was a great Master of the Art of Love and infinitely witty which with the advantages of Majesty might have prevailed with a Maid more experienced and more difficult than Dorothy to be gain'd In that unquiet condition the Shepherd's Heart had reason to be in 't was no small comfort to have the kindness of a fair Lady as the Marchioness to qualifie his misfortunes she was a charming Woman excellently skilled in the Art of pleasing and forgot nothing that might tempt him to a desertion sighs kindnesses languishing looks tenderness obliging actions all the most pleasant poisons of Love were made use of and to very good purpose Here was cause enough of fear for Dorothy had not her good fortune delivered her from the King and 't is uncertain what would become of her had she staid a moment longer out of the Marchionesses Chamber Such power hath a fair Lady in Love over Hearts however engaged or indifferent That Women how deeply soever in Love with another can resist the Engines and Artifices Love inspires her to make use of The Duenna had acquainted them with Dorothie's coming that they had time enough to put themselves in order though any other but Dor. might have however found cause enough of suspition in the very eyes of the Marchioness But Dorothy was innocent and had too
passion for Dorothy had not yet been much taken notice of and he was willing to observe some measures in publique so that he found it very difficult to be in private with her there Antonine making use of the liberty the King allow'd him followed him where-ever he went as well as the Lords and Ladies of his Train and seem'd to affect keeping close to Dorothy more than ever The King might have got rid of him by sending him to Land but 't would have been too apparent and what pretence soever he had taken they would have guessed at the true cause So that the very maxims of Decency forced the King to permit a Shepherd under his very nose to cross his desires to torment him and ravish from him undisturb'd what he best loved in the World without the Kings daring to complain of it or express the least resentment Only he spoke of it to the Marquess his sole Confident who had pray'd him to let him know the cause of the disorder that appear'd in his countenance This Faithful Minister of Love as well as State having learnt what it was resolved at any rate to ease him of the sight of the Shepherd at least for some time He thought of several ways to do it but knowing that Women are generally better than Men at such matters he went to his Wife and taking her into another Room ask'd her if she could not device some means to take that Shepherd aside who troubled the Entertainment and get him kept out of the King's presence without sending him to Land which the King for some reasons was unwilling to do The Marchioness very officiously proposed two or three ways which indeed were neither proper nor approved by the Marquess At last she told him That to disabuse the King and wipe out the ill-impressions he had taken of her conduct as to Dorothy she would serve him on this occasion and take Antonine into another Room under pretence of making him play on the Flute and would keep him there as long as he pleased but she feared 't would be to his cost and that the World was malicious enough to talk of such a thing Don Austin fell a-laughing heartily at the apprehensions of his Vertuous Wife and embracing her with extreme kindness told her Her Reputation was so friendly established it would never be suspected though there were no more Vertue nor Honour in the World That she might take his word for 't who was most concerned And that it could not be at least a Shepherd could do him any injury Having said this he pray'd her to do as she proposed adding she would do the King a singular pleasure being no longer able to endure the sight of the Shepherd The Marchioness failed not to do it and with an Address her affection more than any design to please the King or oblige her Husband inspir'd with she drew Antonine aside from Dorothy and took him to another Chamber where she stay'd with him till they went back for Aranjuez The King was never the better for it Dorothy did but fret and vex when she lost sight of Antonine and her Eyes discovered the trouble she was in not to know what was become of him The Sun was set when they came to Aranjuez And the King having a desire to take a turn or two in the Garden the whole Court follow'd him except the Marchioness who had designs in her Head and having accompanied her Husband awhile told him she was not very well and must withdraw The Marquess more civil and kind than she wisht brought her to her Chamber and bore her company till she was quite tyr'd with him She undrest her self she went to bed she complain'd her Head ach'd and that she must go to rest and not knowing what to say or do more she order'd the Windows should be shut that the light might not trouble her in the morning but Don Austin's Love was the same in the dark as in the light But she must send him away at last telling him the trouble she was in he should be there in the dark and she not able to speak to him increased her malady and kept her from sleeping The good Marquess charm'd with the kindness of his dear Spouse took his leave of her praying her she would send for him if she grew worse in the night The Marquess was scarce gone but the Duenna came in to let her Lady know Antonine was in her Chamber the Marchioness bid her let him into hers and immediately the Duenna led in a Shepherd who was not a little surpriz'd at the darkness of the Lodging the Marchioness imagining his surprize at the Novelty fell a-laughing as soon as she heard him come near the Bed and reaching out her hand to him Fear nothing says she this is all done for you and you know you are not in an Enemies Country she made him sit on her Bed and going on with her discourse told him the Darkness was a Friend to fearful Lovers as you are But you are very mute methinks Antonine why do not you answer me She had scarce said this but in comes the Duenna almost out of breath to tell her the Marquess was coming with a Flambo and was just at the Chamber-door Go hide you in the Closet says the Marchioness to her Shepherd but finding he stirr'd not she was astonish'd and pushing him with her hand do not you hear what they say Don Austin is just here go hide your self unless you will ruine both me and your self With that the Marquess entred who told his Wife he was very sorry he must disturb her but he had lost a Paper of great importance to the King and must needs have left it on her Bed The affrighted Marchioness being then so angry with Antonine she wish'd him hang'd told him you come the most seasonably in the World to chastise a Fool an Insolent Fellow came into my Chamber the very moment you were gone and has put me into a most terrible fright sitting upon my Bed and I cannot remove him The Marquess astonisht at the insolence ran towards the Beds Feet and in the Wrath he was in against such an impudent Rascal not willing to be at the pains of examining who he was he look'd only for a stick to baste him into better manners and teach him the respect due to his Wives Bed when he heard the Kings Voice who was disguis'd like a Shepherd and fell a laughing to see himself upon the point of being bang'd and bid the Marquess open his Eyes and moderate his fury What a deadly blow was this to the Marquess he turn'd pale and dismay'd he could not speak a Word at last having recovered his Spirits Ah Sir is it thus a King as you are keep his Word Have you done me so many Favours only to rob me of my Honour Ah Heavens cries he quite distracted have I lived thus long to see my self loaded with Infamy by a Prince