no other answer but that she should have time enough to see and salute her since she was to remain in the House In the mean time the Superiour according to custom caused all the Sisters to be called together to the publick reading of Aurelia's Patents and to receive her according to Form into the number of the Religious Eugenia was then present with the others and while one of the Ancients red the dispatches and that the other Formalities were observed she had her eye continually upon this new Commer but she little thought that she beheld her Lover After the Ceremony was over Oronces received fresh kisses from the Company but he found none so sweet as that which his Mistress gave him He could not refrain from clasping her more amorously than he did the others and although he did not design to discover himself so soon to her he could not forbear a certain whisper followed by some glances which penetrated the heart of that lovely Creature The poor Lady agitated with a thousand thoughts retired immediately into her Chamber to meditate of what she had seen and to reflect upon the resemblance of Aurelia's face to her Dear Oronces Nevertheless she durst not be convinced of what her heart declared to her and though she had been moved with an infinite tenderness at the time she was embraced yet a designe so hardy and surprizing could not enter her thought In this embarras and confusion of Spirit she slumbered and her mind being filled only with the resemblance that was between Aurelia and Oronces she continually dreamed of that Subject Let us leave her in this moment of repose and tranquillity to see what her Lover does Aurelia was all his time entertained by a Nun who finding in her self a great inclination to love her resolved with the first to gain her Heart and Friendship She was young and fair and Oronces was not insensible but his Affections being already placed he made no return of real Love or Tenderness but only of a little outward Complaisance This Nun who was called Pamphilia never found in her self so ardent a desire to love one of her own Sex as she did in respect of this new Commer and this Love appearing to her innocent and impossible to have in it any thing impure she pusht it on as far as she could and knowing by experience that the Night was more proper than the Day for a thousand amorous declarations and an infinity of engaging wantonnesses she proffered Aurelia to pass it with her in one of the Common Chambers because as yet there was no particular one provided for her All these Caresses enough to have transported with joy any other that had sence gave Aurelia but a slender satisfaction She did indeed find her self a little warmed but she needed only think upon Eugenia to quench immediately those Flames which begun to blaze Nevertheless she could not forbear telling Pamphilia that her company would be very agreeable unto her and that she received extraordinary pleasure in her conversation But that which gave her no small content was to hear from this Religious a recital of every thing that had past concerning her Mistress who being one of Pamphilia's intimate Friends had made her a Confident of it all and had prayed her to keep it secret and impart it to none Oronces who almost died with a desire of speaking to Eugenia took thence an occasion of asking Pamphilia where was her Chamber and told her that she would be glad to go along with her and visit that amiable Nun. Then Pamphilia conducted him thither and immediately left them together to the end that they might be the more easily engaged in a Common amity wherein she might have a part Our Metamorphosed Cavalier for all his Mistresses Melancholly found her fairer then ever he had seen her even in her richest Garments Her youth inspired him with Joy her Beauty with new desires and what she had done for him with admiration He at first dissembled who he was and understood from her that she was newly risen from sleep and that she had had a Dream which while it continued gave her a great deal of pleasure but after awakening created nothing in her but disquiet He prest her to declare it and told her that he would shew the true meaning of it if it had the least conformity with reason She immediately gave him a look and their Eyes meeting together said in their Language that Love was very ingenious and that they could not â—ong be unknown to one another Nevertheless Eugenia being the more fearful did not dare to declare her thought first and Oronces who took pleasure in seeing her in that confusion made no great hast to draw her out of it In fine Love overcame Affection Aurelia or rather our Cavalier could no longer resist those tender motions which the presence of his dear Mistress made him resent He â—ast himself about her neck and embracing her with transports of extraordinary joy he cried out yes â—tis I Eugenia and Love has given me the Habit which you see That word chasing all doubt from Eugenia's mind replenished her with an â—nconceivable satisfaction and for â—ome moments deprived her of the â—se of her senses that she might â—he more peaceably enjoy within her â—elf that excess of pleasure which â—he felt As soon as they had recovered their surprize they began again their Caresses and Oronces to take Eugenia out of pain related to her how every thing past and that they had no cause to apprehend any thing as long as his youth would leave his chin unfurnished and as the sweetness of his voice would continue She for her part acquainted him with the Artifice which her Mother made use of to abuse her and conjured him to behave himself discreetly in regard of the Convent least that by some wrong step he might spoil an enterprize that required all the good conduct imaginable to make it succeed She instructed him moreover iâ— all the ways of living in a Cloyster and she fashioned him so well thaâ— he was in a little time as skilful 〈◊〉 the ancientest Dame in the house and he performed his Duty so well as shall be seen hereafter that hâ— merited to have the direction of thâ— Novices when their ordinary Miâ—tress who was very Aged could not attend that exercise by reason of indisposition In the mean time the promise which he had made Pamphilia to pass the night with her troubled him not a little He told in Eugenia who could find no surer means to prevent it then by offering the same thing in the others presence an opportunity so to do presented it self immediately for Pamphilia impatient to see Aurelia again went and rejoyned them in a Friends Chamber who told her as soon as she entered that she would not quit Aurelia before the morning and that being for that day exempted from assisting in the Quire she would keep her company Pamphilia for her
part alledged that she had made the first proffer that the Bed wherein they were to ly was too little for three and that she must yield to her as to one who was her elder But Eugenia was too much interessed to let her gain that point Therefore the conclusion was that they should accommodate themselves as well as they could and that both should take care to divert the new Comer In the mean time nothing was more embarrassed than our Cavalier he was so fearful of giving his Mistress some apparent cause of Jealousy that he thought himself obliged to prevent her and to intreaâ— her not to make any ill construction of the Amity which she should outwardly shew in return to thâ— Caresses of the other Nuns thaâ— he would abstain altogether from so doing if she absolutely desireâ— it but that he believed that thâ— best way to conceal their Game was to live outwardly alike with alâ— the world Eugenia who had a good witâ— and was perfectly convinced of thâ— great Love which Oronces had foâ— her told him that he might aâ— in all things without Constraint that although she loved him much more then he could imagin yet she did believe that no jealousy could ever trouble her That he might really upon these words and hereafter use all the liberty he would do were he that in Effect which he was only in Appearance There is nothing that agrees with Beauty better or gives it more lustre then joy Eugenia being rid of her vexation and a gay humour succeeding her Melancholly recovered in a little time together with a good plight those charms which formerly rendered her so lovely and were now sullied with the trouble and disquiet of mind to which her retreat had reduced her She supt with her Lover and Pamphilia who was become jealous of the Caresses that all the young Nuns made to sister Aurelia flattered her self with the sensible pleasure of lying and passing the night with a Person whom she loved with an Extraordinary tenderness and affection Eugenia that she might have an opportunity of being somtime alone with Oronces undertook her self to go and make the Bed and put in a readiness the Chamber wherein he was to remain untill another were provided in the Common Dormitory of the Convent The disguised Lover followed her and was sufficiently perplexed to satisfy all the questions which were asked him in a quarter of an hours conversation She immediately asked him what were his sentiments when he received so many kisses from the youngest and fairest in the house Alas my dear Eugenia he answered I will dissemble nothing from you 'T is true that two or three who acquitted themselves with a great deal of heat caused in me some slight emotions some Sparkles of the Fire wherewith they seemed to burn did warm my heart and touched it with some sence of sweetness which did a little tickle me How said she to him did you not resist that springing Affection and condemn in your self a Love which could not be lawful since you conceived it to my prejudice Ah he replied you ought to excuse me for several reasons faults that we committed in spight of our selves should easily be pardoned Besides I can assure you that if these Embraces have raised in me any passions they were but wandring ones which only disturbed the soul but possest it not for any long time My reason is not become irregular upon their account and the extream love that I have for you hath suffered no alteration for your presence only hath driven out of my mind all the Idea's formed therein by these strange Beauties I must believe you interrupted Eugenia and I foresee well enough that I must prepare my self to pardon you many of the like faults while you remain here but for the rest continued she have a care of favouring the weakness of any in this Convent or of making your self known and no less of requiring from me what I will never grant but according to Form All other favours for your comfort shall not be denied you and we will live together as a Brother would with a Sister whom he cherishes and by whom he is equally beloved Especially since that we shall be obliged to ly together this night to avoid the wantonness of Sister Pamphilia who otherwise will without doubt discover you behave your self discreetly and consider that your fortune and my Life and Honour ly upon your following these measures which I give you Your Father who is the Principal obstacle to our liberty is very old and the manner that I enter'd this House is known to many who can upon occasion bear witness of it and I hope that by the assistance of some powerful friends we may at length bring about our first pretensions and then pass the rest of our days in pleasures by so much the more pure as that they will be lawful and shall never more be disturbed by any Accident from the long enjoyment of them in perfection They were in this Discourse when Pamphilia entered who finding them all on fire demanded how they had over-heated themselves Eugenia replied that they were forced to righten the Chamber for it was quite ought of Order Truly said Pamphilia you are not very conscientious to cause sister Aurelia to work thus could you not stay for company but must tire a poor girl just arrived from a long journey and in saying that she cast her arms about Oronces his neck and gave him a kiss Eugenia who in spight of all her precautions did believe that her Lover robbed her of every thing that he granted another could not restrain her self but would be a sharer so that our new Nun was the most embarrassed in the world to satisfy these passionated Creatures But this was but a Prelude or slight Attack if compared with what was apparently to follow As soon as the retreat was rung and that all the Nuns were retired each one into her Cell the two Sisters together with the young Nun began the evening with a thousand little divertising Sports Oronces who had no experience in the greater part of these Cloysterial Games was almost continually out and was condemned to an hundred wanton trifles which would infinitely have pleased him had he been at liberty These pastimes were followed by a Collation where Marchpanes and other delicacies grateful to the tast appeared with profusion The most tender Airs out of Operaes were also sung and Sister Aurelia who had a great deal of skill performed her part to perfection After having spent much time in these divertisements they began to talk of going to bed Eugenia had before hand acquainted her Lover with all the fooleries he was to endure if he lay near Pamphilia besides that it would be impossible to do so without discovering his Sex Therefore he was to place himself by his Mistress's side do not imagin that this was any pleasure to him but quite contrary for she had imposed upon him
â—f her Lover she talked not of â—im so frequently as before and in â—â—e it was believed that she had recovered her former liberty But theâ—â— appearances were deceitful anâ— though she thought fit to compoâ—â— her outward behaviour after thaâ— manner yet her heart was still â—qually wounded and was not sensible to any Love contrary to thâ— faith which she had sworne to hâ— Dear Oronces There is usually no better remâ—dy for Love than Love it selâ— Therefore Eugenia's Mother name Laurentia proposed to her the dâ—signe which she had of makinâ— by her means an alliance with tâ—â— Family of Dorimont who was a hanâ—some and well behaved Gentlemaâ— and whose Nobility was supportâ— by a considerable Fortune whiâ—â— rendered him one of the Princiâ—â—â— men in the Province Therefoâ—â— she was not to be surprized tâ—â— she had in prospect of her advantaâ—â— been crost in her first inclinatioâ— which could not be reasonable siâ— they proceeded from a blind Passâ— without reason Although those Propositions infinitely displeased Eugenia and that she had no designe to obey them yet she did not let that appear presently but contented her self with answering that she no longer had any sensibility for Love and that she did believe no Lover could sigh for her with success however to satisfie Her she would receive his Visits whom she spake of and if she foresaw she could live happily with him she would not oppose his good fortune Though that answer was sufficient to let them know what the Faire one's Sentiments were Yet they perswaded themselves that so witty a Lover as Dorimont could manage her spirit and by his Diligence and Assiduities blot out the first impressions which love had engraved in her heart But alas how difficult is it to deface stroaks so deeply cut and extinguish fires â—hat draw their nourishment from â—ur Inclination This new Cavalier had much merit but he succeeded another which had yet more He then began to shew his love for her by all the complaisances imaginable he desired nothing but what pleased her and did nothing but what he believed agreeable to her Humour She on the contrary answered all this with civilities which denoted only her indifference and were enough to let this pooâ— Lover understand that he laboureâ— in vain and that all his presents his Promenades and this Regale would be more successful bestoweâ— on some other Mistress He sigheâ— but his sighs touched not Her hâ— languishing seemed to Her affected and all his Gallantries loathsomeâ— and improper in a word even tâ—â— best thing he did offended Her aâ—â— she wished for nothing more thâ—â— to be freed from these Visits whiâ—â— were already become insupportaâ—â— torments to her This unhappy Lover made Courting in vain He could obtain no love and his perseverance was followed only by a stubbornness which he found invincible in Eugenia never to love any thing but her Dear Oronces When he knew perfectly that there was nothing to be done and that the Fair one could never be reduced to favour him he thought of a retreat and acquainted Eugenia's Parents with the little success of his enterprise and his designe of leaving her Then it was that the Combat grew rough and that Laurentia to little purpose making use of a Mothers Authority would force her Daughter to doe that thorough Obedience which she would not do by Inclination and knowing that she had a great aversion for a Cloyster she threatned to shut her up in one if she persisted in her stubbornness But all these frights were unuseful and Eugenia protested that though she had a great Antipathy for a Monastick life yet she would embrace it rather than do any thing contrary to the Faith given her Lover that all these false Alarms should work no effect upon her and that the only way to retain her in the world was not to perplex her in an Honourable Love which might prove Glorious to her Family That in all other things she would have for her Mother all the respect possible but in an affaire that concerned the Liberty of her Person she desired that she might not be made unhappy by any evil engagement Laurentia said to her all that anger could inspire a provoked Mother She threatned her with the loss of her Favour and gave her only one whole Week to resolve upon the choice either of a Cloyster or of Him whom she had proposed to her for an Husband That afflicted Mother had no real designe of forcing her to quit the World she was â—ather entirely averse to it but she â—lattered her self that the only means to be obeyed was to act after that manner and that she would sooner make choice of a Marriage with Dorimont than of a Voluntary confinement in a place which she could never approve of While these affairs past thus Oronces had an Employment in Flanders conformable to his Age and Birth he acquitted himself of it with the approbation of all those who knew him and they admired that courage which he made appear in the most dangerous assaults and which accomplisht the most difficult Enterprises Whatever diversions these Exercises might give his spirit yet he could not lose the memory of his Dear Mistress He thought of her night and day and the excess of his Passion made him long for a Peace so that there might be a possibility of his enjoying her whom he loved more then his life As soon as the time given Eugenia to determine her choice was expired Laurentia would have heâ— openly declare which of the Two proposed to her was the least disagreeable She having had leisure to think thereon told her Mother that she had not changed her Opinion that the Affection which she had for Oronces was not at all diminished and that she might noâ— fail in the fidelity due to him she had rather enter into a Cloyster iâ— it must be absolutely so than give her Heart to another in prejudice of her true Lover Laurentia who was enraged aâ— these words told her that she might then prepare her self for that she her self would conduct her to the place where perhaps she should aâ— her own expences learne how mischievous are the consequences oâ— such a Disobedience Eugenia madâ— no other answer but that she believed they could not in Conscience engage a Free person to a Course of life for which she had a Repugnance but that she hoped she might one day take advantage from the Constraint which she received All this was alledged in vain she must enter into Religion and hide from the Eyes of men a Beauty which seemed not to be created with so much perfection to be Enclosed Laurentia and Eugenia dissembled the true cause of this Retreat and gave out that it was only for a Tryal whether her Vocation was not there or if Heaven would call her otherwise All the Religious admired with astonishment so sudden a change and were yet much more surprized when they saw that it was real and
that Eugenia did earnestly demand the favour of being received into the number of Novices and that they would grant her the habit of the Religion She had not any real designe to engage her self but did this only to make her Mother believe that no other return was to be expectted from her nor any thing else to be hoped for for unless she should be replaced in her former liberty she would perhaps lose it forever by Professing in that house Her Solicitations were so earnest and her fervour so surprizing that the Superiour invested her in the habit of the Religion and believed that she could not without opposing the will of Heaven refuse it to the extraordinary Zeal of the Demandant This young Novice made a Friend-ship with the whole Convent She was Fair like an Angel and her voice which as I have already told you was charming ravished the hearts of her Companions when her Office obliged her to sing Laurentia who knew well enough what aversion she had for a Monastery did believe all these â—utward appearances of Devotion â—ere false and counterfeit in which â—ertainly she was not mistaken â—or Eugenia thought of nothing less â—hen of engaging her self by any â—ow but she was perswaded that what she did would convince her Mother that she was not at all disâ—osed to follow her will and that â—he would sooner make choice of 〈◊〉 Monastick life then suffer conâ—traint in an affaire which as she â—udged ought to be entirely free There was nothing more agreeâ—ble then to consider Eugenia in â—his new habit her Eyes half hid under the obscurity of her veile â—ast Flames which penetrated the hearts of those that beheld her She performed all her Exercises with so much Grace and with such Ease that she seemed never to have lived out of a Cloyster and all her behaviour was so winning that were the things she said never so indifferent she gained the Affections of those that conversed with her In the mean time her Mother who saw no change in her Daughter informed the Superiour of all that past and knowing that the Religious have a wonderful address in the managing our Spirits she intreated her assistance to reduce Eugenia to the Obedience due unto Her and also that she would not be ungrateful for her cares therein especially if they produced some happy success But the Nun was too much interessed to declare this to her Novice She therefore concealed from her all that Laurentia had informed her of and applied her self only to encline her to make Profession when time should come She had already borne the habit of Novice ten Months when her Lover who knew nothing of all this writ to her from Flanders where having found no particular opportunity to send his Letter he committed it to the Hazard of the Post not mentioning any thing in it which was unknown to her Parents or that might be prejudicial to Her It was in these terms MEthinks my Dear Eugenia that it is an Age since I parted from you nevertheless I faile not to possess you for Night and Day you are present in my mind Those who did believe absence would be a remedy for my Love are much mistaken for since I parted from you I fancy that I love you as much more and that my Ardour gathers force from my Exile I am every day exposed here to a thousand Perils but that God that made us love takes care of my Person and preserves it in the midst of dangers All my Friends here are surprized at my way of living they call me Solitary and Hermit and say that I do not know what Gallantry meanes since that no Mistress could as yet make me put it in practise but I excuse them because they know not that those who are banisht from what they love take little care to gain Hearts and that I have need of all mine to support the assaults of our ill Fortune Adieu Dear Heart Comfort your self and believe that we shall one day be happy Oronces This Letter was directed upon the cover to a Chamber-maid now gone away and by that accident fell into Laurentia's hand who having out of Curiosity read it conceived a thousand Malicious designs of using it for her advantage When she had for some time meditated wherein it might be useful unto her the News of the Battel of Seneff gave her an opportunity of executing an Artifice which might in probability have drawne after it an effect conformable to what she could desire from her Daughter To bring her enterprize more successfully about she endeavoured â—o counterfeit the writing of the surprized Billet and in few days became so skilful in that deceit that the one could hardly be discerned from the other To the end that nothing might be wanting to her Stratagem she caused a Seale to be cut like Oronces's and counterfeited the following Letter to be sent to our fair Recluse I Can no more my dear Eugenia I am wounded even to death in the Battel of Seneff The Surgeon who hath care of me is Ordered by me to write unto you more at large Adieu my heart fails me I can say no more unless it be that I should have died contented if it had been in her service whom I will love even to the last Minute Have compassion upon the unfortunate Oronces Adieu This was accompanied by a supposed Letter from a Chirurgeon which was filled with all the Circumstances of the Fight and the nature of his wounds it shew'd how he had expired three Hours after he had writ the Billet and how he had received Commission to send it to Her to whom it was directed Laurentia doubted not but that this Artifice would succeed to her advantage and that her Daughter seeing her self disengaged by her Lovers death from all Protestations made to him would make no difficulty of accepting whom she desired and giving her heart to second Affections but alass that poor Mother had the displeasure of seeing all her Projects without success and this innocent deceit had no other consequence than her loss by the very meanes that were intended for her preservation The time of Eugenia's Profession approacht when she received the Letter and Billet spoken of She had no sooner read them but she fell into a Swoone and made those who were present take notice that she had not intirely quit all worldly Inclinations by entring into a Cloyster She was so readily relieved that she soon came to herself again but it was only to abandon her self to tears and sadness and to deplore his death who was still alive In this deplorable Estate she raised the compassion of all her Companions they heard with a great deal of feeling all the complaints that proceeded from the heart but they were not able to comfort her in that extream sorrow This News made such a disorder in her minde that she remained for some time as it were sensless and then it was that she resolved