envy'd of all and yet attracted the good-will of all Thus liv'd he joyful and contented with the happy successe of his Enterprize and underwent with a great deal of willingnesse this homely kinde of life for he had every day happy opportunities offer'd of seeing Silvia he serv'd her warily and with much zeal taking advantage of his being newly come home to visit her often which gave occasion to some curious pryers into other mens actions with which sort of people all places abound to say that Cardenio lov'd Silvia that his love was betray'd by his very eyes which could not dissemble and his following her from place to place as if he had been the shadow of her brightnesse She well observ'd the notice that was taken and therefore carried her self with the greater Caution not that it was any new thing to her to be Courted but because she thought there was not any anong all the Country-Swains more deserving her Favour than Cardenio She being of a most prompt and acute wit could easily discern the Graces and Endowments of him that should be admitted to serve her and having well consider'd the admirable Attraits of this her new Servant she could not chuse but think him worthy of her Love It is impossible that that thing should ever be absolutely displeasing which hath once throughly pleas'd So that by little and little she remitted much of her natural severity discovering her minde fo far as it might plainly appear That if she lov'd not she at least was pleas'd with his Service which came to the same passe for whosoever begins to be pleas'd with any thing takes no pleasure in despising it She looks now upon Cardenio as on her equal saw her self lov'd by him and envy'd by many of the yong Shepherdesses her Companions who us'd in her presence oft-times to load Cardenio with infinite praises therefore she thought she should have been guilty of a grievous offence should she have persecuted with disdain one that dy'd for her Many times would Silvia admit these considerations to her minde in respect of many who had formerly serv'd her Seldome doth a Woman lay to heart the sufferings of others until she have undergone the pangs of Love her self now Silvia loves and since she loves obligeth Cardenio with many Favours As she stood alone one night in her Chamber revolving these things in her minde and Contemplating the perfections of the feigned Shepherd Her Old-father for so Albanius had hitherto been reputed by her being inform'd of the Addresses that many had made to her to obtain her Affection especially Cardenio whom he judg'd the same that he feign'd himself to be and fearing lest she should unadvisedly run into some misbeseeming action or engage her self in a Match that would be inferiour to the noblenesse of her descent He related to her the story of her Parents misfortunes and the strange accidents of her Birth which brought her into this condition And shewing her some of the Letters which he had receiv'd from her true Father assur'd her that she should be exalted sooner than she imagin'd to a far more splendid manner of living than at present she enjoy'd that it behov'd her to bethink her self and consider that the Actions of great persons are more strictly censur'd than those of the meaner sort And that since she was born with such great Endowments of Wit and Beauty and above all such vertuous and discreet inclinations he besought her not to admit of any demeanour that might in the least wise dishonour the generous Blood of which she was sprung nor to hearken unto the Sollicitations of every foolish admirer of her since none thereabouts could come neer to deserve her With notable attention did the discreet Maid hear the sage Counsel of Albanius and the Secret of her Nativity she gave full Credit to all that he had related and promis'd not to swerve from his Advice remaining not lesse troubled in her minde than undeceiv'd in her own esteem the thoughts of Cardenio 's deserts came often into her minde and the inequality of their estates which strictly commanded her to with-hold all her former Favours from him which her minde could not very easily consent unto yet considering That to love him was to displease Albanius and stain the greatnesse of her Birth she resolv'd with her self although not without much regret to forget that ever she had the least appearance of love toward him and to expect that day wherein her Affections should meet with a subject agreeable to her quality Cardenio upon a calm evening looking toward the Walls of Albanius his Palace for so of a Cottage the presence of Silvia had made it in his esteem he saw her come forth directing her walk towards a green flourishing Meadow to passe away with pleasure the tedious night and to enjoy the benefit of those cool Airs that gave life to the sweet Flowers in that cheerful season Cardenio following surpriz'd her unawares but in such a manner that he might be perceiv'd to have done it rather out of design than chance Notwithstanding this disguized Diana kept on her pace toward the place intended she seated her self in a little Garden of Common Flowers which Nature without the help of humane industry had produc'd assisted by a murmuring Rivolet that ran hard by and seriously revolving in her minde that which Albanius had the night before related to her not without much admiration at the strangenesse of it she began to bewaile her mishap for that no sooner had she almost yielded up her Affections to a Gentleman whom for his Merits and his true Love to her she could not chuse but very much esteem but she was taken off by an opinion of being far inferiour to him in degree and now that Cardenio being thought her equal had so far succeeded in his Service toward her as to be thought worthy of answerable Love and Respect the late knowledg she had learn'd of her noble Descent interpos'd as an obstacle to their happinesse and forbids them any farther progresse These thoughts drave her into such an extasie and fixt Cardenio so deeply in her minde that her outward sence had not leisure to take notice of him though standing at a small distance from her He on the other side perceiving the disturbance of her thoughts was willing to reveal the Secrets of his heart some other way than by directing his speech to her herself So taking on him not to have seen her and giving truce a while to his restlesse thoughts he breath'd forth this sweet amorous Sonnet 1. HIther I come delightful Groves To spend my sighs and make my moan To whose still shades it best behoves To make my plaints and sorrows known And the gentle Trees invite To pity my discons ' late plight 2. 'T is rigorous love that doth torment This disturbed heart of mine But of a Creature so divine That I ought not to repent To have lov'd though unlov'd again The sole
cease to be since he ceas'd to be constant but leaving it to the will of Heaven she suppress'd her distemper as well as she could and condescended to ask the enemy of her quiet what was the cause of that tragical mischance Who Answer'd with a troubled mind and weeping That Cardenio whom she passionately lov'd above all men standing by her under the shade of those Trees had been assaulted by a man more fortunate in Riches than well descended who repining at the good success of his love being perhaps himself a Corrival thought it a shame to suffer one that was a meer stranger in that country to go so much beyond him in the opinion of all men and to be an obstacle to him in the course of his Love therefore he sought all opportunities to work his mischief and this night he found a means to put in practice his cursed treachery for seeing us walk forth to take the Air he followed privately accompanied with two others chosen for such a villanous intent and when we least dream'd of any such superchery attending us they all Three set upon him in that cruel manner and though I interpos'd my self to shield him from the fury of their Blows have left his life in that danger wherein ye see it Silvia dissembling her ill resentment of the injury done her although her heart was ready to burst with sorrow and vexation advis'd the disconsolate Maid That it was necessary to have recourse forthwith to Justice to accuse the Authors of that villany and to demand satisfaction for so insufferable a wrong and to take some course for the dressing of his Wounds remaining there in the mean while her self alone and yet accompanied with a thousand sad thoughts on the one side her jealous rage instigated her to wish his death without whom she could not live on the other side her love and compassion mov'd her to pity his sufferings her love prevailing more to make her heart tender than her rage to harden it Cardenio listing up his eyes beheld Silvia not far off and seeing himself free from the embraces of her for whose sake he had undergone this bloody Adventure began to thank the cruelty of his Enemies thinking that Silvia was invited thither by pity having forgotten at least in that moment of time her natural severity but when he remembred himself that his Apostacy was known to her how secret soever she kept it he then pray'd that his wounds might prove so mortal as to cause his speedy deliverance from his loath'd Life and all those Calamities that attended it but seeing that that great effusion of blood from a wound in his head onely his other parts being protected by a stiff Leather Jerkin which he wore under his disgune avail'd not to free him from his misetable Life so soon as he desir'd he vow'd to be aveng'd on those Assassinates for leaving him alive imputing it to their malicious intentions to procure his dying by degrees that so he might linger out his Life in that tormenting disquiet of minde which arose from his being discover'd to Silvia who after she was satisfied that those Vermilion streams gush'd onely from the wound in his head and that that was not so dangerous neither as was imagin'd although had it been less such was her Love and pity to him it would deeply have pierc'd her heart she wip'd off with her hand some of the congeal'd Blood that stuck upon his Face and binding up that part of the head from whence the Blood issued with a linnen cloath question'd him concerning this Adventure telling him She admir'd how having so fair a Creature by his side he could possibly receive any harm were the opposition never so great and that if she had seen her Lover in the like danger she would have so bestirr'd her self that his Enemies should either have left him without hurt or first tried upon her the goodness of their Swords which if they had sheathed in her brest she should have esteemed it rather a Favour than an Injury since she would have been freed thereby from becoming a spectator of her Lover's harm It was to Cardenio a thing both strange and unexpected that Silvia should be sensible of his suffering made him a little revive his languishing hopes as knowing that Compassion is oft the Harbinger of Love and that there is no Love so sure as that which springs from pity and to confirm the Truth of his Perswasion he repeated to her the same Story which she so lately receiv'd from the mouth of the amorous Shepherdesse although it is otherwise resented by Silvia being the second time told than it was at first the force of jealousie being most impetuous when it is first conceived and her Spirit was somewhat the more pacified after he had so solemnly protested That he was not in love with the fair Shepherdess whom she saw nor had made her any other requital of the Affection she conceived toward him than by general demonstrations of Civility For should he have profess'd to love her it might perhaps have prov'd as much to his disadvantage as it redounded to his Credit that he was belov'd by her it hapning that although many Women by how much the more they are disdain'd themore earnestly they love yet others quite contrary the more they are slighted the colder they grow in their Affections Silvia preceiving that if she should not now at length disclose her minde to Cardenio it might urge him to go on in his new love she thought it best to make use of the time while there was no Company to disturb her forcing her self to a faign'd laughter for had tears been needful it had been needless to faign she began in this maner I swear to you Cardenio I cannot but be mov'd to Laughter as oft as I consider how strangely the Opinions of Men do vary and contradict themselves in a short space and that being naturally unfix'd in your resolutions born with unconstant minds ye can have the face to be always accusing our Sex of that inconstancy which is proper to your selves only haply some women may justly have been charg'd with inconstancy but stil there hath been found on your parts a sufficient cause to incite them to it so that this defect ariseth not from their own instability but the provocations of Men. What blame can she be obnoxious to who either injur'd in the point of Honour or by whatever miscarriage else offended toward a false Pretender of Service should strive to forget all Respect intended to such a Man How finely had I been serv'd had I out of a fond credulity presently submitted to your faign'd Adoration Or suppose some over-sensible Lady overcome by the prevalency of her Love and the extream importunity of her Lovers Tears admits him to the highest place of her esteem and he having obtain'd what he so earnestly sought for makes himself absolute Master of her Heart till satisfied with the
But I know too well that this was spoken by you only to gain a plausible esteem among men for as it is incident to most however vicious they be to desire to be thought vertuous so especially to Women be they never so wavering the opinion of Constancy is not unpleasing they loving to be praised for that very good quality wherein they are most defective But indeed it cannot be imagin'd that you should recede from those qualities which are inherent to your Sex yet with what confidence could you so unconstant your self accuse me of ficklenesse laying a kind of Obligation upon me to believe that no Woman was ever Criminally false and indeed who would have thought that your Love had not been very firme and secure to me that had but seen how much ado you had to forbear weeping through the force of your jealousie if it were jealousie and not much rather Envie perhaps it griev'd you to see me apply my self to another not so much because you lov'd me as because you could not endure that I should disesteem you Oh ingrateful how ill am I repaid for those tender Observances wherewith I have so often cast my self at your feet For your sake did I abandon my Country my Friends the garb wherein I liv'd For your sake did I confine my self to this solitary place and degrading my self of the Honours of Court that I might be advanc'd in your esteem I condescended to live with you in a quality equal to what yours represented and assum'd the Habit of a Country-Swain Methinks these Caresses were worthy to have been acknowledg'd if not recompens'd But Fool that I am to require the mindfulnesse of Benefits from a brest so utterly uncapable of being generous Thus did the misdeeming Cardenio complain him of the conceived falsenesse of his adored Silvia But had the truth been known he had little reason for she lov'd him with that zeal and fidelity that there past not a moment wherein he was not passionately remembred of her She on the other side thinking her self forgotten of Cardenio for mistakes are ever strongest at a distance fear'd lest he was grown remiss and cool in that Love which he both pretended to her and her Favours deserved from him Albanio using often to go to Madrid she one time demanded of him Whether he had made Cardenio acquainted with her being there and with those things she spoke to him at her departure He to stop the Current of her Affections toward him Answer'd that Yes and that he had wearied himself with often asking Whether he would come to see her But that he his thoughts being confounded in the labyrinth of a new Love had scarce leasure to afford him an Answer Silvia gave too facile a credit to Albanio's untruths and being much prejudic'd against Cardenio she for his Crime took sharp revenge of her own fair eyes putting them to a vast expence of tears This hapned about that time when the Parents of Silvia were preparing to Celebrate their Nuptials and she having chang'd her Shepherdesses state for the gayetie of a splendid Court the lustre of her natural Beauty was heightned with all the advantages that Art and Glory could add unto it and had already subdu'd to her chains such Captives as might have tempted the constancy of any Lady less vertuous than her self Cardenio having in vain long expected the performance of Silvia's Agreement he resented with so much rage her unfaithful breach of that performance that he had not patience to expect any longer so that accusing love for prompting him to such extravagancies he quit his Shepherds crook and returned back to Madrid to shine again in his own proper sphere of Gentilless and Gallantry Not long after his return chancing to walk out into a Meadow one evening accompany'd with one Gentleman only his Friend one that lov'd to quarrel in the night and keep house in the day-time they saw coming toward them a Lady who both by her being alone and by the distraction of her walking gave them to suspect that some discontent or other disquieted her minde She had upon her head a Lion-coloured silken Vail which cast so great an umbrage over her that it could not be discern'd who she was but the Skirt of her Gown overlay'd with a costly imbroydery induc'd them to think that she was a Lady if not of highest rank yet at least of no mean degree coming toward her they assured her That if ought lay in them wherein they could serve her she might command it That you would both of you be pleased answered the Lady to follow me I entreat not command It concerns me said she to be avenged in the highest measure upon a man who hath offered so notorious a disgrace that it is enough to make me the subject of the Worlds laughter nor can I be at quiet till this injury be rated at the price of his blood They led her between them and walk'd several rounds about the Meadow but could not finde the Man they look'd for As they were returning homewards a Coach which stay'd at the Monastery of Espiritu sancto wherein there were four Gentlemen and four Musitians singing very loud in parts caus'd them to stay their course and that they might the more commodiously hear the Musick they seated themselves upon the steps of the Church After the Musick had ceas'd and the Coachman had driven as far as the Fountains of St. Jeronimo one of the Gallants within chancing to spy the Lady bid him Stay his Coach and alighting made toward the Lady to see who she was Cardenio swelling with anger withheld him from seeing her saying That such a kinde of rudeness was not allow'd of at Court I esteem my self answered the Gentleman not so ill-bred nor so little a Courtier as to have need of your advice how to behave my self but Love especially back'd with Jealousie stands not upon nice punctillo's The Lady in your company said he is mine and though taking some distaste at me she seem to forsake me yet I claim her as my own All that I am to take notice of replied Cardenio is That she is at this time in my power and cast her self upon my protection therefore it concerns me to defend her from the violence of whoever shall pretend any right unto her Thus there pass'd many Replies from one side to the other and the Gallants within the Coach somewhat the more confident because of their greater number were not sparing in their taunts and jeers Cardenio and his Friend disdain'd to put up such sharp affronts and thinking it surer with Swords than words to decide the Controversie began to draw upon them Of the two that Cardenio had to deal with one after a short dispute fell down at his seet crying out that he was slain No sooner was it perceiv'd that he was dispatch'd but all the rest of them fled away cautious of the danger that might ensue if the Law of
Duel should be infring'd which was that as soon as any one man fell the rest should desist from farther violence and retreat Cardenio only that he might not render himself suspected made no extraordinary haste away but leaving that street where the Quarrel was manag'd took sanctuary in the next house he saw open desiring the Favour of those within That he might there rest himself secure from the malice of some that sought his mischief A Servant of the house who had been an eye-witnesse how valiantly he behav'd himself in the Combate led him to an innermost Chamber at one end of which there was a Door which op'ned into the Room where his Master and Mistris used to be where he might remain conceal'd from the search of Justice in case he were pursu'd Leaving him there and promising to afford him all the assistance he could he lock'd the Chamber-door upon him and went forth to see if he could gather by learning out how the Report went of it about the Town what this issue of the Fray was likely to prove that according as he heard of it he might the better know how to advise him for his safety Meanwhile Cardenio left all alone and pensive in an unknown obscure place had leasure to contemplate upon his adverse Fortune and the mischances that every moment attended him but more especially he reflected upon the many troubles and inconveniencies which Silvia's unfaithfulnesse had cost him and being about to counsel himself to forget the love that was so fruitlesse and had been so prejudicial to him he heard from the next room the delicate sound of a Womans shrill Complaints which interstop'd with many a heavie sigh and groan argued her the subject of some unspeakable grief His curiosity to know what it was gave a breathing place to his own sad thoughts and made him deeply attentive to what she said Ay me said she what hath this poor beauty of mine if it be such as may deserve that name profited me or rather how much hath it not injur'd me by betraying my heart to him that is so ungrateful and treats me with so little respect To what end have I so long gloriously resisted his powerful intreaties inveiglements when in the end I could not forbear surrendring my self to him who hath so ill requited me What hath it avail'd me to dissemble all this while the ardency of my love to him since at length I am come off with the shame of yielding my self so quickly and love without the recompence of bring lov'd again Oh Cardenio who would have thought That that Woman who disprais'd thee more justly than she her self imagin'd should so easily yield her self a prey to thy false allurements to perswade thou art very Eloquent but how to shew Gratitude altogether inexpert thy Words speak thee Noble thy Deeds act a Clown Cardenio to hear his name mention'd in a strange place was much amaz'd yet he imagin'd that haply some other bearing his Name though not his Fortune might have been the occasion of this complaint By this time the Servant was return'd assuring him that he was now at liberty to go where he pleas'd Justice being satisfied with the imprisonment of one of the Adversaries Cardenio gratifying the man with the expressions of real Thanks for what he had done and the reward of some Crowns demanded the Name of him he serv'd The Servant told him It was a Gentleman that came hither to be Married to a Lady whom since he first lov'd there are many years now past as appears by that sweet Pledge which they have brought along with them a fair Daughter born in the infancy of their Love not above three leagues from Court who till now hath in a mean Village alwayes liv'd obscure and under the notion of a plain Country-Shepherdesse until such time as her Parents might with safety own her These things Cardenio hear as it were transported out of himself with wonder to observe the strange Story of Silvia's Fortune and turning to the Servant he said Without doubt this is the same Lady that I heard so tenderly complaining to her self but even now 'T is most likely to be her the Servant reply'd for ever since she came to the City she bath been noted for her excessive sadness eft breaking forth into such violent passions of grief that it is by most conceiv'd her melancholy ariseth from some strong affection left behinde her which yet aetains her heart at Pinto and although she created a belief in most that her perplexity was for the absence of those shepherdesses her companions whom her long conversation with them had very much endeared to her affection yet I for my part have some ground to think otherwise because many times I have heard her bitterly complaining of one whom she calls Cardenio therefore I presume it is not her love onely of her absent companions that occasions this melancholy It was a Task sufficient for Cardenio to suppress that excessive Joy he conceiv'd hearing those happy tidings but discreetly concealing it he entreated the man that he would if it were possible bear this Message from him to the Lady That a Gentleman who was an intimate Friend to Cardenio humbly desir'd her she would be pleas'd to give way that he might see her and present her with a Letter from him The Servant though at first somewhat cautious to attempt the carrying of that Message to his Lady yet oblig'd by Cardenio's Gifts and knowing that whatever strangeness she might dissemble at first she would quickly be perswaded to come to the speech of her Lover went confidently to Silvia who was now call'd Donna Violanta and deliver'd his Errant to her Silvia was a little amaz'd and the Conflict between her Love and Honour bred some Demurs but incited by the unresistable force of Love she resolv'd to venture and causing the door to be op'ned she came into the Chamber to him Great was the Astonishment on both sides when they beheld one another in habits so different from those wherein they were seen of one another last you would have thought they had felt the power of Medusa's head and were become Marble with admiring Silvia was inwardly over-joy'd that she had in her presence him whom she had given over for lost but his chang'd apparel would scarce permit her to give credit to her own eyes Cardenio on the other side seeing her so differently attir'd could not tell what to think of it As for Silvia she imagin'd that without doubt Cardenio having learn'd the certainty of her quality lest his suppos'd disparity should cause her to forgo her love had assum'd to himself this Gentile garb and so began largely to insist how vain a thing it was to be taken with outward appearances saying that to go in obscure or splendid Apparel avail'd little either to the confirming or infringing of a well-grounded affection and she did not so much dis-esteem a mean habit as she prized a
or Mother as our affections so our meetings encreas'd What a hazard doth that Maid run though never so circumspect that venters to see her lover often much more to parley with him Being thus divided and wavering between the threats of my Parents and the prayers of him I lov'd I found a great conflict within me this only comfort was left me That he who was absolute master of my affections had engag'd himself to serve me with an eternal constancy and fidelity The frequency of his visits so confirm'd our loves that at length he won me to yield him that last of Favours which neither his intreaties nor the purity of his passion could ever obtain till after a Solemn Contract between us in the presence of two Friends most faithful to our design His Father was a Gentleman of Salamanca a noted City the glory of Castile and famous for being the foster-Mother of noble Sciences who had design'd to marry him to a Kinswoman of his Parents commonly count no Matches lawful if they be not altogether manag'd and concluded by their Counsels My Friend loath to displease his Father seem'd outwardly willing to entertain the motion but for my sake spun out the time with many doubts and delays It happened about this time that my Father being for his eminent Learning and Deserts taken notice of by his Majesty was advanc'd to a place at Court of greatest Honour and Profit he glad of this unexpected preferment and intending to make his best advantage of it for the bettering his Fortune resolv'd upon removing to that place where his occasions requir'd him present mean while the Marriage so earnestly desir'd and endeavour'd between us was disturb'd by the arrival of my Spouse's Father who came himself in person on purpose to hasten his Sons return to Salamanca that they might treat about the Match between him and that Gentlewoman concerning whom he had so often writ to him by this means I was plunged into a most remedilesse ill plight I durst not make my Case known to my Parents who were of that austere Nature and so not to be perswaded to yield to any of my desires that they would sooner be brought to consent to the taking away of my life than not to have me confin'd to a Religious Cell And that which made my Condition the more insupportable was That I found in my self the evident Symptoms of being with Child So deeply did I lay to heart these Crosses that I sought occasions to bring my life to an end and doubtlesse I should have done it but that I consider'd that with my own the life of my Spouse was in danger and that of my Infant in certainty to be lost and it had been indeed a barbarous cruelty to have slain this innocent Creature whom as yet I have not seen although it hath so lately cost me innumerous pangs The preparations for our departure I knew not well how to resent notwithstanding I bore it out with the cheerfullest face I could and imploy'd the deepest of my cunning to conceal my mischance at length I feign'd my self extreamly ill discovering the truth to the Physitian that by his help my Fiction might be the more securely carried on and thinking to conceal that by keeping my Bed which I had no other way to keep undiscover'd for all this my Father that made no great matter of it and judged by my countenance That it was rather the state and delicacy of a great Dame tenderly brought up than any real sicknesse that caus'd me to keep my Bed forth with intended his voyage without any regard to my being ill giving me a very short space to prepare for the Journey scarce had I time to dispatch a short Note to my Spouse wherein with more abundance of Grief than Reason I set forth the sadnesse of my Condition the heavie affliction of our being sever'd and the fears and dangers that attended me When by that time it was mid-day and I with much ado got ready I was hurried with the rest out of the City my Lover took silent leave of me at a distance and accompanied me with his eyes as far as he could endeavouring to make me understand the language they spake by the close of day we reach'd Pinto a place not directly in the Road but by reason of a piece of Land which we there possesse we diverted thither No sooner were the rest of our Family well settled in their first sleep but I perceiv'd my self surpriz'd with great pains which were the lesse terrible to me because my Soul was at that time as it were buried in other huge afflictions notwithstanding in a short space they encreas'd in such sort that I plainly knew them to be the certain fore-runner of my approaching labour so that leaving in the Bed a Servant-Maid whom having ever found most faithful to me I had made acquainted with my Condition I thus solitary distracted and carelesse having no other company but my Sorrows to attend me betook my self to this Wood and this soft Bed of Flowers which Heaven no question out of tendernesse lest my shame should be divulg'd had made thus private without hopes of Aid from any save the shelter of this little tree nor enjoying any other ease than my sighs driven hither by this necessity newly disburthened as you see of this poor Infant and almost brought to the jawes of Death here you have found me being led hither by Providence to be the Instrument of my relief and to save two lives at once and which is more to protect my Honour from all violation by accompanying me to the place from whence I came if that small strength which is yet left me will permit me to go so far or at least if the force of these misfortunes shall prevail over my life I shall have obtain'd this benefit to end my days with an unblemish'd Reputation Albanius heard these things with the same seriousnesse she related them and was sorrowfully affected with the sadnesse of these passages The adversity and tears of so delicate a personage were able to force pity from Rocks and to make rigor it self not rigid She crav'd his Name and in what place he abided and presented him with a Purse enrich'd with a great number of Crowns saying That she would commit to his Education that little Creature and that she would take care to give her Lover notice of this deliverance and seriously enjoyn him to recompence to the utmost of his power this great humanity of his to her and her Child He promis'd to perform with all sincerity the trust committed to him and having conducted her to a place not far distant from her dwelling he took his leave admiring at the strangenesse of this event and especially to see so undaunted a Woman of such a soft and curious frame and plunged in such distresse but what will not a generous Soul adventure rather than suffer under a wounded Reputation Returning home to
Author of my pain 3. Is bright Silvia gentle Bow'rs To your gloomy walks unknown Who loves to spend the harmlesse hours Among silent Groves alone And can with her presence bright To the darkest shades give light 4. Silvia hath about her Charms Nations able to subdue And can conquer with those Arms More than mightiest Kings can do But I that am her chiefest aim Am destin'd to the greatest flame 5. I die Silvia when I behold Those Eyes that set on fire my heart Yet I for love is uncontrol'd Greedy and fond of my own smart And Captive to my misery Love to behold those stars and die So passionately was this sung by Cardenio and so deep an impression took it in the heart of Silvia that she resolved with her self not to return home until she had had some discourse with the Author of those melodious complaints Cardenio came forward and seem'd to be surpriz'd himself with the suddennesse of meeting her in that place she at first drew back as intending to behave her self toward him in a more reserv'd manner than she had done before Albanius inform'd her of her true Condition but she was shaken in her resolution when she saw him represented to her more full of Charms at that time than ever and so much the more by how much the lesse possibility she saw of enjoying him however unavoidably they being met she enquir'd of him although though she knew full well that it was he himself who had lately been the Orpheus of those Woods and that this Song was directed to her having heard her name more than once repeated in it and could willingly have been contented to have heard it many times iterated in so sweetly-mournful a Song whether it were he that had but even now so pathetically related to the Woods his amorous complaints He answer'd that it was and that the sorrows which he sustain'd through the cruelty of her whom he serv'd had forc'd him to expresse himself in that manner Upon which words Silvia offer'd to be gone fearing to hear that which might cause a more than ordinary Vermilion to rise in her Cheeks and so intangle her self more deeply in that from which she sought to flie Cardenio with little ado detain'd her assuring her that if she would but be pleas'd to hear what he had at present to say it should be the utmost limit of her Favour that he would aspire to and having obtain'd her Consent he began in this manner Had I thought Silvia that my Love would have offended you either as being a disparagement or any other way distasteful to you Heaven knows I would sooner with my own hands have ended this wretched life than not to have put an end to the occasion of your displeasure but presuming upon the confidence of a passion the most pure and innocent in the world I did imagine that the discovery of it could not be capable to offend you yet hitherto I have only taken the boldnesse to discharge my brest of those restlesse thoughts that incumbred it only by communicating them to the friendly secret of these Trees who I was sure would not divulge ought committed to their trust Here I stood as you see singing and bewailing two things alike incident to those that Love and I conjecture that I have been over-heard by you therefore since I am discover'd let it not I beseech you trouble you but consider how easily you may sustain the tediousnesse of being belov'd since I can passe through the torment of loving That you will love me Silvia is a thing I dare not require but beg of you that you will not take it amiss that you are lov'd by me For alas my love is of so small a value that I have scarce courage enough to perswade my self that I love you and I shall comfort my self with this consideration That if my love shall want the satisfaction of your Returns it may at least be thought the more perfect by continuing fervent without the hopes of recompence Silvia's heart formerly hardened with disdain is now melted into pity by the moving Speech of Cardenio fain she would have been gone but had not power to go but assisted with the spirit of no ordinary Woman she put on a gallant resolution and parted with this rigorous Answer That he could have done no more if he had plainly told her That he hated her No sooner was she gone but she was ready to weep that she had left him griev'd that she must flie from him whom of all the world she most affected and sory that she had not been kept ignorant of the noblenesse of her Family Ah Cardenio said she oftentimes looking back how willingly would I pay thee back the respect thou bearest me were it not for blemishing the greatnesse of my Birth O that I could obtain of Heaven to ennoble thee with a Condition equal to my self how willingly should I then sacrifice unto thee a heart that is now scarce my own These Complaints had measur'd out a pretty distance of way from him but with such regret that she was like to have made so bold with her modesty as to have return'd back to hearten him whom she left so disconsolate with the evidence of more present Love though smaller hopes of Love for the suture Cardenio on the other side would not turn back after her for fear of adding to her discontent thinking she had been indeed throughly displeas'd his prudence made him distrustful and by how much the more he lov'd by so much the more he fear'd and by how much the more he fear'd so much the more he blinded himself with the opinion of Silvia's disfavour but that which aggravated his hard hap the more was to consider That the disguising his quality did no whit avail to the altering of her resolution for when he appear'd in his right shape a true Gentleman she was altogether averse and now that he had put on the Habit of a Country-Swain she was as much offended although he could have been contented for her sake to had led his life perpetually in that obscure Equipage and would willingly have renounc'd the greatnesse of his Birth that he might have enjoy'd his adored Silvìa But to comfort him a little in these disasters he met with an object somwhat sympathizing with his own Condition for observing the Trees which grew thereabout among the rest he chanc'd to cast his Eye upon one of so russet a hue and so naked of Leaves that it appear'd among the other Trees like one in disgrace and as if Winter banish'd from all the world beside had there taken up her habitation Seeing therefore he had lighted upon so fit a Companion of his Afflictions with whom to communicate his griefs he regardlesse sung his misfortunes in this manner 1. UNhappie Tree who in thy greener years Hast stood the shook of many a winters rage Now thou art free from either hopes or fears Of sadder Fates to
come or these t' asswage 2. Thou might'st have been the glory of this place Had not the rigour of untimely Fate Rob'd thy fair Branches of their verdant grace And thee reduc'd to this despis'd estate 3. Thou hast outliv'd thy hopes which are expir'd I linger out and languish in despair Thy Joys are past and therefore not desir'd But I the present scoffs of Fortune bear 4. How willingly in this calamitie Yield I to act my self the chiefest part And yet I have a kinde of fear to die As loth to be remov'd from this sweet smart 5. To thee that season which on every thing Except thee smiles is cruel and unkind To me that cruel fair who is my spring More rigid is than the bleak Scythian wind Or Winters rugged blasts yet do not I Think strange since to be cruel is her property In the midst of these harmonious complaints the night stole on and Silvia with stedfast attention stood all this while at her window watching to see if Cardenio would appear which he did not till having retir'd himself to his Chamber he had chang'd his Country-Habit and instead thereof put on the most rich and splendid Garment of all those he brought along with him in reserence to whatever occasion might emerge thus attir'd he came when all others were buried in night and silence toward the Mansion of his cruel Silvia who what with the extremity of the seasons heat and the restlessenesse of her thoughts could not prevail with sleep to take possession of her eyes that so her minde might for a while have been diverted from those cares wherein it was involv'd Cardenio drew near resolving to try a second change to see if the altering his Apparel for the better would bring the like alteration to his Fortune Silvia all this while was standing at her window and seeing him on a sudden not to come forward until he had by a sign fignified his desire to speak She streight consulted with her honour how she were best to demean her self toward his request with the safety of her modesty and civility which that she might the more securely deliberate she was about to have shut the Casement but was prevented by Cardenio who besought her not fear that a few words from him her attention to which would be but little losse of time could have power to convert her from that obdurate rigour wherein she was resolved to persist and without expecting her Answer that he might not let slip the occasion which offer'd it self he continued his Speech in this manner I am said he fair Shepherdess a Gentleman who not leng since passing through this place chanc'd to espy that excellent beauty of yours which made you in my Opinion scarce descend to be a mortal Woman But I would I had been born without eyes that I might have been excus'd from the sight of that beauty which hath roh'd me of my repose and the serenity of my life my greatest unhappinesse was for that having once seen you I was press'd with an eager desire of seeing you again for what greater misfortune can there be than by a fatal constraint to chain ones Affection to a person who returns nothing but Coldnesse and Disdain returning back to gaze on those Eyes which were the source of my Afflictions I found out a means with much ado to come to your sight and speech but I was entertain'd with such a frozen indifferency that my despair was without bounds or respite yet I endeavour'd to suppress the impetuosity of my flames by frequenting the delightful divertisements of the Court and I had surely done it had you been less fair or that fairness less predominant over my soul but finding it impossible ever to forget the charms of those fatal looks which have inthral'd my reason and my quiet with indissolvable fetters I could not be at rest till I returned to the place where I lost my Liberty intending to make tryal whether I might not be so much the better accepted by how much the more immediately and with the greater observance I applied myself to your compassion putting my self in hope that if I did not finde love I should at least finde a favourable respect toward the sincerity of so devoted a heart And now I attend the doom that I must trust to from your own mouth and however it prove whether contrary to what I exsect or not it will yet be pleasure to me to be convinc'd that I was destin'd to become yours although I have not merited to have the Honour to own you for mine Silvia hearkned the more attentively to see if by the listning to the words of her seeming new Servant she could forget Cardenio fancy'd in his old shape But as it oft hapneth that a Lover takes a special liking to the very actions of the person lov'd so she calling to remembrance the manner of his garb as she fancy'd it in his other habit would needs dislike the address he made in this as if the alteration of his Attire had chang'd the Fashion of his Voice or Action 'T is strange to see how humorous the passions of Lovers are Cardenio is he who the night before parlied with her and was inwardly favoured and the self-same Cardenio but even now a Supplieant at her Feet and is rejected then a Villager and meanly clad now a Gentleman having on such Apparel as well beseem'd him that might presume to be her Servant Who would have thought that she should now dislike him when she had neither his unworthiness nor any other crime to object against him Miraculous is the mystery of Love wherein nothing be it never so commendable is liked in a person disfavoured but in a lov'd object all Errors are dispens'd with When he was plain Cardenio the homely Weeds he went in rob'd him of his Gentility and by consequence of her Favour and now that his rich Attire discovered him a Gentleman and one deserving her Affection the cause of his dis-esteem was that he seem'd transform'd from Cardenio to another man and this seeming alteration in him had a greater ascendent upon her minde than one would have thought possible so that in fine making that the cause of her disgust which ought to have been her chiefest satisfaction she gave him this resolute Answer That he need not trouble himself any further about her for that besides the disproportion of his Estate to hers he was to consider the nature of the place in which being but a small Village curiosity and slanderous tongues abounded every action though with never so much integrity done would be liable to the grossest censure and the effects of honest Love imputed to lasciviousness but that which most of all debar'd him of all hopes of enjoying her was that she had already parted with the right of disposing of her own affections which she had long since engaged and that two several Loves ought not to harbour in one honest brest therefore
she desir'd him to pardon her and that if he lov'd her so truely as he profess'd he would shew it by not coming again into those places where she us'd to be lest is should be taken notice of to the calling her Fame in question and so bidding him farewel she shut the Window Cardenio remain'd so bitterly stung with this cruel Reply that he began almost to wish that he had receiv'd his doom sooner that he might by this time have made an end of dying thinking it more tolerable than his present state wherein having so long lingred out his life in false hopes he was now to begin to die he griev'd not onely that she was so averse from loving him but that the pawning of her affections to another was the cause she treated him so rigorously and as if his rich Habit had been the sole cause of his Grievances he tore it to pieces resolving to do penance in Rags for his Offences although committed through error he curs'd his evil Fortune and wish'd earnestly to be disburthen'd of his wretched life since in a manner he was already slain by the cruelty of Silvia that he liv'd but to the sence of his Miseries but was dead to all hopes and seeing that all the avenues to her pity were shut against him that to all his Prayers she was a Rock because she was uncivil and void of courtesie not to be pleas'd with the most obsequious Services because she took a pride in being ungrateful with bravery of Apparel unmov'd as wanting courtly breeding despising a homely garb out of high-mindedness denying her heart to him whose faith constancy gave him a just pretension to it because she pretended that it was else where bestowed He bethought himself that jealousie hath oft-times wrought miracles in the most wavering obdurate minds since a Woman is ever most apt to love being slighted and to slight when she is lov'd and took on a resolution since his Truth and Simplicity so little avail'd to betake himself to Subtilty as his last Refuge purposing to try if he could discover who this fortunate Lover should be that deserv'd to have the sole possession of Silvia's heart to effect which an opportunity was soon offer'd There dwelt in the Neighbourhood a young Shepherdess of a sprightly air gentily educated rich and not of the meanest Quality she having observ'd the compleatness of Cardenio was many times so large in the Character of his worth that it being reported to him gave him sufficient assurance that it would have been no very hard matter for him to have obtain'd her Love so that Cardenio began not obscurely to declare himself her Lover She proud to be courted by him counted her self happy in being thought worthy of his observance In his Letters he pretended much Love but because it was faigned he manag'd his Expressions warily and her Answers though somewhat cunningly and coyly fram'd were yet courteous and far from giving him any denial Silvia in the mean time who had been so severe to her self as to banish from her self that person whom she held so dear purchas'd with the price of her health the losse of that which she esteem'd more than her health so really did she love so really did she feign not to love and was strangely divided within her self between this one yet divided passion consulting whether it were best to adhere to her real Love or to turn her feigned hatred into real When she look'd upon her self as Noble she could not endure to think of staining her Honour with the mixture of an ignoble Blood when she look'd upon Cardenio as greatly meriting she thought it impossible to draw out her poor Pilgrimage of Life without him In this plight remain'd the unfortunately fair Silvia wavering in her minde between not daring to love him and not having the heart to resolve to slight him when suddenly the unwelcome fame of her Lovers chang'd Affection arriv'd to her Ears which struck such an amazement into her heart being careless of any other felicity than the enjoyment of Cardenio though but in imagination that her life had like to have forsaken her at the same instant that her jealousie possess'd her one while she intended to punish his neglect by changing her love into hatred but was not able to put in practice her design for Love although it be not easily produc'd without the consent of our wills yet being once sprung up in the heart and grown to maturity it lieth not in our wills to remove it another while by coming where he might see her to bring him to see his error but that she durst not lest he professing love to another her reputation might have suffered by it in fine she held it best to conceal as much as she could those torments which the violence of her jealousie made her endure although it would have been a great ease to her minde to have discovered them whereas to keep them smother'd in her brest added much to the extremity of her anguish One evening a cool fresh gale of winde invited her to walk forth into the Fields and the rather as being desirous to breath forth her grievances to those quiet solitudes and to communicate her sad thoughts to the pitiful Birds wishing they were endued with articulate voice that they might relate to Cardenio what she suffer'd when casting her eyes toward the skirts of a little Hill which serv'd as a stately Crown to the bordering Plain she saw three men most injuriously set against the Life of one Person who notwithstanding gallantly defended himself and recollecting all his Courage together he made a shift what with the puissance of his blows and what with the advantage of place which he gain'd and the skill wherewith he manag'd his Weapon to keep off that approaching Fate wherewith the dangerousnesse of that assault threatned him and to befriend him with her shades the night came on so fast that partly having the darkness of their fact represented before them through the horror of the nights darkness partly being sore wounded by the valour of their Adversary they sled away leaving him as they thought dead or with small hopes of Life Silvia came nigh and saw clasped in the Arms of a fair Shepherdess this undaunted Combatant who weltering in his own Blood gave to understand by the ghastlinesse of his look that he wanted but little of yielding himself up to death Silvia being about to have demanded of them the reason of this tragical accident first observing the Maid well perceiv'd that it was her Corrival and the Author of her Jealousies and afterward looking intently upon the wounded man knew him to be her false Lover her revolted Cardenio so grievous was the sight unto her so deeply did it strike her heart that she could almost have wish'd that his Soul would quite forsake its unfaithful Mansion both that she might be free from the pain of her tormenting Jealousie and that he might
easie fruition of her Favours he grow weary of them and fall in love with the next Beauty he meets and which is worse never desists till by making his perfidious dealings apparent to her he kills her with the sense of her own unhappinesse I would fain know Cardenio may not this Woman be held excus'd if she prove inconstant to him It seems we are oblig'd to suffer all vexations whatsoever at your hands and not so much as offer to be reveng'd for them and your selves not bound to be touch'd with the least shame for those injuries you do us you think the advantage of Wit which you arrogate to your selves above our Sex was given you on purpose to delude us and our lesse Prudence belike is allow'd us onely that we may be wise enough to bear with your failings if not tell me I conjure you by that Respect which you once seem'd to owe me and by the Beauty of that Maid that loves you so intirely and could so easily consent to sit and look on while you were in such danger of being slain How could you so easily forget those passionate pretensions which you offered to me with so much zeal and devotion Did you not call to minde how a few dayes since I saw you pitifully complaining and recounting to the woods whether your real passions or your forgeries I know not And afterwards did you not with great aggravation of your griefs urge how much you had indured for my sake and that the Torments and restlesse Agitations of your Spirit were all the effects of my unkindenesse Moreover did you not make serious Protestations to me That should your life out-dure many Ages it would never be within your power to desist from loving me How happens it if this be true as you are conscious to your self it is and these very Trees can witness it That I found you even now incircled in the Arms of a new Mistress whose love you may highly prize since it hath been valued at the dear rate of so much blood Tell me Cardenio upon these terms what considence is to be repos'd in Men that professe never so much Love and Fidelity Or what could you have done more if after the highest demonstratitions I could have given you of my Love you had been forsaken of me Must you make such haste to discover to me the falsenesse of your Faith even before you had received the least assurance of a favourable reception from me are you so soon tired with those Supplications which you so lately vow'd should never have an end Perhaps you suppossest your self at Court where between to request and to grant there is little or no interval unless it be sometimes the want of opportunity or it may be you did imagine me to be some Woman light of behaviour expecting that I should have rendred my self up to your first deceits for I know not under what other title your words should passe or if you have not entertain'd altogether so sinister a conceit of me could you have found in your heart if as it is possible I might although it hath hapned otherwise being surpriz'd with the charms of your person or minde I had offered my self up a Victim to your impostures to charge me with any blame had I sought to right my self for this injury in publishing you to the world a perfidious unthankful and disloyal Man Be assur'd Cardenio that to offer any indignities to Ladies of honour and esteem is unsafe for as they are alwayes deeply affected with the sense of receiv'd injuries so they are apt to retaliate them with a severity void of pity or moderation as for me since through the conduct of my good fortune I have evaded the snares of your false pretensions through which I might have suffered many inconveniences and which perhaps might have beguil'd the credulity of many an innocent Maid I shall advise you to consider since you take your self to be so discreet that it behov'd you to have less confidence in your merits and not to conceive you self arriv'd to that perfection as to be able to subdue the affections of every woman you have to deal with there are many defects in you which you your self know not of because you look upon your self only through the mirrour of your own Fancy She ended her Discourse with an action that signified much disdain but yet so gracefully she did it that Cardenio was infinitely charm'd with that which extreamly troubled him yet his heart was somewhat lightned to see that Silvia although she had not declar'd her love to him for the sharpness of her expressions forbid him to hope a thing so much tending to his content and happiness yet had condescended to so large an expostulation with him and the better to satisfie her of his untainted fidelity towards her and to let her understand that she had been the onely Author of his inconstancy he made her this Reply Upon what ground it is Silvia that you so confidently aver an Universal fickleness ingratitude to be in all men I know not unless because I seem to you to be such a one you thence infer that all men are so but Heaven knows you maintain an Argument very difficult to be prov'd There are many things to be Disputed ere your Opinion will gain belief It is true I was seen by you making my Complaints and relating my Grievances to these Woods and how well am I repaid for being so observant even to a kinde of deifying of you I have now to my sorrow understood but that ever I had a thought to relinquish or forget my first Love so firmly devoted to you I must both needs deny it nor is it a thing likely to have been whatever your suspitions may suggest into your mind and I shall be very unhappy until you shall become sensible how much this confidence hath hitherto deceived you and I would to Heaven fair Silvia since both to you it seems so indifferent and to me it would have been a means whereby the restlesse intranquillities of my minde might have been somwhat allay'd that what you imagin'd had been true You tell me You are very glad and seem to applaud your own Prudence in it that you consented neither to Credit nor to Love me since you now perceive how ill requited you should have been and that you would have had just cause to repent you of your Favours Ah injurious Woman what just cause can you have to traduce the sincerity of my Love in such sort as you do Grant that I am inconstant ought you not in charity to judge that I do it for the best lest in case your inclination be plac'd elsewhere you should be offended with my sollicitations I know Silvia that you love I know that the pains of an amorous passion sit heavy on your heart and that from a very good Authority for there be who heard it from your own mouth Seems it then so great
a crime in me to seek to allay the violence of my flames and trifle away the tediousness of time by the diversion of a counterfeit Love Since I am deny'd the satisfaction of your real Love I cannot comprehend how you should be taken with such a qualm of pity for a little Wound in my Head having in the mean while the Heart to bring my Life into danger with a thousand more mortal Wounds Was it not enough Silvia that I lov'd you without being requited Was it not enough that I was rejected by you but that your Cruelty must needs mock me with an imputation of inconstancy your self in the mean time continuing inflexible to a Passion the most pure and constant that any heart could be capable of consider with your self how gloriously you have done by compelling me to languish out my sorrowful minutes in a dispair which nothing but my Death can terminate Seeing therefore it imports so little with you whether I love you or no suffer me to try if by being able to forget you I can triumph over my own Memory Silvia very diligently though somewhat disturb'd at what he said hearkned to Cardenio's words and going about to vindicate her self from that inhumanity which her severe Behaviour toward him had caused in him to apprehend in her she was interrupted by a sudden refort of people thither who hearing of that unhappy Accident came to inform themselves of the certainty of it drawing neer and viewing the Wound they were glad when they saw it was not mortal nothing so much retarding his Recovery as the want of Blood and returned back to the Village with him where his mishap was universally bewail'd so well his complaisant civil demeanour had made him belov'd among them nor could the Jealousie and Envy of a few who had neither regard to Pity Reason or Civility be able to remove that good Esteem so generally conceiv'd of him His Weakness forc'd him to keep his Bed for some few dayes in which time he was carefully and tenderly look'd to by Silvia and apprehended with much Joy and Pleasure the many Favours which she conferr'd upon him for which to shew himself thankful and confirm them the more sure unto him he did that which he knew would be acceptable to her He wrote unto the Country-Maid through whose means his Love had been for a while withdrawn from Silvia telling her That for his part he was in that place rather a Stranger than a Native that although it were the place where his Infant-yeers were spent yet long absence had made him to become a Stranger and that it was not convenient for him to do any thing that might disoblige those with whom he was to lead the remainder of his Life for that as he came thither only to see his Friends so he intended not there to continue In fine with these and the like pretences he dis-ingaged himself from her giving her clearly to understand that he meant no longer to apply himself to her in the way of love Silvia receiv'd much joy and satisfaction from this resolution of Cardenio and sent by a Maid of the House in whom she reposed trust to tell him That as soon as he found himself in a condition to come abroad she desired to see him having many things to impart to him which perhaps he would not be unwilling to be made acquainted with Cardenio counted every Hour an Age earnestly expecting that happy Day wherein he should have the opportunity to discover his minde freely to her and to prevail with her not to hold him in suspence any longer Silvia on the other side pray'd heartily for his amendment being fully resolv'd at their next meeting to treat him less disdainfully and more obligingly than heretofore for that now the Love of him had so absolute an empire in her heart that she resolv'd with her self in case her Parents should oppose her choice as thinking it a match too much beneath her utterly to relinquish the Wealth and Grandeur of her own condition and to live with him though in the most obscure equipage since no advancement or worldly interest had so powerful a consideration with her as her love of Cardenio One night among the rest while the good old man Albanius having heard of the correspondency between her and Cardenio was beginning to reprove her as if she had not sufficiently given credit to what he had made known to her concerning her Quality there came to the door a man who inquired for Albanius saying That a Gentleman without desired to speak with him Albanius went down Silvia in the mean time musing with her self about the resolution she had taken in the behalf of Cardenio as he was going towards the Gate to see who inquir'd for him there met him a Lady of a handsome proportion and gentile presence whom more by signs than her words he understood to be the Mother of Silvia who plainly appearing to have inherited her Beauty it was no difficult matter for him who had seen Silvia to discern this Lady to be her Mother as she was expressing her great Obligements to him by a thousand civil Complements came in her Husband who greatly desiring to see his Daughter spent not the time in many Ceremonies but intreated him forthwith to bring him to the place where she was So they all went up stayrs together where they found Silvia alone and startled at their sudden surprising of her after that with many expressions of tenderness and affections on both sides and after they had solemniz'd with a great deal of Joy and Contentment and not without some Admiration their being so happily met together and so unexpectedly and testified with infinite thanks and large promises their great obligations to Albanio for his eminent Humanity and Faithfulness the mother of Silvia related to him the most remarkable things that had befallen her since she parted from him telling him that after she was return'd to her friends there happened a disaster which for some years space depriv'd her of the satisfaction of her husbands society otherwise then by the mediation of Letters for he having kill'd a Gentleman in Salamanca one of the most principal of that place was forc'd to retire himself to a remore place where he might be out of the reach of Justice until such time as his Majestie should be pleas'd to grant him a Pardon the time of his banishment being expir'd he return'd home to his Country and Friends where he liv'd in great honour and esteem wanting neither riches nor any other contentment but the society of her without whom all other comforts were but distasteful therefore making known his resolution to his friends he came with all speed to Granada to see if my parents having by this time remitted any thing of their rigorous humours would at length consent that I should be married to him but found nothing abated of their wonted severity We seeing them still so obstinately bent
rich minde neither was a Rural courtship so unpleasing to her as a Courtly and Civil deportment was pleasing nor did she think it a shame for her to confess that she would sooner chuse to love that man who was but of an obscure quality and constant than the most accomplish'd Gallant and perfidious And thinking to take revenge on him for his forgetfulness she continued her discourse somewhat sharply saying That since his meanness not so much dishonour'd her as his unfaithfulness offended her she was not so greatly incensed toward him for being inferiour to her in condition as because she saw him not correspondent to her in firmness and sincerity of affection however in this she comsorted her self That she hop'd she should be able rather to endure and conceal her afflictions nay even to die than to suffer her self any more to be inclinable to his false pretensions the experience of whose Ingratitude might be a sufficient warning to her More she had said would her passion have given her leave but what she left unspoken her eyes spake for her for the violence of her sorrow not able to be contain'd within her brest burst forth in tears Cardenio was put to a strange non-plus hearing the undeserved complaints which Silvia made of his surmis'd neglect whenas from the very day that she first forsook Pinto he neither had receiv'd any message from her nor could he come to know by means of Albanio where her abode was Wherefore he made her this Answer That as to the Ingratitude and Unworthiness she alleadg'd against him such was his innocence that it was needless for him to make any excuse and that he so far preferr'd her contentment before his own that if she had design'd to bestow her Love upon some one more deserving he would rather yeeld to the hazarding his life by seeing her in the power of some other man whom her affection might have made choice of than seek to enjoy her himself as long as his happiness should be inconsistent with her repose yet that she might be undeceiv'd in the opinion she had both of his condition and his want of loyalty toward her he told her That whereas he had all this while gone under the name of Cardenio and the form of a Country-villager he was both of a quality Nobler than what he had hitherto profess'd and his right name was Don Osorio and that to make the credit of what he alleadg'd the more indisputable it was sufficient to say he was ally'd unto the House of Lemos and that it was he who passing one time thorow Pinto and espying her became a captive to her beauty and impatient till he had obtain'd the oportunity of an address unto her came one night into her company though through the nights obscurity he was scarce able to discern her but that afterwards to gain frequent oportunities of seeing her and to have time to make his passion known by the most zealous services he could be capable of rendering to her he had put on that same Country-disguise in which he so oft appear'd to her and that however she was pleas'd to inveigh against his neglect of her he had ever remain'd a Rock in that sincerity he first profess'd and at that very time when it was rumour'd abroad that she was missing from Albanio's house he was exceedingly perplex'd about it seeing all men whisper and entertain odde conceits about it but when neither from Albanio nor any one else he could receive the certainty of what was the occasion of her departure nor whither she was remov'd he thought it needless to stay any longer here and so return'd back to Court and walking forth one evening with a friend he chanced to be engaged in a Quarrel in which one of the adversaries fell and that he fleeing from the severity of Justice was by his good Genius happily directed to this house where hearing his name repeated among many sighs and complaints he came to be inform'd of the whole Story of her proceedings and that he remain'd absolutely devoted to her command resolving not to dispose of himself in any way that should not submit to her concernments or afford him the opportunities of having the honour to serve her and that she might the better satisfie her self of the reality of his affection he pray'd her to consider that he had not altogetherdeclin'd the acting of what might in some sort pretend to her esteem having devested himself of his own Quality for her sake whom he absolutely concluded to be his inferiour whereas she on the other side since the late change of her Fortune had out of the same consideration sought to retract her long-profess'd Love To which she answered That notwithstanding the Reverend old Man who in her esteem had ever had the place of a Father had long since reveal'd to her whose child she was withal strictly admonish'd her that having regard to her Modesty and Honour she should not entertain any one beneath her in degree yet that she remain'd constant and unmov'd in that Affection which took beginning in her from that night forward wherein he having obtained an opportunity of addressing himself to her made so large professions of his Love And that he might see how much the reality of her Love prevailed above the thought of her Quality she gave him a Letter to read which she had written at Pinto thinking to have left it behinde her to be sent him by Albanio as a testimony of her constancy the Letter Cardenio read it being to this effect Violanta to Cardenio If with the change of my Habit and Fortune I had chang'd that Love which I have so long borne you I might seem to have done that which the respect of Blood and greatness oblig'd me to but so far am I from the least thought of forsaking you that I was never more firmly than now resolv'd to be wholly yours he that gives you this will give you an account of my condition and the reason of my departure Rest happy and assur'd that though at present the distance between our qualities be as great as that which separates our selves my Love shall make you Noble and render you worthy of my Nuptials Violanta Cardenio had no longer what to doubt nor Silvia what to fear that night he kept in the same Lodging Silvia's care not permitting him for fear of whatsoever danger might befal him to stir out of the House The next morning she went to her Father and Mother acquainted them with the whole proceedings of their loves and all the circumstances that had hapned they making it their own case having so fresh in Memory the powerful effects of Love in themselves wisely considering That to cross a Woman in her desires is to drive her into remediless inconveniences her Father also knowing Cardenio to be a man highly esteem'd of in Court for his great Quality and his compleat Vertues they gave their free consent that they