complain though to the prejudice of his honour this amusement should happen to be carried on somewhat further then he desired Thus they parted the Vice Roy highly satisfy'd that he had engaged the Count in a service which another would have fear'd to have entred into And the Count on the other side wondring at the charge of such a Commission as this which was laid upon him He had never been very much in love himself and he could not well conceive how any one should be so far transported with that passion The Vice Roy was to entertain the Ladies the next night at a supper which was to present the New Gallant with an occasion of entertaining his Mistresse The Vice-Queen as I have already told you was a very beautiful person and such a one as Count Henry might very well make his applications to without doing himself any considerable violence Yet nevertheless because it was a thing put upon him so he found not in him that inclination which no doubt he would have had had it voluntarily came from his own motion Though her beauty was excessively charming yet the too prodigal bounty of such a husband was a great allay to a young heart which is sooner engaged by the difficulty then the too great facility of the enterprise He was at this feast where he appear'd something abasht and his spirit was seiz'd with such a melancholy which was not usuall in him for he was generally mighty brisk and a person of one of the best humours in the world The part he was to play had something embroyl'd him and taken off from his accustomed jollity that evening Not that the declaration of love which he was to make seem'd so difficult to him there is lesse trouble in saying we love when we do not then when we do but that love is so ingenious as to furnish a man with a thousand inventions which are impossible to come into the fancies of those that are not possest with that passion The Vice-Roys Lady appear'd that Evening more beautiful then ever she gave him fair play because she fell upon him raillingly twice or thrice about his melancholy But the Count more frozen and contracted then Ice it self scarce made a word of answer to all the raillery that the fair Lady was pleas'd to bestow upon him The Vice-Roy lookt on him with an eye of pitty And being asham'd of his want of confidence came up to him and reprocht him with the title of the poorest and most pittiful Gallant he ever saw in his life telling him if there were no better the Ladies would be very much put to it Sir answer'd the Count I will be what you will please to ordain me but I protest I must obey you in it with a world of distraction for I fear you may lose more by it then you will get And what does it concern you briskly answer'd the Vice-Roy what I gain or lose do but what I desire you and trouble your self no farther The Count who could no longer excuse himself advances towards the Vice-Queen who having also a desire to speak with him met him almost half way and told him in whisper she had something to say to him and desired him not to go away before she had spoke with him The Count over-joy'd that she had given him so fair an occasion of obeying the Vice-Roy defer'd his Court-ship to that time When it was grown pretty late and most of the company was retir'd The Vice-Roy waited on Donna Angelica to her apartment Which his Lady had no sooner seen but she made a sign to the Count to follow her and she led him into her closet where having made him sit down by her My Lord says she what is the cause why you are so extream melancholy may we not ask you pursued she with a most charming Air whether it be not the effect of some Inclination This question and the freedom she had us'd towards him all that evening having made him suspect that all this was a trick that the Vice-Roy and she had before agreed to play him and that they had a minde to divert themselves at his expence he was upon the point of spoiling all but to shew he understood raillery Madam answered he smiling I have not been for a month together in such a Court as this is where there are so many fair Ladies capable of inspiring the most tender affection without feeling the Power of Love You love then says she Yes Madam I do replys the Count since it must be so how since it must be so says the Ladys are you forc'd to it against your inclination No Madam replys he but there are you know certain stars that incline our hearts which way they please saying this he laught and lookt on the Vice Queen with such grimarces and gestures which extremely puzzled her to comprehend the meaning of what he said to her and to make him explain himself may we not know says she who this beauty is to whom these amorous Influences have inclined your affections Madam answers he with a good assurance if you please to take the pains to consult your glass it will soon shew you that beauty I understand you not says she putting on a serious countenance and I believe being what I am I do you a favour in not being willing to understand you If I may pretend to any favour from you Madam replys the Count it is that you would understand me and be assured that you need not go out of this Closet to finde the object that has charm'd me in this Country You forget your respect Sir says she and now I see how far the little too much esteem I had for you has carry'd you But if you return not within the limits of your duty and forbear hereafter such discourses to me I shall be angry in earnest You are young pursues she seeing him struck mute and these are faults which may be excus'd in such as you if you have a designe to love added she learn where to addresse your self better and in a place where something may be hoped Alas Madam reply'd he my successe is so bad the first time that I should do well never to love more No no says she smiling you must not despair of good success You will finde others more sensible of your love then I am and if you will let me advise you I will tell you where you may direct your Languishing Court-ship and I dare engage you will be satisfied with the person I shall choose for you This adventure was pleasant enough for you see on the one side the Husband on the other the Wife endeavoured to bestow a Mistress on him But he to cross-bite 'em pretends to act the part of the Scrupulous Lover and to make a conscience of being constant to his first Affection and therefore immediately tells her he cannot promise that his heart will be able so soon to resolve upon a change
especially by a person of quality and deserving merit as Don Fernand was But Donna Angelica shewed so much discretion in her conversation with him that his Lady had nothing to ground a quarrel on But that discretion was wanting in him whose passion was raised to such a heighth that it was not in his power to restrain it The Vice-Roy's Lady who would no longer serve them towards the convenience of their interviews seeing that Donna Angelica abated nothing of her free and indifferent carriage he refus'd her the ordinary civility of entring into her Chamber where she us'd frequently to wait on her and which had serv'd the Vice-Roy as a pretence in his Visits to her Donna Angelica could not dissemble this affront the injustice of it being too great considering the freedome of her conversation wherewith she had hitherto treated Don Fernand and she was now resolv'd to be reveng'd and spare nothing whereby she could be able to make her jealous in good earnest It is something dangerous to provoke an Enemy when it lyes in his power to do us more mischief then yet he has done Donna Angelica had no sooner seen the Vice-Roy but assuming to her self a more serious countenance then ordinary Sir says she I know not what pleasure you can take in making dissention betwixt your Lady and me I Madam answered Don Fernand absolutely astonisht at the Reproach she made him yes you your self replys she you make her by some of your actions imagine that you love me and she by hers would confirm me in my belief of the same I did not think answered the Vice-Roy smiling that I could ever have been so much oblig'd to my Wives ill humour as that she should make a declaration of love for me but since it is so Madam I wish she may always continue it for I swear to you nothing is so true as what she would perswade you to And Madam I love you to such a degree as no man yet ever loved before me I perceive replys she that she is already extremely jealous but she shall be sufficiently punisht for it Yes Madam replyed the Vice-Roy if you would but love me a little Not so replied she although indeed any other would do it perhaps through revenge if not through inclination but added she laughing I desire not to push on my revenge so far This Discourse was interrupted by some Ladies who came to visit Donna Angelica and the Vice-Roy being oblig'd for that time to retire writ a Letter to the Lady the same day to this purpose Revenge your self Madam revenge your self of the Vice-Queen who has had the Curiosity to pry into the secrets of my heart she is perswaded that none can have so tender and ardent a passion as that I bear you that I think of none but you that I seek nothing but you and that I have no pleasure but when I see you and am so happy as to be in your company It seems she has penetrated into the most secret folding of my soul and you ought to be angry with her in earnest for since this offends you and it is to your resentment I must owe your kindenesse I would wish to see you so incens'd against her as may make me truly happy at least you cannot choose a fitter revenge all the mischief will fall upon her and we alone shall enjoy the pleasure Once more Madam let me beg of you to take your revenge for though there were no subject for it you will however but do an act of justice in bestowing a little love upon a man who is not altogether unwortby of some place in your heart being Don Fernand. This Letter was deliver'd to Donna Angelica which she read not without a smile but returned him no answer nevertheless the Vice-Roy from this time saw that his affairs were not attended with any extraordinary ill Circumstances The Vice-Queen perceived she had committed an errour and that by refusing Donna Angelica the priviledge of her Chamber she had given her treacherous husband a fair occasion to see her in private Her Jealousy dayly encreas'd she imagin'd a thousand times more then was indeed and she suffer'd more trouble in one poor moment by what she saw not then she had in many days by what she had seen she was forced to change her conduct and to feign a desire of renewing her friendship with a Woman whom she hated more then Death To how sad a point is a poor Lady reduced when she is so innocent as to trouble her self about the little follyes of her husband and dares not render him quid pro quo She would fain have had this satisfaction though a very affictive one of seeing what passed betwixt these two perfidious creatures and puting a check to their pleasure by her presence for she was from morning till night either with the one or the other The Vice-Roy was extreamly weary of her everlasting company He could have wisht with all his heart that she had continued her ill humour and quarrel to Donna Angelica Whatever he did she would make one if he walk't out she did so too if he went to pay a visit to Donna Angelica she followed him and would be the last there I leave it for your marry'd young Brisk Gallants to judge whether this was not damnable troublesome He knew not what to do Donna Angelica who loved him not to the expence of her Reputation would contribute nothing on her part to make him more happy for fear of giving the Vice-Queen an advantage over her who possibly waited but for an opportunity to ruine her So that being in despair with anger and vexation after having sought a thousand ways to rid himself of this trouble without meeting success in any he at last be thought himself of an expedient queint enough and such as few Spaniards would have thought on But the Ascendant of Love often carryes them above that of their Nation He believ'd that Women were not jealous of their Husbands but for want of something else to amuse them and that as one passion drives away another he should quickly put an end to the Vice-Queens jealousy if he could finde her out a man capable of making a tender impression of Love upon her He studyed a good while whom he should make choice of to do him so important a service without prejudice to his honour the affair was pretty nice and delicate but when a man loves to that degree that he loved and is fir'd with the thoughts of injoying those pleasures he was in search of he must passe by a great many such scrupulosities In fine having run over in his minde all the Gallants of his Court that were capable of inspiring Love into the breast of a young Lady he cast his eyes at last upon a young Neapolitan Lord something ally'd to him and for whom he had procur'd a Regiment of foot and who was newly arrived at Barcellona he was young full of
sprightly air for whom the Vice-Queen had already a particular esteem and he could not elect a Gentleman more fit for his design He found him one evening walking alone in the Park and having taken him with him he fell into the discourse of the Ladys of Barcellona and smiling askt him how he found himself whether he had hitherto preserv'd his liberty and if he were not engag'd in some Amour My liberty is entire answer'd the young Neapolitan How replys the Vice-Roy among so many fair Ladys in this City has no beauty had the power yet to reach your heart either you have a very Obdurate one pursues he or I must believe you have left a Mistress in Naples to whom you will not be unfaithfull Neither the one nor the other Sir replys the Collonel I was never amorous not that I am insensible of the passion but the business and art of Warr pleases me better then that of Love You are young says the Vice-Roy smiling And you ought not to have such Ideas for the one does not hinder the other you may make Love and yet very well discharge the duty of a Soldier Nay I will tell you more then that continues he there was never any great and perfect Warriour but who was made so by Love and so ingaging him further in that discourse he began to Number up I know not how many Great Captains who owed the most glorious Actions they ever performed to the inspirations of Love and he concluded at last that he must imitate their Example if he would not pass for a Barbarian Count Henry for so the young Neopolitan was called yielded himself to the Vice-Roy's arguments but more out of complaisance then through any inclination judging very well that it would not become a young Courtier as he was to dispute against a passion on which all the World knew the Vice-Roy was so violently bent I will court a Mistress then says he since you advise me to it Don Fernand demanded of him whether he would not be content to receive her from his hands at which proposition the Count began to laugh but made no answer Do you fear then pursued the Vice-Roy that I shall not serve you to your satisfaction I know how to acquit my self in such an affair but too well Seignior says he and for that very reason it will be dangerous to owe that obligation to you no no you need fear nothing says Don Fernand smiling it is true I have loved the Lady whom I would willingly bestow on you for a Mistresse but she is at present a trouble to me and I hate her allmost as much as ever I loved her What a fine present Sir says the Count interrupting him do you make me then will not the kindness you have for me inspire you with something more obliging then to charge me with a Woman you know not what to do with no Sir says Don Fernand and I may tell you withall the offer I make you deserves not to be refus'd and there are few men would have been so generous as I am in it If you please Sir replys the Count honour some other person with your liberality for I must return to what I have already to'd you that notwithstanding the examples of so many Heroes that have loved yet War pleases me better Lord Henry says the Vice-Roy the person I speak of is one of the greatest beautys in this Kingdom and in wit and ingenuity not inferiour to any I believe it Sir replys the Count but she is withall a Woman peevish conceited crosse spitefull Jealous imperious and possibly worse then all this You do not know says Don Fernand smiling upon him and folding his arms that it is my Wife you speak of Yours answers the Count blushing and thinking he had misunderstood him My Vice Queen replys Don Fernand whom I intend to bestow on you for a Mistresse consider whether she be so unworthy of you It is true Sir says the Count blushing more and more I have made some visits to your Lady the Vice-Queen but it has been with your permission and I thought I had not been so unhappy as to have caused any unjust suspicions in you by my conduct you mistake me answers the Vice-Roy I tell you that if you like my Wife it would please me extreamly to see her made sensible of your deserts and you will oblige me by endeavouring to make her so do I now speak plain If this raillery Seignior answers the Count is but to make a tryal of my respect I declare unto you I am so Religious an observer of my duty that setting aside the high obligations I have to you so great a Sacriledge would never enter into my thoughts The Vice-Roy thereupon walkt a while without making any answer and then turning suddenly towards the Count all this says he would be proper for another in another conjuncture but since I desire not this respect or duty from you can you do me any displeasure think you by serving me my own way I tell you again pursues he raising his voice a little higher you will oblige me extremely if you will make love to my Wife or at least endeavour to make her sensible of your love Count Henry more astonisht then ever at the strangenesse of the proposition knew not what to think nor what answer to make At which the Vice-Roy laughing I see says he this discourse surprises you and you have reason but I have mine too I love most passionately even more then ever and the greatest obstacle that opposes my love is my Wife and what would not a passionate lover do to remove such an obstacle She is jealous and troubles me continually with her importunities What remedy is there for me I have try'd a thousand ways in vain she hath counter turn'd all my inventions I am continually wearied with her endlesse complaints and reproaches She follows me where ever I goe and poisons with her presence all the pleasures of my life I have fancied that something which may amuse her would do me knight-service and much relieve me and that you are a man very proper to inspire love into her soul You are young handsome pleasant in your humour have abundance of wit and she has an esteem for you It is true she is proud and haughty but still she is a Woman as others are For my part knowing the sex so well I doubt so little of your successe that I must desire you to keep such moderation in it as I may hope from a relation and friend You are discreet and I confide in you you know well enough how far the service I desire of you ought to extend The Count after some opposition of accepting such an Employment either out of complaisance to the Vice-Roy or else because the Vice-Queen pleased him at length suffered himself to be overcome by the Vice-Roys perswasions which reacht so far as to let him understand that he would not
doubting but that they should be now more narrowly watched then ever so that the pleasure of seeing one another and of being together giving way to the danger that threatned them both they began to study which way the Count might get out of her apartment and not be discover'd There were in this closet some womens cloths and the Count being of no extraordinary stature Donna Angelica even ventur'd to dress him up in one of those and found they fitted him extraordinary well she had no sooner got them on but the Grand Master knocks at the door Donna Angelica though trembling with fear was forc'd to open it and her husband seeing the young Lady askt her whether that were one of the thieves the Vice-Roy would have him fear and so went out again not staying for an answer which happened very well to his Lady for I believe at that time she was in no extraordinary good condition to make him one sufficient to pass muster After such a deliverance we cannot think our two lovers would defer any longer taking their leaves of one another The Count having saluted his fair Mistress two or three times got out very happily and came safe home to his lodging The next morning he was no sooner out of his bed but he received this letter from the Vice-Queen For a young lover Count your passion is very cold what Is thiâ— the love you have promis'd me to let slip a whole day without seeing me Nay so much as without sending to inquire after my health I finde Sir I must even teach you your duty But that is a little too much however I have compassion on you You are young and it seems you know not yet what it is to be deeply in love But come to me for I have resolved to make you happier to day then you could reasonably expect Adieu I shall expect you at ten of the clock this morning fail not to come The Count went to see her and after some few Love quarrels for his so long absence for which he excus'd himself as well as he could they entred into a more particular conversation in which the Vice-Queen us'd all her charms to set him on fire Count Henry whose spirit was under no constraint as to this fair one spoke the most endearing and most gallant things to her in the world and such as possibly he could not have said had he been extraordinarily in love for Love though it suggests some times very good thoughts to us yet it does not inspire us with the boldnesse of speaking them The abused Vice-Queen in the mean time answer'd his obliging discourses in such a manner as discover'd how well she was satisfy'd one thing onely in this Gallant displeas'd her that having so much love for her as he pretended he had no more confidence but suffered all his passion to consist only in words Non voglion le donne inviti Violenze desian per iscusare Con l'altrui forza i loro appetitu She lookt upon the Count with eyes which drew him to her and as soon as he approacht she pusht him back now making one complaint and then another and in fine like a woman who sought an occasion to quarrel and at the same time was desirous to make peace though I leave it to the Reader to judge what war and what peace it was she desir'd she was in an undresse capable to inspire any soul with the most passionate tenderness for besides that the Spaniards have naturally something in them extreamly charming both art and love had mutually agreed to make her so and they had drest her in such a negligent manner that was able to poison the most obdurate hearts I know not what happen'd between them and I should be loath to speak it though I should know but this I know that besides the revenge to which the Vice-Queen was carried out she was not a woman that would be at all the charge of such a scene to no purpose A man of honour stands much upon his fidelity to his friend but no principles of honour could resist such powerfull charms Some days past in this manner during which the Count who for some reasons of politie did not visit Donna Angelica but made his court to the Vice-Queen to amuse the Vice-Roy But women are lesse discreet in Love then men especially when they love as this Lady did Donna Angelica had a dying impatience to see the Count and was angry at him that he did not rather expose himself to some danger then suffer her to languish as she did and though she had herself forbid him for some time to come to her yet she would have had him testifyed to her that his love was more powerfull then her prohibition and that he loved her to such an excess as made him uncapable of obeying her Besides these complaints which she thought she had reason to make of him she had her jealousy also which not a little tormented her she understood that he went every day to the Vice-Queen and though she had advis'd him to do so the better to conceal their love yet she was so vext at it that she could not pardon him insomuch that she writ him this letter upon that subject When you do not see me the least you can do is to see no body but you have need of consolation and it is in the arms of the Vice-Queen you finde it Ingratefull man what can you say to this will you yet say it is to amuse her What can you fear from her You are a traytour and you endeavour only to deceive all the world me you shall not I assure you Adieu What a cruelty was this to the poor Count into what a gulph of dispair did the perusal of this letter plunge him He thought to go and wait on her that very moment either to justify himself or die at her feet but lest his rashness might ruine them both he thought he could not use too much circumspection At length he bethought himself that as he had by the disguise of womans cloths got undiscover'd out of her apartment so the same disguise might be favourable to him and get him into it He was young handsome and well shaped his complexion was such as might become a young Lady and there was no danger that the Grand Master with whom he had no acquaintance and who had seen him but once or twice en passant should know him He goes then to a young Lady one of his intimate friends and desires her to furnish him with a suit of womens apparel that might fit him She brought him one help'd him on with it and it became him so extreamly well that nothing could appear more charming This done he takes the same Ladys Coach and being attended by one of her women that knew nothing of the Intrigue came to the Pallace He goes into Donna Angelica's apartment desires to see her and is admitted into her chamber under the
them and has made himself their Goaler What can the amazed Don Fernand imagine but that the Grand-Master has lost his wits or that they have given him a spell he went his way for he knew not how to deal with a man of this character and looking upon him with scorn he marched out of the chamber Don Gabriel waited on him The Vice-Roy told him he ought to have more care of his reputation the other laughed at the advice and answer'd him only in raillery In fine the Vice-Roy left him with the worst opinion one man could frame of another Those that were in the closet had not heard all this dialogue without a great deal of concern They had both been undone had the Vice-Roy perswaded Don Gabriel to open the door and they trembled when he came back to them The siege being rais'd at last says he to them this Vice-Roy would be a terrible man if he did not finde some others as cunning as himself He told them al the discourse they had had but with such mimicall gestures as forc'd them almost to burst with laughing notwithstanding the little inclination they had to it This Comedy had lasted much longer had not the Count observing the trouble Donna Angelica was in occasioned by the Vice-Roy resolved to retire But what gave them most trouble was that Don Gabriel would by all means wait on them and there was need of all their Rhetorick and address to divert him from it The fair Donna Brigitta made use of all the power she had over him promising him that whensoever she came to Town she would come and pass some time with them So that at length he yielded to let her go and she without any further impediment got to the Ladys lodging where she changed her cloathes and reassumed her former figure The next day Donna Angelica impatient to hear news of the feignd Brigitta sent a note which by misfortune fell into the hands of Don Fernand by means of one of his spys which he had plac'd at Count Henry's door to observe what passed to whom the messenger entrusted the note taking him for one of the Counts servants The Vice-Roy was reading it when he saw the Grand-Master coming to speak with him about some important business and beginning to laugh he ask'd him what news of his wives Gallant they said very pleasant things to each other both of them believing they had reason to be pleasant on that subject You are a man of good sence Seignior Don Gabriel said Don Fernand to him we are not responsible for the follies our wives commit and it is a madnesse to be disquieted at them or to make our reputation depend on them how many men are there of your humour and where are the husbands that are not subject to the like The Grand-Master who saw the Vice-Roy's raillery went a little to far I shall come to you Sir says he to comfort me in this case when I have need of it for you are prepar'd I see upon this subject but let me tell you it is no more true that there was a Gallant yesterday in the closet with my wife then that there were theives there the other day I agree with you in that answers the Vice-Roy that the one is as true as the other But Sir says Don Gabriel the closet is not so large I have eyes and I think I know you have eyes interrupted Don Fernand but I know too you will not make use of them I told you it was a domestick thief who sought neither your mony nor your other little Closet-knacks but it seems you care not since you are so good as to lock him in your self with your wife What! is that the thief answer'd the Grand-Master with a violent laughter which hindeâ—â—d him to pursue his discourse I wish added he a little after such thieves would come every day to my house and I promise you I will give them liberty to steal what they please But Sir to leave you no longer in your errour I will tell you the thief you speak of is one of the handsom'st women in the Kingdom A woman replys the Vice-Roy laughing as well as he and since when is Count Henry become a woman Count Henry says Don Gabriel I think I have seen him but he has not such lineaments though this were possible nor such a complexion nor such a fine neck nor I know added he I am not a man to be so deceived as to take a man for a woman yet says Don Fernand it was the Count who was yesterday in the closet with Donna Angelica â—nd the thief I mentioned the other day What the thief that I cudgeld replys Don Gabriel I speak not of the drubbs you gave a man the other night answers the Vice-Roy but what I have told you is very true Sir replys Don Gabriel if my wife had a design of making any gallantry she would not sure elect such a raw young Gallant as he is The youngest men are not the worst Gallants reply'd the Vice-Roy and youth is seldom displeasing in a way of gallantry nay more I assure you I know his voice too well to be deceiv'd We are more easily deceived replys the Grand-Master by our ears then our eyes I see very well And I too sayd Don Fernand and to convince you fully reade this Note which one of your wives Pages deliver'd this morning to a servant of mine whom he took without doubt for another Don Gabriel takes it and finds in it these words Are you not ashamed of your negligence you should have writ to me two hours since what say I two hours you ought not to have gone to bed without writing to me but I pardon you for Don Gabriels sake who loves you already almost as much as I. Love works every day great miracles but this is so extraordinary that I believe never any resembled it At least I can say that none but Donna Brigitta has found out the secret of reconciling two such contrary things in the world as is love and jealousy and make herself be equally loved by the husband and wife Adieu if you come not this day at least write to me This Note had no superscription and Don Gabriel having read it askt the Vice-Roy what he found in it that reflected upon his honour and how he knew it was addrest to a Gallant rather then to a Lady I think it is enough to clear that doubt answers Don Fernand that it was sent to Count Henry but for your sake added he laughing I will believe if you will have me that it was to Donna Brigitta whom the note mentions Well replys Don Gabriel rising to be gone if I have no other enemies to fear but the young Neapolitan I hold my self very secure on that side as to my Wife The Grand-Master having thus left the Vice-Roy came to his wives apartment and askt her whether she had writ any note that morning she who
received from him he had the priviledge to do what he pleas'd and they permitted him each for the others sake all the little liberty that he had a mind to take with them Some days past in this manner during which time the Vice-Roy's Lady and Donna Angelica gave themselves this diversion and where the Vice-Roy himself had no minde to be seen for fear of spoyling their mirth The happy Count enjoy'd alone these fair Ladies company and grew every day more familiar with them he was very handsome as to his figure and of so free and aiery a humour that it sparkled through all his actions and his company was very pleasant and delightfull to them But Don Fernand who besides the little advantage he had hitherto got by it began to fear that mischief might happen to his Mistresse which he intended only for his Wife grew weary of their divertisements and gave Donna Angelica notice that she would do him an extream kindness to forbear being seen there any more since she was unable further to contribute to that designe But she who by no means would permit the Vice-Roy to concern himself about the measures of her conduct and knowing from what motive his advice proceeded did but laugh at him and went immediately from dinner to the Vice-Queen's chamber where she was sure the Count would not fail to be What is it to me says she what the Vice-Roy desires I will not deny my self the satisfaction of seeing the Count. I never pass'd my time more pleasantly then since I was acquainted with him The Vice-Queen was of the same opinion they sought not so much now to please one another because possibly they both loved him and it may be already repented they had been so liberal and not endeavour'd to retain him each for her self But as both of them had a good opinion of their own power to charm him they flattered themselves with a conceit that they could retrieve him at their pleasure The Count being with the Vice-Roy's Lady and the time of going to take the air drawing on they propos'd to walk in the Garden when there came in some Ladies to wait upon the Vice-Queen and their visit growing somewhat tedious Donna Angelica whispers the Vice-Roy's Lady that she would stay for her in the Garden with the Count in the Arbor near the Labyrinth and so they took their leave of her and went both together This Lady did most extreamly long to know which of them had the greatest Empire o're the Counts affections though she did not much doubt but it was herself his eyes and all his ways of expressions as well as his mouth had sufficiently confirm'd her in this belief but to avoid the ordinary mistake of women who are willing to flatter themselves in this particular she was resolv'd to have from him a clear declaration of the truth and they were no sooner in the Arbour but beginning to laugh after a very charming manner for a Young Lover says she Count Henry you have made a great progress in a little time You are but newly arrived in this Court and you have got already such an esteem among all the Ladies that I should not very much flatter you in saying it is arrived even to the point of Love You are obliging Madam answer'd the Count but I should be too happy were the progresse I have made capable of reaching your heart My heart says she with a kinde of secret joy that appear'd in her eyes you have no thoughts of it you questionless take me for the Vice-Queen No Madam replys the Count I know to whom I speak and if either of us mistake it is you if you imagine my wishes and sighs are addressed to the Vice-Queen it is you Madam that are their fair object and they only aspire at your heart And seeing she answer'd nothing for possibly she was then at a stand what to say to him he made use of her obliging silence and having put one knee to the ground Madam says he most passionately taking one of her fair hands and giving it a thousand kisses I have a long while waited for an opportunity to swear to you by all that is most powerfull and tender in Love that not only I never had any other design then to love you but also that I never will Love any besides your self so long as I live As he was speaking in this manner the Vice-Roy who was by Accident then walking in an Alley that led to this Arbour saw him in this posture but at the distance he was from them he could not well discern whether it were his own Lady or Donna Angelica that he saw His reason would fain perswade him it must be the former but there were some motions of Jealousie that began to torment him having made him apprehend it might be the other he was resolved to be sure and therefore hastes towards them to know the truth Donna Angelica was the first that perceived him who hastily making the Count rise up from the ground what have you done Sir says she the Vice-Roy has seen you and I know not what he will think of it Madam answer'd the Count I know not whether you may have any cause to fear on his side but I am in despair for your sake although not in the least for my own It is upon your account I speak replies she and you know not possibly the interest he will take in it The Vice-Roy no sooner knew Douna Angelica but changing colour twice or thrice according to the different motions wherewith he was agitated his voice failing as if he had been stabbed to the heart Certainly Madam says he the Count has either receiv'd or does demand of you some extraordinary favour to be in that supplyant posture I saw him in at your feet One or the other says she being netled at his words may possibly be true but you may better be informed of it from him then me to which purpose I leave ye together The Vice-Roy would have stopt her but she desired him to let her go with such an air as Don Fernand durst no longer oppose her in it Never was Lover so dissatisfy'd as the Vice-Roy What he had already seen almost gave him his deaths-wound and for his comfort afterwards she fled from his sight He walkt about there without saying a word his minde being tortur'd with a thousand thoughts each more distracting then other and at last making a stop before the young Neopolitan who was also in as dumb a figure as himself by what I perceive says he to him without looking on him you are one of those who with great difficulty begin to love but when once they are set in none comes amiss to them A few days since you knew not what love meant now one Mistress is too little for you The Count which though young and unexperienc'd in these affairs yet had a peircing wit of his own readily apprehended by the trouble
he saw in the Vice-Roys countenance as well as by what he had heard him say to Donna Angelica that it was she he was so deeply in love withall and that it was his jealousy only which had made him speak in that manner so that to repair the ill effect of this last adventure he told him that he was utterly ignorant of the ground of this reproach which he made him and that if he were in love it was with the Vice-Queen and that too in pure obedience to him and that he had not thrown himself at the feet of Donna Angelica but to render her his acknowledgments for the many good offices she had done him as to his Lady This reason though plausible enough of it self did not work a perfect cure upon the minde of the jealous Don Fernand but however he was somewhat appeased by it You Italians says he as a small matter obliges you so you carry your acknowledgements to such an excess that one would imagine you had received very high favours and that no less then a perfect surrender of all was made to you when indeed very little or nothing is done for you It was I continued he that desired Donna Angelica to serve you in your love to my Wife and it is to me only you are to owe the Obligation And to leave you nothing more to guess of this business but to repose an absolute confidence in you It is Donna Angelica whom I love and therefore that you might not be any longer deceiv'd and that in leaving the Vice-Queen to your dividend let me desire you that you would forget to cast your eyes on the other and to avoid even being seen in her company at least in private If I were in your place I know which of the two would please me best and I must confess there is no woman I could love better then my wife were she anothers but she is mine and that title is sufficient to give all husbands a disgust who are of my humour and constitution Do not think this to be any caprice most marry'd men are of this temper and I know also good store of wives indeavour to imitate them and so to repay them in the same Coyn. As he was discoursing after this manner the Vice-Queen who as soon as she could had got rid of her visitants came hastily into the Garden with a resolution caus'd partly by curiosity partly by Jealousy to overhear Donna Angelica's discourse with the Count and passing through the Labyrinth that she might not be seen she came to the place time enough to over-hear some part of the morall discourse her honest husband held with the Count she listned with a great deal of patience even with that which exceeded other women and she heard the Connt make her husband this answer Sir the Vice Queen is certainly one of the most beautifull persons under heaven and a man must be then as you say her husband not to love her but likewise you ought not to fear that a man who is not her husband and to whom you have given the liberty of loving her should not make his advantage of that blessing and should ever dream of engaging himself elsewhere as for my part I will stand firm as a Rock to this inclination as long as you shall think good to permit me This Resolution of the Count 's did a little comfort the Vice-Queen for her husbands contempt who heartily endeavour'd to perswade the young Gallant that he could not make a better choice then that of his Wife nor finde a more Agreeable husband then himself provided he came not to one particular point which he kept for a reserve leaving him all the rest They parted thus from the Arbour and being come to the Palace together the Vice-Roy took his leave to go to Donna Angelica with whom he was to make his peace before he went to bed if he meant to sleep quietly that night As for the Vice Queen she was walking still in the Garden making divers reflexions upon what she had heard What a vexation was it for a person of so many killing charms as she abounded with to think of the rare Dialogue wherein her husband with his usuall eloquence had set forth the esteem and love he had for her Women of what condition or quality soever can never pardon such kinde of slights especially those that are handsome She call'd him by the most injurious names she could invent Is it possible says she that I can be so little valu'd and that a man for whom I have given my self a thousand torments and whom I have loved hitherto even to the contempt of a thousand that deserv'd it better should himself labour for his own dishonour Oh Heavens pursues she this indifference of his or rather this insupportable injury he does me cannot sufficiently be punished I ought to content a husband that is of this humour I have yet the same charms and winning looks as I had wherewith I might allure a thousand lovers to me without giving him the trouble of seeking them for me he shall not have cause to complain on that score I will see how far his patience will extend and I am a fool my self if I make not Him the greatest of all mankinde Let me begin with this young Neapolitan I perceive I am not indifferent to him and since he is a Gallant I receive from my husbands hands let me entertain him so kindely as that he may have no cause to be dissatisfyed He will lose more by it then my self With these thoughts she bore her self company to her Chamber and entertain'd her self with them the greatest part of the night during which she confirm'd her self in the resolution she had taken of seconding her disloyal husband's good intentions When a virtuous woman has taken the pains to convince her self is fully perswaded through the motives of Revenge and honour that the sin is excusable neither virtue nor honour is of strength sufficient to oppose her The Count was extreamly out of humour that he had met with so unlucky an encounter with the Vice-Roy's Mistress He fore-saw the consequences of it and he was not a little troubled at the Resolution he had taken To think no longer to love Donna Angelica was nonsense because already he was so far engag'd and to continue it was absolutely to ruine himself What in the world to do he knew not as the case then stood if he had been able to believe his interest in this fair one so powerfull as to perswade her to agree with him in deceiving the Vice-Roy they might then keep their love secret but he durst not flatter himself so far as to that point he had a desire notwithstanding to satisfy himself in this particular if he could finde ever an opportunity for it without plunging the Vice-Roy into new suspicions Whilst he was labouring under this inquietude he saw him come into his Chamber The Count
altogether surpriz'd at this visit presently judg'd that some great important business had brought him thither The Vice-Roy observing in his Countenance the trouble that lay upon him to put him out of his pain after he had familiarly seated himself on the bed side where the Count was laid you see says he smiling what it is to be in love by my being up so early when you are as fast taken in the Amorous lime-twigs as my self you will then sleep as little as I do and passing from this little preamble to the occasion of his visit he told him that Donna Angelica was mightily incens'd against him even almost to the last extremity for what he had sayd the evening before in the Garden You know pursues he whether I testified any kind of regret or jealousy when I found you alone with her though possibly I might have had very good ground for both But however she has past a thousand severe censures upon that action You must go wait upon her this morning and if she puts you upon that Chapter endeavour what you can to disabuse her but above all be sure to take no Notice that I have spoke to you or that I have in the least made you my confident of my passion for her If she speaks to you of the Vice Queen let her understand that all your inclinations are bent that way for her It is the ordinary frailty of Womenkind to flatter themselves that they are extreamly admired by the men and you having seen them both together she perhaps may think you have made a dividend of your heart betwixt them but let her understand your inclinations let her see your heart is incapable of adoring any more then one Divinity and that having made choice of the Vice-Queen you have given up your self absolutely to be subject to her Empire After these and a great many other good Remonstrances the Vice Roy went his way and the Count having drest himself to the most advantage he could directed his way to the Palace and found Donna Angelica bright as the day setting before her toilet she blusht when she saw him possibly at the remembrance of the last words he had spoke to her and having made him sit down they both remain'd silent perplext I am apt to believe with the multitude of their thoughts rather then want of matter for a discourse But Donna Angelica unwilling any longer to insult upon the young Lovers disorder took pitty on him thereby to retrive his courage I thought says she you came here to ask my pardon for the boldness you took yesterday in the Evening but by what I perceive you have forgot it already It is true Madam answers he sighing I am criminal enough to beg your pardon since I have been so unhappy as to displease you but I must confess to you though I were to expiate my fault with the laying down of my life at your feet I know not whether I could ever repent of what I sayd to you and if it be a crime to love you I am in danger of being all my life the greatest criminal in the world You do not fear then replys she to offend me Alas Madam says he sighing I dread your least displeasure but love is a God more to be fear'd then you It is high time to explain my self and I am so wretched as not to please you let me then at least understand my misfortune Well Sir says she will you be satisfy'd if I tell you that such a man as you never sigh'd in vain she could not bring forth these words without blushing but they so strangely possest our young lover with a joyous transport that flinging himself at her knees he embrac'd them a thousand times She made him rise and told him smiling he should have a care the Vice-Roy did not finde him again in that posture whom he was to look upon as his most dangerous enemy I know it Madam says he in a tone wherein there was lesse assurance and that he is already too well established in your heart ever for me to hope to displace him it is not on that point replys she you ought to fear him but it is because he will have a watch over your actions and if we are not wonderfully circumspect his jealousy will bring a great deal of trouble to us both Then the Count acquainted her with the visit he had received from him that morning and the discourse they had held and that it was by his Order he had made her this visit and in fine each of them passing from these confidences they intrusted one another with their deepest reserves The Count acquainted her with what had pass'd between him and the Vice-Roys Lady and Donna Angelica to requite him conceal'd nothing that had pass'd between the Vice-Roy and her self Thus having diverted themselves they took their measures how to deceive both the Vice Roy and his Lady After which having made a very fair progress in so early an Amour they parted infinitely satisfied with each other The Vice Queen who used every morning to receive a visit from her dear Gallant waited for him with more impatience then ever and began to be quite and clean out with him for tarrying so long from her as if he could have divined the favourable dispositions of her heart towards him that day She could stay no longer but immediately after dinner she went to visit Donna Angelica to hear what was become of him she was told he had pass'd part of the morning in her chamber which news together with some other melancholly thoughts put her clearly out of all good humour for the rest of that day The Count came not to her till about the Evening and found her in her chamber very much indispos'd and full of thoughtfulness No doubt she was thinking at that time of him And she receiv'd him with such an indifference as gave him plainly to understand she had a quarrel with him and he was not long ere he knew what it was for after he had used some importunities to beseech her to disclose she reproach'd him with a thousand things many of which he was not guilty of and which ended all in the visit he had made that day to Donna Angelica upon which she made a long and smart descant The Count answer'd her that if he should be in love with that Lady he pay'd but the duty of an obedience to her in it You are a Traytour replys she you have obey'd me without repugnance and it appears but too plain that I councell'd you nothing but what was agreable before to your inclinations and that in refusing your heart I only hindred you from becoming perfidious to me You have yet so much power Madam answer'd the Count over this heart that if you please but to recall the gift you have made of it it will easily return an absolute Captive to you To speak to her in this manner was indeed to