the least spark of kindness in your Eyes Tell me I beseech you is it enough for a Lover that they be sparkling without kindness or do you think they have acquitted themselves of their duty when they have dazled a poor Creature I must see Love in them or renounce their Empire and when mine declare I love more than ever I expect yours should make answer And I 'le assure you there 's no Love lost If that be all replied the Ambassadress rather than the Duke shall want his Lesson I 'le look upon you as you please Do I look well now continued she fixing her Eye upon him with as much tenderness as she could Ha! I know you dear Eyes said the Sultan I see now you are disposed to hear me and then he ran out into a thousand amorous expressions but the Duke of Mantua who took no recreation in that kind of divertisement interrupted him by departing hastily out of room Jacaya observed his Physiognomy so changed he was afraid he had been ill and desired the Ambassadress she would permit him to follow him which he did but could not overtake him till he came to his Lodgings The Prince of Turkie desired to know what it was obliged him to retire so abruptly and assured him the Ambassadress was very unquiet till she could be satisfied of his health The Duke being brim full of passion answered not the Sultans Complement but looking fiercely upon him with his Eyes in which grief and rage were both livelily delineated Actum est it is decreed cryed he I love her my Love hath not been thus long constrained but to break out with the greatest violence and I will perish a thousand times before I will endure my Rival shall be beloved Jacaya thought him in a Phrensie and taking him by the Arm to feel his Pulse What do you talk of a Mistress and a Rival you are in a burning Feaver do you remember who it is that speaks to you Yes Prince replied the Duke with somewhat more moderation I know you too well you are the Ambassadresses Darling but you must resolve to take away my life or renounce those addresses Why Sir said the Sultan in a great surprise do you love the Ambassadress To say I love her replied the Duke is too mean I admire I adore her and either you must resign or one of us must dye Jacaya confounded at this Alarm as may well be imagined fell down upon the Chair that was next him and leaning his Elbow upon the Table fell into a contemplation of his Destiny He loved the Ambassadress entirely and though his passion was begun in sport and continued in a Frolick yet at the bottom he was most absolutely serious He was of an amorous Complexion much subject to Love and in that respect it was no easie matter for him to renounce it on the other side he had been infinitely obliged to the friendship of the Duke he had protected him against the Conspiracies of the Strozzi he had given him all necessary supplies and he had never been admitted in France but by his means Love Ha cruel Love cryed he with a sigh will you be always mine Enemy Alas Sir said he addressing himself to the Duke I foresaw the misery is befallen me and had you left me in that liberty I desired I had never pulled it down upon me Had you no other way of breaking with me than by making me your Rival I suppose my friendship hath tryed you and I do not admire it the unfortunate are often tedious to their friends but had it not been enough to let me have known so without adding the consequences of an infructuous passion Do not call me to an account said the Duke for what I have done I knew nothing of it my self and would have sworn I should never have been in Love with the Ambassadress The very moment before I knew she had a kindness for you my Love began to declare by the approaches of my Jealousie the news of your being in Love set me also on fire and that fire having been a long time deprest secretly in my heart that part of it which appears but its beginning is indeed the utmost extremity It is not that I am weary of your friendship and I offer you mine as pure as you have found it But dear Sultan shew me your compassion by your compliance Ladies are unconstant and perhaps you will do that of your self one day either out of weariness or revenge that I conjure you to do now in kindness to me The Turkish Prince could not relish that Proposition all that his obligations and Policy could get from him was only a promise to endeavour to master himself In order to which he absented himself for some time and pretending a Curiosity to see the Kings Houses and other Palaces about Paris he had several Entertainments with several Lords of the Court. Whether in some of those Entertainments the Duke of Mantua laid any design for him or whether the consideration of his misfortune in his Love exstimulated him to retire into some unknown part of the World where that passion was a stranger is not known but certain it is he disappeared in an instant and could never afterwards be heard on The Duke of Mantua was not much happier for the Ambassadour dying in France and his Lady returning into Savoy the Dukes Affairs called him into Italy and gave him no leisure to abandon himself to the desires of his passion A TABLE of all the Histories contained in these Eight Parts THe Countess of Castile page 1 The Pilgrim page 4 Alfreda of England page 14 Don Garcias of Spain page 30 The Duke and Dutchess of Modena page 37 The three Princesses of Castile page 53 Constance the fair Nun. page 81 James King of Arragon page 106 The Fraticelles page 113 Dulcinus King of Lombardy page 156 Nogaret and Mariana page 163 Don Pedro King of Castile page 185 John Paleogolus Emperour of Greece page 205 Amedy Duke of Savoy page 223 Agnes de Castro page 251 The Countess of Pontieuvre page 262 Feliciane page 286 Jane supposed of Castile page 310 The Persian Princes page 325 Don Sebastian King of Portugal page 355 Jacaya a Turkish Prince page 380 FINIS A Catalogue of Books Printed for John Starkey Booker-seller at the Mitre in Fleetstreet near Temple-Bar Divinity Folio's THirty six Sermons preached by the Right Reverend Father in God Robert Sanderson late Lord Bishop of Lincoln the fifth Edition corrected price bound 18 s. 2. The Jesuits Morals collected by a Doctor of the Colledge of Sorbon in Paris who hath faithfully extracted them out of the Jesuits own Books which are Printed by the permission and approbation of the Superiors of their Society Written in French and exactly translated into English price bound 10 s. Quarto 3. Tetrachordon Expositions upon the four chief places in Scripture which treat of Marriage or nullities in Marriage Wherein the Doctrine and
Countess I have always been told we must conform to her humour and Capricio if we would live quietly without agitation and therefore Sir as she hath hitherto given me to understand I am born for the Castles of the Count de la Moriene and not for Thonnon I must confess to your Higness one of my greatest Requests to her is that I may obtain a sudden dismission and return to my old Deserts again But Madam replied the Prince if this Fortune you speak of should cause you to change your Deserts for the Court would you appeal from her Decrees and notwithstanding your inclination and promptitude to live with the Count could you not be as happy with the Duke of Savoy I never Sir create Chimeras to my self replied the Countess I am ordained to live with the Count de la Moriene and not to such Honour as your Highness proposes suffer me I beseech you to bound my desires with my power You know not your self how far your power extends Madam replied the Duke I know the effects of it much better than you and if your desires be accordingly you shall have as much felicity in having captivated the Duke of Savoy to your Charms as you had power to do it You do but sport your self Sir with my misfortunes replied the Countess and add your mirth to the calamity of my Husbands imprisonment If Madam replied the Prince you believe not what I say I must give you a Witness and then calling the Marquess of Savona to him who was about four paces off so mad and transported with Jealousie he was a hundred times ready to run in and interrupt them He commanded him to tell the Countess what he knew of his affection for her If it was not true that he loved her at first sight that ever since it hath daily increased and that now it was at that height there was nothing in his power but she might promise her self from its violence It was a hard task for Savona to assure his Mistress of the Love of his Rival He did all that was possible to have evaded it he told the Duke there was no need of further evidence where he had affirmed for his own assertion was above all other Authority No no replied the Prince 't is not an Elogy I desire at your hands tell me sincerely without these Prologues what you know of my Love His Command was so positive and uncapable of delay he was forced to speak and tell whatever the Duke pleased the Couness should know This Discourse was made with so much constraint the Marquess is to be excused in whatever he said but the Countess taking it in dudgeon reproacht him by his Compliance in most biting and acrimonious terms You ought said she to him Ironically your self have delivered me up to the desires of the Duke there wanted nothing but that excess of obedience for you to have discharged your self honourably you were the first who brought me the News of Amedy's Love your perpetual suspicions assure me of its perseverance and that he might be sure not to be ignorant that you had told me you confirm in his presence what you told me in private Compleat all good Marquess of Savona and go and tell him the ways you took to surprise me your self you owe that confidence to the benefits of so incomparable a Master The Marquess alledged several Arguments in his defence but he could not prevail with her to admit them As one is always innocent whilst he pleases so when he begins to displease he is always to blame The Countess had taken up a fancy that the Marquess was culpable and to perfect the ruine of his affairs Amedy having Intelligence that the Emperour Sigismond was at Lyons sent the Marquess of Savona thither to make his Complements from him The Duke was obliged to him for the Erection of Savoy into a Dutchy which carried the Title only of a County till the said Emperours Journey into France in the year 1416. and could not do less than testifie his acknowledgments by that Embassie and this Commission being one of the most honourable in Amedy's donation he cast his eyes upon his Favourite as the most proper Person to receive it At another time he would have accepted it with thanks but then he lookt upon it as the fatal period of his Amours He would fain have exprest his apprehensions to the Countess and have conjured her to have opposed them but she cut him short still with this Have you not promised the Duke said she smiling to come and tell me from him that he is resolved to take the advantage of your absence and that it is upon that design you are sent away I remember when first you told me of his Love you did it with some pretences of fear and I expect to see you called in for a Witness at your return of all you are pleased to communicate so slyly at your departure Ha! Madam cryed the Marquess of Savona you know at your heart with what design I declared the Duke of Savoys Love to you at first and with what design I now desire you to be cautious of its progress I know no more replied the Countess but that very imprudently you told me Amedy was in Love with me that since you have confirmed it before his face and that now you prognosticate your destruction If I may judge of your Prophesie by what is past this pretended destruction is concluded already betwixt the Duke and you and you do but prepare me as to an infallible thing A Farewel with so little kindness ought not to leave the heart of the Countess so well fortified as to resist the Attaques of the Duke of Savoy and therefore she suffered her self to be vanquisht without any considerable resistance the talk of the World was her greatest discouragement and the Duke wanting neither Examples nor Expedients to dissipate that scruple the Marquess found the Treaty very far advanced at his return The Duke according to his custom did him the honour to communicate even this Intrigue with him he told him the Countess hath conjured me to say nothing of it to you and whether she fancies you severe as to the deportment of your Kindred or whether being oftner exposed to your sight than other people she is unwilling to put her self upon a hazard of blushing every time she sees you but she seems to be more apprehensive of you than of all the rest of the Court But my dear Savona you are much better known to me than to the Countess and I should rob you of a greater pleasure I am sure if I should suffer you to be ignorant that in three or four days time my desires will be perfectly satisfied The Marquess was so discomposed at this discourse it had like to have betrayed him Do you say Sir replied he that within three or four days you shall enjoy the Countess de la Moriene Yes said the Duke
barricadoed himself in the Inn resolved to perish before he would surrender The persons sent after him having express Orders to bring him dead or alive never stood upon Complements they prest him so close there was no possibility of escaping and those who are far gone in Stoicism being not far from Barbarity the Count took up a resolution suitable to the fierceness of his own Nature and his hatred for Amedy He killed the fair Countess and stab'd himself when he had done Let the Reader imagine if he pleases the transport the Duke was in at this horrible News He said and he did things very inconsistent with his Dignity but that which gave the highest tincture to his despair was to understand that it was his dear Favourite the Marquess of Savona had given him this bob The Count reproaching the Countess by the way had let fall some words which assured her of the truth which words she had writ down in her Table-book found in her Pocket after she was dead with design to send them by the first opportunity to the Duke The Prince finding himself betrayed to satisfie his Revenge used all the means a just indignation and an absolute power could invent He caused the Marquess to be stab'd he confiscated the Count de la Morienes Estate and annext it to his demeasness and not being able ever after to be reconciled to the World he resigned the Government into the hands of his Son Charles whom he married to the Princess of Cyprus and retiring to his solitude of Ripaille he remained there till he was made Anti-Pope During this recess he composed his Memoires out of which we have taken this Relation The general History says only this that Amady retired upon some secret discontent but gives no account of particulars Our Annals of Love supply that defect as they have done several other and could have carried their disquisition much further if they might have been permitted An Anti-pope of the Dukes humour is very proper to furnish us with Rarities but the Italian Proverb tells us Al negocio del Cielo Se bastava gli Angeli Let Angels sing the things above They are too high for Tales of Love We are in an humour of speaking of the strange Effects of Love Agnes de Castro and must satisfie the Capricio of our Genius Don Pedro Prince of Portugal Son to Don Alphonso was almost contemporary with Amedy the King his Father had a second Wife who governed him absolutely The Prince obtained no favour from the King but what he ought to his Complacence for the Queen and as the highest excess of her Tyranny she would constrain him to marry a Daughter of hers called Leonora which she had had by her first Husband James of Arragon The Lady was handsom and had not Don Pedro been under a necessity of loving her it is possible he would have loved her well enough but Love is hardly to be obtruded upon a generous Soul Don Pedro's natural inclinations were great his Courage-high he could not truckle to the Orders of the Queen and the more eager she was to force his affection for the Princess he was the more obstinate and averse He had a Nurse widow to the Marquess de Castro who had an influence upon him In all the Countries on that side the Mountains the Nurses are chosen as chosen as much by their Extraction as any other Qualification whatever They have an opinion that the inclinations of ordinary Women are transfused with their milk and I am not certain whether it be altogether irrational The Queen accumultated her Caresses and Presents upon this Lady and conjured her to imploy the utmost of her interest to dispose the young Prince to what she desired but who is it but knows how much Fortune delights to defeat the designs of humane Prudence The way the Queen proposed to make her project successful proved the greatest and most effectual obstruction This Marquesses Lady had a Daughter named Agnes a sprightly and handsom young Lady The Prince had seen her without any Concernment whilst he had viewed her en passant but the Commission her Mother had received from the Queen giving him more frequent occasions of entertaining her the Prince became enamour'd at last What he had suckt from the breast of her Mother fermented in his heart in favour to the Daughter and the Love which was produced from so natural a Sympathy was violent from its very beginning The Prince was not able to suffer without declaring it The Terms in which he did it were not displeasing to the young Castro and being a handsom man in his person it cost him no great trouble to insinuate into her affection the greatest discouragement she had was their uncertainty of her Mother She was a Woman entirely devoted to the Interest of the Royal Family she would not see her own Daughter advanced to the Throne at the expence of the least difference betwixt the King and his Son and being not of a Temper to be easily deluded Agnes was perswaded she would not endure the passion of the Prince She represented her Judgment to him and though of her self she could have heard them eternally yet she conjured him for those reasons to give over that discourse But those kind of Conjurations are always in vain a Lover is never so furious as where reasons are introduced to perswade him to the contrary The Princes passion was augmented by this difficulty but to accommodate with the prudence of Anges which he could not deny to be upon very good grounds he resolved to counterfeit an affection for the Princess of Arragon but with this contrivance that whatever he should be forced to say to Leonora should be received by Agnes as intended to her and the progresses he made upon the heart of the one should be constantly placed upon the account of the other This resolution being taken and the Conditions agreed Don Pedro pretended to comply with his Nurses advice The King and the Queen overjoy'd with this change advanced the whole Family of the Marchioness and made a thousand Presents to Agnes It was a rare thing and very much to the Reputation of Love of Lovers of that Age to delude the Dagacity of two wise and interested Women and a King accomplished in all the Mysteries of Government but that which was most pleasant of all was the blindness of the Princess of Arragon who knowing her self handsom enough to be beloved and receiving the same-expressions which the Prince if he durst would have made to the young Castro made many acknowledgments to her Rival for her assistance without suspecting the least One night when in the presence of Agnes the Prince beg'd a kiss of Leonora so earnestly he was in a fair way to have prevailed Not so fast Madam if you pleased cryed the young Castro you do not consider what you are about to do there are more persons concerned in your conduct than perhaps you
and had continued with her to the very hour in which the Marquess saw her come in For knowing the Jealousie of her Master she thought it not best to come home till she believed he was in bed lest she should be troubled with the impertinent questions he used to all people that had been abroad She had desired the Porter to open the Gate when she gave him the signal as he did and it was she the Marquess had seen enter both into the Court and the Gallery belonging to his Daughters Chamber The cunning old Fox being assured the Turkish Prince was not to be found where he was sought for she laid about her and gave the Marquess all the reproaches she could have given him had she been really innocent She caused the Porter to be called to testifie it was she that came in she would needs have him send to the sick person where she had been visiting to satisfie himself whether she was not newly come from thence and pursuing her confidence so far as to press him to send to Jacaya he did and having found him in bed she put the poor Marquess into such a confusion as he was never in before in his life This story made a great noise in the Duke of Tuscany's Court some Ladies who emulated Angelica's Beauty and perhaps had their private designs upon the affections of Jacaya began to talk of it at their pleasure Jacaya protested it was only the old Marquesses fancy and that he had never had any familiarity with his Daughter But the good man to justifie his senses and demonstrate that his age had as yet done him no prejudice in his judgment gave a relation to all people of what he heard in the Pratolin and pretended he had done the part of a wise man when he had discovered upon what grounds he had done as he did By this means was Angelica become the whole discourse of the Court and though she was really innocent her self yet she served for an eminent Example that in matters of Reputation appearances are sometimes as dangerous as real transgression The Family of the Strozzi was very considerable in Italy the Relations of Angelica were sensible of the injury the Turkish Prince had done her and Jacaya's ambition not suffering him to apply such publick remedy as would have been required the Counsel of the Grand Duke after great division and debate concluded at last that the poor Prince should be put to seek his protection from the Pope But the malice of the Strozzi not regarding the Holiness of his Protector they laid so many secret practices against his life that they forced him out of Italy and obliged him to pass into France with the Duke of Nevers newly come to the Dukedom of Mantua whose Subjects refused to admit him into his State The Court of France was at that time the most splendid in the World The Marriage of of the young Lewis XIII with the Infanta of Spain supplied new matter to the Magnificence of the Queen Mother Mary de Medicis and that time was so eminent for fair Ladies that never was there so many Beauties together in one Court as in his Reign The Duke of Mantua having brought the Turkish Prince into France he would needs be his Patron amongst them He proposed to him to accompany him in his Visits to the most beautiful and most eminent in Dignities but the Prince stopping him at the first words of his Proposition I beseech your Highness said he to the Duke suffer me to forget there any such Creatures in the World I see the Ladies of this Court are transcendently handsom but it satisfies me to look upon them at Court as so many pieces of good Painting I will never pursue them to their own Houses if you will please to dispense How said the Duke not see them can you think to be in a Court so illustrious as this and never visit the Ladies Ha! my dear Prince Paris is not Constantinople you must visit them here or be exposed to whatever their scorn or indignation can inflict and you cannot imagine how dangerous the displeasure of that Sex is for a person of your Age and Extraction You may play the Turk in your own Country but in France you must imitate the French I ought not any where to be lookt upon as a Turk replied Jacaya a little angry I came so young out of that Country I have retained nothing of their Customs My first years I spent in Greece where they live with liberty enough the Court of Poland is none of the strictest and if one may believe the imaginations of the Marquess de Strozzi continued he smiling I of all the World have little reason to complain of the severity of Italy But Sir I desire to be excused from any Amours in this Kingdom and to preserve my self from the dangers which I have many times incurred I tell you once again I have no inclination to visit any of your Ladies I am too much your friend replied the Duke not to root out that obstinate fancy you will pass for some pitiful Creature if you do not visit the Ladies And for the dangers you speak of they are not so great as you apprehend the multitude of Beauties obstructing the choice one can scarce give his heart to one but the next fetches it again That uncertainty preserves many souls from the torture of Love and if it so happens one should be caught a French Ladies Gallant runs no harder Risques than an ordinary Lover And then not staying for the Princes answer he pulled him along with him by force to two or three Ladies of his Acquaintance and among the rest the Duke of Savoys Ambassadours Wife which was a very pleasant Person and spoke Italian excellently well But whatever these Ladies could do to signalize their Entertainment of Jacaya they could not get the least obliging Syllable from him He fixt his Eyes upon the ground like a Novice of two days old and answered with nothing but monosyllables The Dukes friends laught at him next day for bringing such a Spark into France He found them altogether in the Ambassadresses House where they were at play till it was time to walk What Innocent is that you have got cryed they to the Duke as soon as they perceived him he is afraid to speak one word and to look a Woman in the face is as much as his life is worth what do you with that poor Creature or to what use do you design him Ha! Ladies replied the Duke he is nothing less than what you take him for He hath been told the French Ladies are much used to play upon Strangers and not knowing the French Tongue very well nor being yet acquainted with the Intrigues of the Court he is afraid to expose his discretion till he be informed better in both But such as you see him if you could fasten him to your Chariot I question whether you ever triumpht with
duty as a desertion of his Mistress he left the new Queen to shift for her self and returned to his Padilla for consolation When Nugnez understood the King had given Order for his Equipage to march back towards Burgos he thought he had been misinformed replied immediately to his Majesty and finding him ready to take Horse Why Sir said he in great astonishment will you quit our new Queen before you see her Consider I beseech you you are but a days Journey from her I know not replied Don Pedro whether that be enough for her but I am sure 't is too much for me Is it Sir replied the Grand Master that you have not found her as you had reason to have hoped or that ill instructed in the obedience she owes you she hath No Nugnez replied Don Pedro interrupting him 't is nothing of all that 't is only this Don Pedro of Castile is not born for Blanche de Bourbon Those who contrived this Meeting knew neither of us both and tob e short she may return to France as she came if her design be to be Queen of Castile for she is nothing to me now and never will be more The faithful Nugnez discomposed exceedingly with this resolution did what he could to make Don Pedro consider of what importance it might be he represented the Power of the Duke of Bourbon by the accession of the Family of Valois to the Crown of France the general interest of all Princes to vindicate an Affront to a Princess so nearly related to the most Puissant of all the Christian Kings the dissatisfaction of the Apoll stolick See the murmures of the people and the injury he would do to his own Honour and Renown but all these remonstances were in vain Don Pedro departed without vouchsafing the Grand Master an Answer leaving him to repent at leisure what-ever e had recommended Padilla to be Mistress to the King This faithful Favourite beholding at one Prospect the evils which this action would bring upon Castile resolved as much as he could to divert it by cajolling the new Queen He prepared an eloquent Discourse to excuse her Entertainment and after he had perused it and was well satisfied with the Contents he desired Audience of Blanche and endeavoured what he could to justifie Don Pedro He pretended indisposition of body and some imaginary Affairs of State to apologize for his departure but there was no need he should trouble himself so far Blanche was a Princess but of small Experience in the World she had been brought up in a Monastery where they make a scruple of opening their very Eyes and she believed it was sufficient to have been married by Don Pedro's Ambassadours to make her Queen of Castile When Nugnez perceived this Errour he was very much surprised The King had given him to understand the Marriage was not consummate he attended to see the Princess mortally dissatisfied with her mistaken and upon this point it was his Harangue was principally to insist but whatever he could say to explain himself and what address soever he used to eradicate that opinion out of Blanche reserving the respect he ought to her Person he found her invincibly perswaded she was Don Pedro's Wife already and she blusht when she said it as much as another Woman would have blusht at a far greater Crime So profound an ignorance is rare in a Person of her Age Nugnez could not contemplate it without astonishment and adding pity to his wonder by degrees both the one and the other produced sparkles of Love which brake out at length into a most pernicious flame Blanche was young and of an excellent humour and to be handsom she wanted nothing but a desireto please insomuch as our Grand Master fell in Love at a time when it was least suspected and with the Person in the World he had the least design upon In brief his fidelity to his Master seemedto have shut up all the avenues of his heart against so criminal a passion never was Subject more zealous for his Prince and he had given a thousand instances of his affection But what is it that Love cannot do nugnez found Charms in the Innocence of Blanche which Don Pedro lookt upon as faults he took no pleasurebut in the Company of the Princess and the pretence of perswading his Majestyto his duty giving him opportunity of frequent and long Conferences with the King his passion increasedso fast by occasion of those Enterviews he had scarce power to dissemble it Had he consulted his own heart about the successof his Negotiation he would have done what he could possibly to have caused it to miscarry Which way soever he lookt upon the Kings aversion for Blanche it could not be but advantagious to nugnez First it threatned Castile with a dangerous War and the Grand Master being chief Minister that Menace must needs be grateful to him Moreover it furnisht the Courtiers with an opportunity of flattery of which a Favourite may make a marvellous use and if his Policy accommodated with this Divorce the Reader may easily believe his Love would not be against it But this generous Castillian being in reality more a Person of Honour than a Lover or interested Subject did as much to reduce his Master to what was just as he had been to have received no advantage by his pertinacity He conferred with the Duke of Albuquerque Husband to Phidilla's old Mistress and Nugnez particular Friend The misfortune this Duke conceived it to have brought up the Person in his House who was like to be the destruction of the Royal Family of Castile made him more passionate for the interests of Blanche than any other of the Grandees in that Kingdom They went together to Padilla they desired her as Friends that she wouldimploy all her Wit and Capacity with the King to prevail with him to use Blanche as he was in duty obliged but perceiving that under the Title of Friends they were not regarded they changed their Character they began to speak with authority and threatned her with the resentment of the whole Kingdom if she stopt not the course of an injustice of which she was lookt upon as the Author Padilla was proud and witty she discovered by the consequence how much she was nettled at this threat but thinking that no time to hint her displeasure she promised the Duke and the Grand Master she would contribute her utmost to Blanches satisfaction But she had a care of being as good as her word she had too much pride and ambition to make any serious prayers so contrary to her vanity and her hopes Nevertheless the Castillians not being able to endure such an injury to their Nation as the violation of their Faith solemnly engaged by publick Authority and the most confident persons amongst them murmured highly against the injustice of it The Grandees fell into Cabals the Common-people into Factions all things were tending to a Revolt Leonora Queen
he had made him caused him to end his days miserably without his eyes and without any other Dignity than a private place among his Janisaries and the great Grecian Empire escaped no better than he But the Divine Justice which revenged Calo-John for the evils his Sons fury had brought upon him hath not as yet revenged the infidelity of their common Tyrant The Order we have observed hitherto in our Chronology Amedy Duke of Savoye conducts us insensibly to the Occurrences in the Life of Amade Duke of Savoy whom some people call Amé a Person so well known in History by the name of Felix the Anti-pope He was of an amorous Complexion and it frequently happening that the Courtiers are the Apes of the Actions of their Princes those which were performed by this Duke were immediately followed by the whole Court So that he being Voluptuous his Court became a very School of Luxury and Debauchedness All Offices and Honours were confer'd according to their amorous Exploits and Love becoming the Standard of Merit such as were the most susceptible of that passion were most gracious with their Prince For these reasons and such other the Marquess of Savona was in particular Favour He was not the Dukes Subject but had so linked himself to him by his good Services that he was become the Depository of his Secrets the Dispencer of his Graces and the Companion of his Debauches One night as they were marcht together to visit a Lady some few Leagues from Turin for whom the Duke had a great kindness and the Marquess managed the affair they lost themselves in a Wood through which they were to pass and at last found themselves at a House belonging to the Count de la Moriene This Count had several years before banisht himself voluntarily from the Court he had received a wound at the beginning of this Dukes Reign which had almost taken away his Eyes and having not thought himself rewarded for so important a loss he retired into the Country where he lived very privately Some indispensable Affairs having called him to a House he had near Turin he was obliged to make a Visit there and was returned some few hours before the Duke lost himself and was brought thither When Amede and his Favourite discovered that House they resolved to repose themselves it was late they had wandred a long time and were something wet with the Rain The Marquess clapt Spurs to inquire whose House but when he was told it belonged to the Marquess de la Moriene and that he was at home he returned to the Duke to let him know they must march on for that Count was an old Stoick who would not fail to wipe them for being abroad and in that Equipage so late We must conceal my Name then replied Amede his sight is not very good he hath not been this long time at the Court I have but few of my Guards about me and they no Liveries or other Marks to discover them Ha! Sir replied the Marquess Soveraigns are not to be concealed in their own Countries a Picture the meeting of a Servant that hath seen you in the streets of Turin the respect your own Equipage will shew you and in short a thousand little things will discover to the Count that you are the Duke of Savoye Well if he does replied the Duke that inconvenience is less than to be drowned in the Rain or break ones Neck off of ones Horse If the Count knows me I will be even with him for some Censures I have heard of his and if he doth not reposing a while at his House we shall be the better afterwards to proceed in our Journey upon which the Duke spur'd on to the Counts house and commanding his Retinue to take no notice who he was he pretended to be one of the little Princes of Italy with which that Country swarms It was not out of Honour or Concernment for the Duke that the Marquess of Savona had no mind to repose at this place The Count de la Moriene had a handsom Lady to his Wife which was related to the Marquess and with whom the History says there was more than one kind of proximity By reason of the morosity of her Husband she never came to Court but she pretended business now and then at her house by Turin where the Marquess would meet her He doubted not but she was then with her Husband and knowing how ready the Duke was to take fire he had a strong apprehension he would be smitten with the Countess Word was carried in to the Count de Moriene that a Person of Quality desired to see him and that the Marquess of Savona his Wifes Cousin was of the Company he came forth himself to receive them He presented them with what the time of night and the small time the Count had been there could afford and whilst they were at their Repast Amedy having declared that he was making a Visit to the Duke of Savoye and had mistaken his way Turin the Count interrupted him and told him You had best Sir be sure the Duke be there before you go thither your self for he is seldom to be found where he ought to be lookt for his pleasures invite him to so many places where one would never expect to find him that without good store of Scouts 't is no easie matter to discover him You know the Duke replied the Marquess something hastily but by other peoples report you have seen him your self so little for these feveral years you can say nothing upon your own knowledge were you better acquainted with him you would not speak at that rate It is not necessary to see ones Soveraign to know him replied the Count we judge of them by their actions of which they have so many Witnesses the report of them is not to be kept out of the most remote or obscure part of their Dominions and then thundring out a long Declamation against Amedy and his Reign there was not a Libel or a mutinous Expression that escaped him The Marquess could give him no sign to restrain him for the Count had an infirmity in his Eyes and could not perceive him The Regale was something rare for the Duke and as is to be supposed wanted no seasoning People which are satiated with pleasures are commonly very eloquent in decrying them The Countess entred as the Philosopher was in the midst of his Ethicks and the Duke not being so much unknown to her as to her purblind Husband there was not an Apology of which she made not use to excuse the Errour of the Count. The old Stoick could not without great difficulty be brought to so much as to counterfeit Repentance he declared that the Equipage of the Duke of Savoye gave Authority to all he could say that it would be well for that Prince if he had such Adventures oftner and applauded himself in what he had done as it had been the best
and I had enjoyed her before this had she not very prudently judged that to put the better face upon my coming to visit her it would be necessary to counterfeit her self ill and she pretends to be ill at this very moment my Physitian hath order to give out her life is in danger and my Sister commiserating the report is to be the first that shall tell me the Countess is sick with grief upon her Husbands Imprisonment and that I owe so much to her Quality and Sex as to bestow one consolatory Visit upon her to recompence in some sort the affliction I have given her Is it possible just Heavens replied the Marquess according to the sudden dictates of his thoughts How now whence this astonishment cryed the Duke interrupting him did you believe the Enterprise more difficult or had the Countess reason when she suspected your niceness about the purity of your blood No Sir replied Savona recollecting himself but I believed the Conquest as troublesom as glorious and in the passion I have for your interests cannot but admire the Countess should be conquered so cheap Nay replied Amedy I found her high enough of her self but a Prince of my Quality and Age ought not to meet with one moments resistance When a Soveraign Prince is born it is to command all that are about him and I am resolved for the future to put the Ladies of Savoy into a more commodious posture than they at present are in Having spoke these words the Duke left him and went to see the Countess of Geneva the Marquess retired to his own Appartment so confused and transported with rage I cannot without crime repeat the flagitious designs he had at that time in his head He would go to the treacherous Countess reproach her by her Treason and if he could not hinder the execution of her promise he resolved to stab her even before the face of the Duke Sometimes he would steal her away sometimes kill himself and if any thing worse presented it self to his thoughts he would do it immediately But his reason at length overcoming these effluctions he concluded to deliver the Count de la Moriene if he could and cause him to carry away his Wife The design is too large to be particularized here but the execution was not so difficult as might have been imagined Since the Countess became tractable her Husband was not guarded with that strictness as before The Duke who understood himself well enough and had caused the said Count to be arrested upon a reason which was almost effected considered he should not keep him long in Prison He loved only upon the common design and it was with him as with the greatest part of his Sex his felicity was never at any great distance from his disgust The Countess lodged in the Marquesses Appartment and Thonnon was rather a House of Pleasure than Defence The Marquess made an excuse to Thurin he visited the Count de la Moriene acquainted him with what had passed and giving him a true notion of the danger his life and Fortune were in they agreed upon the ways and what Refuge the Count was to take The Officer who guarded the Prisoner was one of the Marquess his Creatures to whom as many others did also he ought both his place and his life Things being so well disposed at Thurin the Marquess returned to Thonnon he placed more of his Creatures at the door of the Appartment where the Countess lay which opened into a Garden from whence they might easily make the Lake he ordered these people to open this door upon a Signal agreed betwixt the Count and he he had taken care to have a Boat provided and lye ready till they came The business succeeded as well as they could desire the Count was delivered out of Prison and brought privately one night into his Wifes Chamber he acquainted her that from very good hands he had Intelligence the Duke had ill designs upon her Person he pretended to be perswaded she knew not of them her self supposing a positive charge might have affrighted her too much and commanding her to follow she saw so much in the old mans face that he would be obeyed that she durst neither cry out nor contest He conveyed her to the Bark and from the Water in a Coach well guarded the Marquess having placed fresh Guards at convenient distances When he judged the Fugitives too far off to be overtaken he was the first that carried the News to the Prince I always thought said he to him the Conquest of the Countess was too cheap to be certain she hath pretended to comply to delude your Highness with the more security and would scarce have been so tractable but to compass her designs without suspicion she hath got her Husband out of Prison and hath so contrived it she hath made him steal away her It is not to be exprest the trouble this relation gave Amedy he caused all his Family to mount immediately and persue Bring me said he alive or dead that impudent Fellow who after he had so highly offended me durst be so audacious as to break Prison himself and out of my own House force away his Wife whom I had kept there as a Hostage for him he shall perish and all his Accomplices though my own Son were in the number From these publick discourses passing to private Do not you think me the unhappiest man alive Savona said the Prince to his Favourite to lose this Woman the very night before I was to enjoy her To morrow to morrow my dear Marquess my desires should have been satisfied she would have consented and the very moment was appointed for that blessed Enterview Do you not perceive Sir replied the Marquess that she consented no further but to make her pretended consent ineffectual at last Ha! Savona Savona cryed the Duke she consented in good earnest I know it by the motions and variations of her countenance she loved me entirely and I date swear the poor Woman was carried away in spight of her teeth would you had seen with what kindness she received the assurances of my passion and what protestations she made me of her own These words toucht the Marquess to the Soul he had need of all his temper and ambition to restrain himself from breaking out and had not the consideration of the condition of his Rival qualified his anger there had been nothing so desperate but he would have attempted In the mean time those who were sent after the Countess contrary to the Marquesses presumption overtook her Their Coach had been overturned they had had some other disasters in their Equipage and the Countess leaving Thonnon much against her will had counterfeited her self ill so artificially that all the Frontier were stopt before the Count could get at them They were arrested upon the Frontiers of Dauphin where the Count had designed his retreat When he understood the Dukes Guards inquired for him he
and I shall disoblige you no more in that nature I must acknowledge your soul to be too large to be bounded with ordinary imployments But let mine have the same Justice suffer me to contribute my assistance towards the recovery of your Crown and vouchsafe me my share in all the difficulties you shall meet Africa Asia Europe and all places are alike to me in your Company refuse me not then that pleasure of following you which you owe to my Love and were I so unhappy to find any thing more potent upon your soul than that passion yet it ought to be my glory to cooperate towards the establishment of an Authority to which you have no pretension but for me These kind considerations past for reproaches in the Spirit of the disgusted Sebastian he was offended therewith and his Capricio provokt Xerina as much They fell into some extravagant expressions and those pretences furnisht him with his desired pretence Xerina had news he was preparing for Europe and she made Verses to disswade him so kind and importunate nothing but a satiated Lover could have read them without being moved He scarce vouchsafed to cast an eye upon them and some of them were not opened till he came into Portugal He had found Love so favourable to him in Africk he presumed it would be his Conductor in all his other Enterprises He understood the secrets of Sebastian as well as he had been he That Prince had discovered all to Xerina and this false Sebastian had wheedled them artificially out of the Princess in pretending to take delight in the relations she made of the expressions of his Love Tell me I beseech you Madam said he what was it you were most affected with in all my proceedings I would willingly know what it was satisfied you most that I might do the same thing often which I did before with such success The Princess ingenuously confessed the thing by which she thought her self most obliged was his desertion of Mary of Portugal and that the rather said she because that Princess is fair loved you very well and as you told me your self was beloved entirely by you before your acquaintance with me And Madam the secrets of State which I imparted to you replied the Impostor were not you well pleased with them that piece of confidence is the highest and most obliging a Monarch can express Xerina acknowledged her ingagement for them also and then falling into a recapitulation of whatever Don Sebastian had told her that was of importance she discovered to her false Prince all the Intrigues of that State Furnisht with a precaution so necessary he took his Journey for Italy as knowing the Princess of Portugal contracted to Don Sebastian was married since his death to Alexander Farnese Duke of Parma and was at that time a Widow Persons of the Quality he pretended are not ignorant of those kind of affairs He arrived at Parma and having caused the Dutchess to be acquainted there was a Portugal Gentleman which had brought her tidings he could not communicate to any but her self he was by her order introduced into her Closet By an Express from Lisbon she had lately received news that Cardinal Henry was dead and was preparing her Claim to the Crown for Ranuccio Farnese her Son who being by the Mother side descended from Prince Edward derived his Original from Emanuel the Chief of that Royal Line Several other Pretenders did the same Catharine the Sister of Mary set up the Interest of Theodor de Braganza her Son Emanuel Philbert Duke of Savoy pretended to it in right of his Mother Beatrix of Portugal and so large was the Competition Catharine de Medicis though of a Branch far remoter than the rest was not wanting with her Claim but above all Paul IV. was most sollicitous pretending that Crown to be a Fief to the Papal See and endeavouring zealously in his own person to defeat the pretences of his Competitors To regulate so great a difference the States of that Kingdom were conven'd and the Dutchess of Parma having her head full of those affairs lookt upon her false Sebastian as the Ghost of her true one came on purpose at that time to direct her in her distractions She fetcht a great skreek as soon as she saw him and running to the other end of the Closet in an amaze she told her new King she took him for a Spirit How Madam said he without any visible commotion does Don Sebastian fright you he expected a better reception for the pains he hath suffered coming in to see you The Dutchesses trouble increased at the hearing of his voice so as she could neither speak nor stir out of her place Dear Cousin continued her false Sebastian in a most passionate tone I am no Phantosm I am the same Don Sebastian you formerly honoured with your favour and I am returned as full of your fair Idea as when I went first into Africk The Dutchess recovered her self a little and permitting Don Sebastian to come nearer she put forth her hand though tremblingly towards the hand of the Monarch she toucht him she considered him and her senses assured her that what she saw and what she felt was certainly Don Sebastian Ha! Sir said she with a most pitiful voice whence do you come where have you hid your self thus long by what miracle are you returned When you shall be in a condition to hear me replied Sebastian I will give you an account in the mean time recollect your self from your fright believe me the real King of Portugal and if you do not know me by my shape my voice or the features of my face at least owne me by the impression of Love you cannot but discover in my Eyes I am fully recollected replied the Dutchess calling for a Chair for him and sitting by him her self I confess the first sight of you put me into a confusion I could not suddenly master but now Sir it is dissipated and gone Tell me therefore I beseech you and do not delay me to what miracle is it we owe both your life and return To love Madam replied Sebastian a passion that was able to affect your heart could not be less favourable than to defend me against all other accidents Then he gave her a relation how he had been taken from amongst the dead by Xerina how for some time he had continued in the Isle of Mucazen and afterwards in Hoscore but he concealed very carefully from the Dutchess that ever Sebastian was in Love with Xerina before the Battel He told her that Princess was in Love with him indeed but without any expectation I had no inclination in the world to have her so much as think so continued he for having past my Parole to you I would have dyed before I would have broken it He told her that by the assistance of Muley Boabdelin a Prince of the Royal Blood of Morocco Xerina had given him all imaginable
persecution to force him to a relinquishment of her that she had urged to him her Marriage with the Duke of Parma and prest him very hard to a reprisal but that understanding a while after she was a Widow he had escapt out of Prison and was come to throw that Prince at her feet who had not only loved her always himself but flattered himself with the thoughts of being beloved by her The Dutchess demanded if he loved her so well why he never writ to her I writ several times Madam replied he but Xerina without doubt who expected that from my ruine which she could not hope from my restablishment took such Orders to intercept them as never any of them could come to your hand My Captivity was very severe I was treated like one that was beloved but could get no liberty to free my self from the trouble of that Character The Dutchess of Parma overjoy'd with the relation of a Constancy so well represented made as many excuses as Congies to her mistaken Cousin She appointed him an Appartment according to his supposed Quality assigned him a suitable Equipage and furnisht him with grave men to send as his Deputies to the Estates of Portugal That Deputation caused a strange surprise as may be imagined They selected six out of their Assembly some of which had been Ministers to Don Sebastian and sent them into Italy to survey their dear Monarch their Eyes perswaded them it was he but not daring to relye wholly upon them they askt him certain questions they would have sworn none but the right Don Sebastian could have answered But he was throughly instructed by Xerina Love had transported the soul of the King of Portugal into that of the Princess of Morocco and by an effect of the same Love the soul of Xerina was transmigrated into the false Sebastian The Ambassadors convinced that no man living could have resolved those questions but the true Sebastian made their Report to the Estates he was undoubtedly their King The Competitors accused them of Treachery protested they were corrupt and demanded that Don Sebastian might appear in person at the Assembly of the States General to be formally interrogated before them Such as were affected to the memory of Don Sebastian could not be perswaded it could be done with security to him the Assembly was divided such as were for the King were called Royalists such as were for the Princes were called the League During which disorders he that was the cause of them had his Residence at Parma attending till there should be an Army raised to vindicate his interest at the Head of which he resolved to demand Restauration He ought his life to Xerina he was loved entirely by her and had loved her as well But the Princess of Parma ingaged the Princes of Italy in his quarrel and when the design of being King interposes in an Intrigue reason of State rules the roast and leaves all others in the lurch He sacrificed his gratitude to his ambition without any remorse and imploying those Lessons of kindness he had received from Xerina against her self he made them the foundations of that Complacence and artifice to which the heart of the Dutchess was forced to submit She loved him for his person much more for his quality she began to be jealous without knowing any reasonable grounds for her jealousie such passions as hers are seldom without great curiosity One evening when her counterfeit Sebastian was leading her by the side of a Canal which is one of the greatest Ornaments to the Palace of Farnese she spied a Ribband hanging out of his Pocket which she judged might be one of those Letter-cases called in Italy Cartero's she stole it out gently and having conveyed it into her own Pocket without being perceived she began to be impatient to be peeping She could not have had any thing more proper to have justified her secret suspicions than that It was a parcel of Xerinas Letters and Verses which the false Sebastian had found that morning in a little Cabinet he brought with him out of Africk and had put them in his Pocket with resolution to have burnt them but he was interrupted by the coming in of the Dutchess and this Walk having followed immediately upon the Visit he was forced to keep them in his Pocket till the curious Dutchess thought good to remove them She read two or three Notes at first which seemed to be nothing but assurances of the Sacrifice her Monarch pretended to have made to her of the affections of Xerina That Princess had complained of the unconstancy of his Love and reproacht him by his infidelity But she not having had always reason to complain there were Letters of his recriminating upon her They were all writ in Portuguese but one among the rest was sealed up which the tender Xerina had sent to her Ingrate some few days before his departure from Hoscore and contained a Paper of Verses upon their late difference so sensible and kind I could not but insert them Is it decreed then and pronounc'd above We must have no return no mutual Love Can't our old inclination and converse Which seems ought to make our absence long and fierce And seems t' assure me of your heart can't they Contribute and remove those blocks away My wrath ne're went so far I never meant When my rash tougue to your voyage did consent You should have t a'ne th' advantage e'en when I Felt my poor heart give my false tongue the lye In vain I seek thee now in places where So oft in Love to me thou didst appear In vain I seek thee where thou never wert Since th' day thou overcam'st my pride and heart No place escapes me but I think on you No place occurs but I expect you too Where-e're I come on whatsoe're I see I leave methinks sweet images of thee Which at my next return required they To my poor fancy as faithfully repay Each dream each sudden noise each thought in vain Seems to return my Love my King again I run where hope conducts deluded and Whate're I see I call Sebastian Come come cry I indulge my sweet desires Come where my Love come where my faith requires Rouse up thy dying flames try with what Art Pretended wrath new ardour can impart Wrath not allow'd in Lovers breasts to burn But to endear and sweeten their return Shall these complaints shall these requests which were But errours fruits vanish in idle air No without doubt Love will convey them so They 'l have access and influence on you Methinks I feel th' agreement of our souls And your kind Love your negligence controuls Methinks you'r weary too of our debate Let Love alone how to accommodate He 'l rectifie our quarrels let you see A thousand new complacencies in me Mine eyes I fancy will appear more bright Than when they first discover'd my delight And to consummate all you 'l love me too As well and long dear
a more illustrious Captive in your life Alas said one of the Ladies in a jeering tone certainly that Honour must be left to a Venus in the Hangings for whilst he was in my Chamber he regarded nothing else I am of opinion says another in the same sly way the little Cupid by my beds side is Rival to your Venus for the Turkish Prince was graciously pleased to vouchsafe him many a favourable glance whilst he was with me For my part said the Ambassadress smiling I have neither Venus nor Cupid to imploy the contemplation of the Duke of Mantua's new friend the Beds and Borders in my Garden were the only things he thought worthy of his Eye-sight and though he made me a large Visit was a whole day in my Chamber and I discoursed with him in a Language he understood better than French yet I dare lay a good Wager he cannot tell whether I be fair or brown little or great and that he scarce remembers I was the Ambassadress of Savoy You may proceed Ladies if you please replied the Duke smiling and pass your Judgments upon the poor Stranger but let me assure you you are in an Errour at this time that Sultan Jacaya is one of the wittiest persons of this Age and one of the greatest Courtiers besides Ha! Monsieur cryed the Ladies as it were altogether do us the honour to let us know what days they are in which he shews Every day in the year replied the Duke provided he be not among Women He knows you too well to talk before you but if you will agree upon a place where I may make him speak without knowing any body hears him but my self I do not question but you will make his mistaken merit an honourable amends The bargain was made and to be put in execution next day They chose the House of the Mareshal Bassompierre where there were several places convenient to conceal themselves A Summer House at the end of a Terrace-walk which lookt upon the River was designed for the Rendez-vous and the Ladies being met at the hour appointed the Duke of Mantua brought in his Monster into a place where they could all hear him After some preliminary discourse about the situation of the House in which those of them which were curious confest he did well the Duke cutting himself short and looking upon Jacaya with a subtile sort of smile Observe said he this place where in spight of the Beauty which you cannot but discern I believe you but seldom appear because for the most part it is full of Ladies The Mareshal of Bassompierre to whom it belongs is a great Admirer of that beautiful Sex and will not have his door shut against any that hath but the shape of a Woman therefore being so fine a House and at the very Gate of Paris 't is odds if at this very hour there be not five or six Ladies which conceal themselves in some of the solitary places As to them replied the Prince smiling in his turn my care is at an end the Visits you forced me to make some days since will preserve me against their Charms for after the rate that I deported my self with those which I saw I am mistaken if they will not shun me as much as I can avoid them for my heart 'T is true enough said the Duke you were very ridiculous if you will give me the liberty to tell you so I thought so my self more than they did replied Jacaya and when I think of the person I have acted I know not how I could have the power to do it To tell you the truth replied the Duke it was not at all natural Alas no persisted the Sultan with a sigh I am nothing less than indifferent for Ladies or distracted in their Companies on the contrary I am born not only inclinable but passionate for that Sex I cannot see a handsom Woman but she is ready to draw my Eyes out of my head and gives me so pleasant a commotion I am not able to define it I love ardently I love nicely I devote my self wholly to what I love and am convinced in this life there is no pleasure so great as to be beloved where one loves But hitherto Love hath seemed incompatible with my safety and with the just ambition of my mind It disturbs all my designs it drives me from all my protestations and no sooner can I entertain the very shadow of an Intrigue but the malignity of all the Constellations do seem to declare against me Make therefore no more Combinations against my tranquillity continued he smiling for I am at length resolved to love nothing for the future and I am of opinion should sooner break with you than be prevailed upon by your perswasion to love any thing again You have cleared your self of their Ambuscadoes in very good health replied the Duke with a tone tending to Raillery The Ambassadress yesterday was saying in merriment you knew not whether she was handsom or otherwise How said the Prince with a little more red than ordinary in his Cheeks she was very much mistaken never any Woman of her Excellence escapt my observation nor dare I confess all the impressions she made upon my heart Why replied the Duke being somewhat surprised hath the Ambassadress given you any impression I durst have sworn your Eye had not been long enough upon her to have known her from another Woman Ha! good Sir said Jacaya to the Duke you are too politick you have a mind to inveigle my heart and I am afraid are ingaged if possible to intangle it Do not command me to give you a description of the Ambassadress we must always be tender of speaking of what we would not keep constantly in our mind let it suffice I know her proportions very well and that the lustre of her comely black Hair the vivacity of her Eyes the Majesty of her Shape the sweet and obliging Air expanded all over her body her fine Mouth and her incomparable Teeth were never observed more strictly nor with more veneration than by me I know further that Nature hath seemed to please her self in giving her the Arms and Neck of a fat Woman with the shape and proportion of a lean The Ladies who had no share in Jacaya's Elogium thought it high time to interrupt him they sallied out of their Reconditory and crying out to the Duke of Mantua Pardon us Sir we recant the Prince of Turkie is as gallant and courtly as you describe him they acquainted Jacaya with their Conspiracy against him he reprehended the Duke by a significative look and to render their design ineffectual then and discourage his friend from such Plots for the future he returned home to his own Lodgings in spight of all the Ladies importunities to the contrary This kind of deportment set them all into a loud laughter Come back Sir come back cryed they to the fugitive Prince we will promise you Quarter do
not be afraid of your heart we know a way to secure it But the Prince marcht on to his Coach without seeming to hear them The Ambassadress who was naturally amorous and according to the inclination of her Sex could not but hold her self obliged to the Turkish Prince for the Character he had given her told her Companions it was an affront to them to have a man run from them in that manner and that if she might advise they should make him repent of his insolence They liked her counsel very well they had none of them any design upon the heart of Jacaya they had already as many of those as they could tell how to manage but they thought it pleasant to torment the poor Prince The Duke of Mantua promised to assist them he did not look upon it as any defect of the friendship he had promised them to deliver him up to three or four the handsomest Ladies in the World at their earnest request Jacaya came not into the Queens Appartment but through twenty or thirty oeillades the Ladies of the League gave the word to ingage him by turns every one in a particular conversation and the pretence they made use of rendring their desire but merriment it was no strange thing for a person of quality to be seen walking with the Sultan or in entertaining him otherwise alone Ha! Ladies said he to them one day I am here in my Asylum do not violate the Priviledges of the place by endeavouring the Captivity of my heart Alas if you had it you knew not how to use it I know the humour of the French Ladies already their greatest weakness is their levity In the Countries from whence I come they are constant they speak nothing but they think and when they think a thing all their care is to put it honestly in execution Those Ladies would be much troubled to destroy a man but in this Court the Goddess most adored is Pretence Great liberty great kindness Society is not only permitted but commanded and when of that which in another Country would be all we endeavour to make our advantage in this we find that all amounts to just nothing Quarter therefore Quarter fair Ladies for a poor Stranger The French Ladies were generous and conceiving they had diverted themselves long enough with what they entertained at first only for their diversion they began to think of letting the poor Sultan alone to enjoy himself after his own Mode But the Ambassadress was not so indulgent in her judgment Jacaya demanded Quarter in such a way as was not fit to be granted She found him in the Thuileries with the Duke of Mantua one day and accosted him May one be so bold Sir said she to the Sultan passing near him as to desire the honour of your Ushership No Madam replied Jacaya you are too handsom at this time and having said so he made a low Reverence with design to have been gone but the Duke of Mantua catching him by the Arm It shall never be said said he you made your friends blush for your incivility towards the Ladies Sir said the Prince to the Duke with some discontent in his countenance I cannot comport with your manner of usage and if you anger me any further I will fall in Love with the Ambassadress The Duke of Mantua blusht indeed at that menace without knowing the reason He could not get it out of his head during the rest of their Conversation and taking the Sultan home with him to Supper he demanded of him very seriously if he were in earnest when he said he would love the Ambassadress of Savoy It was not yet come to a resolution but the Sultan who had a mind to be merry in his turn and observed the Duke askt him that question with some little commotion he was glad of that occasion to revenge himself Yes Sir said he very gravely I am most certainly in earnest do not you think her worthy of being beloved 'T is not of her worth I speak replied the Duke the question is whether she will love you again What would you say said the Turkish Prince if she be in Love with me already I will say you are a happy man replied the Duke Read these Verses then said Jacaya and giving him a Table-book out of his Pocket the Duke opened it and found these words Nothing 's so deep below so high above But feels the mighty influence of Love The rugged Earth th' inexorable Sea The Winds the Stars all owne his Soveraignty Nothing 's too far too great too good he sways All things at will and ev'ry thing obeys What are these Verses to the purpose continued the Duke Turn the leaf replied the Sultan and when you have read all I 'le satisfie your Curiosity The Duke followed Jacaya's directions and found on the other side as followeth The little Bird which claps his wings And hops from th' Myrtle to the Thorn From thence to th' Elm and chirps and sings What would it say had it been born With reason in those warblings But oh blest Love that dost inspire Such Anthems for my shady Quire The Bull that in the Pasture lies And stamps and stares about and lows Shows not his rage so much thereby As his affection for the Cows The gentle Brook which murmuring flies Why in such haste but that it shows It loves it longs and would be there And would you dear be singular Now Sir said the Prince of Turkie to the Duke of Mantua what is your opinion would not one resolve to love upon less sollicitation I confess replied the Duke these are of importance but tell me sincerely is it the Ambassadress who invites you from your indifference in this manner You are very strange in your questions replied the Prince smiling am I not indiscreet enough of my self but your affected incredulity must render me more so Had the Duke told the Sultan at the same time of his own affection for the Ambassadress it was then in time and Jacaya had supprest his natural inclination But the Duke dissembled as well as he and told the Sultan he was glad of his good Fortune In the mean time it is not to be imagined the effect this Juggle of Jacaya's produced in the Duke of Mantua's mind Till that very minute he never perceived he loved the Ambassadress but when he examined the secret displeasure it was to him to believe the Sultan in her affections he doubted not but that displeasure arose from an inkling of Love He past away that whole night in detesting the ignorance of his passion and representing to himself what he had done towards the making of that Intrigue which disturbed him he could not sufficiently admire the oddness of his Destiny As soon as she was to be seen the next day he made a Visit to the Ambassadress and found her translating a piece of Pastor Fido out of Italian into French The Lady being as courteous as witty
took great pleasure in giving the Sultan intelligence of the French Language by her Translations out of Italian which Jacaya understood perfectly well With this design it was she gave the Prince the first fragments in his Table-book and had the Duke considered he would have remembred the sense was there exactly in the Scene of Silvio and Linco but he was so strongly perplext with jealousie and anger he had not time for any such reflexions Is it Jacaya Madam said he in a biting way to the Ambassadress which imploys your Poetical Vein Yes replied the Ambassadress not observing the manner of his pronounciation how do you know it is for him I put my Wit upon the Tentars Jacaya is not endued with so much discretion replied the Duke to let his friends be ignorant of any favours he receives from the Ladies Ha! Sir replied the Ambassadress the favours he receives from me are common to all the persons of Worth which I know if they be ignorant of the French Tongue I find at my arrival at this Court they did me an extreme pleasure to make me perfect in that Language and I am endeavouring to do the same kindness to Jacaya He doth not receive the effects of your goodness Madam replied the Duke in that way and then he gave her an account of all that past betwixt Jacaya and him He designed to have incensed her by that information and obliged her to have banisht Jacaya from her Company But his intelligence produced a contrary effect Jacaya was one of the most accomplisht Princes in the World and our Savoyenne discerned too well to be ignorant of his perfections Nevertheless the less she observed the Punctilioes usual upon such occasions she complained highly of Jacaya's indiscretion and affecting to pass by him without any Salute she perswaded the Duke of Mantua she was really angry In that opinion he was very well pleased and his Love became so violent it was no easie matter for him to conceal it The Sultan who had spoke truer than he intended perceiving his threat was effectual in earnest spared not by all means to propagate his affairs Tell me Madam I beseech you said he one day to the Ambassadress what is it a man must do to deserve your Esteem The respect I bear you savours too much of timidity That Character I know doth not please you you have been so often pleased to express your self to that effect that I might take another upon me I endeavour to obey you I follow you where-ever you go I entertain you as often as I can and could I believe you would hearken graciously to what I should say I could tell you great things But you seem to grow cold at the least signification of my flame and having no inclination to hear any body speak but when they are resolved to be silent your Curiosity ceases as soon as I prepare my self to speak My Curiosity did not expect to have heard from the Duke of Mantua that you were my Gallant replied the Ambassadress something tartly Why Madam said the Turkish Prince did the Duke of Mantua inform you so Yes doubtless replied the Ambassadress he is too much my friend not to give me notice of your indiscretion He is mine too very much Madam replied Jacaya the kindness he hath done me is a sufficient testimony I could not have expected it from him and if I may have liberty to say so it was but by chance I discovered that secret to him But he hath made the best use of it for me and saved me many a Complement You know now I love you without my trouble of swearing it and I may imploy all that time which would have been necessary to have perswaded you to it in using my best means to make you love me The Ambassadress found this Declaration so pretty and singular she had not power to keep her countenance any longer but fell out into a laughter Some Lovers continued the Turkish Prince would have been offended at this effusion of mirth but I am not of their opinion I hold it pleasant any ways to divert the persons we love and since you are so pleased with my assurances 't is an Entertainment I shall give you as often as I may As he promised he performed When at any time he saw the Ambassadress serious Resume your good humour Madam said he I love you no less at this instant than when my assurances put you into such a fit of laughter When she was gay and merry as she generally was my affairs go on now very well said Jacaya to her you see without doubt my passion written in my Eyes being in the same humour in which I found you the first time I profest it The Ambassadress forced her self as much as she could to be severe but her severity would not hold against the insinuation of the Sultan She accustomed her self insensibly to hear him tell her he loved her till that custom became a habit and produced a passion in her wherewith the Sultan had good reason to be content The Duke of Mantua was too much affected with that Intrigue not to pry into the bottom of it He advanced so far as to give the Ambassadress his judgment of it without declaring the true motive which impelled him She received his advice as a piece of pleasantery and paying in counterfeit Coin what he delivered in true she turned all en ridicule He would have spoke more intelligibly and to the charitableness of his advice added another Epithet that belonged to it but his Love was no happier than his Jealousie Ha! said the Ambassadress to him you have not taken a right Copy of Prince Jacaya by your looks one would imagine your discourse were serious I intend it no otherwise Madam replied the Duke the passion wherewith you have inspired me is in my judgment the seriousest affair I can treat of That part doth not agree with you at all Sir replied the Ambassadress I know you are but merry and should I take your pretences for truths I should likewise desire you to remember who I am but I am not so easily deluded Why do you now tell me you love me are my Charms any greater now than they have been these two years that you have been exposed to them No Sir you do but railly and give me leave to say not with the neatness and dexterity is to be expected from an ingenious man and seeing the Prince of Turkie come in at the same time Come hither Sir said she smiling come hither and let me hear some of your Amours before the Duke of Mantua that he may discern the difference and begin a new Lesson for two hours together he hath been endeavouring to imitate you but could not attain I am to day Madam replied the Sultan in no humour to make Love you lookt upon me this morning at Mass in such a way as hath discomposed me for all this day I could not discover
she found it when she came in The Duke knowing the Emperours hand very well cryed out What by consent both in one day this is too much After which words he stood still for some time overcharged with reflections which thronged upon his Spirits and perhaps troubled he had said so much A Person of Honour cannot but blush to have confessed any overture of Love from a fair Lady let it be in what manner it will Insomuch that the Duke being conscious of the same practice from the Empress had no sooner let these words slip but he wisht they had been unspoken again but it was then too late to repent The Dutchess being quick and apprehensive what both and what consent do you mean Sir said she have you been sollicited by the Empress as I have been by the Emperour The Duke would fain have dissembled it and endeavoured to give his words another explication but perceiving the Dutchess could not be put off so and that by her silence she conceived an invincible suspicion in her soul which he would willingly have illuded he confessed the truth and told her that the Empress had indeed signified an affection for him I had said he some apprehensions of it before but a man of Honour ought not to believe his own sentiments in such an affair I observed she had great inclinations to my Company and Discourse and more than I thought could proceed from a simple Civility She looked upon me as I fancied like one that was in Love and she commended me above the rate of common respect but I had rather give esteem more than belongs to it then to grant that to Love which I knew was its due In this consideration I waited many times upon the Empress upon the least of her Commands and many times I prevented them and attended her without for I had a suspicion that by denying her passion indifferent compliance I might provoke it to demands more particular and considerable Upon this score it was I went to her Court this afternoon as I had done many times before I found her alone with her Daughters all of them imployed in stringing of Pearl By misfortune a rich Picture-case of a very great value fell out of the lap of one of the young Ladies as she was rising to salute me I ran presently to take it up and having presented it to her who let it fall I was making some Complement for the disorder I put them to But the Empress coming up to me and whispering me in the ear said Keep the Box my Lord your power is too great over the Original not to have the Copy at your absolute Command I opened the Case and I found what I expected the Picture of the Empress I pretended to understand her discourse no otherwise than as a tryal of my respect and presenting the Box with great reverence No no Madam said I do not suspect me of Sacriledge I am so Religious an observer of my duty that the very Copy of this Original is too sacred a thing for me Be not so modest replied the Empress and made signs to me follow her to the Window Sometimes it is more criminal to refuse favours that are offered than to force them where they are refused and then her passion having vanquisht all opposition the inconsiderate Princess told things so plain and her Eyes insinuated the rest that I could have wisht I had lost the exercise of my senses that I might not have been privy to a thing so derogatory to the Imperial Family The Dutchess of Modena heard her Husbands relation with a concernment that was visible in her face and looking upon him with tears in her Eyes Ah my Lord said she when he had done I see the Heavens do envy my Felicity I should have been to happy for a mortal Creature could I have loved you and been beloved by you without interruption but I was not born to so much good Fortune and the Empress has reason to disturb it In what is it that the disturbs it replied the Duke something hastily have I complied with her affection have I concealed it from you or do you find I love her better than you No Sir replied the Dutchess and I give you thanks that you have not but I fear what the Empresses Charms were not able to compass the ingratitude of the Emperour may possibly procure you lookt upon that Princess as the Wife of your Master and thought it your duty to the goodness of Otho to make a generous opposition to the infidelity of his Consort But alas now the case is alter'd and the same Otho become the greatest of your Enemies what is there left to secure your affection from a young Princess which loves you so entirely and is the first person of her Sex in the World Your Charms Madam replied the Duke interrupting her are so powerful and so rigorously adored by me that they will infallibly secure my faith for your self Rest you contented in that and do not imagine that my desire to be revenged of the Emperour obliges me to give him a pretence to take his vengeance on me The Empress would be too dear a purchase if I should gain her by the loss of you and you would have reason to rejoyce at your losses if I my self should shew you the way to repair them This excellent Pair satisfied one another so amply against all the suspicions that conjuncture represented That Cupid knowing well he should not have such opportunities every day to make his puissance known upon Lovers of their Character resolved to make this Example as famous as it was rare The Duke resisted the kindness of the Empress with so constant a firmness it lookt almost like contempt and the Dutchess received all the attapues of the Emperour with the same resolution but 't is dangerous sometimes to push things too far The Emperour made a Treat one day in a Garden of his not far from the Town upon the Bank of a River which runs by it was not long the Trees in it had been planted nad so gove not much shade but that defect was supplied by certain Arbours or Cabanes covered over with a sort of Leaves which put forth sooner than ordinary Part of the Cabanes were made into the form of a Labyrinth some were double some single and all of several fashious Into one of these Cabanes Otho had conducted the Dutchess of Modena and the Empress pretending her self weary was retired with the Duke who had the honour to lead her into another It is to be supposed that neither the one Lover nor the other would lose that convenience of complaining of their Destiny The Emperour begged and sighed and perhaps wept The Empress the more impetuous of the two when fair words would not do began to threaten revenge The coldness wherewith the Duke entertained the Empress was more intolerable than that with which the Dutchess received to Empress It is an Honour to
a yong Prince to be a Gallant and an amorous Atchievment gains as much reputation sometimes as the bloodiest Victory But with the Women it is not so a Lady cannot advance one step but she charges her self with the whole Intrigue and a repulse which would be nothing in a Lady to her Servant becomes an unpardonable indignity in a Servant to his Mistress The high-spirited Empress seeing her self rejected by a person she had obliged by so many favours conceived so great a displeasure that she could not conceal it She threatned him with all the mischiefs an inraged Empress could bring upon him and departing with a gesture importing fury and indignation she left him to take his choice whether he would prevent her revenge or feel the effects of it On the other side the Emperour perceiving his passion as tedious to the Dutchess instead of having gained any advantage he left her and that as ill satisfied as the Empress with the Duke They both of them walkt some time up and down to dispel the trouble their disappointments had brought them both of them perceived the Duke and Dutchess come forth of the Arbors where they had left them and enter together into another where they suspected they retired to give an account to one another what had past This Arbor was one of those that were double one might slip by betwixt the Pillars without being seen of those who were either within or without An unluckly concurrence of Curiosity excited these two Lovers to hide themselves behind the Curtain and though Otho knew nothing of the Empresses Intrigues and the Empress had but a slight suspicion of Otho's their passions carried them as it were by consent to two several places from whence without perceiving one another or being perceived by any one else they might hear all that was spoken The discourse was very terrible for all four The Dake and the Duthchess understanding the danger in which the pertinacity of their Persecutors as they called them had placed them exprest their apprehensions in such terms as confounded the two Evesdroppers with jealousie but when from simple Narratives they proceeded to imprecations what Satyr what Invective was it which the Duke bestowed not on the Empress He called her by the worst names he could invent the Dutchess making up the Consort by the same Elogies upon the Emperour They spoke with full liberty for being ignorant of the fashion in which that Arbour was made they believed they were to fear no body they did not see besides the Emperour and Empress being gone in a huff they did not expect that either of them should return In the mean time the two persons of whom they discoursed so liberally heard every word and I leave it to the Reader to judge how much they were surprized to understand such tidings of their affairs The Emperour had no kindness for the Empress and the Empress had too much for the Duke of Modena to care much for him But Honour and Jealousie in their hearts performed the functions of Love Otho could not hear the ill designs of Mary without passion and resentment and Mary was as impatient that the Dutchess should triumph over all the hearts she had interest in She thrust her self furiously out of the place she was hidden and perhaps in the first motion of her transport might have run into some actions less suitable to her Sex than her despair But the Emperour coming out upon the same design at the same time they met and were so surprized at the sight of one another they had no power either to move or to speak The Duke and the Dutchess came out also in the nick and perceiving them in a place where they believed they had heard all they had said the sour Lovers represented such a Scene of silence as is more easie to imagine than express The Emperour cast about his furious eyes sometimes upon the Empress sometimes upon the Duke and sometimes upon the Dutchess The Empress divided betwixt choler and shame changed her colour according to the variety of her thoughts and the two innocent Causes of all this distraction apprehending nothing for themselves but each for the other by the motion of their eyes seemed to say they were ready to become Victims to their Destiny rather than to fail in the least just duty of their Loves Persons of their Character and Quality do seldom evaporate into unprofitable words and in these kind of occurrences silence is more serviceable than Rhetorick The Emperour withdrew without any other intimation of resentment than by his looks and the Empress following in great fury and confusion all the Court did the same The Feast was interrupted in this manner and very few knew the reason Every one guest as his own fancy suggested but scarce three of the whole Company could hit of the right Whether the rage was greater in the Emperour or Empress is not easily decided Some are of opinion that their Love commencing at the same time exprest at the same time and now discovered by the same accident to one another their Revenge kept the same consort But whether it was Otho who had a desire to rid himself of a person who triumpht over him in the heart of his Empress or Mary who had a mind to be revenged for the contempt of her kindness and so prevent the reproaches of the Emperour by taking away the object so it was the Duke was found murdered the night after the Feast The Instruments of the Murder set upon him like Thieves and demanded his Purse but they quickly made it evident it was his life not his money they sought for for having given him three mortal wounds they left him expiring upon the ground without taking his purse which they demanded or his Jewels which he had in plenty about him It is not necessary to insert how the fair Widow resented so foul an action I should have exprest the affection she had for her Husband but weakly if the Reader could not imagine the extream sorrow she conceived for his death She doubted not but it was contrived by the Emperour or the Empress and lest she should mistake in the object of her Revenge she resolved to sacrifice them both I shall not mention the means she used to accomplish it such Tragical Catastrophes do not accommodate with Annals of Love and I shall refer the Reader to the Chronological History to inform himself how the Dutchess having revenged her self upon the Empress by the resentment of the Emperour made use of the Empresses Creatures to sacrifice the Emperour to her Ghost But some will say why this insatiable fury why doth it not stop in the middle of its Career The Empress death was but just and it was no more than the Dutchess was obliged to she accused her of the Murder of her Husband and if she was not the only Instrument of his death she was the moving Cause for had she not loved the