The HISTORY of AVRELISA and TERENTIA.
I will not detain you, Madam, with telling you Aurelisa and Terentia are descended from very noble families, since you know it already; or that Theanor, Aemylius and Cereontus are persons of quality; for 'tis a thing you are not ignorant of. I shall omit to tell you that these five persons are indued with great merits, because you know them sufficiently to be so; neverthelesse, for that the Prince that hears me has not time to observe the humour of Aurelisa and Terentia, you must permit me to tell him that tho Terentia be brown and Aurelisa fair, one has black eyes, and the other blew, one be tall of stature and the other low, yet there is more difference in inclinations than in the out-side of their persons. Yet they have both very much wit; yea, they had for some time a considerable kindness for one another; but this has not hinder'd but that they have opposite sentiments, and in brief, can never a∣gree in any thing whatsoever, not even in such matters as are of least concernment. If they be onely to walk together, one of them will go in the shade, and the other sayes she do's not fear the Sun, and much affects those great open quarters in Gar∣dens which leave the sight free, and where the air is not confin'd. If one will have her Curtains drawn before her windows, the other maintains on the contrary that the clear day is advantageous to such as have a good complexion. In brief, they never had the same friends of either Sex in the very time they lov'd one another, and I may say I am the only exception to this general rule; 'Tis true, since 'tis a happiness I have to be oftentimes a friend to per∣sons who have no resemblance, and whose interests are many times contrary, this ought not to be won∣der'd at. But which is strange, these two persons, whose opinions are so different have yet so much reason that they never had any publick fallings out, and they have so well conceal'd their difference that I am almost the onely person that have had any knowledge of them. In the next place, Madam, you must know, that these two persons having both almost in the same time lost their Fathers and Mothers, they were plac'd under the Guardianship of a man of quality, call'd Tolumnius, whose wife was Aurelisa's Aunt. As for Terentia she was Cous∣in to Tolumnius, who had two Nephews, not Bro∣thers, to whom he intended to marry these two Virgins who have sufficient fortunes. In order to which, he educated them under his wife, whose name was Elinyssa, tho he conceal'd his determin∣ation; however, he so expresly commanded Aemyli∣us and Theanor, (who obey'd him as if he had been their Father) to insinuate themselves into the a∣ffection of these two persons, that they began to make Courtship to them, more out of obedience than choice, and consequently without Love towards them, or jealousie between themselves; for they had other things which affected their hearts. On the other side Aurelisa and Terentia having been adver∣tis'd by one of their relations, that they were to pre∣pare themselves to marry Aemylius and Theanor one day, lookt upon them as two men who in time might come to be their husbands. But as they could never love the same things, so they made different desires; for Terentia wish'd she might be lov'd by Aemylius, and