The fair one of Tunis, or, The generous mistres a new piece of gallantry / out of French.

Donna Isabella to Don Pedro.

TIS not your death that I desire of you; Live Don Pedro, and live with the design to please me. My life is too fast knit to yours, for you to perish without drawing my ruine after you, and you can attempt nothing upon your self, but what you must begin in me. No, no you are to meditate better resolutions, and to think of making us both more happy than some desire we should be. If you go away to morrow, it will not be long before I fol∣low you; for my Father will never suffer me after what has past to stay any longer here; but in case he should otherwise resolve and that on Munday I return not to Va∣lence, come hither privately to see me, I will he about five of the clock in the Eve∣ning in the Wood whither I will pretend to take a walk according to my custom, and you will find me about the place where the Boar was kill'd.

Don Pedro then with the Marquiss, departed for Valence, whither my Bro∣ther also bore them Company, and where all the Town was presently full

of this affair; for these two Cavaliers were too considerable there, for this Duel to be kept a seeret; and the Mar∣quiss who was not fully satisfied with Don Pedro (as Lovers never are with their Rivals, unless they make them give way) had no great mind to have it con∣ceal'd. My Father was furiously in∣censt at me, and whatever my Brother could say in my behalf to appease him, would needs send for me home the same day, and accordingly dispatch'd away servants to that purpose. But my Aunt who was better acquainted with her Brothers prompt and passionate hu∣mor, than any other, not willing to suf∣fer me to go home so soon, and just in the heat, nor alone; would kindly ac∣company me; and therefore acquainting my Father with her determination, de∣manded three or four dayes time, to set∣tle the affairs of her Family during her absence.

In the mean time Don Pedro was a∣gain sollicited, both by my Fathers friends and his own, not to think any more of me, unless he intended to pull mighty and dangerous inconveniences upon himself: but to what use serves

interdictions and perswasions, with a Spirit wholly possest with love, that fears no other death, nor other tor∣ments, but what his passion alone can make him suffer. The Munday I had mentioned in my letter to Don Pedro, was now come, and he heard no news of my return, he therefore mounted a∣lone on horseback, as if he went abroad to take the Ayr, and after having fetcht a great compass, that no one might know the way he design'd to take, slip∣ping at last into the true Road, he en∣deavour'd by hard riding to recover the time these little, but necessary delays, had made him to loose. This precau∣tion of his however serv'd him to very little use, or rather none at all; it was too light to pass in so new an affair; he had spies every where set upon him to watch his motions, who so soon as ever they saw him on horseback immediate∣ly went, and gave notice to my Bro∣ther.

It is not to be questioned whether or no he did not presently guess whither he went, for he did not so much as doubt it•• wherefore taking along with him three or four of his servants well moun∣ted,

and well arm'd, he follow'd him so close, and made so good haste, that he arriv'd at my Aunts about the time that Don Pedro and I met at the appointed Rendezvous. He there immediately fell to enquiring where I was, and be∣ing told that I was walkt out towards the wood, he was netled to the quick, therefore came upon the spur to∣wards the place where we were, and coming found us set both together under the shade of certain great Trees that were proper for that purpose. I blusht to see him, and was so confoun∣ded that I had not a word to say, we had seen him come at a pretty distance but had no means to avoid him, nor to hide our selves without danger of being discover'd; which would have made it so much the worse, neither would I have done it if I could, that I might not give him to suspect there was any thing of criminal in a meeting, where there was nothing but honorable and vertu∣ous Love. My Brother was as full of fury to find us thus together, as we of confusion, and his passion was such as hindred him from saying any thing to us in his first heat; but he exprest him∣self

much better in the fire that darted from his eyes. He immediately alighted, and looking upon me with a counte∣nance full of fury and disdain, he took Don Pedro aside, and there discharg'd his passion upon him, telling him that were it not for fear the world should think that he took the unhandsome ad∣vantage of him of having three or four men in his Company, he would upon the instant have taught him better to have kept his word; but that he would do it at his return to Valence, and there∣fore bad him prepare himself. Don Pe∣dro made answer that he had made him no promise at all, that his suit was ho∣norable and fair, and that therefore if he should be too much provok'd, it should appear, that he was ready to an∣swer any man that should interpose be∣twixt him, and his pretence. An answer at which my Brother was so netled, that they had certainly faln foul, had I not stept in betwixt them, and entreated Don Pedro to retire, who immediately obeyed me leaving me with my Brother who more incenst than ever, discharg'd himself in most extravagant, and bitter language upon me.

And now all the whole house was bandied against me after this adven∣ture, and my Aunt had much ado to vouchsafe me so much as a look, who thereupon made ready to go away in the morning, and my Brother would be gone the same night, though it was very late to acquaint my Father with the business. The night was very light and clear, and he did not think he had any occasion to fear, having no other quarrel upon his hands, but that with Don Pedro, who likewise he believed to be too brave a Gentleman to at∣tacque him by night. In the mean time he was no sooner got into the middle of a wood, through which his way lay be∣twixt my Aunts house and the City, but that he saw himself suddenly beset and assaulted by four Cavaliers. He had by misfortune taken only one Servant back with him, having left the rest behind to attend upon us; however he did not loose his courage for this advantage, but betaking himself to his sword and pi∣stol he upon this occasion perform'd actions, much more worthy of the days light than the nights obscurity. He made no question but that this Ambus∣cado

was laid for him by Don Pedro's treachery, which made him calling up∣on his name, to dignifie him with the Titles of Traitor, Coward and Villain, to see if that provocation would make him discover himself amongst the Crew. On the other side his enemies, who per∣adventure expected a generous de∣fence, being much better arm'd than he, prest him on all sides, and so briskly, that he saw his man, who for his fideli∣ty and valour deserv'd a better fate, fall dead at his feet. This blow instead of astonishing enflam'd him the more, so that furious as a young Lion he flew upon the first in his way, and run his sword quite through his body, of which wound he fell down dead to the earth; yet was the fight unequal enough to make him with good reason despair of the victory, he had still three men, strong and well arm'd to fight withal, a disadvantage that would at least have startled another man, and the blood which ran from five or six wounds he had already received, could not but make him sensible, that his forces could not long hold out; and he indeed per∣ceiv'd them every moment to grow

less and less, when a Cavalier arriv'd in the most opportune season that could possible be to take his part. Ah coward∣ly Traitors (said he in rushing in a∣mongst the Villains) is it after this base manner that a single man is to be assaul∣ted with such odds? cease Rascalls, cease further to attacque him, or it shall cost you your lives. This seasonable relief so unexpected by my Brother put new vigor into him, and restor'd the strength he had before with his blood almost wholly lost, so that he put himself into a posture bravely to second his gene∣rous def••nder. He was at that time too little himself to know this strangers voice; but he very well observ'd by what he saw him do, that he was no or∣dinary person. They had soon dispat∣ched two of the Traitors, and the third who saw it now so dangerous a game, would se••k that safety by flight, that he absolutely despair'd of by keeping his ground: but our new come Cava∣lier ceas'd not to pursue him into the thickest part of the wood, and had certainly overtaken him, had his horse that was wounded been able to have made good so long a course, but his

horse failing, he was forc'd to return back to my Brother, and came to him just as he was swooning away with the faintness occasioned by the bleeding of his wounds.

Never was man in so great a per∣plexity as was this Cavalier to see him∣self in a solitary place in the night, far from any manner of help, and alone with a friend that he most dearly lov'd dying in his arms: so that he knew not well what to do, but yet had a care of the main concern, that is, that with his scarf he bound up that of my Brothers wounds, which as it bled most threat∣ned the most danger; after which ha∣ving set him upon one of the strongest Horses he could choose amongst all those that were left upon the place, he himself mounted up behind him, and after that manner brought him into the City.

It is not to be imagin'd what a strang astonishment my Brother was in, after he had a little recover'd his Spirits, and that the remedies the Chirurgions had applied unto him had brought him per∣fectly to himself, to find that he was in Don Pedro's House, and that he whom

he had suspected for the Author of the Treachery, was the man to whom he stood oblig'd for his life. An action with which he was so ravisht, and that so absolutely won his heart, that he could not forbear protesting to him upon the instant, he was too sensibly touch'd with his generosity, any more to have any design to oppose his desires: that therefore he was only to try to conquer his Fathers aversion, and that as for him he would favor his pretences, like a true and intimate friend. Don Pedro you may be sure was not wanting in his answer to so obliging a protesta∣tion, but replied after so affectionate a manner as engag'd my Brother more than ever to honor and love him. In the mean time they made it their busi∣ness to find out the Author of this Assas∣sinate, and in truth it was no hard mat∣ter to do by the three men that my Bro∣ther and Don Pedro had kill'd, two of which were the Marquis's own servants and the very horse upon which Don Pe∣dro had carried my Brother, was known to be his best Courser. It was known a few dayes after, that it was not my Brother the Marquiss had aim'd at in

this Treachery, that the Assassinates had been mistaken, and that the Am∣bush had been laid for no other but Don Pedro only; but for all that; the mistake did not hinder my Father, from pressing on the affair with the greatest heat and vehemency, and so far it was prosecu∣ted, that the Marquiss was necessitated to leave the City and Kingdom, to go seek his safety in another.

It now seem'd that Don Pedro's Love ought in reason the better to succeed, by the ill posture his Rivals affairs were in, and that my Brothers friendship af∣ter so recent an obligation, should in∣fallibly make him happy in his desires; but my Fathers obstinacy was invinci∣ble and frustrated all our hopes. My Brother had like to have faln into his disgrace for having one day spoken to him in favor of my Love, whereat he was so offended as to forbid him upon the instant, for having any friendship or correspondency with him upon pain of his mortal displeasure, which you must know chiefly proceeded from an old grudg, and a certain animosity he had ever nourisht again Don Pedro's whole Family, ever since a preference

his father had obtein'd at Court in a Government which mine also at the same time pretended to. After this in∣terdiction my Brother was oblig'd to live after a less friendly manner with him, so as never to frequent, or be seen in his company unless he accidently met him. The obstacles to our happiness daily increast, and were so many, that I knew not which way to overcome them, having no more the same liberty in the Town that I had before in the Country; and Don Pedro who was yet more sensible of the inconvenience than I, took it so grievously to heart, that it very often put him into despair. He could not hope that my Fathers humor should ever come about to be favoura∣ble to him, being an obstinacy not to be parallell'd, or that was ever heard of; so that even his own most intimate friends, he knew, could no better have prevaild upon him. He was therefore to try his fortune, and to resign up that into her hands which it was vain to en∣trust with any other, and that he knew not how to work by any contrivance of his own. Yet knew he not which way to go about his business, and the

prison to which I was reduc'd was so close, and so well guarded, that it was hardly possible to convey so much as a Letter to me, without falling into my Fathers hands. My own kinred and relations were not permitted to see me but by his especial leave, and with some other of his own appointment, and even this favor was granted to none, but those of my nearer Kindred. In all these difficulties what should this un∣fortunate young man do? He took a resolution to go visit a Kinswoman of mine, with whom he was intimately ac∣quainted, and who sometimes came to see me, to try if by laying open to her the most secret sentiments of his heart and the violence of his passion, he could gain her over to his party. He thought that if he could once move her with a little compassion, she would not deny him her assistance, and that at least he should find some consolation in dis∣coursing with her of me. All that he could obtein from her at this first visit was, that she would be ready to serve him; but that then he must take heed he did not put her upon any thing that was inconsistent with the honor of a

Maid, a point wherein she was excee∣ding tender, and that especially he must excuse her from carrying any Letters, Tickets, or any other thing whatever in writing: that she would speak to his Mi∣striss in his behalf; but that she was very sorry to see him engage himself in an affair, wherein so many and so invinci∣ble difficulties, besides those at present, wereto be foreseen. Whereupon she fell to saying a great many fine things, and that were very rational upon that sub∣ject, to divert him from further enga∣ging himself in so dangerous affection; but it was all in vain, and all the dan∣gers she represented to him, did not in the least stagger his resolution from prosecuting his design. He already lov'd too much to be capable of any Coun∣sel against it; and it was impossible for him to wrastle with a passion, by which he was already overcome.

This dear Cousin of mine came the same day to see me, and needed not ma∣ny preambles to make me fall upon the discourse of Don Pedro; for as I had a very great confidence in her, I had al∣ready committed the greatest part of my bosome to her trust. She found me

in an excessive melancholy, which a little to divert, and to put me into a better humor, she acquainted me at the very first with the visit she had receiv'd. I embrac'd her five or six times for joy, and being she had a very great kindness for me, soon won her over to my side. Thus did she every day comfort me, and consolate Don Pedro in carrying some message or another betwixt us; but nevertheless this satisfaction was imper∣fect and poor if it proceeded no fur∣ther. I never discover'd to her the one half of what I had a mind to tell her and I had yet discretion enough to conceal part of the flame by which I was devour'd. At last, that she one day saw sorrow painted in my eyes, and death in my countenance, she deman∣ded of me what I ail'd? whereupon lay∣ing my heart a little more open to her than I had formerly done, I by degrees wrought upon her to carry me a Letter to Don Pedro, which she having enga∣ged to do, I took Pen, Inck and Paper, and write after this manner.