The history of Olivaires of Castile and Arthur of Dalgarve. Translated out of the Spanish into the Italian tongue, by Francesco Portonari: and from the italian made English. Licens'd, Feb. 1. 1694/5.

CHAP. XXXVIII.

A sad Accident befalling Olivaires, who was brought to himself only by the means of Helena.

OLivaires having remained some time in the Court, and being in continual expectation of the King's Promise, that he would give him the fair Helena to Wife, pass'd Nights and Days in imagining to himself the Hour, the Moment, the Manner, the Joy, and his intire Happiness. But yet for all his ruminating, he could not see any effect answer his Thoughts, nor could perceive any act or sign of Love express'd to him; so that on the other hand, he was afflicted and tor∣mented incessantly, and could get no rest nor comfort. At length a violent amorous Accident befel him: For be∣ing in a deep and fixed Musing, in

Presence of the King, with many No∣bles, he fainted, and fell down a•• dead. Whereupon he was immedi∣ately carried to his Chamber, and the Physicians were brought, and many Remedies prepared; but they could not with any recover him out of his Swoon. This dire Accident of Olivaires came to Helena's Ear; and she, as knowing his Malady, and who secretly loved him, with various con∣trivances, and great caution, convey'd her self where her Olivaires lay in this Deliquium, and calling loud to him, for she would try all means; she ap∣proached near unto him, and laid her hand upon his Forehead; which he begun to be sensible of, and look'd u•• as one awak'd out of sleep. And truly, I think, he would never have come to himself and life again, had not He∣lena's Spirits revived his, whose very touch did emit enough to cure him, Wherefore being recover'd of this Ac∣cident, he was very thankful to the King and Helena, for the care the

had taken of him: And leaving him to rest, the King and Helena depar∣ted. At Night, in the beginning of her sleep, the White Cavalier appear∣ed to Helena, and begg'd of her to ••••mper with the King to give her to Olivaires for his Consort, in as much as she would have for a Husband the bravest Hero in the World; telling her, that for this cause, he had given her the Ring, which quickly she should see on Olivaires Hand: And so vanish'd. Helena, keeping the Vision in her Mind, in the Morning deck'd her self in the richest Cloaths and Dresses that she had, and design'd to reveal the Matter to the King her Father, in the presence of Olivaires. So she procured of the King to go and dine with Olivaires in his Chamber, who after invited him to come and eat with him. Thus having got her End; as they were at Table many pleasant Discourses passed between them. At length, in the height of the King's Mirth, two Couriers came

to interrupt it, accompanying some Ambassadors from the Kings of Ire∣land, and Scotland, with the follow∣ing Speech.