Zayde a Spanish history, or, romance / originally written in French by Monsieur Segray ; done into English by P. Porter, Esq.

THE History of GONSALƲO.

MY Father was the most considerable Man in the Court of Leon, when he made me appear there with an Equipage suitable to his Quality. My Inchnation, my Age, and my Duty, fixed me near the Prince Don Garcia, the Kings Eldest Son: This Prince is Young, Handsome, and Am∣bitious; and his good Qualities are far grea∣ter, than his Defects; And it may truly be said, That he has none, but what his Passions prompts him to: I was so happy, as to be very well with him, though I did not deserve it: And, I did endeavour af∣terwards,

to become worthy of his Favour, by my Services and Fidelity to him. It was my good Fortune, to be near enough to his Person, in the first Warrs, to rescue him out of an eminent Danger, to which his too rash Valour had exposed him: This Service added to the Kindness he had for me. He loved me more like a Brother, than a Subject: He concealed nothing from me; He denyed me nothing: And, he let all the World see, that to gain his Love, they must be beloved by Gonsalvo: A Favour so great, joyned to the considerable Rank in which my Father stood, raised our House to so high a pitch, that it began to give the King umbrage, and apprehension that it should grow too Great.

Amongst an infinite number of young People, that the hope of making their For∣tunes, had made my Fellows; I had a par∣ticular Esteem for Don Ramires above all the rest: He was one of the most considerable of all the Court; but he was much inferi∣or in Fortune, to me: It was in my Pow∣er to raise him equal to my self: I employ∣ed at all times, both my Father's Credit, and my own, to his Advancement: I used all my endeavours, to obtain him as great a share as I could, in the Princes Favour: And he of his side, contributed very much, by his

sweet and insinuating Behaviour, to second my Endeavours; insomuch, that next to me, he was the Man of all the Court, that Don Garcias shewed the most Kindness to. I made it my whole Delight, to improve their mutual Kindness; and both the one, and the other, had already felt the Power of Love: They often made themselves merry with my Insensibility; and reproached me, with my want of Inclination, as an unpar∣donable Crime.

I also Laughed at them, because their In∣clinations were not Real: You Love, said I, that kind of Gallantry, which Custom has established in Spain; but you do not Love your Mistresses: You shall never perswade me, that you are in Love with a Person, whose Face you scarce know; and whom you would not know again, if you met her any where else, than at her Window, where you used to see her.

You urge the small Acquaintance we have with our Mistresses (said the Prince;) but we acknowledge their Beauty, which, in Love, is the Principal Verb: We judge of their Wit, first, by their Physiognomy; and then, by their Letters: And, when we come to see them nearer hand, we are char∣med with the Delight of discovering what we had not yet found out. Every Word

that falls from them, has the Charm of a Novelty: Their manner of Delivery is surprizing unto us; and our Surprize awa∣kens and increases Love: When those that are acquainted with their Mistresses, be∣fore they become enamoured of them, are so accustomed to their Beauty, and their Witt, that they are no more sensible when they are beloved again. You will never fall into this Misfortune, quoth I; But Sir, you shall have my consent to love all you do not know; provided, you give me liberty to love a Person, that I know so well, as to believe she deserves my Esteem; and may give me assurance to find in her, what may make me Happy when I am beloved again: I say, more-over, that I could wish she were not prepossessed in Favour of any other. And I (interrupted) Don Ramires, should take more Delight to conquer a Heart, that were defended by a Passion for another, than to vanquish one that never before had been ingaged. I should count this a double Victory; and I should be much more con∣vincingly perswaded of the true Inclination she should have for me, if I saw it begin in the greatest Heat and Passion she might have for another. In sine, It would be an equal sa∣tisfaction to my Glory, and my Love, to Ra∣vish a Mistress from a Rival. Gonsalvo is so

opposite to your Opinion (said the Prince); and judges it so bad, that he thinks it not fit to Answer you: And truly, I am of his side against you: But I am against his so particular Acquaintance with his Mistress: I should never fall in Love with a Person, that I had been used to see: And, if I am not surprized at first sight, I can never be sen∣sible. I am of Opinion, That natural In∣clinations do make their Impressions at the very first Moment; and, that those Passions that grow with time, cannot be truly called Passions. Why then (said I) it may be pre∣sumed, that you will never Love that Ob∣ject, which you have not loved at first sight: And Sir, (added I, Laughing) I must bring you my Sister, before she is come to that Perfection of Beauty, to which, in all pro∣bability, she is like to arrive, to accustom your self to see her; that so, you may ne∣ver be concerned for her. You sear then, I should have a Kindness for her, said Don Garcias. Never doubt it Sir, said I; Nay, I should think it the greatest Misfortune that could happen to me, if you should. What Misfortune can you find in that, Replyed Don Ramires? That, said I, of not being able to joyne with the Sentiments of the Prince; For, if he should desire to Marry my Sister, I should never consent to it, by

reason of the Interest of his Greatness: And if he did not intend to Marry her, and she should nevertheless Love him, as without doubt she would, I should have the Displea∣sure to see my Sister the Mistress of a Ma∣ster, whom I could not hate, though I ought to do it. Let me see her I pray you (inter∣rupted the Prince) before she can make me in Love with her; For, I should be so trou∣bled, to have Sentiments that might displease you, that I am impatient to see her, that I may assure my self, that I shall never fall in Love with her. I can no longer wonder, Replyed Don Ramires, (addressing himself to Don Garcias) that you have not been in Love with all those fair Ladies that are Bred in the Pallace, and to whom you have been accustomed from your Infancy; But I must confess, I have been surprized, that none of those Beauties have had any Influence upon you hitherto: And above all, Nugna Bella, the Daughter of Don Diego Porcellos, that seems to me to be so likely to do it. It is true (said Don Garcias,) that Nugna Bella is very Lovely: Her Eyes are infinit∣ly taking; She has a pretty Mouth; and the Aire of her Face is Noble and Deli∣cate: In fine, I should have been enamou∣red of her, had I not been used to see her, even from the first Moment I begun to see.

But, why (added the Prince) were not you in Love with her, Don Ramires, since you beleive her so amiable? Because (Reply∣ed he) she never loved any Body else; I should find no Rival to dispossess her Heart of: And I have told you, that is the only thing that is able to Charm me: You must ask Gonsalvo, Sir, why he was not taken with her; For I am sure, he thinks her Fair: She has no Tye upon her; and he has known her now a great while. Who told you, said I, (Smiling, and Blushing withall) that I do not love her? I know not, Replyed Don Ramires; but by your Blushes, I perceive, those that told me were deceived. Can it possible be, cryed the Prince to me, that you are in Love? If you are, tell it me quickly, I pray; for, I am extream glad to see you seized with a Passion; of which, you make so little shew. Seriously, said I, I am not in Love; but, to satisfie you, Sir, I own, that I might be in Love with Nugna Bella, if I were a little better acquainted with her. If there be no∣thing else to obstruct your Love, but to be better acquainted with her, assure your self, that you are already smitten. I will never go without you to the Queen my Mother; and I will Embroile my self more often with the King; that the care which she alwayes takes

to make my Peace, may oblige her to send for me at particular Hours: In fine, I will furnish you with Opportunities enough, to speak to Nugna Bella, that you may be throughly in Love with her: You will find her very Lovely; and if her Heart be as well accomplished as her Understanding, you will have little else to wish for in this World. I beseech you Sir, said I, do not take so much Pains to make me unhappy: And, a∣bove all, let your Pretexts to visit the Queen, be any other than your embroiling your self with the King: You well know how often he accuses me, for your Transgressions; and be∣lieves, that my Father and I, to make our selves more considerable, do inspire that de∣sire of Authority into you, which you take upon you sometimes, to his Displeasure. In the Humour I am in, to make Nugna Bella in love with you, I shall not be so cir∣cumspect as you would have me: I will take all opportunities, to carry you with me to the Queens Appartment: And though I have no particular Business, I will go thither immediately; and will sacrifice to the plea∣sure of making you in Love, a Night, which I intended to spend under those Windows; where, you believe, I know no Body.

I would not trouble you with the Parti∣culars of this Conversation, sayes Gonsalvo

to Alphonso; but that you might see by the Sequel, that it was a kind of a Presage of what has since happened.

The Prince goes to the Queens side; he found her with-drawn from all other Compa∣ny, but the Ladies of her own Family; of which number, Nugna Bella was one: She looked so well that Night, that it should seem, that Chance favoured the Prince's Designes. The Discourse was genreal for a time; as the Ladies enjoyed more Freedome than at other hours, Nugna Bella spoke more than she used; and I was surprized to find her to have more Wit, than I observed in her be∣fore. The Prince prayed the Queen to go into her Closset, without acquainting us what he had to say to her: While she was there, I stayed with Nugna Bella, and seve∣ral other Persons, without. I insensibly en∣gaged her into a particular Conversation; and, though it was only touching indifferent things, there appeared in it, something more Gallant, than uses to be in the ordinary Discourses: We blamed altogether, the re∣tired manner of Living, to which the Ladies in Spain are obliged to; as finding, by our own Experience, that we are deprived of some Satisfaction, in not having any where Liberty to entertain our selves. If I felt from that moment, that I begun to love Nug∣na

Bella, she found likewise (as she told me after, that I was not indifferent to her; being of the humour whereof she was, her conquest over me could not be disagreeable to her; there was something so bright in my Fortune, that a person less ambitious than she, might have been dazled with it; she never neglected to appear lovely before me, though she did nothing opposite to her natural haughtiness. Directed by the insight, a growing love inspires, I soon flattered my self with the hope of pleasing her, and this hope was as proper to inflame me, as the thought of finding a Rival well beloved was to cure me. The Prince was over∣joyed to find that I applyed my self to Nugna Bella; he every day gave me oppor∣tunities to entertain her; he was also willing I should tell her of the differences that were betwixt the King and him, and to instruct her in the way the Queen was to use to bring him to, condescended to what the King desired of him: Nugna Bella failed not to give the Queen these Advices, and as often as the Queen made use of them, she never wanted the success she desired, so that the Queen never undertook any thing in the Princes behalf, without first consulting Nugna Bella, nor Nugna Bella without ac∣quainting me. Thus we had great oppor∣tunities

of conversing with one another: and in those conversations, I found in her so much wit, prudence and agreeableness; and she likewise fancied in me so much Merit, and really found so much Love, that it kind∣led in us a flame that has been since very violent: The Prince would needs be my Confident, nor could I hide any thing from him: I feared only that Nugna Bella would be offended if I had told him that she shew∣ed me any demonstrations of kindness; but Don Garcias assured me, that of the humour she was of, she would be no way displeased at it: He spoke to her of me; she was at first out of countenance, and in some disor∣der at what he told her; but as he judged right, the greatness of the confident, made her approve of the confidence; she accustom∣ed her self to suffer him to entertain her up∣on the subject of my passion, and received by his hand the first Letters I writ to her.

Love was to us an agreeable novelty, in which we found all the secret charms that are no where to be had but in our first Love: As my Ambition was fully satisfied, even before I was in Love, this last passion was no way weakened by the former; I gave up my soul to this new pleasure, which till that time was unknown to me, and which I valued above all that Grandure

can bestow: Nugna Bella was not so, for these Passions took their Birth in her at the same time, and equally divided her heart; her natural inclination was without question, more prone to Ambition than to Love, but as the one and the other had a reference to me, I still found in her all the ardour, and all the application I could desire; not but that she was sometimes as much taken up with the Princes affairs, as she was with the concerns of our Love. For my part, be∣ing taken up wholly by my passion for her, I found out to my sorrow that Nugna Bella was capable of other thoughts: I complain∣ed to her of it, but I found that my com∣plaints were fruitless, and produced nothing but a certain constrained Conversation which gave me to see that her mind was else-where ingaged. Notwithstanding, having heard say that we could not be perfectly happy in Love, no more than in other things of this life, I suffered this Misfortune with pa∣tience. Nugna Bella Loved me with an exact Faith, and I could perceive in her no∣thing but contempt for any else that durst look upon her: I was perswaded that she was free from all those imbecilities to which other Women are inclined: this thought made my happiness so compleat, that I thought I had nothing further to wish for.

Fortune had placed me in a rank worthy the emulation and envy of the most Am∣bitious; I was Favourite to a Prince whom I loved with a passionate inclination; I was beloved by the fairest Woman in Spain, whom I adored; and I had a Friend whom I thought faithful, because I made his For∣tune. The only thing that troubled my hap∣piness, was the Injustice I saw in Don Gar∣cias his impatience to command, and to find my Father Nugnes Fernando of a turbulent unquiet spirit, and aspiring (as the King suspected) to raise himself above all other Authority: I was apprehensive to be in∣gaged by the Lawes of Gratitude and Na∣ture to persons that might draw me to do things that did no way seem just to me. In the mean time, as these were but uncer∣tainties and imaginations, they troubled me but sometimes, and I eased my mind by communicating them to Don Ramires, in whom I had so much confidence, that I acquainted him with my very fears and ap∣prehensions of things of the highest impor∣tance, and my sore-sight of dangers yet a∣far off.

But the chiefest occupation of my mind, was the design I had to Marry Nugna Bella: I had now a long time been in Love with her without presuming to make her that o∣verture:

I know the King would oppose it, because Nugna Bella was the Daughter of a Count of Castile, whose revolt was as much feared as my Fathers, and it was a∣gainst the rules of pollicy to let them U∣nite by the tyes of a Marriage. I knew likewise that my Father, although he was not averse to my design, would not consent to have my Marriage proposed, fearing lest that would increase the Kings suspition, so that I was forced to wait a more favoura∣ble conjuncture; but in the mean while I did not conceal the Inclination I had for Nugna Bella: I spoke to her as often as I had opportunity, the Prince also spoke to her very often: The King took Cognisance of our intelligence, and took that for a State-affair that was but a Love intreigue; he be∣lieved his Son did favour my design upon Nugna Bella, thereby to joyn the two Counts of Castile to his interest; he thought his Son meant thereby to form a Party considerable enough to beget him an Authority that might ballance his: He doubted not but that the two Counts of Castile would take his Sons part, in hopes to get themselves ac∣knowledged Soveraign Princes: Lastly, the Union of the two Houses of Castile was so terrible to him, that he declared he would not have me by any means think of Nugna

Bella, and forbid the Prince in any wise to favour our Marriage.

The Counts of Castile, who perhaps were not innocent of all that they were suspect∣ed of by the King, but wanted power to shew their intentions, commanded us to think no more of one another; this command was most grievous to us: But the Prince pro∣mised us to make the King change his reso∣lusion in some short time; he ingaged us mutually to promise each other an eternal Friendship, and took upon him to find means to continue our commerce, and conceal our intreigue. The Queen, who well knew, that far from carrying the Prince to a revolt, we endeavoured with all our might to keep him within the bounds of his Allegiance, approved her Sons design for us, and favour∣ed it as much as might be.

As it was no longer permitted us to speak to one another in publick, we sought after means to entertain our selves in private. I thought it to our purpose that Nugna Bella should be removed from her Appartment to another, whereof all the Windows looked into a Bye-lane, and were so low, that a Man on Horse-back might look in, and conveniently discourse without trouble of speaking very loud: I proposed this project to the Prince, he commended it to

the Queen, she upon some specious pretence, causes it to be done as we desired. I came every day to this Window to wait the mo∣ment in which Nugna Bella could come to speak to me; sometimes I went away ex∣treamly charmed with the good esteem she had for me, and sometimes I parted in de∣spair, to see her so much taken up with the Queen: Hitherto Fortune was constant to favour my designes, but she soon changed her course, to let me see that she could not continue a constant Friend to any Man.

My Father, who was fully informed of the Kings suspicion of him, resolved by a new Testimony of his Sincerity, to shew his Majesty how unjust his suspicions were: He designes to place my Sister in the Pal∣lace, notwithstanding the resolution he had before taken of leaving her in Castilia; a vain thought pushed him on to this resolve; he took a pride to shew to the Court a Beauty, which he believed to be one of the most accomplished of all Spain; never was a∣ny Father more fondly conceited of his Childrens Beauty, and drew from it a Va∣nity which might be call'd a great weak∣ness in a Person of his quality; he brought her therefore to Court, and she was re∣ceived into the Pallace.

Don Garcias happened to be a Hunting that day she came; he came at night to visit the Queen, without having seen any body that might give him an account of her: I was also there, but retired into a corner where he could not see me. The Queen presents Hermenesilde to him (so was my Sister called) he was surprized with her Beauty, even to admiration; he said, he ne∣ver before saw in one person so much Beau∣ty, so much Majesty, and so much agreea∣bleness; and that, so white a skin, so black hair, and eyes of so delicate a blew was never seen before; that her bloming youth was accompanyed with a becoming Gra∣vity; the more he looked upon her, the more he commended her. Don Ramires ob∣served his earnestness in praising Hermene∣silde; it was not hard for him to judge, that I had the same thoughts of Don Garcias his actions; and seeing me at the other end of the Room, he came to me to speak of my Sisters Beauty: I wish there were none else taken with her but you, said I: as I was speaking these words, Don Garcias by chance came near me; he seemed to be surprised, seeing me, but he recollected himself, and talked to me of Hermenesilde, tel∣ling me that I had not described her so Beau∣tiful as he found her: At his going to Bed

that Night, all the discourse was of her; I observed him with much care, and his not commending her with the same assurance the rest did, confirmed my suspicions of him; the following days he could not refrain en∣tertaining of her; and the inclination he had for her, seemed to me to hurry him like a torrent to what he could not resist: I endeavoured to discover his thoughts without any serious application; one night, as we came out from the Queen, where he had entertained Hermenesilde for a conside∣rable time. Sir, may I be so bold as to ask you (said I) whether I have not been too backward to shew you my Sister, and whether she has not Beauty enough to cause in you those surprises which I was appre∣hensive of: I have been surprised with her Beauty (answered the Prince) but though I believe one cannot be concerned for her without being surprised, so I do not believe that any can be surprised without being con∣cerned.

Don Gracias was resolved not to make me a more serious answer than my Question was; but as he was perplext with my de∣mand, and that he catched himself in it, there was a tone of disgust in his answer by which he gave me, to understand that I was not deceived in my judgment: And he like∣wise

found that I had perceived his passion for my Sister; yet he loved me well e∣nough to conceive some grief to have em∣barqued himself in an affair that he knew must be displeasing to me; but he was too far ingaged in Love to Hermenesilde, to give over his design of creating as much Love in her; neither did I pretend that he should leave loving of her, for the Love of me; my thoughts were only to prepossess my Sister with what she was to do if the Prince should make her a declaration of his Love. I therefore gave her a caution in all things to follow the advice of Nugna Bella, which she promised to do: I therefore declared to Nugna Bella my disquiet about the Princes Love to my Sister; I told her all the unhappy consequences which I ap∣prehended from it; she had the same thoughts, and promised me that she would keep so close to Hermenesilde, that the Prince should find difficulty enough to speak to her; whereupon they were so inseparably without the least shew of doing of it pur∣posely, that Don Garcias could never find Hermenesilde without Nugna Bella; this diffi∣culty was so troublesome to him, that he was hardly like the same man: As he for∣merly used to acquaint me with all his thoughts, and that he told me never a word

of what most possessed then his mind, I quickly found a great alteration in his pro∣ceedings towards me.

Do not you admire (said I to Don Ra∣mires) the injustice of Man-kind? The Prince hates me because he feels in his heart a passion that ought to displease me; and if he were Loved by my Sister, he would hate me more than he does: I well fore∣saw the Mischief that would befall me, if her Beauty should make any impression upon him; and if he does not change the inclination he has for her, I shall not be long his Fa∣vourite in the eyes of the publick, since I am no more so in his heart. Don Ramires was convinced of the Princes Love as well as I; but to blot out of my mind a thing that gave me pain, I know not (said he) what grounds you have to believe that Don Garcias is in Love with Hermenesilde; it is true, he commended her at first, but I saw nothing ever since in him that can make out his being in Love: And admit he should be in Love, what great mischief would there be in that? Why may not he Marry her? he is not the first Prince that has Married one of his Subjects, neither can he find any more worthy of him then she; and if he should Marry her, what an honour would it be for your House? It is for that very rea∣son

(said I) that the King will never con∣sent he should Marry her; neither would I have it done without his Consent; and may be, the Prince himself does not aim at it; or, if he did, that he would not pursue it neither resolutely enough, nor long enough, to bring it to pass. In fine, It is a thing that is not feasible; nor will I suffer the World to believe, That I would hazard my Sister's Reputation, upon the ungrounded Hope of a Greatness, to which we shall ne∣ver attain. If Don Garcias continues his pursuit of my Sister, I will carry her from Court. Don Ramires was astonished at my Resolution; He was afraid I should fall out with Don Garcias: He resolved to Discover to him my Sentiments; and fancyed, he might do it without my Consent, since his intention was to serve me: But, without doubt, the Desire he had to ingratiate him∣self with the Prince, and to creep that way into his Confidence, was no small Promo∣ter of this Resolution.

He took his time to spake to him alone; He told him, He forced to commit an Infi∣delity against me, by revealing my Thoughts contrary to my Intentions: But that the Zeal he had for his Service, obliged him to inform him, That I believed he was in Love with my Sister; and that I was so

much grieved at it, that I resolved to carry her away from Court. Don Garcias was so struck with Don Ramire's Discourse, and the thought of seeing Hermenesilde leave the Court, that it was impossible for him to con∣ceal his first Transports: And therefore, believing that Don Ramires could no longer doubt of the Concern he had for my Sister, he thought best to acknowledge it; there∣by to ingage him, to continue his Discove∣ries of my Designes, from time to time; but he was a while, before he could resolve to do this: At last, being confirm'd in his Intention, he Embraces him; and confes∣ses, That he was in Love with Hermenesilde: He told him, That he had done what he could, to defend himself from being in Love with her, upon my Consideration; But, it was impossible for him to live, without being beloved by her: That he begged his Assistance to help him, to conceal his Passi∣on, and hinder that Hermenesilde should be removed from Court. Don Ramires, his Heart was not of a Temper to resist the Ca∣resses of a Prince, whose Favourite he was in Election to be: Friendship and Gratitude are too weak, to resist Ambition: He pro∣mises the Prince to keep his Counsel, and to serve him with Hermenesild. The Prince Em∣braces him the second time; and they concert

together, how they were to demean them∣selves in the pursuit of this Enterprize.

The first Obstacle that occurs, is Nugna Bella, who never abandoned Hermenesild: They resolved to win her to their side; and, notwithstanding all the strict Tyes that were betwixt her and me, Don Ramires takes up∣on him, to find the Means to bring it about: But tells him, That it was necessary, that he should himself endeavour to blot out of my Mind, the Knowledge I had of his Pas∣sion: He advised him to tell me, by way of Joke, that he was glad he had found means to make me afraid for some time past, to Revenge himself of me, for the Suspiti∣ons I at first conceived of him: But, see∣ing this my Apprehension went too far, he would no longer let me believe, that he had any Sentiments, that I might disap∣prove.

Don Garcias approving of this Expedient, easily executed it: And, as he under∣stood by Don Ramires, the things which gave me the most cause of Suspition, it was not hard for him to say, he did them of purpose: And, it was almost impossible for me not to believe him. Thus was I through∣ly perswaded, and fancyed my self better with him, than ever I was; yet I could not but think, that he had some Thoughts in

Heart, which he kept from me: Yet I fan∣cied this was but a slight Inclination, which he had over-come; for which, I believed my self obliged to him, for having done it for my sake. In fine, I was very well sa∣tisfied with Don Garcia's; and Don Ramires was not a little pleased, to see me calmed, as he desired. Then he began to cast about, how he might bring Nugna Bella into the Confidence he wished of her.

Having considered a little with him∣self about the Means, he sought an occasion to speak to her; which she often gave him; because, she knew I concealed nothing from him, and that she might Discourse with him about our Concerns: He began to entertain her with his Joy, that the Prince and I were made Friends. She told him, She was as glad of it as he: For, that I found (said she) Gonsalvo so nice upon the Concern of his Sister, that I apprehended he might em∣broile himself with Don Garcia. If I thought Madam (said he) that you were of those, that were capable of concealing any thing from their Lovers, when it is neces∣sary for their Interest, it would be a great Comfort to me, to speak to a Person as concerned as your self, in what regards Gon∣salvo: I fore-see things that gives great Disquiet; and you are the only Person to

whom I may impart them: But, Madam, it is upon Condition, that you will not speak of them even to Gonsalvo himself. I do promise it you, said she; and you shall find me as secret, as you can desire: I know, that as it is dangerous to conceal some things from our Friends; so it is as dangerous never to conceal any thing from them. You shall see, Madam, (said he) of what Importance it is to conceal what I am going about to tell you: Don Garcias has lately given Don Gonsalvo new Assurances of his Friendship; and has assured him, that he has no more Thoughts of his Sister; But I am very much mistaken, if he does not love her most pas∣sionately: Of the Humour this Prince is of, he cannot long conceal his Passion; and, of the Humour Don Gonsalvo is of, he will never suffer it should continue: He will in∣fallibly anger the Prince, and quite lose his Favour. I must confess (said Nugna) that I had the same Suspitions: And, by what I have seen, and by certain things that Hermenesilde has told me, which I would not let her acquaint her Brother with, I could not induce my Thoughts to believe, that what Don Garcias has, was but an Affecta∣tion, and a designe, only to fright Don Gon∣salvo. You did very discreetly (said Don Ramires;) and I believe, Madam, you will

do well for the suture, to keep Hermenesilde from telling her Brother any thing of what passes betwixt her and the Prince, for it is both dangerous, and to no purpose to speak to him of it: If the Prince has but a mo∣derate passion for her, he will easily hide it, and by your conduct Hermenesilde will easily cure him of it; Gonsalvo will know nothing, and so you will keep out of mor∣tal apprehensions, and preserve him in the favour of the Prince: But if Don Garcias his passion be violent and strong, do you think it impossible for him to Marry Her∣menesilde? and would you believe that we should do Gonsalvo ill Service, if what we keep from his knowledge, should be a means to make his Prince his Brother-in-Law? Assuredly Madam, you must well con∣sider, whether Don Garcias his Love to Herme∣nesilde must be broke off; and it concerns you more than any, by the interest you may have to see one day a person, your Queen, which in all appearance will be your Sister-in-Law.

These last words made Nugna see what she had not till then thought of; the hopes of being Sister-in Law to the Queen, made her believe there was more weight in Don Ramires his reasons than in truth there was: At last be managed her so well, that it

was agreed betwixt them, that I should know nothing of their intreigne, that they would make an exact scrutiny into the Prince's Thoughts; and that, from what they should be able to discover of them, they would take their Measures according∣ly.

Don Ramires, Transported with Joy, to have so well begun his Negotiation, gives the Prince an Account of what he had done: The Prince was over-joyed at it, and gave Don Ramires full power to say what he pleased of his Inclinations. Don Ra∣mires now, plenipotentiary of the Princes Af∣fections, returns immediately to Nugna Bel∣la: He makes to her a long Narrative of his manner of bringing the Prince to ac∣knowledge his Passion for my Sister: He adds, That he never saw Man so transpor∣ted with Love: That he admired the Vio∣lence the Prince used to himself, for fear of displeasing me: That all things might be hoped from a Man so passionately in Love; But that it was necessary to give him some Hope, that his Love would succeed. Nug∣na gave full Credit to all Don Ramires had said; and promised him to serve Don Gar∣cias, and employ all her Interest with my Sister, for him.

Don Ramires runs to the Prince with this Newes; which he receives with incredible Joy, and Embraced him a thousand times over: He could not forbear speaking to him; and wished, he might not be obliged to speak to any Body else: But that, he saw he could not in Prudence change his Conduct, nor his manner of Living with me. Don Ramires himself, took great care to conceal his new acquired Favour; and the Remorse of his Treachery, made him still believe that I suspected it.

Don Garcias soon found Opportunity to speak to Hermenesilde; He declared to her his Passion for her, with all the Zeal he could: And, as he was really in Love, he found no great difficulty to perswade her, that he was so. She was disposed to Entertain him kindly: But, after what I had said to her, she was afraid to follow the Dictates of her own Heart. She acquaints Nugna with all that passed betwixt the Prince and her. Nugna, for those very Reasons Don Ramires had alleadged to her, advised her to let me know nothing; and so to manage the Prince, as to inflame him more, and preserve his Esteem for her: She told her further, That what-ever Repugnance I might shew against the Princes Love to her; yet she might well believe, that I should be very glad of

what was like to be so advantagious to me, but that for certain reasons I was unwilling to take any Cognisance of things until they were more advanced. Hermenesilde, who had an entire deferrence to all that Nugna Bella desired, was easily drawn to follow her conduct, and her inclination for Don Garcias was strongly supported with the hopes of a Crown.

This intrigue betwixt my Sister and the Prince was carried on with so much art and dexterity, that except the first day or two that notice was taken of his commending her Beauty, none ever suspected that he had any inclination for her: He never en∣tertained her publickly, for Nugna gave him opportunities of conversing with her in pri∣vate: I perceived a decay in the Princes Friendship to me, but I did attribute it to the inequality and levity which is usual in young people.

Things were in this posture when Ab∣dala, King of Cordona (betwixt whom and the King of Leon there had been a long Truce, begun the War again. The com∣mand of the Army belonged to Nugnes Fer∣nando by the right of his place; and though the King were unwilling to place him at the head of his Troops, yet could he not take the command of them from him, without

charging him with some great Crime, or causing him to be clapt up: It's true, he might have given Don Garcias the com∣mand over him, but the King apprehend∣ed him more than he did the Count of Ca∣stile, and was affraid to see them both to∣gether with a great power in their hands.

On the other side Biscay began to revolt, wherefore he resolves to send the Prince a∣gainst the Rebels, and Nugnes Fernando a∣gainst the Moores: I should have been glad to serve under my Father, but the Prince would have me along with him into Biscay; and the King was more inclined to have me with his Son than with the Count of Ca∣stile, so that I was fain to submit to what was desired, and to see my Father part be∣fore us. He was much troubled that I was not permitted to attend him, and besides ma∣ny other considerable reasons that made him desire my being in his Army, his pa∣ternal Love was none of the least: The af∣fection he bore to my Sister and me was infinitely tender; he carryed along with him our Pictures, that he might have the satisfaction of seeing us always, and of shew∣ing the beauty of his Children, of which I believe I told you that he was very much enamoured. He marched against Abdala with a very considerable Army, but much

inferiour to that of the Moores; and instead of endeavouring only to hinder their passage in a place whereof the very Scituation made his Army inaccessible; the desire of doing something extraordinary, made him hazard a Battle in open Campagne, where he could have no manner of advantage; his men was so totally routed, that he had much difficulty to save himself; all his Ar∣my was cut in pieces, all his Baggage lost, and the Moors perhaps never gained be∣fore so signal a Victory against the Christi∣ans.

They received the news of this overthrow with much regret, laying all the blame up∣on my Father, and not without reason; but as he was glad to humble him, he laid hold of this occasion; and when my Father de∣sired to come to justifie himself, he sent him word he would never see him more, and that he deprived him of all his Offi∣ces, that he might thank God that his head was not taken off; he had orders to retire to his own Estate. My Father obeyed him, and with-drawes into Castilia as full of rage and despair as an ambitious man, whose fortune and reputation had received so great a breach, could be capable of.

The Prince (by reason of a dangerous fit of Sickness) was not yet departed for Biscay;

the King Marches in person against the Moores with all the force he could bring together: I beg'd leave to wait upon him, which he granted, but unwillingly; he would have heaped upon me all my Fathers dis∣graces, but as I had no share in his fault, and that the Prince still shewed much kind∣ness for me, the King durst not Banish me into Castile, therefore I followed him, and Don Ramires staid with the Prince. Nugna Bella seemed to be neerly concerned for my Misfortune and our separation: I parted with the Consolation at least of believing my self beloved of the person of the World I most esteemed and loved.

The Prince being not in a condition to command, his Brother Don Ordogno march∣ed unto Biscay; he was as unfortunate in his enterprise as the King was successful: Don Ordogno was defeated, and escaped nar∣rowly with his Life. They overthrew the Moores, and forced them to beg Peace. It was my good fortune to do some conside∣rable Services, but I was never the better used by the King; the reputation I had ac∣quired, did not free me from the Contagi∣ous Ayre, with which Disgrace had blasted me: When I came to Leon, I easily per∣ceived that Glory does not confer the same lustre as Favour does.

Don Garcias (during my absence) had the advantage of seeing Hermenesilde very often, but with that caution, that none per∣ceived or took notice of his addresses; he sought all means imaginable to please her; he gave her hopes that he would one day place her upon the Throne of Leon; he had, In fine, shewed so much affection to∣wards her, that she wholly abandoned her heart to him.

As Don Ramires and Nugna Bella were obliged to see one another often, the bet∣ter to mannage this intelligence, and the Beauty of Nugna was of those kinds that are not often seen without danger; so the admiration which Don Ramires had for her, augmented every day, and she likewise was not a little taken with his Wit, which, to say the truth, was very agreeable. The particular commerce that passed betwixt them, and the continual occupation which the affairs of the Prince and Hermenesilde gave her, made her less sensible of my ab∣sence than she could have promis'd her self at our separation.

As soon as the King was returned, he bestowed all the places which Nugna Fer∣nando had, upon Don Ramires his Father. I did upon that occasion beyond what could be expected from a sincere Friend; for al∣though,

after the Services I had rendered the King in these two last Wars, I might have pretended to those employments which were taken from my Father, yet I did no way oppose my pretensions to the Kings dis∣posing of them.

I went to Don Ramires, and told him that the only consolation I had, after the loss of so many advantagious establishments taken from my Family, was the joy I had to see them confer'd upon his House; though Don Ramires wanted no wit, yet he could make me no answer; he was con∣founded to receive such marks of a Friend∣ship which he knew he did not deserve; but I gave so favourable a construction to his Confusion, that his words could not be more perswasive to me. My Fathers em∣ployments being transfer'd to another Fami∣ly, made the Court believe that his disgrace was for ever without remedy; and Don Ra∣mires was now almost in my stead by the new Dignities his Father had received, and by the Princes favour towards himself: This favour appeared very plainly, not∣withstanding all the care they both took to conceal it; and every body insensibly be∣gan to follow this new Favourite, and by degrees to leave me. Nugna Bella's affecti∣on was not so firmly setled, but that these

alterations caused some change in it; my Fortune as much as my Person had laid the foundation of her Love for me: I was in disgrace, and she held for me, by the bare tyes of a Love, that was too weak long to hold a heart like hers. I found soon after a sensible decay in her affection towards me; I complained of it to Don Ramires, I spoke of it likewise to Nugna Bella; she as∣sured me, that she was still the same for me as she had been; and as I had no precise cause of complaint, and that my suspicions took their rise from a certain ayre of neg∣lect, which I imagined in all her actions: It was not hard for her to justifie her self, which she did with so much cunning and address, that she re-assured me for some time.

Don Ramires entertained her upon the subject of my suspicions of her change, and spoke to her with design to find out whe∣ther she were so or not; without doubt, with a desire to know that I was not de∣ceived in my opinion. I am not changed, said she; I Love as well as I ever did; but if I loved him less, it were injustice in him to complain; are we Masters of the begin∣nings or end of our passions? She spoke these words with an ayre, that assured him that she no longer loved me: This assu∣rance

which gave Don Ramires some hope, made him open his eyes to contemplate the Beauty of this unfaithful Woman, of which he was so enamoured, that being no longer Master of himself, told her, she was in the right. We have no power, Ma∣dam, over our passions, for I feel one that draws me so forceably, that it is not in my power to resist it; but remember, it is your opinion, that it does not depend on us to oppose it. Nugna Bella easily comprehend∣ed his meaning; at which she seemed a lit∣tle concern'd as well as he: As he had said it with premeditation, he was surprised at the effect it had; the remembrance of the Obligations he owed me, fill'd all his thoughts, and put him into some disorder, he cast down his eyes, and remained a while in a profound silence, and Nugna Bella, for rea∣sons of the like nature, was silent likewise; they parted without any further discourse: Don Ramires repented him of what he had said, and Nugna Bella, that she did not an∣swer him: Don Ramires went away so much troubled, and so out of order, that he was not himself; after recollecting himself a lit∣tle, he began to reflect upon his own thoughts, but the more he examined them, the farther he found his heart ingaged; he then begun to consider the danger he ex∣posed

himself to, by so often seeing Nugna Bella, he knew the delight he had taken in her Conversation, was of another nature than he had imagined. Lastly, he found he was in Love, and that it was too late to endeavour to suppress it.

The assurance he had that Nugna Bella loved me less, left him no force to resist his passion; he thought he had excuse e∣nough to engage himself to her, when he knew her disingaged from me; he found some pleasure in undertaking to conquer a heart, of which I was no longer so abso∣lutely possessor, but that he might conceive some hopes to gain it; but withall, that I had power enough over it to acquire him the glory of dispossessing me: However, when he came to consider that it was Gon∣salvo that must be removed from this heart, that Gonsalvo, to whom he owed so true a Friendship; his thoughts made him blush, and opposed them so, that he believed he had conquered them, he resolved to say no more of his Love to Nugna Bella, and to avoid the occasions of speaking to her.

Nugna Bella, who had no other trouble, but for not answering Don Ramires as she ought to have done, made not so many re∣flections; she thought she had no reason to seem to understand what he said to her,

she believed she ought to have some kind∣ness for a man, with whom she had such tyes: She said to her self, that he had not spoken to her with any design, though she had for a long time perceived the Inclina∣tion he had for her; but least she should repent her, or be obliged to use Don Ra∣mires ill, she undertook not to believe what she could no way doubt of.

Don Ramires followed the design he had taken for a while, but in vain, for he faw every day Nugna Bella: She was hand∣some, she no longer loved me; she used him kindly: It was impossible to resist so many allurements, he resolves therefore to follow the inclinations of his heart: He had no sooner taken this resolution, but all his former remorse vanished; the first Treachery he committed against me, made the second more easie; he had used himself to deceive me, and to conceal from me what he said to Nugna Bella: He tells her at last that he loved her, and he told it her with all the marks of an unfeigned passion, exagerating to her his grief for transgressing against out Friendship; he inforces that he is hurried on by the most violent passion that ever man had; he assures her he does not pre∣tend to be loved again, that he well knew the advantages I had over him, and the

impossibility of removing me out of her heart, but that he only begg'd the favour of her to hear him, and to help him to re∣cover himself, and to conceal his weakness from me. Nugna promises the last, as a thing she thought her self obliged to, fear∣ing least some mischief might happen be∣twixt us, and told him with a great deal of sweetness, that she could not grant him the rest. Believing she should be a complice to his crime if she should suffer the continu∣ance of it; yet for all that she did suffer it; the Love he bore her, and the Friendship she had for him, drew her wholly to his side: I appeared less agreeable in her eye; she could see no great advantage in my For∣tune, being threatned daily with an assured Banishment into Castile: She knew the King had always a mind to send me thither, and that the Prince opposed it only out of a point of Honour; she saw no likelihood of his Marrying Hermenesild; she was still his Confident in the Love he had for her; and by this and Don Ramire's Love towards her, she still kept her Credit with Don Garcias, she believed the King was less disposed than ever, to consent to our Marriage; he had no reason to oppose her Marriage with Don Ramires, she found in him the same advan∣tages that recommended my Love to her:

and lastly, she concluded that reason as well as prudence did Authorise her change, and that she ought to abandon a man that was never like to be her Husband, for one that in all probability might Marry her; there needs not always so many reasons to warrant a Womans Levity. Nugna Bella therefore determins to engage in Affection with Don Ramires; though when she made that resolution, she was already engaged to him both in her inclination and her words; yet whatever her resolutions were, she had not force enough to let me see that she de∣serted me in the time of my disgrace.

Neither could Don Ramires resolve to declare his Treachery; it was agreed be∣twixt them, that Nugna Bella should conti∣nue to live with me after the same rate she had been used to do; and they believed that I could not easily discover her change, because as I told Don Ramires still the least of my thoughts, she being always told of them by Don Ramires, might easily pre∣vent any cause of suspicion: They resolved also to tell Don Garcias how things stood betwixt them, thereby to engage him to their interest; Don Ramires took upon him to do it, though he could not resolve it without trouble, for the shame, and the fear of being discountenanced embarashed him. But

the Confidence Don Garcias put in him, and the power he gave him to mannage his Love, gave him some assurance: The truth is, that he managed the Prince as he pleased; he engages him, even to speak a good word for him to Nugna Bella, so that this new Favourite had his Master for his Con∣fident; as he was his Masters, Nugna Bella, who apprehended that the Prince would condemn her Inconstancy, was ravished to find him rather a promoter of it; they re∣doubled their Bonds of mutual fidelity to one another; they then take their measures how to conceal this intelligence; she resolved that, seeing the particular Whisperings of Don Ramires and the Prince might give me some Jealousie, because in appearance they ought to keep no secret from me, that Don Ra∣mires should come to the Prince by a back Stair, at such times as he had none with him, and that they should never speak any thing before me of their intreigue: Thus was I betrayed and forsaken by all those I loved best, without being able to suspect them in the least.

All I was in pain for, was only because I fancied some change in Nugna Bella's heart; if I complained to Don Ramires, Don Ra∣mires gave her notice of it, that she might counterfeit better; but when I seemed at

ease, he was unquiet, he feared still I had regained Nugna Bella; then he would not have her act her part so well in Cheating me; she obeyed him, and neglected me more than ever: Thus he had his Rival complaining to him of the hard usage he received by his order. Sometimes he was very glad when he had desired her to put a constraint upon her self, to learn by my complaints that she had not constrained her self as much as he desired her. It was such a charm for his glory and his love to have ruined such a Rival as I appeared to him, and to see my quiet depend upon the least word of his mouth, that were it not for his extream Jealousie, he would be the happi∣est man in the world.

While I was taken up with my Amour, my Father was busied by his Ambition; he had made so many Cabals, and so many intregues in the time of his Exile, that he believed himself in a condition to revolt o∣penly; but before all, I was to be drawn from Court, I was too dear, and too con∣siderable a pledge to him to leave me in the Kings hands, when he intended to declare War against him: He was not so apprehen∣sive of my Sister, because her Sex and her Beauty would protect her against all events. He sent me a person known in all his de∣signes,

to inform me how matters stood, and to command me to quie the Court in that very instant, without taking leave either of the King or Prince. This Messenger was strangely surprised to find me quite of ano∣ther opinion than my Father: I told him that I would never give my consent to so unjust a revolt; that it was true, the King had dealt ill with Nugnes Ferrando, in taking away his employments; but that this af∣front was to be endured, because he had in some measure deserved it; that for my part I was resolved not to leave the Court, nor ever to take Arms against my King: This Messenger carryed back my Answer to my Father, he was outragiously mad to see so many great designes quashed to no∣thing by my disobedience alone: He sent me back word, that (though he never in∣tended it) he would pursue his enterprise; and that since I had so little obedience for his will, he would not change his resoluti∣on, though the King of Leon were to cut off my head.

In the mean time Don Ramires, his passi∣on for Nugna Bella grew still, and he could no longer indure the manner of her conver∣sation with me, though he saw it necessa∣ry: Well Madam, says he to her one day, after she had entertained me a pretty while,

you look upon him still with the same kind∣ness that you used to do, you speak to him after the same manner, you write to him the same kind things; who shall as∣sure me, that it is no more with the same heart? He once pleased you, and that's enough to find the way of doing it again. But you know (said she) I do but what you would have me; that is true, replyed he, and that is it which renders my misfor∣tune insupportable, that I must in prudence advise you to do those things, which when you do them, puts me into despair; it is unheard, that a Lover ever gave his con∣sent that his Rival should be kindly treated. Madam, I can no longer endure that you should look upon Gonsalvo; there is nothing I would not attempt to ruine him, rather than live in the condition I am in; for af∣ter having rob'd him of your heart, I ought not much to scruple cutting his Throat: Your Passion (answered Nugna Bella) is too violent to hold; you will first consider how many important secrets you will discover before you fall out with Don Gonsalvo, and to what Reproaches you will expose your self. I see all that is to be seen Madam, said he; I see likewise, that if I must have but little sense to do what I propose, I must have none at all, to suffer a man e∣very

way lovely, that once has pleased you, to spake to you every day in private; if I knew nothing of it, I should have the cruel delight of being deceived: But I know it, I see you speaking to him; it is I that brings you Letters, it is I that re∣assures him when he doubts of your Af∣fection: Ah Madam, it is impossible I should hold out any longer, using so much vio∣lence against my self: If you would contri∣bute to my quiet, contrive it so that Gon∣salvo may leave the Court; and the Prince would consent to send him into Castile, as his Majesty presses him every day. Consi∣der, I beseech you, replyed Nugna Bella, what an action you would have me do? Yes Madam, returned Don Ramires, I have con∣sidered it; but after all that you have done, it is no longer time to stand upon Niceties: and if you consent not to the Banishment of Don Gonsalvo, I shall believe I have more reason to endeavour his absence from you than I thought: Once more, Madam, by what arguments shall I be convinced that you love him no more? you see him, you speak to him, you know he Loves; your heart, you say, is changed, but your pro∣ceedings are not: In fine, Madam, nothing can re-assure me, but your endeavours to get him Banished, and as long as you shall

appear averse to it, I shall believe you use but little constraint when you tell him you Love him. Well then, said Nugna Bella, I have already committed many Treache∣ries for the Love of you, and I will add this too; but give me the means, the Prince every day refuses the King to let him be Banished, and there is little likelihood that he should grant it to so unreasonable a re∣quest as mine: I'le take upon me (said Don Ramires) to make the Proposition to the Prince, and provided you make it appear to him that you are consenting to it, I am sure to bring it about: Nugna Bella agrees to it, and that very night Don Ramires (under pretence of their common interest) proposes to the Prince to let me be sent away, and to make the King believe he did it in o∣bedience to his commands: The Prince made no difficulty of assenting; he was in∣wardly so ashamed of what he had done a∣gainst me, that my presence was a continual reproach to him of his weakness. Nugna Bella spoke to him as she had promised Don Ramires; they resolved that upon the first occasion the Prince should send his Fa∣ther word that he would no longer oppose my Banishment from Court, provided it should be given out that it was done against his will.

An occasion soon offer'd it self; the King was in passion against the Prince, for doing something against his order, and accused me for advising him to it: The Prince not da∣ring to come into the Kings presence, pre∣tended to be Sick, and kept his Bed for some dayes; the Queen (according to her custom) endeavoured a reconciliation, she came to her Sons Appartment to acquaint him with the King's complaints against him. Ma∣dam, these are not the true causes of the King's Anger, I know the reason, he has a strange aversion against Gonsabvo, he accuses him of all that displeases him, he desires to send him away; He will never be well satis∣fied with me, as long as I oppose his absence. I love Gonsalvo dearly, but I see I must be forced even against my will to consent to his Banishment, and to deprive my self of him, since I can purchase the Kings good will at no other rate. Tell him then Ma∣dam, if you please, that I consent he should be Banished, but upon condition that none know I have consented to it. The Queen was surprised at her Sons discourse: It be∣comes not me (said she) to think it strange that you should have a deferrence to the King's will, but I must confess I wonder how you can consent to Gonsalvo's Banish∣ment; the Prince alleadged some bad rea∣sons

in his own defence, and turned his dis∣course to another subject. Whilst they were speaking, one of the Queens Maids that was my Friend, and Nugna Bella's Woman, was by chance so near the Bed, that she over-heard all that the Queen and Prince said about me: She was so surprised, and so pensive to find out what might be the cause of so great a change in the Prince, that I came into the Room, and began to speak to her before she perceived me: I Laughed at her for her thoughtfulness: You ought to thank me for it, said she, I heard just now a thing that amazes me so much, that I cannot well comprehend it: Elvire, (for that was her name) then told me what she had heard, and amazed me much more than she had been; I made her tell it me over once more: As she made an end, the Queen went out and interrupted our dis∣course; I went out with her, and being not in a condition to remain with the Prince, I walked by my self in the Garden of the Pal∣lace, to make reflections upon so strange an adventure.

It could not enter into my imagination, that a Prince that always used me so well, would cause me to be Banished without some cause; I could not comprehend what should induce him to wish my absence; I could

not guess what should make him profess a kindness for me, when he had none; nor could I believe that what I was told could be true, nor that Don Garcias could be so weak as to consent to my Banishment: As I loved him passionately, his change pierced me unto the very soul; and being not able to endure what I suffered, I went to look out Don Ramires, to have the satisfaction to make my complaint to him.

As I was going towards the Pallace, I met one of the Officers of Don Garcias's Chamber, whom I had placed with the Prince, and who was nearer to his person than any other. I bid him to go see if Don Ramires was not with the Prince, and to pray him to come to me presently; this Officer made answer that he was not there, and that, without doubt, he would not come thither until his accustomed hour, when every body else was retired. I was extreamly astonished at these words; I thought at first I had not well understood them, yet I was sensible enough of them: Many things came into my mind, that made me suspect, that Don Ramires had some in∣telligence with the Prince, more than he ever told me; at another season I should not have such a thought, but what I had heard of Don Garcias's disloyalty, obliged me to

believe that all the world might be false: I asked this Officer, if Don Ramires came often to Don Garcias, when none else was there: He told me, he wondered I should ask him such a question, and that he be∣lieved I knew well enough both their meetings and the subject of their private discourse; I replyed I knew neither, and that I found it strange he would not before then give me notice of it: He thought I did but counterfeit my ignorance of all things, to discover whether he told me truth or no; and to let me see that he could conceal nothing from me, he told me the Princes Love for my Sister, and what share Don Ramires had in the carrying it on; he told me he had often heard them speak of it when they thought none was in hearing; and they learnt all the rest from him that was intrusted to carry the Princess Letters to Hermenesilde; thus I understood all that passed, except what concerned Nugna Bella. I need seek no more, cryed I, (transported with rage) whence proceeds Don Garcias's change; the Treachery he commits against me, makes my presence insupportable to him. How! Don Garcias Love my Sister, my Sister suffers it, and Don Ramires is their Confident: At these words I stop'd, being unwilling this Officer should take no∣tice

of my resentment, and forbid him to tell any body what he had informed me. I went home so full of trouble, that I was beside my self: When I found my self a∣lone, I abandoned my self to my rage and despair; I was fifty times in the mind to Stab the Prince and Don Ramires; I had all the transports of Fury and Vengeance that the excess of rage can suggest: At last, after recollecting my thoughts, to give my self the time to choose the fittest course for my revenge, I resolved to fight Don Ra∣mires, and to perswade Nugna Bella to go with me into Castile, to obtain leave of her Father to Marry her; and as he had the same design of revolting, as I had, to joyn with them and incourage them to declare War against the King of Leon, and to o∣verthrow that throne which Don Garcias was to ascend; I fixed my resolve upon this determination, though it was contrary to all my thoughts untill that hour, but my despair hurried me to it.

I was to have waited upon Nugna Bella that very Night; I expected the hour of going with great impatience, and the hope of finding her sensible of my Misfortune, was the only thing that could give me all the solace I was capable of: As I was pre∣paring to go out, a Man that she used to

keep, and often brought me her Letters, came to me with one from her, and told me, that she was very sorry she could not see me that Night, for reasons, I should read in her Letter: I told him it was abso∣solutely necessary that I should speak to her that Night, that I was going to write her an Answer, and prayed him to stay; with that I went into my Closet, opened Nugna Bella's Letter, where I found these words.

The Letter.

I know not whether I should return you thanks for the leave you give, to shew Don Gonsalvo some regret for his departure; I should rather have been glad that you had forbid it me, that I might have a reason not to do a thing that will give me so much con∣straint; though you have suffered through the manner I was oblidged to use in entertaining him since his return, I have suffered more than you; nor would you doubt of it, if you knew how hard it is for me to tell a man, that I Love no more, that I love him still; when I am out of my Witts, that I ever Loved, and that I would redeem with my Blood, ne∣ver to have pronounced, but for you, all those words which I must say to him: You will

know when he is further off, all the injustice you do me, and the joy you shall see me to have at his departure, will better perswade you than a∣ny thing. I can say. Hermenesilde is angry with the Prince, because he yesterday did en∣tertain a person for a great while, for whom she had already shewed some Jealousie, which was the reason she went not along with the Queen when she had been at his Appartment, he must not tell her he knows any thing of this, for I promised her to say nothing of it; she so truly Loves him, that my Letter was interrupted in this place by a thing that puts me into a mortal fright. One of my Compa∣nions, to day, heard all the Prince said to the Queen about Gonsalvo, and told it him at that very instant: She just now told me of it as a thing that doth both surprise and afflict me: It is impossible but that Gonsalvo sus∣spects that you have known something of the Princes designes, and will find out a great part of the truth; consider what mischief that may do; this accident troubles me to that de∣gree that I know not what I do: I am go∣ing to write to him that I cannot see him to Night, for I cannot expose my self to speak to him, before you have seen him, and I know from you what I must say to him; fare-well, Judge of my trouble.

I was in such a passion after the reading of this Letter, that I knew not what I said, nor what I did; my Anger was raised to the utmost pitch of rage and fury at the discovery I had before made of so many Treacheries, but they were weak and in∣considerble to what chance had laid before me. I stood without speech or motion, and remained so for a long time; my thoughts were confused; my understanding was oppressed with weight of grief.

You are then Unfaithful Nugna Bella, cryed I of a suddain; you joyn to your inconstancy the injury of deceiving me, and you consent I should be betray'd by those I loved above all the World, next your self; it is too much Cruelty at one time; my misfortunes are of the nature, that it were less shame to be overwhelmed by them, than to resist them. I yield to the Cruelty of the most unfortunate chance that ever persecuted man; I had both the force and the design to be revenged of an Ungrateful Prince, and an unfaithful Friend; but I have neither against Nugna Bella, I thought my self more happy in her than in all the World besides: But since she forsakes me, I am indifferent to all things else, and I renounce all thoughts of a revenge that can bring me no satisfaction: I was not

long since, the first man of all the King∣dom, by my Fathers and my own proper Grandeur, and by the favours of the Prinde, believed my self well beloved by those whom I most esteemed: Fortune forsakes me, I am abandoned by my Master, I am deceived by my Sister, I am betray'd by my Friend, I lose my Mistress, and I lose her by the contrivance of that Friend? Is it possible, Nugna Bella, that you should leave me for Don Ramires? Is it possible that Don Ramires should desire to take you from a man that loved you so passionately, and had so great a kindness for him? Must you two joyn to rob me of one another, and not leave me the poor consolation of one of you, to whom I might make my moan.

Such cruel reflections took from me the use of my reason, the least of those misfor∣tunes that fell upon me in that one day, was able to torment me mortally: This great number of sad accidents, put me out of my senses, I knew not which of them I should complain of most: He that brought the Letter from Nugna Bella, sent to tell me that he staid for my Answer; I waked as it were out of a Dream at this message, and sent him word I would send an Answer the next day, and gave order none should come to me.

I again began to reflect upon my former condition, so cruel an experience had I of the inconstancy of Fortune, and the trea∣chery of Men, inspired me with the design of renouncing for ever to all worldly com∣merce, and go to end my Life in some re∣more Desart; my grief suggested to me, that I had no other choyce to make: I had no where to go but to my Father; I knew the design he had of taking Arms, but for all my despairs, I could not resolve to revolt against a King that had never done me wrong: If I had only been forsaken by Fortune, I should take a delight to resist her, and to make it appear I deserved what she had given me. But after having been deceived by so many persons whom I so passionately loved, and of whom I thought my self so assured, what was there left me? Could I ever serve a Master better, or more faithful than I did Don Garcias? Could I ever love a Friend better than I did Don Ramires? Or could I be more in love with a Mistress than I was with Nugna Bella? and yet they have all betrayed me, I have nothing left but a resolute retreat to with∣draw my self from the deceit of men, and the dangerous charms of Women.

As I was resolving upon this course, I saw coming unto my Closet Don Olmond,

a person of quality and worth, who always applyed himself to me; he was Brother to that Elvire, who gave me notice of the Princes betraying me, and had learnt from her just then what the Prince had said to the Queen; he was much surprised to read in my face the marks of so great an agita∣tion and extream trouble of mind; he knew me too well to think that Fortune alone could so much discompose me; nevertheless, he believed that I was grieved at the Princes infidelity, and began to use Arguments to alienate my trouble: I alway had an esteem for Don Olmond, and served him upon se∣veral occasions, although I always prefer'd Don Ramires before him. The ingratitude of this latter, made me sensible of the in∣justice I did therein to Don Olmond: To make him amends, or rather to have the sa∣tisfaction of complaining of my Misfortunes, I told him the condition I was in, and all the Treacheries that had been committed a∣gainst me: He could not chuse but be a∣mazed at it, but not so much as I expect∣ed of Nugna Bell's infidelity; for he told me that his Sister, when she had informed him of the Princes Infidelity towards me, that Nugna Bella was without doubt chang∣ed, and that she concealed many things from me: Behold, Don Olmond, said I, shewing

him Nugna Bella's Letter, her change, and see what she has conceal'd from me; she sent me this instead of that she intended for me, and it is easie to judge that this was meant for Don Ramires. Don Olmond was so concern'd to see me in that condi∣tion, and my Misfortunes seemed to him so great, that he would not undertake to con∣dole with me, but thought it best to leave me to ease my sorrow by my complaints. Had not I reason, said I, to desire to know Nugna Bella well, before I should ingage my heart to love her; but I find I pre∣tended to an impossibility, there is no di∣ving into a Womans heart, they are ever Strangers to themselves; it is opportunity alone that can decide the controversie of their disagreeing thoughts. Nugna Bella believed she Loved me, but it was my Fortune and not me she loved; and perhaps she loves only that in Don Ramires: Ne∣vertheless (cryed I) she has said nothing to me this great while, but what he gave her leave to say, it was to my Rival I com∣plained of the change he caused in her; he spoke to her for himself, when I believed he spoke for me: Is it possible they should make me the object of their deceit? How have I deserved this from them? That per∣fidious Man betray'd me with Nugna Bella,

as he did with Don Garcias: I confided my Sister to their care, and they betray'd her to the Prince; this consent and union I found in them, which gave me much sa∣tisfaction, was but a blind to deceive me. O God (cryed I) for whom do you reserve your Thunder-bolts, unless it be for per∣sons so unworthy to live?

After this violent transport of my grief, the Idea of Nugna Bella unfaithful, which left me nothing but indifference for all o∣ther misfortunes, put me into a sadness full of dispair; I acquainted Don Olmond with my resolution of leaving all things; he was surprised at it, he did what he could to diswade me from it; but I let him see that my resolutions were so fixt, that he thought it to no purpose to oppose them, at least in their first impetuosity. I took all my Jewels, and we got on Horseback, that we might get out of my House; before the King's Order for my departure could reach me; we rid untill Sun-rising: Don Olmond lead me to a House of one of his Servants, in whom he had great confidence; I pray'd him to leave me in that place, until Night, that I might take my Journey to the place whither I resolved to go: After along con∣test he promised to leave me, provided I would not quit that place until he returned;

that in the mean time he would go to Leon, to know what effects my departure had wrought, that perhaps some alteration might have happened that might divert me from my sad resolution: He earnestly besought me to expect his coming, I consented, up∣on condition he should tell none that he saw me, nor knew where I was: Yet though I consented, it was rather out of an unvoluntary Curiosity, to know after what manner Nugna Bella spoke of me, then that there could happen any thing that might lessen my Misfortunes.

Go my dear Olmond (said I) see Nagna Bella, and if it be possible, know from your Sister what her thoughts are; endea∣vour to learn, since what time she ceased to Love me, and if she has abandoned me only because Fortune forsook me; Don Olmond assured me that he would do what I desired. Two days after he returned with a sadness, that gave me to understand he had nothing to say to me that might oblige me to change my design.

He told me all were ignorant of the cause of my departure, that the Prince as well as Don Ramires seemed to be much afflict∣ed at it; that the King believed I was gone, with his Sons private consent, and of intel∣ligence with him: He told me he saw his

Sister, that all I believed was true; that the recital of the particulars would but in∣crease my grief, and therefore desired to be excused from the telling it. I was not in a condition to fear the increase of my Mis∣fortunes; and what he would have conceal∣ed was the only thing that could give me some curiosity; I prayed him therefore to hide nothing from me; I will not repeat all he told me, because I have already told you the most part, to put my Narrative in some order: It was from him I learnt all those things (of which I was ignorant) while they were transacting, as you might judge. I will only tell you that his Sister informed him that the Night before my departure, as she came back from the Queen, where Nugna Bella had not appeared that Night, she went to Nugna Bella's Chamber, where she found her all bathed in her tears, with a Letter in her hand, that they were both surprised but for different reasons, that In fine, Nugna Bella, after a long silence, shut the Door, and told her that she would trust her with all the secrets of her Life, pray∣ing her to pitty her, and comfort her in the saddest condition that ever poor Maid was reduced to; that then she discovered to her all that had passed betwixt the Prince Don Ramires, my Sister, and her, just as I

told you; and that Don Ramires had just then sent her back this Letter which she held in her hand, because it was not for him, but intended for me, and that I had received that Letter she meant for Don Ra∣mires, that by that Letter I had found out all that she had concealed from me for so long time.

Elvire told her Brother that she never saw any person so afflicted and troubled as Nugna Bella: She apprehended that I should acquaint the King with the intregue that was betwixt the Prince and my Sister, and that I would cause Don Ramires and her to be Banished from the Court, that above all things she feared the shame of my Re∣proaches, and that the Treacheries she had committed against me, made her hate me mortally.

You may well think, that what I came to learn of Don Olmond, would no way lessen my displeasures, nor make me change my intention. He pressed me with all the earnestness imaginable, and all the marks of an extraordinary Friendship, to let him go along with me to the Desert I intended to go to: I opposed it so strongly, that at last we separated; he left me upon condi∣tion, that in what part of the World soe∣ver I should be, I should oblige my self to write to him.

He returned to Leon, and I parted with design to Embarque my self at the first Port I should come to. But when I was alone, left to the reflections of my Misfor∣tunes, the remainder of my days appeared so tedious to me, that I resolved to go seek my Death in the Wars that the King of Navar had against the Moores; I would be known by no other name but by that of Theodirick, and I was unhappy enough to acquire some glory which I did not look for, instead of that death which I sought af∣ter: The Peace was concluded, I reas∣sumed my former design, and your re-en∣counter made me change that dismal Wil∣derness, whither I intended to go, into a most pleasant retreat. There I began to find that quiet and tranquility which I had lost, not but that Ambition has been busie sometimes to tempt my heart, but what I had already tasted of the instability of For∣tune, render'd it contemptible to me; and the Love I had born Nugna Bella, was so totally blotted out of my heart by the con∣tempt I conceived for her, that I might justly say, I had no Passion for any kind of thing, although I had yet a great deal of Sadness left in me; the sight of Zayde has ravished from me that sad tranquility which I enjoyed, & hurryes me into new Mis∣fortunes,

much more cruel than those I have already experimented.

Alphonso remained both Surprised and Charm'd with Don Gonsalvo's story; I con∣fess (said he) that I had conceived a large Idea of your Merits and Virtues, but I must acknowledge that what I have now heard, surpasses my former thoughts: I ra∣ther ought to fear (replyed Don Gonsalvo) that I have lessened the good opinion you had of me, by letting you see how easie I was to be deceived; but I was young, I was ignorant of the Court-Artifices, I was incapable of practising to them: I never Loved any but Nugna Bella, and the Love I had for her would not let me imagine that that kind of Passion could ever have an end, so that nothing could lead me to a diffidence neither of Friendship nor of Love. You could not defend your self, replyed Don Alphonso, from deceit, unless you had been of a suspicious Nature, and yet your suspicions (though never so well grounded) would seem to your self unjust, since you had not until then any cause given you of diffidence against any that might deceive you; and their deceit was carryed on with so much Art, that there was no appearance in reason of a fallacy: Let us speak no more of my past Misfortune (replyed Gon∣salvo)

since I am no longer sensible of them. Zayde has taken from me, even the remem∣brance of them, and I wonder how I could call them to mind: But I could never believe that Beauty alone could make me in Love, nor be smitten by one that had other pre∣ingagements; and yet I adore Zayde, to whom I am so much a Stranger, that I know nothing of her, but that she is hand∣some, and that her heart bleeds for some o∣ther: Since I was deceived in the opinion I had of Nugna Bella, whom I knew, what can I expect from Zayde, whom I do not know? But what should I expect, or what pretensions can I have upon Zayde? She is utterly unknown to me; Chance threw her upon this Coast; she is impatient to be gone; I cannot keep her against her Will, without being both unjust and unci∣vil. Though I should detain her, what should I be the better for it, I should see her every day bewailing the absence of a Man that she Loves, and remembring him as of∣ten as she looks upon me. Ah, Alphonso, what a mischief is Jealousie? Ah, Don Gar∣cia, you had reason, that is the only passion that surprises us, and strikes us of a suddain; all the other Passions are but Chains, by which we suffer our hearts willingly to be drawn away; all true inclinations plucks it

from us in spight of us, and the Love I have for Zayde is a torrent that draggs me, with∣out leaving me the least power of resisting. But Alphonso, I make you spend the Night here in entertaining you with my sorrowes, it is but reason I should let you now take your rest.

After these words Don Alphonso went to his Chamber, and Don Gonsalvo passed the rest of the Night without sleeping one mo∣ment. The next day Zayde seemed to be taken up with the desire of finding out what she had already sought after, but all her endeavours were to no purpose; Gon∣salvo never parted from her, he forgot al∣most every moment that she could not un∣derstand him; he asked her the cause of her grief, with the same respect and cir∣cumspection, and fear of displeasing her, as if she had understood what he said: When he recollected himself, and had the displea∣sure of seeing she could return him no An∣swer, he thought to comfort himself by saying to her all that his Passion could sug∣gest.

I Love you fair Zayde (said he) looking stedfastly upon her; I Adore you; I have at least, the satisfaction to tell you so with∣out offending you; all your actions tell me that none durst declare it without incurring

your displeasure, but that Lover, for whom you weep, has spoken to you (without doubt of his Love, and you have used your self to hear him: How many doubts might you resolve me, fair Zayde, in one word?

When he spoke to her in this manner, she turned her self sometimes toward Fe∣lime with astonishment, as it were to make her take notice of a resemblance, which always surprised her: This was so piercing a smart for Don Gonsalvo, to imagine that he put her in mind of his Rival, that he would with all his heart renounce the ad∣vantages of his Beauty and good mean, to be rid of such a resemblance: This trouble was so insupportable to him, that he could hardly resolve with himself ever to see Zayde more, he had rather deprive himself of her sight, than to represent to her the Image of him she Loved; and her looks seemed so favovrable to him, he could not indure them, he was so perswaded that they were not addressed to him; he would leave her, and spend whole Afternoons in the Woods, When he returned to her, he found her more angry than she used to be; he fancied consequently, that he saw some inequality in her behaviour towards him; but as he could not guess at the cause, he ima∣gined

that the displeasure of being in an unknown place, caused the alterations that appeared in her humour; nevertheless he perceived that the Affliction she was in the first dayes of her abode there, begun to lessen. Felime was more Afflicted than Zayde, but her sadness was always alike; she seemed to be over-whelmed with grief, and endeavoured to be alone, to entertain her self with her sad thoughts. Alphonso took notice of it sometimes to Gonsalvo with amazement, and he wondered that the ex∣cess of her Melancholly did not tarnish her Beauty. In the mean time all Don Gon∣salvo's study was to please Zayde, and to give her all the Divertisements that Walk∣ing, Hunting, and Fishing could furnish; and she busied her self in all that could di∣vert her; she spent her time, for some dayes, in making a Bracelet of her Hair, and when she had finished it, she fastened it about her Arm with that eagerness which people have for a thing they have finished: The same day that she put it on, she let it fall by chance in the Wood: Gonsalvo seeing her go out, went to follow her, and going along, he found this Bracelet, which he easily knew again: He was extream glad to have found it, and his gladness had been more compleat if he had received it

from the hands of Zayde; but as he had no hopes of it, he thought himself happy to owe it to Fortune. Zayde having missed it, was comeing back to look for it in the places she had passed; she made signes to Don Gonsalvo, what she had lost, and seem∣ed to be much afflicted at it: Though he was in pain to cause her disquiet, he could not resolve to part with a thing that was so precious to him; he made as if he look∣ed for it too, and at last obliged her to leave off her unnecessary search. As soon as he was gotten into his Chamber, he kissed this Bracelet a thousand times, and fastened to it a buckle of Diamonds of great value: Sometimes he went out to walk before Zayde was up, and when he found himself in a place where he believed no body could see him, he would untye this Bracelet the bet∣ter to consider it.

One Morning, as he was thus busie, sitting upon a Beach that somewhat advanced in∣to the Sea, he heard some body behind him; he turn'd about on a suddain, and was sur∣prised to see it was Zayde: All he could do was to hide the Bracelet, but not so cle∣verly, but that Zayde perceived he had hid something; he fancied she saw what he had hid, he observed so much coldness and dis∣content in her looks, that he did no longer

doubt, but that she was angry with him for not restoring her Bracelet; he durst not look upon her, feating least he should see her make signes to restore it her again, which he could not resolve to do: She seem∣ed sad and out of order, and without look∣ing towards Gonsalvo, she set her down, and turned her face towards the Sea; the wind blew away a Vail she had in her hand, unknown to her; Gonsalvo rose to take it up, but in rising, he let fall the Bracelet, which he could not tye again for fear of discovering it. Zayde turned her head at the noyse Gonsalvo made, she saw her Bracelet, and picked it up before Gonsalvo could turn that way; but he was infinitely troubled when he saw it in her hand, both for his con∣cern of losing it, and for fear of her anger; nevertheless he took courage, seeing no more anger nor discontent in her Counte∣nance, he rather fancied he saw something of sweet and pleasant: He was no less moved by the hope he conceived from Zayde's countenance, than he was a moment before, by his fear of having displeased her. She considered, with attention, the lustre of the Diamond Buckles that were fastened to the Bracelet; and after looking upon it a while, she undid it, and gave it to Gon∣salvo, and put the Bracelet into her Pocket.

When Gonsalvo saw that Zayde returned him only his Buckles, he turned himself to∣wards the Sea, and threw them in with a careless and melancholly ayre, as if he had let them fall in by chance. Zayde cryed out, and advanced her body, to see if there were no possibility of retrieving them, but he told her it was in vain to look after them; and because she should make no lon∣ger reflection upon what he had done, he offered her his hand, to lead her further from that place: They walked without say∣ing any thing to one another, insensibly to∣wards Alphonso's House, both of them so full of thoughts, that they seemed to desire to separate.

As soon as Gonsalvo had conducted her to her Chamber, he left her to think of his Adventure. Though Zayde did not seem to him as Angry as he had apprehended, he believed that the joy of finding her Bracelet had banished her discontent; so that his displeasure was nothing less, though he had a great mind to have the Bracelet; yet the fear of displeasing Zayde kept him from asking it, and left him oppressed with that kind of grief, which Love without hope, gives; all his Consolation was to de∣clare his Grievances to Alphonso, and to blame himself for his weakness in being in Love with Zayde.

You are unjust (in your Accusations) a∣gainst your self, Alphonso would say some∣times to him. It is not easie to defend ones self in the middle of a Desert, against the force of such a charming Beauty as Zayde: It is all you could be able to do in a great Court, where other Beauties might make a diversion, or where Ambition, at least, would claim a share in your heart: But did any Man ever Love without hope? Said Gonsalvo And how can I hope to be Be∣loved, since I cannot so much as say I Love? How shall I be able to perswade it, since I cannot utter it? which of my actions shall be convincing enough to induce Zayde to believe I Love her in a place where I see none but her self, and where I cannot make her sensible I prefer her before all o∣thers? How shall I banish out of her mind what she Loves? by no other means but by her good liking of my Person: But my Mis∣fortune has contrived it so, that the sight of my face preserves in her the memory of her Lover. Ah my dear Alphonso, flatter me not; nothing but meet folly could make me in Love with Zayde; and so much in Love, as to make me even forget that I was once before in Love, and was abused in it. I am of opinion (replyed Alphonso) that you were never in Love before now, since you

knew not what Jealousie was, but since you Loved her. I had no cause of being Jea∣lous of Nugna Bella, answered Gonsalvo, so well she knew how to deceive me. When a Man is seriously in Love, said Alphonso, he is Jealous without cause; you see it by experience in your self: make but a little reflections upon the disquiet that Zayde's tears does create you, and mark how Jea∣lousie has put it into your head, that she laments the loss of a Lover, and not that of a Brother. I am but over-perswaded, (replyed Gonsalvo) that I Love Zayde much more than ever I did Nugna Bella; the Am∣bition of this last, and her Application to the Princes interest, often abated of my Love. All that I find in Zayde, opposite to my Love, for example to believe, that she Loves another, and neither to know her heart nor her thoughts, cannot lessen my Passion for her. But Alphonso, am not I a Mad-man to Love Zayde much more than ever I did Nugna Bella; the success of the Love I bore Nugna Bella, was, I must con∣fess, too cruel; yet every Man that is in Love, may have the like: There was no folly in Loving her; I knew her, & she was in Love with no body else; I was acceptable to her, I might have Marryed her. But Zayde, Alphonso. But Zayde, Who is she?

What can I pretend in her? Does not eve∣ry circumstance else but her incomparable Beauty, condemn me of madness?

Gonsalvo did often entertain Alphonso with such like discourses: In the mean time his Love increased daily; he could not re∣frain letting his eyes speak after such a charming manner, that he believed he saw by those of Zayde, that their Language was understood; he sound her sometimes in a kind of surprise that confirmed him in this belief: She could not make her self to be understood by her words, it was generally by her looks that she made Gonsalvo com∣prehend part of what she would say; but there was something so passionate and so charming in her looks, that Gonsalvo was all inflamed by them. Fair Zayde, he would say sometimes, If thus you look upon those you do not Love, What do you reserve for that happy Lover, of whom, I am so un∣happy as to put you in mind? If he had not been possessed with these thoughts, he would not believe himself so unfortunate, not would the actions of Zayde perswade him that he was indifferent to her.

One day, having left her for a while, be went to walk upon the Beach, and came back again to a Fountain that was in a pleasant part of the Wood, where she used

to go very often: As he came near it, he heard some noise, and he saw through the Boughs, Zayde sitting by Felime; the sur∣prise, occasioned by this rencounter gave Gonsalvo as much joy, as if Fortune had brought him again to the sight of Zayde af∣ter a whole years absence: He approaches to the place where they were, and although he made a noise in walking, they talked with so much attention, that they did not hear him. When he was come before her, she seemed no less concerned than a person that had spoken aloud in a place where she was affraid to be over heard, and forgotten that Gonsalvo could not understand her: The agitation this surprise had put her in, had in some measure added to the lustre of her Beauty: Gonsalvo having seated him∣self near her (being no longer able to con∣tain himself) threw himself of a suddain at her feet, and spoke to her of his Love, in so passionate a manner, that she might easily know what he said without understanding his Language; and it was clearly seen by Gonsalvo, that she understood him well e∣nough; she Blushed, and having made a sign with her hand, as if she would push him away, she rose with a cold kind of Civi∣lity, as if she would have him rise from a place where he might be incommoded. Alphonso

happened to walk by in that very instant; and she went towards him, without so much as looking upon Gonsalvo: He remained in that place without being able to rise from thence.

Thus, said he to himself, am I treated, when I am not looked on as the picture of my Rival; but you turn your eyes towards me, fair Zayde, after such a manner as would charm and enflame the whole World, when my Countenance puts you in mind of his. But if I do but presume to let you see that I Love you, you will not daigne to cast a∣way so much as an angry look upon me; for you think me unworthy of the least glance of your eye. If I could but make you sensible that I know you bewail a Lover, I should think my self happy, and I con∣fess my Jealousie would be sufficiently re∣venged by the displeasure you should have to hear it. Is it not for this, that I seem to you to be perswaded that you love some∣thing, that I may have the satisfaction to be assured by your self, that you love no∣thing. Ah Zayde, my Revenge is con∣cern'd, and had rather give you opportuni∣ty to satisfie my Curiosity, than in the least give cause of offence.

Being taken up with these thought, he steeres his course towards the House, to

leave the place where Zayd was, and that he might be alone in a Gallery, where he used to walk. He thought a long time up∣on the means how to make Zayde under∣stand that he suspected she was in Love with some body else; but it was not easie to find a way, nor could it be well brought about, without the help of speech. After he had wearied himself with thinking and walking, he was going out of the Gallery, when a Painter, whom Alphonso employed to draw some Pictures, earnestly begged of him to view his work; Gonsalvo would have been glad to be excused; but being unwilling to anger the Painter, he stood still to look upon what he was drawing. It was a large piece, wherein Alphonso gave him order to paint the Sea, as it appeared from his Windows, and to make it the more pleasant, he represented therein, a Tem∣pest; there appeared of one side, Ships foundring in the mid'st of the Sea; and on the other side, Ships dashed against the Rocks: Men were seen, endeavouring to save their Lives by Swiming; others alrea∣dy drowned, whose Bodyes were cast upon the Shore. This Tempest put Gonsalvo in mind of Zayde's Ship-wrack, and made him bethink him of a way to let her understand what he thought of her Affliction: He told

the Painter, he must add some more Figures to those that he had already drawn; that he must in the first place, draw upon one of those Rocks (in the Picture) a young fair Lady, with her Body bending forward, over the body of a Man stretched our dead upon the Shore; that he must paint the La∣dy weeping as she looked upon this dead body; that there must be another Man drawn prostrate at her feet, endeavouring to per∣swade her to remove from this dead body; that this fair Person (without turning her eyes towards him that spoke to her) pushed him away from her with one hand, and with the other wiped her Tears. The Pain∣ter undertook to draw Gonsalvo's fancy, and began presently to design it: Gonsalvo was well pleased, and prayed him to work up∣on it with all speed, and so went out of the Gallery; he went to find out Zayde, not being any longer able (notwithstanding his late displeasure) to be separated from her: But he was informed, that at her re∣turn from walking, she was gone to her Chamber; and so he could get no sight of her all the rest of the day, for which, he was much Afflicted, and apprehended that she had deprived him of her sight on pur∣pose to punish him, for presuming to make her understand what he had done. The

next day she seemed to him more serious than she used to be; but the following dayes, he found her as she was accustomed to be.

In the mean time the Painter went on to finish Gonsalvo's design, which he with impatience expected: As soon as it was made an end on, he led Zayde into the Gallery, as it were to divert her, by shew∣ing her the Painter at work; he at first shewed her all the places which were alrea∣dy finished; after, he made her consider with more attention that Sea-piece, upon which the Painter was yet at work; he made her look upon that young Lady that lamen∣ted the dead Man; and when he saw that her eyes were fixed upon it, and that she seemed to know that Rock, whereon she used to sit so often; he took the Pensil out of the Painter's hand, and writ the name of Zayde over the young Lady, and that of Theodoric over the young Man that was upon his knees. Zayd, at the reading of what he writ, Blushed; and having looked upon him with eyes full of anger, she took a Pensil and quite blotted out that dead Man's Figure, of whom she thought Gonsalvo believed to be the subject of her Tears. Though he were sensible of the offence he had given Zayde, yet he was over∣joyed

to see her blot out the Man he thought so much beloved. Although this action of Zayde's might be judged rather an effect of her disdain, than a proof that she lamen∣ted no body; yet he found, that after the Love he had professed for her, she did him the favour not to let him believe that she Loved any other; but the small hope this belief gave him, could not destroy so many causes of fear which he believed he had reason to have.

Alphonso, that was no way prepossessed with any Passion, made very different re∣flections upon the actions of this fair Stran∣ger, from what Gonsalvo's were. I find (said he) that you have no reason to be∣lieve your self unhappy; you are, without doubt, Wretched, to have placed your af∣fection upon a Person which in all likeli∣hood you cannot Marry, but not in the man∣ner you fancy your self to be; and all ap∣pearances are deceitful, if you be not truly beloved of Zayde: It is true (replyed Gon∣salvo) that if I should judge of her thoughts by her looks, I might flatter my self with some hope: But as I have told you, she never looks upon me, but for that resem∣blance, which creates me so much Jealou∣sie. I know not, Answered Alphonso, whe∣ther all that you think, be true or no; but

if I were in the place of him, you think she laments, I should not be very well sa∣tisfied, that my resemblance should make her look so kindly upon any man else, and it is impossible, that the Idea of another man should produce those sentiments which Zayde has for you: It is very natural for Lovers to hope, if any of Zayde's actions did al∣ready make him conceive any, Alphonso's discourse confirm'd him in it; he begun to think that Zayde did not hate him, for which, he was extream glad; but this glad∣ness was of no long continuance, for he imagin'd, if she were a little inclined towards him, he ow'd it all to his Rivals; he fan∣cied, that having already lost the Man she Loved most, she had a favourable dispositi∣on towards another that might be like him: His Love, his Jealousie, and his Glory, could not be satisfied with an Inclination which he did not first create, but it proceeded only from that she formerly had for another: He believed, that although Zayde should Love him, she would only Love his Rival in him: In fine, he saw he should be wretched, though he should be sure to be beloved: Notwithstanding, he could not avoid being well pleased to see in this fair Strangers manner of proceedings, an ayre very diffe∣rent from that she had at first; and his

Passion for her was so strong, that let the marks of her Inclination proceed from what causes soever, he could not chuse but receive them with great transports.

One day, it being very fair weather, seeing she came not out of her Chamber, he went in to know if she would walk: She was writing; and though he made a noise as he entred the Chamber, yet he came near her without being perceived by her, and stood looking upon her as she writ; she turned her head by chance, and seeing Gonsalvo, she Blushed, and hid what she had writ, with so much hast, that it caused no small trouble in Gonsalvo; for he believed she could not have so much application, and be so much surprised for a Letter which had not something of mistery in it: This thought put him upon the wrack; he retires, and goes to find out Alphonso, to reason with him an adventure which gave him imaginations very different from those he hitherto had: Having sought him a great while in vain, of a suddain, an impulse of Jealousie made him return to Zadye's Cham∣ber; he enters, but found her not there; she was gone into a Closet where Felime used to sit: Gonsalvo saw a piece of writ∣ten paper half folded, upon the Table, he could not refrain taking it up; and opening

it, he made no question, but that it was the same paper he had seen Zayde write a little before; he found in it the Bracelet of hair which she had formerly taken from him; she enters as he held the Paper and Bracelet; she advances towards him, as if she meant to take them from him: Gonsalvo retires a step or two back, as it were, to view them; but with a submissive action, that seemed to beg her permission: Zayde made signes that she would have them, but with an ayre so full of authority, that it was impossible for a Man (as much in Love as he) not to obey; he returned them into the hands of Zayde, but with the greatest regret imaginable, be∣cause he believed them designed for ano∣ther: He was not able to command his Passion, he goes abruptly out of her Room to his own, where he found Alphonso, who came to him, having been told that he had been looking for him. So soon as they were seated; I am far more unhappy my dear Alphonso (sayes he) than I thought; that Rival, of whom I was so Jealous, as dead as I believed him, certainly is not dead; just now I found Zayde writing to him, and sending him that Bracelet which she took from me; she must needs have heard from him. There is certainly some∣body hid here, that must carry her Letters

to him. In fine, all those hopes of felicity, which I had are but imaginary, and pro∣ceeded only from explicating Zayde's actions wrong. She had reason to blot out that dead Man, for whom I made her conceive that she grieved: She knew too well, that he (for whom she wept) was not dead; she was in the right, to be angry to see that Bracelet in my hands, and to be over-joy'd when she got it again, since she had made it for another. Ah Zayde! it is cruelty to let me conceive any hope; for you have given me leave to hope, and your fair eyes did no way forbid it me. Gonsalvo's grief was so great, that he could hardly end these words. When Alphonso had given him time to recollect himself, he pray'd him to tell him how he came to know all this; and whether Zayde had in a moment found out ways to make her self to be understood. Gonsalvo told him what he had seen, how Zayde was discomposed when he had catched her Writing; how he found the Bracelet in the same Letter she had been writing, and how she took it from him; In fine, Alphonso, added he, none can be so con∣cerned for an indifferent Letter: Zayde has no Commerce nor affair here, she can write of nothing with so much attention, but what passes in her own heart, nor was it

to me that she was writing; and now what would you have me think of what I saw? I would not (said Alphonso) have you think things, so unlikely, which causes your so much disquiet: Because Zayde blushed when you surprised her a writing, you believe she writ to your Rival: For my part I believe she Loves you well enough, to blush eve∣ry time she is surprised with seeing you near her; perhaps she writ what you saw, only to divert her self; she would not let you have it, because it would availe you no∣thing, since you cannot understand it; and I declare, I am not at all surprised that she took her Bracelet from you; for though I am perswaded she Loves you, I do believe her too discreet to give a Bracelet of her hair to a man that is a mere Stranger to her.

Nor can I comprehend what grounds you can have to believe that she intends to send them to another; we have scarce been from her since her coming hither, no body has spoke to her, and even those that might speak to her, understand her not; how then would you have it, that she has heard from that Lover which creates you so much Jea∣lousie, or send to him? I confess to you, said Gonsalvo, that I do torment my self more than I need, but the incertainty where∣in

I am is insupportable to me; the incer∣tainties of others are but small, they believe themselves more or less beloved, and I pass from the hope of being beloved of Zayde, to the belief that she loves another; not am I sure one moment, whether what I perceive by her, ought to make me hap∣py or wretched: Alphonso (said he) you take a pleasure in deceiving me; say what you will, she could write to no body but a Lover, and I should think my self happy, if (after what I have seen) I had that un∣certainty, of which I complain, as of the greatest of all evils. Alphonso gave him so many reasons that his disquiet was ill-grounded, that at last he brought him in some measure to himself, and Zayde, whom they found walking, fully confirmed him: She saw him at a distance, and came to∣wards them with so much sweetness, and with such obliging looks for Gonsalvo, that she dissipated a part of those troubles which she a little before gave him. The time which he set to this fair Stranger for her departute, which was the same that the great Vessels used to part from Tarragona for Africk, began to approach, which gave him mortal afflictions; he could not resolve to be instrumental in depriving himself of Zayde; and though he saw it a great in∣justice

to detain her, he had need of all his reason & his vertue to keep him from it: How (said he) to Alphonso, shall I for ever de∣prive my self of Zayde? this will be a fare∣well without hopes of returning: I shall never know in what part of the Earth to find her; she is resolved to go into Africk, but she is no African, and I know not in what part of the world she was Born.

I will follow her Alphonso (continued he); though in following her, I do not hope for the happiness of seeing her any more. Though I know that neither her Vertue nor the Laws of Africa will per∣mit me to live with her, yet I am resolved to go to end my sad dayes in the places of her abode; it will be at least some comfort to me to breath the same ayre she does; happen what will, I am wretched, I have no certain Country, Chance staid me in this place, and Love will oblige me to leave it. Gonsalvo still confirmed himself in this resolution, notwithstanding all the pains Alphonso took to disswade him from it; he was more perplexed than ever, for not being able to understand Zayde, nor be understood by her: He reflected upon the Letter he saw her writing, and he fancied it was written in Greek Characters, though he was not very certain of it: The desire

he had to be satisfied, made him think of going to Tarragon to find out somebody that might understand the Greek tongue; he had already sent several times to find Strangers that might be his Interpreters, but as he was ignorant what Language Zayde spoke, it was not easie to know of what Nation he desired to have; therefore the Journeys of all those he had sent, proving ineffectual, he resolves to go himself; and yet it was not easie for him to take this resolution, for he must have exposed him∣self in a great Town, to the hazard of being knovvn; and vvhat vvas more irksome, he must leave Zayde; but the desire he had to be able to explain himself to her, made him pass over all difficulties; He indea∣voured to make her understand that he was going to fetch an Interpreter, and so parted for Tarragon. He disguised himself as well as he could, he went into those places which Strangers frequented; he found a great ma∣ny, but their Language was different from that which Zayde spoke: At last he inqui∣red if there were none that understood the Greek tongue; he that he spoke to, answer∣ed him in Spanish, that he was of one of the Isles of Greece. Gonsalvo pray'd him to speak his Language, he did, and Gonsalvo knew that was Zayde's Language: By good

fortune this Stranger had no great business to stay him at Tarragon, he very willingly followed Gonsalvo, who gave him a greater reward than he durst ask or hope for. They began their Journey the next day very ear∣ly, and Gonsalvo thought himself more hap∣py in his Interpreter, than if he had the Crown of Leon upon his head.

As they went along, he begun to learn the Greek; the first thing he learnt, was, I love you: When he thought that he could say it to Zayde, and that she should under∣stand him, he believed he could be no lon∣ger unhappy; he arrived betimes at Alphon∣soe's House, he found him walking, he made him partaker of his joy, and asked him where Zayde was; Alphonso told him that she had been gone out a good while to walk towards the Sea side: He hastens thi∣ther with his Interpreter, he went straight to the Beach where she used to be; he was surprised not to find her there, but he sus∣pected nothing; he walked after her as far as the Port, whither she was sometimes used to go; he came back to the House; he went into the Wood, but all in vain; he sent to all the places where he thought she might be; but when she could not be found, he began to have some fore-thoughts of his Misfortune: Night came on without

any tidings of her, he was in dispair to have lost her, he was afraid some ill accident had befallen her, he blamed himself to have left her; in a word, there was no grief comparable to his, he was all the Night with Flambeaus up and down the Fields, and even when he was out of hopes to find her, he would not give over looking for her; he had been already several times at the Fisher-mens Hutts to know if none of them had seen her, but could learn no news of her. About break of day, two Women that were coming from a place where they lay all Night, told him, that as they came out of their Cabbins, they saw Zayde and Felime walking by the Sea∣side, that the mean while a Shallop had put into the Shore, that some Men Landed out of the Shallop; that Zayde and Felime went back at the sight of these Men; but being called by these men, they came back to them, and that after having talked toge∣ther a great while, and shewed by their gestures that they were glad to see them, they went all into the Shallop together, and put to Sea.

At this relation, Gonsalvo looked upon Alphonso with an ayre that expressed his grief far better than he could do with all his Eloquence. Alphonso knew not what

say to him that might moderate his sorrow; when all those that attended upon them were withdrawn, Gonsalvo broke silence, I lose Zayde, said he, and I lost her in the very instant that I was able to make my self to be understood by her! I lose her Alphonso, and it is her Lover that takes her from me, as may easily be conjectured by what these Women say; cruel Fortune, thou would'st not let me be ignorant of the only thing that could increase my sorrow for losing Zayde! I have lost her then for e∣ver, she is now in the Armes of a Rival she loves: It was to him, without question, she was writing that Letter which I sur∣prised; and it was to inform him of the place where he should find her. It is too much, cryed he of a suddain, it is too much, my Afflictions are great enough to make thousands wretched at once; I con∣fess I am too weak to bear them all; and after having forsaken all things, I cannot en∣dure to be more tormented in the mid'st of a Desart, than I have been in the mid'st of a flourishing Court: It is so Alphonso, added he, the only loss of Zayde has poured down a thousand Misfortunes upon me, far greater than any I have ever yet felt; is it possible that I must never more hope to see Zayde? If I knew, at least, whether I

was acceptable, or whether I was indiffe∣rent to her, my misery would not be so in∣supportable to me, and I should know to what kind of Melancholly I should abandon my self. If I was pleasing to Zayde, how can I think of forgetting her? ought not I to spend my dayes in running over all the parts of the Earth until I find her; but if she loves another, ought not I to use all my endeavours to forget her for ever? Al∣phonso, take pitty of me, endeavour to make me believe that Zayde loved me, or perswade me that I am indifferent to her: How, said he, should I be beloved of Zayde, and not endeavour to see her for ever∣more, that Misfortune would be greater than being hated by her: But, no, I can∣not be unhappy if Zayde loved me, Alas! I should have found that out in that very moment in which I lost her; what-ever precaution she had taken, I should have dived into her thoughts, I should have known the cause of her Tears, her Country, her Fortune, her Adventures, and I should know now whether I ought to follow her or no, and where to find her.

Alphonso knew not what to answer to Gonsalvo, so hard it was to resolve what to say that might calme the violence of his sorrow: At last, having represented to him,

that he was not in a condition to determine any thing at that instant, and that he must make use of his reason to support his Mis∣fortunes, he obliged him to go along with him home. So soon as Gansalvo was in his Chamber, he caused his Interpreter to be called to expound some words that he re∣membred to have heard Zayde speak; the Interpreter told him the meaning of many words, and among others, those which Zayde used to speak to Felime when she looked upon him; he interpreted them so, as Gonsalvo was sure that he was not mista∣ken; when he believed she spoke of a re∣semblance, and he no longer doubted but that it was the Lover of Zayde whom he re∣sembled. Upon this he sends for those Women that had seen Zayde go away, to know of them, if among those Men that carryed her away, they had not observed a∣ny that was like him; there was no satis∣fying his Curiosity, for these Women were at too great a distance from them to mark any such resemblance; they told him only there was one whom Zayde embraced. Gon∣salvo was struck to the heart at these words, in so much, that he was upon the point of precipitating himself into the design of fol∣lowing Zayde to kill her Lover before her face. Alphonso told him, that his design

was as unjust, and it was impossible, that he had no jurisdiction over Zayde, that she was engaged to this Lover before she had seen him; that he might be perhaps her Husband; that he knew not in what part of the world to look for her; that if by chance he should find her, it was likely it must be in some Country where this Lover would have power enough to hinder him from executing the enterprise which his rage prompted him to. What would you have me do then, replyed Gonsalvo? can you imagine it is possible for me to continue in the state I am in? I could wish you would •…•…ear this Misfortune which regards only your passion, as you have already supported that which concerned your Love and your Fortune: I have suffered too much already, Answer'd Gonsalvo, to be able to suffer any more; I will go in quest of Zayde, to see her, to know from her own mouth that she is in Love with another, and to dye at h•…•… feet; and yet I will not, for I should •…•…¦serve all my Misfortunes, if I went to l•…•… after Zayde, after having left me as she did, the respects and submissions I had for her, might have ingaged her at least to send me word she was going to leave me, she was bound in gratitude to have done it; and since she did not do it, I must con∣clude

that she adds contempt to her indiffe∣rence for me; I have flatter'd my self too much, when I fancied that she did not hate me; I must never think of following or looking after her; no Zayde, I will not fol∣low you. Alphonso, I submit to your rea∣sons; I see I must pretend to nothing else, but to end as soon as I can the remainder of a wretched life.

Gonsalvo seemed fixed in this resolution, and his mind was more calme; he was ne∣vertheless in such a deep Melancholly as would draw pitty from all that saw him; he would spend whole dayes in the places where Zayde used to be, and seemed to look for her there still: He kept his Interpreter with him to learn the Greek Tongue; and though he was perswaded he should never more see Zayde, yet he took delight in as∣suring himself, that if ever it should be his fortune to see her, he should be able to un∣derstand her; he learnt in few days what others are many years a learning; but when he had no longer this occupation, which seemed to have some relation to Zayde, he fell into a deeper Melancholly than ever.

He made frequent reflexions upon the severity of his destiny, which after having over-whelmed him at Leon with so many Misfortunes, made him now sensible of one

far greater than all the rest, in depriving him of the only person of the World, which alone was dearer to him than the Fortune, the Friend, and the Mistress which he had lost. In making this sad difference betwixt his present and his past unhappinesses, he re∣membred him of a promise he made to Don Olmond to write to him, and whatever dif∣ficulty he found to think of any thing but Zayde, he judged he owed this mark of ac∣knowledgement to a man that had shewed him so much Friendship; he would not let him know presently the place where he was, he only desired him to write to him to Tar∣ragon, that his abode was not far from thence, that he found himself void of all Ambition, that he bore no Anger against Don Garcias, nor hatred for Don Ramires, nor love for Nugna Bella, and yet he was more unfortunate than when he parted from Leon.

Alphonso was very sensible of Gonsalvo's condition, he seldom parted from him, and endeavor'd all that he could to allienate his Affliction. You have lost Zayde, said he to him one day, but you were no way ac∣cessary to her loss; and as unhappy as you are, there is one kind of unhappiness which your Destiny has kept you a Stran∣ger to, to be the occasion of your own

wretchedness, is that evil which is yet un∣known to you, and which for ever shall be my punishment. If you can find any Con∣solation (continued he) to learn by my ex∣ample, that you might be more unhappy than you are, I am willing to inform you of the accidents of my life, whatever grief so sad a Narrative may cause me. Gonsalvo could not chuse but shew a great earnestness to know the reasons that had obliged him to confine himself to a Desert: Thereupon Alphonso, to satisfie his Curiosity, and to let him understand that he was less wretched than himself, thus began the History of his displeasures.