came to condole with her the Lofs of their common Friend, he allow'd much to Decency, and in feveral Vifits spoke nothing of his own Pretenfions; but at length, having found the Time favourable, be began with an elegant Difcourfe of what he had fo tenderly fuffer'd for her: He pleaded Merit, from the Refpectiveness of his Flame and unwearied Silence, and to hinder her from thofe Formalities which might retard his Happiness, he cut her fhort, by telling all that happen'd in the Banquetting-Houfe, and the Knowledge he had of that Efteem fhe had honour'd him with; but appeal'd to her felf, if from thence he had ever affumed any Merit, fo as to prefume to declare it to her. The Lady, in return, told him, with the fame Sincerity, the whole State of her Heart; Monfieur St. Amant's Difcourfe; the Promise fhe had made him, and her Refolution to adhere to it. She begg'd him to fee her no more, fince it could not be fignicant to either, but hurtful to both; affured him, that as he did not marry him, she never would marry any other; but whatever was in her Power to ferve his Fortune, he might not only depend upon, but command. Her Mother taking the Alarm from the Baron's Vifits, never left teizing her, till fhe fell down-right fick. She was continually remembring her what he owed her Children, and the Memory of her Husband, to keep her from marrying a Beggar, as the call'd call'd him; how poor and fcandalous it would appear to the Word; that she would rather follow her to her Grave, than fee her in the Nuptial-Bed, with one, whofe very Acquaintance had been the Death of fo dear a Husband, and the only Blot of her own Life. Unable to bear up under all thefe Difquiets, fhe was not long in giving the World a very fingular Proof of Love and Conftancy, tho' the Enemies of the Sex do not fail to interpret it thus, Crofs a Woman in her Will, and you take away her Life. Aftrea. Tho' what my Lady Intelligence has told us in this Story be entertaining, yet I find nothing in it of Ufe to my Prince, at least 'till he be marry'd; unless it be, that he take care before-hand, to make his Wife in Love with him, because she will elfe fall in Love with fomebody elfe, and fo far the Moral may hold good. Vertue.] We are far advanced in our Journey. Behold that goodly Temple which Aands open: Shall we not go in, and our Adoration to Funo, to whom it is dedicated? pay Intell] The Fabrick is Noble: Caft your Eyes upon the Elevation, what a majeftick Height it bears, it feems to hide its Spire in the Clouds. Mark thofe curious Images, the Carving, the whole Architecture is admirable: As you enter you fhall pafs thro' Columns of Marble-Pillars, numerous as are the Hours of one revolving Year: Mark the Beauty Beauty of the Windows; how various and lively are the Colours, the Staining of the Glafs; how fanciful are the Works of Mortals! They are numbered by the Days that Phebus counts in his Solar Courfe, and to compleat the Syftem, equivalent to the Number of the Moons are the Gates of this magnificent Structure. The Founder was ordered (in a Dream) by Juno, to erect this Temple to her Honour; with a Promise annexed to it, of enduring 'till the End of Time, that the Creation take a new Form, or be no more. The Foundation, (to make it more wonderful) is laid in Water, which is perithing to all Things, but this Divine Fabrick; there is not above fix Foot depth of Earth, all beneath is of the more liquid Element. Aftrea.] Methinks I am not half fo much fatisfied with the Devotion offered in the Temple, as with the Temple it felf: The High-Prieft fupine and drowzy, fcarce attended to the Duty of the Place: He has a robuft Apperance, is clad in becoming Ornaments; but ftill he feemed to be little at eafe, drowzy, and rather fitted for a Bed of Repofe at Home, than his Devotion here. Intell] That is, because it was not his Time for declaiming to the People; then none more vigorous, fuller of Motion, vehement in Speech and Gesture; he is admired and followed for his Oratory: But the Snares of Beauty, (againft which he has not been been able to defend himself) Pride, Faction, and fome other Vices, have dared to mingle with his Character; but the Refpect I have for all that attend the Service of the Altar, makes me choose rather to conceal than publifh their Defects. Aftrea.] Methinks little of Devotion mingled among the Behaviour of the other Priests; the numerous Train caft their Eyes upon the Fair; they performed their Hymns as Things they had by rote, without Solemnity, as if the Heart, nay the Mind, had no Part in it: In fhort, I am difgufted at the Coolness of their Behaviour; they feem rather to be paid for what they do, than to be pleafed or affected, I will not fay tranfported; as if the Service were only effential to the Body, not the Soul. Vertue.] Night has overtaken us; it will be inconvenient travelling, 'till Aurora return: Cynthia is already mounted for her Journey, fhe is feated in her Car; behold her taking the Reins of Night, and adminiftring to the World, in the absence of her Brother. This lovely Walk of Trees which leads to that Houfe before us; this Arbour and Bench will ferve us to repofe, 'till we can re-affume our Travel. Aftrea.] I fee a Lady coming towards us, with a majestick Mien, her Face beautiful, her Motions genteel; there is a Cavalier with her, who feems earnest in perfuading: They take the next Seat to us; we can at eafe hear all their Difcourfe. Bar.] Bar] Why will you force me (my Lord) to give you fuch a Proof of my Efteem, as muft deftroy all yours for me? Can nothing elfe prevail with you to leave me in Repose? Muft 1 demonftrate, as well as tell you, the Impoffibility there is of ever touching my Heart? Count.] Nothing lefs can precipitate me into that Despair which is neceflary for leaving you in Repofe. Quite bereave me (as you have promis'd) of all Hope, make me fee that you merit not to be beloved, and this Ghost that inceffantly haunts you, that gives you fuch Occafion of Complaint, may disappear; but 'till then, permit me to wander on, not utterly void of Hope of one Day touching your Heart in my Fa vour. Bar] Tis impoffible. I am my felf devoted to Defpair. Oh, my Lord! let it not be faid, that one of fo much Merit, as the Count of Meillers, employ'd it only to make an unfortunate Woman more unfortunate. Count.] I renounce any fuch Thought: But charming Baronefs! Why fhould my Love fo prodigioufly disturb you? Setting our Perfons a-fide, (there I confefs it will be hard, in the whole World, to find an Equivalent to yours;) my Birth and Fortune may deferve you. In this languid Retirement, you give up your felf a Prey to black, melancholy, fplenetick Vapours, and talk of Defpair, which never yet knew how to approacha Lady fo amiable as you. Bar. |