our Opportunities were few, and never alone; twas that he requested I had the Courage to refift all his Efforts: I dreaded the Confequence of fuch a Meeting, 'till tired with that perpetual Conftraint I put upon my Inclinations, and wearyed by his Importunities, I promised him within two Days; and we took our Measures not to be disappointed nor difcovered. But the Day after this Conceffion, the Baron fell dangeroufly ill. I never stirred from his Bed-fide; gave him all that was neceffary, with my own Hands; he dy'd foon after, in a perfect good Opinion of me ; and, as you know, left me in Poffeffion of a Fortune confiderable enough to raise my Pretenfions, even to the Prince of Sira. The real Honour and FriendThip I had for my Husband, even before he was fuch, my Duty (which the Sweetness of his Behaviour, and extreme Kindness, had made eafie, if not pleasant to me) gave me a true Concern for his Lofs; and had not my Heart been prepoffefs'd for the Prince, I doubt not but I fhould have been much more inconfolable. As foon as I was visible, all the Court came to condole my Lofs. I received them with a decent Sorrow, without thofe Salleys of exceffive Mourning fo naturally affected by young Widows; and this gave the World no ill Opinion either of my Senfe or Sincerity. I was furpriz'd and touched, that I found not the Prince among those who pretended to comfort me. Six Weeks, two Months pafs'd, but no News of my

Lover. I easily condemn'd my felf for that fatal Promise I had made him, which might give him too flight an Opinion of my Vertue: tho' I concluded with my self, that it would have been Proof against all his Attempts. I had, in my Mind, caft about how to regain his Efteem, by an Air of Vertue reaffum'd; but his not coming broke all my Measures. I could no longer bear to live in the Uncertainty of his Sentiments. I writ him three Lines to intreat him to fee me, at an Hour when there would be leaft Company with me. He came according to my Defire; the Moments were favourable ; we were alone, and after the ufual Compliments paft, I gently reproach'd him for leaving me fo long in my Affliction, without attempting to alleviate it, tho' he knew that it was in his, and no one's Power befides, to do it. I found his Pride had been a little piqu'd at my not meeting him according to my Promife; but I immediately cleared my felf, by proving to him how ill the Baron was at that Time. We were reconciled, and he renewed his Pretenfions to me: Had I not been wilfully blind, I muft needs have concluded he could not love me very much, who could live fo long and not tell me of it. However, my Heart was for him, and Reason would in vain have attempted to have made a Party against him. When he prefs'd for Favours, I infifted upon Marriage. He feemed really fond of me, and I was refolved not to ftoop to him. upon lower Terms,.

floop

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Terms, now I had a Fortune to deferve him. He came over to mine, feeing_he could not gain me to his. There was no DeJays for a Paffion fo ardent as the Prince's feemed to be. I had been but three Months a Widow: The time was indecent: What fhould we do? A private Marriage, in an Age like this, would not long have been fuch: I was afraid of being ridiculed at Court, for one of thofe hafty Widows, who fecure themselves of a new Husband, before the old one is fearce Cold. Oh how foolish were my Scruples! How much wifer had I been, no have rifqued a little Tattle, than have loft my whole Repofe and my Honour together? The Prince was eager for what he call'd Happiness ; my own Defires pleaded for him; a curfed Medium was found to prevent the Difcourfe of the World, and undo me; we were folemnly contracted by Words and Writing, before a Woman of my Bed-chamber, who was faithful to me: That done, I received him without Scruple to my Arms; but long I could not hold him there; a Difguft he both gave and received at Court, (of which it is not neceffary I fhould inform you) made him refolve to travel. I was all in Confufion (fucceeded by Despair) when he mentioned it to me as a Thing refolved on. In fhort, amidft my Sorrows, Swoonings, Exclamations, unfeigned Tears, and bitter Anguish, he took his Leave of me, with a Promise to return before my Years of Mourning were

expired. Bafe and perfidious Hasband! it was not fo much from the Court, as me, that he ran away. Pierced to the Heart by his Unkindness! Distracted by flighted Love and Defpair! I retired to this folitary Houfe, where Time and Reafon, together with his Ingratitude, in never Writing to me for Years, has reftor'd me a little to my Senfes.

The only Thing which difturb'd my Tranquillity, was your Addreffes. I faw you as a Neighbour and Friend; you have Sense; your Converfation is polite; I thought my felf happy in the Friendship of a Person of your Merit; but you put an end to my Pleafure, by declaring your felf my Lover; I was alarm'd at your Affiduitics; you did more than was neceffary to convince me of your Sincerity: I chose to ufe you nobly, as you had done me, and to free my self from the juft Cenfure of having fo ill a Tafte, as to refuse a Perfon of fuch accomplished Merit; I have let you fee all my Weakness, by telling you the important Secret of my Life. Whilft all Angela is feeking in vain for Reasons, why I fhould retire from the Court, and Converfation, to bury my felf here in Melancholy and Obfcurity in my Bloom of Youth; you are the only Perfon acquainted with the true Caufe of an Action, condemn'd by moft, wonder'd at by all, and but by few applauded.

Count.] Tho' you have told me too much, Madam, have you no more to tell me? Or G 4

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will you tell me no more? What you have faid, indeed is enough to drive me into Defpair, but not to compleat your Relation.

Bar.] Alas! What can I fay more? I have contracted my own Suffering, my Tears, my Difquiets, my Lofs of Reft, and perpetual Exclaimings, for fear of wearying of you with them. Of the Prince I can give you no other Account, than what we have from the Publick; he made the Tour of Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy; our laft Advices fpoke him at Bruffels poffibly upon his Return for Angela. Oh Heavens! Why do I flatter my felf with fuch pleafing Hopes? He that left it only to avoid me! Me! whom he hates to fuch a fuperlative Degree, as to live a banished Man, a voluntary Exile from his Country, rather than make happy, by his Prefence, a Wife that adores him; a Wife, whofe Heart was never fenfible but for him: a tender Wife, who waftes her Bloom in perpetual Solitude and Tears, regretting his Absence.

Count.] And is this all the Relation_you think fit to give me of the Prince? How little fincere are you? Or perhaps, indeed, you may be ignorant of your Miffortunes.

Bar] What mean you, my Lord? After having told you a Secret the moft material, do you believe I have left any Thing material untold? O, I perceive you! You know well the Jealoufy of my Temper, and would alarm it; you have fucceeded; at this Mo

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