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Life; but 'tis through her Inconftancy I have loft her; and this The never difcovered, till the very Moment I was to have been made happy with her. What Defpair can be equal to mine? I loved a beauteous Princess, and thought my self belov❜d again; the Match was forwarded by her Brother, and the very Night before the Nuptials fhe went away with my Rival. Had it not been for this blackest Infidelity, I had ftill been at Granada, and you would not have found me in this Solitude, whither nothing but my Misfortunes could have brought me.'

The Prince easily understood that this Princefs must be Elvira, of whom he had often heard Don Pedro her Brother speak; and as they had fince difcover'd by what Means fhe was forced away, he undertook to justify her. Take heed, Sir, faid he, and do not too rafhly condemn a Princefs whom you love. Wherefore fhould you accufe her of Inconftancy, when probably this Separation is as painful to her as it can poffibly be to you. If fhe was forced away by your Rival, confider that by your unjust Suspicions you injure her beyond Reparation; but be that as it may, we never fhould judge those whom we love in fo fevere a manner. As for my part, I fhould not be fo miferable, could I fufpe&t Leonora guilty of the leaft Inconftancy. If I condemn the Princefs, reply'd the Stranger, 'tis because I think I have juft reason; for after she was carried away, I fought her fo diligently throughout the whole Dutchy of Granada, that had fhe not joined with my • Rival in concealing her felf, I must neceffarily have found her. Had fhe not been falfe, my Misfortunes would have fate lighter on me. And I fee our Griefs are very different, though they spring from the fame Principle.' 'Twas thus the Stranger difputed with the Prince, the melancholy Glory of being the moft unfortunate of Men. Their Converfation ended, the Stranger invited the Prince to his Cottage, which was at no great Distance from the Place.

Mean while Elvira was equally diftreffed with the unhappy Leonora. The Conversation which these two Princefies had together had proved fatal to them both; and if Leonora had reafon to fufpect the Prince whom Elvira had named, Elvira on the other hand had as much Caufe to fufpect her Lover, whose Name had made fuch an Impreffion on Leonora. They were both equally concerned to find out an Opportunity of explaining themselves on fo tender a Point; but both fought the Op

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portunity in vain: for Leonora was now no more fuffer'd to walk in the Garden; and Elvira, who came thither every Day and could fee no one but the old impertinent Aunt, at length left the Place, and chofe to walk often in the Foreft of Gades. And here it was these two Princeffes met at laft; for the Duke of Andalufia, well fatisfied with his Daughter's Obedience, freed her at her Request from her vigilant Guardian; and the Princefs, who, in vain fought Elvira in the Gardens afterwards, chofe to walk in the Foreft; which, as it was more folitary, help'd to indulge her more in her melancholy Thoughts. Chance brought her to Elvira's Favourite Walk, where the Princess soon spy'd her, and running towards her; I have long fought you, Madam, faid fhe, to tell you <a Piece of News in which you are much concerned. The Prince of • Murcia has been proclaimed Duke of Granada, by the Affiftance of his Friend and your Brother Don Pedro.' 'You know, Madam, anfwered Elvira, how much I am concerned in fuch News as 'this; nor is it difficult to guess what Part you take in it; and therefore, Madam, 'tis not for me to rejoice at it.' 'Who then 'fhould rejoice, reply'd Leonora? The Prince of Murcia loves you, and has done this Action only to make himself the more worthy of you.' 'Ah, Madam, cry'd Elvira, do not triumph over Misfortunes; I know my felf too well to think of disputing the Prince of Murcia's Heart with you.'

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This was the Subject of their Converfation; and these two Princeffes were haftening to an Explanation fo neceffary for their mutual Satisfaction, when they faw Don Juan and Don Garcia entring the fame Walk. Elvira no fooner knew the Man whofe Sight was Poifon to her Eyes, but fhe fled; and Leonora was turning out of the Walk to avoid Don Juan, whofe Company she did not at that Juncture defire: When Don Garcia, who thought he knew Elvira, watched which Way fhe fled, and unwilling to lofe fuch an Opportunity; I am fenfible my Prince, faid he, that you would accoft Leonora; I'll leave you, left my Prefence fhould hinder a Converfation fo agreeable to you both. I fhall be within Call?' He faid, and immediately followed the Way he had feen Elvira take, and found her in one of the moft folitary Parts of the Forest, whither she had fled to hide her felf from him. But who can express her Fear and Surprize, when fhe faw Don Garcia fo near her in that Place! She knew him to be a Villain; fhe knew that her Contempt of him, her Flight, and his Defpair of ever obtaining her by any

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other Means, might make him ufe Violence. other way of helping her felf but by her Shrieks, hoping that there ftill might be fome body within Call. Her Expectations were anfwered; the Anchoret, whom we before mentioned, had left the Prince to take a little Repose, and was walking near the Place whence the Shrieks proceeded; and foon faw the very Lady whom he thought at Granada with his Rival, now flying from him, and throwing her felf into his Arms for Protection. O fave me, Sir, faid fhe, fave me from the Hands of a Ravifher.' And as fhe fpoke, Don Garcia approached. 'Tis impoffible to exprefs the different Emotions of Love, Surprize, and Rage, which appeared in the two Rivals. The bafe Don Garcia threw himfelf upon his Antagonist Sword in Hand, without giving him time to put himself in a Pofture of Defence; but he met the Fate he fo juffly deserved, and was foon laid dead at the Stranger's Feet; who then abandoning himself to other Tranfports, drew near Elvira: 'How great is my Happiness, Madam, fays he; propitious Fortune at once, reftores you to my Love, and delivers my Rival up to my juft Vengeance. How many Ills has that perfidious Wretch expofed me to? What have I not fuffer'd during your Abfence?' Ifhall never forget, my Lord, anfwer'd Elvira, the important • Service which your generous Pity has done me: But how happy fhould I be, did I owe it to your Love!' Heaven, cry'd the Stranger, in what manner muft I explain these cruel Reproaches! I am thought falfe then!' 'Oh that you were not, answer'd the Princefs, my Joy, at finding you would be compleat, and I fhould be too happy.' Ye Gods! cry'd he again, is it then really true that you accufe me of Inconftancy? What Devil, jealous of our mutual Happiness, could fill your Breaft with fuch unjuft Sufpicions? I fee you again, and my Pleasure is fo great, that I fancy all my Misfortunes at an End; but at that very Inftant I find them greater than any I have already fuffered. Behold this melancholy Retreat, this difmal Solitude; are these the • Proofs of Inconftancy? Yes, my Lord, anfwered Elvira, the C. very Choice of this Solitude confirms my Sufpicions. Alas, was

it the Ife of Gades and this Foreft, that you must chose to • fhew your Conftancy?' The Anchoret, who could not comprehend what Elvira meant, beg'd her to explain her felf. Let me but know, my Princefs, faid he, the Caufe of your Reproaches, and I am very fure I can eafily justify my felf. I am not fur

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prized at your fufpecting me; the leaft Accident will alarm a fincere Lover. I my felf am fenfible how easy it is to fear a Change in those we love, and I fufpected even you of being lefs faithful ⚫ than I find you; and had not this happy Adventure undeceived me, I fhould have complained, I fhould have laid before you the Cause of all my Care, but should have hoped to have heard you justify your felf; why my Princess will you not do me the fame Justice?' And of what Service, reply'd Elvira, will it be to me, to convict you of Inconftancy? I fhall ftill love you, and you will still love Leonora.' I love Leonora! reply'd the Anchoret with fome Warmth, now I fee the Cause of your Sufpicions; you fancy that, 'charm'd with her Perfon, I have chofen this Solitude only for an Opportunity of proving my Love to her. But, my dear Elvira, do me Juftice, restore me my Innocence, and reftore me your Love. I never faw Leonora. 'Tis true, I am in a Place where nothing is talk'd of but her Vertues and her Beauty; but I never thought of any one but your felf; and for you only I am reduced to the Condition in which you now find me.' Oh, my Lord, cry'd Elvira, wherefore can I not believe you? But in vain you would deceive me; for whilft I was relating our common Misfortunes to the Princess Leonora, fhe enquired the Character of my Lover; and < when I nam'd the Prince of Murcia, fhe fell in a Swoon in myArms.'

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As Elvira spoke this, fhe would have turned from him, the better to conceal her Tears; but he catch'd hold of her: O my Elvira, 'cry'd he, how flightly grounded are your Sufpicions? You know, and ought to have remembred, that there is another Prince of • Murcia, Son to the Duke of that Name. But come with me and fee me throughly juftify'd. I have left in my Cottage a Stranger who loves Leonora; perhaps 'tis this very Prince: I difcover'd the Secret by his violent Concern at the News I told him, of Don Juan's Marriage with that Princefs. I'll enquire his Name; he cannot refufe making a Discovery so neceffary for your Repose and ⚫ my Happiness.'

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This Converfation infenfibly led them to the Cottage; they enter'd, but little expected to meet with fo melancholy a Spectacle; they faw two Men ftretch'd on the Ground, and weltering in their Blood. Heavens, cry'd Elvira, feized with Horror and Surprize, who are these unhappy Wretches? I heartily pity the Fate of one of them, anfwer'd her Lover, 'tis the very Stranger, of whom I was 'fpeaking to you.' Elvira having a little recover'd from her Surprize, drew near, and knew the other to be Don Juan.

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This Prince had no fooner parted from Don Garcia, and feen himfelf fhun'd by Leonora, but he wander'd in the Foreft, that he might indulge his melancholy Thoughts: Chance led him to this Cottage, and Curiofity made him enter it; the Sight of the Stranger who was there, inclined him to draw near him; but fcarce had thefe Two feen each other but they gave way to the most violent Rage, which prevented their coming to a right Understanding. Art thou there Traytor? cry'd the one.' Villain! thou fhalt die, anfwer'd the other.' And before they had done fpeaking, they fell upon each other with fuch dreadful Fury, that unmindful of defending themselves, they gave one another feveral Wounds, yet none of them mortal; at length, fainting with Lofs of Blood, they both fell down. And in this Condition it was that Elvira and her Lover found them; they bound up their Wounds, and used all proper Means to recover them; then hid themselves within hearing in hopes that as foon as they came to themselves their Difcourfe would let 'em into all they defired to know. Shortly after they recover'd their Strength, and with it their Rage; and the Prince of Murcia turning towards Don Juan, with Eyes fparkling with Indignation; Do'st thou ftill live? cry'd he: Heaven I fee will not con'fent to the Death of Leonora's worthy Husband.' 'And Heaven, ' answered Don Juan, will again make me behold that brave, that great Conqueror, who to his other Titles has lately added that ' of Duke of Granada; 'tis with Regret I die without feeing fo generous a Prince reign.' And canft thou fee him any where without blufhing? cry'd the Prince.'No, answered Don Juan, 'I blush at my Ignorance, in not having known thee better.' Traytors, reply'd the Prince, never blush at a Crime till after they have committed it. That's true, reply'd Don Juan; could they be afhamed of it before-hand, I fhould now be Duke of Granada, and you Prince of Murcia. Go on, bafe Man, anfwered the Prince, find out fome fictitious Excufe for thy black Treachery; thou haft 'married Leonora then only because I am become a Tyrant?' Tray' reply'd Don Juan, I have not been falfe to thee; I have only retor,venged my felf on the common Enemy of all Spain ; on an Úsurс per loath'd by all Europe; renounce therefore thy Pretensions to Leonora, who now detefts thee as much as fhe once loved thee.' < Ye Gods, cry'd the Prince, where am I? No, Leonora never could believe it, thy laft Words fpeak thee an Impoftor: Thou may'st have mistaken me for an Ufurper; but that generous Prin

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