Volume V Part 13 (1/2)
These Words made the fair _Agnes de Castro_ perceive that her Innocency was not so great as she imagined, and that her Heart interested it self in the Preservation of _Don Pedro_: 'You ought, Sir, to preserve your Life (reply'd _Agnes_) for the sake of the little Prince and Princesses, which _Constantia_ has left you. Would you abandon their Youth (continued she, with a tender Tone) to the Cruelty of _Don Alvaro_?
Live! Sir, live! and let the unhappy _Agnes_ be the only Sacrifice.'
'Alas, cruel Maid! (interrupted _Don Pedro_) Why do you command me to live, if I cannot live with you? Is it an effect of your Hatred?' 'No, Sir, (reply'd _Agnes_) I do not hate you; and I wish to G.o.d that I could be able to defend my self against the Weakness with which I find my self possess'd. Oblige me to say no more, Sir: you see my Blushes, interpret them as you please: but consider yet, that the less Aversion I find I have to you, the more culpable I am; and that I ought no more to see, or speak to you. In fine, Sir, if you oppose my Retreat, I declare to you, that _Don Alvaro_, as odious as he is to me, shall serve for a Defence against you; and that I will sooner consent to marry a Man I abhor, than to favour a Pa.s.sion that cost _Constantia_ her Life.' 'Well then, _Agnes_ (reply'd the Prince, with Looks all languis.h.i.+ng and dying) follow the Motions which barbarous Virtue inspires you with; take these Measures you judge necessary against an unfortunate Lover, and enjoy the Glory of having cruelly refused me.'
At these Words he went away; and troubled as _Agnes_ was, she would not stay him: Her Courage combated with her Grief, and she thought now, more than ever, of departing.
'Twas difficult for her to go out of _Coimbra_; and not to defer what appear'd to her so necessary, she went immediately to the Apartment of the King, notwithstanding the Interest of _Don Alvaro_. The King received her with a Countenance severe, not being able to consent to what she demanded: _You shall not go hence, +(said he)+ and if you are wise, you shall enjoy here with +Don Alvaro+ both my Friends.h.i.+p and my Favour. I have taken another Resolution (+answer'd+ Agnes) and the World has no part in it. You will accept +Don Pedro (reply'd the King)+ his Fortune is sufficient to satisfy an ambitious Maid: but you will not succeed +Constantia+, who lov'd you so tenderly; and +Spain+ has Princesses enough to fill up part of the Throne which I shall leave him.
Sir, (+reply'd+ Agnes, +piqu'd at this Discourse+) if I had a Disposition to love, and a Design to marry, perhaps the Prince might be the only Person on whom I would fix it: And you know, if my Ancestors did not possess Crowns, yet they were worthy to wear 'em. But let it be how it will, I am resolved to depart, and to remain no longer a Slave in a Place to which I came free._
This bold Answer, which shew'd the Character of _Agnes_, anger'd and astonished the King. _You shall go when we think fit +(reply'd he)+ and without being a Slave at +Coimbra+, you shall attend our order._
_Agnes_ saw she must stay, and was so griev'd at it, that she kept her Chamber several days, without daring to inform herself of the Prince; and this Retirement spared her the Affliction of being visited by _Don Alvaro_.
During this, _Don Pedro_ fell sick, and was in so great danger, that there was a general apprehension of his Death. _Agnes_ did not in the least doubt, but it was an effect of his Discontent: she thought at first she had Strength and Resolution enough to see him die, rather than to favour him; but had she reflected a little, she had soon been convinc'd to the contrary. She found not in her Heart that cruel Constancy she thought there so well established: She felt Pains and Inquietude, shed Tears, made Wishes; and, in fine, discover'd that she lov'd.
'Twas impossible to see the Heir of the Crown, a Prince that deserved so well, even at the point of Death, without a general Affliction. The People who loved him, pa.s.s'd whole days at the Palace-gate to hear News of him: The Court was all over-whelm'd with Grief.
_Don Alvaro_ knew very well how to conceal a malicious Joy, under an Appearance of Sadness. _Elvira_, full of Tenderness, and perhaps of Remorse, suffer'd also on her side. The King, altho' he condemned the Love of his Son, yet still had a Tenderness for him, and could not resolve to lose him. _Agnes de Castro_, who knew the Cause of his Distemper, expected the End of it with strange Anxieties: In fine, after a Month had pa.s.s'd away in Fears, they began to have a little hopes of his Recovery. The Prince and _Don Alvaro_ were the only Persons that were not glad of it: But _Agnes_ rejoic'd enough for all the rest.
_Don Pedro_, seeing that he must live whether he wou'd or no, thought of nothing but pa.s.sing his days in melancholy and discontent: As soon as he was in a condition to walk, he sought out the most solitary Places, and gain'd so much upon his own Weakness, to go every where, where _Agnes_ was not; but her Idea followed him always, and his Memory, faithful to represent her to him with all her Charms, render'd her always dangerous.
One day, when they had carry'd him into the Garden, he sought out a Labyrinth which was at the farthest part of it, to hide his Melancholy, during some hours; there he found the sad _Agnes_, whom Grief, little different from his, had brought thither; the sight of her whom he expected not, made him tremble: She saw by his pale and meagre Face the remains of his Distemper; his Eyes full of Languishment troubled her, and tho' her Desire was so great to have fled from him, an unknown Power stopt her, and 'twas impossible for her to go.
After some Moments of Silence, which many Sighs interrupted, _Don Pedro_ rais'd himself from the Place where his Weakness had forced him to sit; he made _Agnes_ see, as he approach'd her, the sad Marks of his Sufferings: and not content with the Pity he saw in her Eyes, _You have resolved my Death then, cruel +Agnes+, +(said he)+ my desire was the same with yours; but Heaven has thought fit to reserve me for other Misfortunes, and I see you again, as unhappy, but more in love than ever._
There was no need of these Words to move _Agnes_ to compa.s.sion, the Languishment of the Prince spoke enough; and the Heart of this fair Maid was but too much disposed to yield it self: She thought then that _Constantia_ ought to be satisfy'd; Love, which combated for _Don Pedro_, triumphed over Friends.h.i.+p, and found that happy Moment, for which the Prince of _Portugal_, had so long sighed.
_Do not reproach me, for that which has cost me more than you, Sir, +(replied she)+ and do not accuse a Heart, which is neither ingrateful nor barbarous: and I must tell you, that I love you. But now I have made you that Confession, what is it farther that you require of me?_ _Don Pedro_, who expected not a Change so favourable, felt a double Satisfaction; and falling at the Feet of _Agnes_, he express'd more by the Silence his Pa.s.sion created, than he could have done by the most eloquent Words.
After having known all his good Fortune, he then consulted with the amiable _Agnes_, what was to be feared from the King; they concluded that the cruel Billet, which so troubled the last days of _Constantia_, could come from none but _Elvira_ and _Don Alvaro_. The Prince, who knew that his Father had searched already an Alliance for him, and was resolv'd on his Favourite's marrying _Agnes_, conjur'd her so tenderly to prevent these Persecutions, by consenting to a secret Marriage, that, after having a long time consider'd, she at last consented. _I will do what you will have me_ (said she) _tho' I presage nothing but fatal Events from it; all my Blood turns to Ice, when I think of this Marriage, and the Image of +Constantia+ seems to hinder me from doing it._
The amorous Prince surmounted all her Scruples, and separated himself from _Agnes_, with a Satisfaction which soon redoubled his Forces; he saw her afterward with the Pleasure of a Mystery: And the Day of their Union being arrived, _Don Gill_, Bishop of _Guarda_, performed the Ceremony of the Marriage, in the Presence of several Witnesses, faithful to _Don Pedro_, who saw him Possessor of all the Charms of the fair _Agnes_.
She lived not the more peaceable for belonging to the Prince of _Portugal_; her Enemies, who continually persecuted her, left her not without Troubles: and the King, whom her Refusal inrag'd, laid his absolute Commands on her to marry _Don Alvaro_, with Threats to force her to it, if she continu'd rebellious.
The Prince took loudly her part; and this, join'd to the Refusal he made of marrying the Princess of _Arragon_, caus'd Suspicions of the Truth in the King his Father. He was seconded by those that were too much interested, not to unriddle this Secret. _Don Alvaro_ and his Sister acted with so much care, gave so many Gifts, and made so many Promises, that they discover'd the secret Engagements of _Don Pedro_ and _Agnes_.
The King wanted but little of breaking out into all the Rage and Fury so great a Disappointment could inspire him with, against the Princess.
_Don Alvaro_, whose Love was changed into the most violent Hatred, appeased the first Transports of the King, by making him comprehend, that if they could break the Marriage of 'em, that would not be a sufficient Revenge; and so poison'd the Soul of the King, to consent to the Death of _Agnes_.
The barbarous _Don Alvaro_ offered his Arm for this terrible Execution, and his Rage was Security for the Sacrifice.
The King, who thought the Glory of his Family disgraced by this Alliance, and his own in particular in the Procedure of his Son, gave full Power to this Murderer, to make the innocent _Agnes_ a Victim to his Rage.
It was not easy to execute this horrid Design: Tho' the Prince saw _Agnes_ but in secret, yet all his Cares were still awake for her, and he was marry'd to her above a Year, before _Don Alvaro_ could find out an opportunity so long sought for.
The Prince diverted himself but little, and very rarely went far from _Coimbra_; but on a Day, an unfortunate Day, and marked out by Heaven for an unheard-of and horrid a.s.sa.s.sination, he made a Party to hunt at a fine House, which the King of _Portugal_ had near the City.