his Name to
+Francisco+._ But _Miranda_, fearing to betray the Sentiments of her
Heart, by asking any more Questions about him, turned the Discourse; and
some Persons of Quality came in to visit her (for her Apartment was
about six o'Clock, like the Presence-Chamber of a Queen, always filled
with the greatest People): There meet all the _Beaux Esprits_, and all
the Beauties. But it was visible _Miranda_ was not so gay as she used to
be; but pensive, and answering _mal a propos_ to all that was said to
her. She was a thousand times going to speak, against her Will,
something of the charming Friar, who was never from her Thoughts; and
she imagined, if he could inspire Love in a coarse, grey, ill-made
Habit, a shorn Crown, a Hair-cord about his Waist, bare-legg'd, in
Sandals instead of Shoes; what must he do, when looking back on Time,
she beholds him in a Prospect of Glory, with all that Youth, and
illustrious Beauty, set off by the Advantage of Dress and Equipage? She
frames an Idea of him all gay and splendid, and looks on his present
Habit as some Disguise proper for the Stealths of Love; some feigned
put-on Shape, with the more Security to approach a Mistress, and make
himself happy; and that the Robe laid by, she has the Lover in his
proper Beauty, the same he would have been, if any other Habit (though
ever so rich) were put off: In the Bed, the silent gloomy Night, and the
soft Embraces of her Arms, he loses all the Friar, and assumes all the
Prince; and that aweful Reverence, due alone to his Holy Habit, he
exchanges for a thousand Dalliances, for which his Youth was made; for
Love, for tender Embraces, and all the Happiness of Life. Some Moments
she fancies him a Lover, and that the fair Object that takes up all his
Heart, has left no Room for her there; but that was a Thought that did
not long perplex her, and which, almost as soon as born, she turned to
her Advantage. She beholds him a Lover, and therefore finds he has a
Heart sensible and tender; he had Youth to be fir'd, as well as to
inspire; he was far from the loved Object, and totally without Hope; and
she reasonably consider'd, that Flame would of itself soon die, that had
only Despair to feed on. She beheld her own Charms; and Experience, as
well as her Glass, told her, they never failed of Conquest, especially
where they designed it: And she believed _Henrick_ would be glad, at
least, to quench that Flame in himself, by an Amour with her, which was
kind