Matches for her; but the Princess was still positive in her
Denial, and one Way or other broke all. At last it happened, there was
one proposed, yet more advantageous, a young Count, with whom the young
Maid grew passionately in Love, and besought her Sister to consent that
she might have him, and got the Prince to speak in her Behalf; but he
had no sooner heard the secret Reasons _Miranda_ gave him, but (entirely
her Slave) he chang'd his Mind, and suited it to hers, and she, as
before, broke off that Amour: Which so extremely incensed _Alcidiana_,
that she, taking an Opportunity, got from her Guard, and ran away,
putting her self into the Hands of a wealthy Merchant, her Kinsman, and
one who bore the greatest Authority in the City; him she chuses for her
Guardian, resolving to be no longer a Slave to the Tyranny of her
Sister. And so well she ordered Matters, that she writ this young
Cavalier, her last Lover, and retrieved him; who came back to _Antwerp_
again, to renew his Courtship.

Both Parties being agreed, it was no hard Matter to persuade all but the
Princess. But though she opposed it, it was resolved on, and the Day
appointed for Marriage, and the Portion demanded; demanded only, but
never to be paid, the best Part of it being spent. However, she put them
off from Day to Day, by a thousand frivolous Delays; and when she saw
they would have Recourse to Force, and all that her Magnificence would
be at an End, if the Law should prevail against her; and that without
this Sister's Fortune, she could not long support her Grandeur; she
bethought herself of a Means to make it all her own, by getting her
Sister made away; but she being out of her Tuition, she was not able to
accomplish so great a Deed of Darkness. But since it was resolved it
must be done, she contrives a thousand Stratagems; and at last pitches
upon an effectual one.

She had a Page call'd _Van Brune_, a Youth of great Address and Wit, and
one she had long managed for her Purpose. This Youth was about seventeen
Years of Age, and extremely beautiful; and in the Time when _Alcidiana_
lived with the Princess, she was a little in Love with this handsome
Boy; but it was checked in its Infancy, and never grew up to a Flame:
Nevertheless, _Alcidiana_ retained still a sort of Tenderness for him,
while he burn'd in good Earnest with Love for the Princess.

The Princess one Day ordering this Page to wait on her in her Closet,
she shut the Door; and after a