cess increas'd his Remorse, without diminishing his Love: he
fear'd, and with reason, that those who were the occasion of
_Constantia's_ seeing those Verses, should discover his Passion to the
King, from whom he hoped for no Indulgence: and he would most willingly
have given his Life, to have been free from this Extremity.

In the mean time the afflicted Princess languished in a most deplorable
Sadness; she found nothing in those who were the Cause of her
Misfortunes, but things fitter to move her Tenderness than her Anger: It
was in vain that Jealousy strove to combat the Inclination she had to
love her fair Rival; nor was there any occasion of making the Prince
less dear to her: and she felt neither Hatred, nor so much as
Indifference for innocent _Agnes_.

While these three disconsolate Persons abandon'd themselves to their
Melancholy, _Elvira_, not to leave her Vengeance imperfect, study'd in
what manner she might bring it to the height of its Effects. Her
Brother, on whom she depended, shew'd her a great deal of Friendship,
and judging rightly that the Love of _Don Pedro_ to _Agnes de Castro_
would not be approved by the King, she acquainted _Don Alvaro_ her
Brother with it, who was not ignorant of the Passion the Prince had once
protested to have for his Sister. He found himself very much interested
in this News, from a second Passion he had for _Agnes_; which the
Business of his Fortune had hitherto hindred him from discovering: and
he expected a great many Favours from the King, that might render the
Effort of his Heart the more considerable.

He hid not from his Sister this one thing, which he found difficult to
conceal; so that she was now possest with a double Grief, to find
_Agnes_ Sovereign of all the Hearts to which she had a pretension.

_Don Alvaro_ was one of those ambitious Men, that are fierce without
Moderation, and proud without Generosity; of a melancholy, cloudy
Humour, of a cruel Inclination, and to effect his Ends, found nothing
difficult or unlawful. Naturally he lov'd not the Prince, who, on all
accounts, ought to have held the first Rank in the Heart of the King,
which should have set bounds to the Favour of _Don Alvaro_; who when he
knew the Prince was his Rival, his Jealousy increas'd his Hate of him:
and he conjured _Elvira_ to employ all her Care, to oppose an Engagement
that could not but be destructive to them both; she promised him, and he
not very well satisfy'd, rely'd on her Addr