she favour'd
the Passion of _Don Pedro_, and immediately went to _Constantia_, to
inspire her with the same Thought; but she was not capable of receiving
such Impressions, and following her own natural Inclinations, she
generously defended the Virtue of his Actions. The King, angry to see
her so well intentioned to her Rival, whom he would have had her hated,
reproached her with the sweetness of her Temper, and went thence to mix
his Anger with _Don Alvaro's_ Rage, who was totally confounded when he
saw the Negotiation of his Master had taken no effect. The haughty Maid
braves me then, Sir, said he to the King, and despises the Honour which
your Bounty offered her! Why cannot I resist so fatal a Passion? But I
must love her, in spite of my self; and if this Flame consume me, I can
find no way to extinguish it. What can I further do for you, replied the
King? Alas, Sir, answered _Don Alvaro_, I must do by force, what I
cannot otherwise hope from the proud and cruel _Agnes_. Well then, added
the King, since it is not fit for me to authorize publickly a Violence
in the midst of my Kingdom, chuse those of my Subjects whom you think
most capable of serving you, and take away by force the Beauty that
charms you; and if she do not yield to your Love, put that Power you are
Master of in execution, to oblige her to marry you.

_Don Alvaro_, ravish'd with this Proposition, which at the same time
flatter'd both his Love and his Anger, cast himself at the Feet of the
King, and renewed his Acknowledgments by fresh Protestations, and
thought of nothing but employing his unjust Authority against _Agnes_.

_Don Pedro_ had been about three Months absent, when _Alvaro_ undertook
what the King counselled him to; tho' the Moderation was known to him,
yet he feared his Presence, and would not attend the return of a Rival,
with whom he would avoid all Disputes.

One Night, when the said _Agnes_, full of her ordinary Inquietudes, in
vain expected the God of Sleep, she heard a Noise, and after saw some
Men unknown enter her Chamber, whose Measures being well consulted, they
carried her out of the Palace, and putting her in a close Coach, forced
her out of _Coimbra_, without being hinder'd by any Obstacle. She knew
not of whom to complain, nor whom to suspect: _Don Alvaro_ seem'd too
puissant to seek his Satisfaction this way; and she accus'd not the
Prince of this attempt, of whom she had so favourable an Opinion:
whatever she could think or