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rom her. After she had made vain attempts to moderate it, in blotting _Agnes_ out of his Heart, seeing that his Disease was incurable, she made him understand, that so long as _Constantia_ should not be jealous, there were no hopes: That if _Agnes_ should once be suspected by her, she would not fail of abandoning her, and that then it would be easy to get Satisfaction, the Prince being now so proud of _Constantia's_ Indulgency. In giving this Advice to her Brother, she promis'd to serve him effectually; and having no need of any body but her self to perform ill things, she recommended _Don Alvaro_ to manage well the King. Four Years were pass'd in that melancholy Station, and the Princess, besides her first dead Child, and _Ferdinando_, who was still living, had brought two Daughters into the World. Some days after _Don Pedro's_ return, _Elvira_, who was most dextrous in the Art of well-governing any wicked Design, did gain one of the Servants who belong'd to _Constantia's_ Chamber. She first spoke her fair, then overwhelm'd her with Presents and Gifts; and finding in her as ill a Disposition as in her self, she readily resolv'd to employ her. After she was sure of her, she compos'd a Letter, which was after writ over again in an unknown Hand, which she deposited in that Maid's Hands, that she might deliver to _Constantia_ with the first Opportunity, telling her, that _Agnes_ had drop'd it. This was the Substance of it: _I Employ not my own Hand to write to you, for Reasons that I shall acquaint you with. How happy am I to have overcome all your Scruples! And what Happiness shall I find in the Progress of our Intrigue! The whole Course of my Life shall continually represent to you the Sincerity of my Affections; pray think on the secret Conversation that I require of you: I dare not speak to you in publick, therefore let me conjure you here, by all that I have suffer'd, to come to-night to the Place appointed, and speak to me no more of +Constantia+; for she must be content with my Esteem, since my Heart can be only yours._ The unfaithful _Portuguese_ serv'd _Elvira_ exactly to her Desires; and the very next day seeing _Agnes_ go out from the Princess, she carry'd _Constantia_ the Letter; which she took, and found there what she was far from imagining: Tenderness never produc'd an Effect more full of grief, than what it made her suffer. 'Alas! they are both culpable, (said she, sighing) and
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