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