in spite of the Defence my Heart would make for
'em, my Reason condemns 'em. Unhappy Princess, the sad subject of the
Capriciousness of Fortune! Why dost not thou die, since thou hast not a
Heart of Honour to revenge it self? O _Don Pedro_! why did you give me
your Hand, without your Heart? And thou, fair, and ungrateful! wert thou
born to be the Misfortune of my Life, and perhaps the only cause of my
Death?' After having given some Moments to the Violence of her Grief,
she called the Maid, who brought her the Letter, commanding her to speak
of it to no body, and to suffer no one to enter into her Chamber.

She consider'd then of that Prince with more liberty, whose Soul she was
not able to touch with the least Tenderness; and of the cruel Fair One
that had betray'd her: Yet, even while her Soul was upon the Rack, she
was willing to excuse 'em, and ready to do all she could for _Don
Pedro_; at least, she made a firm Resolution, not to complain of him.

_Elvira_ was not long without being inform'd of what had pass'd, nor of
the Melancholy of the Princess, from whom she hop'd all she desir'd.

_Agnes_, far from foreseeing this Tempest, return'd to _Constantia_; and
hearing of her Indisposition, pass'd the rest of the Day at her
Chamber-door, that she might from time to time learn news of her Health:
for she was not suffer'd to come in, at which _Agnes_ was both surpriz'd
and troubled. The Prince had the same Destiny, and was astonish'd at an
Order which ought to have excepted him.

The next day _Constantia_ appear'd, but so alter'd, that 'twas not
difficult to imagine what she had suffer'd. _Agnes_ was the most
impatient to approach her, and the Princess could not forbear weeping,
They were both silent for some time, and _Constantia_ attributed this
silence of _Agnes_ to some Remorse which she felt: and this unhappy Maid
being able to hold no longer; 'Is it possible, Madam, (said she) that
two Days should have taken from me all the Goodness you had for me? What
have I done? And for what do you punish me?' The Princess regarded her
with a languishing Look, and return'd her no Answer but Sighs. _Agnes_,
offended with this reserve, went out with very great Dissatisfaction and
Anger; which contributed to her being thought criminal. The Prince came
in immediately after, and found _Constantia_ more disorder'd than usual,
and conjur'd her in a most obliging manner to take care of her Health:
_The greatest good for me_ (said s