son most dear to me. Promise me, my dear Prince, before
I expire, to give her my Place in your Throne: it cannot be better
fill'd: you cannot chuse a Princess more perfect for your People, nor a
better Mother for our little Children. And you my dear and faithful
_Agnes_ (pursu'd she) listen not to a Virtue too scrupulous, that may
make any opposition to the Prince of _Portugal_: Refuse him not a Heart
of which he is worthy; and give him that Friendship which you had for
me, with that which is due to his Merit. Take care of my little
_Fernando_, and the two young Princesses: let them find me in you, and
speak to them sometimes of me. Adieu, live both of you happy, and
receive my last Embraces.'

The afflicted _Agnes_, who had recover'd a little her Forces, lost them
again a second time; Her Weakness was follow'd with Convulsions so
vehement, that they were afraid of her Life; but _Don Pedro_ never
removed from _Constantia_: 'What, Madam (said he) you will leave me
then; and you think 'tis for my Good. Alas, _Constantia_! if my Heart
has committed an Outrage against you, your Virtue has sufficiently
revenged you on me in spite of you. Can you think me so barbarous?'--As
he was going on, he saw Death shut the Eyes of the most generous
Princess for ever; and he was within a very little of following her.

But what Loads of Grief did this bring upon _Agnes_, when she found in
that Interval, wherein Life and Death were struggling in her Soul, that
_Constantia_ was newly expir'd! She would then have taken away her own
Life, and have let her Despair fully appear.

At the noise of the Death of the Princess, the Town and the Palace were
all in Tears. _Elvira_, who saw then _Don Pedro_ free to engage himself,
repented of having contributed to the Death of _Constantia_; and
thinking her self the Cause of it, promis'd in her Griefs never to
pardon herself.

She had need of being guarded several days together; during which time
she fail'd not incessantly to weep. And the Prince gave all those days
to deepest Mourning. But when the first Emotions were past, those of his
Love made him feel that he was still the same.

He was a long time without seeing _Agnes_; but this Absence of his
served only to make her appear the more charming when he did see her.

_Don Alvaro_, who was afraid of the Liberty of the Prince, made new
Efforts to move _Agnes de Castro_, who was now become insensible to
every thing but Grief. _Elvira_, who was wil