ere, he met with too Kind a
Return both from her Eyes and from her Hand, which privately slipt a
Paper into his; in which he found abundantly more than he expected,
directing him in that, how he should proceed, in order to carry her off
from her Father with the least Danger he could look for in such an
Attempt; since it would have been vain and fruitless to have asked her
of her Father, because their Families had been at Enmity for several
Years; tho' _Antonio_ was as well descended as she, and had as ample a
Fortune; nor was his Person, according to his Sex, any way inferior to
her's; and certainly, the Beauties of his Mind were more excellent,
especially if it be an Excellence to be constant.

He had made several Attempts to take Possession of her; but all prov'd
ineffectual; however, he had the good Fortune not to be known, tho' once
or twice he narrowly escap'd with Life, bearing off his Wounds with
Difficulty.--(Alas, that the Wounds of Love should cause those of Hate!)
Upon which she was strictly confin'd to one Room, whose only Window was
towards the Garden, and that too was grated with Iron; and, once a
Month, when she went to Church, she was constantly and carefully
attended by her Father, and a Mother-in-Law, worse than a _Duegna_.
Under this miserable Confinement _Antonio_ understood she still
continued, at his Return to _Seville_, with Don _Henrique_, whom he
acquainted with his invincible Passion for her; lamenting the Severity
of her present Circumstances, that admitted of no Prospect of Relief;
which caus'd a generous Concern in Don _Henrique_, both for the
Sufferings of his Friend, and of the Lady. He proposed several Ways to
Don _Antonio_, for the Release of the fair Prisoner; but none of them
was thought practicable, or at least likely to succeed. But _Antonio_,
who (you may believe) was then more nearly engag'd, bethought himself of
an Expedient that would undoubtedly reward their Endeavours. 'Twas, that
Don _Henrique_, who was very well acquainted with _Ardelia's_ Father,
should make him a Visit, with Pretence of begging his Consent and
Admission to make his Addresses to his Daughter; which, in all
Probability, he could not refuse to Don _Henrique's_ Quality and Estate;
and then this Freedom of Access to her would give him the Opportunity of
delivering the Lady to his Friend. This was thought so reasonable, that
the very next Day it was put in Practice; and with so good Success, that
Don _Henrique_ w