lia_) and know, That I do most sincerely and most passionately love
Don _Henrique_; and as a Proof of my Love to him, I have this Day
consented to be delivered up to you by him; not for your Sake in the
least, _Antonio_, but purely to sacrifice all the Quiet of my Life to
his Satisfaction. And now, Sir (continued she, addressing her self to
Don _Henrique_) now, Sir, if you can be so cruel, execute your own most
dreadful Decree, and join our Hands, though our Hearts never can meet.
All this to try me! It's too much, _Ardelia_--(said _Antonio_:) And then
turning to Don _Henrique_, he went on, Speak thou! if yet thou art not
Apostate to our Friendship! Yet speak, however! Speak, though the Devil
has been tampering with thee too! Thou art a Man, a Man of Honour once.
And when I forfeit my just Title to that (interrupted Don _Henrique_)
may I be made most miserable!--May I lose the Blessings of thy
Friendship!--May I lose thee!--Say on then, _Henrique_! (cry'd
_Antonio_:) And I charge thee, by all the sacred Ties of Friendship,
say, Is this a Trial of me? Is't Illusion, Sport, or shameful murderous
Truth?--Oh, my Soul burns within me, and I can bear no longer!--Tell!
Speak! Say on!--[Here, with folded Arms, and Eyes fixed stedfastly on
_Henrique_, he stood like a Statue, without Motion; unless sometimes,
when his swelling Heart raised his over-charged Breast.] After a little
Pause, and a hearty Sigh or two, _Henrique_ began;--Oh, _Antonio_! Oh my
Friend! prepare thy self to hear yet more dreadful Accents!--I am
(pursu'd he) unhappily the greatest and most innocent Criminal that e'er
till now offended:--I love her, _Antonio_,--I love _Ardelia_ with a
Passion strong and violent as thine!--Oh! summon all that us'd to be
more than Man about thee, to suffer to the End of my Discourse, which
nothing but a Resolution like thine can bear! I know it by myself.--Tho'
there be Wounds, Horror, and Death in each Syllable (interrupted
_Antonio_) yet prithee now go on, but with all Haste. I will, (returned
Don _Henrique_) tho' I feel my own Words have the same cruel Effects on
me. I say, again, my Soul loves _Ardelia_: And how can it be otherwise?
Have we not both the self-same Appetites, the same Disgusts? How then
could I avoid my Destiny, that has decreed that I should love and hate
just as you do? Oh, hard Necessity! that obliged you to use me in the
Recovery of this Lady! Alas, can you think that any Man of Sense or
Passion could have s