een, and not have lov'd her! Then how should I,
whose Thoughts are Unisons to yours, evade those Charms that had
prevail'd on you?--And now, to let you know, 'tis no Illusion, no Sport,
but serious and amazing woeful Truth, _Ardelia_ best can tell you whom
she loves. What I have already said, is true, by Heaven (cry'd she) 'tis
you, Don _Henrique_, whom I only love, and who alone can give me
Happiness: Ah, would you would!--With you, _Antonio_, I must remain
unhappy, wretched, cursed: Thou art my Hell; Don _Henrique_ is my
Heaven. And thou art mine, (returned he) which here I part with to my
dearest Friend. Then taking her Hand, Pardon me, _Antonio_, (pursued he)
that I thus take my last Farewel of all the Tastes of Bliss from your
_Ardelia_, at this Moment. [At which Words he kiss'd her Hand, and gave
it to Don _Antonio_; who received it, and gently pressed it close to his
Heart, as if he would have her feel the Disorders she had caus'd there.]
Be happy, _Antonio_, (cry'd _Henrique_:) Be very tender of her;
To-morrow early I shall hope to see thee.--_Ardelia_ (pursued he) All
Happiness and Joy surround thee! May'st thou ne'er want those Blessings
thou can'st give _Antonio_!--Farewel to both! (added he, going out.) Ah
(cry'd she) Farewel to all Joys, Blessings, Happiness, if you forsake
me.--Yet do not go!--Ah, cruel! (continu'd she, seeing him quit the
Room) but you shall take my Soul with you. Here she swooned away in Don
_Antonio's_ Arms; who, though he was happy that he had her fast there,
yet was obliged to call in his Cousin, and _Ardelia's_ Attendants, e'er
she could be perfectly recovered. In the mean while Don _Henrique_ had
not the Power to go out of Sight of the House, but wandred to and fro
about it, distracted in his Soul; and not being able longer to refrain
her Sight, her last Words still resounding in his Ears, he came again
into the Room where he left her with Don _Antonio_, just as she revived,
and called him, exclaiming on his Cruelty, in leaving her so soon. But
when, turning her Eyes towards the Door, she saw him; Oh! with what
eager Haste she flew to him! then clasped him round the Waist, obliging
him, with all the tender Expressions that the Soul of a Lover, and a
Woman's too, is capable of uttering, not to leave her in the Possession
of Don _Antonio_. This so amaz'd her slighted Lover, that he knew not,
at first, how to proceed in this tormenting Scene; but at last,
summoning all his wonted Resolut