unes also: This Thought gives him a
double Torment, and yet he finds no Way to evade it.

The Night that finished this fatal Day, he goes again to his wonted
Station, the Window; where he had not sighed very long, but he saw
_Atlante_ enter the Balcony: He was not able a great while to speak to
her, or to utter one Word. The Night was light enough to see him at the
wonted Place; and she admires at his Silence, and demands the Reason in
such obliging Terms as adds to his Grief; and he, with a deep Sigh,
reply'd, 'Urge me not, my fair _Atlante_, to speak, lest by obeying you
I give you more cause of Grief than my Silence is capable of doing': and
then sighing again, he held his peace, and gave her leave to ask the
Cause of these last Words. But when he made no Reply but by sighing, she
imagin'd it much worse than indeed it was; and with a trembling and
fainting Voice, she cried, 'Oh! _Rinaldo_, give me leave to divine that
cruel News you are so unwilling to tell me: It is so,' added she, 'you
are destin'd to some more fortunate Maid than _Atlante_.' At this Tears
stopped her Speech, and she could utter no more. 'No, my dearest Charmer
(reply'd _Rinaldo_, elevating his Voice) if that were all, you should
see with what Fortitude I would die, rather than obey any such Commands.
I am vow'd yours to the last Moment of my Life; and will be yours in
spite of all the Opposition in the World: that Cruelty I could evade,
but cannot this that threatens me.' 'Ah! (cried _Atlante_) let Fate do
her worst, so she still continue _Rinaldo_ mine, and keep that Faith he
hath sworn to me entire: What can she do beside, that can afflict me?'
'She can separate me (cried he) for some time from _Atlante_.' 'Oh!
(reply'd she) all Misfortunes fall so below that which I first imagin'd,
that methinks I do not resent this, as I should otherwise have done: but
I know, when I have a little more consider'd it, I shall even die with
the Grief of it; Absence being so great an Enemy to Love, and making us
soon forget the Object belov'd: This, tho' I never experienc'd, I have
heard, and fear it may be my Fate.' He then convinc'd her Fears with a
thousand new Vows, and a thousand Imprecations of Constancy. She then
asked him, 'If their Loves were discover'd, that he was with such haste
to depart?' He told her, 'Nothing of that was the Cause; and he could
almost wish it were discover'd, since he could resolutely then refuse to
go: but it was only to cultivate