the Door, pull'd him into the House,
and fought himself with the Bravoes: who being very much wounded by
_Rinaldo_, gave ground, and sheer'd off; and _De Pais_, putting up old
_Bilbo_ into the Scabbard, went into his House, where he found _Rinaldo_
almost fainting with loss of Blood, and _Atlante_, with her Maids
binding up his Wound; to whom _De Pais_ said, 'This charity, _Atlante_,
very well becomes you, and is what I can allow you; and I could wish you
had no other Motive for this Action.' _Rinaldo_ by degrees recover'd of
his Fainting, and as well as his Weakness would permit him, he got up
and made a low Reverence to _De Pais_, telling him, 'He had now a double
Obligation to pay him all the Respect in the World; first, for his being
the Father of _Atlante_; and secondly, for being the Preserver of his
Life: two Tyes that should eternally oblige him to love and honour him,
as his own Parent.' _De Pais_ reply'd, 'He had done nothing but what
common Humanity compell'd him to do: But if he would make good that
Respect he profess'd towards him, it must be in quitting all Hopes of
_Atlante_, whom he had destin'd to another, or an eternal Inclosure in a
Monastery: He had another Daughter, whom if he would think worthy of his
Regard, he should take his Alliance as a very great Honour; but his Word
and Reputation, nay his Vows were past, to give _Atlante_ to Count
_Vernole_.' _Rinaldo_, who before he spoke took measure from _Atlante's_
Eyes, which told him her Heart was his, return'd this Answer to _De
Pais_, 'That he was infinitely glad to find by the Generosity of his
Offer, that he had no Aversion against his being his Son-in-law; and
that, next to _Atlante_, the greatest Happiness he could wish would be
his receiving _Charlot_ from his Hand; but that he could not think of
quitting _Atlante_, how necessary soever it would be, for Glory, and
his--(the further) Repose.' _De Pais_ would not let him at this time
argue the matter further, seeing he was ill, and had need of looking
after; he therefore begg'd he would for his Health's sake retire to his
own House, whither he himself conducted him, and left him to the Care of
his Men, who were escap'd the Fray; and returning to his own Chamber, he
found _Atlante_ retir'd, and so he went to bed full of Thoughts. This
Night had increas'd his Esteem for _Rinaldo_, and lessen'd it for Count
_Vernole_; but his Word and Honour being past, he could not break it,
neither with Safety nor H