lot_ had Notice given
her to see and entertain _Rinaldo_. As yet they had not told her the
Reason; which her Father would tell her, when he came to visit her, he
said. _Rinaldo_ over-joy'd at this Contrivance, and his own
Dissimulation, goes to the Monastery, and visits _Charlot_; where he
ought to have said something of this Proposition: but wholly bent upon
other Thoughts, he sollicits her to convey some Letters, and Presents to
_Atlante_; which she readily did, to the unspeakable Joy of the poor
Distrest. Sometimes he would talk to _Charlot_ of her own Affairs;
asking her, if she resolv'd to become a Nun? To which she would sigh,
and say, If she must, it would be extremely against her Inclinations;
and, if it pleas'd her Father, she had rather begin the World with any
tolerable Match.

Things past thus for some Days, in which our Lovers were happy, and
_Vernole_ assur'd he should have _Atlante_. But at last _De Pais_ came
to visit _Charlot_, who ask'd her, if she had seen _Rinaldo_? She
answer'd, 'She had.' 'And how does he entertain you? (reply'd _De Pais_)
Have you receiv'd him as a Husband? and has he behav'd himself like
one?' At this a sudden Joy seiz'd the Heart of _Charlot_; and both to
confess what she had done for him to her Sister, she hung down her
blushing Face to study for an Answer. _De Pais_ continued, and told her
the Agreement between _Bellyaurd_ and him, for the saving of Bloodshed.

She, who blest the Cause, whatever it was, having always a great
Friendship and Tenderness for _Rinaldo_, gave her Father a thousand
Thanks for his Care; and assur'd him, since she was commanded by him,
she would receive him as her Husband.

And the next Day, when _Rinaldo_ came to visit her, as he us'd to do,
and bringing a Letter with him, wherein he propos'd the flight of
_Atlante_; he found a Coldness in _Charlot_, as soon as he told her his
Design, and desir'd her to carry the Letter. He ask'd the Reason of this
Change: She tells him she was inform'd of the Agreement between their
two Fathers, and that she look'd upon herself as his Wife, and would act
no more as a Confident; that she had ever a violent Inclination of
Friendship for him, which she would soon improve into something more
soft.

He could not deny the Agreement, nor his Promise; but it was in vain to
tell her, he did it only to get a Correspondence with _Atlante_: She is
obstinate, and he as pressing, with all the Tenderness of Persuasion: He
vows