n
it. I will advance thee to rank and dignity, and place thee above the
proudest females of my court. Thy father, too, shall be more exalted and
endowed than any noble in my realm.'

The soft eye of Florinda kindled at these words. 'Senior,' said she, 'the
line I spring from can receive no dignity by means so vile; and my father
would rather die than purchase rank and power by the dishonor of his
child. But I see,' continued she, 'that your majesty speaks in this manner
only to try me. You may have thought me light and simple and unworthy to
attend upon the queen. I pray your majesty to pardon me, that I have taken
your pleasantry in such serious part.'

In this way the agitated maiden sought to evade the addresses of the
monarch; but still her cheek was blanched, and her lip quivered as she
spake.

The king pressed her hand to his lips with fervor. 'May ruin seize me,'
cried he, 'if I speak to prove thee! My heart, my kingdom, are at thy
command. Only be mine, and thou shalt rule absolute mistress of myself and
my domains.'

The damsel rose from the earth where she had hitherto knelt, and her whole
countenance glowed with virtuous indignation. 'My Lord,' said she, 'I am
your subject, and in your power; take my life if it be your pleasure; but
nothing shall tempt me to commit a crime which would be treason to the
queen, disgrace to my father, agony to my mother, and perdition to
myself.' With these words she left the garden, and the king, for the
moment, was too much awed by her indignant virtue to oppose her departure.

We shall pass briefly over the succeeding events of the story of Florinda,
about which so much has been said and sung by chronicler and bard: for the
sober page of history should be carefully chastened from all scenes that
might inflame a wanton imagination; leaving them to poems and romances,
and such-like highly seasoned works of fantasy and recreation.

Let it suffice to say, that Don Roderick pursued his suit to the beautiful
Florinda, his passion being more and more inflamed by the resistance of
the virtuous damsel. At length, forgetting what was due to helpless
beauty, to his own honor as a knight, and his word as a sovereign, he
triumphed over her weakness by base and unmanly violence.

There are not wanting those who affirm that the hapless Florinda lent a
yielding ear to the solicitations of the monarch, and her name has been
treated with opprobrium in several of the ancient chronicles a